Rosedale Community News

The redstart is a stunning bird, both the male and female have a striking red tail which constantly quivers. The female is predominantly brown but the male is grey with a black face, white crown and red breast. It is a migrant bird, coming here to breed in the Spring and Summer. Rosedale seems to have had a good number here this year. This male bred up on the old railway line on the east side and is still being seen along with its juveniles Updale Natural History Recorder

Male redstart

Striking red tail

Young Barn owls are in the process of fledging now.  They will have been coming out of their nests over the last few weeks, flexing their wings whilst waiting for the adults to return with food.  Not only do Barn owls nest in barns and purpose built owl boxes but they also use hollows in trees.  Barn owl feathers are not waterproof so they don’t fly and hunt in the rain and therefore you are more likely to see them quartering fields during the day if it has rained all night.  Rosedale has a good population of barn owls and barn owl boxes are always welcome to encourage them to stay.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Barn owl at entrance to nest in hollow of tree

A late flowerer, Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica is found in damp grassy areas. It’s delicate pale colouring is delightful to see in rough grassy areas. And yes, it’s strong smell is known to cause sneezing. It’s dried leaves were once used as snuff to clear the head! Updale Natural History Recorder

Sneezewort

Hogweed is a very common roadside verge umbellifer in flower during the height of summer but can flower all year round. People, particularly children should be aware of the dangers of this plant. Last week our caretaker, Annie Wilkinson was strimming a verge in Thorgill for road safety reasons and strimmed Common hogweed Heracleum sphondylium. The sap from the plant sprayed on to her arm and caused serious and extensive blistering which subsequently required medical attention. On the sunny day the reaction was made worse because the skin is hypersensitive in bright sunlight. Common hogweed isn’t much more than 2m tall and the stem no more than 5cm thick.

There is the possibility the hogweed could be Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum and whilst this should not be ruled out completely examination of the plant suggests this unlikely.

Giant hogweed, which is usually found along river systems but not always, has been in the press recently due to its aggressive and invasive spread through the countryside and like Common hogweed contains the harmful sap. However, Giant hogweed is a much greater danger as reaction to its irritant chemicals in the sap is more severe. Even just brushing against the bristles on the stem or leaves can cause severe skin irritation and getting sap in the eyes can cause blindness. Giant hogweed is a huge plant, growing well over 3m tall with very large flower heads and thick stems of over 10cm. There is a really useful guide to identification of Giant hogweed under Species information at nonnativespecies.org. Whether it is Common hogweed or Giant hogweed exercise extreme caution or stay well clear. Updale Natural History Recorder

White flower heads of Common hogweed

Full plant of Common hogweed standing about 1.6m

The name of this tiny mat-forming plant, Lesser sea spurrey Spergularia marina suggests it should be on the coast but what is it doing here in Rosedale?  It has found itself sporadically along the old railway line on the west side heading north from Chimney Bank.  It is usually found on coastal sands and salt marshes but is increasingly establishing itself on the side of roads where salt gritting takes place.  Walkers’ boots then help it migrate on to tracks.  It has tiny five-petalled flowers which only open for a few hours each day.  Blink and you will miss it.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Mat-forming lesser sea spurrey

Deep pink five-petalled flower