Shadwell

Roundhay Leeds

Site Description

Recorders: Neera Johnson Distance 1200m Walk Tiime approx: 45mins

The route follows the footpath north from the Leeds ring road and the exit from Roundhay Park and finishs at the village. The beck feeds the lakes in roundhay

Sections:

S1 follows the beckside northwards and is very shaded so favoured by Green-viened White, Speckled Wood but alos White-letter hairstreak are seen on Elms here. S2-3 is improved Hay flield with low counts

S4 skirts the side of a less improved meadow and yield plenty of Green viened whites but also Gatekeepers and Large Skipper. S5 is similar as is S6 which is the favourite for Orange tIp and Small White and Ringlet


Results 2022

This site stands out with a massive increase in numbers near 40% and over 60% up on last year. we see some huge increases in our common grassland species particularly Meadow Borwn and Ringlet. Skiper numbers remain low but much better than last year. Large white like most locations is well down. Small white in certain locations has had an exceptional good year but is very patchy . orange tip and Brimstone were down unlike other sites where both were somewhat up . Holly blue boused back after and absence of 2 years very similar to other locationsPeacock was half and numbers in teh summer were very poor indeed. Small Tortoishell numbers were extremely good early on but only two were seen after teh end of june while Peacock none were seen after mid may . Comma although absent from emergance after hibernation had a very good summer generation but then disapeared, this pattern among the vanessids was repeated on many sites indicating heat stress and poor nettles. Speckled wood was 3 times last year and this matchs teh county trend as did teh rest of the browns gatekeeper boomed nearly doubling.

Transect reports

Results 2021

Small skipper has gone absent for 2 years now although Large skipper is maintaining its numbers . Brimstone is also not been sighted for 2 years. Similar to elsewhere Large White is down but Small and Green viened whites are well up reflecting the damp summer. Unusually Orange Tip is down where on most transects they were up. Peacock showed a strong increase also in contrast with most sites. Comma is well down similar to elsewhere. Speckled Woods are also down somewhat and the browns usually the most common species are well down.

Overall the lowest counts for some years and 11% below the average.