'GEMS OF POTTERIC CARR' — On Sale at the Reserve Shop, £7.50
‘Gems of Potteric Carr’ by Derek Bateson is a 104 page book containing 280 full colour photographs featuring some of the very varied wildlife which can be seen at Potteric Carr.
Also available by post (£8.70 inc. p&p) from: YWT Sales, Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB. See cover (pdf).
The Moths of Potteric Carr (180kb PDF) A revised list of Potteric Carr moths by Ian Heppenstall.
March 2010
Tuesday 9th
Moss capsules, Potteric Carr, 9th March 2010 © Derek Bateson
Sunday 7th
Alder catkins out at Potteric Carr on a sunny 7th March 2010 © Derek Bateson
Wednesday 3rd
Only occasionally seen on the surface, this Mole was able to be photographed.
Mole, Potteric Carr, 3rd March 2010 © Rob Mokryj
Monday 1st
Bank Vole, Willow Pool, 1st March 2010 © Rob Mokryj
Stoat, Black Carr Field, 1st March 2010 © Rob Mokryj
February
Tuesday 23rd
Field Note by Derek Baterson: "Visitors to the Reserve may have noticed of late that a lot of branches
laying on the ground have been stripped of their bark. This is due to the cold weather and snow
which has prevented many mammals reaching their normal diet of grass or
ground vegetation. Some of this de-barking, particularly if more than two
feet or so from the ground, may be due to Roe Deer which are frequently
seen on the Reserve. Indeed today, Roe Deer had been in Loversall Delph and
along Willow Bank last night. This log (see photo), in St Catherine's Copse, was low
down and the likely candidates are Rabbits which will also nibble willow
bark at other times of the year, perhaps for the Salicylic acid it contains"
Bark knawed from log by a mammal, Potteric Carr, 23rd February 2010 © Derek Bateson
Monday 22nd
After almost a month to the day since a partial ermine Stoat was first seen at Potteric Carr, the same animal was captured on camera today in the same place (TE).
Stoat in partial ermine pelage at Potteric Carr on 22nd February 2010 © Tony Elliott
Sunday 21st
A Fox walked out across the iced-over Piper Marsh to one of the islands in the morning (DC). 3 Roe Deer were disturbed near Loversall Delph (MR). Hazel catkins were out.
Sunday 14th
Derek Bateson reports: "Today I turned my attention back to fungi, as I had been told by AP and KW that Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca had occurred for the first time to the side of the path approaching Piper Marsh. There were indeed several specimens, but more were to be found under the viaduct at the end of Childers Wood, also alongside Childers Drain, both traditional spots over the past five years (see image). Near the viaduct at the eastern end of Corbett Field, a mature Elder tree had shed its bark and the trunk exhibited an interesting pattern of pointed protruberences (see image)."
Scarlet Elf Cap, Potteric Carr, 14th February 2010 © Derek Bateson
Barkless Elder trunk © Derek Bateson
Thursday 11th
Part of Mother Drain that flows through the Reserve was electrofished by Environment Agency officers today. Five species of fish were examined, namely Chub, Roach, Pike, Gudgeon and Perch — one of which was photographed being held by an EA officer (see below).
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An Environment Agency officer with a Perch from Mother Drain undergoing examination © Adrian Andruchiw
Wednesday 10th
5 Roe Deer were near Loversall Delph and 2 Stoats around a wood pile beside Mother Drain.
Sunday 7th
Hebridean Sheep in St. Catherine's Field on 7th February 2010 © Derek Bateson
Saturday 6th
Photos taken during the snow a few days ago include Foxes and a Stoat.
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Foxes © Dave Round
Stoat © Dave Round
Monday 1st
4 Roe Deer were in the field alongside Beeston Plantation (CGJ, RT). Yesterday, a Fox
walked on the ice near Beeston Hide and another was laid on a pile of cut reed at Piper Marsh
(AP).
January
Sunday 24th
DB: "A bit disappointing as far as photography was concerned and the only thing which took my eye was this stump (below) in Black Carr Field which is slowly becoming covered, mostly by the small bracket fungus, Trametes versicolor, or Turkeytail, but there may be another species present as well as the lichen, Cladonia sp. where there is a clump at the base of the stump. One of the resident Stoats at this location was busily chasing, although at no great speed, one of the rabbits, and it didn't manage to catch up with it." Photo © Derek Bateson.
Thursday 21st
A Stoat in partial ermine was seen on Rossington Bank (TE). In this part of England piebald coated intermediate stages of moult, as seen in this individual, are activated by prolonged low temperatures and snow lie.
Sunday 17th
Correspondent, Derek Bateson reports: "After being snowed in for a few days, I ventured out to Potteric Carr for the first time in about ten days. Nearly all the snow had gone although some paths were still slippery. Amongst things seen were several large groups of one of the puffballs, Lycoperdon pyriforme. This starts as a whiteish cream colour, but as it matures the gleba turns an olive-brown and shows the distinctive small split pore through which the spores escape when pressurised by wind or rain. The second fungus to be found today was the Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica, a small bright orange specimen of which first caught my eye, but on looking around I found this (see image) somewhat larger example on a nearby twig. Just off Willow Bank, a Stoat was observed trying to mesmerise a Rabbit, by running round it in circles, but the rabbit had obviously seen this trick before and ran off too fast for the pursuer."
Lycoperdon pyriforme, Potteric Carr, 17th January 2010 © Derek Bateson
Yellow Brain Fungus Tremella mesenterica, Potteric Carr, 17th January 2010 © Derek Bateson
Thursday 14th
This Fox at Piper Marsh today (14th) had an injured right hind foot (DR). Photo © David Roberts. Lots of animal tracks were found around the Reserve during the cover of snow and records have been made of the species identified.
Tuesday 5th
A Fox was photographed in today's (5th) fresh snow. Photo © Rob Mokryj.
Sunday 3rd
An American Mink Mustela vison was seen and photographed at the edge of Mother Drain today (AA, DC, MR). This animal is in the typical chocolate brown pelage found in feral populations living in the wild.
American Mink, Potteric Carr, 3rd January 2010 © Adrian Andruchiw
Grey Squirrel, Potteric Carr, 3rd January 2010 © Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 1st
A Fox was photographed in sunshine on the ice at Piper Marsh (RM).
Fox, Piper Marsh, 1st January 2010 © Rob Mokryj
December 2009
Sunday 27th
Many track have been seen in the snow over Christmas, including Roe Deer, Fox and Stoat.
Tuesday 22nd
Derek's last report of 2009: "Another beautiful sunny morning but very cold, down to -5°C first thing. Again, I had discounted fungi, but felt with the heavy frost I might get a few ice formation shots, and so it turned out as can be seen from these images taken in Black Carr Field. Prior to that, before anyone else had reached the hide, I had stopped by Willow Pool where there were a variety of birds, including Water Rail and Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Jays and lots of the usual smaller passerines. There was at least one family of Brown Rats, and I counted two which were certainly adults (see image), plus I think up to six well-grown young, but of course I can't be sure on this score. All the usual tracks were to be seen, particularly Rabbit, Fox, and one of the smaller Mustelids, probably Stoat which we see more of nowadays."
Hoar frost, Potteric Carr, 22nd December 2009 © Derek Bateson
Brown Rat, Willow Pool, 22nd December 2009 © Derek Bateson
Sunday 20th
DB reports: "After a light snowfall last night it was a gloriously sunny day at Potteric Carr, but decidedly chilly, so I thought I had no chance of finding any fungi. Setting off from the Field Centre, I immediately encountered tracks of Fox, Rabbit and probably Stoat, but none of these presented a photographic opportunity. I then found quite a good track where a Pheasant had walked (see image). Going then into St. Catherine's Copse, I did find what appeared to be snow-covered clumps of Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes (see image). Proceeding round Willow Bank and then back along Loversall Bank, there was clear evidence (see image) of Roe Deer. Over the course of maybe 400 metres, there appeared to be tracks of three, but maybe four animals, two of which were smaller and possibly first-year animals. Happy Christmas to all readers of 'Wildlife News', from myself and all the photographers who have contributed images during the year." A Fox was on Huxter Well Marsh today and one was on the ice at Piper Marsh yesterday (19th).
Pheasant tracks in fresh snow, Potteric Carr, 20th December 2009 © Derek Bateson
Velvet Shank covered by snow, Potteric Carr, 20th December 2009 © Derek Bateson
Roe Deer slot (footprint) in fresh snow, Potteric Carr, 20th December 2009 © Derek Bateson
Wildlife News October to December 2009 (2 MB pdf)
Wildlife News July to September 2009
Wildlife News March to June 2009
Wildlife News January to February 2009
Wildlife News August to December 2008
Potteric Carr NR 'Recorder' Newsletter (2009 edition) (730 KB pdf). A 16-page review of Potteric Carr NR wildlife recording in 2008.