BIRKACRE and the YARROW VALLEY: Monday 26th July 2010

This week's Monday evening stroll involved a party of 15, and a rather longer walk than anticipated. Starting in the Birkacre car-park, and walking alongside the large lake, we continued alongside the River Yarrow and through woodlands, in what seemed to be a consistent southerly direction. A rumour that someone had seen a milestone giving two miles to Bolton was just that, and a sighting of the Reebok Stadium was proved to be a figment of the observer's imagination!

Credit to the leader, Graham Thomas, we had actually been walking in a largish circle.

The interesting flowering head of the Hemp Agrimony

(click to enlarge)

 A proud female Mute Swan

 And one of it's four cygnets

 Some evidence of the wonderful work done by the Friends of the River Yarrow Group - the salmon ladder.

The Society is to have an illustrated talk about their work during the 2011 - 2012 Winter Season. Something of a local nature to look forward to.

Visit: http://www.friendsoftheriveryarrow.co.uk/

 Sneezewort

 Knapweed with insect infestation

Newly emerged fungi on decayed fallen timber

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The next walk is on Monday 2nd August, meeting on Church Brow, Walton-le-dale, SD565282, for a walk around Cuerdale.

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Posted by: Steve Halliwell

RAPTOR POISONING IN SCOTLAND - 2009

Worst year on record for bird poisoning in Scotland – 2009

RSPB Scotland Head of Investigations Bob Elliot is pictured holding the dead Golden eagle found in Glen Orchy. Photo credit RSPB Scotland.

PLEASE READ THIS REPORT, AND PLEASE ATTEND THE TALK TO BE GIVEN BY JOHN LODER, AN RSPB VOLUNTEER.

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IT WILL BE THE FIRST TALK OF OUR WINTER SEASON ON MONDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2010. THE TITLE IS

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"SAVE OUR BIRDS OF PREY"

NON-MEMBERS ARE VERY WELCOME £2 PAY-ON -THE-DOOR

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The report reveals crime continues to have a serious impact on bird of prey populations in Scotland.

July 2010. 2009 marked the highest number of confirmed poisoning incidents discovered in a single year in Scotland in the past two decades, according to an annual report by RSPB Scotland.

The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2009 indicates human killing continues to have a serious impact on the populations of some of the country's most vulnerable species.

In 2009, 21 buzzards, 4 red kites, 2 golden eagles and 1 white-tailed eagle, the latter gifted to Scotland from Norway as part of a reintroduction programme, were among the victims in 46 confirmed poisoning cases. Illegal killings, through shooting, nest destruction or the use of spring traps, were also confirmed in nine incidents. As many raptors are long-lived and have slow breeding rates, killing of these species (particularly adult breeding birds) can have dire consequences for their populations as a whole. This is affecting the conservation status of hen harriers, golden eagles and red kites.

Click on the link at the bottom, to see maps of poisoning incidents and a table of which birds were killed.

The real number is likely to be much higher!

Despite public condemnation - most notably in the form of almost 22,000 pledges backing an RSPB Scotland campaign to stop the illegal killing of birds of prey - the practice shows little signs of declining, particularly in some upland areas dominated by game management. Many of the incidents of illegal killing, now detailed in this report, were discovered by chance by members of the public in remote areas of countryside, suggesting the true number of cases could in reality be much higher.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Scotland Head of Species and Land Management said: "We are lucky enough in Scotland to have some of the world's most majestic species of birds of prey, but unfortunately a significant number of people continue to break the law and undermine the recovery of their populations. This activity threatens other countryside industries such as tourism and undermines Scotland's reputation internationally."

200 estates condemn wildlife crime
"We will continue to work with the many responsible landowners and welcome the recent initiative by over 200 Scottish estates, who have publicly condemned wildlife crime, and who have called for robust enforcement action against the perpetrators. All estates now need to provide tangible evidence that they are taking positive action on the ground to safeguard protected species and giving firm instruction to their employees to obey the law. Increasing the occupied range and breeding productivity of bird of prey species is the best barometer of success."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/raptor-poisoning.html?utm_campaign=Raptor%20poisoning%3B%20Rare%20mammal%20photo%3B%20Irish%20woodpeckers%3B%20Plastic%20killing%20wildlife&utm_content={URIENCODE%5Bemail_address%5D}&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Worst%20year%20on%20record%20for%20bird%20poisoning%20in%20Scotland%20-%202009campaign#cr
 
Posted by: Steve Halliwell

REQUEST FOR RECORDS OF SIGHTINGS FOR 2010.

I repeat below an email that I received from LWT, which is introducing John McKay, a Volunteer with the Wildlife Trust. It's self-explanatory. If anybody would like to respond to the request(s) made, it would be appreciated.

Dear Wildlife Recorder,

As part of a project that is looking at biological recording on Local Wildlife Sites, we are keen to collate as many records as possible for the attached lists of Local Wildlife Sites, and are hoping that your recording group may be able to help.
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We only require records from this year, and would need these before the end of September so that they can be incorporated into the final report. This will provide guidance and recommendations at a national level on how natural history recorders can be both encouraged and supported in the survey of these important local sites. And with this in mind it is important that we receive as many records as possible.
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If you do think you will be able to contribute records as part of this study it would be especially useful if you could let us know. We are able to provide maps of any of the sites that we have listed in the attached pdf files, and are happy to accept records in any format, including MapMate sync. For each record we only require the species name, date, location, grid ref, and recorder, with numbers optional.
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John Mackay will be coordinating this project and will happy to help with any queries, and will be collating any records we receive. His email is jmackay@lancswt.org.uk
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Many thanks,

Graham Jones - Reserves Manager
John Mackay - Volunteer
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The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside
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The areas for which records are needed are as follows:
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Preston City Council:

52NW07 - River Ribble, Upper Tidal Section
52NE02 - Fishwick Bottoms
52NE03 - Throslock Wood
52NE06 - Melling's Wood and Dark Wood
53SE04 - Eyes Wood; Preston Urban Area
53SE05 - Brockholes Wood; Preston Urban Area
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South Ribble Borough Council:
42NE05 - Longton Brickcroft; Longton
52NW10 - Hurst Grange Park, Penwortham
52SW02 - Shaw, Altcar and Ruin Woods
52SW03 - Shrugg's Wood; Leyland
52NW02 - Four Acre Wood; Penwortham
52NE01 - Dog Kennel and Cockshott Woods
52SW04 - Brickfield Wood; Leyland
52NW07 - River Ribble, Upper Tidal Section
52NW08 - Preston Junction LNR and Adjacent Habitats (Hm1)
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POSTED BY:  Steve Halliwell

TRAM BRIDGE WASH-OUT - MONDAY 19th JULY.

Well, it was forecast - and for once they called it correctly! Below is the view that should have included a party of 20+ members.

Alas!  Just the photographer, who shall remain anonymous!

A group of seven female / immature Goosanders were present.

And 20 or more Mute Swans were hugging the banks of the river.

A remnant of last autumn by the Old Tram (Outram's) Bridge.

But I had a smashing time on the way home!

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Let's hope for better weather for next week's amble at Birkacre - meet on the car park at SD571153

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Posted by:  Steve Halliwell