On the Lagan

Stepping up for Corncrakes

Siobhan Dignan — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:42:56 GMT

Not snap happy - a rare glimpse of a retiring bird

Old timers, like my parents, have fond memories of corncrakes being a familiar sound in rural parts of Northern Ireland. And as recently as a few decades ago, the fields along the Lagan would have resounded with their distinctive call. The RSPB has been working hard to bring these vanished farmland birds back. Starting with Rathlin Island...

Up until the 1950’s corncrakes were numerous in Northern Ireland – indeed this species was most at home in the northern and western areas of the British Isles. But their numbers plummeted so sharply that by 1994, no breeding corncrakes were recorded here and only a few lonely birds have been sighted since.

Corncrakes are related to moorhens, coots and rails, but unlike their cousins, they’re dry land dwellers. These secretive birds spend their time in tall vegetation, hiding their bright chestnut wings and lanky red shanks very effectively. Day or night, however, that rasping call gives them away.

'Crek! Crek!' Translation: "I bags this nest site!"

As summer visitors, corncrakes migrate each spring from Africa, arriving by mid April to nest and breed. They depart by mid-August.

Primarily insect and seedeaters, corncrakes cannot survive without the cover provided by grasslands and meadows. In spring, nettles and marshland plants like bog irises can provide essential early cover until meadow grasses grow tall enough to do the job. These farmland birds also go for hay meadows and summer silage fields. Upon arrival, the males seek out a suitable habitat for breeding. Only when they find it do they start singing to attract mates.

The loss of this habitat is the primary reason corncrake numbers have fallen so sharply and rapidly in the 20^th century. Since 1970, these birds have suffered a 76% contraction in their range. Between 1988 and 1991 numbers crashed by 80% in Northern Ireland. At this rate, corncrakes would now be extinct in the British Isles, if conservation measures had not begun in 1992. By 1993 - the lowest point - there were only 480 breeding males left in the UK; their territory had diminished to remote outposts in the Hebrides and Orkneys.

Coming soon to an island near you - we hope!

The RSPB is working to encourage farmers to adopt Corncrake Friendly Mowing methods and to delay mowing until later in the season. In addition, new areas of habitat are being created for corncrakes – as on Rathlin.

These programmes are working. Across the UK, breeding males have more than doubled, to 1140 since 1993.

Gimme shelter. Making hay for corncrakes to hide in.

Here in Northern Ireland, the RSPB has launched a new programme aimed at attracting corncrakes back to Rathlin Island. Because corncrakes need early cover so they can hide and call for mates, hardy volunteers have spent December – March digging up nettle roots in places where they are abundant (my garden would be a good start) and transplanting them on Rathlin, where nettles are in short supply. (Winter is the best time to dig up nettles and causes the least disturbance to birds too!)

Hands-on habitat creation

The nettles are planted in precise locations around the edges of hayfields to create “corncrake corridors”. Now we just have to wait until spring and summer to see if this work gets the results everyone is hoping for.

Planting nettles is a pleasure...

Patsy Harbinson from the RSPB, who has been ‘grasping the nettle’, is particularly grateful to the many volunteers who have Stepped Up for Corncrakes. Next step: listening out for the dinstinctive crex crex call of these elusive birds and letting the RSPB know if you hear one.

We’re all looking forward to hearing this once distinctive sound of summer in the country.

...when the sun and the scenery are this gorgeous.

To learn more about corncrakes visit ://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/corncrake/index.aspx

...and when you're in the company of friends. Now all we need are corncrakes!

To get stuck in doing projects like this (among many others) for the RSPB, go to http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/getinvolved/volunteering/default.aspx

ALL PHOTOS FROM THE RSPB

Happy St. Pat's from the Lagan Canal

Siobhan Dignan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 12:41:15 GMT

COMINGS AND GOINGS AND BILLING AND COOING

Siobhan Dignan — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:13:33 GMT

Winter migrant - Fieldfare says goodbye for another year.

As birds switch gears from winter to spring, it’s all go in the hedgerows, wetlands, waters, trees and skies along the Lagan. Now’s the time to see the last of the winter visitors disappear for a few months – to different countries, or just a different habitat as they get ready to mate, nest and breed.

All winter, lapwings have been content to hang out in the stubbly fields, grasslands and industrial sites along the river, but now they are starting to disperse to breeding sites elsewhere in Northern Ireland, as well as Scotland and Northern Europe.

Curlews and golden plovers are upping sticks, so this could be your last chance to catch a glimpse. In this time of great movement, Arctic thrushes, fieldfares and redwings are starting to head back towards Scandinavia too.

Prettier and less annoying to look at than a black backed gull.

Soon the summer visitors will be arriving. The earliest ‘tourists’ to flock here are not always the most welcome. The lesser black backed bulls are on their way from the Med, so be warned. These are the aggressive birds that nest on the tops of buildings and have been known to dive bomb people below having an innocent open-air snack. So keep those chips covered.

Other, more popular summertime birds, such as house martins and swifts, will not be here until May.

But meanwhile, there’s plenty afoot with resident populations. As the flocks associated with winter disperse, two’s now company – not thousands. That’s because birds such as starlings are changing focus from feeding and basic survival to finding a mate and a nest site. And the pairing off makes some interesting viewing!

'Just having a wee preen!'

Check out this reality show!

Seen along the Lagan: the lads out in all their finery trying to pull a bird. No, it’s not an episode of Geordie Shore – it’s the wildlife, especially the waterfowl, looking their best and strutting their stuff for the laydeeez.

Turn off the telly and saunter on down to the Lagan and you’ll see the coots, moorhens and mallards are looking their best – flaunting their plumage and shaking their stuff (the mating boogie). Also the birds are getting very vocal now that the mornings are bright. Herons are way ahead of the game – they are already breeding along the Lagan.

The guys may be getting tanned, toned and plucking their eyebrows on TOWIE, but they're amateurs compared to these grouse with their red hot eyeshadow and flashy tailfeathers.

Early birds get the nest box

Speaking of birds getting the jump on the mating and nesting season, serious ‘swift-ians’ are watching out for starlings trying to gazump swifts arriving back in search of their regular nesting boxes.

Maybe this is the year swifts come to stay at the RSPB headquarters, though in 2011 a family of great tits found the accommodation very much to their liking. That's nature for you!

Starlings are earlier starters than swifts and the most opportunistic can nab good nest boxes before the swifts have even left Africa on their long journey back here to breed. Swifts only have until July to raise their families, so if they don’t get the opportunity to nest and lay eggs early, it could be a year lost. Not good news when swifts have suffered such severe declines, mainly due to loss of suitable nesting places. Already many swifts are returning from their epic journeys to find that favourite spots they have returned to year after year are gone for other reasons, such as modernisation of old buildings.

Starlings are now sporting the yellow beaks which means they are in the mood for lurrrve. So some swift followers who have the birds in residence year after year are taking pre-emptive action and blocking their boxes until the regular tenants arrive.

Starlings sometimes take up residence in swift boxes.

You can do your bit to help swifts find a home at your home, by installing a nest box this spring and see if any of these high-flyers come calling. They may only be checking out the site for next year, but if swifts show any interest, it could be a great start. The RSPB website has loads of swift info as does saveourswifts.co.uk.

LAGAN AT LISBURN GETS A BIG MAKEOVER

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:53:08 GMT

"What am I doing hanging about here when I could be at Millbrook?" Cormorant spotted near Libsurn City Centre

What else is new along the Lagan? A new riverside park near Lisburn City Centre, celebrating the linen heritage and natural assets of the Lagan. Now that ‘the city that has it all’, has a wonderful new water feature, word is getting out, at least among the bird population who have flocked to the place. David Scott tells us why Millbrook is well worth a visit.

Millbrook Huguenot Riverside Park Open

Spotted (and striped) at Millbrook - fieldfares, a cousin of the thrush

The new riverside park along the River Lagan at Millbrook Huguenot close to Lisburn City Centre has been completed. The project has seen improvements to the pathways, installation of a play area, fishing stands and pond dipping platforms. In addition the important local linen heritage has been conserved with the discovery and restoration of the remains of a beetling mill and mill pond sluice gates.

The area has also been planted with wildflowers including flax seed to represent the linen heritage; this should provide a riot of colour once spring is properly here.

The work is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through Laganscape, a Landscape Partnership Scheme, along with a contribution from Lisburn City Council who initially developed the idea for the project.

Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of Lisburn City Council’s Economic Development Committee, said, ‘We are pleased to have been able to deliver this wonderful project, creating a much more accessible area for visitors from close by and farther afield. The Council now fully appreciates the rich heritage story that there is to be told from the features that were uncovered during the work and we hope to work with the local community over the coming months to capture all of this.’

Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, added: ‘We are delighted to be involved in this latest initiative of the Laganscape project which will bring great joy to the local community. The preservation of our industrial heritage, in addition to the improvements and installation of new features, will ensure that the area is valued as an important space for everyone to use and enjoy.’

King of the Birds surveys his gorgeous new domain and is pleased. (Wren)

Laganscape volunteers have been in clearing some of the scrub and will be in putting up bird boxes and planting trees this year. It is also hoped that further extension of the paths and improvements to the ‘Blue Bridge’ will happen in a phase 2 in 2012.

Haven for small birds...and heaven for anyone who loves watching them. (Long tailed tit)

I would highly recommend a visit if you are in Lisburn - the variety of small birds is fantastic. I was down there in the middle of January and saw gold finches, greenfinches, goldcrests, bullfinches, house sparrows, wrens, robins, fieldfares and both types of thrush, to name those I can remember from a ten minute walk!

Just because it's March! (wild primrose)

Photos provided by the LVRP

Minnowburn Pond makeover is nearly nearly there

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:02:47 GMT

Come and take a look...

Don’t you just love having something to look forward to? I can’t wait to check out the beautiful new Minnowburn Pond. The National Trust has been hard at work for many months improving this wetland site, and the result sounds as if it is going to be brilliant. Even better, with new paths and benches (coming soon), the Pond is now much more accessible for everyone.

First step to transformation - digging out the silted up pond.

Craig Somerville, Belfast Area Warden for the National Trust, tells us about the new and improved wetland site at Minnowburn.

Work is nearing completion on a wetlands project at Minnowburn. The old pond, which had completely silted up, was dug out with help from Rivers Agency back in 2006. This latest phase, a partnership between Laganscape and the National Trust, has seen the creation of accessible paths, a willow weave bird hide and a dipping platform.

The work has been funded through the Laganscape project, which is a Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnership Scheme. David Scott, Laganscape Project Officer said, “The National Trust team at Minnowburn came to Laganscape with a few ideas and it has since developed into a great project. This shows what can be achieved when organisations such as ours work in partnership to deliver projects that have a real benefit for everyone.”

One dipping platform coming up!

The area is a wonderful habitat for all sorts of wildlife, and the National Trust will use the dipping platform for educational work with local schools. It all looks a bit muddy at the minute, but give it a few months and the new landscape will have naturalised just beautifully.

On Saturday 11^th February, a large team of volunteers from Laganscape and the National Trust came along to plant about 600 native trees and build the willow weave bird hide which looks magnificent.

Willow weavers at work.....A big thank you to the crew who made it all possible.

“The whole project is designed to get people closer to nature”, says David. “The paths give access for all and in the coming years we will endeavour to make the area even more wildlife friendly with the management of a wildflower meadow. Look out for interpretation features and some nice wooden benches to be added soon.” (So it's nice to know there's even more to look forward to!)

Where's the water?! The 'pond' before the 2006 work.

David and Craig also ask that if you are taking your dog along for a walk around the pond, please keep it on a lead. The pond is a sensitive ecosystem and we have to be careful not to disturb it too much or let any invasive species get a foothold.

I’ve got my wellies ready!

More good news – the swans are back at Stranmillis, hopefully to stay. Now seen two weeks running: an adult swan and a young swan born last season and still showing some grey feathers.

WET IS WONDERFUL – IT’S WORLD WETLANDS DAY

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:28:00 GMT

Moorhen eating his greens along the Lagan

February 2^nd is a red-letter day for nature. Not only the ancient Celtic festival of Imbloc; (meaning ewe’s milk, it is a major celebration of spring and the lambing season) in the US and Canada it’s Groundhog Day. But more importantly for us, and all the rest of the planet, Feb 2 is World Wetlands Day. Nice to see wetlands getting a bit of attention, and their own special day, because they certainly deserve it.

The Cinderellas of nature, wetlands can get overlooked compared to showier hills, forests and seascapes. Even their descriptions: bog, fen, marsh, swamp, do no favours. But don’t underrate their beauty and value. Up close, these squishy, squelchy worlds are very exotic! In a few months the ponds and swamps along the Lagan will be teeming with buzzing, flitting jewel-like insects, the call and splash of birds, tall reeds, frogs and blooming irises.

February 2 has been declared World Wetlands Day to celebrate these vulnerable habitats everywhere. This date in 1971 marked the adoption of the International Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea. Over 120 countries are now involved.

Cormorants like a nice perch from which to view the marshes (and their next meal)

The best flood prevention is natural Set in a bowl and threaded with rivers, Belfast and the Lagan Valley has a diversity of wetlands – the salt marshes and mudflats along Belfast Lough, the Bog Meadows(originally a 1000 acre floodplain for the Blackstaff River), the mountain moors, and of course the Lagan ponds and marshlands. Back in the day, these soggy places were much more extensive, which is why the few remaining wetlands we have are all the more valuable and worth protecting.

Not only for their beauty and incredible diversity of plants and animals which rivals any rainforest, but for the valuable role wetlands play in protecting against floods and erosion. Floodplains and fens act as natural sponges to absorb extra water, prevent overflow and minimise damage.

David Scott, LVRP Information and Conservation Officer details how natural solutions can reduce flood risk.

Flooding is a natural process that cannot always be prevented and can have severe impacts on individuals and communities, but also on wildlife. Climate change is likely to increase occurrences, so we need to find new ways to deal with managing flooding. Natural habitats can be used to help us handle flood risk, bringing benefits for biodiversity as well as to communities.

Working with nature we can restore a catchment's natural capacity to deal with floods. Wetlands, floodplains and woodland all act to slow the flow of water, store water in the catchment and reduce the threat of flooding downstream.

Measures that use natural habitats and restore natural processes can work in combination with more traditional flood risk management measures such as concrete floodwalls. An advantage of working with nature is that these methods can deliver multiple benefits for people and the environment:

· Tackling diffuse pollution - for example buffer strips can reduce excess nutrients and sediment run-off entering watercourses and also contribute to slowing and storing floodwater

· Restoring natural processes and habitats in a catchment to improve biodiversity and geodiversity - for example removing flood embankments and reconnecting a river with its floodplain

· Creating a more attractive landscape and enhanced amenity.

Flood prevention can be beautiful

Case in point - The Bog Meadows has been undergoing major restoration as part of Belfast’s flood control plans, to harness its power to prevent flooding.

Along the Lagan too, the diverse swamps and water meadows play an essential role in flood prevention – without these places Belfast and Lagan city centres would be soggier places! Of course these wetlands are also essential to plant and animal life along the Lagan and beyond.

Wetland projects are an important aspect of the Laganscape conservation work, designed to protect these fragile habitats, restore their beauty and diversity, make them more accessible...and prove that Bog Is Beautiful!

Minnowburn Pond gets a marvelous makeover David describes the nearly completed Minnowburn Wetland Project, where volunteers and staff have donned their wellies and gotten stuck in.

Regardless of whether ponds are natural or man-made, millponds, peat cutting ponds, garden ponds, gravel ponds and the natural variety, are all important habitats. Small as they are, ponds may support a diversity of life, and are particularly good habitats for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, and invertebrates such as dragonflies, snails and water beetles. The Park has examples of both man made and natural ponds.

The Minnowburn Wetland Project has created access to and enhanced the existing pond site off the Ballylesson Rd. This includes the provision of a designated accessible footpath from the Minnowburn car park to the pond with further access to the adjacent field and beyond. This will link the site to the Giant’s Ring network of paths. A dipping platform made out of green Irish oak has been built to facilitate education groups and pond dippers alike.

Laganscape and National Trust volunteers will be working to further enhance the habitat through the planting of wetland trees and creation of a willow weave bird hide. The bird hide will be made from living willow, which will continue to grow and provide a natural screen for visitors to watch heron, sparrow hawks, wood sandpiper and a whole array of tits and finches.

The work will be completed soon and a launch event is planned, so watch this space. And for more wonderful wetland images and info about the Lagan, go to http://www.laganvalleylearning.co.uk/Topics/ponds_10.aspx . Full of good stuff for people to go explore ponds for themselves.

Wetland residents can be pretty colourful - kingfishers like the quieter stretches of the river

WATCH THE BIRDIES

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:24:17 GMT

Which of these adorable birds will bring colour to your garden this weekend? Bright blue tit?

Are the birds acting like it’s spring in your garden? Spend an hour taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend and find out!

What a weird winter we’re having! (But I’m not complaining). Sunday along the towpath I saw beetles, sprouting greenery and grass, even dandelions. In my garden the daffodils are blooming and the snowdrops have been up for weeks. While birds are showing all the signs of mating. As I headed to the Bird Feeding Day (Saturday before last) at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage, the birds were in full dawn chorus mode, particularly a song thrush that was announcing his presence very beautifully from a prime perch – for any female thrush within half a mile!

Cuddly long-tailed tit?

The spring-in-January weather and the overall mildness of the winter so far will mean interesting viewing and results for this year’s Big Garden Bird Watch. It’s the world’s largest garden bird survey, as thousands of people across the UK spend an hour observing the birds in their gardens and recording the results. This year it takes place over the weekend of January 27 and 28^th.

Chubby chaffinch?

The results provide a snapshot of how some of our favourite garden birds, as well as more exotic visitors and winter migrants, are faring. The survey is also an opportunity to see how species that are endangered or in decline are coping. Though starlings may seem common, their numbers have diminished greatly, as have house sparrows. So the survey helps the RSPB set priorities for which species most need help to recover and advise on steps we can all take to help.

This year should be particularly interesting. The RSPB has been hearing from people who’ve noted fewer birds in their gardens despite putting out feeders. Are numbers down after the last two severe winters? Actually, there are probably more birds about, as young birds, which are the most susceptible to cold weather, have survived this year due to the mild conditions. They’re just not about in our gardens. Again, due to the unseasonal warmth, there is a greater food supply available in the countryside - berries, worms, even insects. So the need for seed is not so desperate and birds aren’t venturing into town.

Dapper wee coal tit?

Taking part in Big Garden Bird Watch is easy and fun. Simply visit rspb.org.uk to download a counting form, then submit your result online. Kids particularly enjoy nature on our doorstep, which is why schools make up such a big part of the survey every year. You don’t need a garden – your patio, local park, schoolyard – anywhere will do!

Birdwatch Tips

Put out food now and watch bird numbers increase for even better watching.

Best to stay indoors and keep the cat in too, so you don’t scare the birds away.

View on a sunny day when the sun is low (morning or late afternoon) and you’ll only see black silhouettes, which makes identification tricky to say the least.

Or a friendly neighbourhood robin? Photos provided by LVRP

So can we breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve made it through winter? Let’s see what February throws at us first. If it finally does turn properly wintery, count on nature to put on the brakes and the birds to forget about romance at least until after Valentine’s Day!

SEEING RED

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:45:38 GMT

The Laganscape and Lagan Valley Red Squirrel Group have teamed up to investigate how our local red squirrels have been holding up against two fierce winters in a row, aggressive grey squirrel competition and the challenges of being a small, mild mannered picky eater in a big bad world.

LVRP Information and Countryside Officer David Scott tells us about their planned research project:

One of the most frequent questions people ask about Belvoir Park Forest is “are there any red squirrels left?” Well we hope to answer that question soon.

Working alongside the Lagan Valley Red Squirrel Group, the Laganscape scheme is involved in helping to conserve the red squirrel population in Belvoir Park Forest, one of the last strongholds of this native species in Northern Ireland.

As part of the project, expert David Tosh and his team will undertake an extensive survey of the red squirrels. Over the coming months he will observe the red squirrel population with a view to determining numbers and the capacity of the forest to provide a habitat now in and in the future.

This information will be used to develop a conservation management plan to help protect this endangered species both here in Lagan Valley Regional Park and nationally.

Laganscape’s dedicated group of red squirrel survey volunteers, who tirelessly remain committed to the Lagan Valley red squirrel, are supporting this valuable project, going out in all weathers to survey the forest.

Keep an eye out for future postings where I will give an update on our furry friends.

Along with the bluebells and the kingfisher, the red squirrel is one of the most loved and iconic features of the LVRP. We’re all looking forward to a bright future for this adorable and very vulnerable Park resident.

Feed the Birds at the Lock Keeper's

Siobhan Dignan — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:37:34 GMT

More visible, more hungry at this time of year

Saturday January 14th is Winter Birds Day at the Lock Keeper's

With the lack of tree cover and natural food supplies, our feathered friends become far more conspicuous. And they would certainly appreciate the extra help we can all provide - that means food! The more food you provide, the more birds will come to your garden...and the greater the variety of avian visitors too!

Right now is a great time to learn more about familiar garden birds - how to identify them and their habits too. And of course, the best foods to feed them to help them through winter.

So come along this Saturday to the Lock Keeper's Cottage and find out.

This is your opportunity to have a go at making some seed balls and learn some basics about our winter birds. Why not bring along the whole family for a great morning’s fun? (Kids love making the seed balls, which are easy. And grownups - the suet in the seed balls is great for dry winter skin! It also provides essential fats birds rely on in cold weather)

Meet at Lock Keeper’s Cottage for our Feeding the Birds event at 11.00am (around 2.5 hours). Call 028 9049 1922 to book your place.

Laganscape Year 4 Roundup

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:05:39 GMT

The award winning Laganscape project, dedicated to restoring, protecting and enhancing the Lagan Valley Regional Park’s heritage, wildlife and natural features (as well as amenities), has just completed its 4^th year. As LVRP Information Officer David Scott tells us, new programmes are underway, established projects are making great strides, and visitors to the Park will be able to see the results and enjoy the benefits. (That goes for visiting and resident wildlife too!)

There is plenty of work still in progress, so even more good things for us all to look forward to in 2012. In future blogs we’ll be giving you more details about these developments.

As we completed another year, the Laganscape staff and volunteers are looking back on the last twelve months with some level of satisfaction. It has been a busy time with an ambitious programme of projects successfully completed. Some have been continuing previous work, such as our bird conservation project, with more bird boxes being put up and a new monitoring system put into place. In future updates we hope to reveal just how many of our feathered friends have taken up residence in the deluxe apartments built by our volunteers. Other new projects are nearing completion, including the riverside park in Lisburn. Watch this space for more details.

Again, our volunteers have been working tirelessly in the Regional Park and the Lock Keeper’s cottage. The Saturday Conservation Team (50 members strong) are a committed and highly motivated group of individuals who care passionately about the Regional Park. They have been involved in a wide range of projects throughout the year and have supported the initiatives of many of our partner organisations including:

Woodland management
Hedgelaying (BCC initiative)
Tree planting (Minnowburn project)
Invasive species removal (National Trust)
Bracken bashing

“I appreciate knowing that in years to come I can proudly show other people the trees or hedges we planted and feel a sense of contribution to this beautiful park.” Carol Laird, Conservation Volunteer

Our Survey Volunteers have been out in all weathers taking part in our species survey initiative. They have been helping to build a picture of the health of populations of red squirrel, butterflies, birds and bees, which in turn feeds into conservation plans being developed by the Regional Park and other organisations, such as Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the dedication of the Heritage Guides, the Lock Keeper’s cottage (LKC) continues to be a great success. Through our Guides’ passionate interpretation of the cottage and Lock 3, the public remain enthralled in the story - as the visitor numbers reflect. The cottage would not be open without our Guides’ input. In fact they are responsible for promoting the LKC on behalf of the project and Castlereagh Borough Council. This year the Guides met and helped the project team develop the future management of the LKC and garden. 2012 will see the Guides taking a more active role in the day-to-day care of the building and artefacts as well as weekend opening.

“Volunteering in the cottage is a great way to meet new people. I have particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to develop the cottage garden. Many visitors have complimented the work we’ve done.” David Scott, Heritage Guide Volunteer

However, we are not sitting on our laurels and have already started on Year 5. In 2012, we will see the development of a new wetland project and the creation of 3.54 hectares of wildflower meadow in Minnowburn. In partnership with the National Trust, these projects are already being developed with new accessible pathways being completed by the end of January 2012.

Laganscape is currently developing an Interpretation Strategy, which will look at the signage throughout the Regional Park. It is hoped that new interpretation can be produced, providing more information and helping visitors get more enjoyment from their surroundings.

We have exciting new community projects due to start this year. Local communities were asked to submit ideas for projects in their area, which would benefit local people and the natural or built environment. We have shortlisted the successful community groups and will begin work in the spring.

This year will see the end of the Ancient Oak project with the last 700 trees being planted. These young trees were grown from acorns collected from some of the oldest oaks in Ireland found in Belvoir Park Forest. To date we have planted out over 4000 with the help of our volunteers, school groups and local communities.

Our species conservation projects have everyone excited. We will be building artificial otter holts, swift, bat and barn owl boxes. We hope to have cameras in bird boxes and outside kingfisher tunnels with live feeds on our website. These plans are still in the early stages of development, so keep an eye on www.laganvalley.co.uk for further news. Or, if you'd like to volunteer this year!

Photos from LVRP show the many things our volunteers get up to!

MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS VISITORS WELCOME

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:55:00 GMT

Santa is not the only one from Lapland - waxwings

Are you expecting festive visitors from many miles away this year? Even if you aren’t, right now they could be winging their way, or even already be making themselves right at home in your local park, garden, and definitely in the hedgerows at the Lagan Valley Regional Park. So put out the welcome mat (better still – a feeder brimming with seeds).

If you have ever wondered why there seem to be so many more thrushes and blackbirds about at this time of year, and small birds too like the finches, wonder no more! Many of the garden birds we regard as favourite residents are actually migrants from Scandinavia, coming here to escape even colder weather up North. But as we all have experienced, the ‘balmier’ conditions here can sometimes become too cold for comfort even for these hardy visitors.

Over 4000 species of birds migrate; 40% of the world’s species. The proportion of migrating birds varies from region to region. Cold places like Scandinavia have a higher ratio, while about 50% of our birds migrate. In tropical regions far fewer travel. Insect eaters are particularly hit hard by winter and are forced to hit the skies in search of food.

Peckish jackdaws travel here to swell local ranks each winter

Though Northern places are an insect smorgasbord in summer, few birds can survive the extreme cold and short days of the far North. So we get an influx of birds from the Arctic, Siberia and Nordic regions. Fortunately for birdwatchers, we are located on the major East Atlantic flyway, so plenty of birds stop off en-route or decide to winter here. And it’s not only the bigger species like waders, waterfowl and geese that make the move. Many smaller species and common garden birds are migrants.

When did tiny adorableness ever stop me from flying thousands of miles? Go chaffinches!

There are several types of migration. The regular seasonal migration we associate with great flocks of geese passing overhead – each spring and autumn we see summer visitors arriving then departing and winter visitors coming and leaving as the weather improves. Most of our winter visitors come from the North and East such as fieldfares and redwings (members of the thrush family) which can turn up in our gardens.

Irruption is when a population outgrows its local food supply. Birds must then move en masse elsewhere, like the waxwings did a couple of winters ago, crossing the sea from Scandinavia in search of a better berry supply and arriving in large numbers, even in gardens. (The LVRP reported numerous sightings.) Irruptions within a population only happen every few years.

Are you calling us an irruption? Waxwings don't know whether to be flattered or offended!

Some birds that are year round residents can migrate within a region, moving from harsher conditions upland to milder conditions in the lowlands. Skylarks and meadow pipits do this when winter conditions get severe.

Partial migrants is the term for species which are resident here all year round, but also reside during the warmer months in Eastern and Northern Europe. The colder winter conditions force these birds to decamp to more hospitable places like Northern Ireland, swelling local populations. In spring, these visitors return home to breed. Partial migration explains why our skies from November onward are filled with amazing formations of thousands of starlings, or why we see even more robins, and chaffinches in our parks and gardens in winter. Other partial migrants that may have braved a long flight from the Baltic include bluetits, siskins, great tits, wood pigeons, coaltits and even many of our favourite finches.

Even tinier and more adorable long haul flyer - the bluetit

Fieldfares, a relative of the thrush, move south and west and will keep pushing on if severe weather makes the going tough. They can be nomadic following food sources. Any you see in your garden or a local park could be passing through if the food supply is not plentiful.

So how do they do it, especially the more solitary types like blackbirds? Birds make sure they fatten up well in the summer and early autumn before setting out. (see the chaffinch above!) These aviators seem to be able to navigate by the stars, some sort of innate magnetic sense, the position of the sun in the sky indicating relationship to poles, and on cloudy days, through polarised light. Hard to imagine beautiful songbirds flying thousands of miles, but goldcrests migrate by night using the stars to navigate. A sudden onset of cloud and fog can disorient them and ground thousands. But it is still not understood how they work out their exact destination. (And we think the 3 Kings are intrepid voyagers and flying sleighs are impressive!)

OK, I have already featured the bluetit but can we ever have too much of them?

All of these common garden birds are partial migrants – robins, song thrush, mistle thrush, blackbird, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, siskin, linnet, greenfinch, yellowhammer, wren, goldcrest, pied wagtail, dunnock, redpoll, jackdaws, rooks, hooded crows. Winter visitors in our gardens: fieldfare, redwing. And sometimes...waxwing

No wonder winter is such a good time for feeding and watching birds! They provide such welcome colour and song in the dark days of winter, so be sure to put out a warm welcome for them.

Beautiful but no thanks.

P.S. It looks like we won’t be having a white Christmas this year. : - }

Remember conditions last year? Then the LVRP volunteers and staff helped brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrirds make it through extreme conditions when all food sources were frozen over by providing feeders all along the towpath and throughout the Park.

Merry Solstice/Christmas!

Last Christmas, feeders kept these birds from starvation.

Christmas Day 2010 photos provided by T. Dignan and all other photos from the LVRP and RSPB

Holly or Ivy? Which takes the crown?

Siobhan Dignan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:06:00 GMT

Traditional solstice rivals, the robin representing the new year....

Last Christmas I blogged about the traditional rivalry at this time of year between the robin and the wren for King of the Birds. This solstice legend, dating back to pre-Christian times, represented one bird as the New Year and the other as the old and inspired songs, customs and even Christmas cards!

....and the wren representing the old

A similar rivalry also exists between the holly and the ivy. Both plants come into their own and bear their fruit in winter. In folk carols (many also predating Christianity but since adapted) the ivy represents the female and holly, the male. So which of these native plants should wear the crown as the top plant in the woodlands? Usually, in the old carols, the holly wins out.

Holly is extremely hardy and can grow on mountainsides where few other trees survive. Depending on which resource you consult, holly can be considered a tree or shrub. It can reach 15 metres, but I have seen some much bigger than that! Generally though, in its natural woodland setting, holly forms part of the understorey shrub layer. In forests and hedgerows, the dense growth and prickly leaves provide perfect protection for small birds. Both male and female trees have small creamy blossoms, but only the female produces the red berries.

In the ancient songs and folktales, scarlet holly berries are often associated with the blood of Christ and the spiny leaves with the crown of thorns. Even the bitter bark of the holly can be contrasted with the sweetness of the infant Jesus. That’s why the English name, Holly, is derived from holy.

Holly has been used for Christmas and New Year decorations for centuries, as a sign of green life to come and to ward off evil spirits. Holly also features prominently in St. Stephen’s Day celebrations, particularly the violent variety. In Wales, boys and men beat the arms of women with holly branches until they bled. Also, the last person to rise would be whipped with holly and forced to do chores. In Scotland too, local boys beat each other. The bloodletting was believed to bring health benefits (back then bleeding was considered a form of treatment for many ills). To the Scots, every drop of blood lost meant an added year of life. While in Ireland, the wren boys would tie the just-killed bird to a holly branch and go from house to house.

Holly crops up frequently in Irish pre-Christian mythology and the sagas of the early saints, as a weapon, a plant with magical properties and as a symbol of championship and strength. Due to its protective properties, it is unlucky to cut down holly in some areas, but the hard pale word is valued for woodcarving and was a popular choice for early weapons.

Today holly with berries continues to be a favourite decoration at Yuletide (so much so that female trees are endangered in some places) and features on many cards and ornaments. What’s more, the name Holly is very trendy for girls, whereas Ivy has fallen out of favour. It’s all a hard act for ivy to compete with!

Poor old ivy is even maligned for killing trees. But this is a subject for ongoing debate. As a non-parasitic climber, ivy does not cause direct harm to trees. The clinging hair-like roots on the stems are for support only. Often trees that have an abundance of ivy growth in the canopy are already old or diseased and weakened. The ivy can then affect tree stability and in gales, the tree could blow over. But in the right place, such as a forest, a fallen tree is no bad thing. Indeed, as I will cover in a future blog, it’s a boon to biodiversity.

However, many contend that this prolific plant can interfere with the natural shape, balance and canopy of a tree. Ivy can then compete with the tree for light and for nutrients at the root level. So ivy may need to be kept in check if it is getting too large, affecting a tree’s shape unduly, or depriving it of sun and sustenance - especially if ivy threatens to take over a specimen tree you value.

Often mistaken for mistletoe, holly only takes this form and produces flowers and fruit when it reaches sunlight

Ivy is also perfectly happy as a ground cover in woodlands. But if there is any standing object it can climb in search of light, it will quickly scramble up. Ivy only produces flowers and fruit when it reaches the top of a wall or a tree canopy, which it can do in no time, as it grows 3 to 4 feet a year. Ivy compensates by engulfing everything it can and has covered many an eyesore.

Adding insult to injury, the more glamourous Virginia Creeper is also often mistaken for ivy. When people talk about an ivy clad home, or the Ivy League colleges in the US, they are referring to an entirely different plant with large leaves known for their red autumn colour. That said - variegated versions of the humble ivy are big sellers at garden centres!

Blackbirds sing the praises of ivy - the female is on the right.

But ivy is favoured by two of winter’s most beautiful singers, the blackbird and thrush, who enjoy dining on ivy berries - at their best in late winter. In fact, both plants are a real gift for birds at this time of year. These hardy native species are in full leaf so they provide essential protection and shelter for vulnerable small birds through winter, and in spring, are ideal for roosting and nesting. Not to mention a rich food source when other sources of nutrition are scarce. As two of our few native evergreen species, holy and ivy are more than just plants, but entire habitats.

So this year, bring both indoors as part of your festive decor. A few strands of ivy make great garlands - trailed along the mantelpiece among the twinkling lights, wound round the stair post, mirrors and up a bare tree branch - adds welcome native greenery and a touch of tradition. Not only free, but a great way to manage ivy in your garden. Just pull what you need off your favourite trees!

(photos provided by the RSPB and LVRP)

GOOD AS GOLD

Siobhan Dignan — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 GMT

Even this late in November, there’s still a good bit of colour about – surprisingly so! The larches and beeches are providing a welcome hit of gold and vivid russet against the charcoal and black of the bare trees and the gloomy grey skies. Both these trees are a real feature of the Lagan Valley landscape and seem right at home – yet neither is native to Northern Ireland.

The magnificent beech is indigenous to most parts of Europe and probably came over with the Normans in the 13^th century. Beeches have been here so long, they are very naturalised – the climate and conditions clearly agree with them.

For all their huge stature and impressiveness, beeches do not live longer than 200 years. It’s hard to believe the Minnowburn beeches, with their great height and hidey-holes in the trunks so beloved by little children, are not permanent features.

Fantastic foliage

These trees are distinctive for their huge shading crowns, massive, smooth grey trunks and largely horizontal branching. The profusion of overlapping small leaves creates a wonderfully impressionist image when looking up and watching the light filter down through – one of summer’s great pleasures. And right now, multitudes of crispy leaves on the ground make a nice cushion for an impromptu nap – if the weather ever dries up – or just fun for kicking along.

Such a wealth of leaves shades out all growth underneath, so very little can thrive beneath a beech, with the exception of bluebells.

Photos provided by LVRP show just some of the biodiversity the Laganside woodlands support...

....like treecreepers and lichens

The rich yellow small-leaved hedges that come into their own at this time of year are also beeches, but pruned way back. Soon the leaves will go brown, lingering on until late spring. So now is the time for the beech hedge to shine. (See them at their best on the roadsides near Shaw’s Bridge)

A host of native animals have come to rely on the beech tree. Bats for roosting high in the branches, feeding and nesting birds, barn owls which make a beeline for a lofty perch or convenient cosy bolthole and above all, red squirrels who love the sweet nuts.

...native reds

A big tree is a great spot for owl, bat and bird boxes, as these LVRP volunteers show

Along with oaks*, beeches are members of the fagus family. This name may be related to the Greek word for ‘to eat’ as beeches provided a food source in times of famine in Europe. *(Which are native – thousands of years ago this island was covered in oak trees.)

Often around our countryside, a massive spreading tree can be seen out on its own in the midst of a large field, dominating the scene, of course. Usually it’s a beech, making a statement. More stunning still – the copper beech. No wonder so many are landmark trees.

....and birds of prey. But these days owls have a harder time finding mature trees with handy nesting holes

The only deciduous conifer native to Europe, the European larch first came to the UK in 1620 as a high quality source of wood. There are also Japanese larches in the British Isles.

Tall, yet delicate, larches are distinctive for their bright grassy green colour, small soft needles and autumn golden tone. With their loose, spreading branches, larches provide a more open woodland habitat and let in more light; attractive features for birds of prey.

Bluebells make their show in deciduous forests before leaves appear to cut out their light

Beautiful though both trees may be, (as well fellow incomers like horse chestnuts and sycamores), they can’t compare with the locals for boosting biodiversity. Native trees, (broadleaved varieties are best of all) and the plants, fungi, insects and animals that depend on them have evolved together over thousands of years. This is particularly true of invertebrates. That’s why today, the emphasis has shifted towards planting more native species. Even so, every tree is a valuable habitat in itself.

A leaf strewn forest floor makes the perfect puffball habitat

In the past year there has been a good deal of concern about these two species as they have been infected by the fungal disease also known as Sudden Oak Death. Thousands of Japanese larches have been affected and had to be felled. In Co. Down, the disease appears to have jumped species and has infected several beech trees. Most likely, the fungus was brought in with imported rhododendron shrubs. Whatever the cause, it has now been spotted in several NI locations. Naturally the LVRP team are on alert for any signs of trouble with both species, which are among the favourites in the Park. (even if they are relative blow-ins!)

SPOOOOOOKKKKKYYY HALLOWEEN WALK

Siobhan Dignan — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:05:00 GMT

"See you on Monday!" (pipistrelle bat photo from RSPB)

Like things that go bump in the night...in the forest? Join us on Halloween evening.

6.30pm is the witching hour for our fearsomely fascinating walk around one of the most haunted areas of the Lagan Valley Regional Park. Hear weird and wonderful stories of ghastly, ghostly goings-on around Belvoir Park Forest, a site steeped in local mystery and legend.

Visitors should meet at Belvoir Park Forest car park at 6.30pm, Monday October 31st. Torches and wellies welcome.

HALLOWEEN AND HIGH WATER

Siobhan Dignan — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:28:00 GMT

Mist, magic and mystery in Belvoir Park Forest.

I was all set to write a Halloween blog about the ghoulish and fantastic things to discover along the Lagan – Gruffalo hunting in Belvoir Park Forest, spotting giant glistening spiderwebs at dawn, exploring Where the Wild Things Are in the hollowed out treetrunks at Minnowburn Beeches, and witnessing a murder of crows* high in the biggest trees – but my plans have been swept away (somewhat) by the flood waters.

You're being watched.....

A walk yesterday revealed what the super natural rainfall has wrought. The first clue was the sound of the water. Is the Lagan usually so noisy and gushing? Then I spotted the heron. Usually he’s perched on a tree limb sticking out from the water. Not now. For one thing any tree limbs are either submerged or washed away in the brown torrent. No, he was staying safely on shore. The ducks too were keeping to the still pools and overflow ponds.

Scary mini monsters, now in a park near you!

The ‘causeway’ to the brown bridge near Stranmillis was barely keeping its head above water. And the canal, now suddenly full of flowing water, had set off on a course of its own, breaking its banks to create a shortcut which swamped some of the lower lying paths and seems to have washed away others.

Slowly sinking, Belvoir Park Mausoleum - for day trippers only!

Closer to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage, the rushing river came within a foot of the towpath. While on the other side, trees that normally lined the banks now had their feet underwater. Water meadows are now more water than meadows.

Giant, ghoulish, ghastly glow-in-the-dark green ghost? Or just a giant fungus?

The ponds at the Lock Keeper’s cottage were brimming, much to the delight of the ducks and moor hens. But fishermen won’t be pleased. The wooden landing and steps beside the Red Bridge have vanished beneath the Lagan!

Dusk....and the hungry bats are coming out. (They're completely harmless of course, adorable in a funny sort of way, and actually pretty nice to have around!)

Let’s hope it all dries out before long and normality returns. In the meantime, my advice to walkers – if you want to go off piste, stick to the higher paths. There the only hazards might be some mud and slippiness. Take the lower, riverside trails and you will probably have to double back before long. And keep a close watch on dogs and your children! The current is a powerful thing. The only scare you want this year at Halloween is a dodgy witch costume or a B horror movie.

Man eating tree? Or lair for a family of trolls, a smallish ogre or a witch's hideout. Belvoir's 300 year old oak.

But just to keep the Halloween spirit – a bit – I’ve included some suitably horrifying pictures. Yes, all the spooky stuff shown here can be found at the Park. So be very frightened. Or if you love nature in all its wonderful weirdness - this is the place this Halloween!

OK ENOUGH OF THE SCARY STUFF!!

I asked LVRP Information Officer David Scott for the expert view on how the flooding affects pathways, plants and animals along the Lagan. To quote Tom Jones - it's not unusual.

As publicised in the news over the last week we have been experiencing some heavy rainfall. While not wishing to sound like a weather forecaster, this is not unusual for the time of year. The levels of rainfall are greater than the average, but the cry of a ‘hundred year flood’ seems to happen every other year! Is this climate change, drainage issues, a lack of investment in infrastructure or just bad luck? I believe that is a debate for another day and probably another forum.

High waters are good news for seals coming up stream.

In LVRP, we experience flooding regularly, as the Lagan is affected by the tides in the lower sections near Belfast and has a huge catchment area from its meagre beginnings in the Dromora Hills. As the river winds its way down toward Belfast Lough, it picks up speed and volume as more and more smaller rivers and streams flow into it.

This is the natural cycle of river valleys and has its benefits. The duckweed, which has choked slow-moving sections, is washed away and the water is oxygenised making it more favourable for aquatic life below the surface. Life in the muddy coloured torrents also benefits from nutrients being washed into the Lagan. Fish trying to swim upstream have a greater depth of water making the shallow stretches easier to navigate.

On the downside, along with the nutrients, invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed seeds are dispersed. These plants thrive on riverbanks and historically it is watercourses that have helped their march across the country. When the river bursts its banks these seeds are taken inland and the invasion continues.

What’s more, when dumped on natural meadow areas, the nutrients that are great for aquatic life can be devastating for wildflowers and native grasses. As these plants prefer poor soils, a sudden deluge of fertile soil washed down river causes other plants to take over and the meadows are lost.

But otters are left temporarily homeless.

Otters are have been washed out of their riverbank holts; bad for the otters but right now we have a better chance of seeing them. After the last big flood at the beginning of the year, otters were seen porpoiseing down the river in the middle of the day.

Kingfishers are struggling too, as the river in many areas is flowing too fast for them to fish. Their prey can stay well below the surface out of diving reach. Herons look on from the bank as the waters rush by. But the mallards seem to be having a great time breaking world speed records for white-water rafting.

Kingfishers are among the creatures hit hardest.

Some areas of the towpath are quite bad for flooding (Drumbeg being one of the worst) but it is passable now. I would recommend a walk along the Lagan while it is this dramatic (taking care not to fall in of course) as you never know what you might see.

This is a difficult time for much of our wildlife, but not anything they haven’t seen before, and they are well equipped to deal with this natural phenomenon.

Don’t forget – Feed the Birds Day is October 29. So there’s still time to get the food and the feeders in. And watch this space for news of a Halloween Walk on Monday the 31st at Lagan Valley Regional Park.

*Collective noun for crows. And what about a charm of finches?

Thank you Lagan Valley Regional Park for all the photos of the wildlife, the giant tree in the mist and the archive photo of the mausoleum. Thank you RSPB for the bat illustration (it's not easy getting a photo of these shy nighttime creatures), and in particular Stephanie Sim for her photos of the ancient oak and the giant fungus.