Invader Alert

A brief break in the rain allowed for a quick visit to one of my local hidden gems, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits. On the edge of Bolton and just across the road from the much more visited Moses Gate Country Park, this former industrial landscape is a mixture of habitats rubbing shoulders unexpectedly with pockets of heath merging into thick, mossy woodland pock-marked with ponds of all shapes and sizes. It is also home to some fantastic wildlife and some which is, shall we say, perhaps less appreciated. As I crossed over the river Croal beneath me I had my first sight of some of the latter - spectacular growths of giant hogweed along both sides of the river including some towering examples which had almost reached tree-like stature. In the winter I have ventured down to the bank to get a closer look at these monstrous triffids but with them being in full and noxious growth at the moment I gave them a wide berth.

     

Giant Hogweed            Himalayan Balsam            Common Spotted Orchid

On entering the site more invasives were lurking under the tree cover with the first flowers of Himalayan balsam sprouting. Unlike its fellow escapee the hogweed, I suppose the balsam could be described as an attractive flower and its explosive seed pods give it a quirkiness but it certainly spreads like wildfire and at the expense of most other flora. In a month or so large parts of this site will be festooned in the pale pink blooms of these alien invaders. However for now it was nice to spot other flowers adding a more natural pink tint to the scene in the form of a few remaining foxgloves, rosebay willowherb, common spotted orchid and also an attractive bridewort in full flower. 

    

 

Harlequin Ladybird Larva                        Bridewort

This site has a strong industrial heritage and a chequered record of usage. Warning signs dotted around the reserve illustrate that it has been used for landfill, sewage and chemical works and coal mining. It is now very much reclaimed by nature though and with a particularly reputation for dragonflies and newts. With the sun reluctant to show itself today the only odonata I spotted was a common blue damselfly but there were quite a few other insects on the prowl including soldier beetles and a seven-spot ladybird, although the numerous ladybird larva on the nettles nearby were more invasives - this time the harlequin ladybird. I also saw a bumblebee-mimic hoverfly which certainly looked convincing in flight. Once it had settled it was easier to determine it was a hoverfly rather than a bumble but the deception must be effective to potential predators. Small skipper and meadow brown were also in evidence. 

       

 

Bumblebee-mimic Hoverfly                        Soldier Beetles

The boardwalk path leads through stretches of birch woodland interspersed with patches of primitive-looking mosses, heather and bilberry.  Birds were heard including song thrush, blackbird, chiffchaff, wren and robin. With the wet conditions fungi had already started to emerge including a well-munched specimen of presumed brittlegill species and the ubiquitous turkeytail, one of my favourites if only because I can usually identify it without too much difficulty. The fallen logs and rotten wood attracts more than fungi here though, with smooth newt, rove beetles and red ants all using it for shelter. 

       

 

Brittlegill?                                                        Smooth Newt

 

turkeytail and other fungus

newts

pond skater