OLD HALL FARM RADCLIFFE BURY INVERTEBRATE SURVEY OF 2020 and 2023

The work in Autumn 2020 concentrated on the southern fringe of the Priority Habitat Lowland Meadow including the wet areas, but not the Withins Brook. The work in Autumn 2023 included the three Lowland Meadow Priority Habitats. The Elton Goit survey is excluded.

Withins Brook and an Oxbow lie on the south side of the site. The western part of the site is bisected by an outflow stream from Capstick’s Marsh at the SW tip of Elton Reservoir. The water collects and emerges in Capstick’s Meadow and feeds into both Elton Reservoir and Capstick’s Marsh, and then Capstick’s Marsh then sinks to emerge as a stream which heads south and joins Withins Brook. To the east lies Elton Goit and a part of a marshy finger of that Site of Biological Importance lies within the large sloping hayfield. Brown Hares are plentiful in the hayfields.

Methods in 2020 involved pitfall traps, pan and bottle traps and netting. In 2023 the methods were sweep-netting and vacuum-sucking. Both surveys missed the high summer and spring invertebrate activity. The survey represents a fraction of what could be present.

The survey shows the value of the Lowland Meadow Priority Habitat. Indicator plants, Waxcap CHEGD, mammals, birds and invertebrates are all of high value. The plentiful Pink Waxcaps are very noteworthy.

331 taxa were recorded:

The Nationally Scarce species (red on the species list):

Allomengea vidua Complex Money Spider Nationally Scarce
Anoscopus (Aphrodes) albifrons Banded Leafhopper Nationally Notable B
Catapion pubescens Low-foreheaded Apion Weevil Nationally Notable B
Oxystoma cerdo Pinch-nosed Apion Weevil Nationally Notable B
Dioxyna bidentis Long-lipped Picture-winged Fly Nationally Notable
Isotoma riparia 1-striped Springtail Notable

3 of the above are Greater Manchester first records and another was last recorded pre 1960. 30 additional taxa are Greater Manchester first records (amber on the species list)

59 additional taxa have to date been recorded at just c 3 Greater Manchester sites (green on the species list).

Additionally the habitat requirements of all species is given.

The national status, Greater Manchester status from records, and for comparison, Cheshire status from records are given. NBN Atlas, iRECord, rECOrd, taxa websites and own dataset was consulted.

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