QPCP 2024

 QPCP Summer 2024

A summary of some of the species encountered at Queen’s Park Country Park in 10 trips between 3^rd June and 6^th August.

BIRDS

34 species seen/heard in this duration, all common species. The more notable species are:

Stock Dove – common by the farm and occasionally heard throughout the woods.

Common Buzzard – heard over the car park this week but also common by the farm.

Great Spotted & Green Woodpecker – still very vocal and fairly easy to see/hear.

Jay – recorded on every visit and one of the easiest birds to hear in the woods at the moment.

Chiffchaff & Blackcap – both still singing and calling, the latter less so in recent weeks.

Lesser Whitethroat – at least one pair in the scrub NE of car park and another in the small meadow.

Common Whitethroat – can still hear them by the farm and on the western end of Buckwyns road.

Goldcrest – fairly common in the woods.

Nuthatch – one was calling on July 23^rd in the woods south of Buckwyns Chase.

Treecreeper – easy to hear at the moment in various areas of the woods, especially the path leading west from the car park.

Chaffinch, Linnet & Greenfinch – occasional flyovers.

MAMMALS

Just the 4 expected species seen in daytime visits.

Grey Squirrel – very common in the woods.

Wood Mouse – again very common, often picked out by their ‘squeaks’.

Red Fox – two sightings in different parts of the CP.

Muntjac – again two sightings in different parts of the CP.

ARACHNIDS

The webs of the Labyrinth Spider Agelena labyrinthica can be seen around the park, especially in the smaller meadow. The harvestmen species Dicranopalpus ramosus and Opilio canestrinii have also been noted, the latter common on nettles.

CRUSTACEANS

Probably many other species out there but the Common Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare was noted on July 10^th.

COLEOPTERA (BEETLES)

A decent variety of species identified, many along the path leading west from the car park, with 5 species of ladybird (7-spot, 14-spot, 16-spot, 24-spot, Harlequin) and a host of other common species, like Rhagonycha fulva, Malachius bipustulatus, Oedemera nobilis, Oedemera lurida & Pyrochroa serraticornis. I have also located the leaf beetles Chrysolina oricalcia, Crepidodera aurea & the Ragwort feeder Longitarsus jacobaeae, longhorn beetles Glaphyra umbellatarum & Grammoptera ruficornis and the weevil Liophloeus tessulatus.

ORTHOPTERA (GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, EARWIGS)

Just the three species, all recorded on the smaller meadow – Dark Bush-cricket, Speckled Bush-cricket & Meadow Grasshopper.

DIPTERA (FLIES)

Again a variety of species found in all areas of the park, but the path west of the car park and scrub NE of the car park are usually the most productive. Most of the current list is made up of hoverflies, who love the umbellifers in the scrub. This summer alone I have identified Cheilosia pagana, Chrysotoxum bicinctum, cautum & verralli, Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis intricaria, nemorum & pertinax, Eupeodes corollae, Myathropa florea, Pipiza austriaca, Rhingia rostrata, Sphaerophoria scripta, Volucella pellucens & zonaria & Xanthogramma pedissequum.

Another chunk of Diptera species are of evidence-only leaf miners, although the craneflies Nephrotoma appendiculata & quadrifaria & Tipula lunata have been recorded as well as other common flies, such as Graphomya maculata, Eriothrix rufomaculata & Tachina fera.

MECOPTERA (SCORPIONFLIES)

The commonest species Panorpa communis can be found in many areas of the park.

HEMIPTERA (BUGS)

Definitely loads out there, especially in the meadows, but on the main paths I have found Closterotomus fulvomaculatus & trivialis, as well as Plagiognathus arbustorum. A couple of aphids have also been identified to species – Aphis fabae & Microlophium carnosum.

HYMENOPTERA (BEES, WASPS, ANTS, SAWFLIES)

A few aculeates identified to species, but seemingly a lack of bees and wasps this year. Honey Bee, White-tailed, Buff-tailed & Early Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee & Vestal Cuckoo Bee have all been located in the scrub, and a German Wasp was in the smaller meadow in early August. Haven’t been able to identify any ants as of yet.

5 species of sawflies identified too, including the striking Tenthredo mesomela & temula.

MOTHS

Plenty of common day-flyers in the woods and meadows, and a few evidence-only leaf mines too. The more striking day-flyers include Yellow-barred Longhorn, Nettle-tap, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix, Yellow-spot Twist, Green Oak Tortrix, Yellow Shell, Straw Dot & Silver Y.

BUTTERFLIES

12 species found this summer so far, all expected but some species commoner than others.

Large Skipper – one in the scrub on July 10^th.

Small Skipper – common, especially in the smaller meadow. Not confirmed Essex Skipper yet but surely some about.

Large White – common in the main meadow.

Green-veined White – fairly common in the scrub.

Peacock – surprisingly just the one record, along western path opposite Regent’s Drive on 27^th June.

Comma – a couple around the car park on 27^th June.

Speckled Wood – quite common in the woods.

Ringlet – a few in the scrub on July 10^th but strangely not seen since.

Meadow Brown – abundant, can be found almost anywhere in the summer months.

Gatekeeper – very common, especially in the scrub.

Marbled White – quite common in July around the northern edge of the main meadow.

Holly Blue – recorded on June 3^rd but not since – probably plenty around.

ODONATA (DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES)

5 species noted but again probably considerably more present. The scrub NE of the car park normally holds at least a couple of species.

Southern Hawker – found throughout the woodland, the eastern area of the woods just south of Stock Brook seems especially good for this species.

Banded Demoiselle – one was in the scrub on July 23^rd.

Common Blue Damselfly – fairly common in the scrub.

Blue-tailed Damselfly – one in the scrub on July 23^rd.

White-legged Damselfly – common in the scrub.

MOLLUSCS

Don’t spend much time looking for molluscs, but have identified White-lipped Snail, Brown-lipped Snail, Kentish Snail, Hairy Snail & Large Amber Snail this summer.

FUNGI

No mushrooms or toadstools yet, but a few micro-fungi species. Enjoy looking for the plant mildews, identifying Erysiphe alphitoides & heraclei, Podosphaera pannosa & Sawadaea bicornis so far.

LICHENS

Pretty poor with these but a few common species have been noted throughout the summer, like Xanthoria parietina, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens & tenella.

BRYOPHYTES (MOSSES & LIVERWORTS)

Again pay very little attention to these, whacked a few photos online and got a couple of ID’s back from people far more knowledgeable than me! These were Brachythecium rutabulum & Lewinskya affinis, both very common species found throughout the woods.

VASCULAR PLANTS

Other than birds, plants are the group I pay most attention to and have the most knowledge on. I’ve identified over 100 species this summer but there’s loads, loads more to find no doubt. To save a very long list, I’ll outline some of the more obvious and/or notable species.

Great Horsetail – grows along the roadside verge near the car park.

Wild Angelica – a few plants in the scrub, hoverflies love it!

Stone Parsley ­– easily overlooked but common throughout the woods.

Upright Hedge-parsley – the main umbellifer in the scrub and throughout the country park.

Mugwort – grows by the farm around the horse paddocks.

Brown Knapweed – very common in the scrub.

Hoary Ragwort – a few plants along the path west of the car park.

Common Ragwort – present almost everywhere.

Pineappleweed – easily overlooked but common in the main meadow.

Hawkweed Oxtongue – one flowering plant in the small meadow east of the scrub.

Common Fleabane – plenty in flower in the scrub since late-July.

Feverfew – a few plants along the western path opposite Regent’s Drive.

Charlock – grows just before the first layby past the bridge over the river on Buckwyns.

Lesser Stitchwort – flowering in the fenced off meadow leading up to the farm.

Amphibious Bistort – a few vegetative plants noted on August 6^th at the northern edge of the scrub.

Spindle – common on the path west of the car park.

Himalayan Balsam – beautiful pink flowering-plant abundant around the bridge crossing the river.

Goat’s-rue – quite common on the path west of the car park.

Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch & Smooth Tare – abundant on the smaller meadow throughout June and July.

Bugle – a single plant near the entrance opposite Regent’s Drive.

White & Red Dead-nettle – both found along Buckwyns Road east of the farm.

Marsh Woundwort – quite common just past the bridge over the river near the first layby.

Red Bartsia ­– a couple of plants in the scrub on August 6^th.

Common Figwort – easier to find in June/early July on paths west of the car park.

Enchanter’s-nightshade – common throughout the woods.

Timothy – abundant in the smaller meadow.

Meadow Barley – a few plants in the smaller meadow on August 6^th.

Agrimony – common along Buckwyns Road east of the farm.

Midland Hawthorn – grows near entrance opposite Regent’s Drive.

Dog-rose – common in the scrub but not often flowering.

Field Forget-me-not – noted on June 5^th near the car park.