Towards a Natural History of Broad Head Farm 2015

Report for Scarborough Field Naturalists

Introduction

The following is an account of the flora and fauna of Broad Head farm which I have compiled over the year 2015. It is not exhaustive and there are many gaps due to my inadequate knowledge. In particular moth observations, insect-life in general, some botany and small mammal observations are lacking. Fungi observations are also sparse.

We started farming BHF from about 2004 onwards. In 2012 the farm was accepted onto a Higher Level Stewardship scheme in order to manage the two Sites of Special Scientific Interest more effectively. The two SSSIs comprise Troutsdale Fen, a clay based fen with calciferous springs emerging within it, and Rosekirkdale Fen, similar to Troutsdale but with significant tufa platforms.

The farm also manages land around the Turgate Plantation near Allerston, a dry limestone pasture grazed by sheep.

The principles of land management of Troutsdale involve scrub clearance, no fertiliser inputs on the fen, and limited organic manure on the pasture. It is grazed by a small herd of Dexter Cattle between April and December. There is also a hay meadow cut once a year after July 1st, and some hedgerow restoration.

The principles of land management on Rosekirkdale involve scrub clearance, v.minimal grazing by cattle and no fertiliser inputs whatsoever.

Turgate pasture is grazed by sheep. There is a hay meadow cut each year which has no fertiliser input at all. The hay meadow was created by the current farmer in 2004 and is cut July/August.

History

As far as can be ascertained Troutsdale grazings have been grazed by cattle for many years.

Rosekirkdale may have been a horse pasture in the 1930s. I have no knowledge of any agricultural activity on this fen until it was fenced in 2012 and we began light grazing with cattle.

Turgate was a working farm until 1990 when most of it was planted with mixed woodland species. There is some evidence that some of the current permanent pasture used to be arable.

On the whole the farm can be divided into the above three areas with the farmhouse and outlying buildings and fields constituting a separate habitat for wildlife.

Rosekirkdale

Troutsdale.

Botany

The botany of Troutsdale has been quite extensively surveyed by Natural England.*

Species present in 2015 include : Butterwort

Devils Bit Scabious

Ragged Robin

Marsh Lousewort

Grass of Parnassus

Meadowsweet

Common Reed

Marsh Valerian

Common Spotted Orchid

Common Twablade

Marsh Helloborine Orchid

Cowberry

Cuckooflower

Primrose

Butterwort

Cowslip

Marsh Thistle

Butterflies

Troutsdale is surveyed for butterfly conservation every week from April to October

This year the volume of butterflies was down but species observed include:

Small Skipper

Large White

Green Veined White

Small White

Orange Tip

Small Copper

Red Admiral

Small Tortoiseshell

Peacock

Marbled White (v.occasional)

Speckled Wood

Ringlet

Large Skipper

Brimstone

Painted Lady

Comma

Marsh Helloborine Orchid

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary(July 16 th)

Holly Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and Common Blue have also been identified here but not in 2015

Reptiles

Adder

Common Lizard

Amphibians

Common Frog

Birds

Winter Blackbird

Redwing

Long Tailed Tit

Goldfinch

Bullfinch

Yellowhammer

Carrion Crow

Wood Pigeon

Common Buzzard

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Goshawk

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Pied Wagtail

Robin

Blue Tit

Marsh Tit

Jay

Jack Snipe has been seen on Fen in past but not 2015

Goldcrest and Woodcock seen on track between Troutsdale and BHF

Spring and Summer

All of the above and:

Swallow

Meadow Pipit

Yellow Wagtail /Grey Wagtail (ID uncertain)

Wren

Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff

Chaffinch

Grey Heron

Dunnock

Mallard

Moorhen

?Linnet

Kingfisher and Redstart have been seen in Troutsdale but not in 2015

Hedgerows contain nests. 2015 I saw only one this winter, down on previous years.

Mammals

Roe Deer

Fox

Badger

Mole

Vole

Rabbit

Pipistrelle Bat (see also farmhouse habitat)

Neighbours at Forest Edge in Troutsdale inform me that they have seen Water Vole in beck. Grey Squirrel are present, but not in huge numbers, possibly due to predation by Goshawks.

Fungi

In 2014 there was a flush of Parasol Mushrooms. In 2015 there were hardly any at all.

East End of Troutsdale

Rosekirkdale

Botany

The botany of Rosekirkdale has been surveyed by Natural England*

Species present in 2015 include:

Black Bog Rush

Quaking Grass

Hemp Agrimony (v prevalent 2014- 2015 appear diseased)

Salad Burnet

Marsh Cinqefoil

Dropwort

Bog Asphodel

Common Twayblade

Ladies Bed Straw

Knapweed

Blunt Flowered Rush

Tormentil

Calciferous Deposit 2-3 feet long

Meadowsweet

Water Mint

Wild Basil (2014)

Butterflies

Rosekirkdale has not been surveyed as exhaustively as Troutsdale.

Species observed include:

Orange Tip

Red Admiral

Peacock (over 100 in one sighting 2014)

Small Tortoiseshell

Comma

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary (First sighting of this species in Rosekirkdale June 16, July 22 2015)

Dragonflies

Brown Hawker (August23)

Amphibians

Common Frog

Birds

Similar to main list of Troutsdale. In June 2 Tawny Owl fledglings were seen and the valley itself attracts more Common Buzzards in summer (max 6 at one sighting)

Treecreeper can be seen on the Oak stands on E facing valley side.

Mammals

Roe Deer

Harvest Mouse (nests were spotted while doing scrub clearance of Blackthorn)

Many zoned polypore

Broad Head Farmhouse

Farmhouse, outbuildings and adjacent fields are sites for nesting birds and roosting bats. It is also a site for hibernating animals and over-wintering species.

Birds which nest on site include:

Swallow ( 92 counted prior to southerly migration, first April 13, last Sept 26)

Pied Wagtail

Blue Tit

Robin

Stock Dove (2 pairs)

Goldfinch

Dunnock

Wren

Starling (not 2015)

Barn Owl has visited nest box in barn but not settled.

Visiting summer birds which don’t appear to nest on site include:

Willow Warbler

Whitethroat

Wheatear

Birds seen throughout the year include:

Chaffinch

Yellowhammer

Cole Tit

Blue Tit

Marsh Tit

Great Tit

Robin

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Blackbird

Dunnock

Carrion Crow

Kestrel (using cart box to dry off after winter rains)

Goshawk (attracted to domestic hens)

Sparrow Hawk

Jay

Birds on nearby fields include:

Common Buzzard

Cuckoo (first heard 22May from Blanket Rigg)

Turtle Dove (around Givendale Head Farm)

Nightjar (seen near Blanket Rigg, heard from farm on hot nights)

Mammals Rabbit population intermittently visited by Stoat

Hedgehog (present 5 years ago – no sign in 2015 ? badger predation? Human interference)

There is a substantial Brown Rat population

Bats

In summer there is a substantial bat population. I have counted 72 leaving a hole in farmhouse wall 2 foot away from an unused bat box. These were larger bats than Pipistrelles. I suggest they might be Daubentons Bat. (see picture) Others have suggested Natterer’s Bat.

There are also Pipistrelles not sure which type.

Pond/Wetland Area

Birds Visiting Green Sandpipers

Dragonflies Broad-Bodied Chaser

Amphibians Common Frog 200+

Palmate Newts

Toad

Other Sightings

Curlews overhead Spring

Barnacle Geese migrating Spring/Autumn

Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly Blanket Rigg (23 July)

Comma butterfly BHF garden (November 2nd)

Turgate

Botany of Turgate pastures has been surveyed by Natural England. (see FEP of HLS agreement +)

In the Quarry Field area plants of interest include:

Autumn Hawkbit

Birds Foot Trefoil

Fairy Flax

Musk Thistle

Black Medick

Hoary Plantain

Harebells

Ladies Bedstraw

In the Hay Meadow plants of interest include:

Birds Foot Trefoil

Speedwell

Ribwort Plantain

Bladder Campion

Knapweed

Autumn Hawkbit

Ladies Bedstraw

Black Medick

Common Vetch

Field Scabious

Self Heal

Ox Eye Daisy

Poppy

Pyramid Orchid can be seen in glades of plantation.

Bladder Campion

Butterflies

The most notable butterfly on Turgate is Marbled White. On a half hour walk through the pasture and rides of the plantation on July 9 I saw 52 . The last sighting was August 13.

Other species include:

Small Skipper

Large White

Green Veined White

Small White

Orange Tip

Small Copper

Red Admiral

Small Tortoiseshell

Peacock

Speckled Wood

Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Common Blue (5 seen on hay meadow in one walk)

Wall

Small Heath

Brimstone

Comma (August 2nd Arboretum)

Dragonflies

Common Blue Damselfly (June 28)

Reptiles

Slow Worm (Hay meadow and plantation)

Common Lizard (Quarry Field)

Adder (First seen March 10)

Amphibians

Common Frog (hay Meadow)

Birds

Spring/Summer

Wheatear

Song Thrush

Blackbird

Goldfinch

Robin

Wren

Yellowhammer

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Skylark

Meadow Pipit

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk

Common Buzzard (6 seen over fields)

Goshawk

Barn Owl (nests in Owl Box in barn. ( ? 2 sets of fledglings this year, one found outside nest in August)

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Carrion Crow

Rook

Jay

Winter

Siskin

Goldfinch

Long Tailed Tit

Barn Owl

Kestrel

Common Buzzard (4 in courtship display Dec.31st)

Goshawk

Carrion Crow

Rook

Robin

Wren

Mammals

Stoat

Roe Deer

Fallow Deer ( 3 – 6 does ? escapees from local farm)

Fox

Vole

Mole

Rabbit

Conclusion

This is clearly a partial account of the wildlife on Broad Head Farm, compiled while farming the land. Obvious areas of ignorance include bees, fungi and moths.

Although I try to keep records during the year, I plan to do another survey like the above in 5 or 6 years time, to see what impact, if any, the Higher Level Stewardship scheme has had.

I would welcome any member who would like to look over the farm from their particular special expertise and if you would like to arrange a visit you can phone me on 01723 850388.

Any mistakes etc. that you have spotted please inform me on the above number or when you see me at Field Nat meetings.

Stephen Bushell

Notes

*2014 Fen Surveys of the North York Moors. Ros Tratt and Phil Eades. Sheffield Wetland Ecologists (March 2015). I have a copy of the survey relating to Troutsdale and Rosekirkdale which I can show to anyone interested.

+ The HLS agreement contains botanical surveys of the farm which I can also show to anyone interested.

Rosekirkdale