Prees Heath and Whixall Moss 10/7/2010.
JEWELS FOR ALL
Once again a beautiful warm day was the setting of the latest Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society outing that took them to two venues in Shropshire. The first was to Prees Heath Common Reserve, now owned by Butterfly Conservation. The site has had a chequered history, being used in World War One as a trench warfare infantry training camp. During World War Two it was a bomber training airfield, RAF Tilstock. After the war the main concrete runway was left and the adjoining land heavily fertilised and used for crop growing. The heathland and its native plant species were completely lost. Since its purchase by Butterfly Conservation the acid heathland is gradually being restored. The concrete runway has been broken up and the lime leaching from this provides conditions for more alkaline loving plants and their associated fauna. The heathland is home to a species of black ant (Lasius niger) which has a symbiotic association with the rare Silver Studded Blue butterfly. Projects to extend the heathland are ongoing.
Butterflies recorded, included Common Blue, Small Skipper, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and of course the Silver Studded Blue. As the group strolled on the heath a Buzzard soared, Swallows and Sand Martins flitted overhead and other passerines which included a very vocal group of Long-Tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinches, a Yellowhammer and Willow Warblers made their presence known with their song. Wild flowers which were in abundance included Evening Primrose, Rose Bay Willowherb, Red and White Campion, St. John’s Wort, Centaury, Tormentil, Bramble, Autumn Hawkbit, Common and Opium Poppies, Bugloss, Black Nightshade and Spear and Marsh Thistle.
In the afternoon the Group moved to Whixall Moss, part of the third largest raised bog in Britain, now recognised as a “Wetland of International Importance”. Here an outstanding number of specialist bog plants and insects thrive. Further species of butterflies to add to the Group’s morning list included Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Large Heath and Small Tortoiseshell, whilst birds included Sparrowhawk, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. However a dragonfly heaven awaited. The Group was thrilled to see the White–faced Darter, common enough here, but rare elsewhere in Britain. Other dragonfly species seen were Black Darter, Emperor, Common Hawker, Four Spotted and Broad Bodied Chaser. Damselflies recorded were Large Red, Blue Tail, Common Blue, Azure and Emerald.
Click on Thumbnail to see full size image
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| Gatekeepers | Silver-studded Blue | Silver-studded Blue | Ringlet |
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| White-faced Darter | White-faced Darter | Four-spotted Chaser | Black Darter |
Images by Peter Francis and Peter Stevens
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