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2010
Friday 23rd July. Batty about Newts.
17 participants, including a good number of the next generation of
naturalists, took part in this evening event at Wharncliffe Heath LNR.
While waiting for the sun to set we took a stroll onto the heath and
enjoyed the view over Stocksbridge to the Pennines beyond, and briefly
discussed some aspects of site management including the use of livestock
to stem the growth of scrubby birch and oak, and to create a mosaic of
different heathland habitats. Unfortunately the Nightjar(s) didn't show
although they had been present earlier in the year, so we returned to
the pond with torches, nets, trays and bat detectors at the ready. Many
Palmate Newts, both adult and larval, were temporarily captured and
allowed good views in the trays and torchlight. The number of dragonfly
larvae caught was disappointingly low. Hopefully this is not linked to
the hungry Goldfish that were spotted in the pond! A total of 4 species
of bat were detected; Common and Soprano Pipistrelles and Daubentons
over the pond and in the woodland, and a single Noctule hunting over the
heath. Altogether a wonderful evening enhanced by the exuberant
enthusiasm of the younger attendees.
Saturday 5th June.
Invertebrates of Wharncliffe Heath and Woods.
Jim Flanagan led a group of
six through the woods surrounding Wharncliffe Heath and across the Heath
itself on a very warm day. It is remarkable what diversity is revealed
by a simple sweep of a net through the grass or a quick beat of a few
oak boughs. However neither of these techniques was required to reveal
Green Tiger Beetles which were very active on the paths along the crags
and across the Heath. The open sandy areas along the paths were
punctured with the symmetrical burrows made by species of solitary wasps
and bees which require such warm sunny open areas to breed and develop.
A large furry caterpillar on the heath turned out to be the distinctive
larva of the heather-feeding Oak Eggar Moth, as distinctive as a larva
as it is as an adult. A welcome sight was the Brown Silver-line -
a moth that feeds on Bracken! Along the crags was found the very
striking Wasp Longhorn Beetle, which was a new addition to the reserve
species list. Other species were also found new to the reserve so
many thanks to Jim for leading this very pleasant and educational
walk.
Thurs 27th May. Nightjar
briefly churring and wing-clapping near the crags on Wharncliffe
Heath LNR just before 22.00. A probable second bird (female?) also
present. A few Woodcock roding too.
Sunday 23rd May. Dawn Chorus Walk.
10 early risers
convened at 4.30am for this Sheffield
Environment Week event expertly led by Andrew Hill. We were very lucky
(again!) with the weather. It was an absolutely glorious sunny and warm
spring morning and the birds were in full song in the woodland around
Wharncliffe Heath. Perhaps the highlights were 3 Spotted Flycatchers
which gave very clear renditions of their song which is usually so
easily missed. Two others that can be missed, Treecreeper and Goldcrest,
were also vociferous and allowed us to pick out the differences between
their songs. On the heath we were treated to the song and displays of a
number of Tree Pipits. Interactions between the individuals suggested
that they had not yet fully defined their territories. Many thanks to
all those attending, and particularly to Andrew for leading the event.
Sunday 7th March. Beat the Rhodo! 19
participants turned out for this, the last of our "conservation days" of
the winter. We were blessed with a glorious day of wall-to-wall.sunshine
and no wind, and a number of invasive Rhododendron ponticum
bushes were cut and burnt.
The job was done in time to allow a look at the new glades being
created around some old coppiced oaks below the crags.
Joint
event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Sunday 7th February. Conservation Day at Agden Bog.
It was a real pleasure (and a challenge) to work on this
lovely hillside mire. 18 participants cut, dragged and burned trees and
saplings on the reserve. The trampling as well as the removal of shade
and nutrient-promoting vegetation should have helped to break up the
tussocks and allow more space for Sphagnum, Sundews and all the
other tiny bog specialists to grow. Hopefully later this year this Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
reserve will be fenced and extensively grazed to keep the sward more
open. A big Thank You to all those who turned up and worked so hard.
Sunday 24th January. Beat the Birch!
11 volunteers
worked all day in the Northern Enclosure of Wharncliffe Heath and did a
magnificent job. The weather was thankfully quiet, as was the wildlife
apart from 5 flushed Woodcock and a possible sighting of a Weasel. A big
thank you to all those involved.
Joint
event with Steel Valley Project
http://www.thesteelvalleyproject.info/
2009
Sunday 15th November. Work Party.
8 participants including 3 "juniors" helped with further clearance of
birch scrub and regrowth in the Northern Enclosure (see Wharncliffe
Heath LNR), often under the watchful eye of a flock of Shetland and
Hebridean sheep!. Once again we were blessed with a fine sunny day.
Thanks to all those who took part.
Joint
event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Sunday 18th October. Work Party.
20 participants including 13 University of Sheffield Conservation
Volunteers cut birch saplings in the Northern enclosure, including
one of the areas used for monitoring the impact of grazing on
vegetation. In the afternoon we undertook a "walk-through" the Western
enclosure in order to confirm that there were no grazing animals left in
there. I think all would agree that the terrain made this much easier to
say than to do! Three areas surrounding some old coppiced oaks in the
woodland below the crags were also marked up for birch clearance to
allow the oaks more space and light. All-in-all a very productive day,
and once again we were lucky with the weather! Thanks go to all those
involved.
Joint event with Sheffield
Wildlife Trust..
Saturday 10th October. Small Mammal Survey.
21 participants including 13 University Conservation Volunteers watched
as 10 traps were opened in the wood and rides with no success. However 3
of 8 traps set on the heath revealed 2 Wood Mice and a Bank Vole. Derek
Whiteley then demonstrated the art of holding, weighing, ageing and
sexing the animals before others also had a go. The animals were then
quickly released. The immature male Wood Mouse weighed in at 16g, and
the immature female at 20g. The male Bank Vole turned out to be a mature
adult weighing 24g. All appeared to be in good condition (see Images). The beautiful
weather and regular fly-pasts by at least 2 Ravens added to a very
enjoyable way to start the weekend. All thanks go to Derek Whiteley from
Sorby NH Society for expert guidance.
Sunday 20th September. Work Party.
12 volunteers turned up to cut birch in the Northern
enclosure on a lovely warm day. The Heath looked beautiful in the
sunshine with the bracken and the birch just starting to turn golden.
Most of the birch was fairly small and was tackled with loppers. A
buzzard was seen flying overhead and a number of interesting fungi were
spotted. Thank you to those involved. Joint
event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Friday 24th July. Batty about Newts.
32 torch-bearers took part in this introduction to some of the wildlife
that lives in and over the dam pond and on the heath. Woodcock and
Nightjar finally showed well and provided entertainment until the
glorious sunset had faded and light was sufficiently low to allow the
use of torches, dipping nets and bat detectors
at the pond. Palmate newts were seen by everyone and caught (and
returned) by some of the young enthusiasts, though the number of
dragonfly larvae was disappointingly low (good news for the newts!).
Common Pipistrelles were heard and seen in the tree canopy over the
pond, but we had to wait until our return to the R. Don to hear
Daubenton's. A single Soprano Pipistrelle was heard in the woodland near
the pond. Joint
event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Sunday 12th July.
Bat Box Monitoring. Licensed bat expert Sarah Proctor and 3
volunteers investigated the bat boxes in the woodland at Wharncliffe
Heath nature reserve. Many boxes were found with evidence of previous
bat occupation, as well as bird's nests and the odd wasp's nest. 2 bats
were found, which turned out to be a Common Pipistrelle and a Soprano
Pipistrelle (see Images), both males. Differences in appearance of these closely
related species were noted before the bats were carefully returned to
their respective boxes.
Friday 29th May. Male and female
Nightjar showing very well on Wharncliffe Heath. Frog calls,
wing clapping and churring by the male. Both seen in flight together
between 21.57 and 22.15
Sunday 24th May. Dawn Chorus Walk
led by Jim Clarke and Andrew Hill. Joint
event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust. The 13 that were present
were treated to the start of a beautiful early summer's day. We really
could not have been luckier! Jim and Andrew proceeded to point out the
different instruments in the dawn orchestra. The thrushes (4 of them)
and Robins were easy, the pigeons familiar to everyone and the Wrens
incessant. We were treated to less obvious players, identified for us.
No fewer than 5 Spotted Flycatcher were heard, and the increasingly
scarce Wood Warbler. The call of the Garden Warbler sounded like a Grey
Squirrel and was the best way to distinguish it from Blackcap. Local
heathland favourites Linnet, Tree Pipit host and Cuckoo parasite were
seen and heard. Altogether a glorious morning and well worth the early
start.
Sunday 10th May. The Geology of Wharncliffe.
21 people
gathered at Station Rd, Deepcar for a walk onto the Crags to discover
more about the geology of the area from Ken Dorning. The geology was
literally laid bare by huge excavations at a development site close to
Station Road. The beds of sandstones, shales and, best of all, a coal
seam were clearly visible. On top of the Crags, we were able to look
with new eyes at the familiar ripples and ruckles of the rocks, as the
evidence of events that took place on a sand-bank on a river delta one
day about three hundred million years ago. We also discovered that the
oldest feature in the landscape is not the crags, nor even the valley
below. Astonishingly, it is possible that the River Don has been
flowing down a valley in the same position as the present one, but a
full mile higher, since the Cretaceous period. It has been gradually
wearing its way through all those layers of sandstone, shale and coal.
Thanks to Ken we were amazed again at the story in the rocks around us.
Organised as part of Sheffield Environment Weeks.
Sunday 22nd March. Work Party. Six
volunteers cleared almost a hectare of developing birch scrub and some
small Rhododenron ponticum bushes on this, the last work party
this Spring and a joint event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Thank you to all involved in the monitoring and management events this
Winter.
Sunday 15th March. Work Party.
Four volunteers cut rhododendron and cleared about 0.5ha of maturing
birch scrub on a wonderful spring day. Ravens, kestrels and crossbills
overhead and a Woodcock flushed, all of which added to the
entertainment. Joint
event with Steel Valley Project.
Sunday 22nd February. Work Party.
Only two participants enjoyed the early spring weather while tackling
Rhododendron ponticum and birch scrub. Spring was definitely in the air
and the birch sap was starting to rise.
2008
Sunday 16th November.
Bat box monitoring.
Led by 2 bat licence holders, 5
participants monitored the 50 or so bat boxes scattered through the wood
on the eastern fringe of Wharncliffe Heath. Many of the wooden boxes
were found to be deteriorating and will need replacement. Just 2 bats
were found, a Long-eared (see Images) and a (probably Common)
Pipistrelle.
Sunday 2nd November.
Work party.
On a cold, misty and rainy morning, 4
hardy souls met on site to cut birch for the final work day of the year.
Work continued until 3.00pm when the weather became worse. A
photographic record was taken to show the 'before' and 'after' - an
incentive to keep turning up for work days even with such small numbers
of participants! A large flock of redpoll was seen and this has been
added to the Sheffield Biological Records Centre for the site. Joint
event with Stocksbridge Valley Project
Saturday 18th October.
Work party.
8 participants
continued birch scrub clearance in the Northern enclosure and also
undertook the annual vegetation monitoring programme. Joint event with Steel Valley Project.
Great weather again.
Sunday 5th October.
Work party.
25 participants, many
from the University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers, helped clear a
large area of scrub in the Northern enclosure. Once again we were very
lucky with the weather. Joint event with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
Sunday 21st September.
Work party.
A group of 7 participants continued
the clearance of the northern boulder slope. The day was very warm and
sunny and the work quite hard but satisfying as the landscape gradually
changed. Later in the day we attempted to round up the 2 remaining sheep
in the western enclosure but without success. Why pay for gym subs when
all this fresh air and exercise is free?
Sunday 7th September.
Work party.
A group of 7 volunteers meet up on
Wharncliffe heath to clear birch from the northern boulder slope on the
heath. This is an extremely difficult area to work due to the large
boulders and crevasses many of which are hidden by heather or bracken,
so everyone had to take great care. Some quite substantial trees were
cleared particularly along the path near the electricity pylon. In
addition a temporary repair was made to the fencing which had been
damaged. The weather was warm and sunny for most of the day and work was
only brought to an end at 3.30pm by a massive thunder storm. Thanks to
all those who participated and to Sheffield Wildlife Trust for providing
tea and biscuits throughout the day!
Wednesday 23rd July.
Batty about newts.
27 participants heard Nightjar and Woodcock on the heath, Palmate Newt
adults and tadpoles and hawker dragonfly larvae in the pond, and saw
Common Pipistrelles and the occasional Daubenton's bats. We were very
lucky with the weather!
Sunday 25th May.
Dawn chorus walk
around the reserve with
Jim Clarke. 8 early risers were present for what proved to be a very
enjoyable amble. All the common woodland birds were seen or heard other
than Garden Warbler and Nuthatch. Among the listed species found to be
probably breeding on the reserve were Wood Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher,
Bullfinch and Linnet. Finding 3 Wood Warbler territories (one on the
reserve and the other two just the wrong side of the Plank Gate) was a
particular pleasure.
Sunday 30th March.
Work party.
4 hardy souls spent the
day making some glades in the new enclosure below the crags. Joint event with Sheffield
Wildlife Trust.
Sunday 2nd March.
Birch bash with
Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
11
volunteers finished birch clearance in the southern enclosure. It is now
ready for the sheep, cattle and birds to arrive!
2007
Sunday 2nd December.
Birch bash with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
15 volunteers continued the clearance of birch regrowth in the southern
enclosure and helped the stockman round up some of the sheep for
transportation to winter pastures.
Sunday 4th November.
Birch bash with Steel
Valley Project.
6 volunteers carried on the job of clearing the birch regrowth in the
southern enclosure and cleared brash from the newly cut firebreak.
Sunday 28th October.
Find fungi at Wharncliffe. Joint event with
Sheffield Wildlife Trust, led by Michael Senkans.
The event attracted 20 participants who between them found and
identified 46 species of fungi.
Sunday 7th October.
Birch bash with Steel
Valley Project.
7 volunteers continued the work in the Southern Enclosure and did
fixed-point photography.
Sunday 2nd September.
Birch bash with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
7 hardy souls tackled the
birch scrub in the Southern Enclosure.
Wednesday 25th July.
An evening visit to Wharncliffe Heath LNR. 27 attendees discussed the
management of the site and heard Nightjar churring before listening to
55kHz Pipistrelle and Daubenton's Bats hunting over the dam pond, and
watching the numerous Palmate Newts and dragonfly larvae within its
waters.
Monday 4th June.
Very probably 2 male Nightjar active from 21.55 until 22.15 at least. Churring, frog calls, and wing-clapping suggested presence of female(s).
Saturday March 24th
2007.
"Rhodo bash" at Wharncliffe Heath,
with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
10 volunteers helped to contain this alien invader
(Rhododendron ponticum) which is poisonous to livestock and chokes
surrounding vegetation.
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