Long-tailed Tit 2010 (Justin Carr)


































Long-tailed Tit 2010 (Justin Carr) 


SOUTHFIELD RESERVOIRS 
ENGLAND

EAST YORKSHIRE (s)

53o40´01´´N/01o00´58´´W c60ha (120 acres) open shallow water, c.15msl 
Protected/registered status none 
Spring and autumn passage (NA)

 

Birding Site Guide

Southfield comprises of two shallow (to 1.5m) canal feeder compensation reservoirs, divided by a narrow central bank, feeding into the Aire and Calder Navigation. They were completed by 1911 and cover an area of about 120 acres (W reservoir 80 acres eastern 40 acres). They lie about 5 miles nw of Thorne, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire. The reservoirs themselves are situated between Sykehouse, which lies to the s of the reservoirs and East Cowick to the n and lie just within East Yorkshire. British Waterways are the owners of the site, and sailing and fishing are popular. 

There is no public transport anywhere near the site, Snaith railway station is closest but there is no public transport from there, so a vehicle is a must. If travelling on the M18, leave the motorway at junction 6, (Thorne). From the junction/roundabout at Thorne head north along the A614 for about 4 miles. Continue over two bridges which cross the River Don and the canal, about 200m after the bridges turn left along the minor road towards Sykehouse. Follow this for 0.5 mile until you see the sign for BEAVER SAILING CLUB. It is permitted to drive along this private road up to the barrier. (Do not pass the barrier if it is open or there is a chance of being locked in). Alternatively carry on past this entrance for a further 0.5 mile then turn right just before the hump backed bridge (BEEVER’S BRIDGE). Follow the track alongside the canal to the car park. Nearest hotel is at Goole to the ne, though others are located to the se at Thorne. 

The birdlife of the area has been studied since the mid 1950s and even more intensively from the mid 1970s; today coverage is practically daily. Up December 31st 2005 225 species have been recorded as well as six subspecies and eleven feral/escapees (see site list). My personal list stands at 211. The reservoirs have long been watched by a few members of the Doncaster and District Ornithological Society. Although the reservoirs fall just outside the 10 mile radius of the DDOS recording area, records for the site were included in their annual bird reports as an appendix to the classified list. However since 1994 Southfield has been officially included as part of the recording area and now our records form part of the systematic list. 
The main birding area is obviously the two reservoirs, where a large list of birds has been seen. There are no restrictions to walking the reservoir banks; however the sailing club compound is private. You should walk behind the clubhouse along the field edge to gain access to the western reservoir. It is not possible to make a complete circuit of the western reservoir bank due to the opening into the canal at the southern end. However a bridge does cross the gap in the eastern reservoir, so allowing access to the western reservoir from the southern end car park. Also along the canal bank there are areas of scrub and woodland, and between the canal and the River Went there are often flooded areas (Went Ings); this is a very under watched part of our recording area. The hedgerows and fields along the approach lane are also worth a look. The new tern raft offers interest, and was the idea of the regular local birders, it was bought by British Waterways in conjunction with Burnet Heritage Trust. Fly-over species, especially of raptors always offer a possibility for a good sighting, and birds are attracted to a feeding station during the winter months inside the club-house compound. 


WINTER: sees an increase in the variety of wildfowl. Most noticeable in recent years has been the dramatic increase in Goosander with regular counts of 40+, the highest count is of 202. Goldeneyes are usually present in very small numbers and the odd Scaup may linger. Mallards have peaked at 800 and Wigeon at 485. Pochard and Tufted duck are also regular. A few of the more uncommon species include Pintail, Gadwall and Red Breasted Merganser. Away from the water geese may be seen passing over, mainly Pink-footed, though occasionally the odd White-fronted, Barnacle and Brent may be recorded. 

A few waders are usual especially in January though they are invariably just fly overs; they include Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Dunlin as well as resident Lapwing and Golden Plover which can reach over a 1000 each in good years. The evening gull roost is another feature of the winter with fairly regular Glaucous, Iceland and Mediterranean Gulls recorded. 

SUMMER: The reservoirs themselves are fairly quiet apart from the breeding Mallard and Great Crested Grebes which breed occasionally. The surrounding hedgerows hold breeding Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow and Sedge Warblers. There are usually one or two pairs of Grasshopper Warbler, while the surrounding fields hold breeding Curlew and Lapwing. Hobbys are seen with increasing regularity as are Marsh Harriers. 

SPRING AND AUTUMN PASSAGE: These are by far the most exciting times of the year with May and September producing the highest monthly totals. September 1996 produced an incredible 123 species. Spring produces a variety of waders however due to the lack of suitable habitat these are generally fly-overs. Common Sandpipers however are generally to be found around the sailing club jetties. Regular passage waders include Curlew, Greenshank, Ruff, Oystercatcher and Dunlin with occasional Turnstone, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel. Little gulls may also be seen, usually singly but a count of 19 was impressive in 1992. 

Terns are a noticeable feature with regular Common, Arctic and Black; this last species peaked at 80 during the 1990 influx. Usually the odd Sandwich and Little Tern are also recorded. In 2005 British Waterways and The Burnet Heritage Trust kindly donated a fibreglass nesting raft for Common Terns this was placed on the eastern reservoir and a pair of terns soon took up residence and raised three young. 

The autumn passage includes the spring waders as well as Grey and Golden Plovers, Lapwing, Snipe and the odd Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper. Terns are fewer in number but do occur fairly regularly. A variety of wildfowl passes through sometimes staying for a while and gradually building up as the autumn progresses into winter. The hedgerows and surrounding areas come alive with the young of the breeding species as well as passage migrants including Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Whinchat, Wheatear and Spotted Flycatcher. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks pass over as well as thrushes arriving for the winter. Raptors are quite a feature at the reservoirs. In 1995 12 species were recorded as well as 4 species of owl. During the last few years Peregrines have been recorded fairly regularly, as well as Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. 


RARITIES: As with any site to see the amazing variety of birds that pass through one has to put in the time, especially here as many of the birds are only short staying or they fly straight through. A number of rare and scarce birds have been logged over the years notably 3 species of diver, Slavonian, Black and Red-necked Grebes, Fulmar, Gannet, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Eider and Long-tailed ducks, Velvet Scoter, Red & Black Kite, Leach's Petrel, Night Heron, Sabine's & Bonaparte's Gulls & Red-Rumped Swallow, Smew, Honey-Buzzard, Montagu's Harrier, Common Crane, Black Winged Stilt, Red Necked Phalarope, Dotterel, Arctic and Great Skua, Caspian, Roseate and White Winged Black Terns, Little Auk, Red-throated Pipit, Waxwing, Crossbill and Snow and Lapland Bunting; our latest addition was an American Wigeon in November 2005. 

I have watched the reservoirs for almost 30 years; along with Adrian Scutt who has watched the site for almost as long; between us we compile an annual report which is mainly produced just for our small group. 

A book by written by myself titled “The Birds of Southfield Reservoirs” was published in 1996 by the Doncaster and District Ornithological Society. It details the birds recorded here between the years 1955-1994 and includes an appendix for the significant 1995 records. An update to this work was published in 2003. 


Species Notes 

In all 225 species of bird have so far been recorded. 

SOUTHFIELD RESERVOIRS BIRD LIST (2006) 


  • Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata
  • Black-throated Diver G. arctica
  • Great Northern Diver G. immer
  • Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
  • Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
  • Red-necked Grebe P. grisegena
  • Slavonian Grebe P. auritus
  • Black-necked Grebe P. nigricollis
  • Leach's Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
  • Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
  • Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
  • Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Shag P. aristotelis
  • Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
  • Little Egret Egretta garzetta
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
  • Purple Heron A. purpurea
  • Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor
  • Tundra Swan C. columbianus
  • Whooper Swan C. Cygnus
  • Bean Goose Anser fabalis
  • Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
  • White-fronted Goose A. albifrons
  • Greylag Goose A. anser
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis
  • Barnacle Goose B. leucopsis
  • Brent Goose B. bernicla
  • Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
  • Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
  • Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
  • Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope
  • American Wigeon Anas americana
  • Gadwall A. strepera
  • Common Teal A. crecca
  • Mallard A. platyrhynchos
  • Pintail A. acuta
  • Garganey A. querquedula
  • Northern Shoveler A. clypeata
  • Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
  • Common Pochard Aythya ferina
  • Ring-necked Duck A. collaris
  • Tufted Duck A. fuligula
  • Greater Scaup A. marila
  • Common Eider Somateria mollissima
  • Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
  • Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
  • Velvet Scoter M. fusca
  • Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
  • Smew Mergellus albellus
  • Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
  • Goosander M. merganser
  • Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
  • European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus
  • [Black Kite Milvus migrans]
  • Red Kite M. milvus
  • Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
  • Hen Harrier C. cyaneus
  • Montagu's Harrier C. pygargus
  • Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
  • Eurasian Sparrowhawk A. nisus
  • Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
  • Osprey Pandion haliaetus
  • Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
  • Merlin F. columbarius
  • Hobby F. subbuteo
  • Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus
  • Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
  • Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
  • Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
  • Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
  • Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
  • Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
  • Common Coot Fulica atra
  • Common Crane Grus grus
  • Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
  • Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
  • Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
  • Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
  • Great Ringed Plover C. hiaticula
  • Dotterel C. morinellus
  • European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
  • Grey Plover P. squatarola
  • Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
  • Red Knot Calidris canutus
  • Sanderling C. alba
  • Temminck's Stint C. temminckii
  • Little Stint C. minuta
  • Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea
  • Purple Sandpiper C. maritima
  • Dunlin C. alpina
  • Ruff Philomachus pugnax
  • Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
  • Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
  • Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
  • Bar-tailed Godwit L. lapponica
  • Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
  • Eurasian Curlew N. arquata
  • Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
  • Common Redshank T. totanus
  • Greenshank T. nebularia
  • Green Sandpiper T. ochropus
  • Wood Sandpiper T. glareola
  • Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
  • Turnstone Arenaria interpres
  • Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
  • Great Skua Catharacta skua
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus
  • Little Gull L. minutus
  • Sabine's Gull L. sabini
  • Bonaparte's Gull L. philadelphia
  • Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus
  • Ring-billed Gull L. delawarensis
  • Common Gull L. canus
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus
  • Herring Gull L. argentatus
  • Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans
  • Iceland Gull L. glaucoides
  • Glaucous Gull L. hyperboreus
  • Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus
  • Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
  • Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
  • Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis
  • Roseate Tern S. dougallii
  • Common Tern S. hirundo
  • Arctic Tern S. paradisaea
  • Little Tern S. albifrons
  • Black Tern Chlidonias niger
  • White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus
  • Razorbill Alca torda
  • Little Auk Alle alle
  • Rock Dove Columba livia
  • Stock Dove C. oenas
  • Wood Pigeon C. palumbus
  • Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
  • Turtle Dove S. turtur
  • Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
  • Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
  • Barn Owl Tyto alba
  • Little Owl Athene noctua
  • Tawny Owl Strix aluco
  • Long-eared Owl Asio otus
  • Short-eared Owl A. flammeus
  • Common Swift Apus apus
  • Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
  • Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
  • Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
  • Lesser Spotted Woodpecker D. minor
  • Sky Lark Alauda arvensis
  • Sand Martin Riparia riparia
  • Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
  • Red-rumped Swallow H. daurica
  • House Martin Delichon urbicum
  • Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
  • Meadow Pipit A. pratensis
  • [Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus]
  • Water Pipit A. spinoletta
  • Rock Pipit A. petrosus
  • Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
  • Grey Wagtail M. cinerea
  • Pied Wagtail M. alba
  • Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
  • Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
  • Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis
  • Robin Erithacus rubecula
  • Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
  • Common Redstart P. phoenicurus
  • Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
  • Common Stonechat S. torquatus
  • Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
  • Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
  • Blackbird T. merula
  • Fieldfare T. pilaris
  • Song Thrush T. philomelos
  • Redwing T. iliacus
  • Mistle Thrush T. viscivorus
  • Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
  • Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
  • Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus
  • Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
  • Common Whitethroat S. communis
  • Garden Warbler S. borin
  • Blackcap S. atricapilla
  • Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
  • Willow Warbler P. trochilus
  • Goldcrest Regulus regulus
  • Firecrest R. ignicapillus
  • Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
  • Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
  • Willow Tit Parus montanus
  • Coal Tit P. ater
  • Blue Tit P. caeruleus
  • Great Tit P. major
  • European Nuthatch Sitta europaea
  • Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
  • Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
  • Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
  • Magpie Pica pica
  • Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula
  • Rook C. frugilegus
  • Carrion Crow C. corone
  • Hooded Crow C. cornix
  • Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus
  • Tree Sparrow P. montanus
  • Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
  • Brambling F. montifringilla
  • Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
  • Goldfinch C. carduelis
  • Siskin C. spinus
  • Linnet C. cannabina
  • Twite C. flavirostris
  • Lesser Redpoll C. cabaret
  • Common Redpoll C. flammea
  • Common Crossbill L. curvirostra
  • Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
  • Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
  • Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
  • Little Bunting E. pusilla
  • Reed Bunting E. schoeniclus
  • Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra



Total 225 

Sub Species 


  • Continental Cormorant
  • Canada Goose Minima
  • Kumlien`s Gull
  • Caspian Gull
  • Blue-headed Wagtail
  • White Wagtail



Other Species 


  • Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis
  • Black Swan Cygnus atratus
  • Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
  • Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
  • Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
  • Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
  • Saker Falcon Falco cherrug
  • Common Peafowl Pavo cristatus
  • Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus
  • Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulat


Other fauna 
A total of 23 species of mammals. 

HEDGEHOG Erinaceus europaeus MOLE Talpa europaea COMMON SHREW Sorex araneus WATER SHREW Neomys fodiens PIPISTRELLE Pipistrellus pipistrellus DAUBENTON’S BAT Myotis daubentoni NOCTULE BAT Nyctalus noctula RABBIT Oryctolagus cuniculus BROWN HARE Lepus capensis GREY SQUIRREL Sciurus carolinensis BANK VOLE Clethrionomys glareolus FIELD VOLE Microtus agrestis WATER VOLE Arvicola terrestris WOOD MOUSE Apodemus sylvaticus HARVEST HOUSE Micromys minutes COMMON RAT Rattus norvegicus FOX Vulpes vulpes STOAT Mustela erminea WEASEL M. nivalis MINK M. vison BADGER Meles meles OTTER Lutra lutra ROE DEER Capreolus capreolus.


There are 3 recorded species of amphibians and reptiles.

COMMON FROG Rana temporaria COMMON TOAD Bufo bufo GRASS SNAKE Natrix natrix 


Bream and Roach are the main sport fish. 


Flora 
The following is from Colin Wall's c.1975 study. The appendix - Preliminary additions, are species recorded by Clive Featherstone since that study.

The Flora of the Southfield Reservoirs Study Area. The following list concerns species present in the Southfield area. This has fairly rigid boundaries, being confined to the reservoirs, their banks and grassy margins, peripheral boundary ditches, and the Southfield Lane hedgerow. 


Classified List Vascular Plants

  • Equisetaceae
  • Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre
  • Field Horsetail E. arvense
  • Polypodiaceae
  • Male-Fern Dryopteris filix-mas
  • Broad Buckler-fern D.dilatata
  • Ranunculaceae
  • Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris
  • Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
  • Creeping Buttercup R. repens
  • Hairy Buttercup R. sardous (Crantz).
  • Goldilocks Buttercup R. auricomus
  • Celery-leaved Buttercup R. sceleratus
  • Lesser Spearwort R. flammula.
  • Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot R. trichophyllus.
  • Lesser Celandine R. ficaria
  • Ceratophyllaceae
  • Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum
  • Papaveraceae
  • Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
  • Long-headed Poppy P. dubium
  • Cruciferae
  • Charlock Sinapis arvensis
  • Shepherd’s-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
  • Horse-radish Armoracia rusticana
  • Cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
  • Wavy Bitter-cress C flexuosa
  • Hairy Bitter-cress C. hirsuta
  • Winter-cress Barbarea vulgaris
  • Water-cress Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum
  • Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata
  • Resedaceae
  • Weld Reseda luteola
  • Violaceae
  • Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana
  • Field Pansy V. arvensis
  • Hypericaceae
  • Perforate St. John’s-wort Hypericum perforatum
  • Square-stalked St. John’s-wort H. tetrapterum
  • Caryophyllaceae
  • Red Campion Silene dioica
  • White Campion S. alba
  • Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense
  • Common Mouse-ear C. holosteoides
  • Sticky Mouse-ear C. glomeratum
  • Common Chickweed Stellaria media
  • Greater Stitchwort S. holostea
  • Lesser Stitchwort S. graminea.
  • Chenopodiaceae
  • Fat-hen Chenopodium album
  • Common Orache Atriplex patula
  • Linaceae
  • Fairy Flax Linum catharticum
  • Geraniaceae
  • Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
  • Cut-leaved Crane's-bill G dissectum
  • Dove's-foot Crane's-bill G molle
  • Aceraceae
  • Field Maple Acer campestre
  • Papilionaceae
  • Black Medick Medicago lupulina
  • Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium
  • White Clover T. repens
  • Red Clover T pratense
  • Common Bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus
  • Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca
  • Bush Vetch V. sepium L. F: s.l.h.
  • Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis
  • Rosaceae
  • Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria
  • Bramble Rubus fruticosus
  • Silverweed Potentilla anserina
  • Creeping Cinquefoil P. reptans
  • Wood Avens Geum urbanum
  • Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
  • Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis.
  • Dog Rose Rosa canina
  • Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
  • Wild Cherry P. avium
  • Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
  • Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
  • Crab Apple Malus sylvestris
  • Grossulariaceae
  • Red Currant Ribes rubrum
  • Lythraceae
  • Purple-loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
  • Onagraceae
  • Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum
  • Hoary Willowherb E. parviflorum Scheb,
  • Broad-leaved Willowherb E. montanum
  • American Willowherb E. adenocaulon
  • Rosebay Willowherb E. angustifolium
  • Callitrichaceae
  • Star-wort Callitriche species. .
  • Araliaceae
  • Ivy Hedera helix
  • Umbelliferae
  • Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
  • Upright Hedge parsley Torilis japonica
  • Wild Celery Apium graveolens
  • Hemlock Conium maculatum
  • Hemlock Water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata
  • Fine-leaved Water-dropwort O. aquatica
  • Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus
  • Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris
  • Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
  • Euphorbiaceae
  • Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
  • Petty Spurge E. peplus
  • Polygonaceae
  • Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare
  • Redshank P. persicaria
  • Pale Persicaria P. lapathifoIium
  • Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella
  • Common Sorrel R. acetosa
  • Curled Dock R. crispus
  • Broad leaved Dock R. obtusifolius
  • Urticaceae
  • Common Nettle Urtica dioica
  • Cannabiaceae
  • Hop Humulus lupulas
  • Gorylaceae
  • Hazel Corylus avellana
  • Fragaceae
  • Pendunculate Oak Quercus robur
  • Turkey Oak Q cerris .
  • Salicaceae
  • White Willow Salix alba
  • Crack Willow S. fragilis
  • Osier S. viminalis
  • Goat Willow S. caprea
  • Grey Willow S. cinerea
  • Salix hybrids are certainly present in the study area, but have not been investigated.
  • Primulaceae
  • Cowslip Primula veris
  • Primrose Primula vulgaris
  • Creeping-Jenny Lysimachia nummularia.
  • Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis
  • Oleaceae
  • Ash Fraxinus excelsior
  • Boraginaceae
  • Bugloss Lycopsis arvensis
  • Water Forgot-me-not Myosotis scorpioides
  • Convolvulaceae
  • Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium
  • Solanaceae
  • Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara
  • Scrophulariaceae
  • Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa
  • Water Figwort S. auriculata
  • Pink Water speedwell Veronica catenata
  • Germander Speedwell V. chamaedrys
  • Common Field-speedwell V. persica.
  • Grey Field-speedwell V. polita
  • Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor
  • Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis
  • Red Bartsia Odontites verna
  • Labiatae
  • Water Mint Mentha aquatica
  • Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus
  • Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
  • Marsh Woundwort Stachys palustris
  • Hedge Woundwort S. sylvatica
  • Black Horehound Ballota nigra
  • Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
  • White Dead-nettle L. album
  • Common Hemp-nettle Galeopsis tetrahit
  • Large-flowered Hemp-nettle G. speciosa
  • Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea
  • Plantaginaceae
  • Greater Plantain Plantago major
  • Ribwort Plantain P. lanceolata
  • Rubiaceae
  • Crosswort Cruciata laevipes
  • Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum
  • Common Marsh-bedstraw G. palustre
  • Cleavers G. aparine
  • Caprifoliaceae
  • Elder Sambucus nigra
  • Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
  • Dipsacaceae
  • Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis
  • Compositae
  • Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea
  • Oxford Ragwort S. squalidus
  • Groundsel S. yulgaris
  • Colt’s-foot Tussilago farfara
  • Butterbur Petasites hybridus
  • Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica
  • Daisy Bellis perennis
  • Stinking Chamomile Anthemis cotula
  • Yarrow Achillea millefolium
  • Sneezewort A. ptarmica
  • Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum
  • Pineappleweed Matricaria matricariodes
  • Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
  • Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
  • Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
  • Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
  • Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
  • Marsh Thistle C. palustre
  • Creeping Thistle C. arvense
  • Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
  • Nipplewort Lapsana communis
  • Cat's Ear Hypochaeris radicata
  • Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis
  • Goats-beard Tragopogon pratensis
  • Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
  • Smooth Sow-thistle S. oleraceus
  • Prickly Sow-thistle S. asper
  • Hawkweeds Hieracium sp.
  • Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
  • Alismataceae
  • Water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica
  • Liliaceae
  • Bluebell Endymion non-scriptus
  • Juncaceae
  • Toad Rush Juncus bufonius
  • Hard Rush J. inflexus
  • Soft Rush J. effusus
  • Compact Rush J. subuliflorus
  • Jointed Rush J. articulatus
  • Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris
  • Iridaceae
  • Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
  • Dioscoreaceae
  • Black Bryony Tamus communis
  • Orchidaceae
  • Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
  • Southern Marsh-orchid D, praetermissa
  • Araceae
  • Sweet-flag Acorus calamus
  • Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum
  • Lemnaceae.
  • Common Duckweed Lemna minor
  • Sparganiaceae
  • Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum
  • Typhaceae
  • Bulrush Typha latifolia
  • Lesser Bulrush T. angustifolia
  • Cyperaceae
  • Greater Pond-sedge Carex riparia
  • Lesser Pond-sedge C. acutiformis
  • Glaucous Sedge C. flacca
  • Hairy Sedge C. hirta
  • Slender Tufted-sedge C. acuta
  • Common Sedge C. nigra
  • False Fox-sedge C. otrubae
  • Brown Sedge C. disticha
  • Gramineae
  • Floating Sweet-grass Glyceria fluitans
  • Reed Sweet-grass G. maxima
  • Meadow Fescue Festuca pratensis.
  • Red Fescue F. rubra
  • Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne
  • Italian Rye-grass L. multiflorum
  • Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua
  • Wood Meadow-grass P. nemoralis.
  • Smooth Meadow-grass P. pratensis
  • Rough Meadow-grass P. trivialis
  • Cock's foot Dactylis glomerata
  • Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus
  • Quaking-grass Briza media
  • Hairy-brome Bromus ramosus
  • Barren Brome B, sterilis
  • Soft-brome B. mollis
  • Common Couch Agropyron repens
  • Wall Barley Hordeum murinum
  • Yellow Oat-grass Trisetum flavescens
  • Wild-oat Avena fatua
  • False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius
  • Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus
  • Creeping Soft-grass H. mollis
  • Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia caespitosa
  • Common Bent Agrostis tenuis
  • Creeping Bent A. stolonifera
  • Smaller Cat’s-tail Phleum bertolii
  • Timothy P. pratense
  • Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis
  • Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
  • Reed Canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea


Since the study the reservoirs banks have been raised to prevent the reservoirs topping the banks. This was undertaken in 1997, and large quantities of topsoil were imported onto the site. Consequently some new species are believed to have occurred. Although no proper study has been undertaken. 

Preliminary additions since the study

  • Large-flowered Evening Primrose Oenothera erythrosepala Sailing club compound
  • Buddleia Buddleia davidii n.b., w.b.
  • Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum e.b
  • Common Reed Phragmites australis n.b.
  • Common Mallow Malva sylvestris
  • Foxglove Digitalis purpurea n.h.
  • Wild Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus Sailing club. e.b.
  • Common Alder Alnus glutinosa introduced n.h.
  • Italian Alder Alnus cordata introduced n.h.


Authors: Clive Featherstone, Colin Wall (flora)

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