Noticeboard
- WeBS Count Dates 2021
- Coastal and Estuarine Disturbance
- Data Protection Policy
- Hare Coursing at Newton Marsh and other localities
- Fylde Bird Club Hide at Marton Mere - Locking procedure
- Wildlife Casualties or Abandoned Nestlings
- Request for Responsible Behaviour when Birding Rural Over Wyre
WeBS Count Dates 2021
Coastal and Estuarine Disturbance
Fylde Bird Club has long campaigned to reduce man made disturbance on our coast and, with the help of others, has had some success. Motor vehicles are now banned from Pressall Sands, microlight operators have been reminded to obey flying guidelines and jet skis on the River Wyre are restricted to certain parts of the river.
However the situation is not satisfactory and disturbance is still unacceptably high. Therefore we intend to re-invigorate our campaign and join with others to make things better. The Morecambe Bay Partnership is funding a study to record disturbance to high tide roosts in the northern part of Morecambe Bay and the hope is that high tide refuges can be established there. The RSPB and Natural England are involved.
We need to press hard for high tide refuges on the Wyre Borough and Fylde Borough coasts. Beach zoning has long been proposed by the Club at Rossall Point but no effective action has yet been taken by Wyre Council. The idea is allocate a small part of the beach as a refuge at high tide and ask people to respect it. Yes I know that's hard but it CAN be done. Other seriously disturbed sites include the beaches at Lytham, Fairhaven and St Annes. Small refuges at these locations could be established and make a huge difference.
These locations are within the Morecambe Bay and Ribble protected areas. The areas are designated as SPAs (Special Protection Areas under EU law), SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and Ramsar Sites (wetland of international importance). The EU Birds Directive states that "Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds".
In this regard the authorities are obliged to protect these areas from damaging disturbance and our aim will be to press them to do so. In order to support the campaign to provision high tide refuges, we need as many records of disturbance as we can log. We already have a significant number of records on file but really do need a lot more, particularly of the continuous effect of dogs on roosts, that generally goes unreported.
Please help by submitting any disturbance records either by completing the form below; by e-mail to the Secretary or in writing to the Secretary (18 Staining Rise, Staining, FY3 0BU). We know that we are tilting at windmills and do not expect quick results but we feel that we must not turn a blind eye to the matter and that in time the message will get through and action will result.
Update: records of disturbance to geese and swans on Lytham Moss have been requested
and can also be entered below
However the situation is not satisfactory and disturbance is still unacceptably high. Therefore we intend to re-invigorate our campaign and join with others to make things better. The Morecambe Bay Partnership is funding a study to record disturbance to high tide roosts in the northern part of Morecambe Bay and the hope is that high tide refuges can be established there. The RSPB and Natural England are involved.
We need to press hard for high tide refuges on the Wyre Borough and Fylde Borough coasts. Beach zoning has long been proposed by the Club at Rossall Point but no effective action has yet been taken by Wyre Council. The idea is allocate a small part of the beach as a refuge at high tide and ask people to respect it. Yes I know that's hard but it CAN be done. Other seriously disturbed sites include the beaches at Lytham, Fairhaven and St Annes. Small refuges at these locations could be established and make a huge difference.
These locations are within the Morecambe Bay and Ribble protected areas. The areas are designated as SPAs (Special Protection Areas under EU law), SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and Ramsar Sites (wetland of international importance). The EU Birds Directive states that "Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds".
In this regard the authorities are obliged to protect these areas from damaging disturbance and our aim will be to press them to do so. In order to support the campaign to provision high tide refuges, we need as many records of disturbance as we can log. We already have a significant number of records on file but really do need a lot more, particularly of the continuous effect of dogs on roosts, that generally goes unreported.
Please help by submitting any disturbance records either by completing the form below; by e-mail to the Secretary or in writing to the Secretary (18 Staining Rise, Staining, FY3 0BU). We know that we are tilting at windmills and do not expect quick results but we feel that we must not turn a blind eye to the matter and that in time the message will get through and action will result.
Update: records of disturbance to geese and swans on Lytham Moss have been requested
and can also be entered below
Data Protection Policy - 25th May 2018
Hare Coursing at Newton Marsh and other localities
After a number of recent hare coursing incidents at Newton and Freckleton Marsh, the 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 (or anywhere else in the area), 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 101 and request a police response
· 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.
Please email any Brown Hare sightings rather than reporting them on the sightings page.
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 (or anywhere else in the area), 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 101 and request a police response
· 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.
Please email any Brown Hare sightings rather than reporting them on the sightings page.
Fylde Bird Club Hide at Marton Mere - Lock Procedure
The Fylde Bird Club Hide located on the south side of Marton Mere by the caravan park is now locked and the key is stored in a key safe on the wall of the visitor centre on the caravan park.
To access the hide, collect the key from the key safe, open the hide and keep the lock and key with you until you leave the hide, then lock the hide and return the key to the key safe.
The key safe has a combination lock – email to receive the code.
There is a small black lever on the left of the dials, which must be pushed down to release the key safe door.
When you close the key safe, please scramble the dials.
Please DO NOT divulge the combination to anyone you don't know or trust.
If people you don't know enter the hide while you are there, and you wish to leave, please explain that you have to leave and lock the door and so they will also need to leave. If the people say they are FBC members, they will know the key code. If they refuse to tell you the code or leave; all you can do is secure the lock (closed and locked on the clasp but not locking the door) and return the key to the safe.
Hopefully the next FBC member to visit, will lock it afterwards.
Note that if you return the key to the key safe after dusk you will need a light of some sort to see the dials, a mobile phone does the job.
Background information about the Fylde Bird Club Hide
The hide was built and paid for by the Fylde Bird Club in the early 2000s, with ownership being handed to Blackpool Borough Council on completion who are responsible for the building.
Blackpool Borough Council approved the current locking arrangement and supplied and fitted the lock.
The Bird Club supplied and fitted the key safe and this locking policy is our idea.
It's not a perfect arrangement but we had to try something because was in continuous use as a toilet for years and we've had enough!
So far the arrangement is working fairly well.
To access the hide, collect the key from the key safe, open the hide and keep the lock and key with you until you leave the hide, then lock the hide and return the key to the key safe.
The key safe has a combination lock – email to receive the code.
There is a small black lever on the left of the dials, which must be pushed down to release the key safe door.
When you close the key safe, please scramble the dials.
Please DO NOT divulge the combination to anyone you don't know or trust.
If people you don't know enter the hide while you are there, and you wish to leave, please explain that you have to leave and lock the door and so they will also need to leave. If the people say they are FBC members, they will know the key code. If they refuse to tell you the code or leave; all you can do is secure the lock (closed and locked on the clasp but not locking the door) and return the key to the safe.
Hopefully the next FBC member to visit, will lock it afterwards.
Note that if you return the key to the key safe after dusk you will need a light of some sort to see the dials, a mobile phone does the job.
Background information about the Fylde Bird Club Hide
The hide was built and paid for by the Fylde Bird Club in the early 2000s, with ownership being handed to Blackpool Borough Council on completion who are responsible for the building.
Blackpool Borough Council approved the current locking arrangement and supplied and fitted the lock.
The Bird Club supplied and fitted the key safe and this locking policy is our idea.
It's not a perfect arrangement but we had to try something because was in continuous use as a toilet for years and we've had enough!
So far the arrangement is working fairly well.
Widlife Casualties and Abandoned Nestlings
If you find an injured bird or small mammal it should be confined in a cardboard box and taken to a veterinary surgery for examination and treatment. If you suspect a young bird has been orphaned, watch it from a distance to see if the parents are still feeding it. If you are sure it has been abandoned, the bird should be taken to a vet or a wildlife centre.
More information can be found here and local veterinary practices are listed below.
More information can be found here and local veterinary practices are listed below.
- RSPCA 0300 1234 999
- Rowan Veterinary Centre 01772 639800 (Freckleton) and 01253 766352 (Blackpool South Shore)
- The Veterinary Health Centre 01253 729309 (St Annes)
- Spen Corner Veterinary Centre 01253 699666 (Blackpool South Shore)
- Norcross Veterinary Ltd 01253 854545 (Thornton Cleveleys)
- Robert Jones 01253 402255 (Blackpool South Shore)
- Moy Vets 01253 860346 (Thornton Cleveleys) 01253 701098 (Out Rawcliffe)
- Andrew Mellor t/a David Wadsworth 01253 357380 (Thornton Cleveleys/ Blackpool North Shore)
- Mere Road Vets 01253 225282 (Blackpool)
- The Mount Veterinary Practice - 01253 875547 (Fleetwood)
Request for Responsible Behaviour when Birding Rural Over Wyre
A number of instances have been reported of individuals behaving unacceptably in the Bradshaw Lane Area. Please remember that the feeding stations only exist because of the consent of the landowners and the work and funding of volunteers who maintain them. Continued irresponsible behaviour will lead to their demise. In the interests of good relations with local people and conservation please observe these basic requests.
- Stay on the public roads and footpaths
- Do not drive down private tracks
- Do not park blocking access to farm tracks. If viewing from the entrance to a track and a vehicle needs access, move without hesitation
- Do not park so as to cause obstructions on the roads
- Please be courteous to farmers & landowners and respect their requests
