Bispham Marsh BioBlitz


To attend a BioBlitz at Bispham Marsh on Sunday 3rd June please contact Pauline Taylor (North Blackpool Pond Trail Community Development Officer) on 01253-622222 or 07810-123988. Anything from a single one hour stint would be useful to promote the site and local interest.


Temporary closure of Fylde Bird Club Hide at Marton Mere

A pair of Blackbirds are currently nesting in the Fylde Bird Club Hide at Marton Mere. The hide has been locked until further notice.


Fylde Pelagics 2012

Monday 27th August 15.10-20.10.

Tuesday 11th September 15.10-20.10.

Meet at Fleetwood Beach by the RNLI shop. Access directly off beach by steep ladder or plank.

Cost £26. Payment in advance essential with full refund if the trip has to be cancelled due to bad weather.

To Book E-mail Paul Slade or telephone 07970-986904.

Click here to read about the history of Fylde Pelagics.


North West Black Headed Gull Study

Click here to download a newsletter detailing the colour ringing of Black-headed Gulls in the North-west of England.


Restoration of native woodland at Humblescough Farm

Funds raised during the Solitary Sandpiper twitch as Humblescough Farm, Nateby have been used to restore the native woodland bordering the flood. Future conservation work planned to take place at the farm includes the creation of fen grassland and the installation of nestboxes to supplement the boxes already situated around the farm.


Changes Coming to The Fylde Bird Club’s Website Sightings Page

The Bird Club’s self service Sightings Page, which was introduced last year, has been a successful and essential improvement to the Club’s Website. Now the Committee have agreed to incorporate some further enhancements to the Sightings Page that will make its use much easier for all concerned.

Drop Down Lists
The major changes will be to the entry fields for Species and Locations. In both cases when the user begins to type a Species or Location name, the computer will offer a ‘Drop Down List’ matching the letters typed. For example typing ‘bl’ in the species field will produce a Drop Down List of birds starting with ‘Bl’, i.e. Blackbird; Blackcap; Black-tailed Godwit; etc. The user will then ‘click’ on the Species they wish to report and it will be entered into the Species field. The same process will apply to the Locations field.

Review Screen
Currently if a user makes a mistake and submits their sightings, they cannot undo it and must e-mail the administrator to get it corrected. In the future when the user selects ‘Submit’ the computer will display a preview of the sightings entered and ask the user to confirm that they are correct. If the user selects ‘Yes’ they will be published, if the user selects ‘No’ they will be returned to the input page, where they can correct their entries before submitting again.

Request to Contributors
Please do not type ‘ditto’, ‘as above’ or use “” marks to indicate the notes for the record above also apply. Please repeat the notes by using select, cut and paste. This is because when turned into a spreadsheet, the records will be ordered by species and “as above” will no longer mean anything.

Why are we doing this?
The main reason for making these changes is to simplify the incorporation of submitted sightings to records stored in the Club’s electronic database. This database provides the raw material from which the Annual Bird Reports are produced and stands as a valuable reference of all birds recorded in our area. All sightings entered into the Sightings Page are added to the database but first, someone has to expend considerable work tidying up the entries.
For the database to work all the Species and Location names must be standardised. For example: to a computer a Red-throated Diver is not the same species as a Red throated Loon or a R.T. Diver or a Rd th Diver. The same principle applies to Location names. The introduction of ‘Drop Down Lists' will enforce the use of standardised names and save an enormous amount of work.
The preview feature will allow mistakes to be corrected before publishing and again save work further down the line.

These features will also simplify the process of submitting sightings by reducing the amount of typing required by contributors.


Tougher measures needed to stamp out bird of prey persecution

The RSPB has recently been calling for Vicarious Liability to be introduced into England, whereby landowners/employers who encourage or allow their staff to undertake bird of prey persecution can themselves be prosecuted – so not just the gamekeeper gets done, but his landowning boss gets done as well.

This measure is available to prosecutors in Scotland, but not yet in England.

Sadly, spectacular birds of prey like red kites, hen harriers, peregrines and golden eagles are still illegally and selfishly persecuted by some people - they shoot, poison and trap our birds of prey.

An independent e-petition has recently been posted on the UK govt website, calling for Vicarious Liability in England – the RSPB is supporting this e-petition as part of our campaigning on this issue.

If you agree, please take a few moments to sign up.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089


Marton Mere Work Party September 2011

On 25th September Fylde Bird Club members joined a work party at Marton Mere to improve the habitat for wildlife and viewing conditions for the birders. Fylde Bird Club would like to thank all those who came along and gave up their time to help enhance the habitat at the Fylde's premier birding location.




Before the work party






After the work party


Hare Coursing on Newton Marsh

After a number of recent hare coursing incidents at Newton and Freckleton Marsh over the last few months, RSPB have met with the Lancashire police, and they are looking to escalate their response to this situation.

To ensure they can do this effectively, we need to support the police by reporting all incidents, so they can see the scale of the problem, and also respond to individual incidents appropriately.

If you are at Newton or Freckleton Marsh, and you see hare coursing taking place, then please:

· Record exactly what you see – number/description of people/dogs involved, what they are doing, wildlife disturbed/killed, vehicles involved (make and registration number), and the location of this activity (the police will ask for a postcode; the postcode for the
SITA waste plant adjacent to Newton Marsh is PR4 0XE).

· Report it to the police on 0845 1 25 35 45 and request a police response (telephone 101 from Nov onwards)

· Get a police log number for the incident.

· We do not advise approaching or challenging people involved in hare coursing.

It is worth noting that hare coursing is a problem for several reasons - hunting with dogs is illegal, disturbance to wintering birds has an impact on the designated features of the SSSI, during the breeding season it disturbs Schedule 1 birds (black-tailed godwits), and it could potentially damage the new and expensive electric fence that helps protect breeding birds on the marsh from predation. Furthermore, it leaves the local community feeling very threatened and intimidated.

Andrew Gouldstone
RSPB Area Conservation Manager
Cheshire, Merseyside, Grt Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria.


Free sample copy of British Birds - Exclusive to Bird Club members

To claim your free sample visit www.britishbirds.co.uk/freesample.

British Birds publishes ground-breaking articles on Identification, Distribution, Migration, Conservation and Taxonomy. It is THE place to report significant ornithological sightings and events and also features detailed news and comment from the UK and beyond, a summary of recent sightings and new book releases appraised critically by a birding expert, with discounts available to subscribers via the BB Bookshop. British Birds is an invaluable resource for birders and professional ornithologists – you can’t afford NOT to read it!


Freckleton Marsh - habitat restoration for breeding waders

Following on from habitat works on Newton Marsh over the last few years, further work has now been completed on the adjacent Freckleton Marsh.

In August this year, the RSPB rotary ditcher, a large ditch excavating machine, was used on Freckleton Marsh to create 5.3km of shallow, linear ditches, that will create excellent wader feeding habitat. These largely follow the old saltmarsh ditch system that was still evident on the marsh surface. These new ditches are typically about 3m wide, but only half a metre deep. Water levels in these ditches will depend on direct rainfall, but to help, a series of 10 earth bunds have been installed in strategic locations on some of these ditches, to help them hold water for longer. These bunds have a simple pipe arrangement through them, that will allow a degree of control over the water levels. Only installed in November, these bunds are already working, and the ditch system across the marsh is holding water well.

In combination with Newton Marsh, this now represents 130ha of improved wet grassland management. Hopefully, breeding wader numbers on Freckleton Marsh will respond next year to this new management.

We are very grateful to the Freckleton and Newton Marsh Owners for undertaking this management.

The acquisition of the RSPB rotary ditcher was part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and it is operated on behalf of the RSPB by RC Baker agricultural contractors.

Management on both Newton Marsh and Freckleton Marsh is funded under Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme.

Seumus Eaves, Lancashire FWAG, and Andrew Gouldstone, RSPB.


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