Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
1 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
MOOR GREEN LAKES
NATURE RESERVE
TWENTY THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
2015
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
2 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
3 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
MOOR GREEN LAKES NATURE RESERVE
TWENTY THIRD ANNUAL REPORT: 2015
CONTENTS Page
Chapter 1 Introduction.…………….…….…………………….….……………………. 4
Chapter 2 Site Management and Ranger Report 2015.….….….………………………. 5
Chapter 3 Report on Birds for 2015……………………..……………………………..10
Chapter 4 Moor Green Lakes Ringing Project 2015.……….………………………… 14
Chapter 5 Nest Boxes Recording 2015………………………………………..……… 20
Chapter 6 Report on Dragonflies and Damselflies for 2015………………….………. 25
Chapter 7 Report on Butterflies for 2015……………………………………..………. 27
Chapter 8 Fungus Surveys and Forays 2015…………………………………..……… 31
Chapter 9 Report on Moths for 2015............................................................................. 35
Chapter 10 Mammal Report for 2015……….………………………............................. 40
(Unfortunately there is not sufficient data this year for a Botanical Survey report.)
APPENDICES
Appendix A Profile and Map of the Reserve………………………..…………..…...….. 41
Appendix B Moor Green Lakes Group Team………………….……….…………..…... 43
Appendix C Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve Reference Library……………............. 44
Appendix D Notes and Guidelines on Bird Recording………..…….……………......…. 46
Appendix E Annual Bird Report for 2015.………………………………………...……. 48
Appendix F Check List of Bird Species 1990 – 2015…….………...………….….....…. 65
Appendix G Eversley Gravel Pit - Wetland Bird Survey Counts……...…….....…..…… 71
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
4 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE TWENTY THIRD REPORT OF THE
MOOR GREEN LAKES GROUP
Adrian Hobbs, Chairman
Welcome to the Moor Green Lakes Group (MGLG) annual report for 2015. The report provides a
record of the wildlife at Moor Green Lakes and details the conservation work performed. Once
again, I am indebted to Iain Oldcorn for editing the report.
The report details the information gained from the many wildlife surveys carried out by our group of
recorders. As in previous years, the Reading and Basingstoke Ringing group have made regular visits
to the reserve to ring the birds active at the site. Their ringing report is also included.
The essential maintenance of the reserve is carried out jointly by the Blackwater Valley Countryside
Partnership (BVCP) and volunteers from the MGLG. Without their dedication to the many necessary
tasks, the reserve would get out of control, become overgrown and unmanageable. Stuart Croft, the
BVCP Countryside Ranger, leads his team, supplemented by volunteers on Tuesday work parties and
Peter Scott, Simon Weeks and Tony Elston lead the volunteer work parties on Sundays. More
volunteers are always wanted, so if you want some healthy outdoor activity in wonderful
surroundings, join the volunteers.
When food for the birds is in short supply, we supplement it. We are indebted to Terry Patton who
keeps the bird feeders stocked during these periods.
At the beginning of the year, the fence between the car park and the adjacent bridle path was
replaced. The opportunity was taken to straighten both the fence and the bridle path, enhancing both.
The car park height barrier had sagged over time, becoming difficult to open and close. Additional
supporting stays were installed to counteract the weight of the barrier. We are indebted to our local
fruit propagator Slavey Slavchev for supplying fence posts, ground anchors, manpower and the use
of his Back Hoe to install the fence and support stays.
Following the official proceedings of the AGM, Mike Coates, Farnham Heath Project Manager for
the RSPB, gave a presentation on RSPB activities. Mike had hoped to be able to speak about the
RSPB’s future intentions regarding Moor Green Lakes and the adjacent sites at Manor Farm and
Fleet Hill Farm. Unfortunately, this was not possible, as the agreement was still awaiting signature
by CEMEX.
For this year’s Open Day the weather was less kind but there was still a good turnout of visitors. The
various walks and demonstrations proved popular although few small mammals were found in the
mammal traps this year. It has proved to be a difficult year for small mammals. As usual, the visiting
children had great fun with the Pond Dipping and the bird ringing and nest box displays were as
popular as usual..
As always, the report is full of interesting information and I trust that you find it both enjoyable and
informative. I look forward to meeting many of you at our future events.
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CHAPTER 2
Practical Site Management Report 2015
By Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP)
These notes relate to the following map which group the tasks by activity (colour of key in brackets),
to show where the practical site management has been achieved.
Clearing and mowing paths (yellow)
In addition to work maintaining access to the reserve along
the public footpaths and bridleway, the internal routes for
rangers, volunteers, surveyors and cow-lookers have been cut
back. From November we started a series of days to chainsaw
and chip overhanging branches on the Blackwater Valley Path
by the river, which needs doing every few years to reduce the
tunnel-effect.
Grazing – goats and cows
The volunteer tasks combined with the goats continue to be an effective way to suppress the bramble
growth on Long Island, so we can encourage over-wintering wildfowl in the low sward. The cattle
are very useful at keeping the meadows open and reducing scrub encroachment of the remote lake
edges. We herded adventurous escapee cows on a few occasions, which obviously thought the grass
on the adjoining paddocks were greener. Our active management of Moor Green Lakes helps to
provide a mosaic of different habitats and increase biodiversity.
Vegetation cleared / treated (green)
Water-side scrub was cut this year including on west and north west Colebrook Lake North, south
west Long Island and by both hides and bird-viewing screens. The herbicide treatment which is used
were possible has been very successful at reducing regrowth. This year we had a couple of tasks in
the north east corner of Long Island, to expose the scrape for invertebrates and open up volunteer
access where we moor the pontoon from the mainland.
View west of vegetation cutting to expose scrape on north east Long Island
Chipping BV Path by river
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Hay cut meadow (orange)
Volunteers help us with hay-cutting areas that are not cattle grazed, such as the bird-feeder paddock,
in front of Colebrook Hide and south west of Long Island. Here successive cutting and removal of
hay has reduced nutrients for the vigorous grass, and promoted a low sward for wildflowers and a
view from the hide. Regular bramble clearance on central north Grove Lake now means we have a
south-facing wildflower meadow rich in Betony. Our volunteer hay cut helps promote this important
habitat in addition to the light cattle grazing.
Removed island vegetation (brown)
To maintain exposed gravel nesting sites, we cleared vegetation from Tern and most of Plover
Islands with the debris ferried off to form habitat piles. Vegetation was cleared from scrapes and
bunds in front of both hides and south west Long Island, to provide wader foraging niches and better
views.
Fencing (pink line)
We were lucky this year with only a few occasions where cattle or neighbouring horses escaped,
repairing 100m of fencing compared to 500m last year. Since fence posts can rot quickly in the
highly acidic ground water, I expect fencing repairs will increase again in 2016.
Hedge-laying (purple)
A 31m section of the hedge was laid by the footpath to Colebrook Bird Hide. The double row of
saplings was planted with this in mind, so it was great to finally lay the hedge and provide a dense
screen. The hedge will be trimmed for a couple of years to encourage dense lower growth and then
allowed to grow up into a natural screen. This is far better than a fence since it also provides foraging
and breeding niches, like the bird nest we found in the hedge we laid last year.
Projects (pink dots)
The volunteers undertook lots of discrete projects which are listed on the map key including;
installing the refurbished Grove sign board to the car park, bat and barn owl surveys, herding escapee
cows, pulling Himalayan Balsam, chain sawing fallen trees and extending the car park by cleverly
shuffling the bridleway. The Open Day was a great success with lots of activities including bird
ringers, wildlife walks and pond dipping.
Volunteers showing off their hedge-laying by Colebrook
Hide
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Practical tasks 2015
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey [100019180].
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BVCP Ranger Report 2015
Stuart Croft, Countryside Ranger, BVCP
In 2015 we spent 50 ranger days managing Moor Green Lakes which exceeded our Cemex income of
£9,270 by £2,700. This doesn’t include the 10 ranger days spent managing the public rights of way
around Moor Green Lakes and Manor Farm.
The number of volunteers has decreased slightly from the previous year by 6%, but the number of
tasks has increased by 26% to 43. This shift in practical work on site is more beneficial to the
reserve, since we can tackle a greater breath of small and responsive tasks, such as herding escapee
cows and clearing fallen trees. Many of these tasks have been organised by MGL volunteers such as
pulling Himalayan Balsam pulling, refurbishing a signboard and re-aligning the bridleway to extend
the car park; which are useful to free up ranger time for machine tasks. In total there were 288
volunteer days spent in 2015 worth over £14,400.
Summary of Volunteers on practical tasks
Volunteer tasks
2015 2014
No. of
tasks No. of vols
Average
per task No. of tasks
No. of
vols
Average
per task
MGLG (usually Sundays) 9 87 10 7 73 10.4
BVCP (usually Tues) 8 90 11 9 123 13.6
Corporate & Community 3 29 10 1 43 43
Minor Projects 22 37 2 15 20 1.7
Individual Volunteers 2 45 2 45
Total Volunteer tasks 43 288 34 304
Value of volunteers
(at £50 per day) £14,400
£15,200
Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped us achieve so much on the conservation tasks. The
majority of practical tasks are undertaken by Blackwater Valley Countryside Volunteers (usually
Tuesdays) and the MGL Volunteers (usually Sundays). In 2015 they were also supported by:
Minor project volunteers
There are lots of tasks on site which require a small team of MGLG,
BVC volunteers or work placement students. One such job was
replacing the rotted wooden Shelduck nest box on Plover Island,
which had supported a Shelduck brood earlier in the year. Jenny,
Trainee Mark and I installed a new improved sturdy breeze-block
design nest box.
New Shelduck nest box
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Individual volunteers
The regular assistance of a rota of dedicated volunteers has proved invaluable for checking goats and
cattle. These both need checking at least daily when on site and required the equivalent of 45 days
input. Thanks to Peter for liaising with the grazier, organising the volunteer cow-lookers, and
paddling over to check on the goats.
Corporate & community groups
The bird feeder paddock and in front of Colebrook Hide were hay cut by volunteers from IHS
marketing company. Whilst for clearing south west Long Island we tried to break the record for a
bumper volunteer turnout of 28, with the help of colleagues from Southern Gas Networks (SGN).
Volunteers from the Blooming Marvellous Gardening Project in Rushmoor came out to help on
another Long Island task. This supported adult volunteer gardening project aims to empower those
who want to volunteer, but would like some support to do so.
Special thanks
To the volunteer leaders Peter Scott, Simon Weeks and Tony Elston who’s offer to lead and help
with tasks were invaluable. All of them also do a great deal behind the scenes including: dealing with
issues on site, organising the grazing and cow lookers, recruiting volunteers and ongoing
maintenance like repairing the signboard. Also thanks to the committee, including Steve Arnold and
Adrian for organising lots of other projects, including balsam pulling tasks and the MGL car park
extension.
A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped at Moor Green Lakes on tasks that would not have
been possible without their efforts.
BV Volunteers and SGN on Long Island task
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CHAPTER 3
REPORT ON BIRDS 2015
Bird recorder: Roger Murfitt
A total of 134 species (and recognizable subspecies) were recorded on the Moor Green Lakes
recording area during the year.
During the first winter period of 2015, the long-staying adult male and redhead Smew were joined by
a third redhead (probably a juvenile male) from 10th Feb and they were last seen on 23rd Feb.
Wintering duck numbers in the first winter period were relatively low with a peak of 147 Wigeon
and 30 Goosander in January. A normally sea-going Scaup was seen on four dates up to 1st April
and there was a sighting of a Dartford Warbler in the Fen area of the New Workings on 5th Jan,
which follows a sighting in the same area in the previous autumn, so is likely to be the same bird
wintering. Another winter visitor, the Jack Snipe, is notoriously difficult to flush and you virtually
have to step on them to make them fly. Hence although they are annual visitors to the reserve, they
can be very difficult to see. However, one was flushed from the margin of Colebrook Lake North
during a working party clearing willows from the lake margin on 11th Jan.
Spring migration got under way with an early Wheatear on 12th March whilst Sand Martins were
first recorded on 29th March. There was a good Spring migration of waders this year as the water
level on the New Workings was reduced by pumping in order to facilitate the start of land-filling
operations. This had the beneficial effect of revealing sandy islands/bars which were quite attractive
to waders. There were a number of sightings of Dunlin with flocks of eleven on 26th April and seven
on 9th May, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, a Turnstone on 25th April, Curlew, Whimbrel and a
single Black-tailed Godwit. A further Jack Snipe was seen on 23rd April – flushed from East Fen,
along with all the other waders (two Greenshank, three Common Snipe and one Redshank) by a low-
flying hot air balloon! Other passage birds included Arctic Tern in April, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail,
Marsh Harrier on 20th April and single Ospreys on 2nd
April and 17th May. A Kittiwake seen briefly
on Tern Island on 1st April was only the second record for the site.
Breeding activity began in late February as Black-headed Gulls began to dispute territories on Tern
Island and a pair of Oystercatcher (presumably last year’s successful pair?) also took up residence
there. Space for the gulls on Tern Island (approx 40 nests) and the Tern rafts (8+ nests) was at a
premium so some gulls also nested on Plover Island (8 nests) and a few nests on clumps of rushes on
East Fen. Common Terns also nested on Tern Island, perhaps five pairs but difficult to be sure as
they were hidden amongst vegetation. The Oystercatcher pair hatched out three young in early May
and although within about 10 days two of these had disappeared, the remaining chick survived to
fledging. Also nesting on Tern Island and bravely sitting tight amongst the raucous clamour of the
gulls, was a pair of Lapwings, which hatched three young in late May. They soon moved the young
birds to Colebrook Lake scrape, the chicks presumably swimming across though there is anecdotal
evidence that Lapwings will sometimes carry their young in their legs! The damp scrape provides
better feeding conditions for chicks but is less secure than Tern Island from ground predators and
unfortunately on 31st May the adults were alone on the scrape with no young to be seen! The gull
colony also suffered from predation with all the nests on Plover Island failing, perhaps due to a visit
from a fox (as this island is relatively close to the bank), whilst several times a Carrion Crow was
seen flying in low to land on Tern Island, despite heavy mobbing from the gulls. Even so, the gulls
still succeeded in fledging reasonable numbers of young and at least two broods of young terns
fledged. A check of the three Barn Owl boxes in June revealed one failed clutch of three cold eggs in
one box and no sign of breeding in the others, though adults still present. This reflected the very low
mammal population this year and a very poor breeding season for this species nationally.
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Little-ringed plover on CLN scrape, 29
th May 2015 (R C Murfitt)
It was a good spring for Redshank on the reserve, with up to six seen in April and a good deal of
territorial activity, particularly on Plover Island and on the north bank of Colebrook Lake North
nearby. It seems that the winter clearance of marginal shrubs and brambles in this area had the
desired effect of making it more attractive to breeding waders. On 19th May a pair of Redshanks was
seen giving alarm calls with a newly hatched young bird at the water’s edge. This is the first time
that young Redshank are known to have hatched on the reserve since 2008. Unfortunately the young
bird(s) disappeared within three days but then on 28th May another brood of three young just 1-2
days old was seen at the water’s edge though these also suffered the same fate and quickly
disappeared. Amongst the wildfowl, a Gadwall female was seen with six ducklings and a new
breeding species for the reserve was recorded when a pair of Shelduck with nine newly-hatched
ducklings was first seen on Colebrook Lake North on 15th May. Unfortunately the latter brood
gradually declined in numbers over the ensuing days until all the ducklings had disappeared – in this
case pike may be responsible for some of the losses as they do predate upon ducklings.
Other breeding wildfowl included at least four broods of young Great-crested Grebes seen around the
reserve, a few broods of Tufted Ducks and also young Little Grebes on Manor Lake and the New
Workings. Autumn wader passage was pretty good this year, helped by low water levels on the New
Workings and East Fen for several weeks from late September. The Dutch-ringed Green Sandpiper
individual that has been around the reserve over six winters was confirmed again from photographs
on 18th Aug and seen again in October. Dunlins were recorded in ones and twos on at least three
dates, up to two Greenshanks on several dates and up to four Ruff were resident on the drained New
Workings from 18th Sept to 9th Oct. It was a good autumn for Wood Sandpiper sightings across the
country and Moor Green Lakes did not miss out on this scarce migrant with two on East Fen on 29th
and one still around on 30th Aug. Black Tern is another scarce passage migrant in the county which
usually passes through quickly, so the juvenile which stayed on the New Workings from 26th to 29th
Aug gave observers an extended opportunity to catch up with this species. A migrant Garganey was
picked out and photographed on Colebrook Lake South on 9th Sept.
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Ruff on New Workings, 27
th Sept 2015 (R C Murfitt)
The regular passerine migrants, Wheatear, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail, were all seen on several
dates in the Autumn. The continued decline of breeding Spotted Flycatchers in the UK (down 88%
from 1970 – 2011) was reflected in just the single record of a passage bird on 26th Aug. A female
Dartford Warbler seen in the broom bushes on the New Workings on 25th Aug and 3rd Sept was
presumably a case of post-breeding dispersal from nearby heathland. There were two records of
Firecrest which may be different birds, one seen with a tit flock near the sewage works at western
end of New Workings on 23rd Oct and one caught and ringed at Colebrook Lake on 25th Oct.
A roost of Starlings in the Manor Farm reedbed built up from several hundred in July to 2,400 in
early Nov and was regularly harried by one or two Sparrowhawk as they settled in the reeds at dusk.
The abundant weeds on the in-fill at the western end of New Workings attracted significant flocks of
finches at the end of the year, with over a hundred each of Linnets and Lesser Redpolls, whilst a
flock of up to 40 Chaffinches included a single Brambling on occasions. This area also proved
attractive to feeding Pied Wagtails with a peak count of 70 recorded on 21st Dec.
Winter visitors began to arrive in October and a Jack Snipe was seen on East Fen on 8th Oct,
probably helped by the low water levels bringing this very skulking species out into the open. A
Short-eared Owl was seen briefly on Manor Farm area on 22nd Oct by the Mammal Recorder and
helpers as they set live traps. Its failure to linger can be explained by the zero mammal capture rate
achieved which shows that rodent populations (and owl food) remained at a low ebb on the reserve.
The very mild weather during the first half of the winter no doubt contributed to relatively low
numbers of wintering waterfowl as some are likely to have “short-stopped” their migration and
remained on the Continent until forced to move by freezing weather. Despite this, a dusk count of
roosting Goosanders on 27th Dec found a very reasonable 40 birds on Grove Lake which, with a
simultaneous count of 37 at Bramshill (Hants), gives a total of at least 77 in the area. Finally, a roost
count of 115 Cormorant on 27th Nov at Grove Lake is believed to be a new record count for the site.
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Finally, I would like to finish by thanking all those observers who have submitted records and also to
my wife, Sarah, for her invaluable help in collating records for the report. I would encourage all
readers to submit their bird records, not just of the more unusual species, but also significant counts
of commoner species and records of breeding activity for all species so that we can continue to
closely monitor the bird populations of the reserve and recording area. See ‘Notes and Guidelines on
Recording’ elsewhere in this report for ways of submitting records.
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CHAPTER 4
MOOR GREEN LAKES BIRD RINGING PROJECT, 2015 REPORT
Reading and Basingstoke Ringing, January 2016
1 Introduction
This was the fifth year we have operated Moor Green Lakes as a routine ringing site to study the bird populations as they
develop and stabilise during the restoration programme. We intended to carry out at least one morning ringing session
each month throughout the year and we only managed eight sessions during 2015, largely because of awkward weather
conditions. In addition we ringed pulli (chicks) in the nest boxes. The Gull and Tern colony was established this year but
we did not manage to ring any of their chicks. All ringing, except the Barn Owls is carried out by Reading and
Basingstoke Ringing whose members are all volunteers who have the appropriate BTO Ringing Licenses. We have a web
site (www.rbringing.co.uk) which gives information about ringing in general and some of our projects.
2 Ornithological Objectives
The principal objectives of the ringing project are:
Add more detail to the excellent established MGLG bird recording system and help build a more complete record of the bird species and populations using the site.
Track changes in populations as the effects of the gravel extraction and restoration programme take effect.
3 Ringing Sites
The bushes and scrub along the west and north-west of Colebrook Lake provide an excellent ringing site with mixed
vegetation and a good population of birds at most times of the year and this area will probably remain our main ringing
base until the New Workings restoration has progressed a bit further. Potential ringing areas in the already restored
sections of the New Workings have been identified but these will probably only provide low numbers of species which
we wouldn’t expect to catch in our normal area and so will probably be targeted at specific times of the year.
Most of the birds except those in nest boxes are caught using mist nets which are typically set in lines 20 to 100m long,
with up to 300m of net being used during a session.
4 Ringing Results
A total of 493 birds of 36 species were ringed in 2015, this was a reasonable total and the variety was our best ever here.
This year we did 323 full grown birds of 34 species plus 170 pulli of 4 species, see Table 1. All recoveries which we
have details of involving Moor Green are presented in Table 2. The total of full grown birds ringed was reasonable and
the number of pulli ringed was our second best so far.
4.1 Gulls and Terns
The Common Tern and Black-headed Gull colonies were active this year but the amount of vegetation made it difficult to
see how the young were developing and it’s also possible that a fairly large proportion of the nesting attempts failed. As a
result no attempt was made to ring them this year.
It was a very good year for colour ringed Black-headed Gull sightings here this year with ten birds that we had ringed
elsewhere seen here plus one of the 2014 Moor Green birds and one from Wiltshire. Elsewhere there were reports of one
of the 2007 metal ringed Gulls and three other 2014 colour ringed Gulls. Full details are on Table 2.
4.2 Other Non-passerines
12 non-passerines of eight species were ringed in 2014. Once again Stock Doves used a number of the large boxes but we
only ringed three pulli this year. The other non-passerines included an adult Mandarin from a nest box, two birds of prey
and three Woodpeckers and two Kingfishers.
4.3 Warblers
It was a good year for warblers with 160 of nine species ringed. It was the second best year we’ve had for Whitethroats
but only one was retrapped from previous years.
http://www.rbringing.co.uk/
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Chiffchaff numbers were better than 2014 but not high and after 2014’s lack of Willow Warblers we did get two this
year which is still well down on previous years. In contrast numbers of Blackcaps and Garden Warblers were both the
second best we have had.
Goldcrest numbers were the highest we have had here and we also caught a lovely Firecrest.
4.4 Finches and Buntings
Very low numbers of finches were caught this year with five species represented; the number would almost certainly
been higher if we had managed more ringing sessions towards the end of the year. A few Reed Buntings were ringed this
year.
4.5 Other Passerines
As in previous years a reasonable variety of other passerines were caught and as would be expected Tits were well
represented. Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, and Song Thrushes were caught in reasonable numbers and we also caught a
single Dunnock and a Blackbird which had been ringed in 2010 and these were the oldest two passerines we’ve retrapped
here. We also managed a Jay and two Magpies which doubled the total of Magpies we’ve ringed here. One brood of
Jackdaws was also ringed.
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2007 2008 2009
P P Con. FG P Con. Total FG P Con. RC Total FG P Con. RC Total FG P Con. RC Total FG P Con. RC Total
Cormorant 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1
Mute Swan 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
Canada Goose 4 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 0 0
Mandarin Duck 2 2 2 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0
Sparrowhawk 0 2 0 2 0 0
Kestrel 0
Oystercatcher 1 1
Little Ringed Plover 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Black-headed Gull 79 2 0 5 1 6 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 35 1 4 40
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Common Tern 3 0 15 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove 1 24 25 1 25 0 26 19 0 19 1 14 0 15
Little Owl 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kingfisher 3 3 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0
Green Woodpecker 1 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 1 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 3 3 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
Grey Wagtail 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wren 6 6 10 2 12 11 1 12 12 2 14 20 1 21
Dunnock 8 8 16 3 19 10 5 15 16 5 21 16 4 20
Robin 11 11 23 1 24 19 4 23 12 2 14 19 3 22
Blackbird 9 9 14 4 18 9 5 14 15 5 20 10 7 17
Song Thrush 5 5 14 14 10 1 11 9 1 10 11 4 15
Redwing 0 0 1 0 1 6 0 6
Sedge Warbler 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Reed Warbler 3 3 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Lesser Whitethroat 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
Whitethroat 19 19 54 5 59 16 5 21 26 1 27 22 6 28
Garden Warbler 19 19 8 8 4 0 4 10 0 10 10 0 10
Blackcap 37 37 49 1 50 32 0 32 37 2 39 39 1 40
Chiffchaff 96 1 97 49 1 50 22 0 22 44 0 44 22 0 22
Willow Warbler 20 20 20 1 21 3 0 3 4 0 4 0 0
Goldcrest 7 7 21 1 22 8 1 9 7 0 7 12 0 12
Firecrest 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Long-tailed Tit 24 24 28 3 31 11 4 15 14 6 20 20 6 26
Coal Tit 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Blue Tit 55 55 65 4 69 21 8 29 24 31 3 58 33 43 1 77
Great Tit 39 39 45 6 51 32 5 37 13 41 2 56 11 134 5 150
Nuthatch 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 2
Treecreeper 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 3 0 3 0 0
Jay 4 4 3 3 2 1 3 0 0 1 2 3
Magpie 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Jackdaw 4 4 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 3
Carrion Crow 1 1
Chaffinch 1 1 4 4 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2
Greenfinch 4 4 18 18 16 1 17 4 0 4 1 0 1
Goldfinch 6 6 5 5 0 0 0 0 7 0 7
Siskin 7 7 21 21 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 1
Common Redpoll 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Lesser Redpoll 49 49 14 2 16 11 0 11 0 0 12 0 12
Bullfinch 4 4 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 3
Reed Bunting 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 3
Totals 81 5 4 444 23 4 471 499 28 4 35 566 254 27 3 42 326 265 93 2 30 390 285 230 2 46 563
Species 2 2 1 33 3 4 39 31 2 3 14 35 29 2 2 13 32 26 4 2 11 29 26 6 2 14 31
FG = Full grown P = Pulli (nestling) Con.=Control - Ringed elsewhere RC = Recapture from previous years
2014
Table 1: Moor Green Lakes Ringing Totals Page 1 of 2
Species2010 2011 20132012
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FG P Con. RC Total FG P Total All birds Pulli From MGL To MGL
Cormorant 0 0 0 0 0 421
Mute Swan 0 0 1 0 1 21 days
Canada Goose 0 0 1 2 3
Mandarin Duck 1 0 1 7 0 7 2 years 360 days
Sparrowhawk 1 1 2 3 0 3 1 year 356 days
Kestrel 1 0 1 1 0 1
Oystercatcher 0 0 0 1 1 20 days 20 days
Little Ringed Plover 0 0 0 2 2
Black-headed Gull 12 12 0 121 121 7 years 274 days 7 years 274 days 452 18
Lesser Black-backed Gull 0 0 0 0 0 119
Common Tern 0 0 0 18 18 10 days 10 days 11
Wood Pigeon 1 0 1 1 0 1
Stock Dove 3 0 3 3 85 88
Little Owl 0 0 1 3 4 20 days 20 days
Kingfisher 2 0 2 7 0 7
Green Woodpecker 2 0 2 7 0 7 1 year 60 days
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 0 1 9 0 9 14 days
Grey Wagtail 0 0 1 0 1
Wren 15 2 17 74 0 74 1 year 300 days
Dunnock 17 4 21 83 0 83 4 years 194 days
Robin 25 5 30 109 0 109 3 years 73 days
Blackbird 4 5 9 61 0 61 4 years 358 days
Song Thrush 5 1 6 54 0 54 3 years 31 days
Redwing 1 0 1 8 0 8
Sedge Warbler 1 0 1 4 0 4
Reed Warbler 1 0 1 7 0 7 21 days 71
Lesser Whitethroat 0 0 2 0 2
Whitethroat 38 1 39 175 0 175 1 year 328 days 7
Garden Warbler 16 0 16 67 0 67 62 days 10
Blackcap 40 1 41 234 0 234 1 year 279 days 117
Chiffchaff 36 0 36 269 0 269 224 days 24
Willow Warbler 2 0 2 49 0 49 329 days
Goldcrest 25 0 25 80 0 80 168 days
Firecrest 1 0 1 2 0 2
Long-tailed Tit 23 5 28 120 0 120 3 years 171 days
Coal Tit 0 0 1 0 1
Blue Tit 22 49 5 76 220 123 343 2 years 60 days 342 days
Great Tit 18 116 8 142 158 291 449 3 years 310 days 1 year 1 day
Nuthatch 0 0 3 0 3
Treecreeper 1 1 2 8 0 8 90 days 2 years 33 days
Jay 1 0 1 11 0 11 4 years 162 days
Magpie 2 0 2 4 0 4
Jackdaw 2 0 2 0 11 11
Carrion Crow 0 0 1 0 1
Chaffinch 1 0 1 12 0 12 27 days
Greenfinch 5 2 7 48 0 48 1 year 355 days
Goldfinch 4 0 4 22 0 22
Siskin 2 0 2 33 0 33
Common Redpoll 0 0 2 0 2
Lesser Redpoll 6 1 0 7 92 0 92 1 year 236 days 257 124
Bullfinch 0 0 7 0 7 2 years 347 days
Reed Bunting 2 1 3 8 0 8 1 year 264 days 8
Totals 323 170 1 54 548 2070 257 2727
Species 34 4 1 15 37 45 10 50
FG = Full grown FG = Full grownP = Pulli (nestling) RC = Recapture from previous years
2015Greatest distance
(km)
Page 2 of 2
Species
Table 1: Moor Green Lakes Ringing Totals
Total Ringed
Maximum 7
years 274 days
Maximum 7
years 274 days
Maximum
= 452 km
Maximum
= 119 km
Maximum time between ringing
& recapture (ringed at MGL)
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
18 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Table 2: Recoveries and significant retraps Page 1 of 2
Black-headed Gull
EW49043 1 04/06/2007 Moor Green Lakes LNR
VV 6 05/03/2015 Lea Farm Gravel Pit 11 km NNW 7 yrs 274 days
EY83095 1 22/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR
RR 5 20/02/2015 Pitsford Water, Northamptonshire 107 km N 243 days
EX10669
2Y69 1 07/07/2009 Cleveland Farm, Wiltshire
5 02/10/2011 Lavells Lake, Dinton Pastures, Hurst, Wokingham 75 km, ESE, 2 yrs 87 days
6 20/03/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR, West Berkshire 63 km, ESE, 3 yrs 256 days
6 11/04/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR, West Berkshire 63 km, ESE, 3 yrs 278 days
6 13/04/2013 Lea Farm Gravel Pit, Hurst, Wokingham 75 km, ESE, 3 yrs 280 days
6 17/04/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR, West Berkshire 63 km, ESE, 3 yrs 278 days
6 25/04/2014 Lea Farm Gravel Pit, Hurst, Wokingham 75 km, ESE, 4 yrs 292 days
6 06/03/2015 Lea Farm Gravel Pit, Hurst, Wokingham 75 km, ESE, 5 yrs 242 days
6 14/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 81 km, ESE, 5 yrs 281days
6 04/05/2015 Lea Farm Gravel Pit, Hurst, Wokingham 75 km, ESE, 5 yrs 301 days
EX30157
25C7 1 07/06/2010 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 27/06 to 01/07/2010 Hosehill Lake LNR 20 to 24 days
5 26/04/2011 Hosehill Lake LNR 323 days
5 06/06/2011 Dinton Pastures, Hurst, Wokingham 14km E 364 days
6 12/02/2012 Lavell’s Lake, Hurst, Wokingham 14km E 1 yr 219 days
6 15/03/2012 Lavell’s Lake, Hurst, Wokingham 14km E 1 yr 282 days
6 03/05/2012 Lavell’s Lake, Hurst, Wokingham 14km E 1 yr 331 days
6 05/05/2012 Hosehill Lake LNR 1 yr 333 days
6 26/02/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 3 years 264 days
6 15/03/2014 Lea Farm GP, Hurst, Wokingham 14km ENE 3 years 281 days
6 22/02/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 4 years 260 days
6 27 to 28/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 4 years 293 to 294 days
EX30342
24J2 1 11/06/2011 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 27 to 28/06/2011 Hosehill Lake LNR 16 to 17 days
5 07/05/2012 Hosehill Lake LNR 331 days
6 18/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 3 years 311 days
EX30389
28J9 1 16/06/2012 Hosehill Lake LNR
5 30/08 to 09/09/2013 Whitegate, Cork Harbour, Cork, Eire 495 km W 1 yr 75 to 85 days
5 25/09/2013 Whitegate, Cork Harbour, Cork, Eire 495 km W 1 yr 101 days
6 04/04/2014 Lea Farm GP, Hurst, Wokingham 14 km ENE 1 yr 292 days
6 21 to 22/04/2014 Hosehill Lake LNR 1 yr 309 to 310 days
6 08/05/2014 Hosehill Lake LNR 1 yr 326 days
6 02/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 2 yrs 259 days
6 23 to 28/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 2 yrs 280 to 285 days
6 18/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 2 yrs 306 days
EY09047
24K7 1 08/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 23/06 to 05/07/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR 15 to 27 days
6 28/03 to 16/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 293 to 312 days
EY09065
26K5 1 08/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 22/06 to 07/07/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR 14 to 29 days
5 08/04/2014 Mucking Flats, Mucking, Essex 105 km E 304 days
5 20/04/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 316 days
5 20/05 to 01/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 346 to 357 days
6 27/02 to 06/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 264 to 271 days
6 23/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 288 days
6 08/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 304 days
6 24/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 320 days
EY09067
26K7 1 08/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR
6 04/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 300 days
EY09087 1 08/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR
28K7 6 27/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 292 days
EY09126
22L6 1 15/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 26/06 to 07/07/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR Hosehill Lake LNR 11 to 22 days
5 29/04/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 318 days
5 30/05 to 01/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 349 to 350 days
6 23/03 to 04/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 286 to 293 days
6 05/06/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18 km ESE 1 year 355 days
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
19 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Table 2: Recoveries and significant retraps Page 2 of 2
EY09182
28L2 1 11/07/2013 Fleet Pond
3 04/08/2013 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 24 days
6 23/03/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 8km NNW 1 year 255 days
EY83065
26N5 1 14/06/2014 Hosehill Lake LNR
3 23/06 to 02/07/2014 Hosehill Lake LNR 9 to 18 days
3 10/09/2014 Burnthouse Lane Gravel Pits 5 km ESE 88 days
5 25/03 to 05/04/2015 Hosehill Lake LNR 284 to 295 days
5 13/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR, Wokingham 18km ESE 303 days
5 23/04 to 20/05/2015 Hosehill Lake LNR 313 to 340 days
5 19 to 20/06/2015 Tice's Meadow, Surrey 32km SE 1 yr 5 to 6 days
EY83144
24P4
1 22/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes
5 17/04/2015 Moor Green Lakes 299 days
EY83154
25P4 22/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes
04/05/2015 Tice's Meadow, Surrey 16 km SSE 316 days
EY83156
25P6 22/06/2014 Moor Green Lakes
15 to 23/06/2015 Hosehill Lake LNR 18 km WNW 358 days to 1 year 1 day
Lesser Redpoll
D709790 3 24/10/2013 Chobham Common: 51°22'N 0°37'W (SU9665) (Surrey)
R 6F 07/02/2015 Moor Green Lakes LNR 16km W 1 yr 106 days
Age: is given according to the EURING code. The f igures do not represent years and are based on plumage not the date the bird w as ringed.
1 = pullus (nestling or chick) 5 = hatched during previous calendar year
2 = fully grow n, year of hatching quite unknow n 6 = hatched before previous calendar year, but exact year unknow n
3 = hatched during calendar year 7 = definitely hatched tw o calendar years before ringing
3J = hatched during calendar year, still w ith juvenile body plumage 8 = hatched more than tw o calendar years before year of ringing
4 = hatched before calendar year, but exact year unknow n 9 = definitely hatched three years before ringing
Sex: M = male, F = female. When individuals are sexed on f inding, this is indicated by ‘=M’ or ‘=F’
Condition at recovery:
X = found dead V = alive and probably healthy, caught and released but not by a ringer
XF = found freshly dead or dying N = alive and probably healthy, caught and released but not by a ringer - nesting
XL = found dead (not recent) VV = alive and probably healthy, ring or colour marks read in the f ield but not by ringer
+ = shot or intentionally killed by man NN = alive and probably healthy, ring or colour marks read in the f ield but not by ringer - nesting
+F = shot or intentionally killed by man - fresh R = caught and released by ringer
A = alive and probably healthy - fate unknow n // = condition on f inding w holly unknow n
AC = alive and probably healthy - now captive
+L = shot or intentionally killed by man - not recent B = caught and released by ringer - nesting
SR = sick or injured, released w ith ring RR = alive and probably healthy, ring or colour marks read in the f ield by ringer
S = sick or injured - not know n to have been released BB = alive and probably healthy, ring or colour marks read in the f ield by ringer - nesting
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
20 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 5
NEST BOX RECORDING 2015
Recorders: Liz and Andy Scott
Introduction
2015 was our third year of Nest Box monitoring at Moor Green, so by now we were familiar with the
different spots around the site, and what to expect from different boxes as well as the ‘best boxes’ as
far as the breeding Blue and Great Tits were concerned. All the usual species made nesting attempts
in boxes on the site – Great Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Stock Dove, Mandarin Duck and Jackdaw, and
there were successes for all species this year, although not the bumper numbers of 2014 and with a
much higher failure rate for Great Tits.
Method
We checked boxes weekly from mid-April, making notes on the state of nest building, number of
cold and warm eggs, and number of chicks. More regular visits were required as the season
progressed to coincide with optimum chick size for ringing the chicks, when their flight feathers are
just beginning to break out of the feather sheaths. At this stage of feather growth the chicks’ legs are
suitably large to take the rings without them falling off, but still calm and placid enough to not risk
them trying to fledge early. This meant many visits during May, often three times per week, to ensure
the small time window for each brood of chicks was caught.
As with last year, the ringing process was the same. To ring the chicks we would first block up the
nest box hole with a cloth before removing the chicks and placing them into a cotton draw-string
processing bag. As each chick was ringed we would move it to a second “processed” bag, then when
all were done we would place them carefully back into the cup of the nest within the box, close up the
box and remove the cloth blocking the nest entrance. Blocking the entrance whilst ringing takes place
means there is no risk that returning parents can enter the nest box to be fooled into thinking their
young had fledged. The ringing operations were carried out as quickly as possible, and once
complete, we would depart from the vicinity of the nest box to ensure the parents would go back to
feeding promptly.
Large boxes could be discretely checked by holding a mobile phone just inside the hole and taking a
photo using the phone camera, which minimised disturbance to any chicks or sitting adults. This
proved not only useful but produced breeding evidence for the Mandarin Ducks of box 30 – see
below.
Results summary
Out of a total of 47 actual boxes across the site, 37 different boxes were occupied at some point over
the breeding season to at least egg laying stage, with 42 individual nesting attempts in these boxes, 29
of which were successful in fledging young. As with the previous year, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Stock
Dove, Mandarin Duck, Jackdaw and Nuthatch were the 6 species nesting in boxes on site.
A few figures – showing relative success rates for different species on site
Blue Tit nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 5
Blue Tit eggs counted in boxes: 53
Blue Tit pulli counted in boxes: 49 (of which 49 were ringed)
Blue Tit pulli fledged: 47
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
21 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
% of Blue Tit eggs hatched: 92%
% of Blue Tit eggs hatched and fledged: 89%
% of Blue Tit pulli fledged: 96% Highest brood size: 13 Blue Tit (box 5 – all 13 fledged)
Great Tit nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 22
Great Tit eggs counted in boxes: 173
Great Tit pulli counted in boxes: 144 (of which 116 were ringed)
Great Tit pulli fledged: 94
% of Great Tit eggs hatched: 83%
% of Great Tit eggs hatched and fledged: 54%
% of Great Tit pulli fledged: 65% Highest brood size: 10 Great Tit (box 5 –all 10 fledged)
Stock Dove nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 9
Stock Dove eggs counted in boxes: 18
Stock Dove pulli counted in boxes: 17 (of which 10 were ringed)
Stock Dove pulli fledged: 12
% of Stock Dove eggs hatched: 94%
% of Stock Dove eggs hatched and fledged: 67%
% of Stock Dove pulli fledged: 71%
Mandarin Duck nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 5
Mandarin Duck eggs counted in boxes: 56
Mandarin Duck pulli counted in boxes: 4
% of Mandarin Duck eggs hatched: 7% Highest clutch size: 19 (probably multiple laying attempts, did not succeed)
Jackdaw nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 1 (box 39)
Jackdaw eggs counted in boxes: 5
Jackdaw pulli counted in boxes: 3 (of which 2 ringed)
Jackdaw pulli fledged: 2
% of Jackdaw eggs hatched: 60%
% of Jackdaw eggs hatched and fledged: 40%
% of Jackdaw pulli fledged: 67%
Nuthatch nest attempts reaching at least egg stage: 1 (box 44)
Nuthatch eggs counted in boxes: not counted
Nuthatch pulli counted: not counted
Nuthatch pulli fledged: not counted
% of Nuthatch pulli fledged: unknown, unable to view inside this box this season
Notable nest box stories
Each year the Mandarin Ducks make a number of nesting attempts and we have been successful in
carefully capturing some of the females as they sit tight on their nest. Once we have ringed the
female, we can then make further checks on the status of the box by taking a photo of the box
contents using a mobile phone camera, which stops the need to open the box and cause further
disturbance. On 16 May a photo taken inside box 30 revealed the female still incubating. On 24 May
2015 we were fortunate enough to capture a photo within the short time window of only a couple of
days between the ducklings hatching and jumping out of the box. The photos below show female
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
22 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Mandarin FH37342 first incubating and then with her ducklings in box 30. A visit shortly afterwards
revealed a box with a number of empty eggshells and no sign of dead or chicks, indicating our first
confirmed nest success for this species.
Left: Mandarin sitting, 16 May 2015. Right: Mandarin with young, 24 May 2015.
As with previous years, the bridleway continued to be the top spot for maximum number of chicks
successfully fledged for both Blue Tit and Great Tit per nest, presumably due to the density of large
mature oaks providing caterpillars. This year it was box 5 (rather than box 4) which was occupied by
Blue Tits with the highest clutch size of 13 which topped last year’s 12.
What appeared to start off looking like a bumper year for Great Tits unfortunately ended up with
many failed nests, which reflects what we had read from reports around the country, with many nests
failing at the point where the young are at their most demanding (around 10-12 days old). We ended
up with a fledging rate of only 65% for Great Tits compared with 83% in 2014, with several nest
checks revealing all young dead at around this age. Blue Tits meanwhile, which nest in smaller
numbers at Moor Green, fared much better with a 96% fledging rate compared with 100% in 2014.
Stock Doves continue to do well at Moor Green, with nest attempts continuing from early spring until
the autumn.
A new box 52 (see below) sited in the copse north of Honey Field was immediately occupied by Blue
Tits, and went on to be a successful nest with all chicks fledged.
This year the Nuthatches in box 44 were determined to keep out intruders and mud-welded their box
well and truly shut, making it impossible for us to check this box without risk of destroying the nest
structure. The box was observed to have feeding activity but no fledging success could be confirmed.
Nest box maintenance
We sited a new woodcrete box with a 28mm hole within the copse north of Honey Field, which was
immediately occupied by Blue Tits (box 52).
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
23 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Over the season we replaced a number of nails on which the woodcrete boxes hang with aluminium
nails. Several of the large boxes received minor repairs and new lids.
Conclusions
What started out looking like a bumper year unfortunately took a turn for the worse during the period
when many Great Tit nests were at their most critical stage with young at their most demanding. We
had read reports from around the country of Great Tit nests failing early and had thought early on that
Moor Green was bucking the trend, but sadly we had many failures later on when the chicks were
bigger. However, it was certainly not an outright failure of a year, with still a majority of Great Tit
nests succeeding, a high success rate for the later nesting Blue Tits, and our first ever recorded
evidence of nesting success for Mandarin Duck.
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
24 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Species Year* Nests Eggs
1st Egg
Date Hatched
Hatch
Date Fledged
Fledge
Date
Jackdaw 2014 1 5 10-Apr 3 29-Apr 3 30-May
2015 1 5 10-Apr 3 30-Apr 2 31-May
Nuthatch 2014 1 6 - 6 - 6 -
2015 1 - - - - - -
Blue Tit 2007 11 98 12-Apr 77 03-May 77 20-May
2008 9 86 16-Apr 37 09-May 36 28-May
2009 5 46 18-Apr 28 10-May 27 29-May
2010 8 67 16-Apr 20 10-May 8 27-May
2011 7 63 12-Apr 49 11-May 38 25-May
2013 8 61 NA 44 NA 43 NA
2014 5 47 13-Apr 45 04-May 45 23-May
2015 5 53 10-Apr 49 08-May 47 27-May
Great Tit 2007 17 155 12-Apr 110 03-May 97 20-May
2008 22 183 16-Apr 137 08-May 121 26-May
2009 26 260 09-Apr 218 02-May 214 20-May
2010 24 200 22-Apr 145 14-May 120 30-May
2011 21 203 07-Apr 176 01-May 163 18-May
2013 14 89 NA 59 NA 42 NA
2014 20 159 09-Apr 138 29-Apr 119 17-May
2015 22 173 07-Apr 144 29-Apr 94 17-May
Mandarin Duck 2007 5 41 28-Mar 36 08-May - -
2008 5 44 20-Apr 35 29-May - -
2009 4 46 10-Apr 33 18-May - -
2010 5 77 11-Apr 58 30-May - -
2011 5 76 03-Apr 21 20-May - -
2013 4 46 NA 0 NA - -
2014 3 19 NA 0 NA - -
2015 5 56 NA 4+ NA 4+ 24-May
Stock Dove 2007 7 14 01-Apr 7 22-Apr 3 22-May
2008 4 5 15-Apr 2 08-May 2 05-Jun
2009 7 12 30-Mar 8 21-Apr 5 22-May
2010 17 36 23-Apr 18 30-Apr 11 20-May
2011 13 25 02-Mar 19 25-Apr 15 20-May
2013 22 50 NA 25 NA 24 NA
2014 16 29 26-Mar 18 05-May 15 14-May
2015 9 18 28-Mar 17 19-Apr 12 17-May
Notes: * - no data available for 2012, NA - data Not Available.
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
25 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 6
REPORT ON DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES FOR 2015
Recorder: Stuart Croft
Dragonflies and damselflies (known collectively as Odonata) were
surveyed at Moor Green Lakes on seven occasions from 6th
May to
29th
October 2015, in order to identify the species which emerge at
different times of the year. In total 15 species were recorded,
building on the previous survey by Chris Bean in 2013.
The transect route was split in two, firstly from the car park to
Colebrook Hide, and secondly along the three lake edges bordering
the central access track. The British Dragonfly Society recording
sheet was used to record logarithmic abundance and life cycle
stage. Since Odonata can travel many miles, evidence of species
attempting to breed was collected by observing pairs in-copulation
(paired up), ovipositing (egg-laying), or the larva nymph stage
emerging at the lake edge as adults and leaving their sloughed
exuvia behind. Due to the abundance of lake-edge habitat no
exuviae were collected, although a couple of adults were seen
emerging from their exuvia.
DRAGONFLIES Anisoptera
Species Peak Count
*
Breeding evidence *
Pairs In-
copulation
Ovipositing
females
Emerging
adults
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea B
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis B
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta C B B
Emperor Anax imperator C A
Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea A
Broad- bodied
Chaser Libellula depressa B B
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata B
Black-tailed
skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum C B
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum B B A
* Abundance key: A = 1, B = 2-5, C = 6-20, D = 21-100, E = 101-500, F = 500+
Black-tailed skimmer emerging
from exuvia at Grove Lake
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
26 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
DAMSELFLIES Zygoptera
Species Peak Count
*
Breeding evidence *
Pairs In-
copulation
Ovipositing
females
Emerging
adults
Common Blue Enallagama cyathigerum F F D
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens D
Blue-tailed Ischnura elegans F D C
Red-eyed Erythromma najas E C D
Large red Pyrrhosoma nymphula B
* Abundance key: A = 1, B = 2-5, C = 6-20, D = 21-100, E = 101-500, F = 500+
It was good to find breeding evidence for 8 of the 15 species recorded, since some species were
unlikely to be recorded. For example Banded Demoiselle which breeds predominantly in rivers (not
covered in the survey), and Downy Emerald which can emerge up trees several metres back from the
water’s edge. The new record of an adult Downy Emerald is likely to be a consequence of succession
since it favours wooded lake margins. Elsewhere the more open habitats of Colebrook Scrape, the
SW corner of Grove Lake and the SE corner of Colebrook Lake North all proved to be important
habitats for a range of species. Black-tailed skimmers were often found basking on the bare ground
left by fire sites or on the footpath. The species count has increased by five from the last survey, with
the notable absence of azure damselflies, however it is now known that the sheltered NW corner of
Colebrook Lake North is a frequented spot which wasn’t included on this survey.
Future surveys could include other niches such as the ditch between Grove Lake and Colebrook Lake
South where a golden-ringed dragonfly was spotted in 2014, or smaller isolated water bodies such as
the rushy scrapes for the incredibly well camouflaged emerald damselflies.
Thank you to Chris Bean for his help setting up the survey. If anyone would like to help out with
dragonfly surveys, or has any sightings, please contact Stuart Croft at: [email protected], Tel.
01252 331353 or BVCP, Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 2PS.
mailto:[email protected]
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
27 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 7
ANNUAL BUTTERFLY REPORT 2015
Recorder : John Westmacott
After last year’s excitement with the appearance of a number of rare species in the UK, 2015 was
rather more mundane. The weather began well and forecasters promised a dry and warm summer,
but in the event there was a shortage of sunshine, with often cool and sometimes damp conditions.
Autumn improved, but too late for most of the butterflies. Despite this 24 species were recorded on
the reserve, though numbers of individuals was generally down.
Last year the first record was made on 9th
March, but this year it was not until the 27th
that a Comma
was seen, followed four days later by two Red Admirals. In April Peacocks flourished, 14 being
seen on both 14th
and 15th
of the month. Other brown butterflies were Red Admiral (maximum 3),
Comma (5), Speckled Wood (6) and Small Tortoiseshell (4). A Holly Blue was recorded on 15th
and 21st. Of the whites, Orange Tips were the most prolific with 11 on the 27
th. Brimstone (8),
Green-Veined White (8), Large White (1) and Small White (1) made up the numbers for 11
species for the month.
In May both Peacock and Speckled Wood recorded nine individuals, as did Green-Veined White
and Orange Tip, with Brimstone (7), Large White (2) and Small White (1) contributing to the
white numbers. The first Small Copper (2) was seen on 11th
, and Common Blue (3) appeared on
16th
. These, with Holly Blue (2), Small Tortoiseshell (2) and Comma (1), made up the total of 12
species for the month.
Twelve species were also recorded during June; the
highlight being a single Green Hairstreak, the first
since 2012, on the 4th
. Meadow butterflies began to
fly late in the month; 49 Meadow Browns being
recorded on 25th
, along with nine Marbled Whites.
Speckled Woods numbered 10 on the 18th
, when
seven Large Skippers were also recorded. Others
seen were Brimstone (3), Common Blue (3) and
singletons of Green-Veined White, Red Admiral,
Painted Lady, Peacock, and Comma.
July produced 19 species, the meadow butterflies being the most recorded with 67 Meadow Browns,
and 24 Ringlets on 9th
, and 28 Gatekeepers on 16th
. Marbled Whites (4) continued through the
month, and the Skippers flourished briefly; Small Skipper (11), Essex Skipper (4) and Large
Skipper (10). The Whites maintained their presence throughout the month with Large White (5),
Small White (9) and Green-Veined White (5). The first Purple Hairstreak (4) was seen on the
11th
, another Holly Blue on 16th
, a Common Blue on 31st, and two Painted Ladies on the 7
th. Red
Admiral (2), Small Tortoiseshell (3), Peacock (1), Comma (9), and Speckled Wood (5) completed
the tally.
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
28 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
August was nearly as prolific as July with 17 species recorded
and, for the third year running, a Clouded Yellow appeared, a
single butterfly on the 28th
. A number of species made their
final appearance of the year; Small Skipper (2), Essex Skipper
(1), Purple Hairstreak (1), Holly Blue (2), Painted Lady (1),
Peacock (1), and Comma (1). Of the rest, Small Copper (2),
Gatekeeper (15), Meadow Brown (29), Speckled Wood (14),
Large White (6), Small White (5), Green-Veined White (5),
Red Admiral (2), and Common Blue (5) continued on into
September.
Ten species were seen during September but only Speckled Wood (13) and Meadow Brown (4)
produced more than singletons. The balance was made up of Brimstone, Large White, Small
White, Green-Veined White, Small Copper, Common Blue, Red Admiral and Gatekeeper. On
29th
September the last species to appear during 2015 was recorded, a single Speckled Wood,
bringing down the curtain a full month earlier than last year.
The total number of species recorded was 24 made up of Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large
Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip,
Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral,
Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper,
Meadow Brown and Ringlet.
My thanks to the observers who added their sightings to the record sheets – AH, IRO, MK, CDT,
RCM, L&PK.
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
29 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
MOOR GREEN LAKES BUTTERFLIES - MAXIMUM MONTHLY COUNTS - 2015
SPECIES Jan-Mar April May June July August Sept Oct-Dec Small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) 11 2 Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) 4 1 Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) 7 10 Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) 1 Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) 8 7 3 1 Large White (Pieris brassicae) 1 2 5 6 1 Small White (Pieris rapae) 1 1 9 5 1 Green-veined White (Pieris napi) 8 9 1 5 5 1 Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) 11 9 Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) 1 Purple Hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) 4 1 Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) 2 2 1 Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) 3 3 1 5 1 Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) 1 2 1 2 White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 2 3 1 3 2 1 Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) 1 2 1 Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 4 2 3 Peacock (Inachis io) 14 9 1 1 1 Comma (Polygonia c-album) 1 5 1 1 9 1 Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) 6 9 10 5 14 13 Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) 9 4 Grayling (Hipparchia semele) Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) 28 15 1 Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) 49 67 29 4 Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) 24 Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
30 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
MOOR GREEN LAKES BUTTERFLIES - MAXIMUM ANNUAL COUNT - 2000-2015
SPECIES 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) 15 3 16 5 6 20 2 7 2 2 2 20 5 5 1 11
Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola) 4 5 8 4 5 5 1 5 1 2 4 3 4 4
Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) 29 7 28 20 6 6 4 4 8 31 24 33 3 8 9 10
Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) 2 1 1 1 2 1
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) 4 12 10 12 23 17 29 23 10 12 13 14 3 10 8 8
Large White (Pieris brassicae) 10 22 23 15 51 20 22 9 10 17 8 9 1 9 3 6
Small White (Pieris rapae) 8 10 19 13 37 6 7 5 5 16 6 8 2 8 4 9
Green-veined White (Pieris napi) 4 6 6 5 12 16 6 4 5 11 25 12 4 13 12 9
Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) 10 14 20 20 18 45 27 20 9 20 13 37 12 2 11 11
Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 8 1 1
Purple Hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) 3 2 2 2 5 3 2 2 6 18 11 9 4 6 4
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) 2 4 5 10 1 1 1 3 6 27 7 4 9 2
Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) 6
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) 2 3 6 7 4 7 6 2 2 4 55 15 4 12 3 5
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) 7 7 2 7 2 4 2 5 1 3 2 1 1 2 2
White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) 1 1 1 Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) 1
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 7 5 6 12 4 6 8 14 2 5 4 15 9 3 7 3
Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui) 3 1 1 7 2 1 1 1 38 1 1 1 2
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 3 2 4 10 8 3 6 2 1 2 4 12 2 4 12 4
Peacock (Inachis io) 9 18 18 10 14 6 7 16 7 11 20 7 5 13 10 14
Comma (Polygonia c-album) 17 8 11 12 20 12 24 10 5 40 24 7 4 16 5 9
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) 1
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) 1
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) 19 10 30 36 35 50 30 28 30 35 29 41 17 16 20 14
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) 1 2 1 3 2 3 7 4 9 9 9 Grayling (Hipparchia semele) 1 1 1 1 1 1 Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) 60 150 80 35 83 300 55 32 29 32 170 134 42 45 66 28
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) 100 40 85 50 60 150 50 30 35 34 150 95 82 115 78 67
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) 50 17 45 42 60 60 26 9 23 80 80 74 15 40 44 24
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) 1 1 2 1 1
The emboldened figures show the highest count for each species over the whole period
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
31 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 8
FUNGUS SURVEYS AND FORAYS 2015
Recorder: Mike Waterman
Introduction
This was my second season with the responsibility for fungi recording over a complete year, so I had
some general expectations based on last year’s observations. Normally I worked alone, but one
foray (20 Oct) was led for the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust. These groups should mean that
we manage to find more species but then the danger of double counting has to be carefully avoided.
Different routes were used for each survey in order to ensure that all parts of the reserve were visited
at least twice and sometimes going clockwise and sometimes anticlockwise. I do not usually list or
attempt to identify fungi which just form a crust on the surface of plants or wood as I lack the time or
literature for these.
General Comments
2015 was a fairly normal year compared to the dry early autumn in 2014. I identified 57 different
fungi in 2015.
The fungi found most times were the small bracket-like gill fungi Crepidotus cesatii and the very
similar Crepidotus variabilis both found six times; but each only on two forays. Possibly Lepista
flaccida was seen more times.
Results
The fungi found on most forays were the small cream bracket-like Byssomerulius corium and the
black Xylaria hypoxylon: both on four forays. Both also grow on wood, and fungi on wood often
seem to have a longer season than fungi growing on the soil.
The rare Clitocybe houghtonii found in 2014 came up in the same place again, but I probably missed
the main fruiting as I only found one old specimen. The uncommon poisonous yellow Lepiota
subincarnata was found beside the path between river and car park. Oudemansiella mucida was
unexpected; it normally grows on Beech, but sometimes grows on other wood, in this case it was
found on Oak. You can thank the cattle for Panaeolus semiovatus, which grows on dung or well
manured soil. Tricholoma cingulatum (see photo) is uncommon; it only grows around Willow, it is
unusual for a Tricholoma in having a ring on the stem. Another specialist fungus is Tubaria dispersa
which likes Hawthorn; it came up in large numbers in the same place as previous years.
The results are presented in two tables; the first summarises
observations covering ten visits: Feb10, Mar31, May13, Aug3,
Aug22, Oct1, Oct20, Nov6 and Dec8 while the second gives
specific information covering the BVCT foray on Oct 20.
(An explanation of the terminology and abbreviations used in
the table is given after the end of the table.)
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32 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Table 1 – Summary all Surveys/Forays 2015
Species Feb10 Mar31 May13 Jun25 Aug3 Aug22 Oct1 Oct20 Nov6 Dec8 Total GBrec English name
Agarics unidentified . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 n/a
Agrocybe unidentified . 1 . . . . . . . . 1 n/a
Amanita muscaria . . . . . . 3 Y 2 . 5 5042 Fly Agaric
Annulohypoxylon multiforme . . . . . . 1 Y 1 . 2 3631 Birch Woodwart
Boletus cisalpinus . . . . 1 . . . . . 1 59
Boletus subtomentosus . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 2101 Suede Bolete
Boletus unidentified . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 n/a
Byssomerulius corium . . . . . . 1 Y 1 1 3 1630 Netted Crust
Calocybe gambosa . . 1 . . . . . . . 1 1506 St. George's Mushroom
Chlorophyllum rachodes . . . . . . . Y . . Y 3739 Shaggy Parasol
Chondrostereum purpureum . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 2225 Silverleaf Fungus
Clitocybe gibba . . . . . . 2 . . . 2 2191 Common Funnel
Clitocybe houghtonii . . . . . . . . . Y Y 117
Clitocybe nebularis . . . . . . 1 . 1 . 2 4041 Clouded Funnel
Cortinarius unidentified . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 n/a
Crepidotus cesatii . . . . . . . . 2 4 6 468
Crepidotus unidentified . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 n/a
Crepidotus variabilis . . . . . . . Y 5 . 5 2752 Variable Oysterling
Dacrymyces stillatus . . . . . . . . . 1 1 4905 Common Jelly Spot
Galerina unidentified . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 n/a
Ganoderma australe . . . . . . . Y . . Y 3103 Southern Bracket
Gymnopus dryophilus . . . . . 3 . . . . 3 6151 Russet Toughshank
Helvella crispa . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1406 White Saddle
Hygrocybe conica . . . . . . . Y 2 . 2 4922 Blackening Waxcap
Hygrocybe miniata . . . . . . . . 2 . 2 1145 Vermilion Waxcap
Hygrocybe virginea . . . . . . . Y 5 . 5 5183 Snowy Waxcap
Hyphodontia sambuci . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 1593 Elder Whitewash
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33 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Hypholoma fasciculare . . . . . . 1 Y 2 . 3 10091 Sulphur Tuft
Hypoxylon fuscum . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 2458 Hazel Woodwart
Laccaria amethystina . . . . . . . Y . . Y 4438 Amethyst Deceiver
Laccaria laccata . . . . . . 1 Y . . 1 7958 Deceiver
Leccinum scabrum . . . . . . . Y . . Y 3577 Brown Birch Bolete
Lepiota subincarnata . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 105 Fatal Dapperling
Lepiota unidentified . . . . . 1 . Y . . 1 n/a
Lepista flaccida . . . . . . 1 Y 1 . 2 2806 Tawny Funnel
Lepista nuda . . . . . . . Y . . Y 3574 Wood Blewit
Lycoperdon perlatum . . . . . . 1 Y . . 1 5772 Common Puffball
Macrolepiota procera . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1718 Parasol
Marasmius rotula . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 2367 Collared Parachute
Mutinus caninus . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1902 Dog Stinkhorn
Mycena acicula . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1110 Orange Bonnet
Mycena galericulata . . . . . . . Y . . Y 6842 Common Bonnet
Mycena pura . . . . . . . Y . . Y 3776 Lilac Bonnet
Mycena unidentified . . . . . . . Y . . Y n/a
Mycena vitilis . . . . . . . Y 2 2 4 2229 Snapping Bonnet
Nectria cinnabarina . . . . . . . . . 1 1 4830 Coral Spot
Oudemansiella mucida . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1872 Porcelain Fungus
Panaeolus semiovatus . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1165 Egghead Mottlegill
Paxillus involutus . . . . . . 2 Y 1 . 3 6845 Brown Rollrim
Phlebia tremellosa . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1620 Jelly Rot
Piptoporus betulinus . . . . . . . Y 1 . 1 6850 Birch Polypore/ Razorstrop
Fungus
Pluteus cervinus . . . . . . . Y . . Y 6014 Deer Shield
Pluteus salicinus . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 1455 Willow Shield
Psathyrella candolleana . . . . 1 2 . . . . 3 2637 Pale Brittlestem
Psathyrella unidentified . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 n/a
Rhodocollybia butyracea . . . . . . . Y 1 . 1 6476 Butter Cap
Russula ochroleuca . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 6650 Ochre Brittlegill
Schizopora paradoxa . . . . . . . Y . . Y 2805 Split Porecrust
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
34 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Scleroderma verrucosum . . . . . . . Y . . Y 1911 Scaly Earthball
Stereum gausapatum . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 1699 Bleeding Oak Crust
Stereum hirsutum 1 . . . . . . . . . 1 9134 Hairy Curtain Crust
Stereum hirsutum? . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 9134 Hairy Curtain Crust
Trametes versicolor . . . . . . . Y 1 . 1 9462 Turkeytail
Tricholoma cingulatum . . . . . . . Y Y . Y 245 Girdled Knight
Tubaria dispersa . . . . . 1 1 Y . . 2 509
Xylaria hypoxylon . . . . . . 1 Y 1 2 4 8906 Candlesnuff Fungus
Total 1 1 1 . 2 12 22 Y 36 12 87
Terminology and Abbreviations for Fungi Table
The numbers in the Table are numbers of "finds", where for fungi on wood several fruitbodies on 1 tree count as 1, and for soil/litter fungi several
fruitbodies within 5 metres count as 1.
"Y" means fungus seen but not counted numerically; this is normal for forays where I lead and several other people help because there is too little
time and a fungus might get counted several times. "Y" is also used when a poor specimen is found but only identified because it is an easily-
identified fungus. In the totals: Y+Y=Y, number+Y=number.
Column GBrec is the number of records in British Fungi Records Database (a.k.a. FRDBI) http://www.fieldmycology.net/GBCHKLST around the
year 2007 and gives an indication of how common it is. Approximately: less than 100 indicates rare and more than 1000 indicates common.
Boletus cisalpinus has a low GBrec because it was only recently separated from B. chrysenteron; whereas Clitocybe houghtonii is defintely rare-ish.
http://www.fieldmycology.net/GBCHKLST
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
35 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
CHAPTER 9
REPORT ON MOTHS (HETEROCERA) FOR 2015
Recorder: Ian Sims
2015 was marked by two very successful “mothing” events, namely a BENHS field meeting on
13/6/15 and the pre-open day moth recording on 22/8/15.
The full species list for both events (see Table below) shows that 103 species of macrolepidoptera
(including one butterfly, the marbled white), and 21 species of microlepidoptera were recorded
during these events. The most notable species were:
Poplar lutestring Tethea or ([D. & S.])
Sandy carpet Perizoma flavofasciata (Thunb.)
Pine hawk Hyloicus pinastri (Linn.)
Eyed hawk Smerinthus ocellata (Linn.)
Small elephant hawk Deilephila porcellus (Linn.)
Beautiful yellow underwing Anatra myrtilli (Linn.)
Bird’s wing Dypterygia scabriuscula (Linn.)
Double kidney Ipimorpha retusa (Linn.)
Rufous minor Oligia versicolor( Borkh.)
Webb’s wainscot Archanara sparganii (Esp.) Double Kidney – by Graham Wenman
The blackneck Lygephila pastinum (Treit.)
The Double kidney is especially noteworthy, being known from only a few 10km squares in
Berkshire. The Beautiful yellow underwing is an unusual record for the site, given its larval food
plants are heathers. However, heathers are found on the Finchampsted Ridges to the north,
overlooking Moor Green Lakes, so it is perhaps not that surprising this species was recorded here.
The Bird’s wing is a species that has become a lot less frequent over the past 10 years or so and as
such is a good record for the site.
Webb’s wainscot is also known from few 10km squares in Berkshire, but may be increasing its
range. It was recorded by members of the Berkshire Moth Group at Wildmoor Heath on the same
night (22/8/16) as those seen at Moor Green. On the other hand, the Bird’s wing, Blackneck and
Sandy carpet are all species whose populations are declining nationally.
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
36 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
Bradley & Family Genus Species Author Common name Larval food plant
Fletcher
Number
14 HEPIALIDAE Hepialus humuli (Linn.) Ghost Moth Roots of grasses
15 sylvina (Linn.) Orange Swift Roots of bracken (Pteridium spp.)
17 lupulinus (Linn.) Common Swift Roots of grasses
123 TISCHERIIDAE Tischeria ekebladella (Bjerk.) Mines oak leaves (Quercus robor)
171 ZYGAENIDAE Zygaena lonicerae (Schev.) Narrow-bordered Five-spot
Burnet
Bird's-foot trefoil
385 CHOREUTIDAE Anthophila fabriciana (Linn.) Nettle tap Stinging nettle (Urtica)
464 YPONOMEUTIDAE Plutella xylostella (Linn.) Diamond-back Moth Cruciferae
517 COLEOPHORIDAE Coleophora frischella (Linn.) Small Clover Case-bearer In case on white clover
518 mayrella (Hübn.) In case on white clover
937 TORTRICIDAE Agapeta hamana (Linn.) Grasses
969 Pandemis corylana (Fab.) Polyphagous on trees
972 heparana ([D. & S.]) Polyphagous on trees
952 Archips podana (Scopl.) Polyphagous on trees
977 Hedya pruniata (Hübn.) Prunus spp.
1024 Cnephaxa incertana (Treit.) Low-growing plants
1293 Chrysotenchia culmella (Linn.) Grasses
1331 Acentra ephemerella ([D. & S.]) Water veneer Submerged aquatic plants
1033 Tortrix viridana (Linn.) Green Oak Tortrix Oak and other deciduous trees
1405 PYRALIDAE Pleuroptya ruralis (Scop.) Mother of pearl Stinging nettles
1054 Acleris cristana ([D. & S.]) Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
1076 Oletheutes lacunana ([D. & S.]) Low-growing plants
1082 Hedya nubiferana (Haw.) Rosaseous trees, apple
1376 Anania hortulata (Linn.) Small magpie Dead nettles
1333 Scoparia pyralella ([D. & S.]) Wilted leavs
1620 NYMPHALIDAE Melanargia galathea (Linn.) Marbled White Grasses
1648 DREPANIDAE Drepana falcataria (Linn.) Pebble Hook-tip Birch and alder
1655 THYRATIRIDAE Tethea or ([D. & S.]) Poplar lutestring Poplar
1680 GEOMETRIDAE Cyclophora punctaria (Linn.) Maiden's Blush Oak
1727 Xanthorhoe montanata ([D. & S.]) Silver-ground Carpet Bedstraws etc.
1732 Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linn.) Shaded Broad-bar Vetch, clover
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1738 Epirrhoe alternata (Mull.) Common Carpet Bedstraws
1742 Camptogramma bilineata (Linn.) Yellow Shell Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
1752 Cosmorhoe ocellata (Linn.) Purple Bar Bedstraws
1758 Eulithis pyraliata ([D. & S.]) Barred Straw Bedstraws
1764 Chloroclysta truncata (Hufn.) Common Marbled Carpet Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1767 Thera firmata (Hb.) Pine Carpet Scots pine
1768 obeliscata (Hb.) Grey Pine Carpet Pinus, Picea, Douglas fir
1776 Colostygia pectinataria (Knoch) Green Carpet Bedstraws
1778 Hydriomena impluviata ([D. & S.]) May Highflyer Alder
1794 Euphyia unangulata (Haw.) Sharp-angled Carpet Stitchworts
1807 Perizoma albulata ([D. & S.]) Grass Rivulet Yellow rattle seeds
1808 flavofasciata (Thunb.) Sandy Carpet Hemp-nettle, flowers & seeds
1819 Eupithecia exiguata (Hb.) Mottled Pug Hawthorn & blackthorn
1825 centaureata ([D. & S.]) Lime-speck Pug Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
1834 vulgata (Haw.) Common Pug Polyphagous on herbaceous plants & trees
1837 subfuscata (Haw.) Grey Pug Polyphagous on herbaceous plants & trees
1839 succenturiata (Linn.) Bordered Pug Mugwort (Artemisea vulgaris)
1882 Pterapherapteryx sexalata (Retz.) Small Seraphim Sallows
1887 Lomaspilis marginata (Linn.) Clouded Border Sallows & poplars
1893 Semiothisa liturata (Cl.) Tawny-barred Angle Scots pine & others
1902 Petrophora chlorosata (Scop.) Brown Silver-line Bracken
1904 Plagodis dolabraria (Linn.) Scorched Wing Oak, birch, sallows
1906 Opisthograptis luteolata (Linn.) Brimstone Moth Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1931 Biston betularia (Linn.) Peppered Moth Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1937 Peribatodes rhomboidaria ([D. & S.]) Willow Beauty Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1941 Alcis repandata (Linn.) Mottled Beauty Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1944 Serraca punctinalis (Scop.) Pale Oak Beauty Oak, birch, sallow & sycamore
1955 Cabera pusaria (Linn.) Common White Wave Polyphagous on deciduous trees & shrubs
1956 exanthemata (Scop.) Common Wave Sallow & poplars
1958 Lomographa temerata ([D. & S.]) Clouded Silver Rosaceous trees, aspen
1961 Campaea margaritata (Linn.) Light Emerald Polyphagous on deciduous trees
1978 SPHINGOIDAE Hyloicus pinastri (Linn.) Pine Hawk-moth Pines
1980 Smerinthus ocellata (Linn.) Eyed Hawk-moth Sallow & apple
1981 Lathoe populi (Linn.) Poplar Hawk-moth Poplars & sallow
1991 Deilephila elpenor (Linn.) Elephant Hawk-moth Rosebay willowherb, bedstraws, fuchsia &
Moor Green Lakes Group Annual Report 2015
38 Copyright © 2016 Moor Green Lakes Group
balsam
1992 Deilephila porcellus (Linn.) Small Elephant Hawk-moth Bedstraws, Sorrel, Fuchsia
1994 NOTODONTIDAE Phalera bucephala (Linn.) Buff-tip Polyphagous on deciduous trees & shrubs
2000 Notodonta dromedarius (Linn.) Iron Prominent Birch & alder
2006 Pheosia gnoma (Fabr.) Lesser Swallow Prominent Birch
2007 Pheosia tremula (Cl.) Swallow Prominent Poplar & sallow
2014 Drymonia dodonaea ([D. & S.]) Marbled Brown Oak
2028 Calliteara pudibunda (Linn.) Pale Tussock Polyphagous on deciduous trees, hop
2030 Euproctis similis (Fuessl.) Yellow-tail (Larva) Polyphagous on deciduous trees & shrubs
2060 ARCTIIDAE Spilosoms lubricipede (Kinn.) White Ermine Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2061 lutea (Hufn.) Buff Ermine Polyphagous on deciduous trees & shrubs
2064 Phragmatobia fuliginosa (Linn.) Ruby Tiger Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2069 Tyria jacobaeae (Linn.) Cinnabar Common ragwort
2078 NOLIDAE Nola confusalis (H.-S.) Least Black Arches Lime, evergreen oak, beech, blackthorn
2089 NOCTUIDAE Agrotis exclamationis (Linn.) Heart & Dart Polyphagous on herbaceous & garden plants
2098 Axylia putris (Linn.) The Flame Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2102 Ochropleura plecta (Linn.) Flame-Shoulder Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2107 Noctua pronuba (Linn.) Large Yellow Underwing Polyphagous on herbaceous plants & grasses
2110 fimbriata (Schreb.) Broad-bordered Yellow
Underwing
Polyphagous on deciduous trees & shrubs
2111 janthina [D. & S.] Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow
Underwing
Polyphagous on herbaceous & garden plants
2112 interjecta Hb. Least Yellow Underwing Polyphagous on herbaceous & garden plants
2120 Diarsia mendica (Fabr.) Ingrailed Clay Polyphagous on herbaceous & garden plants
2123 rubi (View.) Small Square-spot Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2126 Xestia c-nigrum (Linn.) Setaceous Hebrew Character Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2131 rhomboidea (Esp.) Square-spotted Clay Birch, bramble,
2133 sexstrigata (Haw.) Six-striped Rustic Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2134 xanthographa ([D. & S.]) Square-spot Rustic Polyphagous on herbaceous plants & grasses
2142 Anatra myrtilli (Linn.) Beautiful Yellow Underwing Heathers
2160 Lacanobia oleracea (Linn.) Bright-line Brown-eye Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2194 Mythimna albipuncta ([D. & S.]) White-point Grasses
2198 impura (Hb.) Smoky Wainscot Grasses
2199 pallens (Linn.) Common Wainscot Grasses
2205 comma (Linn.) Shoulder-striped Wainscot Grasses
2278 Acronicta megacephala ([D. & S.]) Poplar Grey Poplars
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2301 Dypterygia scabriuscula (Linn.) Bird's Wing Sorrel and knotgrass
2302 Rusina ferruginea (Esp.) Brown Rustic Polyphagous on herbaceous plants
2306 Phlogophora meticulosa (Linn.) Angle Shades Polyphagous on deciduous shrubs and
herbaceous plants
2311 Ipimorpha retusa (Linn.) Double Kidney Sallows
2321 Apamea monoglypha (Hufn.) Dark Arches Grasses
2326 crenata (Hufn.) Clouded-bordered Brindle Grasses
2330 remissa (Hb.) Dusky Brocade Grasses
2333 anceps ([D. & S.]) Large Nutmeg Grasses
2334 sordens (Hufn.) Rustic Shoulder-knot Grasses
2337 Oligia strigilis (Linn.) Marbled Minor Grasses
2338 Oli