Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to Thorne Colliery Site – Friday 31 May 2024.

Leader : Louise Hill.
Meet : at 11 am at Moorends SE699158 (DN8 4NA).
Objective : A walk of 6km looking for Dingy Skippers and Sea Campion.
 


 

Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to RSPB St Aidens – Tuesday 28 May 2024.

The weather forecast was for a intermitten rain showers, and it was not wrong. Perhaps it was this that was responsible for a reduced turnout of just five members, lead by Joyce and Paul. Despite the weather, a most enjoyable day was had.

We started with a visit to view the resident Little Owl (as does everyone), the we had a Marsh Harrier fly over the car park, followed quickly by a heron. Then a Whitethroat was heard and seen feeding its young by the toilet block, then a Cetti’s Warbler callimg from the bushes, meaning we had nine species recorded before leaving the car park.

We were immediately impresswed by the number of Swift patrolling the sky at all levels; the count would well have exceeded a hundred if it had been possible to count such a rapid flight of these birds.

Another numerous bird we encounted throught the day was the Reed Bunting which could be heard and seen perching the amongst the low bushes.

However, the anticipated sightings of the Bitten and Black-necked Grebe did not happen for us. Perhaps we did not venture into their territory, dispite being advised by the site wardens in the car park, that they were showing well, the Bitten even had been seen with a chick. Perhaps another visit to this enchanting site (in better weather) might reveal them.

RSPB St Aidens
Common name Scientific name
Graylag Goose Anser anser
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Shoveler Anas clypeata
Gadwall Anas strepera
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Pochard Aythya ferina
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Little Grebe (Dabchick) Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Feral Pigeon Columba livia
Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
Swift Apus apus
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Coot Fulica atra
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Redshank Tringa totanus
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Red Kite Milvus milvus
Buzzard Buteo buteo
Little Owl Athene noctua
Magpie Pica pica
Crow Corvus corone
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
House Martin Delichon urbica
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Whitethroat (common) Sylvia communis
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Heron Ardea cinerea
Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti

 


 

YNU & Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to Anston Stones Wood 18 May 2024

Leaders : Paul & Joyce Simmons
Meet : at 10:30 am in car park at North Anston Parish Hall. SK521842 (S25 4DL)
 


 

YNU & Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to Rossington 11 May 2024

Leaders : Louise Hill
Meet : at 10:30 am at Rossington, near Brodsworth Way Pavillion (DN11 0FD.)
 


 

Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to Jubilee Park, Hatfield 9 May 2024 (SE/6609; 6610)

 

Jubilee Park, Hatfield (SE/6609; 6610)
Taxonomic Name Vernacular Name
Vascualr Plants  
Acer campestre Field Maple
Acer platanoides Norway Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Alnus glutinosa Common Alder
Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley
Artemisa vulgaris Mugwort
Betula pendula Silver Birch
Bryonia dioica White Bryony
Buddleja davidii Buddleia
Carpinus betulus Hornbeam
Cerastium fontanum Mouse-ear
Cerasus serrulata Cherry (flowering)
Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay
Circium arvense Creeping Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Corylus avellana Hazel
Corylus maxima Purpurea Hazel (Purple)
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Cruciata laevipes Crosswort
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot Grass
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Euonymus europaeus Spindle
Ficaria verna Lesser Celandine
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Galium aparine Cleavers
Geranium molle Dove’s-foot Cranesbill
Hedera helix Ivy
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Hyacinthoides hispanica Spanish Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
Juglans regia Walnut
Lamium album White Deadnettle
Lamium purpureum Red Deadnettle
Nothofagus sp. Southern Beech (SE/6609 only)
Plantago lanceolata Lanceolate Plantain
Plantago major Rat-tail Plantain
Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass
Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass
Populus sp. Poplar sp.
Prunus pardus Bird Cherry
Prunus spinose Blackthorn (+ Pocket Plum gall)
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Quercus robur Common (Pedunculate) Oak
Ranunculus bulbosus Buttercup (Bulbus)
Ranunculus repens Buttercup (Creeping)
Rosa canina Dog Rose
Rosa sp. Rose sp.
Rubus frutucosus Bramble
Rumex obtusifolius Broad Dock
Salix caprea Goat Willow
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan
Stellaria holostea Great Stitchwort
Taraxacum agg. Dandelion
Taxus baccata Yew
Ulex europaeus Gorse (on sandy bank on northern boundary)
Ulmus glabra Elm
Urtica dioica Stinging nettle
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Viola riviniana Dog Violet
   
BIRDS  
Buteo buteo Buzzard
Corvus corone Carrion Crow
Corvus monedula Jackdaw
Erithacus rubecula Robin
Sylvia communis Whitethroat
Columba palumbus Wood Pigeon
   
MAMMALS  
Talpa europaea Mole (hills)
   
INVERTEBRATES  
Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue Butterfly
Anthocharis cardamines Orange Tip Butterfly
Aglias urtcae Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
   
Palomena prasina Green Shield Bug
Harmonia axyridis Harlequin Ladybird
   
Aceria fraxinivora Cauliflower Gall on Ash flower
Cecidophyes rouhollahi Gall on Cleavers

C.A. Howes
 


 

Doncaster Naturalists’ visit to Back Wood, Bessacarr 5th May 2024 (SK/61 99)
 
Back Wood, Besscarr
Taxonomic Name Vernacular Name
VASCULAR PLANTS  
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Betula pendula Silver Birch
Carex sylvatica Wood Sedge
Ceratocapnos claviculata Climbing corydalis
Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay
Corylus avellana Hazel
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot Grass
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Ficaria verna Lesser Celandine
Galium aparine Cleavers
Geranium molle Dove’s-foot Cranesbill
Geranium robertianum Herb Robert
Geum urbanum Wood Avens
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire Fog
Holcus mollis Creeping Soft-grass
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
Ilex aquifolium Holly
Juncus effusus Soft Rush
Lamium album White Deadnettle
Larix decidua European Larch
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle
Moeringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Quercus robur Common (Pedunculate) Oak
Ranunculus repens Buttercup (Creeping)
Rubus frutucosus agg. Bramble
Rumex acetosella Sheep’s Sorrel
Rumex obtusifolius Broad Dock
Sambucus nigra Elder
Silene dioica Red Campion
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Sorbus aucuparia Rowan
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort
Stellaria holostea Great Stitchwort
Taxus baccata Yew
Teucreum scorodonia Wood Sage
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Urtica dioica Stinging nettle
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Veronica perpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Viola riviniana Dog Violet
   
FUNGI  
Fomes fomentarius Hoof Fungus on dead Birch
Fomitopsis betulinus Birch Bracket Polypore on dead Birch
Hypholoma fasciculare Sulphur Tuft Fungus on dead Birch
   
INVERTEBRATES  
Anthrocharis cardamine Orange-tip Butterfly
   
BIRDS  
Columba palumbus Wood Pigeon
Cyanistes caeruleus Bluetit
Erithacus rubecula Robin
Parus major Great Tit (calling)
Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff (singing)
Sitta europaea Nuthatch
Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap (singing)
Troglodytes troglodytes Wren (singing)
Turdus merula Blackbird (singing)
   
MAMMALS  
Oryctolagus cunicula Rabbit
Sciurus carolinensis Grey Squirrel

C.A. Howes.
 


 

Doncaster Naturalists’ Dawn Chorus Walk, 4th May 2024 

Leader : Louise Hill
Meet 4.30 am at Straight Mile Car Park, Sandal Beat Wood for a gentle stroll of 2 km around Woodman’s Trail, Sandal Beat Wood.