Greater Manchester Wildlife

couple of things in flower comon ragwort  and herb robert, trees in alpha woods sycamore, ash, silver birch, horse chestnut,  poss pedunculate oak  beech

 

pics uploaded

the water spider is reported to be 15mm. most of these were much bigger look in the picture to see the corner of the canal edging stone. The bite can be quite serious apparently. There was only one pirata piraticus spider and this was smalll compare to the water spiders. Picture quality could be better but they were on the move and it was raining and cold. the fisherman was very knowledgable he reports a very rare type of fresh water clam which he again reports is buried deep in the mud due to the cold weather. I went to Swan lodge before and did somwe dipping. I found a tiny diving beetle and some bushes were in flower returning diapointed I saw a man in waders with net heading for the cut. Things picked up.

The spiders live in a air filled web dome under the water and mating time the male builds one next to the female dome and knocks a door through in her pad.  Frogs are reported to eat them which I find hard to believe. Raft spider moves accross on surface of water. Gaint water beetle is a voracious carnivor.

 

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 4th of April 2011 07:27:03 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 23rd of April 2011 10:07:29 PM

Just been talking to a chap on the canal. Nothing unusual in that other than he was all togged up with a net and stood up to his waste in the Canal. He was fishing for snails which are used as bait for carp fishermen. He was very very knowledgeable. The technique was to dredge the bottom as in a dip and then empty the contents on the canal bank. Unwanted invertebrates quickly scurry back into the canal and he returns the weed once he gets the more common snails. Made my efforts look well amateur.

 

Oh yes finds my jaw dropped so much was dragging along the canal bank; rain who cared, but  more importantly in the weed  was a huge horse leech Haemopis sanguisuga. Further investigation quickly revealed, snails of every different sort, pea mussels millions of back swimmers, caddis fly and large cases made from shells at least two dozen water spiders Argyroneta aquatica in a two metre stretch some of them HUGE tarantula size and they bite, so Im told, a raft spider dolomedes fimbriatus , a very large great diving beetle Dytiscus marginalisas big as a saucer and it flies, ( You wuill have to duck if that come towards you) fish leeches and last but by no mean least a bright pink Ramshorn Snail which could be some sort of aquarium cross species. Carp are rather partial to these. I will up load some pics later.

 

 

I'm still rolling my jaw up and checked NBN Wate spider were reported in the local rag in the centre of Bury NBN only other recorded site is ManchesterAirport in GM. (Dave saw one on this canal some years ago.) Raft spider is not recorded on NBN for GM but old sighting from David had one in Denton. Best day so far.

PS My little beetle Laccophilus minutus L Diving Beetle in Swan Lodge 

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 4th of April 2011 02:38:05 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 7th of April 2011 09:19:45 PM

long mooch

plants seen in flower common violet, mouse eared chick weed, chick weed garlic mustard in bud, opposite leaved saxifrage behind alpha which looks a good site that will throw up some woodland plants previously missed at elton and look to include lord and ladies and pink purslane, more skunk cabbage, liverworts above crow tree farm, Maple blossom lower spenmoor, field wood rush dip.

bugs bit sparse in the cold morning but more appeared later stunning littke dead nettle beetle but could not get a picture, Pterostichus nigrita and Leistus fulvibarbis ground beetles first hoverfly but it did not stay around, a another rove beetle, wolf spider Trochosa terricola , two small ttshell and lots of bees. Several cuckoo bees different sizes/species buzzing the mining bees. And a very intresting funnel web spider and web on old hall farm barn wall waiting for dinner. In a bug trap thee was 10 very alive beetles but rove beetle aside all one species. Previously seen species also seen. Froggies a wooing in the canal still and a toad under a log

The alpha hospital extension have invested some time and effort in a wildlife pond which is planted up among othe things marsh marigold but which appears to have limited water. They have also  planted a wide hedge with numerous species and trees.

 

 

-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 07:47:21 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 04:54:40 PM

Dinner

Lots comming out

Plants in flower Sorrel, Persian Speedwell, Red Dead Nettle and Groundsel.

Lots of spiders knocking about few very hard to ID despite very clear markings which is frustrating but Amaurobius similis.

Quite a Few beetles found around Old Hall many seen prev new Amara (Amara) lunicollis , litlle stunner with 4 corner spots Bembidion  tetracolum

Flies Blue and Green Bottle

Bees  Tawney Mining Bee more Grey Mining Bee Cuckoo Bee lurking near holes

Butteflies seen Comma

In cannal a huge ball of frogs and in a pond newt tadpoles thousands of them.

 

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 29th of March 2011 10:54:12 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 29th of March 2011 10:58:10 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 04:53:03 PM

Yesterday

Mooch

In flower more blackthorn & Primrose Lots of Toads mating and Common water skater culvets along with some beetles but had no net swan lodge

Minnows in culvert Warth Fold

2 types of Ground Beetle and flying Rove beetle, latter which are almost impossible to ID further

2 more spiders will ID later and a Harvest man

 

 

-- Edited by IanB on Friday 25th of March 2011 09:27:27 PM

Quick visit

Hinds Mill

Bibionidae fever fly in Hinds

Star though was the wreck of bennies search under rocks revealed

pretty sure palmate newt ID by webbed back feet line on eye small size lacking tail filiment.
Lots of newts lurking under rocks
Haplophilus subterraneus very long common centipede
Nebria brevicollis elton common ground beetlle
harpalus affinis elton Cracking littlre greeb beetle, common seaside reported NBN Prestwich
Xysticus cristatus Crab spider moves sidways

Dipped canal phantom midge larvae seen hence adult ones at hinds a very curious looking larvae and the water mite unionicola ypsilophora

Froggs moved to below Woos Nab croaking loadly. 

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 22nd of March 2011 09:33:23 AM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 11:45:40 AM

dinner stroll around doffer fold
dafffodill variegated lung wort
false widow spider Steatoda bipunctata
Female wolf spider
Springtail
Ground Beetles Doffer Fold
Anchomenus dorsalis 
calathus melanocephalus




-- Edited by IanB on Friday 18th of March 2011 12:00:15 AM

-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 26th of March 2011 05:17:20 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 11:44:33 AM

another mooch

Lichens ID Tentative
Xanthoria polycarpa 
Parmelina Tiliacea
Evernia prunastri Oak Moss
lepraria incana
Candelaria concolor

Found anmother black ant nest
Heard a huge hulabuloo at the end of the canal and found 20 frogs and a mountain of frog spawn
Found more of the Harvest men gound earlier around withins and the creek
Found a dwarf spider Erigonidae creek
Found few mining bees very active in the lane below old hall farm  Anrena Cineraria
And had a good look at worm so will look these up later one def
Green Worm Allolobophora chlorotica
blue grey worm ovtolasion cyaneum
Grey worm Aporrectodea caliginous
rosy tipped earthworm aporrectodea rosea[
good site for common lichen id http://www.opalexplorenature.org/Lichenguide

-- Edited by IanB on Sunday 13th of March 2011 06:14:11 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 14th of March 2011 08:28:40 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Monday 14th of March 2011 08:34:18 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 11:43:59 AM

Visited Bury Library and found two excellent books from the 'Oxford Natuaral History one called Small Woodland creatures and Small Freshwater Creatuires both by Olsen, Sunesen and Pedersen. They are fairly comprehensive but I found them very useful for getting to species from genus and give some easy intresting targets for the tetrad or open up new ideas. As a taster earth worms over 8 species all fairly easy to ID. Simlarly Water Flea which I've seen a lot of 16 species, some predatary..and a whole section on leaf galls. all with good diagrams and explanations.

So with this in mind a worm safari is planned armed with brolly to poke things in the search of these over looked rascals.

A revisit of early photos shows that all the pics of water flea is one species Daphina Pulex, a midge larvae is culex pipiens, one worms dregded from a pond is lumbriculus variegatus.

uploaded pics first is none biting midge larvae chironomus anthracinus who uses hemoglobin hence its red nature to live in oxygen sparse water in burrows from near rad spen moor pools or res feeder. larvae of water beetle haliplus same ponds. and unknown beetle larvae and lasrt in british fresh water shrimp from res feeder.



Today saw  black garden ant Lasius niger in hinds not far from the recent red ant nest, a slug arion circumspectus and three ground beetles will id later.

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 10th of March 2011 10:12:49 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 10th of March 2011 10:21:52 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 11:43:20 AM

Long trot about

Plants in flower more coltfoot at bennies, goat willow, lesser celendine above crow tree, Forsythia swan lodge. Dipped swan lodge and pond near doffer fold will update later and found several ground beetles. Found Roe deer tracks NE of Doffer fold which don't count.

Only thing of note was whirled ramshorn snail in Swanbrook also seen canal.

But in a bug trap and in alpha woods Common Shiny and Common Pygmy Wood Lice
and I've just found that the Common Striped Wood Louse is not that common in North Manchester but a def sighting sat Alpha. See previous post and picture.

Got three ground beetles to ID which can be a bit tedious

--

-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 5th of March 2011 11:39:10 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 5th of March 2011 11:49:51 PM

Good Mooch PM Dinner

In the Dip
Huge Common Toad Bufo Bufo
Common Frog
5 Common Newts
Harvestman Oligolophus tridens This is a short legged critter that lives on the groundand was found under a rock in the dip several of them.
Wolf Spider Pardosa pullata and a very quick little critter again found under a rockk
What appeared to be my first Honey Bee of 2011 and a ground bettle will try to ID later
Crocus Flavus in flower which is reported rare on NBN Gateway but which I assum,er is imported Garden Species. This was a true escapee on the paths behind the mills Daisey Field
Catkins going over
Took a dip from the north of the Res and this had at least Common Water Boatman and American fresh water shrimp but will up date latet
And the first mosquitos


-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 1st of March 2011 09:48:50 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Tuesday 24th of May 2011 11:42:38 AM

Quick visit today
Highlight Juvenile Smooth Newt undr a rock
Some Green Damsel Fly Nymphs Water Beetle larvae explosion of water beasts young
and Bithynia tentaculata faucet snail in a pond north of the res

There was a survey done on a number of ponds around the Alpha Hosp extension for the Great Crested Newt, Two ponds north of the Res and the pond in the Dip. No Newts of any king were found. Newts do not like ponds with fish as they feature on their menu. The little fellow found proves that they are in the dip and probably breeding in the Marsh area on the field near th dip pond which they did not check, which seems odd. They appear to have created a pond at the side of the hospital which is fenced off, like they also have done at the bank of Radcliffe Crem. Which will enrich the area.  

There was a rumpus on a lodge on seddons farm slightly to the north of the tetrad. Locals successfully got barrack fold lodges declared a SBI. Thety found all 5 British Amphibians present and a local 'amateur' naturalist discovered far more species than the official surveys.  So amateurs are important. You only have to read the posts on this site to realise the important contribution they make in discovering things. And if you do find a rare 'thing' make sure that it is reported on the various sites once confirmed so that wildlife is taken into consideration in any 'development.'

^{There was}

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 17th of February 2011 11:48:36 PM

Quick root from Withins dam down to Crow tree farm and the fields towards old hall farm, Under a log Geophilus carpophagus centipede and a Beetle l arvae both vicious critters. The centipede attacked the larvae and it was over very qiuiclky for the larvae. Two mating Dung flies Scathophaga stercoraria.  . Tubifix worms seen in pond. Still only finding the Americam Fresh Water Shrimp.  Physa fontinalis Common Bladder snail in withins res and Mosquito Larvae, Water Beetle larvae in withins and in the stream above withins was Black Fly (Simulium) larvae that attaches to rocks in the fast water and feeds with an o[pen mouth. There were loads of these. Pics atttached of the Dung Beetle the larvae from the stream and another odd beetle larvae found in leave litter earlier this week. Again difficulkt to ID but huge feelers to find there way about above.

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 10th of February 2011 10:16:49 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Friday 11th of February 2011 08:03:59 PM

IanB wrote:

---

Dipped some more ponds near Radcliffe Cem

SD 78371 08617 Pond 1

SD 78216 08493 Pond 2

These are very reedy and contain a lot of  oligochaete segmented wornand Cyclops little else in a muddy dredge. One worm/pupie appears to be a caddis larvae with huge jaws. 

 
This is the secomd picture of the ones uploaded from this date and Just ID it as the Chaoborus  or phantom midge larvae. NB Gateway has it as fairely rare in Manchester oly at Chat Moss but this could be simply few reports. One site explains It is completely transparent apart from two pairs of gas sacs which enable the larva to keep a perfect balance. It can move extremely rapidly by flexing its body. Tail feathers enhance the propulsion. The antennae developed in a claw that is perfect for capturing prey.

Mooch AM

Dipped res and came up with a Lesser Diving Beetle and small swan musssel among other usuals things (Cyclps Water Flea ) on the Dam near Old Hall Farm. Discovered under a log a spotted snake millipede and black beetle Nebria brevicollis near the site of Buckly fold farm on Spenmoor east of Doffer Fold. Dipped another pond in same area SD 78604 09022 showing flat worm diving beetle (Colymbetes fuscus) cyclops water flea and caddis fly larvae fresh water shrimp. Things appear to be warming up, underwater anyway.

-- Edited by IanB on Wednesday 2nd of February 2011 11:14:50 PM

-- Edited by IanB on Thursday 3rd of February 2011 06:48:11 PM

Dipped some more ponds near Radcliffe Cem

SD 78371 08617 Pond 1

SD 78216 08493 Pond 2

These are very reedy and contain a lot of  oligochaete segmented wornand Cyclops little else in a muddy dredge. One worm/pupie appears to be a caddis larvae with huge jaws. Also Rag tailed maggot or Drone Fly larvae  Eristalis tenax

 

SD 78153 08468 Pond 3

SD 78153 08468 Pond 3 again very wormy and Cyclops and lots of mayfly and caddisfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera Trichoptera) all different sizes and Caddis in a tube of plant gravel material. And one large Damsel fly nymph. and one monster that I can't ID which is some sort of fly pupie

Dipped Withins Res
In main usuals water flea cyclops mayfly larvae but one  fish leech Piscicola geometra                      

Dipped stream above crow tree farm at the new bridge Lots of fresh water shrimp, caddis and mayfly larvae, fish leech and other usual flat worms      and water louse.

Dipped Canal between bridges 18 19 and apart from  simlar things found at Bridge 18 also some form of small Fresh water Mussell presume this is a small swan mussell as seen in res last year and young would inhabit the canal from the outfall of the res and lots of fresh water shrimp.













-- Edited by IanB on Saturday 5th of February 2011 09:13:50 PM

Had another mooch yesterday and spent some time on spenmoor.

I decided to concentrate on bugs and aquatic this year as this has not been done on this sight and it has plenty of scope. Various techniques were considered and even tried. One involved poking some weeds with a large stick, or in my case a brolly, and then taking a sample of water. Not successful. Best technique was simply purloining a net from some where and doing pond dipping.This will be repeated over the site at intervals. One thing to be aware of is Wells Disease in open water, and take the required precaution IE No cuts and wash hands..

Bottle/Pit traps are also being tried but care is needed. If used in ponds or water air needs to be in them in case amphibians enter and they need t be checked within 12 hours. In the vase of pit traps for bugs some leaves are needed in the bottom to stop one critter eating the other. Small mamals can also be trapped in humane traps but again need to be checked within a few hours. And most importantky everything released. Consideration of breeding seasons is also important.

The woods at the back of Alpha produced a unknown bug larvae plenty of spring tails and two more of the Dark Bodied Glass Snail. Quite a few fungas was found canal and Spenmoor and these will be ID later. I dipped a pond on Spenmoor SD 78537 09362. This produced a huge Water Louse and under the plastic scope very few Water Flea,
Endemic  Cyclops Male Female, a few  Fresh Water Flatworm, several Oligochaeta Segmented see through worm, common Fresh water Shrimp.
 

Set two bottle live traps in dip yesterday afternoon one in the pond one in the woods
The pond one had very little if anything in it this morning.
Also took two dips in the canal which look promising one at the outfall and another at bridge 18 below crow tree/site of Hasms farm. Update later

Only one small beetle in insect trap but the night and morning was very frosty

Had a goosy at the most promising water sample near bridge 18 under my £4 plastic microscope.

Found flatworm 2 types of snail, water louse, Water Flea, Cyclops, last two with eggs, infant cyclops and an ostracod

The second dip at he outfall produced water that was not as clear, poss due to swans disturbing bottom, and less bugs but water flea Cyclops several Water Shrimp some type of transparent oligochaete segmented worm and flatworm also seen but specimin not as big as prev sample.




-- Edited by IanB on Friday 21st of January 2011 10:48:06 PM

For general bird sightings then sightings go ont he Birding Forum, but you can post your bird updates for your square on your tetrad thread, as anything counts.

For instance, if i see a jay in the cemetery then i will put it on my thread but probably would not mention it again, I'd put the rest of my future Jay sightings on the birding forum. As well as ofcourse as the original sighting!

Dave

-- Edited by David Winnard on Saturday 27th of November 2010 09:05:39 PM