NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2010

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER AUGUST WELCOME TO OUR MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER IN THE BAG! - What we ve been up to... On the 11 th July CMI! coasted to Thurstaston Visitor Centre on the Wirral for our BEACH PARTY, the second of our family fun days in a stunning location with a wide variety of habitats within close proximity. Over 100 species were recorded within just a few hours! Many thanks to Ian Wallace and Steve Cross from World Museum Liverpool, ecologist Paul Hill, Chester Zoo s Biodiversity Officer Sarah Bird and Wirral Ranger, Matt Thomas. Photo courtesy of Clive Bird On the 14 th July I joined ecologists Paul Hill and Jeff Clarke for a mothing session, as part of an ongoing survey of Chester Zoo. Moths aren t simply brown, many species are truly stunning, and the good news is that they wont t eat your favourite clothing. However the bad news is that their larvae do! Click here to find out how to attract moths into your garden, how to identify them and how to create your very own, and highly effective, moth trap all you need is a spare room! A gatecrasher, but an added bonus none the less, was the Shore Sexton Beetle (Neocrepidodera transversa) spotted by Jeff a 4 th record for Cheshire. Photo: Herald on a wine rope courtesy of Paul Hill - find out more about wine roping here. On the 16 th July it was over to Risley Moss Nature Reserve for another mothing session. Over 125 species were recorded throughout the night, using a variety of surveying methods. The hard core amongst the group finally submitted at around 3am! Many thanks to Rob Smith for a great, although somewhat exhausting, night! For information about forthcoming workshops visit Risley Moss Action Group. On the 17 th July Eric and I joined Cheshire Active Naturalists (CAN) at Delamere for their Odonata (dragonfly/damselfly) workshop, led by Andy Swash and CAN s own Andy Harmer. A fabulous time was had by all! Check out their website for some great future courses.

2 On the 20 th July we took a trip to Overwater Marina, at Audlem, the venue for our forthcoming RECORDATHON (see details below). Fifteen of Cheshire s key wildlife conservationists have signed up to date. It s promising to be a unique and memorable event. Don t miss out! TOTALLY TOPICAL! The Bioblitz Buzz! On the 31 st July Eric took part in the Wepre Park Bioblitz. Click here to view results. If you can t get to a bioblitz why not conduct a mini version in the comfort of your own wildlife haven. Click here for tips. Lottery Award The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) has been named best environment project in the National Lottery Awards in September. They were one of three projects competing to win the Best Environmental Project. Photo courtesy of Tom Hunt Otters make a comeback Once threatened by extinction, otters have made a dramatic comeback and are now present in every English county. Click here for more information. Rare beetle found The rare Dor beetle has been found at the Runcorn Hill Nature Reserve. It was spotted by ranger Ged Lloyd, who was collecting data for a site species list to feed into RECORD s database. Click here for more information Delamere s lost wetlands A new project to restore Delamere s ancient meres and mosses was launched earlier this year. Great news for Cheshire s wildlife and plant species. Click here for more info.

3 FREEBIES! (not free bees!) Free Wildlife Fun Book RSPB Free trees and seeds for schools and youth groups Woodland Trust Free Handbook of Garden Wildlife ON THE SPOT! Don t forget you can access our bulletin board, join discussion groups or post your photos for ID by visiting the RECORD FORUM. Alternatively, try ispot a great ID site provided by The Open University as part of the OPAL project. The Barred Tooth-striped moth (Trichopteryx polycommata), a priority BAP species has been recorded by Lancashire Wildlife Trust at Warton Crag Nature Reserve - a first for the site. Click here for more info. Photo - ALERT! BELOW IS A LIST OF OTHER WILDLIFE SURVEYS YOU MAY LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN: ADD AN ADDER BBC BREATHING PLACES LADYBIRD SURVEY BEAGLE PROJECT European schools biodiversity survey BEE SCENE schools and youth groups BIG BAT MAP BIG SEAWEED SEARCH BIRDTRACK BUGLIFE - various CONKER TREE SCIENCE EVOLUTION MEGALAB - snails GREAT BRITISH SNAIL HUNT GREAT STAG HUNT- beetle HEDGEROWS FOR DORMICE PROJECT HOGWATCH - hedgehogs LIVING WITH MAMMALS MAKE THE ADDER COUNT MAMMALS ON ROADS MARLIN SEALIFE SURVEY MIGRANT WATCH - birds

4 MOLEWATCH MOTHS COUNT NATIONAL AMPHIBIAN SURVEY NATIONAL OTTER SURVEY NATIONAL REPTILE SURVEY NATURES CALENDAR SURVEY - various PLANTLIFE WILDFLOWERS COUNT 2010 TRADITIONAL ORCHARD SURVEY U.K. s WILDEST HIDE AND SEEK - wetlands UK BUTTERFLY MONITORING SCHEME UK LADYBIRD SURVEY IF YOU TAKE PART IN OTHER WILDLIFE SURVEYS, PLEASE LET RECORD HAVE YOUR DATA TOO! SPECIES OF THE MONTH Cinnabar Moth Common Ragwort WE NEED YOUR RECORDS! No matter how insignificant they may seem! We are constantly looking for new wildlife recorders throughout the Cheshire region - but particularly the Ellesmere Port, Crewe, Nantwich and Stockport areas. It s easy! Why not have a go? We can offer you the training and support you need. Contact us for an informal chat. You can submit data online using RODIS, by phone , info@record-lrc.co.uk or post to RECORD, Oakfield House, Chester Zoological Gardens, Chester, CH2 1LH. Why not send us your photos and we ll pass them on to our experts for identification? Don t forget to send RECORD your species of the month sightings. Remember IF YOU TAKE PART IN OTHER WILDLIFE SURVEYS, PLEASE LET RECORD HAVE YOUR DATA TOO!

5 NEXT CMI! EVENTS 8 th August THERE S A BUZZ IN THE AIR NESS GARDENS, WIRRAL (Photo courtesy of Tom Hunt) 15 th August ANYONE FOR CRICKETS NUNSMERE HALL HOTEL, OAKMERE (photo courtesy of Jeff Clarke) JUST FOR YOU! THIS SECTION IS JUST FOR YOU! Tell us your news, promote an event, send us your photos providing its wildlife related of course! Vapourer moth caterpillar (link) 300 reported sightings in the Cheshire region since over the last decade - the latest being in Catherine McGinn Roberts ALERT! DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 7 th August Lancashire Bioblitz 8 th August Buzz in the Air 10 th August Take a Risk Cheshire West and Chester Westminster Park 14 th August CAN Bats fully booked reserve list only 15 th Ausust Anyone for Crickets? 16 th -27 th August Wild About Wildlife National Waterways Museum 21st August - Peel Hall Park Summer Event - Warrington - 12pm- 4pm RECORD and CMI! will be there! More info th August European Bat Weekend Bat Conservation Trust 29th August - Wirral Wildlife - Heathland walk - Cleaver heath nature reserve Well, I asked you all to hope for rain and we certainly got it! Enough now though! A little sunshine would be appreciated. Karen