Nature Notes July 2005

The long dry spell during July appears finally to be coming to an end as I write, but it has left everything tired-looking, with a feel of late summer. This is particularly noticeable at Axehead, where the Rosebay Willowherb is already in full flower, whilst many of the summer flowers such as the Cranesbills and Crossworts are already over. The pond is back to its low level of last year. I saw a mallard duck there with a single duckling, and wonder whether the low water has enabled easy access to predators. Similarly, a few weeks earlier there appeared to be only two ducklings in another brood on Gullet pond. More intriguingly, there was also an abandoned swan’s nest with two eggs. As far as I am aware swans have never attempted to breed at Wooplaw before, and the pond seems to be rather small to support these big birds.

Back in May it was a different story. Those brave souls who rose early for the dawn chorus walk were confronted with a chill wind. This unfortunately appeared to keep the birds quiet, and we struggled to record 25 species. The highlights of these were a pair of Spotted Flycatchers at Axehead car park and a Raven over Gullet pond. Jays were seen but not heard in Elm Tree Wood. These handsome crows seem to be expanding their range in the Borders, possibly because of less persecution these days. Most of the expected warblers did not appear with the exception of plenty of Willow Warbler (all over the woods), and a single calling Sedge Warbler at Gullet.

Fortunately it brightened up considerably for the subsequent wild flower walk, and several more people came for a wander around Big Wood and Easter Park. Big Wood has seen more changes in its flora over the last 5 years than other parts of Wooplaw. Path work has led to the loss of some of the open heathy area, particularly towards the Galashiels road end, whilst the open areas revealed by clear fell have rapidly filled with a dense cover of birch regeneration. There was still plenty to see, however, with a total of 51 species of flowering plant (excluding trees) recorded in Big Wood and 37 in Easter Park. More changes have taken place along the track between Elm Tree and Easter Park associated with the removal of the sitka and the old beech hedge and the planting of the new hedge there. Some of the more shade-loving plants such as Wood Cranesbill have disappeared. On the positive side the forestry work appears to have aided the spread of Common Wintergreen across the path and this is now well established over quite a wide area. The group enjoyed trying to separate out various different species of speedwell and comparing the three different types of wood rush to be found.

Further surveying was carried out over the course of the following few weeks to cover the rest of the woodlands. This allows us to monitor changes in vegetation and gives some insight into the effects of management. Separate studies were made of the northern section of Gullet (including the old woodland), the southern section of Gullet (including the pond) and Axehead, with 89, 87 and 78 species recorded in each, respectively. This brought the total of species recorded up to 157 for the summer, reflecting the wide variety of habitats represented at Wooplaw. These include ancient woodland, plantation woodland, acidic grassland, heath, neutral grassland, mires, ponds and running water, provided by the Allan Water. There is probably still plenty to be found.

The pond area at Gullet is particularly rich in plants and supports a wide variety of invertebrates. A ‘new’ find there was Yellow Rattle, an interesting plant that is parasitic on grasses and indicative of unimproved meadows. There was a good display of Wood Cranesbill, Water Avons and Stitchwort in the older part of Gullet Wood, whilst a new colony of another ‘local’ plant, Hedge Bedstraw was found by the side of a new ride in the upper part of the planted woodland. Common Valerian, a tall umbellifer with pinkish flowers is currently flowering in both Gullet and Axehead, along with its whiter, fleshier, cousin, Angelica. The Bird’s-Foot Trefoil and Knapweed also provide a colourful display. So there is still plenty around to see, go and enjoy it while you can.!

Jon Mercer