So...last week was another busy week here at Forsinard. Six members of staff were trained in the use of the new Argocat that we took possession of recently. This will primarily allow us to transport equipment and materials out onto the bog to enable us to block old hill drains that are drying out areas of the bog and causing erosion of the peatland. There is also potential in the future for the Argo to be kitted out to help fight brush fires such as the two that we had last year.
This baby vole was relocated to a safer spot away from the Argocat!
As always, survey work is very important at this time in the season. Below are some photographs from the darkside of the moon...well...the other side of the reserve.
Bog Pool System
Never has driving in a straight line been more important!
Finally, we have had a very special visitor from down south. We had a hen harrier from Forest of Bowland make a brief visit to the reserve. At Forsinard we have a healthy harrier population, but last week 74843 (also known as “Beth”) paid us a visit on a grand tour of the UK. She has been on her travels since she was satellite tagged at her nest as a youngster last summer. She is special because there are still very few breeding Hen Harriers in England where they continue to suffer greatly from human persecution. If you would like to find out more about Beth and the fortunes of the Bowland Harriers then why not follow the SkyDancer blog at: www.rspb.org.uk/skydancer/
Adult male Hen Harrier with nesting material - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Things have been very busy on the Forsinard reserve over the last couple of weeks. Both staff and volunteers are now involved in survey and monitoring work on the reserve and we have been out and about undertaking a variety of different surveys.
Poo!
Yesterday we were out spending a couple of hours looking at...well...poo! Each year, as part of our monitoring work, we carry out predator scat (poo) transects on the reserve, recording the location and content as well as the species that deposited it. This helps us to keep an eye on what mammalian predators we have on the reserve such as red fox, pine marten, stoat, weasel and otter. As we remove areas of conifer plantation and return them back to peat bog. The population of some predator species, which prey on ground nesting birds, should decline as they relocate in search of more suitable habitat. The predator transects help to give an idea of predator populations.
Predator Transect Training
MBS
We have also been carrying out the first part of our annual Moorland Bird Survey (MBS) on parts of the reserve. Some species seen include meadow pipit, skylark, greenshank, golden plover, hooded crow, greylag goose, buzzard, a black-throated diver and an aggressive encounter between a raven and a golden eagle!
Some of the views of "the office" during a Moorland Bird Survey (MBS)
SINKING SHEEP
Last Friday on my way back to the cottage, after finishing work, I came across a rather adventurous sheep that had managed to get itself stuck in boggy ground up on the farm. It took a bit of effort, sloshing around in icy-cold water and a bit of manhandling, but eventually the rather cold sheep was free to join the rest of the flock further up the hill on more firm ground. It just goes to show that the life of an RSPB Warden is never 9 to 5 and you have to be ready to deal with a wide variety of animals both wild and domestic!
That sinking feeling!
Wet wool is very heavy! One wet and cold sheep, but she dried off and recovered ok
So apparently it is spring here at Forsinard, although from the rain and wind hammering against the side of the office you would probably never believe that. The sky is grey, it’s cold again and I can barely see Ben Griam Beg through the cloud. The correct Scots word is...dreich! However over the last couple of weeks when the weather has been reasonably good we have had all manner of breeding birds starting to turn up on the reserve.
Up at Forsinain farm we have had our first swallow, plus a female merlin and a host of skylark and meadow pipit. There are still a few greylag geese loitering around in the fields, a “gang” of starlings have taken up residence in the eaves of one of the cottages and curlew and snipe can still be hear calling at dusk. The crazy “electronic” sound of lapwing can sometimes be heard drifting on the breeze. There are several pairs of pied wagtails and a couple of grey wagtails around the Forsinain Trail and both field voles and weasels in amongst the dry-stone walls along the side of the track.
Female Merlin taken by Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Down on the river there are at least two pairs of dipper along with a pair of common sandpiper and a rather lonely looking oystercatcher. A grey heron has also been lurking around the red bridge over the last couple of days and I spotted a peregrine falcon patrolling over the lower fields by the river.
Dipper by Tom Marshall (rspb-images.com)
Out on the bog the golden plover are starting to sort themselves out, with the odd greenshank now turning up, hen harriers sometimes being seen hunting over the peatlands and the dark shape of ravens cruising over the plantations. There are still herds of red deer around, with fifty spotted grazing down by the river last week.
Greenshank by Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
If you want to get some idea of what all these birds sound like, then click on their name (underlined in blue) and visit the profile page for the species. At the top left corner of the species page is a button labelled PLAY which will give you an idea of the range of calls and songs associated with that bird species.
Our volunteers were out this week undertaking surveys and performing the essential task of cleaning out the water tank at Forsinard. This vital task is performed once a month on a rota system and as per usual it was an absolutely awful day with heavy rain. Still, the volunteers (Paul & Will) along with our Assistant Warden Claire and myself managed to drain down the tank, clean it out and restore the water supply.
Our volunteers Will and Paul cleaning out the water tank
Remember that the visitor centre is now open daily from 9am to 5pm and Kirsty will be leading guided walks on Tuesdays and Thursdays (2pm - 4.45pm) from the start of May!
So this blog is probably telling you that I am Paul Turner but I’m actually Kirsty Godsman, the new Information Assistant at Forsinard. Hello! I have been here for a few weeks now and I am really looking forward to spending my summer here. You will probably find me in the visitor centre at Forsinard or out on the reserves leading guided walks (just in case you didn’t know, the guided walks will be running twice a week from May until the end of August). We are still sorting out the details for the guided walks so watch this space for more information! I should mention that the visitor centre is now open but we have painters working on it to spruce it up as part of our spring cleaning.
Despite the snowy weather, breeding birds continue to arrive and in preparation for the return of divers (not of the scuba diving variety) we have added a new raft to one of our lochs. Diver rafts act like artificial islands that rise and fall with changes in water level and offer divers protection from predation and rapid changes in water level.
Forsinard has its first event of the year coming up with Easter Sunday on its way. We will be out on the Dubh Lochan trail hunting for frogs (with prizes to be won!) and there will be a guided walk on the Forsinain trail. I am hoping the weather will brighten up for it but I have to admit, despite the snow, it is beautiful here at the moment. Have a look at the events section of the reserve page www.rspb.org.uk/forsinard for more information.
Spring at Forsinard! Hot and sunny last week, snow and ice this week!
A snowy Dubh Lochan Trail
Lovely view for a picnic, if a bit chilly! Pools on the Dubh Lochan Trail looking across to Ben Griam Beg
It might not look like much but add some turf to the raft on the trailer and this is the latest thing in Loon accommodation!
New Equipment
Christmas has come early/late(delete as appropriate) to the reserve with the arrival of our new ArgoCat (see photo). While we try not to drive out onto the actual bog itself there are times when it is necessary, for example when we are moving dam pilings into place as part of re-wetting the bog.
Staff and volunteers admiring our new 8x8 ArgoCat
The new ArgoCat
We also have contractors on the reserve who are mulching some of the conifer blocks. This is basically like running a massive shredder through the trees and is part of the forest to bog restoration that we do.
Danni, Claire and Will looking at the results of Mulching
Staff and volunteers have also been testing one of the new Emergency Shelters. We can guarantee that in spring sunshine and light winds on the front lawn of the office the shelter performed perfectly! We are also confident however that in tougher conditions, such as sub-zero temperatures and driving rain or blizzards, that the Emergency Shelter will perform as required and keep us safe.
Will, Kirsty and Claire....all safe and well inside the Emergency Shelter!
Dipwells
Both staff and volunteers have been out again for the weekly measurements from the dipwells. For anyone who has never seen one of our dipwells they are essentially a bit of pipe with a pair of ladies tights over the end (Nothing kinky... just to act as a very fine filter!) The pipe is inserted into the ground and left there, with a small mesh cap on top to prevent vegetation falling in.
A volunteer or member of staff then comes along with a plastic tube that has measurements down it and blows down the tube until bubbles are heard, indicating that there is water in the dipwell. A measurement is then read off of the tube and recorded on a monitoring form. Reading dipwells like this allows us to monitor the watertable and we have dipwells in conifer plantations and on untouched bog so that we can make some comparisons.
Dipwell in one of the bog plots
While walking between dipwells on the bog I noticed a flash of movement at my feet as a common lizard dashed to get out of my way. One of our volunteers (and soon to be Information Assistant) Kirsty also reported lizards enjoying the sun today, basking on rocks. I managed to snap a couple of photos of my lizard in the heather and grass...
Common Lizard
Bloodsuckers!
We try not to think about them, and just thinking about them often makes us all start to itch, but it is that time of year again when that parasite we all love to hate becomes more active again...the TICK!
It occurred to me as I removed one off of my dog this morning that it is worth reminding people who enjoy the outdoors that it is really quite important to check yourselves regularly for these wee freeloaders and even more important that they are removed in the correct manner!! This means with a pair of fine tweezers or with tick twisters. DO NOT pull them off in any other way, or try to burn them or suffocate them. This might remove them but will almost certainly make them regurgitate their stomach contents back into you and increases the risk of infection and disease.
The tick I pulled off the dog this morning...I bet you've just started scratching!!
Next week (26th March – 1 April) is Tick Bite Prevention Week and you can find out more information on tick prevention and correct removal at the website www.tickbitepreventionweek.org
Remember: Ticks can carry diseases and should be removed correctly as soon as possible, but don’t let them spoil your enjoyment of the great outdoors!
<< THE END >>
Well the end of the winter as this weekend starts the official British Summer Time!! Remember to change all your clocks! To end this blog I though I would leave you with a couple of landscape photos across the reserve taken on the drive back to the office this evening.