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The wildlife at Glyn-Coch has been lovingly preserved since the 1960s. The woodland itself was planted in 1998 with the assistance of children in the local community. On such a small area (27 acres including approximately including 17 acres of woodland and 10 acres of grass), our management is restricted by practical considerations such as complying with the Farm Woodland Scheme, with the conditions of our camp site licence and providing grazing for our farm animals. However our general intention is to maintain our healthy and diverse ecosystem, and would welcome comments and advice from anyone with expert knowledge on particular species. After 10 years we have accumulated species lists that we have confidence in, and are adding more information here. (We are currently exploring the NBN website for ways of making this information more widely available.)
About 8000 trees were planted in 1998, and the original plans for the planting included 17 species. These included Alder, Oak, Rowan, Wild Cherry, Whitebean, Small Leaved Lime and Field Maple. The remainder of the walk was planted with Birch, Beech and Norway Maple. Shrubs include Willow, Hazel, Guelder Rose, Elder and Dogwood. On the wetter areas there are plantings of the poplar varieties Beaupre, Boelare and Ghoy. There is also a nurse crop of Japanese Larch, which will be removed when the woodland is 18 years old in about 2016. (The nurse crop is there so as to act as protection for the rest of the trees from weathering and animals etc) Hedgerow trees include Ash, Alder, Blackthorn, Field Maple, Hawthorn, Holly, Oak, and Sycamore. We also have a small population of hedgerow Wytch Elm, which is partially resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, and supports one of our rarer butterflies. However managing it is difficult, as it has to be allowed to grow for the butterfly, but as a tall sapling is vulnerable to elm disease and dies, by which time we are prevented from cutting down by the rules of the environmental scheme we are in.
Plants Birds Lepidoptera Other Insects Ponds Mammals Reptiles Molluscs
The wildflowers at Glyn-Coch include Marsh Marigold, Devils Bit Scabious (an indicator of 'ancient wetland'), Ragged Robin, Welsh Poppy and the rare Whorled Caraway. Plants are the basis of most food chains, and though rare plants may support rare insects, one of the most important insect food plants at Glyn-Coch is the Humble Red Campion which occurs in most habitats and flowers for much of the year. We cut the woodland glades, and some of the wetland areas annually to encourage the valuable herbs.
Our 'Hayfield' supports a number of wild species including the pretty hay rattle, which is a parasite on grass. Hay Rattle is often used to establish wild flower meadows in established commercial grassland, as it weakens the grass, and is then maintained by traditional management for hay, as practiced in the south east of England. In the west hay must be made when the weather is right - we do not get two chances - and on our small acreage each field must pay for itself. Nevertheless we manage this field to ensure that it supports a viable population of these interesting plants. (For example after a year when it is very abundant we graze intensively the next spring, which effectively reduces the population and gives the grass a relative advantage, and graze later in the next year, so that the flowers come back.)
I have not done a proper botanical survey here, but my son did a single transect survey as part of a school project. Before going into that I will list plants that I remember having seen here. (Names as Keble Martin, The New Concise British Flora,1982, Rainbird Publishing.)
clematis vitalba, ranunculus flammula, ranunculus repens, ranunculus ficaria, caltha palustris, meconopsis cambrica, capsella bursa-pastoris, viola rivinia, silene pratensis, silene dioica, lychnis flos-cuculi, cerastium fontanum, stellaria holostea, hypericum perforatum (?), tilia cordata, geranium phaeum (garden escape), geraneum pusillum, geraneum dissectum, geranium robertum, ilex aquifolium, acer pseudoplatanus, acer campestre, ulex europaeus, trifolium pratense, trifolium repens, vicia cracca, lotus uliginosus, prunus spinosa, prunus avium, (also American Black Cherry), potentilla anserina, rubus idaeus (relic of commercial cultivation), rubus spp (bramble), geum urbanum, rosa canina, sorbus aria(?), sorbus aucuparia, malus domestica, crataegus laevigata(?), crataegus mongyna, cotoneaster spp (garden), ribes nigrum (relic of commercial cultivation), lythrum salicaria, epilobium angustifolium, (other epilobium spp may be garden escapes or railway flora), bryonia dioica, carum verticillatum, conopodium majus, pimpinella saxifrage, Chaerophyllum spp., anthriscus sylvestris, angelica sylvestris, heracleum sphondylium, hedera helix, sambucus nigra, viburnum opulus, lonicera periclymenum, galium paustre, galium aparine, dipsacus fullonum, succisa pratensis, bellis perennis, achillea millefolium, achillea ptarmica, senecio vulgaris, senecio jacobaea, carduus crispus, cirsium vulgare, cirsium arvense, centaurea nigra, hieracium spp, taraxacum officinale, rhodendrum ponticum var, primula vulgaris, anagalis arvense, fraxinus excelsior, buddleja davidii (garden), myosotis scorpioides, myosotis arvensis, Calystegia sepium, convolvu;us arvensis, solanum dulcamara,veronica persica, veronica polita, digitalis purpurea, rhinanthus minor, Mentha various includiing menth spicita, lamium purpureum, and many other labiates.plantago major, plantago lanceolata, rumex obtusifolius, rumex crispus, rumex acetosa, (and r acetosella?), ulmus glabra, urtica dioica, betula pendula, alnus glutinosa, carpinus betulus, corylus avellana, quercus robur, castanea spp, fagus sylvatica, salix caprea(?), salix repens(?), populus alba, populus tremula(?), orchis mascula, iris pseudocorus, crocus vernus, narcissus pseudonarcissus, narcissus obvallaris, galanthus nivalis, tamus communis, hyacinthoides non scriptua, typha latifolia, arum maculatum, anthoxanthum oderatum, alopecurus pratensis, phleum pratense, agrostis stolonifera, holcus lanatus, trisetum flavescens, cynosurus cristatus, dactylis glomerata, poa annua, poa trivialis, festuca ovina, festuca rubra, festuc pratensis, lolium perenne, bromus sterilis, elymus repens, (larix decidus -Japanese larch.) Approx 145 species without looking at water plants or doing a proper survey!
FERNS pteridium aquillinum, phyllitis scolopendrium
FUNGI Nectria cinnabarina, Amanita cmuscaria
STOP PRESS Pices abies, Aesculus hippocastanum, fagus sylvatica, Cupressocyparis leylandii,
The following is a very brief summary of a successful 'A' level geography project carried out by my son Owain
It was decided to identify the herbaceous plants growing along a transect and see if the physical characteristics of the area affected the positions in which plants grew. One end of the transect is on low flat land which is waterlogged for much of the year. The other end is about 30m higher, and ends at a mature hedge and bank The slope is covered with mixed mainly native hardwoods of about10 years old. The table below shows the raw data collected after the species had been sorted into groups depending on which end of the transect they occurred. It shows clearly that one group Galium verum, cow parsley, couch grass, ivy, rye grass, cynosurus cristatus, daisy, timothy, epilobium hirsutum, agrostis stolonifera, bramble, creeping thistle, gallium palustre,and festuca rubra/ovina were found in the higher and drier areas. A second group consisting of dandelion, bracken, epilobium angustifolium, alopecurus pratensis, epilobium obscurum, galeopsis tetrahit, common reed/rush, and holcus lanatus were more common in the lower and wetter area. A third group were found throughout the transect, these were, unidentified epilobium spp, poa trivialis, ranunculus repens, and dactilis glomerata. Agrostis capillaris had a slight tendency to favour drier areas, but could also be found in the wetter areas.
Looking at these results it is strange that epilobium angustifolium , whose favoured habitat is 'waste and burnt ground', should be found in the wetter area. However, E angustiflium is a member of the 'railway flora' and this wet area borders a railway embankment. Epilobium obscurum, on the other hand favours ditches and wet shady places.
Light metre and pH readings were taken at various points along the transect and attempts were made to measure the association between particular species and these features of their environment.
| Distance along transect from low and wet to high and drier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | TOTAL | |
| Galium verum | 5 | 5.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cow parsley | 3 | 3.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| couch grass | 3 | 3.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ivy | 1 | 1.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| rye grass | 11 | 4 | 15.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cynosurus cristatus | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| daisy | 3 | 1 | 4.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| timothy | 3 | 8 | 11.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Epilobium hirsutum | 10 | 10.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| agrostis stolonifera | 8 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 37.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| bramble | 2 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 56.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| creeping thistle | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 20.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gallium Palustre | 10 | 11 | 21.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Festuca rubra/ovina | 4 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 24.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| dandelion | 2 | 2.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| bracken | 2 | 2.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| epilobium angustifolium | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 22.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alopecurus pratensis | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 25.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Epilobium Obscurum | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Galeopsis tetrahit | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 26.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Common reed/rush" | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 83.00 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Holcus lanatus | 1 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 149.00 | ||||||||||||
| Agrostis capillaris | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 50.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| epilobium spp? | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poa trivalis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranunculus repens | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 177.00 | |||||
| dactilis glomerata | 6 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 144.00 | ||||||||
| Total | 19 | 29 | 36 | 35 | 31 | 35 | 23 | 20 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 37 | 23 | 36 | 22 | 43 | 33 | 38 | 40 | 45 | 51 | 47 | 24 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 19 | 944.00 |
| No spp in each quadrat | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
The following species were also identified near the transect. Sparganum erectum, ranunculus flammula ss tenuifolius, rumex acetosa, achillea ptarmica, stellaria graminea, and poa pratensis (identified late having dried).
Books used include, Clapham Tutin and Warburg Excursion Flora and Flora, Keble-Martin, RD Trees and shrubs of Britain, Hubbard Grasses, etc
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We have encountered over 70 species of birds from tiny Gold Crests to large Buzzards. Recently, we have been told that migrating Wood Sandpiper have been seen on our land. Over-wintering Snipe used to be common before we signed up for the Government's Tir Cynnal (known as the Entry Level Environmental scheme in England). These schemes assume that all land is the same and treat dry 100 acre fields in Suffolk the same as our wet 1 acre fields. Farmers are not allowed to develop their own management regimes, so existing wildlife suffers. The idea of the scheme is to encourage skylarks, but our tiny fields that are in the scheme are surrounded by trees and are too wet for skylarks which nest on the ground. In compensation we had a visit by a woodcock in the very cold spell in Jan/Feb 09. And again in 2010 and 2011
Species are only added to the list if they have been seen several times by me when I have had time to check identification in my books, and preferably after I have got someone else to confirm the I/D. Books used. Holden, Sharrock and Burn.1988 The RSPB book of British Birds 2nd Edition. Singer. Field Guide to Birds of Britain and Northern Europe 1997. Balmer A field guide to British Birds 2003. And Various general field guides to British wildlife
Heron Herring Gull 1 Woodcock Grey Wagtail Grasshopper Warbler Greylag goose Greater Black Backed Gull Common Gull Pied Wagtail Jackdaw Canada Goose 1 Wood Pigeon Coal Tit Garden Warbler Rook Mallard Collared Dove Wren 1 Black Cap Carrion Crow Sparrow hawk Barn Owl Dunnock 1 Lesser whitethroat Raven Buzzard Tawny Owl Robin 1 Chiffchaff 1 Starling Red Kite Little Owl Stonechat Gold crest House Sparrow Pheasant Nightjar Black Bird 1 Long Tailed Tit Tree Sparrow Moorhen Great Spotted Woodpecker Song thrush Marsh, or Willow Tit Siskin Greenfinch Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Redwing Blue Tit 1 Great Tit 1 Chaffinch 1 Green Woodpecker Field Fare Mistle Thrush Nuthatch Gold Finch 1 Coot Sedge Warbler Tree Creeper Bull Finch 1 Jack Snipe Skylark Willow Warbler 1 Jay Reed bunting Snipe Swallow Wood Warbler 1 Magpie 1
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Species counted by RSPB Volunteer and Farmer Alliance Survey April - June 2004We have also recently seen a Meadow Pipit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Hen Harrier, Brambling,
A pair of Golden Oriole seem to have been present near the house in summer 2010, but were identified only by the song, which was heard almost every day and quite clearly. However it was not a perfect match with the CD of the Collins Field Guide: Bird Songs and Calls. Geoff Sample: 1996. I look forward to their return so that we can include them in the 'official list', or say what on earth they really were!
Before Christmas 2006(?)we were visited by a large white parrot, but I don't think that we will add that to the list.
Some species, such as Skylarks and Jack Snipe seem to be declining as the trees grow, and others, such as Goldcrests are also harder to find, but this could be because the trees are shading out the luxurious growth of brambles in the places that they used to favour, and they are simply moving to bramble patches at the edge of the woodland.
If you would like to hear what our birds sound like click here for a 2mb Windows Movie maker file recorded on 18th February 2009 between 10.30 and 11.00am. The pictures were taken in December, but show what the habitat is like. After listening to the birds you will need to close Moviemaker to return to your browser, hopefully at this page! This is a bit of experiment. Please e-mail us and tell us how you got on with it.
Or see March 09 birdsong video.
Or see April 2009 birdsong video. (No pictures to reduce memory use and download time. Please let me know what you think of this experiment!)
27 March 2010: Red Kites are getting to be more frequent visitors, one spent some time flying round the farmyard today in good light.
And now we have had two visits from a bird that I am almost sure is a Hen Harrier. A raptor about the size of a buzzard with lazy wing beats, flying on its own at tree top level (skimming the tree tops at about 20-30 feet, at that point), looking downwards to left and right as it goes. It has a very long oblong tail. From some angles its wings are angled rather like a herring gull, but its body appears much longer (relative to the wings), and its posture is somehow different. It flaps its wings more then a soaring gull, but moves with the same ease. Looking from underneath, and flying towards the sunset appears a golden brown. (A little more coloured then I would expect a gull to look in a similar situation, but near enough to place doubt in my mind.) Yesterday morning I saw it silhouetted against a gray sky when it looked totally un-gull-like. It looks very purposeful, but totally cool, calm, and relaxed, it is a powerful flyer, but appears not to put any effort into flying. It flew very close to a rookery (at or below nest level), but the rooks were happy to watch it go past. I was not aware of much bird song at the time, though I am not sure whether that was because they stopped, or whether I was concentrating on the newcomer. We are usually visited by a pair of greater black backed gulls at this time of year, but I am sure that this was not one of them, or a buzzard, kite, sparrow hawk or kestrel.
Once or twice I have heard raptor like calls, which are certainly not our local buzzards or kites. (Too broken and song like) I once also heard an unusual flat woodpecker call with repeated notes. These calls were each uttered once, lasting only seconds, and with other birds singing over them, it was difficult top be certain what I heard. But looking at the description of 'Voice' in Detlef Singer's Field Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe, I believe that those sounds were more likely to be made by a Hen Harrier then by any other similar bird.
April 3rd: Someone else has seen the Harrier, here. Dai saw it this afternoon, and describes it as a Harrier with a brown body, beige wings, and with black wingtips. After studying 4 bird books (within an hour of his sighting), he thinks it is more like a Marsh Harrier then a Hen Harrier. BUT this would be an extraordinary sighting. (I know that others saw a pair of Marsh Harriers between Bury Port and the Gower last month, but I would have though thought that there was too much suitable habitat in that area for them to come back here, and it seems most unlikely that there would be more then one pair this far west.) So I still favour the idea that we have Hen Harriers as temporary residents here, but doubts are creeping in. The bird was heading towards a small pond with a grass and rush covered island in the middle (which is surrounded by 6ft deep water), but we don't know whether it landed there!
April 4th Watched lone large white bird hunting over hedges and spinneys on the other side of the valley (between Grove Farm and Llwynpiod Farm). Too far to be sure of species with naked eye, but behaviour was definitely raptor like, but added to the sightings above, I am now more sure that there is a pair of Hen Harriers in the area, and spending much of their time at Glyn-Coch. (Woodpecker like call, and colour of other sightings suggest that a female is here, and I have now heard several possible calls in addition to sightings. Almost certainly including Singer's male bleat the females hoarse pih-e and the woodpecker alarm call. )
April 5th 2010 Not a good day for bird spotting as too gusty One brief view of what may have been the female harrier, but with rooks playing on the gusts, I keep getting glimpses of unusual shaped birds or behaviour - just as they get blown out of view - so the score for today must be just the one glimpse of 40% certainty! Might have been - possibly. (Also, quite busy with customers - so that is some compensation. Would have been better with a spectacular fly-past though!)
April 7th. On the evening of the 5th we were treated to a spectacular flying display by all the Glyn-Coch rookery (of rooks and jackdaws) and all the rookeries nearby. Or or so it appeared. We were awed by the shear number of birds, and the wonderfully coordinated movement. Afterwards the rookery was entirely deserted for about an hour, the birds only returning after dark. It was only later that we thought about the cause for the disturbance. Since then rookery has been very easily spooked, and tend to leave about half a dozen sentries on guard at the very top of the trees.
Yesterday (6th) two neighbours said that they had previously seen what they believed to be both male and female hen harriers, but sadly the wet and windy weather made good sightings impossible, though some glimpses through the trees may have been harriers, but more often, if the bird could be followed, turned out to be a rook trying to cope with the gusty wind. I was beginning to think that the mob or rooks and crows on the evening of the 5th may have driven the harriers away, but have today heard, what may have been a harrier call.
After a weekend away, I was half expecting that the Hen Harriers would have left, but no. I saw the male on Monday 10th flying over the A40 dual carriageway between The Forge Restaurant and St Clears, and again, today (14th) between Glyn-Coch and Llangynin Church and New House Garage, on the road between St Clears and Llanboidy, so it looks as if he regards Glyn-Coch as part of his own territory - at least for the moment. And meanwhile I keep hearing those strange raptor calls, which are not quite like any other I have heard, and which are not repeated often enough to locate, and could suggest that a secretive female Hen Harrier is also resident.
20th April. After a few days without a Hen Harrier sighting we must assume that they have decided to go by the book and move on northward. This impressions is increased by the more relaxed behaviour of the rookery. and the return to almost friendly relations between corvids and the buzzards. It turns out that one of the confusing signals I was getting was that a young buzzard is sitting on eggs only a few yards from the house, and about 50 yards from the rookery. I don't suppose that that would have happened if the corvids were not so concerned about the new threat to their young!
Our moth trap (part of a national monitoring scheme The Rothamsted Insect Survey) caught 199 species in just 9 months (2003). (Over 230 spp now.) The calculated diversity score makes this one of the top 20 moth monitoring sites in the UK. We have been helping in an investigation to find out why the beautiful Garden Tiger Moth has changed its home range from the South-East to the North-West of Great Britain. Many butterflies can be seen in summer. Currently, we have a species list of moths caught in our moth trap on display in our wooden hut. (Note: The hut is currently full of pottery molds, but if you want to see the species list just ask or download the year list for 2007)
Summary
| Total Caught1 | No of species2 | Alpha diversity3 | |
| 2007 | 5305 | 199 | 40.814 |
| 2008 | 4963 | 182 | 37.103 |
| 2009 | 6009 | 195 | 38.571 |
1Total Caught Each individual insect has been identified and recorded by an expert scientist, who identifies over 2 million moths a year. The records were originally kept to test the maths for an aphid monitoring scheme that was used to tell farmers when enough aphids were present to justify spraying their crops. This resulted in a big reduction in the use of sprays which had previously been applied two or three times a year 'during the aphid season' whether the aphids were present or not. The records in the database help ensure that the information about habitat, regional distribution, and flight period that are given in the identification books are correct. This helps in conservation projects. The records are also used to monitor climate change (as species change their territories to find the temperatures that most suit them), and have even been used by mathematical researchers to test things like String Theory and Chaos Theory.
2 No of species. Note that the number of species caught in any one year is less then the the total number of species we know are here. This is for several reasons. Some are regular migrants to the area, and only arrive when weather conditions are suitable on the migration route. Some are rare residents and are only caught in years when conditions allow their population to increase. Some common species are not normally attracted to light, but odd individuals are caught in light traps. Some species, like the beautiful burnet moths that we know are here are never caught in light traps, and are not included in these records.
3Alpha Diversity: -
is the result of one method of calculating ecological diversity, and is the method favoured by entomologists.
Ecological Diversity is a function of the total number of species and the evenness of occurrence of each.
A diverse population is one in which there are many species with similar numbers of each. A low diversity population could have only a few species or a large number of species with one very dominant species.
Diversity is important because when diversity is low the loss of a single species could result in the collapse of that ecosystem. The loss of an individual species from a high diversity ecosystem makes less difference as there are more species able to take over the ecological niche and ecosystem function of the missing species.
It is very important to monitor changes in ecological diversity as climate change is driving species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher altitudes to find more amenable weather conditions. This affects the stability of both the ecosystem they have left and the one in their new home.
The importance of this migration for humans is that the loss of species from a particular locality could potentially lead to the collapse of the Agri-ecosystem and thus threaten our food supply.
Variation of alpha diversity mean that in some years Glyn-Coch is in the top 20 sites in the UK for diversity and in others we aren't. This depends on other sites having a 'bad year' as much as us having a good year, so , to a certain extent, the table is meaningless. However it must be worrying that we get into the table of the best sites in the UK when we only have an alpha diversity of about 40, when 60 is achieved by the very best sites, which are usually in mature woodland, such as the Forestry Commission's research centre at Alice Holt, or the Nature Conservancy site at Yarner Wood. Poor sites typically on poorly managed industrial estates or golf courses have diversities as low as 20.
We are proud to take part in the Rothamsted Insect Survey. The purpose of the survey is described in the next paragraph which is taken from the Rothamsted Website. Rothamsted is the oldest Agricultural Research Station in the world and was set up in 1843 by John Bennet Lawes, known as the father of agricultural science. He rose to prominence by proving that Nitrogen was an essential plant food, and some of the field experiments he started are still running and are increasingly important as world wide ecological standards. Rothamsted is now supported by the Biology and Biotechnology Research Council.
The Rothamsted website describes the Light Trap Network thus : -"A light trap network, run with the help of volunteers at about 80 sites in the UK, is used to monitor the larger (macro) moths. Daily samples are taken throughout the year, and altogether over 430 sites have been sampled. The earliest moth records date back to 1933 from a trap on Rothamsted Farm and a national network was in full operation by 1968. The data have a range of applications in fundamental and applied aspects of insect population dynamics and ecology."
The record of our trap which has been operated every night since March 2002 is summarised below. The catches of unusual species listed below will be recorded in the scientific literature, so that, for example, ecologists working on insect responses to climate change will know when a population first appeared in the UK.
The alpha diversity index refers to the number of species present at a particular site, and the evenness of the numbers of species. That is to say that a site that that has been disturbed has a few species present, and the community will be dominated by a few pioneer species. As the habitat settles down, more species will arrive and the numbers of individuals in most species will grow to the maximum number that that habitat can support. Generally that is thought to mean that a stable mature ecosystem is composed of many species with similar numbers of individuals of each species. Higher diversity index describes a mature and stable habitat. Diversity index varies according to the weather in each year, and our presence in the table is also affected by which other traps are running in that year. Notable Welsh traps (i.e. those so and so's who keep beating us) are at Aberystwyth, Llysdinam, Rhandirmwyn and Tregaron.
Phil Gould, the manager of the survey, who identifies our moths and those from many other traps comments that our trap produces some of the most abundant catches in the survey.
Started trapping in March 2002
2002 19th in the table of sites showing greatest moth diversity. (alpha index of diversity 38.98)
2005 Rothamsted Insect Survey A late second generation or even a very rare third generation Ectropis Bistorta (The engrailed) caught in our trap on 29th September. We also caught a very rare colour form of Timandra Comae (The Blood Vein)
2006 17th in the table of sites showing greatest moth diversity (alpha index of diversity 43.27)
2006 Rothamsted Insect Survey Trichoplusia Ni (The Ni Moth) a rare migrant caught in our trap on 5th August, and the only one caught in the survey in 2006. The first of this species that the identifier had seen.
2006 Rothamsted Insect Survey Hydriomena ruberata (The Ruddy Highflier) caught in our trap on 10th May, an uncommon species in SW Wales
2007 18th in the table of sites showing greatest moth diversity (alpha index of diversity 40.81)
2009 Rothamsted Insect Survey A single specimen of the migrant species Agrotis Ipsolon (Dark Sword Grass) caught at St Clears. This was the only specimen of this species in the UK mainland traps this year.
Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Orange tip, Brimstone (one sighting only), Small copper, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Wall brown, Grizzled Skipper, Small Skipper.
I am repeatedly told that we should have marsh fritillary here - (we definitely have the food plant), but if we do, neither the butterfly nor the caterpillars appear when I am looking for them! I have, however followed a large fritillary on the drier part of the farm, but not been able to catch or identify it. We also have several species of smaller butterflies (or small day-flying moths), that I have not been able to identify.
20th April 2010 The orange tips are out in force, but sadly no cuckoo flowers for their eggs, yet.
Other insects include Glow Worms, which can occasionally be seen near the ménage in early summer (though, we haven't had any grace us with their presence within the last couple of years). We have several species of Dragon fly, with regular sightings of Emperors and Broad Bodied Chasers. Common Blue and Common Red Damsel flies are also abundant. Colourful ruby tailed wasps. Cockchafers (May bugs). Common earwig, hawthorn shield bug, Oak Apple (marble gall) gall wasp, Spangle gall, Great diving beetle, grass hoppers, cuckoo pint,
The ponds support Dragon and Damsel Flies, and Palmate Newts. There might be fish, considering the number of ducks we have had visit our ponds. (Some species of fresh water fish invade new territories when their eggs stick to the legs, feet and plumage of ducks.) Otters regularly visit and sometimes breed here, though not often seen in daylight, they can be heard at dawn, and sometimes encountered on a dark night. Their presence is made obvious to daytime visitors by their paths in and out of the water, and by the almond smelling spraints they leave. Water voles benefit from the presence of otters who help defend them from American Mink that were released by so called "animal rights activists". The voracious mink have played havoc with our poultry and wildlife. (Like many things a disaster resulted from a silly response to a silly fashion.)
We have seen Badgers, Foxes, Moles, Otters, Rabbits, Rats, Squirrels, Water Shrews and Water Voles. Vole runs are a common site on the woodland walk, and the cats catch an assortment of Shrews, Voles and mice. Feral Mink have taken some of our poultry. Roe deer visit quite often. Bats are a common sight on warm evenings. We have identified Noctules in the farm yard, and monitor a breeding colony of about 140 Soprano Pipistrelles. Daubentons bats can be seen skimming one of our ponds.
Reptiles are represented by Grass Snakes, which brood their young and hibernate in our dung heap. Our Grass Snakes are grayer then the typical form, but the white collar distinguishes them from other species.
Large Red slug, Common Garden Slug, Banded Snails (both White lipped and Brown lipped), Garden Snail,
We try to keep our species list up to date. Normally it is on show in our wooden hut. Unfortunately this is inaccessible at the moment, but if you would like a copy, please ask. We would welcome assistance in maintaining our Species lists! We are especially keen to find someone to identify our abundant and diverse fungi, and would welcome anyone who wanted to do a systematic botanical survey, particularly of wetland herbs and water plants. Actually, the more I think of it the more survey work needs to be done - ground insects come to mind for example. So if you are interested - either as a full scientific project or as a school exercise - we would be interested to here from you.
We will assist where we can, and appreciate that you may need to use the data for your own purposes. Unfortunately we are not in a positions to pay for your time.
I have seen the following butterflies on the wing here in the last couple of days.
Large White, Small White, Green veined white, Wood white, Small copper, Holly blue, Red admiral, Small tortoiseshell, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood.
There are also Peacocks and Commas about, and we expect Painted Ladies to appear soon. Silver Y moths are also very active in daylight especially round the Buddleia
We also have a good show of flowers on the woodland walk, especially on the Wetland area between posts 19 and 23. Meadow-sweat, Purple loosestrife, Nap weed, Birds-foot trefoil, Devil's bit scabious, Angelica, Sneeze-wort, are very showy at the moment, and there one or two 'new species'.
The bird feeder in the yard is attracting a Greater spotted woodpecker, as well as the normal great tits, blue tits, and coal tits.
Rowan and guelder rose berries are looking very attractive (don't touch the guelder rose, though - it is poisonous, but attracts unusual insects.) Hazel nuts are still pale, but looking good. These get eaten at night by small rodents, but I have not yet been able to identify which species. In previous years the sound of tiny teeth cracking nuts has been quite impressive, but I haven't heard anything yet this year. I suspect that the recent hard winter may have taken its toll.
Lesser spotted woodpecker female seen on bird feeder. Now, I am studying the males more carefully, as we have two similar species. Easy to separate when you are looking at books, but in life they do not keep still, or come close enough for my poor old eyes!
The Woodcock has been seen again, several times, but always flies out from the ditches, especially in very cold weather. They always leave it very late to fly up, so although they are on the wing before you realise they are there, they are so close that there cannot be any doubt about the identification. They are as spectacular as a Pheasant, but somehow much more polite!
The Nightjar is back again, and considering the time of year, presumably has a mate. He has been heard several times during the day, and once during the night. Last time a Nightjar was here, he was singing near our drive, but left fairly early in the spring, presumably to find a mate. This time he has been heard several times during May and June on the Woodland Walk between posts 3 and 4, and once from the Caravan Site near post 12. Between posts 3 and 4 he appears to be singing from some young willow on the edge of a boggy area of rushes, meadowsweet etc. where a young poplar plantation failed to established. On the slopes above this area (within a 100yds) is a mixed plantation of birch, oak, larch, maple, cherry etc.
We have also heard Grasshopper Warblers in the same area (between posts 3 and 4) but they appear to be shyer then they were when they used to spend the summers between posts 18 and 19 before we inflicted Brussels management on ourselves courtesy of Tir Cynnal. Perhaps we will be able to get some better sightings later in the year when the young are feeding themselves.
13th June. The Nightjar is performing for us every night now, and in the same place. By coincidence, Owain has heard another one in the fields SE of Station Road, Whitland, adjacent to the River Taf and the Church. Being young and a technical wizard he made a recording, albeit with a deafening whistle about 12 seconds in. Apparently he was concerned that his Jack Russell, Kai, was in danger of getting the Twitcher's bug! In spite of background wind and traffic noise this recording gives a good impression of the spooky quality of the Nightjar's 'song' as it turns its head, throwing its voice in different directions and making the singer hard to locate. Walking round the Glyn-Coch Woodland Walk I noticed that at the top of the hill, with a clear "view" (it was pitch dark!) of the nest site from about 400 yds I could hear the chirring of the Nightjar quite clearly, however, as I descended through the trees towards the nest the sound was muffled and almost indistinguishable from the other woodland noises. However I was aware of waves of pressure on my ear drums - almost as if my ears were about to pop. As I emerged from the trees about 100yds from the nest site these pressure waves merged flawlessly with the chirring song of the Nightjar. (I must add that I talk about the "nest site" as I don't know within 100 yds where the nest is, and I won't go looking in case I step on the nest or scare the birds off.)
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