Biological Surveys at Hunsbury Hill Country Park 2018

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BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS AT HUNSBURY HILL COUNTRY PARK 2018

Ryan Clark Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre April 2019

Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre

Introduction Biological records tell us which species are present on sites and are essential in informing the conservation and management of wildlife. In 2018, the Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre ran a number of events to encourage biological recording at Hunsbury Hill Fort as part of the Friends of West Hunsbury Park’s project, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hunsbury Hill Country Park is designated as a Local Wildlife Site (LWS). There are approximately 700 Local Wildlife Sites in Northamptonshire. Local Wildlife Sites create a network of areas, which are important as refuges for wildlife or wildlife corridors. Hunsbury Hill Country Park was designated as a LWS in 1992 for its woodland flora and the variety of habitats that the site possesses. The site also has a Local Geological Site (LGS) which highlights the importance of this site for its geology as well as biodiversity. This will be surveyed by the local geological group in due course.

Hunsbury Hill Country Park Local Wildlife Site Boundary

Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre (NBRC) supports the recording, curation and sharing of quality verified environmental information for sound decision-making. We hold nearly a million biological records covering a variety of different species groups. Before the start of this project, we looked to see which species had been recorded at the site. We were surprised to find that the only records we have for the site have come from Local Wildlife Site Surveys, which assess the quality of the site and focus on vascular plants, with some casual observations of other species noted too. So, we know a fair amount the plants that are present on the site that make up this variety of habitats, but little was known about what other species were present on site. A total of 143 species had been recorded on the site up to the start of 2018 (fig 1). Knowing which other species are present on the site is essential to be able to take them into account in the management and also to highlight the importance of the site to the general public to help them engage with it and protect its natural heritage.

Grasshoppers, 1 Flies, 2 Bees, 1 Reptiles, 1 Damselflies, 1 Butterflies, 3 Birds, 9

Vascular plants, 125

Figure 1: Species recorded up to the start of 2018

In 2018, Matt Johnson from the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire carried out a habitat survey as part of the Friends of West Hunsbury Park’s Lottery Funded Project. The report from this survey is available on the Friends’ website. This habitat survey generated records for a large number of vascular plants, and a

number of other species, many of which were new to the site. All of these records will be included in the records centre database.

Encouraging Biological Recording in the Country Park Volunteers collect the majority of biological records. The records centre is reliant on these volunteer recorders to provide us with the data, which forms an evidence base so that biodiversity is taken into account in decision making. As the records centre is so reliant on volunteer recorders, the WILDside Project was launched in 2017. This project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and runs until the end of 2019. This project is all about encouraging and supporting biological recording in Northamptonshire. Throughout this project, we have been learning how to support biological recording more effectively and used what we had learnt to shape the activities we thought would help biological recording in the country park. We wanted local people to know that they could make a difference so gave a talk to the residents about wildlife recording and followed this up with a training day. We also had a BioBlitz to engage the public with the site and the wildlife present there. Hunsbury Park School backs onto the Country Park so it was important to engage the primary school children there with the site so we ran a session for them too.

Myself giving a talk to local residents about biological recording

Biological Recording Training Day Following on from analysis of records in the database which showed that the Local Wildlife Site was under recorded in terms of the species that are found there, a training day was developed to teach participants how to generate high quality biological records. The focus was on species other than vascular plants as these have been covered by previous surveys. A presentation in the morning outlined what biological records are and their importance. A walk in the afternoon put this into practice with participants walking around the site and recording the species that they encountered. Lots of biological records were made on the day, with the majority of species encountered new for the site. All of these records are now in the records centre database.

Myself showing participants an insect we found during the survey. They then looked up the species in the book and filled in the recording form.

One of the recording forms which participants filled in on the day The feedback from the day was positive as the day highlighted the importance of recording, the lack of records for the site and the wealth of wildlife that there is on the site. Following the workshop, it is hoped that local residents continue to monitor wildlife on the site and submit records to the records centre.

Forest School Day On the 28th June, Ryan Clark and Rosalind Johnson ran an afternoon of activities with students from Hunsbury Park Primary School in the Local Wildlife Site. The school backs onto the county park area so the main aim of the afternoon was to teach the children about the wildlife in the area so they become more connected with it. An additional aim was to teach them basic identification skills and get them to look closer at the natural world around them.

The children could:

 Draw species  Use identification charts to identify species  Hunt for leaves, grasses and wildflowers to see what species they could find  Use magnifying glasses to see species up close  Using pooters to pick up insects without hurting them  Pretend to be mice and have to be quiet and sneak around ‘the owl’ The children were shown the different activities and the ‘recording boundary’ and then given the freedom to choose which of these activities they wanted to do and change whenever they felt like it. This was so that they could feel free to explore the natural world around them whilst being safe.

Some children drew insects they found

Some students drew and identified wildflowers

Some students collected and identified wildflowers and leaves

The feedback we received from the day from both students and staff was very positive. The students learnt lots and had a great time while the staff picked up a few ideas for activities they would run again. Jacqueline Hughes, the forest school leader for the school said ‘Thank you so much for such an amazing afternoon. You inspired the children AND the adults to want to look more closely at the woodland and grassland areas. We were all so excited using the pooters...I feel I may have to buy some for school. It was a joy to see the children working so independently either on their own or in groups. Some were so focused on their tasks - and for many children this does not happen in the school environment.’ All the species that the children found were identified where possible and recorded.

BioBlitz A BioBlitz is an intense period of biological recording, often in a public space. The aims of this BioBlitz were twofold. First, we wanted to generate robust data that highlights which species use the area. Secondly, we wanted to engage local people with the hillfort and highlight the wealth of wildlife around them so they appreciate and protect it. Traditionally a BioBlitz takes place over a 24 hour period so we split the event into an evening and a daytime session in order to maximise the number of species recorded.

31st August 2018 On the 31st August we had two evening sessions where around 20 members of the public joined us to do a bat survey and take part in moth trapping. The bat walk was really popular and allowed participants to see, and hear, three species of bat – the Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and the Noctule. We then went back to see what the moth traps had attracted. The public loved seeing the 30 moth species that we recorded and a selection of these moths were kept overnight to show the public the following day, before being released. The moth traps also attracted a wide variety of other species, which generated more records for the site and engaged the public with these species too. One participant commented on how nice it was to see hornets up close. A full account of the moth trapping can be found in Appendix 2.

Other feedback from these walks was very positive. With one participant saying that it is was a ‘Fun group activity suitable for all the family. We enjoyed learning a bit about bats at the beginning before going out. Also enjoyed the opportunity to do moth trapping as well.’ Others commented that ‘I had 2 young children with me and I felt that it was perfect for them and they had good interaction with the radios pictures and walk.’

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. One of 30 moth species recorded during the evening’s moth trapping session.

1st September 2018 The 1st September was the main BioBlitz event. We had a gazebo in the hill fort and showed off some of the wildlife that we had found, including some of the moths that we had caught the night before. This gazebo was the BioBlitz hub and a focal point for members of the public to come and hear more about the wildlife of the county park. 31 members of the public came throughout the day and took park in sweep netting, wildlife treasure hunts and other family activities. The public helped us to build up a picture of what wildlife is visiting the site. Alongside the public, we had a number of experts who helped us record wildlife on the site. In all we found around 100 species. We expect the total to be higher than this as some recorders are still identifying some of the species seen on the day. This approach of recorders working with the public worked well on this day with one member of the public finding a moth, which hadn’t been recorded in Northamptonshire since 1901! We received lots of positive feedback on the day from a wide range of people, saying how nice it was to see the hill fort being used and seeing the wildlife there.

Families looking at the insects they had swept from vegetation

What Do We Know About The Site Now? This push to record wildlife on the site in 2018 has dramatically increased the number of species that we know use the site. Through our BioBlitz and workshops, we recorded 129 species, 125 of these were not plants. The majority of these were new to the site. This is just touching the surface though and many more species will use the site so further recording of wildlife on the site should be encouraged. Three hundred and nineteen species are now known from the site, a full list can be found in Appendix 1. A talk on the species we now know are present on site will be given to local residents in spring 2019.

Some of the records from the BioBlitz, highlighting what we had found to the public

Previous Records Workshops and Number of Species BioBlitz Now Recorded Amphibians 1 1 Birds 9 9 19 Flowering Plants 125 4 174 Fungi 1 1 Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) 13 13 Insect – Butterflies 3 8 14 Insect – Caddisflies 5 5 (Trichoptera) Insect – Dragonflies 1 5 7 (Odonata) Insect - Earwigs 1 1 (Dermaptera) Insect - Hymenopterans 1 12 12 Insect - Moths 38 38 Insect - Orthopterans 1 2 2 Insect - True bugs 4 4 (Hemiptera) Insect - True flies (Diptera) 2 20 20 Mammals 5 6 Molluscs 1 1 Reptiles 1 1 Grand Total 143 129 319

Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre (NBRC) supports the recording, curation and sharing of quality verified environmental information for sound decision-making. We are a not-for profit, impartial, independent provider of biodiversity and geodiversity information for all who wish to use it. The centre is one of nearly fifty county-based Local Environmental Records Centres operating across the UK and we are members of the national Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC), the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), the National Forum for Biological Recording (NFBR), and the county’s Biodiversity Partnership and Local Nature Partnership.

Tel: 01604 400448 E-mail: [email protected]

Appendix 1 - List of Species Now Known From the Site

Group Common Name Latin Name

Amphibians Common frog Rana temporaria

Birds Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Birds Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Birds Buzzard Buteo buteo

Birds Stock Dove Columba oenas

Birds Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus

Birds Robin Erithacus rubecula

Birds Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Birds Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Birds Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

Birds Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Birds Great Tit Parus major

Birds Coal Tit Periparus ater

Birds Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Birds Magpie Pica pica

Birds Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

Birds Dunnock Prunella modularis

Birds Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Birds Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Birds Blackbird Turdus merula

Flowering Plants Field Maple Acer campestre

Flowering Plants Norway Maple Acer platanoides

Flowering Plants Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus

Flowering Plants Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Flowering Plants Ground-elder Aegopodium podagraria

Flowering Plants Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum

Flowering Plants Fool's Parsley Aethusa cynapium

Flowering Plants Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria

Flowering Plants Common Bent Agrostis capillaris

Flowering Plants Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera

Flowering Plants Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata

Flowering Plants Alder Alnus glutinosa

Flowering Plants Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis

Flowering Plants Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum

Flowering Plants Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris

Flowering Plants Lesser Burdock Arctium minus

Flowering Plants Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana

Flowering Plants False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius

Flowering Plants Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

Flowering Plants Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum

Flowering Plants Common Orache Atriplex patula

Flowering Plants Black Horehound Ballota nigra

Flowering Plants Daisy Bellis perennis

Flowering Plants Silver Birch Betula pendula

Flowering Plants Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii

Flowering Plants Wood Small-reed Calamagrostis epigejos

Flowering Plants Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium

Flowering Plants Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis

Flowering Plants Welted Thistle Carduus crispus

Flowering Plants Musk Thistle Carduus nutans

Flowering Plants Greater Pond-sedge Carex riparia

Flowering Plants Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa

Flowering Plants Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra

Flowering Plants Common Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum

Flowering Plants Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium

Flowering Plants Fat-hen Chenopodium album

Flowering Plants Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense

Flowering Plants Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare

Flowering Plants Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis

Flowering Plants Dogwood Cornus sanguinea

Flowering Plants Hazel Corylus avellana

Flowering Plants Midland Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata

Flowering Plants Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna

Flowering Plants Smooth Hawk's-beard Crepis capillaris

Flowering Plants Beaked Hawk's-beard Crepis vesicaria

Flowering Plants Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus

Flowering Plants Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata

Flowering Plants Wild Carrot Daucus carota carota

Flowering Plants Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum

Flowering Plants Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas

Flowering Plants Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum

Flowering Plants Hoary Willowherb Epilobium parviflorum

Flowering Plants Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia

Flowering Plants Red Fescue Festuca rubra

Flowering Plants Garden Strawberry Fragaria ananassa

Flowering Plants Ash Fraxinus excelsior

Flowering Plants Cleavers Galium aparine

Flowering Plants Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum

Flowering Plants Cut-leaved Crane's-bill Geranium dissectum

Flowering Plants Dove's-foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle

Flowering Plants Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum

Flowering Plants Wood Avens Geum urbanum

Flowering Plants Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea

Flowering Plants Ivy Hedera helix

Flowering Plants Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium

Flowering Plants Hawkweed Hieracium sp

Flowering Plants Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus

Flowering Plants Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis

Flowering Plants Wall Barley Hordeum murinum

Flowering Plants Spanish Bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica

Flowering Plants Imperforate St John's-wort Hypericum maculatum

Flowering Plants Perforate St John's-wort Hypericum perforatum

Flowering Plants Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata

Flowering Plants Holly Ilex aquifolium

Flowering Plants Soft-rush Juncus effusus

Flowering Plants Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Flowering Plants White Dead-nettle Lamium album

Flowering Plants Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis

Flowering Plants Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus

Flowering Plants Lesser Hawkbit Leontodon saxatilis

Flowering Plants Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

Flowering Plants Wild Privet Ligustrum vulgare

Flowering Plants Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris

Flowering Plants Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne

Flowering Plants Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus

Flowering Plants Crab Apple Malus sylvestris

Flowering Plants Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea

Flowering Plants Black Medick Medicago lupulina

Flowering Plants Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis

Flowering Plants Red Bartsia Odontites vernus

Flowering Plants Cotton Thistle Onopordum acanthium

Flowering Plants Long Smooth-headed Poppy Papaver dubium

Flowering Plants Smaller Cat's-tail Phleum bertolonii

Flowering Plants Timothy Phleum pratense

Flowering Plants Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum

Flowering Plants Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris

Flowering Plants Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata

Flowering Plants Greater Plantain Plantago major

Flowering Plants Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua

Flowering Plants Smooth Meadow-grass Poa pratensis

Flowering Plants Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis

Flowering Plants White Poplar Populus alba

Flowering Plants Grey Poplar Populus alba x tremula = P. x canescens

Flowering Plants Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans

Flowering Plants Selfheal Prunella vulgaris

Flowering Plants Wild Cherry Prunus avium

Flowering Plants Bird Cherry Prunus padus

Flowering Plants Blackthorn Prunus spinosa

Flowering Plants Bracken Pteridium aquilinum

Flowering Plants Turkey Oak Quercus cerris

Flowering Plants Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur

Flowering Plants Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria

Flowering Plants Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens

Flowering Plants Weld Reseda luteola

Flowering Plants Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor

Flowering Plants Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum

Flowering Plants Currant Ribes sp.

Flowering Plants False-acacia Robinia pseudoacacia

Flowering Plants Field-rose Rosa arvensis

Flowering Plants Dog Rose Rosa canina agg.

Flowering Plants Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.

Flowering Plants Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa acetosa

Flowering Plants Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella

Flowering Plants Curled Dock Rumex crispus

Flowering Plants Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius

Flowering Plants Wood Dock Rumex sanguineus

Flowering Plants White Willow Salix alba

Flowering Plants Goat Willow Salix caprea

Flowering Plants Common Sallow Salix cinerea

Flowering Plants Grey Willow Salix cinerea cinerea

Flowering Plants Hybrid Crack-willow Salix euxina x alba = S. x fragilis

Flowering Plants Bay Willow Salix pentandra

Flowering Plants Osier Salix viminalis

Flowering Plants Elder Sambucus nigra

Flowering Plants Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa

Flowering Plants Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius

Flowering Plants Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea

Flowering Plants Red Campion Silene dioica

Flowering Plants White Campion Silene latifolia

Flowering Plants Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale

Flowering Plants Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara

Flowering Plants Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper

Flowering Plants Sorbus aria agg.

Flowering Plants Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea

Flowering Plants Common Chickweed Stellaria media

Flowering Plants Tansy Tanacetum vulgare

Flowering Plants Dandelion Taraxacum officinale agg.

Flowering Plants Caucasian Lime Tilia cordata x dasystyla = T. x euchlora

Flowering Plants Lime Tilia x europaea

Flowering Plants Upright Hedge-parsley Torilis japonica

Flowering Plants Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis

Flowering Plants Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre

Flowering Plants Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium

Flowering Plants Red Clover Trifolium pratense

Flowering Plants White Clover Trifolium repens

Flowering Plants Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum

Flowering Plants Colt's-foot Tussilago farfara

Flowering Plants Gorse Ulex europaeus

Flowering Plants Wych Elm Ulmus glabra

Flowering Plants English Elm Ulmus procera

Flowering Plants Common Nettle Urtica dioica

Flowering Plants Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys

Flowering Plants Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis

Flowering Plants Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica

Flowering Plants Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia

Flowering Plants Wayfaring-tree Viburnum lantana

Flowering Plants Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus

Flowering Plants Laurustinus Viburnum tinus

Flowering Plants Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca

Flowering Plants Hairy Tare Vicia hirsuta

Flowering Plants Common Vetch Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis

Flowering Plants Bush Vetch Vicia sepium

Flowering Plants Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma

Flowering Plants Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana

Fungi Daldinia concentrica King Alfreds Cakes

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) 2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Cantharis nigricans

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Cantharis rustica

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Carabus (Mesocarabus) problematicus

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Lagria hirta

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Lily Beetle Lilioceris lilii

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Devil's Coach-horse Ocypus (Ocypus) olens

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Green Nettle Weevil Phyllobius (Metaphyllobius) pomaceus

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Black Clock Pterostichus (Steropus) madidus

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) Common Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis

Insect - Beetles (Coleoptera) 16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata

Insect – Butterflies Peacock Aglais io

Insect – Butterflies Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

Insect – Butterflies Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus

Insect – Butterflies Brown Argus Aricia agestis

Insect – Butterflies Holly blue Celastrina argiolus

Insect – Butterflies Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina

Insect – Butterflies Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Insect – Butterflies Large White Pieris brassicae

Insect – Butterflies Small White Pieris rapae

Insect – Butterflies Comma Polygonia c-album

Insect – Butterflies Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Insect – Butterflies Hedge Brown Pyronia tithonus

Insect – Butterflies Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris

Insect – Butterflies Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Insect – Caddisflies Glyphotaelius pellucidus (Trichoptera)

Insect – Caddisflies Limnephilus auricula (Trichoptera)

Insect – Caddisflies Limnephilus flavicornis (Trichoptera)

Insect – Caddisflies Limnephilus lunatus (Trichoptera)

Insect – Caddisflies Limnephilus sparsus (Trichoptera)

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Common hawker Aeshna juncea

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Insect - Dragonflies (Odonata) Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum

Insect - Earwigs (Dermaptera) Common Earwig Forficula auricularia

Insect - Hymenopterans Grey Mining Bee Andrena (Melandrena)

cineraria

Insect - Hymenopterans Early Mining Bee Andrena (Trachandrena) haemorrhoa

Insect - Hymenopterans Honey bee Apis mellifera

Insect - Hymenopterans Large Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius

Insect - Hymenopterans Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Insect - Hymenopterans Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum

Insect - Hymenopterans Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Insect - Hymenopterans Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus

Insect - Hymenopterans Little Nomad Bee Nomada flavoguttata

Insect - Hymenopterans Gooden's Nomad Bee Nomada goodeniana

Insect - Hymenopterans Hornet Vespa crabro

Insect - Hymenopterans Common Wasp Vespula (Paravespula) vulgaris

Insect - Moths Agriphila geniculea

Insect - Moths Agriphila tristella

Insect - Moths Copper Underwings Amphipyra pyramidea agg.

Insect - Moths Apotomis betuletana

Insect - Moths Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago

Insect - Moths Common Wave Cabera exanthemata

Insect - Moths Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata

Insect - Moths Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria

Insect - Moths Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria

Insect - Moths Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata truncata

Insect - Moths Epinotia brunnichana

Insect - Moths Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana

Insect - Moths Eudonia mercurella

Insect - Moths Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua

Insect - Moths Snout Hypena proboscidalis

Insect - Moths Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea

Insect - Moths Broad-bordered Yellow Noctua fimbriata Underwing

Insect – Moths Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Noctua janthe Underwing

Insect – Moths Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba

Insect – Moths Bramble Shoot Moth Notocelia uddmanniana

Insect – Moths Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta

Insect – Moths Ochsenheimeria urella

Insect – Moths Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata

Insect – Moths Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix Pandemis corylana

Insect – Moths Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria

Insect – Moths Nut Leaf Blister Moth Phyllonorycter coryli

Insect – Moths Phyllonorycter corylifoliella

Insect - Moths Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis

Insect - Moths Gold Spot Plusia festucae

Insect - Moths Ash Bud Moth Prays fraxinella

Insect - Moths Stigmella microtheriella

Insect - Moths Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria

Insect - Moths Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata

Insect - Moths Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum

Insect - Moths Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa

Insect – Moths Bucculatrix thoracella

Insect – Moths Parornix anglicella

Insect – Moths Stigmella aceris

Insect - Orthopterans Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

Insect - Orthopterans Roesel's Bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii

Insect - True bugs (Hemiptera) Bishop's Mitre Aelia acuminata

Insect - True bugs (Hemiptera) Dock Bug Coreus marginatus

Insect - True bugs (Hemiptera) Birch shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus

Insect - True bugs (Hemiptera) Forest Bug Pentatoma rufipes

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Bee Fly Bombylius major

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Cheilosia bergenstammi

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Cheilosia latifrons

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Cheilosia pagana

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Chorisops nagatomii

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Epistrophe eligans

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Eristalis arbustorum

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Eristalis tenax

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Eupeodes luniger

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Helophilus pendulus

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Neuroctena anilis

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Paragus haemorrhous

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Pilaria discicollis

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Pseudolimnophila lucorum

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Scathophaga stercoraria

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Sphaerophoria scripta

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Syritta pipiens

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Syrphus ribesii

Insect - True flies (Diptera) Tachina fera

Mammals Noctule Nyctalus noctula

Mammals European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

Mammals Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Mammals Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus

Mammals Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Mammals Red fox Vulpes vulpes

Molluscs Brown-lipped Snail Cepaea (Cepaea) nemoralis

Reptile Grass Snake Natrix helvetica

Appendix 2 - Moth report for Hunsbury Hill Country Park, Northamptonshire, 31st August – 1st September 2018 - James Skinner

This report gives a brief summary of information relating to the moth trapping that was carried out on Friday the 31st August 2018 at Hunsbury Hill Country Park, and any species identified during the day on Saturday 1st September 2018. It gives approximate locations to where any moth traps were set, methods used, and species recorded. It also highlights any species recorded that are of national or local interest.

In total 38 moth species were recorded (1 Nb, 3 Local, 33 Common, 1 Unknown/No status). With no known moths recorded on the site before, all species recorded were new for the site. Please see attached document Appendix 1 for a complete list of species recorded.

Visits to the site were made on 2 occasions, as part of the planned Bioblitz event held by the NBRC’s WILDSide project. On the evening of the 31st August two125W Mercury Vapour traps were ran from different locations across the site.

Map showing site and approximate positions of trap locations

Key: 1. On path, under large oak just off main ‘Green Lane’ path 2. In woodland, just down from entrance to Hill Fort.

Table showing the dates I visited, trap locations (see map above) and the number of moth species recorded per visit.

No. of Trap Date species location Site Method

31st August 30 1,2 Hunsbury Hill 2x MV Light (125W) Country Park

1st September 8 n/a Hunsbury Hill Daytime observation (Direct Country Park searching, Sweep netting)

Due to the numbers of moths coming to the traps, it is sometimes not possible to get accurate abundance figures for each species. In some cases this was just given as present, or in others, probably underestimated. From the information that was taken the most common species recorded were Centre-barred Sallow, Snout and Large Yellow Underwing.

Species of note (Nationally) Listed below are any species of note nationally (Red Data Book, Na, Nb, Local species etc.) that were recorded including larval food plant(s) and Northamptonshire status for comparison. N.B: Statuses for all species are taken from the recording software MapMate and believed to be correct. ABH number refers to the species number from "A checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles" by Agassiz, D.J.L., Beavan, S.D. & Heckford R.J. 2013.

Highlighted species indicate this species is also new for the site

Red Data Book

 No Red Data Book species was recorded.

Nationally Scarce A – Occurs in 16 – 30 10km squares in Great Britain since 1 January 1960

 No Na species were recorded

Nationally Scarce B – Occurs in 31 to 100 10km squares in Great Britain since 1 January 1960

 One Nb species were recorded

Northamptonshire ABH No. Taxon Larval food plant Status

17-014 Ochsenheimeria taurella Various grasses Rare (Second county record)

Ochsenheimeria taurella

A nationally scarce (Nb) species which has a widespread distribution over much of the UK. It was found by a member of the public attending the Bioblitz who had been sweep netting within the Hill Fort area and taken by myself as looked interesting. The larvae mine the stems of various coarse grasses, including Cock's-foot and Meadow-grass. Adults fly by day, usually early on sunny afternoons. A single Northamptonshire record exists for this otherwise well-distributed species in 1909.

Local – Recorded from 101-300 10km squares in Great Britain since 1 January 1960

 3 local species were recorded

Northamptonshire ABH No. Taxon Larval food plant Status

04.012 Stigmella aceris Field Maple Rare

70.036 Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora Oak sp. Local punctaria)

73.099 Vine’s Rustic (Hoplodrina Various herbaceous plants Common ambigua) (inc. Dandelion, Greater & Ribwort Plantain, Primrose)

Maiden’s Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) A single individual recorded to MV light that in my experience never seems to come to light in large numbers. A local species nationally and within Northamptonshire, which can be seen throughout much of England and Wales and is well distributed within the county. It frequents Oak woodland where the

larvae feed on the leaves of Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, overwintering as a pupa. Adults are double brooded, flying between May and June and again in August. They have a reddish blush mark in the centre of the forewings, presumably giving rise to its common name.

Species of note within VC32 (Northamptonshire & The Soke of Peterborough) Listed below are species of note (Rare, Scarce or Local) within VC32. These have been included separately as different species may have local significance compared to nationally. N.B: Statuses are correct as of January 2018. (Information from Northamptonshire Moth Group)

Highlighted species indicate this species is also new for the site

Rare (Few records)

 Two rare species were recorded

ABH No. Taxon Larval food plant

4.012 Stigmella aceris Field Maple

17.015 Ochsenheimeria urella Various grasses

Stigmella aceris A few mines recorded during the day across the southern end of the site. Formerly a pRDB2 species nationally it now carries a local status and has a mainly south-easterly distribution. It appears to be spreading and VC32 is possibly the furthest north it has been recorded. A fairly recent addition to the

county list, being first recorded in 2015 when it was identified close to where I live, in Wellingborough. Since then it has been identified in a few locations, and although is considered rare in the county, with only 10 records currently known, it is likely to be under recorded. The adults fly in May and July, but as with other Stigmella species, with a wingspan of around 3-4mm, it is difficult to identify. The larvae however mine the leaves of Field Maple (Acer campestris), and again, as with other Stigmella sp, leave a characteristic looking mine that can be more easily identified.

Scarce (Several records but low numbers)

 No scarce species was recorded

Local (Distribution more restricted than larval food plant or occurs on localized plant)

 2 local moth species were recorded

ABH No. Taxon Larval food plant

70.036 Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) Oak sp.

70.053 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designate) Various cruciferae

Gold-spot, (Plusia festucae) A common species locally and nationally, with records showing a scattered distribution across the county. A very attractive looking species and very similar to Lempke’s Gold Spot (P. putnami). A single specimen was taken by John Showers, county diptera recorder whilst sweeping vegetation within the area of the Hill fort. Its primary habitat is within wetland (marshes, fens). Adults are probably

double brooded between June and September. Larvae feed on various sedges, including Tufted & Glaucous, although it is known from a variety of other waterside plants.

Acknowledgements My thanks go to the Friends of Hunsbury Hill Country Park for allowing access and to Ryan Clark for organising the BioBlitz event.

Resources http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/ http://www.northamptonshirewildlife.co.uk/ http://mothdissection.co.uk/ http://www.lepiforum.de/ http://www.ukmoths.org.uk http://www.gelechiid.co.uk/gelechiid-recording-scheme http://www.norfolkmoths.co.uk

Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, Paul Waring and Martin Townsend Field Guide to the Micro moths of Great Britain and Ireland, Phil Sterling and Mark Parsons

The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 4 (Parts 1 & 2), A. Maitland Emmet, John R. Langmaid The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 3 (Yponomeutidae – Elachistade), A. Maitland Emmet Tortricidae of Europe (Volumes 1 & 2), Jozef Razowski British Tortricoid Moths (Vol. 1 & 2), J.D. Bradley, W.G. Tremewan, Arthur Smith British and Irish Pug Moths, Adrian M. Riley & Gaston Prior British and Irish moths: An illustrated guide to selected difficult species, Martin C. Townsend, John Clifton and Brian Goodey British Pyralid Moths. A guide to their identification, Barry Goater

Distribution maps for Northamptonshire from Northamptonshire Moth Group website http://www.northamptonshirewildlife.co.uk/ N.B Maps correct to 2017 data.

Distribution map and image from Northamptonshire Moth Group website

James Skinner