Common Terns at Preston Dock

On 30th April Paul Ellis and Paul Slade installed four gravel-filled rubber tyres on the platforms on Preston Dock to act as artificial nest sites for Common Terns.


Hare Coursing on Newton Marsh

If Hare coursing is witnessed on Newton Marsh please follow the instructions below:-

Telephone Blackpool Police on 01253-293933, quoting LC-2010 0318-0634. Report that hare coursers are on Newton Marsh, causing potential disturbance to Schedule 1 birds, and that a Police response is required. Observers should then NOT intervene, but await the Police, and record as much detail as possible - car registration numbers, description of individuals/dogs, what the coursers do, whether hares are chased/disturbed, whether birds on the marsh (godwits or otherwise) are disturbed/react.


Bird Atlas 2007-11 Newsletter

Please download a Bird Atlas Newsletter here.

Timed Tetrad Visit coverage has been excellent on the Fylde but it remains vital to keep sending in Roving Records. Roving Records are proving invaluable by filling in gaps in the TTV data and are especially useful if they include counts and breeding status information. Either enter your Roving Records at www.birdatlas.net or continue to send your sighting to news@fyldebirdclub.org.

Whilst coverage on the Fylde has been excellent, several tetrads in East Lancashire still require Timed Tetrad Visits, with particular problems in SD75, SD83, SD84 and SD85 - birders from the west who could help with coverage here would be most welcome – please sign up at www.birdatlas.net or e-mail Tony Cooper.


Fylde Bird Club Pelagics

For summer 2010 the Fylde Bird Club has arranged two evening pelagic boat trips out of Fleetwood.

The first pelagic will run on 22nd July - departing at 17.10 and returning around 22.15 - from which we particularly hope to see Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrel.

The second pelagic will run on 18th August – departing at 14:15 and returning around 19.15 - from which we particularly hope to see Sandwich and Common Tern, Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua.

We will be deploying chum (chopped fish and fish oils emptied overboard) that will hopefully attract seabirds close to the boat.

If the pelagics are successful and well received the Fylde Bird Club intend to arrange future trips.


Marton Mere Fylde Bird Club Work Party Sunday 21st March

Photos from the second Marton Mere Fylde Bird Club work party can be viewed here.



Bird Atlas 2007-11 - Tawny Owls

Click here to view a map comparing the distribution of Tawny Owls from the current BTO Atlas surveys with results from the 1997-2000 Lancashire Breeding Birds Atlas.

The red dots show distribution (winter and breeding combined) so far from the 2007-11 surveys and the green dots show 1997-2000 atlas distribution. As you can see there is a major discrepancy. Although it is possible that Tawny Owls have decreased in the past 10 years it seems extremely unlikely that it's been so dramatic. It is much more likely that our nocturnal coverage this time around is far less comprehensive. It's therefore also likely that coverage for other nocturnal species is equally weak.

You can help by doing a couple of nocturnal jaunts in search of owls and other nocturnal species and recording the results as roving records. Please visit www.birdatlas.net or contact Stuart Piner on 07976-201755 for more information. Your help would be much appreciated.



 


Habitat Improvement at Freckleton and Newton Marsh

In January work will commence at Freckleton and Newton Marsh to improve the habitat for breeding waders.
 
The main ditch that runs up to the sluice at the western end of Newton Marsh will be re-profiled along the southern bank to create a broader and shallower edge to the ditch, to create foraging habitat for wader chicks. If the ditch water is low during the summer it will also mean that the chicks will be able to climb in and out of the ditch easily.
 
On Freckleton Marsh twelve soil bunds will be installed where several ditches draining the marsh run into the main channel. Pipe sluices will be placed within the bunds so water levels in these ditches can be controlled. This will allow winter rainfall to be held back on the marsh to raise the water table and create 'splashy' conditions for breeding waders during the spring.
 
This work is being funded through a Higher Level Stewardship agreement that has been put together by FWAG and the RSPB. There will also be substantial scrape creation in autumn 2010.
 


Marinelife Cetacean and Seabird Surveys in the North Irish Sea

Marinelife are introducing a new survey route across the Irish Sea in collaboration with Stena Line, from Fleetwood to Larne, on a monthly basis.
 
We operate other monthly surveys from Portsmouth to Bilbao, Poole to Santander, Plymouth to Roscoff and Felixstowe to Vlaardingen (Holland).  Our survey teams are volunteers from many backgrounds, but they do need to have some experience of cetacean and/or seabird observation and recording, preferably at sea though coast-based work is acceptable.

Download information here, here and here


Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society Publications

Are you missing any back numbers of the Lancashire Bird Report? Those of you who are members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society should already have received an email from Dave Bickerton mentioning that he has spare copies of several of these plus other society publications. Please visit www.lacfs.org.uk and click on 'publications' for a complete list. Members of the society can get back numbers of reports free on a 'first come first served' basis, in return for postage and hopefully a donation. If you are not a member then please contact Dave via the link on the L&CFS website to see if what you want is available, though you will have to pay. On the other hand, this could be a golden opportunity to join - only £10 per annum including a copy of the Lancashire Bird Report each year.


Over Wyre Feeding Stations

If visiting the feeding stations near Pilling please remain in your vehicle, park sensibly and do not obstruct or walk down any farm tracks. Please make way for farm vehicles without delay.
The Fylde Bird Club contributes to the cost of seed for this project.


Volunteering at Marton Mere

With the New Year approaching you may find yourself thinking of ways to get more out life. Maybe you’re fed up of your routine - looking for a challenge, a new experience or a change of scene. 

Well look no further because Blackpool Council’s Park Ranger Service and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers are kicking off January with two new and exciting schemes! You are being offered the opportunity to get involved in the management of your local parks and nature reserves as well care for the people and wildlife within them. 

Blackpool’s Park Ranger Service require a dedicated band of Volunteer Rangers to support the work of their service. The volunteers will support the service with a wide variety of duties such as conservation work, public events, litter picking and patrols and public liaison. The Volunteer Rangers will work from Stanley Park Offices and Marton Mere Nature Reserve but will be expected to work throughout the borough. A basic uniform, formal induction as well as training workshops will be provided free of charge.

Anyone wishing to find out more is advised to come along to a Volunteer Ranger drop-in recruitment session either on Wednesday January 24th from 4.00pm – 7.00pm or Saturday January 27th from 10.00am – 12.00pm at Stanley Park Offices, West Park Drive (in front of Myerscough College Garden Centre). 

Alternatively you can contact the Park Ranger Service direct on 01253-478478 or download an application pack from their website  You may also apply through Blackpool’s Volunteering Centre.

Cllr David Owen, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Volunteering is a great pastime that has made an immeasurable contribution to communities, organizations and individuals across the country. Today’s volunteers are active, dynamic, creative individuals who possess the skills, desire, patience and time to accomplish a wide variety of exciting and rewarding tasks.”

He added: “Our parks, open spaces, nature reserves and trails are there for everyone to enjoy because many people have served over the years to preserve, protect and improve them but volunteering is not just beneficial for Blackpool’s green spaces, it benefits you too.

It can give you the opportunity to pursue a special interest such as walking, natural, history, teaching, spending time outdoors, enjoying the company of fellow volunteers and visitors and can give you a new perspective of other facets of your life.”

The second scheme, primarily targeted at young people, is a nationwide, charity run initiative from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) who have created a new youth volunteering charity, simply known as V.

Over 3,000 opportunities for volunteering have been created for young people nationally and some 63 organisations share £10 million of grants from the charity and now the young people of Blackpool are to benefit as well!

Blackpool Council has become involved in a partnership with the BTCV to launch their project Greenday here in Blackpool in January 2007. Young people can become involved in conservation full days or half days at a number of locations across the borough including Stanley Park, Kincraig Lake, Woodland Gardens and Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve.

Cllr Ivan Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The V funding gives us a real opportunity to get young people in Blackpool volunteering in a way that makes a difference to both them and their town. They will be able to get involved in new and exciting projects like helping make Blackpool a better place to live and helping preserve and protect their local environment for future generations whilst learning valuable new skills.”

The project days will begin in January 2007. Further information can be obtained by contacting Sonia Edwards, North Lancashire Project Officer, and BTCV. Tel. 01772-204647 or visit BTCV.


Blackpool Council’s Park Ranger Service

Blackpool’s new Park Ranger Service work with a variety of partners to achieve environmental targets as well as promote, interpret and manage Blackpool’s ecological assets. We have organised monthly drop-in sessions to ensure Park Rangers are available and identifiable to valued park users. If you have a question about local wildlife or wish to find out more about our events, activities and environmental education sessions we would love to hear from you. Alternatively if you have an idea, comment or concern please drop in for an informal chat.
We look forward to meeting you. Meet the rangers on the 15th of every month 15:00–18:00 at Stanley Park visitor centre.

Taking an active role in encouraging people onto local green space, the Rangers are committed to community projects, park events, environmental education and training programmes as well as wildlife conservation. The Rangers organise practical conservation work days and manage a Volunteer Ranger Service.

You can find out more about the Rangers and how to get involved by contacting: Head Ranger, Parks and Green Environment Department, Blackpool Council, Stanley Park Offices, West Park Drive, Blackpool, FY3 9HU. Telephone 01253-478478.


Gift Aid

As Fylde Bird Club (FBC) is now a registered charity, all donations made to FBC qualify for Gift Aid. This means that FBC can claim repayment of tax (an extra 28p for every pound donated) on all donations. Donations include membership subscriptions and sponsorship money for events organised by FBC. To qualify for Gift Aid you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year. So, if you would like any donations that you make to FBC to be considered Gift Aid donations, please consider completing our Gift Aid form. The
Gift Aid form can be downloaded here or please ask Paul Ellis for a copy of the Gift Aid form at FBC monthly meetings.


Ribble Discovery Centre

Walks start from the Ribble Discovery Centre, are free and last two to three hours. Please wear stout footwear and bring warm and waterproof clothing and a drink.

Walks may be cancelled at short notice due to extreme weather conditions.

All participants are responsible for their own health and safety.

Talks maybe subject to change or cancellation at short notice.

Views and opinions expressed by speakers are not necessarily those of the RSPB.

For details ask at the centre or telephone 01253-796292.

RSPB, Ribble Discovery Centre, Inner Promenade, Fairhaven, Lytham St.Anne's FY8 1BD


Plea for more WeBS Counters

click here for details


Disturbance to wader roosts on our coast and estuaries

A campaign is slowly forming with the aim of giving our wader roosts some protection from disturbance. All forms of human disturbance should be recorded, such as jet-skis, microlights, dog-walkers etc. Large stretches of our coast and estuaries are classified as RAMSAR Sites, SSSIs and SPAs however these designations offer no practical protection from human disturbance. The aim is convince the authorities that this is a serious problem and that action must be taken. Whilst many records of such disturbance already exist, the more we have and the higher their quality, then the more evidence we will have to press our case.

So if you witness disturbance please record as many of the following as possible:

Location, date and time

Species disturbed and approximate numbers

Duration of disturbance

Reaction of birds: e.g. flew off and didn't come back or flew around and came back

Nature of disturbance: e.g. jet-skis, dog-walkers etc

Number of people and vehicles/animals involved

If aircraft please try to note the registration number and estimate the altitude

Please e-mail all your records of disturbance to the
Fylde Bird Club