Notices from the RSPB
National Corncrake Census Year
We would like as many records as possible of Corncrake on Mull or Ulva for the period from mid-May to the end of July 2009. Iona is fully recorded, so just records from Mull & Ulva please so that we can tell if the species is spreading. Send records to David Sexton [01680 300387] or e-mail David here.
Some biodiversity surveys you might be interested in:
Frog Mortality Project.
You may be aware that the incidence of the frog disease, ranavirus, appears to have increased. Although it has been present in the UK for just under 20 years, there were 10% more cases reported in 2006. The dry weather has forced the frogs into closer contact as waterbodies have dried up. Most outbreaks were reported from artificial ponds. Symptoms include bleeding and redness of the skin, skin ulcerations across the legs and body. If you suspect you have found a frog infected with ranavirus please contact the Froglife/Institute of Zoology 'Frog Mortality Project' on 01753 558444 or email them here. To find out more visit their website.
Monitoring Widespread Butterflies.
Butterfly Conservation have established a new scheme to monitor butterflies in the wider countryside, using randomly selected sites to detect trends for a range of widespread species. They hope to be able to assess the effects of Government schemes aimed at improving butterfly habitats on ordinary farmland [eg the Entry Level Scheme]. They plan to involve BTO volunteers as well as BC volunteers and to compare trends in butterflies with those seen in birds. If you are already familiar with butterfly transects and would like to help with the studies in 2007 then please contact Dr Katie Cruickshanks, BC's Wider Countryside Field Researcher, on her email address here.
Plant Invaders.
Plantlife is inviting people to look out for 3 of our pernicious invasive species; Indian Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and New Zealand Pygmyweed, Crassula helmsii. Please look out for these plant invaders and let Plantlife know where you see them [in gardens, local parks, along waterways] by filling in the survey form on their website. If you need paper copies of the survey postcard, please either download the PDF [on their website] or call the survey hotline on 01722 342755. If you need assistance with any aspect of the survey, please 01722 342756. Pictures of the offending species are on the Plantlife website.
Press Release - White-tailed Sea-eagles
Click here to download a PDF document.
East Coast White-tailed Sea-eagles
The tags used on the birds from the east coast are different from those used on Mull. Black bars are used above and below the letters or numbers. During the winter some of these birds may well visit the island. Here are a couple of pictures to help you in identifying them. Click on the small images for a larger version.
Click here to download a Newsletter about the WTSE releases in Eastern Scotland.
RSPB report on sickly finches
Click here for the RSPB report [on their website]
Threat to Lesser Flamingo
Read the full story here and lend your support.
Threat to Foveran Links SSSI
Read the full story here
Latest News from the RSPB website
Read all the stories here
Stornaway Gazette Poll
Your chance to vote for or against wind turbines on Lewis.
Click here for the full story.
Mull Eagle Watch [update November 2009]
The viewing hide at Loch Frisa is the only white tailed eagle viewing hide in the World! It is a partnership project between Forestry Commission (Scotland), Mull and Iona Community Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Strathclyde Police and the RSPB. Each year, the fully moveable viewing hide, is located to gain the best possible views of the nest of Skye and Frisa, our adult white tailed eagles that have been nesting along Loch Frisa for the last 11 years. This year for the first time, the Hide will stay open through autumn and winter taking advantage of the fact that the eagles do not migrate and will begin their courtship ritual in late autumn, early winter. Bookings for trips to the hide are made through our friends at the Visitor Information Centre at Craignure (Tel: 01680 812556).
The chicks this year were named by the pupils from Ulva Ferry Primary School. As you probably know, our male chick Bracken died at 11 weeks when part of the nest collapsed and he fell with it. However, our female chick, Heather, is doing great and entertaining our visitors with some fantastic aerial displays.
This year we have had nearly 6,000 visitors to the hide and raised over £19,000. Half of the money raised goes back into the Eagle Watch project and the other half goes into the Eagle Fund whereby local groups on the Island can apply for grants of up to £500. So far we have supplied some nest camera boxes to local schools, and provided equipment for an outdoor classroom in Tobermory. If any groups on the Island wish to apply for a grant from the Eagle Fund, please contact MICT direct for an application form.
Debby Thorne [White Tailed Eagle Information Office]
