Flora and Fauna
As part of the exercise to tidy up the right of way path from the village a survey was undertaken of the flora and fauna at Boghead Moss.
Species Survey - October 2011 to June 2012
Boghead Moss lies directly south of the hamlet of Boghead in South Lanarkshire with its centre located at grid reference NS778417. The Moss has a mean altitude of 225m above mean sea-level and covers an area of around 80,000 sq. meters.
This habitat/species survey is derived from several visits to the site between October 2011 and June 2012. From the outset, it was clear that Boghead Moss possessed a healthy biodiversity, most likely as a result of the site being mostly undisturbed and since the majority of it consists of birch woodland that not only stands in isolation from the surrounding open farmland and nearby quarrying site, but is a fairly unique habitat in local terms.
The history of the site is uncertain, however, the vast majority of the predominant tree species found throughout the site i.e. Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) are approximately 50 – 75 years of age. The pioneering nature of both of these species indicates that the site has established itself naturally with no, or very little interference from man, certainly over the past 75 years or more.
The habitats within Boghead Moss comprise of dense mature Birch woodland and open grassland and heath-like areas. Some of the lower lying areas of the site are very wet and the ground flora species growing in these areas reflect this. Many areas within the site have ground cover consisting of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and various moss species which is very typical of woodlands that exist further north in Scotland and indeed is an excellent local example of this type of habitat.
Since Boghead Moss is mostly undisturbed and appears to receive no footfall, the site has very healthy populations of the birds species associated with this type of woodland. During the winter months, the trees provide safe refuge for large flocks of finches and tits and roosting sites for many other bird species including the local resident Buzzards (Buteo buteo) and winter migrant Thrush species. During the spring and summer months, the woodland attracts healthy numbers of summer migrant species which are associated with the types of habitat present in Boghead Moss. Most notably, Garden Warblers (Sylvia borin), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) and Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochillus) are probably nearing their maximum density supportable by the size of the site.
The mammal species recorded as part of this survey unfortunately only amount to Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Roe Deer (Careolus capreolus). However, further study of the site would unquestionably add many more species to the list including various mouse and vole species and most likely stoat and weasel.
Overall, there is certainly plenty of scope for further and more detailed species surveys to be carried out at Boghead Moss. For example, the period of this survey has not covered the late summer / early autumnal months which are best for recording species of fungi and there is no doubt that this site will be home to many types of mushrooms. Any additional research at the site would only go to reinforce the importance of this locally important woodland.
The following list details the species recorded to date:
Mosses
Bog Moss Sphagnum recurvum
Common Hair Cap Polytrichum commune
Common Feather Moss Eurhynichium praelongum
Rough-stalked Feather Moss Brachythecium rutabulum
Lichens
Oak Moss Evernia prunastri
Tube Lichen Hypogymnia physodes
Grasses / Ferns
Cock’s Foot Dactylis glomerata
Timothy Phleum pratense
Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Common Couch Elytrigia repens
Soft Rush Juncus effuses
Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Wildflowers
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus
Broom Cytisus scoparius
Heather Calluna vulgaris
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus aeris
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculuc repens
Field Forget-me-not Myostosis arvensis
Tormentil Potentilla erecta
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
Common Sorrell Rumex acetosa
Cleavers Galium aparine
Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium
Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuschii
Trees
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Alder Alnus glutinosa
Birds
Buzzard Buteo buteo
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Swift Apus apus
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Swallow Hirundo rustica
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Dunnock Prunella modularis
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Blackbird Turdus merula
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Song Thrush Turdus philomelus
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos candatus
Coal Tit Periparus ater
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
Great Tit Parus major
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris
Magpie Pica pica
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Rook Corvus frugilegus
Carrion Crow Corvus corone
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Mammals
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Roe Deer Careolus capreolus