Yes, birdwatching is the next big thing. Don’t know if you read the Review section in last Sunday’s Observer, but it’s now the cool activity the ‘in crowd’ are up to – when they’re not producing their hit singles, films and TV shows. Cameron Diaz, Mick Jagger and Van the Man are already ‘celebrity birdwatchers’. Who next? Jedward? Katie would have been better off birdwatching instead of bugmunching in the jungle. Will we see her in HELLO next, sporting designer wellies and pink binoculars? Whatever! The nerdy twitcher perception is so over!
So if you’re a regular follower of this blog and ‘observer’ along the Lagan, congratulations on being a trend leader!! (Best of all, it’s free!)
Could this be the reason why the Lagan Valley volunteer programme has been going from strength to strength? Hardy individuals who clearly care passionately about their local area have been getting training, getting dirty and developing skills and knowledge in a wide range of conservation tasks. The people you see treeplanting, counting wildflowers, removing invasive species, creating bird hides and pitching in with many aspects of woodland management could well be volunteers.
Volunteering is great for toning those arms!
The bird conservation programme, a major element of the award-winning Laganscape project, could not be implemented without volunteer assistance. The RSPB helped get things off the ground, identifying vulnerable species suffering population decline due to habitat loss, and providing guidance and training. To date, volunteers have constructed and erected over 100 nest boxes for birds such as sparrows, blue tits and spotted flycatchers.
Woodwork trainees at Hydebank Young Offenders Centres also built over 50 bird boxes which have now been placed throughout the Park. Over the next few months, Volunteers and Park staff are monitoring the use of these boxes. Come spring they should know which are being used for nesting. This information helps assess the best locations and possible alternatives.
Start 'em young! Our littlest volunteer installs a bat box
If you would like to be a Lagan volunteer, contact: 9049 1922
To read the Observer article: www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/review
Join the beautiful people birdwatching along the Lagan, and who knows what celebrities you may spot....along with the birds?
ALSO…if your treks take you near the Lock Keepers Cottage or Belvoir Park, pop into the RSPB Headquarters at Belvoir Park and check out the fab Christmas Shop. A winter wonderland of brilliant sustainable gifts – not just bird care, but garden items, books, cds, cards, toys - all sorts of very trendy bird-related goodies! Open Monday to Friday 10-4 and Sunday 1-4pm.
BARN OWL ON THE LAWN, NOT IN THE DARK!
What’s afoot in the Park after dusk has fallen, you’ve drawn the curtains and are curled up on the sofa watching Corrie? As much life and death drama as your fave soap!
As daylight fades, hundreds of crows are settling down to roost for the night in the tallest trees. The best place to see them is from the Belvoir Park Car Park or watch the mature trees beside Moorlands Meadows. One nice thing about these short days is that you don’t have to sit up until all hours to count crows. 5pm will do nicely.
Meanwhile, smaller hedgerow birds make a beeline for the ivy wrapped round virtually every tree in the Park. The ivy is just starting to fruit, so it provides vital food and cover in one go. At dusk, birds such as tits go flying into the glossy leaves at high speed in a headlong rush for the good spots. Tucked up for the night, the tits are safe from daytime predators such as the sparrow hawk who take small birds on the wing.
Once it’s fully dark, the owls have the run of the place. Both long-eared and short-eared owls are known to live near the Lagan, but the Park team are particularly keen to get confirmed sightings.
Other nighttime predators include foxes, badgers and otters. Darkness suits otters as they operate by feel rather than sight. Their whiskers function like a cat’s, feeling vibrations in the water.
Compared to some places, our after dark wildlife can seem pretty tame. A friend who lives in rural Pennsylvania has to bring her bird feeders in every night. If not, they’re attacked and destroyed by bears!
Speaking of sightings: We need your eyes! The Park’s Wildlife Monitoring Project depends on sightings from hawk-eyed regular visitors. Eight species have been targeted for confirmed sightings, including four birds: the jay, barn owl, long tailed tit and kingfisher. Forms are now available at the Lock Keepers Cottage with identification details, pictures of these species, and a place to note what you saw, when you saw it and where. The forms will shortly be available in downloadable format from www.laganvalley.co.uk
And finally – there are still a few places for the Roost Ramble on December 5, a guided walk through ‘crow country’ led by a Lagan Valley Park ranger. Call 90491930 to book.
DAVID WITH A BARN OWL - DAVID HELPS TO CO WRITE THIS BLOG AND IS A LAGAN VALLEY RANGER
Missing all those lovely leaves? Don’t! Now that most of the foliage is gone, there’s been a big improvement in the conditions for viewing birds. Many small hedgerow and tree-dwelling birds are no longer concealed by thick leafy cover, so you can see them as well as hear them.
Bare branches bring out the Coal Tit
The Park has received reports of many sightings of seed eating birds such as long tailed tits, chaffinches and bullfinches. Flocks and family groups have been congregating, as they do every winter. Around this time of year, these flocks are also joined by insect eaters such as the goldcrest and the treecreeper, two of the most colourful and interesting residents in the Park.
Cheeky little long tailed tit
Less of those pesky leaves means more opportunities to spot treecreepers, as they cling to the trunks of trees and graze the bark for juicy insects. This very small, active bird eats, sleeps and breeds in trees.
Hanging on...the treecreeper
The goldcrest is the UK’s tiniest songbird and contender for smallest bird on these islands altogether. Goldcrests have a thing for conifers and love forest areas (and sometimes gardens too), but only if there are conifers amongst the trees and bushes.
Now is a good time to keep the eyes peeled for wee winter visitors also. Amongst the most diminutive - the redwing, the smallest true thrush in the UK. These Scandinavian natives arrive in October/November to enjoy our balmy winter climate through until April. Redwings prefer open fields and hedgerows for feeding on worms and berries, only venturing into gardens if snow covers the grassy meadows they prefer.
Recently, redwings were sighted near The Giant’s Ring, which is quite a coup, as this very vulnerable species has red status.
To learn more about these birds and hear their calls go to the wildlife/bird guide on this RSPB site. There are even videos to watch!
Chaffinch, coal tit and treecreeper photos provided by Lagan Valley Regional Park