Potteric Carr 8/5/10.

Coach Excursion to Potteric Carr, near Doncaster, 8 May 2010.            

A visit to a special Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve near Doncaster was just the ticket for the Rochdale Field Naturalists’ latest coach excursion. Potteric Carr has dozens of snug hides which kept out the chill winds and which provided excellent views over the marshes, reedbeds, woodlands and lakes which make up the largest urban nature reserve in the country.

 Although it was too cold for many butterflies or moths to be on the wing there was plenty of evidence of early breeding activity amongst birds such as families of Mallard ducklings, Greylag goslings and coots. Newly fledged Long Tailed tits were huddled together on a branch, waiting impatiently for their next feed. Then, dispersing a short distance into the reedbed, still within chattering distance of each other, their frantic parents brought back tasty morsels of caterpillars and insects every few seconds.

With such varied habitats within the reserve it was no surprise to achieve a checklist of over 60 species of bird.  The wetlands produced Great Crested and Little Grebes, Gadwall, Shoveller and Ruddy Ducks. The sight of a Kingfisher was an extra bonus for some.

Waders included Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Common Sandpiper and Redshank. Reed and Sedge warblers were seen and heard in the reedbeds along with Reed Buntings. In the woodlands the sounds and sights of Woodpeckers, Blackcap, Garden warbler, Willow warbler, Chiff-Chaff, tits and finches all delighted.

 The birch woodland had plenty of interest for fungi hunters particularly the aptly named Hoof Fungus which is more common in southern Britain. Well marked paths leading through the woods were edged with flowering plants like ground ivy, violets, wild strawberry and garlic mustard and a small patch of upright chickweed which is also unusual in the north. Drifts of Bluebells contrasted in colour with emerald green leaves. On the wetter meadows cuckoo flower and cowslip were plentiful with primroses on shadier banks and vivid yellow marsh marigolds and wintercress by stream sides. In the hedgerows crab apple and hawthorn blossomed exuberantly providing nectar for insects.

Cowslip	Hoof Fungus	Gadwall
Robin	Redshank	Marsh Marigold

 Images by Peter Francis and Peter Stevens