Wildlife News for January 2013

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RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Wildlife News for January 2013

Post by RachelMC »

Natural Futures Project:

Cheshire Wildlife Trust are calling for Volunteers’ Experiences.

CWT has received Heritage Lottery Fund money to develop a major volunteering project which aims to give more people the opportunity to volunteer with the Trust and to extend the range of volunteer opportunities available to them.

Jane Whitaker and May Molteno are keen to hear the experiences of people who currently volunteer for the Trust. There’s a questionnaire, or even better, a conference at Wigg Island on the 19th and 22 Jan 2013, 10am – 1pm with optional afternoon activities. If you haven’t already heard from them, email Jane on: jwhitaker@cheshirewt.org.uk or call on: 07837 988511

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

CWT Flickr Group

Post by RachelMC »

CWT Flickr Group:

Cheshire Wildlife Trust now has a new Flickr group where you can post and share your photos.

Take a look at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cheshirewildlifetrust/

Here's a taster: Natalie Webb's photo of a water vole taken on the Shropshire Union canal at Nantwich last year.

Image

She adds: "Got up at 4.30am to get my shots, hard to get an uncluttered image as they are quite shy so weren't out in the open, will keep going back though to try and get a better shot. Saw 3, possibly 5, Water Voles on my 3 hour outing."

Last edited by RachelMC on Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Bitterns Back at Marbury

Post by RachelMC »

Bitterns Back at Marbury:

Cheshire Wildlife Trust says it is ‘delighted’ that rare Bitterns have once again made a winter home at Marbury Country Park following extensive work to wildlife habitats there.

At least two of the highly camouflaged herons have been seen regularly in recent weeks by local birdwatchers, often on a daily basis. Along with sightings of the Bitterns, the reedbed has also been playing host to up to 20,000 Starlings each evening which often swirl around above the park in large formations known as ‘murmurations’ before spending the night in the nature reserve.

Sam Bright, reserves officer with Cheshire Wildlife Trust said: “We’re thrilled to see the Bitterns back again in the reedbed this winter, which hopefully demonstrates that our reed cutting regime is proving successful and the birds are not concerned by the addition of the boardwalk at the back of the reserve.”

A small proportion of the reeds are cut in the summer months, creating wet ‘rides’ during winter which provides feeding areas for the Bitterns and Water Rails.

Great crested grebes and kingfishers have also been seen recently from the viewing hide on the shore of the mere.

Sam added, “The Bitterns and Starlings are putting on quite a show at the moment, and we’re looking forward to fully opening the new boardwalk trail, footpaths and picnic area in the spring when the Bitterns have left for the summer.

“Amazingly, we worked out that at full capacity, the reedbed may be holding over 1.6 tonnes of Starlings every night at the moment.”

Edited and re-posted from Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) - A thickset heron with all-over bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It flies on broad, rounded, bowed wings. A secretive bird, very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish. Its dependence on reedbeds and very small population make it a Red List species - one of the most threatened in the UK. (RSPB)
It is Britain’s loudest bird and was common in west and central Europe up until the 19th century, when many breeding areas were abandoned due to drainage and persecution.

Image

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

Post by RachelMC »

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch:

Don't forget that the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch returns on the weekend of 26th - 27th January 2013 !

The UK-wide event gives people the chance to be part of the World’s biggest wildlife survey. To take part, you are asked to spend just one hour at any time over Big Garden Birdwatch weekend noting the highest number of each bird species seen in your garden or local park at any one time. You then have three weeks to submit your results to the RSPB, either online at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or in the post.

You can register to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2013 at http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or call the hotline on: 0300 456 8330 to receive a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack.

Local RSPB events
Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers will be at West Park in Macclesfield on Sunday 27 January (10.30am – 12.30pm) where they will be showing visitors how to use binoculars and telescopes, as well as offering tips on how to identify birds. For further information call Tina Hanak on 07870 804413.
More details can be found in the Events Calendar here

A Big Garden Birdwatch event being held by the RSPB at the Reddish Vale Nature Reserve near Stockport on Sunday 27th January from 10:00am to midday.
More details can be found in the Events Calendar here.

N.B.: Don't forget to also sen dyour records in to rECOrd or to input them into RODIS.


RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

'Most Fragile Habitats At Risk' from HS2

Post by RachelMC »

'Most Fragile Habitats At Risk' from HS2:

Proposed plans for High Speed Rail could put Cheshire's most valued and fragile habitats at risk, according to the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

The conservation charity has initially identified several designated Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) that it says will be 'directly impacted' by the proposed HS2 'Y' route, along with additional fears over its own Holcroft Moss nature reserve near Risley Moss in Warrington.

The affected Local Wildlife Sites contain habitats including ancient woodland – generally only recognised when more than 400 years old – species-rich grasslands and ponds.

The Trust has also pointed to the fact that Cheshire already has one of the lowest amounts of woodland land cover anywhere in the UK at around 6.4% (compared to a UK average of more than 10%).

Of most concern for the charity however, has been the route shown running to the edge of its Holcroft Moss reserve, the last remaining peat bog in the county that has not been 'cut over' or affected by peat extraction works.

The Trust has spent a number of years reinstating the carefully balanced hydrological features of the habitat – which is recognised in its Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status – but fears that construction processes may jeopardise the 'integrity' of the site.

Charlotte Harris, Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Director of Conservation said: "It's clear the government see High Speed Rail as the best deal for the North West economy, but it's our job to ensure we get the best deal for wildlife too.

"Any loss of woodland – especially centuries-old ancient woodland – would be a blow to a county where the habitat is already thin on the ground. In this case, screening or carbon-offset tree planting that has been suggested previously would not adequately mitigate for the potential damage.

"We're also keen to understand from HS2 exactly how they propose to minimise the impact on our Holcroft Moss reserve with the line passing extremely close to the south west corner.

"These are wild places that shouldn't fall under the rails, and we'll be analysing the entire route in detail looking at 'zones of impact' in the coming days and weeks."

The Trust also highlighted that the Government has set its own commitments for biodiversity within the Natural Environment White Paper ('White Paper for Nature'), which called for 'more, bigger, better and joined' habitats for biodiversity.

Charlotte Harris added: "Such a large-scale project does offer the potential to provide opportunities for the region's biodiversity, and we'll be working to ensure the balance falls in favour of wildlife wherever we can."

Other wildlife areas where the 'Y' route will pass in close proximity include National Nature Reserve and internationally recognised 'Ramsar' site Rostherne Mere north of Knutsford, where HS2 have already said that measures will need to be taken to minimise 'indirect effects' on birds.

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