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Annual Report 2004
Introduction
Rawcliffe Meadows Nature Park, established in 1991, covers 25 acres of the Clifton floodplain on the northern outskirts of York. The park is owned by the Environment Agency and leased to Sustrans the cycle track operator. The site is managed by Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, a voluntary group belonging to the York Natural Environment Trust.
As well as providing access to open countryside for local people, Rawcliffe Meadows is managed as a traditional Ings flood meadow under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. This is the fourteenth Annual Report of Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, summarising our work during the year 2004.
Events
What a strange year for weather 2004 turned out to be!
Early on, a new pool was created in the reservoir basin and some of the other pools dredged. An area at the edge of the basin was reseeded as an experiment
The year continued with the need to clear flood debris, along with planting further hedging and coppicing along the waterside and in the scrub area, both by ourselves, contractors and the BTCV.
The results of Martin Hammond's botanical survey from the previous year were looked at in conjunction with the management plan and options analysed. Another plan to use Lazy Dog Weeders to chisel hoe the noxious weeds, that had failed due to the dry state of the soil in 2003, was continued in 2004 and the work started in May. A lot of the effort involved removing creeping thistle from the flood bank, where it has become more invasive. This is, hopefully for us both, part of a three year plan to reduce weeds without spraying, whilst promoting the organic gospel.
Due to repeated damage of boundary fences, much work was done to repair fencing, gates and stiles, along with placing notices to discourage vandalism to the features, which are needed to keep cattle in and horses out!
We had hoped to start a project on Tansy Beetles - Grow More Tansy (GMT) - but the IDB removed one of the major habitats as we were starting. Whilst we continue to increase the volume of Tansy by relocating small stands around the site near watercourses, a monitored project to check to results would still be useful.
The annual pond dip occurred on a wet evening but Elaine Axford of the Environment Agency and a small group found that the pond was still very healthy.
The Environment Agency did a good job of cutting the hay on the bank but coordination with the meadow cut was problematic, with a very wet summer making it difficult to cut and turn and collect the resultant hay crop. Probably the worst summer for 13 years!
The BTCV made a good job of cutting and raking the pond area.
Further flooding in the autumn meant that the cattle had to be removed after a short period of grazing.
In the cornfield Martin and contractors continue to make further progress. Whilst we sometimes look at the two sites separately, as in this report, it is good management of both sites that permits the complementary habitats to be successful and allow wildlife to flourish on them both. Martin has worked exceedingly hard bringing the cornfield under control.
Ecological Report
Martin Hammond provides the following report:
Birds
On 26th January, there were at least 360 Linnets feeding on unharvested oilseed rape in the Cornfield with 32 Skylark on the stubbles. Five Stock Doves were also present. The first Skylark in territorial songflight was noted on 24th January.
Early February saw moderate flooding and several very cold spells. 57 Snipe were on Clifton Ings on 24th February but few were seen in the flood reservoir. Snowy weather at the month end saw much activity in the Cornfield, with 400 Linnets present; around 10 Yellowhammers frequented the seed crop at the eastern end of the field, as they had done for the past few months - consistent counts like this suggest high overwinter survival and a productive food source.
Linnet numbers peaked at around 450 in March but at least 200 were still present in mid April, when up to 12 Stock Doves were on the Cornfield. A pair of Teal took up territory in the flood reservoir for three weeks in early spring, but they moved on after Easter.
During the early months, the only Corn Bunting record, to my knowledge, was
a small group (with one singing) in mid-March.
Linnet numbers fell in May; a count of 57 in the Cornfield in early June was exceptional but did indicate the numbers still present in the area. It was estimated that there were four to five Reed Bunting territories on the site as a whole, three Blackcap territories, at least three Whitethroat nests and one or two breeding pairs of Willow Warbler. The only Lesser Whitethroat recorded was one on passage in late April and yet again no Sedge Warblers were seen.
14 young Pheasants were fledged in the Cornfield. A single Grey Partridge (presumably a failed breeder from elsewhere) was seen in mid June. There were nine Reed Bunting territories on Clifton Ings.
Numbers of songbirds in the Cornfield began to increase again from mid September as finches, Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings gathered on the seed crops. However, numbers were lower than last year with a maximum (October - November) of around 30 Tree Sparrows, 140 Greenfinches and smaller numbers of other species. Up to the year end there was no further sign of Corn Buntings.
The third week of October saw extensive flooding of the washland. On the 24th, three Whooper Swans circled low over the Ings and there were unusually early gatherings of Corn Buntings coming in to roost. On the 26th a Green Woodpecker was foraging on the banks of the flood reservoir and on the 28th a Woodcock was in the Cornfield.
Large numbers of immigrant Blackbirds were present on the site through the autumn up to the year end. Probably several dozen were regularly present around the Cornfield and the Country Park.
There was a single record of Green Sandpiper in November. Nine Waxwings were feeding on hawthorn berries on 9th December, part of a large influx of this attractive boreal songbird.
Additionally Steve Huddleston has provided the following information regarding the nest boxes in the copse:
It appears a good number of the Hole Type Boxes were used by Tree Sparrows.
A few boxes had well trodden nest material as seen following a successful breeding attempt with a good number of young being reared.
A single Box had an old part trodden nest which indicated a late small brood being successfully reared.
None of the boxes checked had dead Eggs or Young again suggesting a good success rate.
With Tree Sparrows being relatively Site Faithful it would appear the Boxes are working well. The additional boxes should now help this further.
The flock of Tree Sparrows present whilst putting the boxes up bodes well for this year.
Mammals
By early April both Noctule and Pipistrelle-type bats could be seen over the meadows. One Noctule was seen flying from the direction of Clifton hospital, suggesting there might be a roost in the parkland trees.
Roe Deer footprints were noted in the Flood Reservoir in May and a young male was disturbed from the Cornfield in mid June. A dead Badger was reported to have been seen in the Ings Dyke in early June. Fox sightings were perhaps fewer than usual this year.
Amphibians
Modest amounts of Frog spawn were laid in the flood reservoir pools but it is unclear why these are less well-used by amphibians than might be expected.
Invertebrates
The first bumblebee Queens (of Bombus terrestris) were seen in the Cornfield on 14th February. The subsequent cold weather must have sent some back into hibernation though one was seen attending sallow blossom in the Country Park during snowy weather at the end of the month, when air temperatures were below 4oC.
Tansy Beetle is one of the specialities of Rawcliffe Meadows and one which deserves to be monitored closely. Counts of adults on 10th May were as follows:
Pond compound 100
Ings Dyke bank by old oak 36
Blue Beck bank 101
New Meadow 3
Cycletrack verge (nr. cattle grid) 4
TOTAL 244
One new species of water beetle was added to the list for the flood reservoir pools (Coelostoma orbiculare). It is noticeable that a few species which have only appeared within the past few years are now well established but some which were present in the late 1990s have since vanished.
In early July, Andy Godfrey and myself vacuum-sampled tussocky areas within the flood reservoir. Not all the material has been identified at the time of writing but 37 flies were recorded, most of which constitute new records for the site. Of particular note was the long-headed fly Achalcus bimaculatus. This species was only described as new to science in 1996, based on material from Germany, Belgium and Britain. In Britain it had only been recorded from a handful of high-quality wetland sites in southern England and Wales until very recently. In 2003, it was found in an isolated marshy field at Osbaldwick, so the record from very similar habitat at Rawcliffe Meadows suggests it may occur more widely in marshy grassland. Achalcus bimaculatus probably hides amongst dense grass tussocks, which may explain why it is so poorly known.
Species listed as Nationally Scarce include the long-headed fly Thrypticus pollinosus, the poorly-known Anthomyiid Zaphne wierzejskii and the snail-killing fly Colobaea punctata. The latter species was recorded from the main pond during Roy Crossley¹s Diptera survey in 1995.
The last butterfly was a Small Tortoiseshell on 24th October, though Eristalis hoverflies were feed on nectar from the Cornfield seed crops until the end of the month.
Wildflowers
Arable plants in the Cornfield included much corn mint in the seed crop plots and a good displaying of cornflower (introduced a few years ago but now well-established). There was little sign of the distinctive sand-loving arable flora noted when the field was taken out of intensive cultivation. This is probably down to the repeated herbicide applications which have been necessary to control rampant perennial weeds like couch grass and creeping thistle. Hopefully, herbicide use will be considerably reduced in 2005, allowing some of the more interesting annuals to regenerate from the soil seed bank.
Acknowledgements
The following have provided assistance for which we thank them:
The Vale of York British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
The Environment Agency
North Yorkshire Environmental Task Force
The Whitaker family at Pavilion Cottage
Phil & Joan Paley
Gary Kay
Bob Missin
Cap Fowles
Steve Huddleston and associates for monitoring nest boxes & ringing
Phil Trevelyen & Lazy Dog Weeeders
Graham Pearson
Financial Assistance has been provided by:
The City of York Council Countryside Service
DEFRA (Countryside Stewardship)
York & North Yorkshire Community Federation/Tubney Charitable Trust (new leaflet)
Contact
For further information or to offer assistance, please contact:
Judith Sutton on 01759 372318
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Annual Report 2003
Events
Yet another strange year for weather, with the ground being drier than expected when it came to trying to uproot thistle and ragwort. Despite this further planting of large numbers of hedging shrubs has taken place in the scrub areas and hedges to increase their density. Regular management of existing trees and shrubs, including a lot of coppicing, has taken place. More nesting boxes were put up in the copse for the benefit of Tree Sparrows and other species, which all appeared to be being used. The BTCV made a brave attempt to reduce the amount of water soldier growing in the pond.
A lot of the small trees planted in 1991 are now quite a size, sometimes only identifiable by the remnants of the original mulch mats still in place.
The City Council had funded the resurfacing of the Sustrans cycle track in the meadow area and the Environment Agency (EA) rebuilt a large section of floodbank, which both introduced issues with the management of the site, including restrictions on grazing, but the Agency were very cooperative.
The now annual pond dip in June was attended by a number of children, along with their adults and was a great success, again with the support of the EA. This was further assisted by the Tansy Beetles and dragonflies putting on a great show. The annual walk, in contrast, had nobody.
A lot of this years effort has concentrated on getting the Cornfield Buffer managed by us and under Countryside Stewardship, which it now is, and despite some continuing weed problems has attracted large bird numbers.
Effort has also gone into the design of the new leaflet, managed by Cap Fowles, available in February 2004, which also resulted in a visit to the site by the sponsors, who appeared to be impressed.
Action finally started taking place on the Clifton Hospital site, including clearing of the weed infestation, after DEFRA threatened prosecution, although we wait to see any outcomes from management and the Section 106 Agreement!
Ecological Report
Introduction
Martin continues to keep splendid records of the site, now with the assistance of Cap Fowles. Steve Huddleston and associates providing nest box usage data. The report for the year 2003 follows. This information is the intellectual property of Martin Hammond, as recorder, and this record and earlier ones may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of Martin Hammond and Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows.
Birds
The first week in January saw snow and ice with bird counts from the Cornfield including 50-60 Linnets, 47 Skylark and up to 80 Starlings. 30 Corn Buntings were present in a pre-roost gathering.
On 10th January, waders included a Jack Snipe on the Cornfield, 128 Snipe and 42 Lapwing on Clifton Ings and two Green Sandpipers on the washland. A Jack Snipe was in the flood reservoir on 25th January with two by Blue Beck on the 31st.
In February, a Green Sandpiper was by Blue Beck on the 7th, when the first Corn Bunting song was noted. On the 24th, large numbers of birds were feeding in the Cornfield. At least 15 species were present, mainly Redwings and Fieldfares heading north, but also 20+ Skylarks and a mixed flock of around 60 buntings: mostly Corn Buntings with small numbers of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. At least 10 Reed Buntings were present around the northern end of the site.
Notable sightings in March included the first Chiffchaff on the 19th with Sand Martins arriving over the Ings on the 27th. A single Red-legged Partridge (a new bird for the site) was seen mid-month on the floodbank. Two records of Jack Snipe included one on the Cornfield stubbles on the 27th. Three Corn Buntings were singing regularly around the northern end of the site from mid month onwards; a couple of birds stayed a month longer but then disappeared. Three of the additional Tree Sparrow boxes installed by Mick were occupied almost immediately and the Copse area now supports several pairs.
Small numbers of migrating Snipe were present in the flood reservoir well into April, with 40+ northward-bound Fieldfare on the Cornfield on the 12th.
During the breeding season, two Chiffchaff and one Willow Warbler territories were still held into July at the northern end of the site, suggesting breeding. There were several Whitethroat territories but no records of Lesser Whitethroat or Sedge Warbler. The Cornfield held at least six spring territories of Skylark with the first well-fledged young seen in early May. Two broods were reared before the wheat grew too high. Single pairs of Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Meadow Pipit also probably bred in the Cornfield. There were three Reed Bunting territories around the northern end of the site.
Bullfinches were present throughout the summer and two pairs bred. A flock of 60+ Goldfinches (including many juveniles) fed on thistle seeds around the Clifton Hospital sewage works in July.
On one humid evening in early July, 60 Swifts were feeding low over the seed crop at the western end of the Cornfield, indicating a high density of aerial insects. The seed crop also attracted House and Tree Sparrows throughout the summer, presumably foraging for invertebrates.
By September, 70+ Tree Sparrows were congregating around the seed crop, joined by House Sparrows and various finches. Through the autumn unprecedented numbers of birds fed on these crops, with a crackling sound audible some distance away as hundreds pecked at the seed pods of fodder radish. On 28th October there were 103 Greenfinches, 46 Linnets, 50+ Tree Sparrows and small numbers of Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Pheasant. During November and early December, numbers continued to increase with peak counts of ca. 250 Linnets, 140+ Tree Sparrows, 30 House Sparrows and 21 Reed Buntings. Up to 20 Skylarks were on the stubbles.
Numbers reduced towards the end of the year but on New Year's Eve there were still at least 60 Tree Sparrows and 150 Linnets.
A hectare of unharvested oilseed rape was heavily used by Linnets, Reed Buntings and Blackbirds but other species were slow to use this food source. A small stand of seed crop (mainly wheat) at the eastern end of the field was favoured by Yellowhammers (up to ten).
The Cornfield required a considerable commitment of resources to deal with chronic infestations of invasive weeds and other problems accruing from lax management over the past few years. However, many useful lessons have been learned and it was a joy to see vast numbers of birds, including several seriously declining species, making use of the carefully-nurtured crops and stubbles.
Of particular note is the spectacular recovery in Tree Sparrow populations. Winter feeding over several years has helped resident birds survive the lean months and enter the breeding season in healthy condition. The provision of nest boxes has increased the supply of nest sites (though some of our Tree Sparrows nest in blackthorn bushes rather than cavities). In 2003, the wildlife seed crop in the Cornfield was evidently an important source of invertebrates, essential to provide the protein-rich diet needed by songbird chicks. The large and noisy congregations of Tree Sparrows, which built up during the autumn, must have included birds from other populations as well as 'locals'. This is a promising sign not only because a highly productive food supply has been provided, but also because Tree Sparrows thrive as social birds, with many individuals dispersing between colonies - a much healthier situation than fragmented breeding populations trying to survive in isolation.
Cap caught good views of Tree Creepers in the copse in January, along with Bullfinches in the scrub area in January and February, along with a first-ever sighting of a Grey Wagtail in that area. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were regularly seen by him drumming in the top-most dead branches of a tree at the back of the scrub. January 23rd was his first skylark sighting of the year, high over the cornfield, but Spring arrived with a Chiffchaff on March 21st with Willow Warbler and Whitethroat both in the scrub on April 22nd, and a Blackcap on the 31st of April. At the end of the year two Jays were sighted hunting for acorns near the cycle track up from the scrub. He also reports Judith's sighting of a roosting Tawny Owl in the scrub, almost a year since he had made a similar sighting
Steve Huddleston has provided the following information regarding the nest boxes in the copse:
2002 Details
Boxes for possible use : 6 Tit Boxes, 6 Flycatcher Boxes and 1 Starling Box.
Boxes Used: All 6 Tit Boxes and Starling Box
Tree Sparrows: in 5 Boxes, 2 being built and 3 with eggs (6,4,3) in May. No further details.
Great Tit: in 1 box, Brood of 8+ fledging. 7 of which were rung.
Starling: in 1 box, Nest with lining in and adults seen at entrance. No further details.
2003 Details
Boxes for possible use: 16 Tit Boxes, 15 Flycatcher Boxes and 1 Starling Box.
Boxes Used: 5 Tit Boxes and Tree Rat in Starling Box
Tree Sparrows: in 3 Boxes, 2 being Built and 1 with 1 egg just laid in May. No further details.
Great Tit: in 2 boxes, Broods of 7 and 5 all of which were rung. No further details.
Magpie: Nest found in Hawthorn Hedge with 2 just fledged young near by. We do not have enough data from the boxes yet to start to work on anything with regard stats etc.
No movement from the birds rung in the boxes yet, however a pattern of the Great Tits rung at British Sugar moving to New Earswick in the winter is starting to be seen.
It appears the open fronted boxes are serving little purpose. A consideration may be to fit holed fronts to them for this breeding season.
Steve has spoken to some other members of our Ringing Group and they will be very interested in ringing the Corn Bunting Roost soon. This will help with the work they are doing on the Melbourne Roost and may produce some interchange of populations.
Mammals
Cap saw a Weasel near the southern end of the site in January. On 22nd February, three Foxes emerged from a bramble patch about six metres square at the edge of the flood reservoir! A fourth appeared nearby.
A large, ginger-coloured Brown Rat which took up residence in the Copse in January was not only fearless of passers-by but showed considerable agility by climbing nimbly amongst the twigs of a blackthorn bush, eight feet off the ground, to munch on remaining sloes.
Hedgehog, Weasel and Fox were seen frequently in the Cornfield during the summer months - including a young Fox which seized my rucksack left on the ground and tried to run away with it. Pipistrelle and Noctule bats were seen frequently on summer evenings.
There has been a marked increase in Rabbit activity around the northern end of the site. Conversations with allotment holders suggest that they value the presence of Weasels and Foxes as a means of keeping down Rabbits and Rats.
To my knowledge there were no sightings of Water Vole this year but there was evidence of activity in the drain on Rawcliffe Ings to the north.
Amphibians
Small numbers of Frog, Toad and Smooth Newt bred as usual in the Flood Reservoir pools.
A large mat of frogspawn was in place on the northern bank of the pond.
Insects
The first Tansy Beetles were seen by Blue Beck on 8th April and many were noted in the pond area during the pond dip in June. A few adults were seen on tansy in New Meadow. An important paper on the ecology and conservation of Tansy Beetle (the "jewel of York") has recently been published in the journal British Wildlife, summarising studies undertaken by a partnership between York University and English Nature.
There were exceptional numbers of butterflies during June and July in the areas of rougher grassland, including the grass margins in the Cornfield. These included all the common species with grass-feeding larvae (Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper) as well as the common whites etc.
During June, Banded Demoiselle damselflies were seen frequently in the Cornfield seed crop, visiting here from their breeding habitat in the River Ouse. At least 20 dragonflies and damselflies were present in the seed crop on sunny days in summer, reflecting the abundance of small insect prey.
The last butterfly was a solitary Wall on 18th October.
Flowering plants
The common spotted orchid population in New Meadow doubled to two flowers! The centaury population on open clayey ground in the Flood Reservoir expanded to about 30 plants. Also in the flood reservoir, yellow loosestrife continues to spread with a few scattered plants of purple loosestrife also becoming noticeable.
New species for the recording area included:
Black grass (Alopecurus myosuroides): Cornfield (a potentially noxious weed).
Pale willowherb (Epilobium roseum): around paths adjoining the Copse.
Common hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit): a few plants in the Cornfield.
Great lettuce (Lactuca virosa): Cornfield and disturbed areas in the Rawcliffe Bar Country Park.
Grey field speedwell (Veronica polita): numerous plants occurring locally in the Cornfield.
A number of additional species have occurred casually on disturbed soil used for improvements to the floodbank including eastern rocket (Sisymbrium orientale) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum). Bristly oxtongue is increasing on disturbed ground and was present in numbers along the southern margin of the Cornfield.
Although flowering plants have been well recorded at Rawcliffe Meadows, the first detailed vegetation survey was undertaken in July 2003. The most significant finding was that although characteristic Ings flowers like great burnet and meadowsweet have spread considerably in the main hay meadow, the botanical quality of the richest southern meadows seems to have declined. This is associated with the spread of 'weedy', species-poor vegetation dominated by creeping buttercup and creeping bent grass - probably a result of extended periods of waterlogging by overspill from the Ings Dyke during the late 1990s together with nutrient-enrichment from polluted water.
Worryingly, only a few plants of pepper saxifrage - one of the best indicators of herb-rich flood meadows - could be found.
Another significant change was the wholesale switch in the ten Flood Reservoir pools from clear-water ponds dominated by stoneworts to murky pools carpeted by common duckweed. This may be partly a natural process as silt accumulates in these small water bodies and nutrients from decaying vegetation are released. However, it is suspected that flooding with polluted water from Blue Beck has speeded-up and exaggerated this process. Reedmace has also invaded some pools. If some clear-water pools are to be restored, active management will be needed and, in the long run, Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows need to encourage other agencies to improve water quality in the beck.
More positive results include the finding that the New Meadow, re-sown using a Clifton Ings hay bale in 1992, supports a rich meadow flora. There are problems with thistles and hogweed invading from the unkempt verge alongside Ings Dyke but it is notable that slow-growing perennial herbs such as great burnet and meadowsweet are only now becoming prominent in the sward.
Fen vegetation around the banks of the main pond was also identified as representing a rare plant community in the Vale of York, notable for the presence of attractive wetland flowers like purple loosestrife, water mint and gipsywort amongst the tall water-margin grasses and sedges.
In November, two experimental patches at the southern end of the Flood Reservoir were rotavated and sown with hand-collected seed from local wetlands including Askham Bog and Strensall Common. The ultra-heavy boulder clay substrate proved resistant to creating a good seedbed (especially after a long drought) but it will be interesting to monitor the results. As well as testing whether fen habitats can be created in such 'artificial' wetlands using local seed sources, an important aim is to increase the availability of marsh flowers providing nectar and pollen for insects: the scarcity of this resource was identified as a factor limiting the insect diversity of the Flood Reservoir in Roy Crossley's survey of 1995.
******
Acknowledgements
The following have provided assistance for which we thank them:
The Vale of York British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
The Environment Agency
North Yorkshire Environmental Task Force
The Whitaker family at Pavilion Cottage
Phil & Joan Paley
Gary Kay
Sara Priestley
Bob Missin
Steven Byford/Properganda - new leaflet
Cap Fowles
Steve Huddleston and associates for monitoring nest boxes & ringing
Richard Farnaby - nestbox making & erecting
Financial Assistance has been provided by:
The City of York Council Countryside Service
DEFRA (Countryside Stewardship)
York & North Yorkshire Community Federation/Tubney Charitable Trust (new leaflet)
Contact
For further information or to offer assistance, please contact:
Judith Sutton on 01759 372318
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Annual Report 2002
Events
We apologise if this year’s report is very negative, but we believe that without the continued financial and moral support of DEFRA, the Friends would have given up in the face of the many forms of vandalism taking place on and around the site.
The start of the year saw the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) working on the Ings Dyke, including flailing the hedge and trees, which damaged to the layed hedge. After some negotiation the IDB filled the gaps with posts and wire, which was interplanted by the Friends in December 2002. Unfortunately the IDB’s delay in repairing the gaps meant that the Spring grazing had to be cancelled due to the holes in the boundary.
Having realised that certain dog-walkers were disposing of their animals’ droppings by hanging the bags from the hedge at the northern entrance a work party cleared it and thirteen sacks of rubbish were removed from that area.
On the positive side the Friends issued the final version of the Management Plan, written by Martin Hammond, sections of which, relating to the watercourses, had been passed to the IDB’s consulting engineers, Arup, for inclusion in their Critical Watercourse Assessment Report, which they did. Copies of the Management Plan were made available to the bodies involved in the management of the Meadows.
The annual pond dip in June was, as usual, a successful event, with the assistance of the Environment Agency (EA).
The Environmental Task Force assisted in various areas during the year, including clearing water soldier from the pond.
As well as further damage caused to trees by the vandals building a ‘den’ for their under-age drinking activities, a ‘rave’ was apparently held in the area of the site by ‘persons unknown’ who left their large volume of litter piled up in a corner of Rawcliffe Meadows, creating further work, when other vandals distributed broken glass and litter over a wider area. This activity received some press coverage.
The annual hay cut continued to be a problem, despite the efforts of the EA liaison person, when the EA left the bank cutting to Sustrans, who used a conventional mower rather than a reciprocating blade device, which mashed up the grass rather than creating hay, and despite it being raked down by EA staff, it then had to be left behind, since it could not be baled.
A further nuisance came in the form of ‘travellers’ invading the Park & Ride Country Park who damaged and littered in the area of the copse.
Sadly, during the summer, a water vole survey confirmed our worst fears - the disappearance of site’s once important population. Amelioration proposals were suggested and a response is awaited!
The BTCV worked on the pond area, when water levels permitted to cut the funnel and other tasks. Some of the willows on the site were coppiced.
Unfortunately, Eric Swiers, our usual grazier, informed the FoRM, at the last moment, that he would not be using the site but as an alternative, our hay merchant offered to put beasts on. However the number of cattle that appeared on site was excessive and he was asked to remove most and then asked to remove them all when repeated rain made the site too damp. A document informing graziers of their responsibilities has been prepared.
Various tasks, promised by the EA, including replacement of the hospital boundary gate are still outstanding and the Friends still continue to seek resolution of responsibilities regarding the hospital boundary, along with implementation of the Section 106 Agreement that was part of the development of the former hospital site
In the autumn Radio York visited the site and Cap Fowles and Joan Paley were interviewed about it
Ecological Report
Martin continues to keep splendid records of the site, now with the assistance of Cap Fowles. The one for the year 2002 follows. This information is the intellectual property of Martin Hammond as recorder and this record and earlier ones may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of Martin Hammond and Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows.
A further report on bird boxes by Steve Huddleston is attached as Annex 1.
MAMMALS
Given all the hard work put in by Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows to improve the site for people and wildlife over the past 12 years, it is frustrating that our efforts can be thwarted by actions beyond our control. Two sad incidents affecting local mammal populations illustrate this.
In March, the whole length of Blue Beck and the Ings Dyke was dredged by the Internal Drainage Board. No one will dispute the need to maintain the drains, particularly in such a critical floodplain - but blitzing an entire drain system at once is quite the opposite of good practice guidelines published by the Association of Drainage Authorities several years ago. The banks of the section of Blue Beck adjoining the flood reservoir were re-graded, despite the presence of legally-protected Water Vole burrows. Worse still, flow levels were reduced to the extent that the beck only held a few centimetres of water for most of the year: this was only partly a consequence of dredging and, we suspect, had more to do with the outflow from Clifton Lake at the head of the stream. The result has been that our important population of Water Voles, which had tolerated repeated floods and pollution incidents, has now disappeared.
Few of the agencies responsible for the management of the beck or the protection of Water Voles seemed willing to respond.
The second incident involved the discovery of a number of dead Foxes during October. This received attention in the local press and it is not entirely clear how many Foxes died. The corpse I found on the floodbank was well-nourished with no sign of mange and had no obvious wounds or gunshot injuries: Foxes don’t just drop dead in the open through natural causes. The suspicion must arise that there was some kind of poisoning, deliberate or accidental. Foxes are a mixed blessing: there are lots of them around Rawcliffe Meadows and they must deter ground-nesting birds - but they are a natural predator, controlling rats and rabbits, and many people delight in seeing them around. Most disturbing is the fact that, if poisoning was responsible, this might easily have resulted in the death of pet dogs or worse. Secondary poisoning from inappropriately-used rodenticide or illegal use of pesticides are possible explanations but this is pure speculation. Any future discoveries of un-natural death amongst birds or mammals should be reported immediately to the DEFRA Pesticides Safety Directorate at Sand Hutton so that corpses can be recovered and autopsied.
On a more pleasant note, Cap Fowles saw a Stoat near the Copse on September 8th.
BIRDS
New Year’s Day saw 26 Skylark and 4 Lapwing in the Cornfield despite the solid-frozen ground. Lapwing (and Golden Plover) used to flock in autumn on the cereal fields between Rawcliffe Meadows and the Ring Road but this was the first record since the development of the Park & Ride site. 10 Yellowhammer and a handful of Reed Bunting and Bullfinch were in the Copse, whilst 38 Snipe were flushed from Clifton Ings.
On 5 January, a week of bitter cold began to ease, marked by much bird activity. 42 Skylark, 20+ Linnet, 14 Goldfinch and 11 Corn Bunting were in the Cornfield along with the solitary male Grey Partridge present during the previous month. A pair of Great Tits were prospecting one of the new nest boxes (intended for Tree Sparrows !) in the Copse. Other birds included Jay, Treecreeper, two or three Snipe and a Woodcock. 38 Mallard, three Tufted Duck, two Teal and two Goldeneye were on the River Ouse.
On 13th January, the Skylark flock had increased to 44 birds, with 28 Linnet also feeding in the Cornfield. 28 Corn Buntings were feeding on the stubbles on 20th January with 30-40 gathering to roost towards the end of the month. During the day, Corn Buntings fed frequently on an area of Rawcliffe Ings which had been excavated by the Environment Agency to provide earth for repairing the Clifton Ings floodbank: presumably they were feeding on the seeds of annual weeds and couch grass which had colonised the disturbed ground.
During January counts in the Cornfield showed numbers of Skylark to be consistently 40+, with Linnets numbering 20-30. This showed that the site supported stable wintering populations rather than flocks passing through.
The feeding station near the pond attracted up to a dozen Reed Bunting in early January, along with Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and other songbirds. Although spread out around the site, the wintering population of Yellowhammer was probably 20+ regular birds.
Despite the very cold weather at the beginning of the year, Kingfishers were seen regularly on the Ouse, Ings Dyke, Blue Beck and the pond throughout January and into February. On 28th January one was perched on reedmace stems in one of the small pools in the Flood Reservoir.
On 1st February, the solitary male Grey Partridge in the Cornfield had been joined by a female. On the same date at least 15 Stock Doves were feeding amongst Woodpigeon flocks on Clifton Ings, where 24 Meadow Pipits were counted. 11 Reed Buntings were present within the Rawcliffe Meadows area. 2 Jays were seen on the Meadows early in the month.
By mid February, Skylark numbers in the Cornfield had diminished but there was increasing evidence of territorial behaviour (the first song flight was noted on 30th January). 31 Linnets were in the Cornfield on 17th February, whilst mixed flocks of finches, Tree Sparrows (up to 10), Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Corn Buntings fed on seed provided in the Copse.
Although 20+ Corn Buntings were present regularly around the Copse throughout February, an incredible gathering of at least 82 was counted on the 24th. Given that this one of our most seriously declining birds, it is all the more remarkable that a heavily disturbed urban fringe site is attracting such numbers. Our visitors seem to congregate in very mobile parties before congregating to roost around dusk, so it is possible that larger numbers than are normally counted actually use the local Ings in winter. This species was first noted in song on the 19th.
One Green Sandpiper was on Rawcliffe Ings on 14th February with two feeding on the ditch on the 20th.
On 1 March, at least 40 Corn Buntings were present.
The first summer migrant was a Chiffchaff singing on 25th March (Cap Fowles).
By late April there were at least six Skylark territories in the Cornfield but sadly no sign of Grey Partridge or Corn Bunting.
Breeding birds were not systematically recorded but there were a number of interesting records. ‘Drumming’ Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted regularly in early spring and we almost certainly have one or two breeding pairs in the vicinity. Song Thrushes seemed to be more numerous than for some years with several territorial birds, including a regular singing male in the hedge at the northern end of the flood reservoir.
Bullfinch is yet another bird which has been in serious decline nationally in recent decades. Small numbers were present throughout the year and two pairs bred: one pair were seen regularly around the northern end of the site (including the Copse); they had three juveniles with them in late July. Cap also saw a pair around the pond several times over the summer with three juveniles there on 20th August. Although Bullfinches wander widely, repeated sightings at opposite ends of the Meadows do suggest these were different pairs. There is plenty of good Bullfinch habitat at Rawcliffe Meadows, though we could perhaps do with interplanting blackthorn in some hedge gaps because its thickety cover is ideal for nesting. Three Bullfinches were observed feeding on stinging nettle seeds on New Year’s Eve.
Tree Sparrows certainly used at least one of the nest boxes in the Copse: Cap saw a pair disputing a box with a Starling on 15th February, and one was carrying nesting material on 6th April. However, there was squirrel damage to three boxes and we do need to consider installing more boxes with metal plates around the entrance hole.
Towards the end of the year, up to four male Pheasants were present on the Cornfield during November, probably refugees originating from shooting stock. One was squashed on Shipton Road on Christmas Day. 21 Skylark were present in the Cornfield on 14th December rising to 33 on the 21st. Small flocks of Goldfinch and Greenfinch plus a few Reed Buntings fed on a strip of linseed and quinoa at the northern end of the field.
Large numbers of thrushes were present in November and December - perhaps 400 on some occasions. These were mainly Fieldfare and Redwing with smaller numbers of Blackbirds and a few Song Thrushes.
On 21st December, 32 Corn Buntings gathered in hedges around the New Meadow in late afternoon. This was a good day for waders on the washland: around 40 Lapwings were on Clifton Ings where I flushed 78 Snipe - there may well have been many more. Nine Snipe were also put up from the flood reservoir, though characteristic splashes of droppings indicated that larger numbers had been present. A Green Sandpiper was present on Rawcliffe Ings.(this attractive wader can now be considered a regular winter/passage visitor in very small numbers).
Dwindling numbers of wintering Snipe in the flood reservoir have been cause for concern but, as noted in last year’s report, it is now clear that good numbers still use Clifton Ings. Grazing of the flood reservoir has reduced the tussocky cover favoured by Snipe but at the same time Clifton Ings has been left ungrazed in autumn for the past seven years, producing better Snipe habitat (though probably resulting in a decline in botanical interest).
70 Hereford cross cattle grazed Rawcliffe Meadows briefly in late autumn. This was perhaps excessive but they certainly ‘cleaned’ up plenty of normally unpalatable vegetation such as nettles, tussock grass and hard rush. In general terms this will probably have benefited the meadow flora but one inadvertent effect was that tussocky cover favoured by Snipe in the flood reservoir has been further reduced and the wet grassland was very bare afterwards. It would be worth considering planting or seeding rushes in part of the basin during 2003.
AMPHIBIANS
Frogs and Smooth Newts bred as usual in the flood reservoir pools, where small quantities of Toad spawn were also observed.
INSECTS
Dragonflies
Three species of dragonfly have been added to the site list. I received a report from a local naturalist that Migrant Hawker has been observed regularly in the past few years: this was a rarity in Yorkshire 10 years ago but is now widespread and well-established. Bob Merritt kindly identified two larvae from the flood reservoir pools as Common Hawker: this species is not as common as its English name suggests, being characteristic of acidic moorland ponds although it occurs more sparsely in lowland areas. A single male Black Darter was seen in the flood reservoir in August. The dragonfly list for Rawcliffe Meadows is now as follows:
Banded Demoiselle
Blue-tailed Damselfly*
Common Blue Damselfly*
Azure Damselfly*
Large Red Damselfly*
Common Darter*
Ruddy Darter
Black Darter
Four-spotted Chaser*
Southern Hawker*
Common Hawker*
Migrant Hawker
Brown Hawker*
The species marked * are of regular occurrence and/or there has been evidence of breeding. Not long ago, a site in northern England supporting 10 types of dragonfly would have merited designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest: today any half-decent wetland with good quality ponds will attract at least 10 species. The dramatic northwards spread of species such as Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker is considered to be evidence of climatic warming.
Butterflies
The first butterfly record of the year was a Small Tortoiseshell seen by Cap Fowles on 25th March.
Beetles
One water beetle, Haliplus confinis, was added to the site list from the flood reservoir pools. The pools also produced a second record of the Nationally Scarce diving beetle Rhantus grapii and a third record of the very local scavenger water beetle Enochrus affinis - though I suspect neither of these are established breeding species. However, Copelatus haemorrhoidalis, a rather local diving beetle close to the northern edge of its British range, does appear to have colonised successfully.
PLANTLIFE
One or two plants of bristly oxtongue were found on disturbed ground at the northern end of the site. This species was recorded from the floodbank in the early 1990s in very small numbers; it is sometimes inadvertently introduced with grass seed.
Two plants of common centaury (Centaurium erythraea), a small member of the gentian family, were found on sparsely-vegetated clay in the flood reservoir (a new species for the site). Another new species was hoary ragwort (Senecio erucifolius) in the Cornfield.
There has been a marked shift in the ecology of the flood reservoir pools over the past year with a reduction in cover of stonewort beds and increased colonisation by more competitive plants (including floating carpets of duckweed) along with a reduction in water clarity. Flooding with polluted water from Blue Beck may be a factor but there is an underlying natural process as nutrients accumulate through the deposition of silt and decaying vegetation. In order to maintain some clear-water stonewort ponds, it will be necessary to remove silt from two or three of the pools in the coming year, taking care not to damage important invertebrate habitats such as moss carpets and trailing grasses in the pool edges.
The main pond has long suffered from invasion by exotic water plants dumped there by persons unknown. Invasive alien aquatic plants are now one of the biggest threats to freshwater habitats in Britain, so it is alarming to see that one of the most destructive species, water fern (Azolla), now completely carpets a balancing pond in the grounds of Clifton Hospital. Azolla wreaks havoc both by smothering the water surface (killing off submerged vegetation) and by releasing nitrogen into the water (unlike any other water plant it absorbs nitrogen from the air). We managed to remove a few fronds which appeared on the main pond several years ago but it cannot be long before this menace reappears. Once established, control of Azolla is very difficult (the only effective herbicide is no longer approved for use in water) so it must be removed ruthlessly as soon as it appears.
REPORT ON THE CORNFIELD NATURE RESERVE
Feeding of tail grain continued in the early months of the year, and this was clearly an important food source for birds. All arable farmers produce waste from harvesting (split grains and weed seeds) but this is usually dumped or burned. Clearly it is an excellent source of wild bird food ! We are very grateful to Mr and Mrs Gibson of Birkdale Farm, Terrington for providing several sacks.
The eastern end of the field was ploughed and sown with barley in February whilst most of the western part was left as fallow to assist thistle control. A small area sown with kale and mustard in spring 2001 near Shipton Road was left to provide cover and produce seed. 0.3 ha at the western end of the Cornfield was cultivated and sown with a wild bird seed mix (mainly kale, linseed and quinoa). Quinoa is a South American annual (cultivated as a corn-meal crop) related to fat hen, which produces large quantities of long-lasting, calorie-rich seed.
Management of the Cornfield over the past couple of years has been outside our control and a series of mishaps have produced less than ideal results, with a major burden of nuisance weeds such as ragwort and thistles plus extensive invasion of the cultivated areas by black bent grass (which smothers cereals and annual broad-leaved weeds). Cereal growth has also been poor - there is no intention to produce a agricultural crop, but cereals do provide habitat structure in summer and shed grain is a major source of food for birds foraging in the overwinter stubbles.
We have recently received confirmation from DEFRA that the Cornfield will be managed by Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows under a new Countryside Stewardship agreement with the support of City of York Council. This will allow considerably more control but serious effort will be needed during 2003 to redress some of the problems which have developed. Of necessity this will include more spraying and later cultivation than would be ideal.
The CSS agreement includes establishment of perennial grass margins and sowing of wildlife seed crops with most of the cultivated area managed as a spring-sown cereal with low rates of fertiliser input, including broad headlands where fertiliser is not applied. Seed-bearing wildlife crops can be a real boon to farmland birds but require some experimentation. Attempts over the past two years suggest that kale (one of the best crops for songbirds) is very difficult to grow on this site. Mustard, linseed and quinoa grow reasonably well and we will also try mixtures including fodder raddish and rape in 2003.
The Cornfield reserve was initially established to maintain an area of arable habitat within the local landscape after the development of the Park & Ride site. Despite a steep learning curve and considerable management problems, the reserve helps sustain regular wintering populations of several of our most seriously declining farmland birds. These include species listed as priorities for conservation in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Skylark, Linnet, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and Corn Bunting). It is of special importance for breeding and wintering Skylarks and for wintering Corn Buntings.
******
Acknowledgements
The following have provided assistance for which we thank them:
The Vale of York British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
The Environment Agency
The University of York Conservation Volunteers
North Yorkshire Environmental Task Force
The Whitaker family at Pavilion Cottage
Phil & Joan Paley
Steve Huddleston
Gary Kay
Jeremy Walmsley (with thanks for all past help and best wishes for the future in his new role)
Financial Assistance has been provided by:
The City of York Council Countryside Service
DEFRA (Countryside Stewardship)
Contact
For further information or to offer assistance, please contact:
Judith Sutton on 01759 372318
Annex 1
Bird box report – Steve Huddleston
During Christmas 2001 we put up 6 New Tit Boxes and 1 New Starling Box to add to the 6 Existing Open Fronted Boxes.
I could only manage 1 visit to check the Boxes during the Spring. (25 May 2002)
The situation was as follows.
Tree Sparrow - Were found to be using 5 of the New Boxes:
1 Box was half full of Nest Material
1 Box had a completed Nest
1 Box had 3 Warm Eggs
1 Box had 4 Warm Eggs
1 Box had 6 Warm Eggs
This would suggest that I had visited the Boxes during the middle of the first laying period.
Great Tit - Were using the remaining New Box.
This contained a brood that was in the process of fledging.
I managed to Ring 7 of the Young prior to them leaving the box.
1 fledged as I was approaching the tree.
This would give a brood of a least 8 possible a few more, but 8 - 10 for
2002 appears to be a reasonable brood size to expect.
Starling - Were in the process on putting the final touches to the Nest in
the Large Starling Box.
All the new Boxes we put up have be taken up.
I would suggest possibly putting a few more boxes up before the end of March for the Tree Sparrows. It looks like the restriction on the colony is suitable nesting sites. |
Annual Report 2005
INTRODUCTION
Rawcliffe Meadows Nature Park, established in 1991, covers 25 acres of the Clifton floodplain on the northern outskirts of York. The park is owned by the Environment Agency and leased to Sustrans the cycle track operator. The site is managed by Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, a voluntary group belonging to the York Natural Environment Trust.
As well as providing access to open countryside for local people, Rawcliffe Meadows is managed as a traditional Ings flood meadow under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. This is the fifteenth Annual Report of Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, summarising our work during the year 2005.
Website: http://www.communigate.co.uk/york/form/index.phtmlEVENTS
Work parties carried on throughout the year, with the regular small group of volunteers keeping the site up to scratch!
January 2005 brought with it the task of clearing the heaviest amount of flood debris we had ever seen, assistance with tidying up was provided by the EA and BTCV. Cap and Carole helped with keeping the birds fed throughout the winter…
February saw the start of SOS, our Save the Sparrows project aimed at encouraging Tree Sparrows into the copse and with the assistance of Steve Huddleston of Wheatear who had manufactured 37 bird boxes with metal hole plates, these were put into place along with two bat boxes and a little owl box. The BTCV pollarded and coppiced the willows in the pond area, the offcuts of which were fixed down at the back of the area to provide habitat.
June 16th was the date for the annual pond dip, which although great fun, was poorly attended despite publicity, similarly the annual meadow walk on July 14th.
August saw a lot of hard work being carried out putting ramps beneath the cattle grids to permit hedgehogs and small mammals to escape easily, some of the holes being quite deep. The hay cut worked well apart from the delay in getting a large number of bales offsite. This resulted in them being vandalised and some set fire to, another loss in income! Work was also carried out on trees in the scrub area, which were re-staked and cleared of encroaching weeds. The annual work of repairing vandal-created gaps in the fences was carried out, prior to grazing being able to start. Many members of the public forget that having the cattle on site is a key factor to the natural management of the site’s plant life, along with being part of the Stewardship agreement with DEFRA, which provides our basic income.
In September we received a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust/npower Conservation Award for the many years work looking after the site – recognition and money is always welcome! The money will help towards starting the Grow More Tansy (GMT) project, as part of which we have gathered seed from plants on site to be grown on by Brunswick Organic Nursery, which can then be planted at other points on site to hopefully increase the Meadows and thus the national population of Tansy beetle. We also submitted our work to a scheme organised by Flora Locale but didn’t receive an award, however this did get us on their web site, even if currently in Northumberland!
The autumn has seen volunteers clearing bulrush from the larger ponds in the reservoir basin, along with securing more of the woodpiles in the pond area. Unfortunately travellers’ horses appeared on site from the hospital and with fencing work that has been done on the hospital side we were unable to easily get them off, so a lot of upheaval has been made to the damp flood banks but we will attempt to reseed in the spring!
ECOLOGICAL REPORT
Martin Hammond provides the following report:
Cornfield Nature Reserve (Martin Hammond)
At last the long-running problems with perennial weeds seem to be under control and very little herbicide was used on the Cornfield this year.
Two half-hectare plots of Wildlife Seed Crop established successfully despite the now annual depredations of pollen beetles. Fodder radish seems to dominate in these mixtures even when it is sown at a low rate; triticale (a hybrid cereal) also grew well but yet again quinoa seems to have yielded little fertile seed. Despite being a crop favoured by DEFRA, there is no point continuing to grow quinoa in this location. The mixture at the western end of the field also produced masses of self-sown redshank and fat hen, both useful seed sources for songbirds.
Two parcels of the wheat crop were left standing rather than being flailed down to stubble. By late autumn these had been battered by wind and rain, providing patchy open cover which was much favoured by buntings and Skylarks.
By November the re-sited seed crop at the eastern end of the field was attracting large numbers of sparrows, finches and buntings but there were also many birds in the cultivated strips which run through the centre of the field (mainly covered in seedheads of fat hen) and in the small plot of kale and teasel (and couch grass!) adjoining Shipton Road.
Wildlife reports (Martin Hammond)
Mammals
My own records are of the usual species: Weasel, Fox, a couple of sightings of Roe Deer in the Cornfield. Cap reports seeing a Weasel by the pond in November, though my own sightings tend to be at the northern end of the site. Good numbers of bats were feeding along the Ings Dyke in spring. It is quite possible that there are bat roosts in some of the big, cavitied trees on the dyke banks and this clearly needs investigating in case management work is needed. I did not see any Water Voles in 2005 – did anyone else?
Insects
We have two recent additions to the Meadows list of butterflies. Speckled Woods were frequent around hedges at the northern end of the site in late summer (also reported from the Copse in June). Not long ago this species was restricted to the magnesian limestone belt in Yorkshire; as its range expanded it established ‘pioneer’ populations at York Cemetery and Knavesmire Wood and has become widespread in the past couple of years.
Nigel Stewart has been spotting Purple Hairstreaks during the past few years in the mature hedgerow oaks
Birds
This year there were so many bird records that it makes sense to provide a systematic list. This covers not only Rawcliffe Meadows and the Cornfield Nature Reserve but also neighbouring areas (Clifton Ings, Clifton Park, Rawcliffe Bar Country Park, Rawcliffe Ings and the River Ouse). Many valuable records have kindly been provided by Nigel Stewart (NS) and Cap Fowles (CF). Anyone with interesting sightings is invited to e-mail me (m.r.hammond@virgin.net) so that I can include them in future reports.
Little Grebe
Two birds on the river Ouse by Rawcliffe Ings from 5th to 13th January with single sightings there on 14th February, 15th April, 27th October and 5th December (NS).
Cormorant
A single bird of the continental race sinensis seen flying up river at Clifton Ings on 4th February and a single bird seen perched in a dead tree by the river at Rawcliffe Ings regularly throughout late June and early July and again on 18th and 19th August (NS).
Mute Swan
A pair on the river at Clifton from 9th to 15th September then seen occasionally until 11th December at least (NS).
Wigeon
A drake on the river at Clifton Ings on 14th January. (NS).
Common Teal
At Clifton Ings two birds were on the floods on 13th January with eight there the next day, 25 were seen flying up river on the 21st and another 20 were attracted to the large pools caused by melting snow on 26th February (NS).
Pochard
A drake on the river at Rawcliffe Ings on 9th January and another there from 22nd November to 21st December (NS).
Goldeneye
A female on the river at Clifton Ings on 15th February. (NS).
Goosander
A pair on the river at Clifton/Rawcliffe Ings on 24th February and a male on 22nd-24th March plus an unseasonal four birds there on 7th June (NS).
Peregrine
An immature bird over Clifton Park on 21st January (NS).
Sparrowhawk
Cap comments that sightings seem to be increasing, perhaps reflecting the good populations of songbirds around the site. At least two different birds habitually hunted the Cornfield later in the year with quite a number of Wood or Feral Pigeons taken.
Grey Partridge
A single bird in a field adjacent to the northern end of Rawcliffe Ings on 16th April (NS).
Pheasant
At least one brood reared in the Cornfield, where Pheasants are now regular throughout the year. Five males were perched together on top of a gate on New Year’s Eve.
Snipe
Wintered on Clifton Ings with maximum counts of 30 on 26th February and 40 from late November to the year end (NS). Numbers in the flood reservoir at either end of the year were almost always in single figures, the best count being 12 on Boxing Day (MH).
Common Sandpiper
A single on the river bank at Rawcliffe Ings on 23rd June and again on 13th July with two there on 9th September (NS).
Common Tern
One flew up river at Rawcliffe Ings on 29th June (NS).
Barn Owl
One was flushed from a large ash tree beside the Ings Dyke, just north of the Rawcliffe Meadows boundary, in early October (MH).
Green Woodpecker
The wintering bird from last year was seen regularly up to 11th March then possibly the same bird seen again on 6th June and 23rd August (NS).
Skylark
Four pairs probably bred on the Cornfield NR (MH). Towards the end of the year, numbers on the Cornfield varied from a handful to 20+, with 52 there during the cold spell on 29th December (NS).
Grey Wagtail
Up to five wintering in the Clifton/Rawcliffe Ings area early in the year with two remaining through the summer at the sewage works. Seven birds were present early October with one or two seen regularly up to end of year (NS).
Waxwing
32 in the trees on the south side of the Allotments on 19th April with 26 on Rawcliffe Meadows on 23rd (NS). These are the second and third records for the Clifton Washland.
Redstart
A juvenile at Clifton Park on 22nd July (NS): an early migrant or had Redstart bred locally? A new species for the locality.
Whinchat
A party of five on Clifton Ings on 9th September (NS).
Wheatear
Two at the Cornfield N.R. on 27th April with another there on 7th May, all female types (NS).
Sedge Warbler
A juvenile in the Flood Reservoir on 16th August (NS). This was the only record, and presumably refers to a passage bird.
Reed Warbler
A bird sub -singing in the reeds at the small pond on Rawcliffe Bar Country Park on 26th July (NS). A new bird for the Clifton Washland area.
Whitethroat
Cap reported a reduction in numbers compared with previous years.
Lesser Whitethroat
A bird at Rawcliffe Ings on 11th May was then seen and heard over the next couple of months and possibly bred (NS).
Garden Warbler
A single bird in a hedge by the Cornfield N.R. on 13th-21st May, two in Clifton Park on 22nd July and 21st August with one there on 3rd September (NS).
Blackcap
Noted in the scrub patch by Blue Beck from 12th April; present there and around the pond throughout May and June (CF). Two males by the Cornfield N.R. on 5th December (NS) represents the first wintering record for the site.
Chiffchaff
Several records of arriving birds from 28th March onwards (CF).
Willow Warbler
First noted at the edge of the Country Park on 11th April, then seen or heard throughout spring and summer (CF).
Spotted Flycatcher
Two by the Pond on Rawcliffe Meadows on 19th May then the usual Autumn sightings in Clifton Park with birds present on 7th,15th & 19th August and 9th & 12th September (NS). It is unclear whether this increasingly scarce summer migrant still breeds in the vicinity.
Jay
One in the Clifton/Rawcliffe Ings area on 23rd September with three there on the 28th and at least two remaining to the year end (NS).
Bullfinch
A group of 4 birds noted on 6th January (CF) and a party of 6 in late December (MH). A female was with four juveniles near the pond on 20th September (CF).
Linnet
A large flock built up once again in the later months, feeding on seed crops, stubbles and cultivated strips on the Cornfield NR. 200+ were estimated in early December with probably 250 towards the year end.
Siskin
A flock of 16 near the Cornfield N.R. on 23rd October (NS).
Lesser Redpoll
Ten in the Rawcliffe Bar Country Park on 21st December (NS).
Tree Sparrow
Present throughout the year, mainly around the Copse and Cornfield NR but also in the hedge along the Ings Dyke and around Clifton Park. By October, good numbers were gathering to feed on seeds in the Cornfield: birds used both the fodder radish-dominated crop mixtures and cultivated strips with abundant fat hen. On 21st November, mixed flocks of Linnet and Tree Sparrow numbered well over 100. Although no precise estimate is available, the wintering population was certainly several dozen.
Tree Sparrows were present continuously at feeding hoppers in the pond and Blue Beck scrub areas during the winter months (CF).
Yellowhammer
Birds were at the feeding hopper in the Blue Beck scrub on several dates during February and March (CF). During November and December unprecedented numbers of Yellowhammers were present on and around the Cornfield NR. Around 15 were present on 21st November, building to 60+ on Boxing Day (MH).
Reed Bunting
Throughout January and February, 50+ were observed going to roost at a small pond in Clifton Park that has become choked by Reedmace (NS). In October to December exceptional numbers of Reed Bunting were present on the Cornfield NR with birds also present in the flood reservoir. Reed Buntings tend to feed amongst dense cover so it is very difficult to estimate the wintering population but it was probably in the region of 50-100 birds. Reed Buntings feed mainly amongst fodder radish-dominated seed crops but also on cultivated strips with abundant fat hen.
Reed Buntings were present continuously at feeding hoppers in the pond and Blue Beck scrub areas during the winter months (CF).
Corn Bunting
Corn Buntings were very irregular during the early months. 51 came in to roost in trees bordering Rawcliffe Meadows on 1st March with 30 there on 7th -8th and another six on 1st May (NS). There were no summer records. Two birds were at the Cornfield N.R. on 15th November (NS) with numbers increasing steadily to end of the year. Pre-roost congregations numbered at least 74 birds on Boxing Day but there were certainly more around the site (MH). This represents a welcome return to form for the Clifton Washland as a traditional wintering habitat for this seriously declining songbird.
Nest Box records
Steve Huddleston of the Huddleston & Jackson Bird Ringing Partnership (http://www.hjrg.org.uk/) checked the nest boxes in the Copse area on 20th May. 21 out of 50 boxes were in use but 11 of these contained only partly-built or recently-started nests (possibly Tree Sparrows making late breeding attempts). 17 young Blue Tits were rung from two broods whilst 20 young Great Tits were rung from three boxes. One Tree Sparrow pair had successfully fledged young.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following have provided assistance for which we thank them:
The Vale of York British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
The Environment Agency (EA)
The Whitaker family at Pavilion Cottage
Phil & Joan Paley. It is with regret that Phil’s death in 2005 is also noted, after many years of help.
Gary Kay
Bob Missin (CoYC)
Martin Hammond, Nigel Stewart and Cap Fowles for recording
Steve Huddleston and associates for erecting and monitoring nest boxes & ringing birds
Dan Calvert (CoYC) for advice on hedgehog ramps
Tony Fairburn for helping gather Tansy seed
Adam Myers and Brunswick Nursery
…And all the volunteers who turn up when they are able and Judi for coordinating it all!
Financial Assistance has been provided by:
The City of York Council Countryside Service
DEFRA (Countryside Stewardship)
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT)/npower Conservation Award
The Environment Agency (EA)
CONTACT
For further information or to offer assistance, please contact:
Judith Sutton on 01759 372318
|
Annual Report 2006
INTRODUCTION
Rawcliffe Meadows Nature Park, established in 1991, covers 25 acres of the Clifton floodplain on the northern outskirts of York. The park is owned by the Environment Agency and leased to Sustrans the cycle track operator. The site is managed by Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, a voluntary group belonging to the York Natural Environment Trust.
As well as providing access to open countryside for local people, Rawcliffe Meadows is managed as a traditional Ings flood meadow under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. This is the sixteenth Annual Report of Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows, summarising our work during the year 2006.
Website: http://www.communigate.co.uk/york/form/index.phtml
BBC Blog:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2006/03/29/rawcliffe_meadows_feature.shtml
EVENTS
January and February 2006 saw the Friends taking on some of the scrapes or small ponds in the reservoir basin to restore their viability by clearing out silt and thinning out the weeds. The travellers had managed to sneak their horses on again and the process of getting them off had to be repeated!
In March we were transplanting brambles to cover the wood piles and points in the boundaries that were being abused. Along with a healthy supply of blackberries in the autumn this deters the couple of errant ramblers. March also saw the flooding of the Ings and the start of work with BBC Radio York who recorded various items on site and loaned equipment to enable us to record our own opinions.
April had the boundaries being repaired (again) and flood debris being cleared. For a change, although there had been a lot of it, it had mainly been lightweight material.
May saw BBC Look North on site in the pouring rain, filming Tansy beetles as part of the BBC Springwatch project.
In June, as usual, the pond dip and walk were held. The pond dip saw some new faces but we also found tadpoles for a change and the walk found new helpers too.
In trepidation we organised what we could for the hay cut in July, and unsurprisingly it all went wrong to some extent, the Agency had changed their cutter, which was no longer capable of the job we needed! The grazier also delayed getting bales off. The arsonists found this all too tempting and large stretches of the flood bank were burnt, along with some bales.
For September, in successful contrast, between ourselves and the BTCV a lot of the pond willow was cleared prior to them giving the area a good cut. The willow cuttings made their way to the northern end of the site to join a mountain of brambles beyond the reach of floodwaters. The cattle also came on but were left to the last minute when flooding briefly arrived in November.
A meeting was held with the Environment Agency, which may turn out to be the first of a series of annual reviews of the partnership.
ECOLOGICAL REPORT
Martin Hammond provides the following report:
Birds
Bird records are either Martin’s or obtained from the York Ornithological Club website (www.tka.co.uk/yoc).
Early January saw large numbers of songbirds on the Cornfield: on the 9th, flocks of 59 Tree Sparrow and 49 Corn Bunting were counted. However, Corn Bunting numbers subsequently dwindled with only small groups present in February to mid March. Large numbers of Reed Bunting remained amongst the fodder radish-dominated seed crops, with 40+ present on several occasions in February and March. At least 35 Tree Sparrows were still present around the Cornfield in mid April with birds still flocking despite much evidence of nesting activity in and around the Copse.
In late winter/early spring, numbers of Snipe in the Flood Reservoir were slightly better than in recent years with at least 25 birds on some days. Jack Snipe was recorded once in February. A solitary Chiffchaff was foraging amongst marsh vegetation on 28th February, presumably an overwintering bird rather than an early migrant arrival given the persistently cold conditions during the early months. 8 Waxwings were at Rawcliffe Ings on 15th February (YOC).
After a slow start to spring, migrant Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were all singing on 17th April, when there were up to 4 pairs of Moorhen on the site, a Coot on the pond and Jays around the northern end of the Meadows. At least two pairs of Song Thrush were present around the boundaries of the Meadows.
Cultivation of the Cornfield was frustratingly delayed and did not take place until early May. This was almost certainly detrimental to breeding Skylarks and it was uncertain whether any remained on site subsequently.
On 26th May, a Water Rail was seen in the flood reservoir, this normally elusive bird providing excellent views in broad daylight. On the same day a buzzard was being mobbed intensely by the local crows but seemed unwilling to fly far. It was seen only very briefly, in the tree line along the northern boundary of Clifton Hospital then later in the oaks along Blue Beck near the allotments. This would probably have been a Common Buzzard, an increasing species in Yorkshire, though it was not seen well enough to be certain.
In June, a Green Woodpecker was reported calling on the 9th. An escapee Blue-fronted Amazon parrot was seen at Clifton Park and remained in the area into September (YOC). A Peregrine was spotted over Clifton Ings on 1st July.
Passing songbirds in September included a Lesser Whitethroat at Clifton Park on the 4th and 12 Spotted Flycatchers together on the same date (YOC).
A Water Rail was seen again in the flood reservoir on 1st December. Repeated attempts to count wintering birds on the Cornfield were frustrated by people walking their dogs across the field – blithely ignoring clear notices and the fact that they have access to hundreds of acres of public open space elsewhere in the vicinity. In late December there were certainly 160+ Linnet (perhaps significantly more) with modest numbers of Tree Sparrow and Reed Bunting plus small numbers of Stock Dove, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer. 19 Skylark were counted on 22nd December.
Mammals
Again there were – as far as I know – no sightings of Water Vole, either from the Ings Dyke or Blue Beck. It is sad to reflect that only a few years ago the Clifton washland was an important stronghold for this severely declining animal. Contrary to the widespread belief that feral Mink are solely responsible for the demise of the Water Vole, the ‘predator’ in this case has been the local Internal Drainage Board!
Amphibians
Good numbers of well-developed Common Frog tadpoles were present in the Flood Reservoir pools in late May. A very rainy late spring, which led to partial flooding of Clifton Ings in mid May, topped-up the more temporary pools in the Flood Reservoir and doubtless benefited tadpoles. Unusually large numbers of young Smooth Newt tadpoles were noted at the same time.
Insects
On 15th May, 121 Tansy Beetles were counted within an area of a few square metres on one of the mounds adjoining the Pond. Several were also present on tansy in the New Meadow and on an adjacent verge. None could be found on the banks of Blue Beck, which had supported a good population prior to maintenance work by the IDB in 2005, which resulted in tansy patches being scraped away and nettles invading dredgings tipped over the banks.
The jewel-like Tansy Beetle formerly occurred in several lowland river valleys and fenland areas of England but now seems to be restricted to the Ouse washlands between Poppleton and Wistow Lordship in Selby district. It is common enough in this restricted area, though populations are threatened by insensitive management of ditch and river banks and intensive management of floodplain grasslands. Mass planting of osiers on river banks by the former National Rivers Authority and invasion of Himalayan balsam on ungrazed sites have not helped.
However, despite these threats, the Tansy Beetle seems to have quite modest requirements, namely an abundance of tansy amongst open vegetation within or adjoining the flood zone. The very simple measure of transplanting tansy into the pond compound has clearly been successful, with the added benefit that piecemeal, rotational management such as cutting vegetation and scrub removal can be timed to avoid harm to Tansy Beetles.
During summer 2006, Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows planted-out at carefully chosen locations tansy plants grown from locally-collected seed by Brunswick Organic Nursery. Control of fast-growing dominant plants such as bulky grasses, hogweed, cow parsley, greater willowherb and stinging nettles will be needed to ensure that the beetle’s foodplant establishes successfully.
A single specimen of the Nationally Scarce scavenger water beetle Berosus signaticollis was found in the flood reservoir on 26th May. This beetle seems to occur only sporadically in Yorkshire, and this is the most northerly record for the species in Britain. It would be unprecedented if it became established.
Cornfield Nature Reserve
The Cornfield NR continues to provide an important habitat for wildlife associated with cultivated land. A spring-sown wheat crop is grown on part of the field with stubble left overwinter, whilst two 0.5 hectare plots are sown with special seed crops used by birds and invertebrates. The Cornfield supports breeding Skylarks and wintering populations of several declining farmland birds including Linnet, Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting. Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings forage throughout the year.
Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows and City of York Council jointly hold a Countryside Stewardship Agreement for the Cornfield. Some manual tasks and wildlife monitoring are undertaken by FoRM but the Council are responsible for contracting out the essential mechanical tasks of ploughing, drilling crops and cutting. Unfortunately, every year without fail, time-critical management work is undertaken too late – the cereal crop areas don’t get cultivated till late spring, leaving only a brief period in which Skylarks can nest, or weed control is left so late in the year that there is a continuous build up of invasive perennial weeds like couch-grass and creeping thistle. FoRM have urged City of York Council to ensure that these problems are not repeated in 2007.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following have provided assistance for which we thank them:
The Vale of York British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
The Environment Agency (EA)
The Whitaker family at Pavilion Cottage
Joan Paley.
Gary Kay
Bob Missin (CoYC)
Martin Hammond, Nigel Stewart and Cap Fowles for recording
Steve Huddleston and associates for erecting and monitoring nest boxes & ringing birds
Adam Myers and Brunswick Nursery
…And all the volunteers who turn up when they are able and Judi for coordinating it all!
Financial Assistance has been provided by:
The City of York Council Countryside Service
DEFRA (Countryside Stewardship) – now via Rural Payments Agency
The Environment Agency (EA)
Publication about Tansy Beetles –
Chapman D, Sivell D, Oxford G, Dytham C, (2006) Ecology of the Tansy Beetle (Chrysolina graminis) in Britain, The Naturalist, 131, pp 41-54
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Annual Report 2007
Due to growing size, this is available by email. Please contact us. |
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