The excellent magazine of the North Lancashire Wildlife Group has just been published, packed full of interesting observations and reports of conservation activities in this area. To add to the interest, this issue includes an article about the Fairfield Association.
The cost of the magazine is £3 – please contact Hilary Short (hilarydee57@gmail.com) if you would like a copy.
The FA website will be undergoing a ‘refresh’ soon, likely to be next weekend. While this won’t involve any changes in how you use the blog, it will involve a change in:
Part of the rationale for making this change is the intention to use the blog as the primary means of announcing events and volunteering information, as well as for reporting wildlife sightings.
We will be creating a quick, downloadable step-by-step guide to using the blog, so if anyone would like to register who isn’t already registered, please email fairfieldassociation2014 AT gmail DOT com to request access.
Many thanks!
FA Web Admin
Thanks to all who have posted recently – wonderful to read about your sightings and to see your photos!
For anyone posting images, if you’d like visitors to see larger versions of your images, just select ‘Media file’ in the ‘Link to’ dropdown menu when you’re adding the image to your post (click screenshot below to see where this is and the ‘back’ button on your browser to return to the blog):
WANTED! Your Wildlife Sightings
The Fauna and Flora fields are being actively managed for wildlife. In particular, we are trying to encourage Brown Hare, Snipe, Lapwing and Starling, Grey Partridge and Tree Sparrow. (These are all ‘feature species’ in our agreement with Natural England.) Hare and Snipe have been doing well since Fauna was established. Amazingly, a couple of Grey Partridge appeared in the West Field in Flora only a few weeks after the scrape was dug. And Lapwing have been seen displaying over the arable field following the ploughing.
Note: During the nesting season, please send sightings of ground-nesting birds, such as lapwings and oyster-catchers, directly to sue AT nieduszynski DOT org to avoid them being disturbed. Many thanks!
We would be very grateful for your help in monitoring our success in attracting these species. And we would also love to hear of any interesting wildflowers, insects, small mammals that you spot, as well as any other birds that you see in the reserve and in Fairfield Orchard too.
All of this information will assist us in our management of the nature reserve. It will also provide us with evidence to feed back to Funders, such as Natural England and the Heritage Lottery, and to support future funding applications.
Please tell us about your sightings on this blog – ideally giving time, date, location and numbers.
Note: you will need to register to be able to add posts – please email us directly at fairfieldassociation2014 AT gmail DOT com to request access.
Recent sightings from Michael:
05/01: This morning at 10am I saw 3 small deer emerge from the trees near the corner of the Fauna path. They wandered along that Sowerholme field (I think that’s what it’s called!) then jumped over the fence/hedge into Flora Field. They then wandered up to Pony Wood for a bit then returned back to where they came from. Later (about 4pm) one of them was out again in that Sowerholme field (again, not sure what it’s called!)
I also saw a load of linnets in flora field yesterday (Friday) afternoon.
12/01: just seen a barn owl flying around Pony Wood (8am)
Thanks Michael!
Could anyone help identify what is likely to have made this largish hole by footpath near Flora field – photo sent in by Michael (with his size 10 shoe next to it to show scale):
Badger, fox or something else? (click to show full-size)
A couple more sightings from Michael:
Stoat seen running around the Orchard stones Sunday morning, and three hares (one being chased off by another) near Pony Wood early this morning.
Video clip of three hares (12 MB)
Passing along another sighting from Michael (spotted Saturday morning):
Just to let you know there was a nuthatch flitting around by the stone orchard sign just now. First time I’ve seen a nuthatch in the orchard.
For anyone interesting in learning more about recording wildlife, here’s some info received from the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside about an event taking place soon at the Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston. You can find details of how to book by selecting the link to the flyer below.
We’d like to invite you to our ‘Wildlife Recording Showcase’ on Saturday 17th March 2018 at Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston. This event is aimed at beginners and longstanding recorders, recording groups and community groups who want to find out about recording wildlife and get some help when recording in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Please see the attached poster for more information.
This event is being held jointly by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Local Groups Project & the Biodiverse Society.
We are currently taking bookings for the event which includes a free lunch! We have limited spaces, so book soon to avoid disappointment! It will also be advertised wider including on Facebook, so feel free to share the event.
The day will include 10 minute presentation slots by local naturalists that will answer questions such as ‘How do I record Beetles?’, ‘I’m interested in the Bats on my local park, how can I get involved in recording these?’, or ‘I just don’t know how to start!’.
There will also be some information stands of local recording groups where you can meet extremely knowledgeable recorders. We have limited space but if you have an opportunity for recording on your local patch, please bring along some information to engage the recorders. If you are bringing more than just leaflets or posters, please let me know in advance so I can make sure we have space for you.
If you would like to book a place, please get in touch before Friday 9th March, confirming your name, the group you are representing and any dietary requirements you have. Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.
LWT Wildlife Recording Showcase Flyer
Mick forwarded this photo of the Flora field being ploughed on 1st April.
The crop and wildflower seed will hopefully be drilled in the coming week, weather permitting.