RARE SPECIES FOUND ON RAINWORTH HEATH


 

  Moths recorded on the Heath in 2005 include a number of conservation or importance within Notts, either because they are either scarce or local in their national distribution, or in their distribution within Notts. They are:
 		  
   
  Beautiful Brocade - Scarce in Nottinghamsshire, but more widespread nationally. Feeds on heather, birch, oak and bracken. Prior to 2005, had not been recorded on Rainworth Heath for 11 years and the county for 9 years - but this was probably because no-one had looked for it. Appears to be confined to Notts heathlands and woodlands on the Sherwood sandstone.

 

 

  
   
  Angle-striped Sallow - widespread in Notts, but classed as Nationally Scarce. Feeds as a larva on birch growing on heathlands and in woodlands. East Midlands a national stronghold for this species, it is fairly rare elsewhere.

 

 

  
   
  Beautiful Yellow Underwing - common nationally, but local in Notts, as confined to heathlands. Its food plant is heather.

 

 

  
   
  Map-winged Swift - Patchily distributed nationally and in Notts. Feeds on bracken. Most frequent on heathlands.

 

 

  
   
 

Small Elephant Hawk-moth - Local nationally & in Nottinghamshire, but not rare. feeds on heath bedstraw. Mainly found on heath lands and acid grasslands where its food plant grows.

 

 

  
   
  Pine Hawk-moth - was local both nationally and in Nottinghamshire, but increasing - perhaps due to climate change. Feeds on Scots pine and some introduced conifers. Not confined to heath land.

 

 

  
   
  Bird's Wing - once very local in the county, but increasing. Feeds on dock and sorrel. Not confined to heath land.

 

 

  
   
  Plain Wave - Local in Nottinghamshire and nationally, but probably under-recorded due to confusion with similar species. Feeds on dandelion and knotgrass. Not confined to heath land.

 

 

  
   
  Scorched Wing - Nationally local, but common and widespread in Notts. Feeds on oak  birch and sallow. Not confined to heath land.

 

 

  
   
  Clouded Buff - which are probably still there, even though it was not  recorded on either of our two visits in 2005. It is found locally and nationally and is within Nottinghamshire, being confined to our heath lands. Its food plant is heather

 

 

  
   
  Grass Wave - which are probably still there, even though it was not  recorded on either of our two visits in 2005. It is found locally and nationally and is within Nottinghamshire, being confined to our heathlands. Its food plant is heather the it feeds as a larva on broom and gorse

 

 

  
  Rainworth Heath qualifies as a SINC on its moth interest alone, by virtue of being a site for a number of specialist heath land species which are thinly distributed within Nottinghamshire due to the scarcity of good heath land habitat.  
     
 

In addition to the Moths two other species have been reported which are of importance :

 

  
   
  The Dingy Skipper Butterfly   Two colonies have been recorded on the Heath, these are classified as “rare in Nottinghamshire”.

 

 

  
   
  The Nightjar   Many species of Birds have been recorded, one species is The Nightjar, which The Sherwood forest Trust states “The population of Nightjars in Nottinghamshire is of National Importance”  
 

In the Species Action Plan for Nightjars, it states their MAIN THREATS are :

 1….Lack of Heathland Management.

 2….Decrease in Large Airborne Insect prey. Air Quality can effect the prey, and possibly reduce the population of this species.

 3….Creation of Roads. Nightjars feed on flying insects at low level, Any increase in Traffic could greatly increase their mortality rate, and again decrease their population on the surrounding Heath.

The Nightjar is protected under the Wildlife & countryside Act 1981 and is listed as a Priority species under European Law.

The site also has a population of Birds classed as “Birds of Conservation Concern in Nottinghamshire”…..Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Green Woodpecker, and many more. 

Have a sighting then use our contact page.