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THE HUMBERHEAD PEATLANDS NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE:

HATFIELD MOORS

SOUTH YORKSHIRE (cE)


53
o32´56´´N/00o55´52´´W Hatfield Moors (centre) South Yorkshire, Hatfield Moors 1463ha flat 6msl

HUMBERHEAD PEATLANDS NNR TOTAL AREA (Thorne & Hatfield combined) 2888 ha

HATFIELD MOORS NNR TOTAL AREA 1267 ha


SPA, SAC, NNR, IBA, NATURA 2000 SITE


Anytime (1974-2018)

Birding Site Guide

The Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve comprises two close but separate sites, Thorne and Hatfield Moors (see separate account for Thorne Moors) which encompass most of the remaining (degraded) raised mire of the once much more extensive Humberhead Levels particularly the area known formerly as Hatfield Chace. Thorne Moors at 1626ha and Hatfield Moors at 1267ha are the largest and second largest areas of lowland ombrotrophic raised mire in Britain. They have low annual precipitation and share insect fauna affinities with counterparts in Poland, Germany and the Baltic States (Eversham 2000). They are considered to be western outliers of these Continental type mires rather than the more usual Atlantic type found in Britain (Eversham 2000). As such, they are the only surviving mires of this type in Britain (Eversham, Skidmore and Buckland 1995).


Both moors have a long-distance circular walking route connecting them called the Peatlands Way, information on this and other links relevant to the Humberhead Peatlands can be found from websites links given at bottom.


Accommodation can be found at Hatfield Woodhouse or a little further away in Hatfield (there is a Travelodge (DN8 5GS) at the M18/M180 roundabout junction). In addition right next to the site on moors side of the A614 is a developments with fishing ponds and holiday chalet wooden cabins, called Tyram Lakes Resort (DN7 6DR, Olivetree Investments) but this is still under construction. On the natural sand and gravel privately owned Lindholme Island in the centre of the moors is the Rangjung Yeshe Gomde UK Tibetan Buddhist Centre which also has accommodation and a camping area which can be booked by anyone.


Access to Hatfield Moors is via two main car parks. For both you need to reach the A614 which from M180 J1 is a short way via the A18. From the M18 junction 5, take the M180 and come off at junction 1 (Tudworth Roundabout), head S to Hatfield Woodhouse on the A18, there then is a left turn onto the A614 about 2 km from the motorway.

Push bikes and horses can be ridden between Boston Park car park and Ten Acre Lake car park, via the western side track only. Permits are needed for horse riders. Hatfield Moors has dangers such as deep water ditches and Adders, also insects such as mosquitoes and horse flies can be about in large numbers in summer and ticks from deer and livestock may carry Lime's disease. The site is also very large and it is easy to walk along the paths and lose your sense of direction. Maps and compass and notes of where your route would be useful and remember to take enough water and food for the day and wear suitable footwear. From any of the public access points all paths interconnect about the huge site. With the above considerations in mind you may prefer to participate in a guided walk, the schedule for those run by Natural England can be found here at the links at the bottom.

Boston Park car park continue on the A614 heading south for 3.5 miles halfway to Blaxton/Finningley, just after Lindholme Prison and Tyram Lakes Resort on your left is the stone track to the car park. Follow this for about 500 m and over a single width small bridge turning left and follow past Natural England’s new office into the parking area. There is an information board with map here and facilities at or near this car park include toilet and easy access trail. Photo: Boston Park Lake and hide (BPW).

Boston Park walk (2.7km) goes in a loop past gravel workings to bird hide and around lake.


Packard’s Trail (5.6km) as above but continues through Packard’s Heath and round Badger Corner looping back to start. There are many other lesser trails around the disused gravel pits here. Photos: Packard's looking towards the trees in the centre of the reserve on Lindholme Island and Pectoral Sandpiper (BPW).

Other areas best accessed from here include the open peat pools areas of the interior southern half which can be got to via the trams (bankings where the now dismantled narrow gauge railways carrying peat ran) they go all around the moors and there are many miles of these for instance going north east towards private Lindholme Island or beyond and further east, the main areas are called: Packard’s South and Packard’s North and for a longer walk heading east New Porters and New Moor.

Ten Acre Lake car park once on the A614 continue only 0.5 mile and on entering Hatfield Woodhouse as you go round a right bend (opposite the school on the right), there is a left turn onto a road called Remple Lane, continue along the left fork (Hollinbridge Lane) go down here and out past the houses to the fields and follow the narrow country lane until you reach a sewage plant then turn right over a narrow bridge (Turf Moor Road, then Moor Dike Road). After the bridge continue past White Bridge Farm until you see the trees on the moor’s edge. Continue along and through the first trees to a sharp left bend in the road where it becomes the private Lindholme Bank Road (to Rangjung Yeshe Gomde UK Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the moors centre on Lindholme Island) just after turning this, immediately on your right is the NE parking area. From the A614 to the parking area is about 5km (3 miles). There is an information board with map here but there are no facilities at this car park.

The main trail is around the whole huge lake, either outside the wooded area or winding through the trees. The top end path can flood. Other trams head off around the moors and there are many miles of these through the open areas heading towards private Lindholme Island or towards Packard’s or Boston Park.

Wood Warbler photos Justin Carr 2011.

Wroot village 0.5 mile directly south has an access via a Public Footpath from Sand Lane on the west side. This goes north from the village down a track over the River Torne (canalised) then 700 m north to a bridge over the boundary ditch to the NNR from where all site paths can be reached. There is an information board here. This same footpath can be reached via another Public Footpath (Common Lane) from the east side of the village at Alderfen Fisheries. Upon reaching the River Torne there is a footbridge so you can continue west on either side to the footpath to the moors footpath. You can alternatively continue on the river bank west all the way to the A614, as the birding is good along here.

Badger Corner Lake Trail (4.4km) goes from Wroot access around Badger Corner and lake.


Wroot Trail (8.3km) goes similar to Packard’s Trail but from Wroot access. Red Bridge Trail (6km) goes from Boston Park to Ten Acre Lake to the N. The Peatlands Way Long Distance Footpath section here is between Wroot and goes N past Ten Acre Lake to Hatfield Woodhouse.

Other access points may be to privately held parcels of the peat moors such as the private Lindholme Bank Road to the Buddhists retreat on Lindholme Island or Scott’s peat works to the north, or land held by farmers such as Roe Carr at the extreme south east or large areas of farmland to the north east. There is also much land adjacent to the NNR which attract wildlife and add conservation value such as river banks, fisheries and holiday places as well as much land belonging to the prison but these should only be watched by permission or from roads and public rights of way.

On the north edge of the moor Scott’s peat mill is still operational (now using imported peat) and access from there requires prior arrangements with Scott’s.


Geologically Hatfield Moors is very interesting with the raised middle and southern edge being sand and gravel of glacial moraine from the last ice-age. This being in England the most south easterly extent of such and the edge of the former Lake Humber. The central area is know as Lindholme Island and has not been worked for aggregates (at least not commercially) and the southern Boston Park area has been extensively commercial worked but is now the main access area for the reserve. Sand and gravels underlay some areas of peat too on Hatfield unlike at Thorne.

Habitats Hatfield Moors has many more habitats than Thorne and this is mainly but not only because of its sand and gravel deposits. Both moors are, at their centres at least mainly peat. The deposits of which have been vastly reduced by commercial extraction mainly for use in the horticultural sector mostly in the latter part of the last century. The depth of peat has typically been reduced over nearly the whole area from 6 to 8 metres originally (which would have been topped by a living sphagnum moss dome) to 0.5 metres or nothing. These peat areas are often still bare from recent cessation of peat winning but in parts cottongrasses, Purple Moor Grass and rushes have colonised and on drier areas bracken, Heather and sometimes introduced rhododendron. There are vast areas of birch woodland too and in more mature areas much oak. In other areas bog restoration work using peat bunds has created vast open compartments of shallow water where sphagnum can grow to restore the bog and which attract masses of wildfowl and waders.

In some places and often where drainage ditches have been cut the substrate has been exposed. These substrates when at the surface cause enrichment of the nutrient deficient sphagnum bog and create areas of poor fen. Typically, where fen species such as reeds or Soft Rush are growing on the peat area, then this is the case. Such areas can be found across both sites often covering many hectares.

The sands and gravel of Hatfield have been extensively worked, except on the privately held Lindholme Island. These very deep in some cases, workings have filled with water and now form a string of lakes and ponds all around the edge of Hatfield Moors. Because these mainly artificial water bodies are not as acidic as the water on peat areas, they can support fish other than Eels, and have been well stocked with fish by their owners for commercial fishing. Around Boston Park, on non-flooded areas mature birch woodland and scrub has developed.

The River Torne though straightened, embanked and pumped never-the-less provides an important additional habitat right next to the reserve. The linear nature is used as navigation by birds and there are extensive areas of reeds. Alongside in many areas are pasture fields, areas of which often flood, and these provide important areas for swans, geese, ducks and other birds in this predominately intensive arable landscape.


Species Notes

The Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve is very rich with the site having the 3rd largest insect list in the British Isles. A total of 6313 species (all classes) have been entered on the Humberhead Peatlands Species Inventory (BPW, Natural England) with around 100+ further species to add: this covers both moors combine. Of invertebrates 4951 species have been recorded on Thorne and 2237 species on Hatfield (which has been far less studied), 167 are Red Data Book listed.

BIRDS The reserve provides refuge for a wide variety of once common farmland and woodland birds of the area with Grey Partrige and Corn Bunting on the edges and in the woodlands many migrants including warblers, with passage birds such as Redstart. More open woodland is good for Tree Pipit and Wood Lark and passage Wheatear, and wet woodland for increasingly scarce Willow Tit (virtually gone on Hatfield but readily found on Thorne). Cranes can be seen around site too but only breed on Thorne. Whilst areas with heather attract a good population of the SPA notified Nightjar and many Meadow Pipits and some Stonechats. Open areas, often with seasonal flooded areas attract all manner of waterfowl and huge numbers of passage waders, such as Ringed Plover and Snipe with annual rarer ones found. Gulls come to roost in thousands sometimes and some Black-headed Gulls always try to breed and Black-necked Grebe may be amongst them. Similarly the fish ponds attract waterfowl particularly diving ducks and grebes, and passage Osprey. The sand bank at Boston Park hosts the breeding Sand Martins. Swallows and Swifts can pass through or come to feed in huge numbers. All these birds attract predators and Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Long-eared, Barn, Tawny and Little Owls are resident. Peregrines are often to be found, even in summer immature birds may be about. Hobby visit in summer and Merlin and Short-eared Owl in winter. Rarer species are the increasing occurrence of passage Red-footed Falcon and sometimes Montagu’s Harrier. With such a huge open space and much variety of habitat anything can pass through, and vis mig can be very good in the right conditions.


HATFIELD MOORS BIRD LIST followed by species only recorded on Thorne Moors, thereby the combination gives the entire bird list for Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve (BPW 2018).


Th
ese lists follows The British List (BOU) and includes all species acceptably recorded from the mid-eighteenth century to the end of 2017. There are 241 species recorded for Hatfield Moors and 256 species for the combined NNR.

HATFIELD MOORS: 1 Mute Swan, 2 Bewick's Swan, 3 Whooper Swan, 4 Bean Goose, 5 Pink-footed Goose, 6 White-fronted Goose, 7 Lesser White-fronted Goose, 8 Greylag Goose, 9 Canada Goose, 10 Barnacle Goose, 11 Brent Goose, 12 Egyptian Goose, 13 Common Shelduck, 14 Mandarin Duck 15 Eurasian Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, 17 Eurasian Teal, 18 Mallard, 19 Pintail, 20 Garganey, 21 Shoveler, 22 Red-crested Pochard, 23 Common Pochard, 24 Ring-necked Duck 25 Tufted Duck, 26 Greater Scaup, 27 Common Eider, 28 Long-tailed Duck, 29 Common Scoter 30 Common Goldeneye, 31 Smew, 32 Red-breasted Merganser, 33 Goosander, 34 Ruddy Duck, 35 Red Grouse 36 Black Grouse, 37 Red-legged Partridge, 38 Grey Partridge, 39 Common Quail, 40 Common Pheasant, 41 Fulmar 42 Northern Gannet, 43 Great Cormorant, 44 Shag, 45 Eurasian Bittern, 46 Night Heron, 47 Little Egret, 48 Great White Egret 49 Grey Heron, 50 White Stork, 51 Glossy Ibis 52 Eurasian Spoonbill, 53 Little Grebe, 54 Great Crested Grebe, 55 Red-Necked Grebe 56 Slavonian Grebe 57 Black-necked Grebe, 58 Honey-buzzard, 59 Red Kite, 60 Marsh Harrier, 61 Hen Harrier, 62 Montagu's Harrier, 63 Northern Goshawk, 64 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 65 Common Buzzard, 66 Rough-legged Buzzard, 67 Osprey, 68 Common Kestrel, 69 Red-footed Falcon, 70 Merlin, 71 Hobby, 72 Peregrine Falcon, 73 Water Rail, 74 Spotted Crake, 75 Corn Crake, 76 Moorhen, 77 Common Coot, 78 Common Crane, 79 Oystercatcher, 80 Avocet, 81 Little Ringed Plover, 82 Ringed Plover, 83 Dotterel, 84 American Golden Plover 85 European Golden Plover, 86 Grey Plover, 87 Northern Lapwing, 88 Red Knot, 89 Sanderling, 90 Little Stint, 91 Temminck's Stint, 92 White-rumped Sandpiper, 93 Baird’s Sandpiper 94 Pectoral Sandpiper, 95 Curlew Sandpiper, 96 Purple Sandpiper, 97 Dunlin, 98 Buff-Breasted Sandpiper 99 Ruff, 100 Jack Snipe, 101 Common Snipe, 102 Woodcock, 103 Black-tailed Godwit, 104 Bar-tailed Godwit, 105 Whimbrel, 106 Eurasian Curlew, 107 Common Sandpiper, 108 Green Sandpiper, 109 Spotted Redshank, 110 Greenshank, 111 Wood Sandpiper, 112 Common Redshank, 113 Turnstone, 114 Red-Necked Phalarope 115 Arctic Skua, 116 Long-Tailed Skua 117 Mediterranean Gull, 118 Common Gull, 119 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 120 Glaucous Gull, 121 Iceland Gull, 122 Yellow-legged Gull, 123 Caspian Gull 124 Herring Gull, 125 Great Black-backed Gull, 126 Little Gull, 127 Black-headed Gull, 128 Kittiwake, 129 Little Tern, 130 Black Tern, 131 Sandwich Tern, 132 Common Tern, 133 Arctic Tern, 134 Roseate Tern 135 Puffin, 136 Rock Dove, 137 Stock Dove, 138 Wood Pigeon, 139 Collared Dove, 140 Turtle Dove, 141 Rose-ringed Parakeet 142 Common Cuckoo, 143 Barn Owl, 144 Little Owl, 145 Tawny Owl, 146 Long-eared Owl, 147 Short-eared Owl, 148 European Nightjar, 149 Common Swift, 150 Common Kingfisher, 151 Hoopoe, 152 Wryneck, 153 Green Woodpecker, 154 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 155 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 156 Golden Oriole, 157 Great Grey Shrike, 158 Magpie, 159 Eurasian Jay, 160 Western Jackdaw, 161 Rook, 162 Carrion Crow, 163 Hooded Crow, 164 Raven 165 Goldcrest, 166 Firecrest, 167 Blue Tit, 168 Great Tit, 169 Coal Tit, 170 Willow Tit, 171 Bearded Tit, 172 Woodlark, 173 Skylark, 174 Sand Martin, 175 Barn Swallow, 176 House Martin, 177 Cetti’s Warbler 178 Long-tailed Tit, 179 Pallas's Warbler 180 Yellow-browed Warbler, 181 Wood Warbler, 182 Common Chiffchaff, 183 Willow Warbler, 184 Blackcap, 185 Garden Warbler, 186 Barred Warbler 187 Lesser Whitethroat, 188 Common Whitethroat, 189 Grasshopper Warbler, 190 Icterine Warbler, 191 Sedge Warbler, 192 Reed Warbler, 193 Waxwing, 194 Nuthatch 195 Eurasian Treecreeper, 196 Wren, 197 Common Starling, 198 Ring Ouzel, 199 Blackbird, 200 Fieldfare, 201 Song Thrush, 202 Redwing, 203 Mistle Thrush, 204 Spotted Flycatcher, 205 Robin, 206 Common Nightingale, 207 Pied Flycatcher, 208 Black Redstart, 209 Common Redstart, 210 Whinchat, 211 European Stonechat, 212 Northern Wheatear, 213 Dunnock, 214 House Sparrow, 215 Tree Sparrow, 216 Yellow Wagtail, 217 Grey Wagtail, 218 Pied Wagtail, 219 Olive-Backed Pipit 220 Tree Pipit, 221 Meadow Pipit, 222 Water Pipit, 223 Rock Pipit, 224 Common Chaffinch, 225 Brambling, 226 Greenfinch, 227 Goldfinch, 228 Siskin, 229 Linnet, 230 Twite, 231 Lesser Redpoll, 232 Common Redpoll, 233 Arctic Redpoll, 234 Common Crossbill, 235 Bullfinch, 236 Hawfinch, 237 Snow Bunting, 238 Lapland Bunting, 239 Yellowhammer, 240 Reed Bunting, 241 Corn Bunting.

Species only THORNE MOORS: 1 Black Stork, 2 Black Kite, 3 White-tailed Eagle, 4 Gyr Falcon, 5 Stone-curlew, 6 Killdeer, 7 Lesser Yellowlegs, 8 Gull-billed Tern, 9 Caspian Tern, 10 Pallas's Sandgrouse, 11 Red-backed Shrike, 12 Rose-coloured Starling, 13 Bluethroat (White-spotted), 14 Richard's Pipit, 15 Thrush Nightingale (just outside the recording area).

Species only HATFIELD MOORS: 1 Lesser White-Fronted Goose, 2 Ring-Necked Duck, 3 Red Grouse, 4 Fulmar, 5 Glossy Ibis, 6 Red-Necked Grebe, 7 Slavonian Grebe, 8 Red-Necked Phalarope, 9 Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, 10 Baird’s Sandpiper, 11 Long-Tailed Skua, 12 Roseate Tern, 13 Pallas's Warbler, 14 Barred Warbler, 15 Nuthatch, 16 Raven, 17 Olive-Backed Pipit.

Escapes include Bar-headed Goose, Swan Goose.

HATFIELD MOORS BIRDING BLOG IS HERE

HATFIELD MOORS OTHER CLASSES

For the following species the lists are for the Humberhead Peatlands NNR as a whole; both Thorne Moors and Hatfield Moors combined.

MAMMALS For both moors a total of 30 species of mammal have been recorded and one sub-fossil), 10 are RDB. Both moors are well known strongholds of the Water Vole, and studies and management work to help this fastest declining British mammal is ongoing.

Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus

Common Shrew Sorex araneus

Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus

Water Shrew Neomys fodiens

Mole Talapa europaea

Whiskered Bat Myotis mystacinus

Daubenton’s Bat Myotis daubentonii

Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Noctule Bat Nyctalus noctula

Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus

Fox Vulpes vulpes

Stoat Mustela erminea

Weasel Mustela nivalis

American Mink Mustela lutreola (introduced)

Badger Meles meles

Reeves’ Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi (introduced)

Red Deer Cervus elaphus

Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus

Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis (introduced)

Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus

Water Vole Arviola terrestris

Field Vole Microtus agrestis

Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus

Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus

Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus

House Mouse Mus domesticus

Brown Hare Lepus campensis

Rabbit Oryctolagus coniculus

Otter Lutra lutra

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris (extirpated)

Fallow Deer (non-native sub-fossil only)

HERPTILES

Grass Snake Natrix natrix

Adder Vipera berus

Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris

Great-crested Newt Triturus cristatus (extirpated)

Common Toad Bufo bufo

Common Frog Rana temporaria

FISHES The following list of Thorne Moors fish is taken from THMCF Technical Report No. 13, by Martin Limbert. Many are introduced.

European Eel Anguilla anguilla

Pike Esox lucius

Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar

Crucian Carp Carassius carassius non-native

Carp Cyprinus carpio

Grass Carp or Chinese Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella non-native

Gudgeon Gobio gobio

Chub Leuciscus cephalus

Dace Leuciscus leuciscus

Silver Bream or White Bream Abramis bjoerkna non-native

Common Bream Abramis brama

Roach Rutilus rutilus

Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus

Tench Tinca tinca

Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Ten-spined Stickleback Pungitius pungitius

Ruffe or Pope Gymnocephalus cernuus

Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis

Dab Limanda limanda


INVERTEBRATES The huge invertebrate list stands at 4951 species (a quarter of the British list) placing it 3rd highest in rank of species for Britain after the New Forest and Windsor Great Park. The list includes 250 scarce species and 30+ Red Data species (including Bembidium humeral (RDB1), Curimopsis nigrita (RDB1) and Phaonia jaroschewskii (RDB2)) (www.thmcf.org/index.htm).


A book treats all the invertebrates of the area produced by Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum. The book includes some excellent colour artwork by the author Skidmore, P. (2007) An Inventory of the Invertebrates of Thorne and Hatfield Moors. Thorne and Hatfield Conservation Forum, Doncaster.


Butterflies

Papilionoidae: Papilionidae, Papilioninae

Swallowtail Papilio machaon

Hesperidae: Pyrginae

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola

Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris

Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus

Pieridae: Pierinae

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines

Large White Pieris brassicae

Small White Pieris rapae

Green-veined White Pieris napi

Clouded Yellow Colias croceus

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni

Nyphalidae: Satyrinae

Wall Lasiommata megera

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Large Heath Coenonympha tullia

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus

Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus

Marbled White Melanargia galathea

Grayling Hipparchia semele

Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia

Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui

Peacock Aglais io

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

Comma Polygonia c-album

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas

Purple Hairstreak Favonius quercus

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus

Brown Argus Aricia agestis

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Moths Over 754 species have been recorded on Thorne Moors, Hatfield is less well studied. Scarce Vapourer is a noted species. See Ron Moat’s checklist book available from the Forum.

Dragonflies and Damselflies
Aeshnidae (Hawkers)

Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense

Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator

Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Common Hawker Aeshna juncea

Scarce Hawker Aeshna mixta


Corduliidae (Emeralds)

Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea

Libellulidae (Chasers and Darters)

Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata

Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum

Black Darter Sympetrum scoticum

[White-faced Darter Leucorrhinia dubia

Coenagiidae (Damselflies)

Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella

Lestidae (Damselflies)

Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa

Agriidae (Damselflies)

Banded Agrion Agrion splendens


Note: White-faced Dragonfly no longer occurs on Thorne Moors. Emperor Dragonflies and others may be rare. The Black Darter is listed as
Sympetrum danae in The Insects of Thorne Moors (Sorby Record No.23 Supplement 1985, Skidmore, Limbert and Eversham).

Fungi and Slime Moulds

A total of 339 fungi and 30 slime moulds have been recorded.

FLORA

For both moors combined 453 species of higher plant have been recorded, with at least 4 insectivorous species and 4 RDB (including one of the only sites in Britain for Greater Yellow Rattle). Bryophytes 160 species, Stoneworts 7 species, Lichens 62 species. Publications for both moor's flora can be bought from the Forum (see bottom).


For further information about the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve and information on guided walks (European Nightjars included) please contact Natural England.


Other Useful Links

Natural England: Natural England: Humberhead Peatlands for maps, access, guided walks.


Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum:  Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum 
for publications.

References
Eversham, B.C. (2000) SSSI boundaries of the Humberhead peatlands: ecological and geomorphological considerations in determining the boundaries of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest at Thorne and Hatfield Moors. Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum Technical Report No. 6.


Eversham, B.C., P. Skidmore and P.C. Buckland (1995) Invertebrates as indicators of lowland bogs in eastern England: some British bogs in a European context. In: P.T. Harding and I. Valovirta (editors) 9th Colloquium of the European Invertebrates Survey: Bioindicators at a pan-European Level. Helsinki, 3rd-4th September 1993. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Abbots Ripton.


Limbert, M. and Roworth, P.C. (1999) Bluethroats at Thorne: an Observational Dairy, Doncaster and District Ornithological Society, Doncaster.


Penny Anderson Associates (2000) Consultant Ecologists.


Thorne and Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum


Wainwright, B.P. (2004) Habitat Preferences of Rufous Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchus on Thorne Moors. Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum Technical Report No. 11.


Author: B.P. Wainwright. All lists originally produced by B.P. Wainwright, unless otherwise stated.

www.birdingsiteguide.com

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