Scientists have imaged the brains of bumblebees in unprecedented detail, revealing the regions linked to learning and memory.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Miniature brain scans hold key to understanding bee behaviour | Natural History Museum
Contrary to popular opinion, Nightingale is not the only bird that sings at night. In fact, due to it’s recent decline, you are more likely to hear other birds singing after dark. This video illustrates the difference in song between the four most common ‘Night Singers’ – Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush and of course, Nightingale.
Click on the play button to watch the video
Source: BTO Bird ID – Nightingale and Other Night Singers | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology
Forestry commission elevates oriental chestnut gall wasp to high-priority tree pest after 2015 outbreaks
Source: Asian wasp listed as threat to UK’s sweet chestnut trees | Environment | The Guardian
Warbler Walks
with Andy Harding.
Wednesday 4th May, 2016.
Evening Walk.
Meet at 18:15hrs, to set off about 18:30hrs
£2:00 for adults, children free
Please note revise start time.
The RSPB North Bucks Local Group will be visiting Rushmere Country Park on 4May16. Click here for more details.
1 May 2016, Work Sunday.
10:00- 13:00hrs
Refreshments available.
Help needed with trimming overhanging trees (only branches which clearly can not hold nests),
we would also like if possible to replant some
blackthorn along the perimeter fence to help security
Tidying up the front of house and other jobs
Refreshments available.
BIRDS
(Apart from our pair of Black-winged Stilts – see separate News item!)
Howe Park Wood
Tattenhoe Park
(Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park sightings by Harry Appleyard)
MAMMALS
Muntjac in and around Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard)
LEPIDOSAURIA
Grass snake by Martin Kincaid, Linford Lakes NR,24 April 2016
INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Odonata
Large Red Damselfly by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 20 April 2016
ANGIOSPERMS
Ramsons in flower at Bradwell Abbey and Stony Stratford Nature Reserve
A pair of Black-Winged Stilts, Himantopus himantopus, have been seen at Floodplain Forest NR at Manor Farm on Sunday morning, 24th April. This photo was taken of one:
Black-winged Stilt by Mark Appleton, Floodplain Forest NR 24 April 2016
The birds were seen to mate several times. If this leads to breeding here, and it is successful, it will be only the fourth recorded successful breeding of this essentially Mediterranean wader in Britain. The last two were in 2014 near Chichester in Sussex and in 1987 in Norfolk. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another breeding success here this year.
Keep your eyes on this website for the latest news on these exciting rare birds in our area!
Butterflies and moths can hear many things we cannot, revealing a sensory world that we are slowly beginning to understand
Source: BBC – Earth – The surprising way butterflies sense their enemies
Click on this link for details of this special event.
Discover 8 fascinating facts about the Buglife October Invertebrate of the Month: Pholcid spider.
Source: 8 pholcid spider facts you need to know | Discover Wildlife
Bluebells by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 10 April 2016
Plantlife produce a number of interesting guides to wildflowers. Here is their April Wildflower Spotter Sheet.
Scientists identify first tree to show strong tolerance to the disease raising hopes of developing a resistant strain
Source: ‘Betty’ the ash tree offers hope against deadly dieback disease | Environment | The Guardian
It sounds like the stuff of nightmares – giant earthworms that, if left alone, keep growing and growing to the size of a baby snake. But this is no bad dream – scientists working on the Isle of Rum, off the coast of Scotland, have found the biggest specimens ever seen in the UK, more than three times the length and weight of a normal worm.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Wildlife Extra News – Giant worms discovered on remote Scottish island
National Whale and Dolphin Watch records more species and individual cetaceans than ever before.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Record-breaking results in UK’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch | Discover Wildlife
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust have produced factsheets on a variety of animals.
This link will take you to the Kestrel factsheet. Why not explore their website to learn about other animals: Kestrel | Animal Facts | Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
Discover how nightjars have adapted to hunting after sunset.
Source: How do nightjars hunt in the dark? | Discover Wildlife
Bluebells by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 10 April 2016
Plantlife is the organisation that is speaking up for our wild flowers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of government, we’re here to raise their profile, to celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future.
Click on the link to read the article: A Guide to Britain’s Bluebells | Publications
Discover 6 fascinating facts about the BTO April Bird of the Month: Ring ouzel
Source: 6 ring ouzel facts you need to know | Discover Wildlife
‘Habitat Creation and Management for Pollinators’ is a free, practical guide for conserving insect pollinators, published this month.The guide is the distillation of a 20-year research partnership between Marek Nowakowski – a practitioner with a passion for wildlife conservation on farmland – and applied ecologists working for the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), led by Professor Richard Pywell.It provides farmers and other land managers with the best available advice on creating and managing habitats for bees on farmland.
AMPHIBIANS
BIRDS
Male Blackcap by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 17 April 2016
[HA]INSECTS
Small White by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 17 April 2016
MAMMALS
Hare Tattenhoe Park in January 2016 by Harry Appleyard
PLANTS
Grass Snake by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 15 April 2016
REPTILES
[HA = Harry Appleyard]
[LD = Lewis Dickinson]
[MK = Martin Kincaid]
A newly discovered tarantula sports a black coat that is as dark and brooding as its celebrity namesake: the renowned singer Johnny Cash.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Wildlife Extra News – Newly discovered Tarantula species named after Johnny Cash
France is banning glyphosate mixed with certain additives due to its perceived risks to human health, including Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup. In Europe
Source: France to Ban Glyphosate Weedkillers Due to Health Risks and another article in the Ecologist
An app has been produced to record the UK’s most problematic invasive, non-native plant species.
Click on the link to find out more: Home | Plant Tracker
17th April, Open Sunday.
10:00- 16:00hrs.
The friendly warm atmosphere in the Centre makes up for the fresher conditions outside – call in for hot drink and cake, to browse through the second-hand books and crafts, and to share news about what they have seen.
Migrant visitors are arriving back now, every day can bring something new. Pop along and share what you have seen.
French lawmakers approved plans for a total ban on some widely used pesticides blamed for harming bees, going beyond European Union restrictions in a fierce debate that has pitched farmers and chemical firms against beekeepers and green groups.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: France moves toward full ban on pesticides blamed for harming bees | Reuters
Meadow Flowers by Tony Hisgett. (CC BY 2.0)
It is well documented that significant losses in semi-natural grassland occurred across Europe during the second half of the twentieth century. However, comparatively few studies have investigated and quantified the fate of large numbers of individual grassland areas. This is important for understanding the causes of decline, and consequently establishing new policies to conserve and restore lost habitats. This study addresses this problem; GIS was used to compare historic survey data collected between 1960 and 1981 with two contemporary spatial datasets of habitats in England. The datasets included the Priority Habitats Inventory 2013 and the Land Cover Map 2007 and this was undertaken for different types of semi-natural grassland across England. Considerable decreases occurred across the different grassland types, with a loss of 47% of studied semi-natural grasslands sites in England over 32–53 years. Of this, the majority of grassland was lost to conversion to agriculturally-improved grassland or arable cultivation, 45% and 43% respectively. Changes to woodland and urban areas were also evident, but on a much smaller scale. Sites receiving statutory protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest were found to have retained more grassland (91%), compared with non-protected sites (27%), thus highlighting the effectiveness of this aspect of current conservation policy in England, and the need for this to continue in the future.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Fate of semi-natural grassland in England between 1960 and 2013: A test of national conservation policy
Your garden can play a crucial role in bat conservation, says Shirley Thompson from the Bat Conservation Trust. Here are her tips for how to ensure it does.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: How to create a bat-friendly garden
British mapping agency Ordnance Survey has released an easy-to-read map of terrain from the planet Mars.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Ordnance Survey releases digital map of Mars surface – BBC News
The long awaited Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve at Manor Farm, Old Wolverton is at last nearing completion – at least in terms of its build. The Parks Trust’s contractor has been on site since October 2015 installing the 2.5km of footpaths as well as bridges, boardwalks, fences and three bird hides. Progress has been severely delayed by the extremely wet winter, with no less than four major floods. However, I’m pleased to say that we can now allow people access to the western half of the new nature reserve while the contractor completes work elsewhere on site.
For those members with long memories, Mike Street, former Wildlife Conservation Officer with The Parks Trust, first spoke to the Society about his vision for this site back in 2001. The quarrying operation finally began in 2007 and was completed in 2014. However, even while mineral extraction was still ongoing the worked areas had been colonised by insects and birds and the site soon gained a reputation as one of the best in Buckinghamshire for breeding and passage waders. Lapwing, redshank, ringed and little ringed plovers and oystercatcher have all bred and many rarer waders, wildfowl and passerines occur on passage. The larger islands have seen a healthy population of nesting common terns in the last year or two. As I write, there are still some wintering wigeon, pochard, teal and goosander on site but most of these will soon disappear with the spring weather. A summer evening visit will be rewarded with the site of many bats, including common pipistrelles, Daubenton’s and the impressive Noctules.
Two of the three hides are now open to the public and give excellent views of the landscape and its wildlife (the third hide should be open in April). You will notice that there is little screening between the hides but some reed screening will be installed in the near future. A long term solution will be the planting of a native mixed hedge between the hides which will take place later this year.
There is still a great deal to do with tree planting, reed planting, more fencing and a wildflower meadow to restore over the next twelve months. We plan to introduce grazing animals some time in 2017 and hopefully this will include Konik ponies as well as cattle.
If coming by car, you can park at either Manor Farm Court (click here for a map)Floodplain Forest Open Paths off Wolverton Road or otherwise Haversham Road car park, near to Wolverton Railway Station (click here for a map). The site can also be accessed by walking along the Grand Union Canal from Old Wolverton and descending the steps by the Iron Trunk.
We will have a society walk here on the evening of 9th August 2016 but you may not wish to wait that long before you pay the site a visit. If visiting in the next few weeks, please bear in mind that machinery is still operating on site and look out for the signs and hazard fencing showing which areas are out of bounds. You will still be able to see plenty of wildlife and the whole site will soon be open to explore! There will be plenty of opportunities for Society members to get involved in recording the biodiversity of the site in the months and years ahead.
The Parks Trust have provided this map of the site..
Look out for another update in the very near future.
Martin Kincaid
Visit the members’ gallery for larger versions of the pictures.
Pictures from top to bottom:
Entrance sign by Peter Hassett
Number 1 hide by Peter Hassett
General view by Peter Garner
Number 2 hide by Peter Hassett
Redshank by Peter Garner
Redshank by Peter Garner
Little Egret by Peter Garner
Lapwing by Peter Garner
Grey Heron by Peter Garner
Reed Bunting by Peter Garner
Green Sandpipers by Peter Garner
Hen Harrier Day returns for its third year and this time takes place on Sunday 7th August 2016. Some campaigners are already at an advanced planning stage and have confirmed that Hen Harrier Day ev…
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Hen Harrier Day 2016 (Sunday 7th August) | Raptor Persecution Scotland
I recently spent a wonderful week on the southern part of the Island of Mull with my daughter and her partner who is an RSPB warden and has an incredible knowledge of birds. We stayed in a lovely cottage with views across the sea to Staffa, Colinsay and Dutchmans Cap etc. The week was full of great wildlife sightings including 20 plus sightings of hen harriers, 14 golden eagles and 17 sea eagles, plus a wonderful view of a snipe drumming tail feathers extended to create that amazingly evocative humming sound.
We didnt see many otters apart from one amazing view of a mother and older cub playing together on the rocks about 20 metres away. However one cold damp morning we decided to go down to the local beach for a morning dog walk and just inside a gate we found to our dismay a perfectly formed but lifeless baby otter. As we looked on sadly I noticed the minutist twitch of one of the half opened eyes. I picked the cub up and cuddled it inside my coat to try and warm it up – no response at all. Meanwhile we had met some locals who invited us into their home and spent the next half hour trying to contact someone from the Mull Otter Group but to no avail. Eventually the local wildlife crime officer supplied them with a mobile number and soon our otter rescue lady was rushing over from Tobermory with a supply of bright pink rehydrate solution.
The otter cub perked up after being given rehydration solution
We could now see that the cub was breathing more deeply and after two syringes of rehydrate which she swallowed she started to open her eyes and look more alert, but still there was absolutely no movement in her floppy limbs. She was bundled into a cat crate and disappeared off in the car and that was the last we saw of her.
Two days after rescue and she is looking much healthier.
However two days later I received an email from the lady with the wonderful news that Gribun our cub was doing very well indeed and was soon to be sent off to the SSPCA who had another little 13 week old cub who needed a friend. This week came more good news, that the cub has settled happily with her playmate, after a bit of grumpiness, and they are both doing well. They will be kept together at the centre with minimal human contact for a year, after which they will be released into the wild.
Apparently otter mums bear their cubs in holts that are up to three miles inland and at about 7 weeks of age they move them to a holt nearer the sea. Maybe this little cub got separated from her mum on this journey and became dangerously weak and dehydrated.
We feel incredibly privileged to have been involved in the rescue of such an exquisite creature and to have held her little furry body and examined her leathery black paws and needle sharp teeth – wow!! It’s so good that it had a happy ending as well, although she would have been better off gambolling in the loch with her mum like the other cub we had seen earlier in the week.
Ps Apparently the otter cub who was rescued after the floods in MK recently ended up in Tiggywinkles rescue centre and it is also going to be sent up to Scotland for release, as there are more suitable habitats for it up there. So a happy ending for both orphans!!
The article and photos were kindly supplied by Julie Lane
You might not associate a garden rockery with butterflies and moths but actually the hot and dry microhabitat, with well-drained soil, can offer conditions suitable for some great nectar plants. The rocks can also provide butterflies with warm places to bask in the sun.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Butterfly Conservation – Dig It – April Tips from the Secret Gardener
The BBOWT South Beds Local Group is hosting a talk about the Ashridge Estate.
The talk is taking place on Wednesday, 20 April 2016 7:30-9:00pm at
Dunstable Community Fire Station Lecture Theatre
Brewers Hill Road,
Dunstable,
LU6 1AA
BIRDS
Green Woodpeckers, Howe Park Wood (11th April)
Sightings by Harry Appleyard
Bucks Bird Club at Manor Farm/Floodplain Forest NR 10th
Cetti’s Warbler, Little Ringed Plover (sightings from Peter Garner – full list below)
Manor Farm Friday 8th April am
Little Ringed Plover (x2);Oyster Catcher; Snipe; Redshank (several); Shoveller (x2); Green Woodpecker (x2); Goosander (x2); Cetti’s Warbler; Blackcap
Stony Stratford Reserve Friday 8th April pm
Oyster Catcher (x2); Snipe (3); Shoveller (x2); Bullfinch (x2)
Encouraging numbers of lapwing displaying at both sites.
Sightings by Joe Clinch
MAMMALS
INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Full list of birds seen on Bucks Bird Club visit to Manor Farm/Floodplain Forest NR, Sunday 10th April, led by Peter Garner:
Great tit Blue tit Wren Willow warbler Blackbird Robin Tufted duck Gadwall Magpie Canada goose Crow Wood pigeon Little ringed plover Pied wagtail Mallard Redshank Coot Lapwing Pheasant Sand Martin Cormorant Buzzard Moorhen Little egret Reed bunting Great crested grebe Oystercatcher Teal Sparrowhawk Cetti's warbler Starling Blackcap Grey wagtail Chiffchaff Greenfinch Goldfinch Mute swan Chaffinch Great spotted woodpecker Long tailed tit Little grebe
Heritage Lottery Funding could help rare and declining UK species.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Funding aims to restore populations of some of the UK’s rarest species | Discover Wildlife
Key part of government strategy to tackle bovine tuberculosis in cattle is lost as shortage of BCG supplies forces temporary closure of badger vaccination in England and Wales.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Badger vaccination programme suspended | Discover Wildlife
Another year has passed and, due to some unusual and record-breaking weather patterns, it has been a challenging one for our wildlife.
The findings from experts at the National Trust in their annual weather and wildlife review found there were species that fared badly but also, as you might expect, those that have done well because of it.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: BBC – Earth – How the weather affected British wildlife in 2015
Climate change is most likely behind the extraordinary spread of a type of vesper bat across Europe over the last four decades. Kuhl’s pipistrelle has extended its range by nearly 400 percent, says Leonardo Ancillotto, lead author of a study supervised by Danilo Russo of the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, in Springer’s journal The Science of Nature. It is the first to record a range expansion for bats on such a continental scale.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Climate change helps bats to spread their wings
The RSPB North Bucks Local Group will be hosting a talk, Pineapple Peril by Ann Scott on 14Apr16. Click here for more details.
Alaskan butterfly could serve as ‘a canary in the coal mine’ as Arctic climate changes habitat.
Source: Newly discovered butterfly may hold clues to climate change | Toronto Star
Wednesday 13th April
Doors 7.15pm,
£2.50 inc a drink
Prof. Jeff Ollerton will be coming to Linford Lakes Nature Reserve
Anyone out there interested in this: ‘Bees for dinner?
The importance of pollination in a changing world.’
You can email Michele Welborn at michelewelborn@homecall.co.uk to book a place
He’s a great speaker, passionate about his subject,
film and documentary makers consult with him.
(you can reserve a place on the Open Sunday)
Certain species of life from Earth were able to survive on the ISS in Mars-like atmospheres, which could have a great impact on the search for life on Mars.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Fungi and Lichens Survive 18 Months In Mars-Like Conditions Outside the ISS
Few Red Grouse were shot in the UK this year, mainly because of disease and bad weather. But regardless of grouse bags, this was a very bad year for driven grouse shooting and hastened the end of this worthless hobby.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: 2015 – a bad year for driven grouse shooting – Mark AveryMark Avery
Atlas of Butterflies in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire
The Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation have produced an excellent Atlas of Butterflies in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire.
Nick Boles, the chairman of Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation has stated “We were pleased to include your organisation in the acknowledgements. MKNHS provide very important records (often through BMERC) and we would struggle to accurately reflect the situation in MK without those records.” So we can clearly see the benefit of the tetrad records that we have been maintaining.
If you are not already a member of Butterfly Conservation, you can join from £32 a year or £2.66 per month. Once enrolled with Butterfly Conservation, you will receive a copy of the Atlas if you join the Upper Thames Branch.
Alternatively, you can purchase a copy of the Atlas from Diane Garland, Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, Lulworth, Dorset BH20 5QP at £10 plus £1.60 p&p.
INSECTS
Brimstone by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 2 April 2016
Common Lizard by Harry Appleyard, Rammamere Heath 13 March 2016
REPTILES
AMPHIBIANS
Common Toad by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 23 March 2016
BIRDS
Male Wheatear by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 1 April 2016
Willow Warbler by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Valley Park 2 April 2016
Swallow, Tattenhoe Park (2nd April) [HA]
MAMMALS
[MK][HA = Harry Appleyard]
[MK = Martin Kincaid]
The ash tree is likely to be wiped out in Europe, according to the largest-ever survey of the species.
Patrick Barkham fears the exceptionally mild winter and cold, late spring have dashed his hopes for the coming months
Source: My first sighting of this unpromising year | Environment | The Guardian
Redshank by Peter Garner, Floodplain Forest NR, 25 March 2016
One of our members, Peter Garner will be leading a walk at the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (née Manor Farm) for the Bucks Bird Club (BuBC).
You are welcome to attend even if you’re not a member of the BuBc (there will be a small charge for non-members).
Details of the event can be found on the BuBc website.
Click on this link to find more information about the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve
Badgers not to blame for hedgehog’s decline, say wildlife groups
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Badger cull no help for hedgehogs | Discover Wildlife
BIRDS
Common Scoter by Peter Hassett, Mount Farm, 29 March 2016
Common Scoter by Peter Hassett, Mount Farm, 29 March 2016
The 5 pairs of Common Scoter were seen on Caldecott South Lake on 22 March 2016. The solitary immature female Common Scoter arrived at Manor Farm on 29 March. Some record shots are included.
Magpie logo
The April 2016 edition of the Society’s magazine, The Magpie has been published.
You can view it on the Publications area of the website or by clicking on this link.
Greenpeace accuses government of ignoring scientists over fate of Białowieża woodland, home to 20,000 animal species and Europe’s tallest trees
Source: Poland approves large-scale logging in Europe’s last primeval forest | Environment | The Guardian
3rd April, Work Sunday.
10:00- 13:00hrs
Refreshments available.
Helpers are invited to get involved with a range of activities.
This month we plan to plant some holly bushes, seed the butterfly bank,
treat the benches in the front garden and clear the leaves from bridges.
The 2015 annual results of the BTO Garden BirdWatch show an interesting story. Thanks to a wet spring, some of our common bird species appeared to have poor breeding season, leading to low average numbers during the second half of the year. Many of the seed-eating and insectivorous species were seen in very high numbers toward the end of the year, possibly due to a poor tree-seed crop and stormy weather. It was also another year with low winter migrant numbers, which could have been driven by relatively mild winters at both ends of the year. Explore the year in more detail by viewing the results for individual species using the drop-down menu below or scroll down to see our seasonal guide.
Click on this link to view the results. Click on the Species menu to select the results for a particular species: GBW Annual Results 2015 | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology
Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea) by Peter Hassett, Preston Montford , 5 August 2015
Mike LeRoy has kindly provided the following information:
Natural England published four more of their series of Species Status Reviews during March 2016. These are for:
• Caddisflies (Trichoptera)
• Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)
• Ground Beetles (Carabidae)
• Shieldbugs and allied families (Hemiptera.
Use this link to download the publications: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/category/4707656804597760
Buglife’s ‘Bug Bites’ newsletter says:
“The reviews cover Mayflies, Caddisflies, Shieldbugs and Ground beetles and show that over 70 of the 686 species reviewed are at threat of extinction, and a further 9 species have become extinct.”
The RSPB North Bucks Local Group will be visiting College Lake Nature Reserve, near Tring on 6Apr16. Click here for more details.
For the first time, a butterfly, Euptychia attenboroughi, has been named after Sir David Attenborough. It’s a black-eyed satyr that it is known only from lowland tropical forests of the upper Amazon basin in Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil.
Click on the link to read the article: New Butterfly Species Named after Sir David Attenborough – Entomology Today
Otter Spraint in situ
A few hardy Society members braved the aftermath of Storm Katie to walk around Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, ably guided by Society Vice-President Martin Kincaid, an expert local naturalist employed by the Parks Trust who manage the Reserve.
Martin pointed out a number of interesting wildlife waste products on the way round.
Firstly otter spraints. Otters have been observed at LLNR in recent years, and the characteristic fish scales make up much of these spraints. They have a characteristic and rather pleasant odour composed of a mix of fish and new-mown hay.
Contrast with the next dropping the participants found, that of the introduced pest species, the American mink, which has had a serious impact on water vole populations across the country.
The droppings of a third mustelid (weasel family) found at LLNR were also found, the badger. These resemble smallish dog faeces.
Also found was the scat of another local carnivore, the fox. These do not in fact share the characteristic odour of this animal.
Finally the last faeces found was that of a small deer, almost certainly that of a muntjac although just possibly a roe deer.
The walk found more than just a load of faeces. Notable species seen in the flesh were the Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding at the bird feeders near the LLNR Centre.
A variety of waterfowl visible from the centre hides, such as a Great Crested Grebe.
A Common Toad found burrowing under one of the corrugated iron sheets put down by the Parks Trust to encourage lizards, snakes and amphibians. Martin informed us that toads appeared to be in decline due to lack of suitable spawning sites. They spawn in water a degree or two colder than frogs and for this and other reasons require deeper ponds than frogs do.
Thanks to Martin and the Parks Trust for this interesting tour of a valuable local site. To visit this site you will need a Permit, available at a modest cost from the Parks Trust by clicking this link.
All photos taken by Steve Brady
Beak deformities in wild birds are unusual, with fewer than one in 200 adult birds thought to be affected. However, a number of reports from BTO Garden BirdWatchers have caught our eye and we are keen to find out more about the deformities being seen in British and Irish gardens.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Big Garden Beak Watch | BTO – British Trust for Ornithology
One of the UK’s most widespread butterflies, the Small Copper, has suffered its worst year on record and is now in a state of significant decline, a study has revealed.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Butterfly Conservation – Small Copper slumps as butterflies struggle in cold summer
Toxic chemicals threaten Europe’s orcas
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Toxic chemicals threaten Europe’s orcas | Discover Wildlife
Perennial flower meadows can look very attractive and will flower for many years once established. Most of our native wildflower meadows have disappeared due to intensification of agriculture and by creating your own flower meadow you bring a tiny fragment of this precious habitat back and provide food and shelter for many different types of wildlife especially pollinators and other insects, spiders, birds and small mammals.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Urban Pollinators: How to create a perennial flower meadow
We don’t know whether other animals apart from humans exercise to stay fit, says scientist Dr Lewis Halsey.
Source: Do animals train to stay in shape? | Discover Wildlife
Federal Aviation Administration aims to stop millions of birds dying each year by changing static red lights, which attract birds, to flashing lights
The Guardian newspaper has published a short article on the Emperor butterfly in Milton Keynes. You need to scroll down past the first article.
We forced SeaWorld into the orca U-turn. What shall we do next? | Patrick Barkham | Opinion | The Guardian
Small grebes in summer are gloriously-coloured birds, but two of the three species are unfamiliar to most. Poor light or frequently encountered partially moulted birds can also cause some identification headaches. Let us help you separate these beautiful birds.
Click on the play button to watch the video
Flock of racing pigeons equipped with pollution sensor and Twitter account take to the skies in bid to raise awareness of capital’s illegally dirty air
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Pigeon patrol takes flight to tackle London’s air pollution crisis | Environment | The Guardian
BIRDS
All sightings by Harry Appleyard
LISSAMPHIBIA
MAMMALS
INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Just like us, the monarch butterfly sometimes gets sick thanks to a nasty parasite. But biologist Jaap de Roode noticed something interesting about the butterflies he was studying — infected female butterflies would choose to lay their eggs on a specific kind of plant that helped their offspring avoid getting sick. How do they know to choose this plant? Think of it as “the other butterfly effect” — which could teach us to find new medicines for the treatment of human disease.
Click on the arrow to watch the video (6 minutes)
The cunning birds hide their food more quickly if they think they are being watched, suggesting they can attribute mental states to others
Source: Ravens’ fear of unseen snoopers hints they have theory of mind | New Scientist
Here are four ways that farmers can support wildlife on their land – and be paid for it.
Source: 4 ways farmers can help wildlife | Discover Wildlife
Butterfly Conservation is committed to sharing data to benefit nature conservation, public understanding and ecological research. After consultation with the … Continued
Source: Butterfly Conservation opens the door to Lepidoptera records – National Biodiversity Network
Popular puffin and curlew are among 15 species added to ‘red list’ of birds at risk of extinction locally, says a new report
Source: More than a quarter of UK birds are fighting for survival | Environment | The Guardian
Despite what a certain cartoon about nunchucks-wielding reptiles would have you think, turtles are no heroes in a half shell. In Japan, they were in need of a rescue themselves due to their unfortunate habit of getting caught between the railroad switches while trying to cross the tracks.
You can see below how that would be a problem:
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Turtles Saved From Sudden Death Thanks To New Train Lanes
Rather than make the winter migration to Africa the birds are finding a constant source of food at Europe’s landfill sites, research shows
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: White storks swap migration for a junk food diet at rubbish tips | Environment | The Guardian
The Royal Geographical Society is hosting an event on Thursday the 24th March 2016, at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
The evening is intended to showcase the incredible wildlife of all of the UK Overseas Territories and the journey taken by film-maker Stewart McPherson over the last four years to visit and document their wildlife. Tickets cost £10 (£8 for RGS Members, Friends of the UKOTs, Students, Seniors). They are available at: http://ow.ly/XUGsr
In the What’s About news items for the 16th and 23rd February 2016 we advised you that a Ferruginous Duck and a Dipper had been seen in Milton Keynes.
The Bucks Bird Club (BuBC) produce an excellent monthly bulletin for their members. The March edition contains articles on both of these rare visitors to Milton Keynes. The BuBC have kindly agreed that the Society can publish these articles on our website:
This photograph of the disputed adult Ferruginous Duck at Caldecotte Lake shows off its rear undertail white feathers, one of its key identification features at distance as well as its high forehead. Photo – Andrew Moon
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca is a scarce duck at the best of times with only ten or so records from Bucks. However the possibility of escapes from wildfowl collections cannot always be discounted. This rather smart drake turned up at Caldecotte Lake on 5th February 2016 found by Keith O’Hagan. It stayed there for several days and then moved to Mount Farm Lake on 12th February. It then proceeded to move between the two lakes periodically. The bird showed all of the identification features of a Ferruginous Duck, however a few of our experienced birders in Bucks felt this was more inclined to be an escaped bird. However, not much could be pinpointed to this, perhaps too good to be true getting the vote. It was drifting around a Black-headed Gull for some time, which either suggests watch out for a very interesting hybrid or it was just looking for friends, choosing this bird rather than closer related birds such as Pochard or Mallard, which doesn’t necessarily make it tame. While the origins of many scarce ducks is often unknown, this individual was rather wary at times and was un-ringed, so perhaps suggesting a wild origin, and what’s wrong with a ‘too good to be true’, being true on occasion, at the right time of year and when a small influx of other birds have been seen around the UK in February. The natural location of breeding birds is in East Europe and beyond, with a few regular localised wintering populations in Central France. Perhaps this one favoured BreExit! The Bucks records committee will decide in due course whether to accept as a wild bird or a potential escapee. Still a beautiful bird and one well worth publishing here and as seen by many.
This photograph of a scarce bird for Bucks proved to be a much sought after Dipper (also known as White-throated Dipper) which has not been seen in Bucks for many years. Thanks to this opportunistic photographer for recognising this wasn’t just any bird and for sharing this image with us to help aid its identification as a valued record. Photo – Sarah Mckeeman
Reports of a Dipper (White-throated) Cinclus cinclus in north Milton Keynes was more conclusive and brought out bird searching fever after being reported by a non-birder but keen photographer Sarah Mckeeman. This single photo of the bird was taken on its favourite rock on Loughton Brook, near Bradwell and blog-posted on Sat 13th February, probably one of only a few locations in this part of Bucks, where the bird could have found some pleasure in habitat that it would normally seek in more northern streams and rivers of the UK, or gushing brooks in Devon or Wales. No doubt the same bird seen again shortly after, but this time located in the Emerson Valley Park stream in Furzton near a footbridge very close to V3 Fulmer Street. Adam Bassett, who was seeking the bird at the time, came across Sarah and a friend whilst looking for the bird, who shared the image seen here with him. This being the case she was delighted to learn of the rarity of the image she had captured but more importantly had collected a record for Bucks, not seen since 1994. Other birds have been seen over preceding years but only ones and twos over each decade. It would appear from this valued photograph that the bird is of the nominate form, the continental Cinclus c. cinclus. Most birds in the distant past have been migrants, as the more resident two UK sub-species birds of West Scotland c. hibernicus and rest of Scot/North and West England and Wales c. gularis tend to stay local. Both of these forms have a slightly more rusty brown belly, whereas the birds from the continent are known as Dark-bellied. In Sarah’s own words: “Walter and I were stalking the kingfisher that lives along this piece of river. We were at the brick bridge than runs under the west coast main line. This bridge has a wooden bridge that lets pedestrians through. We were walking back south and out of the corner of our eyes, saw a bird flying fast and smoothly just above the water to under these bridges. We both looked at each other and for a second as it looked like a black kingfisher in flight. Anyway, next thing we knew, it flew back past us again, to the stepping stones in the water. Curious to see what it was, we started clicking away, light was pretty poor and we daren’t get any closer as we didn’t want to spook it. A couple of times it flew back to the bridge, then back to the stones. We lost it after that” Alas, it was not seen again at these locations although some intrepid Bucks birders trod miles just in case.
I would like to thank the BuBC and especially Tony Hardware for their assistance in the production of this article. I recommend that you check out their website and consider joining the group.
RSPCA heralds the rare discovery of twin grey seal pups after it recovers orphan pair from beach in Norfolk.
Source: Grey seal twins born in the wild | Discover Wildlife
INSECTS
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly at Rammamere Heath (13th – HA)
Buff-tailed Bumblebees active throughout MK now.
Peacock butterfly and Greater Bee-fly – Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (14th – MK)
Common Lizard by Harry Appleyard, Rammamere Heath 13 March 2016
REPTILES
Common Lizards seen basking at Rammamere Heath (13th)
BIRDS
2 Redshank on Willen Island (14th – MK)
Oystercatcher pair on top of Sand Martin Bank, Linford Lakes NR (12th)
Woodcock – Rushmere Country Park (13th – MK)
Tawny Owls calling at Woughton on the Green (13th)
Pintail – a pair still at Linford Lakes NR (14th)
Chiffchaffs heard calling at Linford Lakes and Caldecotte Lake
(HA) = Harry Appleyard
(MK) = Martin Kincaid
A newly-discovered spider has been named after rock star David Bowie, in an effort to raise awareness about the number of arachnid species threatened with extinction.
Source: Rare yellow spider named after David Bowie – Telegraph
Wildlife Trust estimates tree disease has left around 1,000 mature English elms, which are the exclusive habitat of declining white-letter hairstreak
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Rare UK butterfly under threat as elms disappear | Environment | The Guardian
Tropical forests in Colombia are home to a rich diversity of butterfly and moth species. Dr Blanca Huertas, Senior Curator of butterflies, joined an expedition for 72 hours of intense exploration in the wilderness.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: In search of new species in wild Colombia | Natural History Museum
A 20-year review of the illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland shows 779 raptors died between 1994 and 2014, says RSPB Scotland.
Source: Hundreds of raptors illegally killed since 1994, says RSPB – BBC News
10:00- 16:00hrs
Join Andy Harding, County Recorder, at 10:00
for a bird watching walk.
Andy is great at teaching bird identification
and is always willing to share his experiences of bird life.
There is open access to hides and centre.
Facilities available. Hot and cold drinks, home-made cakes.
Second hand book sales, crafts and bird food on sale.
Come and see what has dropped in.
View from the comfort of our hides and viewing gallery.
Please bring your friends and family, all welcome.
Everyone associates poet extraordinaire William Wordsworth with daffodils – ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud …’ – but Wordsworth’s favourite flower was, in fact, the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficar…
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: The lovely Lesser Celandine | earthstar
Use this guide to help you identify 12 mostly common British trees.
Source: How to identify a tree from its bark | Discover Wildlife
Hi all.
As many of you have already noticed the construction of the floodplain forest nature reserve at Manor Farm is nearing completion. Our contractor has been on site since October 2015 and has now almost completed the 2.5km of footpaths, and most of the fences, boardwalks and bridges have now been installed. The three bird hides have been installed in the past fortnight but have remained locked for health and safety reasons. I’m pleased to say that as of Monday 14th March – assuming conditions are favourable – there will be some access to the nature reserve. The large central hide and the western hide, towards the Iron Trunk, will be open as will the path that connects them. The doors will not be locked from that point on. Our contractor will still be on site operating heavy machinery for several weeks so we will not be able to open up the third hide at the Haversham Road end just yet. While the contractor is still working on site, please keep to the area described above – there will be some temporary hazard fencing and signage indicating areas which remain out of bounds. Of course, you can continue to view the pits from anywhere along the riverside (northern) boundary and we now expect to be able to open the nature reserve fully some time in April.
It was our intention to begin to open up the reserve in January 2016 but unfortunately the wettest winter that anyone can remember has caused some delays. The contractors have done an incredible job given the conditions.
We have had a few questions about the materials used for the footpaths and boardwalks. The boardwalks are made from a composite material that will resist rotting and have a natural non-slip surface, while the footpaths are made from recycled car tyres! This means they are permeable and as floodwater recedes they will drain quickly. Of course, some work will be ongoing for months ahead – with tree planting, reed planting and some additional stock fencing to go in later this year. Walking around the site with a colleague yesterday, there was little of note other than a good number of Common Snipe, with every ditch and pond seeming to hold two or three.
Here’s to many years of good birding and wildlife watching at Manor Farm. Enjoy!
Martin Kincaid
Biodiversity Officer, The Parks Trust
Dangerous volumes of neonicotinoid insecticides and other pesticides are expressed in common wild flowers like buttercups and hawthorn blossom in countryside under arable cultivation, a new study has discovered. The discovery invalidates the UK government’s ‘pollinator strategy’ based on creating ‘safe havens’ in arable areas – because the havens are in fact loaded with pesticides.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: New research exposes hidden cocktail of bee-killing pesticides in hedgerows and wildflowers – The Ecologist
Understand bar-tailed godwit migration.
Source: Understand bar-tailed godwit migration | Discover Wildlife
FLOWERS/PLANTS
Common Dog Violets – Linford and Shenley Woods (MK)
Cowslips and a few Bluebells – Howe Park Wood (MK)
Rosettes of bee orchids emerging at Willen Lake and Newport Pagnell (MK)
Danish Scurvygrass beginning to flower along grid roads (MK)
AMPHIBIANS
Common Frogs by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 01Mar16
Common frogs in ponds at Howe Park Wood and Westcroft ponds (MK) (HA)
Great Crested and Smooth Newts at Hazeley Wood (4th March – MK)
Any toads spawning yet??
BIRDS
Oystercatcher pairs at Stony Stratford, Manor Farm, Linford Lakes and Gayhurst. (MK)
8 Common Snipe and 1 Green Sandpiper on island at Stony Stratford Reserve (6th – MK)
A few Goldeneye still at South Willen Lake (4th – MK)
Sparrowhawk male at bottom of garden, Oldbrook (5th – Helen Wilson)
Redwings and Fieldfares gradually heading north. (MK)
Siskins – Tattenhoe Park and Howe Park Wood (HA)
Skylarks singing above fields in Tattenhoe Park and near Oakhill Wood (HA)
INSECTS
Red-Tailed Bumblebee – Howe Park Wood (Thurs 3rd) (HA)
MAMMALS
Roe, muntjac and more possible wild boar tracks in Oakhill Wood (Sun 6th) (HA)
(HA) = Harry Appleyard
(MK) = Martin Kincaid
Project by RSPB and clean tech firm Anesco to boost wildlife at solar farms in England and Wales will help species including turtle doves and skylarks
Source: Solar farms to create natural habitats for threatened British species | Environment | The Guardian
Centres, which rely on thousands of volunteers and are described as ‘eyes and ears’ of natural world, told contract ending early
Source: Decision to end funding of local environmental record centres attacked | Environment | The Guardian
Around the UK, Jays haven’t needed to dip into their large cache of acorns much this winter, with the weather being so mild. They will top up their diet with invertebrates and any other meaty treats they can get. This search can lead them to gardens during cold periods and some of these gardens are occupied by BTO ringers.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: BTO Bird Ringing – ‘Demog Blog’: What happened to all the Jays?
On Wednesday 6 January four scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology gave an hour-long background press briefing on the science behind flooding.Yesterday we posted a summary of the introductory hydrological points made by Professor Alan Jenkins, our Deputy Director and Director, Water and Pollution Science.
Source: What difference could natural flood management techniques make? | Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
The conservation charity, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), announced today that preparations have begun to allow male polar bear Arktos to meet female polar bear Victoria for the first time. This is the latest and most exciting step in our efforts to support the European breeding programme for this at risk species, which is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of endangered species
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Wildlife Extra News – Polar Bear Breeding Begins In The Highlands
The RSPB North Bucks Local Group will be visiting Linford Lakes Nature Reserve on 12Mar16. Click here for more details.
For a wonderful display in spring, plant conservation charity Plant Life has drawn up this list of 12 woodland plants for the wildflower garden. These exuberant plants put on a magnificent display in early spring, making the most of the warm sunshine before the tree canopy closes over.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Top 12 wildflowers for spring | The Telegraph
One of the UK’s rarest butterflies is being encouraged to move to a new site next to a Buckinghamshire railway line to ensure its survival.
Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Butterfly Conservation – Duke Gets Back On Track!
Butterflies in Greenland have become smaller in response to increasing temperatures.
Click here to read the article High-Arctic butterflies shrink with rising temperatures | BIOSPHERE
