Isle of Arran Wildlife Festival 12th - 19th May 2010

Arran Bird Report 2010

2011-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

The annual Arran Bird Report is a "must" for anyone interested in the birds of Arran.
It includes a summary of the year, the impact of weather on birds, information on ringed birds, as well as reports on all species seen and some of Arran's special bird projects. The uniqueness of Arran is reflected throughout the report, including the number of UK protected birds that share our island with us, as well as the differences between here and even the adjacent mainland.
This latest version of the annual bird report is now available from shops and other outlets throughout the island, priced £4.00 or directly from Alan and Jill Hollick of High Kildonan: alanandjillhollick@gmail.com

News Update: Press Release

2010-07-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Wildlife Festival is over, but there is still plenty to see and do on Arran. We have updated the website with a calendar of events. This year's festival was our biggest and best ever, and we are extremely grateful to all our funders, partners friends and participants without whom the festival would not have been such fun. Unfortunately looking to the future it seems unlikely that the festival can continue to exist in its current format. Below is press release from the Arran Wildlife Festival on this matter. Although the exact details of our plans for the future remain uncertain, please watch this space for future updates, news, photos and blogs about wildlife and the wildlife festival on Arran.

PRESS RELEASE: TIME TO TAKE STOCK
The Arran Wildlife Festival has reached the end of its current funding package. It is time to take stock and consider the best way forward.
Over the last five years, the Arran Wildlife Festival has successfully fostered a greater awareness, appreciation and understanding of the local wildlife through a focus on education and conservation by running events during a week in May that are informative, fun and appealing to visitors and residents.At the meeting of the organising committee on Friday 2 July, the coordinator’s encouraging report of the 2010 festival was considered. This report is available from on the wildlife festival website. View Report. There was then a wide ranging discussion on how best to build upon the achievements of the festival. Consideration was given as to how to support wildlife related activities throughout the year. There was acceptance that what can be done is dependent upon the availability of funds supported by the personal commitment of all those involved, and that the festival in its current form may well have run its course. Over the next few months the organising committee will try to determine what is both manageable and sustainable within available resources. The intention is to provide a coherent approach to raising awareness about wildlife on Arran and to increase appreciation of Arran’s natural heritage while promoting Arran as a responsible wildlife tourism destination.

Jim Cassels, chairperson of the organising committee, would be delighted to hear from any person or organisation who is prepared to give time, energy or funds to build on the legacy of the festival. Jim can be contacted at james.cassels@virgin.net

Wildlife Festival Photography Competition Winners Announced!

2010-06-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sorting through the entries to the Arran Wildlife Festival Photography Competition is an enjoyable task as the images of our wildlife are fantstic and great to see, but the task of judging the competition fell to professional photographer Liz Leyden, and must have been agonising. In the end she chose a delightful picture of a meadow pipit by Brian Hall. Brian is a member of an amateur photography group in his home of County Durham, and is over the moon to have won.

"I came to Arran with 2 friends last year and we enjoyed the wildlife so
much we returned this year, how glad I am! The image was taken with a
borrowed Canon 7D and an Canon 800 lens, we were watching the pipit
from the Distillery car park, it kept landing on the gorse bush
so I took the camera and lay on the ground for 1.5 hrs before I got
this image."

Brian Hall's Meadow Pipit, Lochranza Distillery

This year's winner in the junior category was once again 11 year old Bailey Robinson from Lamlash. Bailey has seen double success in this competition in two years, but still had to work hard for his picture- sitting for hours photographing the wildfowl in Lamlash Bay with his mum.

Bailey Robinson's Mute Swan, Lamlash Bay

Commenting on the standard of entries, Liz said: "It was lovely to see the variety of wildlife that was photographed during the week even when light conditions were less than optimal. Congratulations are due to the winners and all the entrants."

Many thanks to Liz for taking time out from her work as a professional photographer to judge the competition. To view Liz's stunning images of wildlife from around the world visit her website: www.lizworld.com. A special big thanks also go to competition sponsirs A Taste of Arran who have supported this event this year! Visit their website for tasty Arran goodies- available by mail order! www.taste-of-arran.co.uk

Wild Wild Woods!

2010-06-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

All Arran's primary schools were visited by a roving troop of woodland animals as part of this year's Wildlife Festival. Rangers from the Galloway Forest (Forestry Commission Scotland), Eglington Country Park (North Ayrshire Council), and Brodick Country Park and Goatfell (National Trust for Scotland) teamed up to present a Wild Wild Woods puppet show. This was followed by an interactive session, where the pupils found out about the fantastic wildlife to be found in Arran's woodland. The children learned how to screech like a barnowl, roar like a stag, tell the difference between a squirrel and a mouse-chewed pine cone and why a bat hangs upside down, and much, much more! We're not sure who had more fun in the end - the rangers or the children!

The event was kindly sponsored by the Co-Operative with transport help from Stagecoach.

Before dinosaurs roamed Arran

2010-05-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

On the Monday evening Sliddery was the venue for the tracking of pre-dinosaur reptiles that roamed Arran about 230 million years ago. Several trackways have been discovered there by local enthusiasts, Jean and John Fitzpatrick. The animal that made the footprints were described as the 'Hand Beast of Arran', or scientifically as Isochirotherium. But what was the animal like that made these footprints? There was one animal that may have fitted the bill, but it is known form a single skeleton on Ticino in Switzerland; Ticinosaurus. A large komodo dragon-sized lizard that lived at about the same time as these footprints were made.

It was not until about 2000 that the first footprint came to light near to Blackwaterfoot. Since then, several hundred footprints of this elusive animal with the hand-shaped footprint have turned up from Kildonan to the King's Caves. On the Tuesday morning another group made there way across the hill past Drumadoon to the raised beaches before the King's Caves. Here, the first footprint was seen in a secluded stream in the hillside above the rocky beach. It was on the beach that the next discoveries were made, as several dozen footprints were discovered below high-water on the rocky platform. Both days were perfect for sighting these footprints and we were not disappointed!

Wildlife festival 2010!

2010-05-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a fantastic week of wildlife and feet are only just coming back to earth. With over 70 events we have been very busy. Thankyou to everyone who led a walk, hosted and event or took part. The Festival's success depends on you- and of course the wonderful wildlife of Arran which was the real star of the show.Here are some photos from the week to whet your appetite. If you have some that you would like to share, why not email them to me at eider@hotmail.co.uk? Feel free to add some words and if there is space we will include these too.

Yeshi and Tenzin get creative at the Family Funday.

The boys in blue!

Claire Youdale from COAST (right) and a member of the public with a tank of marine beasties at the Family Funday.

Members of the hard working tea room team!

Angela Cassels from Arran Natural History Society at the Family Funday.The boys from Arran Mountain Rescue flippin' burgers

Seawatching......
Eaglewatching.........

The Flying Dustbin- A Portrait of the Fulmar

2010-05-12T23:18:00.000-07:00

My second post today includes a missive from Raymond Besant, the film maker behind Saturday's special film night at the High School. I asked Raymond to send us a bit of information about his work and what drew him to film Fulmars:

"I grew up in the Orkney Islands where I developed an interest in the natural world and photography, particularly birds and the marine environment. On graduating from Aberdeen in Bioscience I became a freelance photographer before working for the Press & Journal newspaper as a press photographer. But my passion is wildlife and in 2005 I embarked on a project to make my first wildlife film with a view to becoming a wildlife cameraman. Practicing filming on the cliffs coincided with the failures of a subject familiar to me, seabird colonies. Shot over two years on days off and holidays I called it 'The Flying Dustbin' and it tells the story of the Fulmar and the challenges it faces from marine pollution and climate change. Because of monetary constraints I shot, edited, narrated and produced the film. Filmed in Aberdeenshire and the Orkney Islands the story also took me to St Kilda and the Netherlands. My previous photojournalism projects have included a strong environmental message and this theme continues in The Flying Dustbin."

The Flying Dustbin Premiered at Orkney International Science Festival and since then it has screened at the Scottish Wildlife photography fair and aired on tv in the US last year as well as touring local RSPB groups in Scotland. The RSPB use it as an educational tool for schools in Orkney. Clips have also appeared on a BBC Panorama documentary in 2008 and a Dutch tv programme this year.

The film went on to win Best of Category - Amateur, and a Merit Award for Scientific Content at the 31st International Wildlife Film Festival in the US in 2008 and was shortlisted in the Best Film on a Limited Budget category at the Durban Wild Talk Africa festival in 2009.

You may have seen other work from Raymond- On the back of the IWFF awards he worked on the BBC Natural World film 'A Highland Haven' filming Black Throated Divers on Loch Maree which aired on BBC2 last November. His latest project is as a cameraman for the 2020Vision wildlife project. (Interestingly, Fergus Gill- the young photographer whose work is on display at the Auchrannie Spa this week, is also involved with the 2020Vision project!)

Raymond will present his film "The Flying Dustbin-A Portrait of the Fulmar" at Lamlash Highschool at 7pm. Entry is free, but donations to the Arran Wildlife Festival and RSPB Scotland are very welcome!

Image credit: Fulmar by Andy Hay (www.rspb-images.com)

Sea Kayaking in Lamlash Bay

2010-05-12T22:57:00.000-07:00

This week there are some very special sea kayaking trips as part of the wildllife festival, taking place in Lamlash Bay. Come along and join us on a trip to or around Holy Isle and explore the wildlife that can be seen around Scotlands first No Take Zone.

Holy Isle lies in the Firth of Clyde, which is the most southerly fjord in the Northern Hemisphere. The Scottish seas are home to over 8000 species of spectacular underwater life and have a rich biological diversity.

The Isle is home to 3 wild and rare species including the last remaining native Eriskay ponies, the ancient species of Soay sheep and remnant of the Vikings, and a herd of beautiful white goats.

A half-day journey will take you alongside the Holy Isle and allow you to see the many birds inhabit the Bay such as eider ducks, divers cormorants, fulmars and guillemots. Other species seen in the bay include ringed plovers, oyster catchers and gannets. Curious common seals can usually be seen around the shoreline.

A full day journey also includes a circuit around Hamilton Island where grey seals and common seals are frequently seen basking and lucky paddlers may catch a sighting of the elusive otter.

But you don’t have to go far to see a world of wildlife beneath you. Look down into the clear water and watch the busy hermit crabs and brightly coloured starfish including the incredible sun star.

For more information about sea kayaking during the wildlife festival- visit Arran Adventure's website.

You can also give them a call on 01770 302244.

Ailsa Craig

2010-05-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

With just a few days before the festival itself gets underway there are just a few opportunities left to let you know what a wonderful place Arran is and what you might be missing out on if you haven't come to see us for this years festival! On wednesday there will be a special visit to Ailsa Craig with Arran Power and Sail and RSPB Scotland. My crystal ball will not be able to bring you images from this RIB trip yet- but last week I was able to get out to the island (this time with Ocean Breeze Ribtours)and what an amazing day it was!

Ailsa Craig, is also known as "Paddy's Milestone" is situated in the southern part of the Firth of Clyde. On a clear day it is visible from the Scottish Mainland and from Northern Ireland. The island itself is a spectacular volcanic plug, formed of basalt columns and a special micro-granite, prized for years as a material for winning curling stones.
Today, Ailsa Craig is an RSPB reserve. It is not one that you can visit easily, due to it's isolated position several miles offshore. You won't find all of the usual creature comforts of other RSPB reserves, in fact landing is not guaranteed by any commercial boat trips heading out there- but if you visit during the breeding season, from your vantage point at sea you will be able to view almost 70,000 gannets as well as black guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and even puffins. Ailsa is the 3rd largest gannet colony in the uk, and when we visited, the cliffs and sky were white with these graceful birds.

Puffins were wiped out on Ailsa many years ago due to an invasion of rats that came with he miners who settled the island in the 19th and early 20th century. When the RSPB took over, they began the tricky task of eradicating the rats. It wasn't easy, but the benefit to puffins was clear- they returned to the island as soon as the rats were gone. Now up to 100 pairs breed there- and the number is rising.

For more information about Ailsa Craig why not visit the RSPB's webpage on the island. If you can't make it next week, don't worry, Arran Power and Sail and Ocean Breeze Ribtours also run trips throughout the season, many in collaboration with RSPB Scotland.
You will find details of all the fantastic RIB trips and other journeys by sea taking place during the Arran Wildlife Festival on this page: http://www.arranwildlife.co.uk/boats_programme.html

Mountain Wildlife

2010-03-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Arran has some of the most beautiful and interesting mountains in Scotland, and although none quite make Munro status (>3,000 feet) they are as dramatic and wild as any that you will find on the mainland. The mountains are home to some special wildlife and a walk in the hills this weekend revealed many of these iconic, rare and/or hardy species.

The higher moors are populated by lots of different kinds of upland birds from the rare hen harrier, to the noisy curlew. On this particular occasion we were lucky glimpse a golden plover- a gorgeous wader that nests on the ground in open moorland. On the mountain tops it is possible to see ravens, peregrine falcons, and even the very special golden eagle.

The mountains of Arran are fashioned from granite, a rough volcanic rock that formed in the magma chamber of a vast volcano about 65 million years ago. The soils are thin and the conditions tough, and many of the plans that survive up here are very specialised. The picture is of a fir clubmoss- a small tough plant- not a true moss, that grows in upland areas. its smaller relative, alpine clubmoss, is only found on the highest tops of Arran and is perfectly adapted to the thin soils and wild weather of the summits.

You are very likely to see red deer if you take a walk in the mountains on Arran. Other mammals include the field vole which is found all the way from sea level to the top of Goatfell. Field voles are a vital source of food for many of the island's predators including kestrels, barn owls and hen harriers. Even if you don't actually spot one, you may notice their tunnels and runs that form in the longer moorland grasses.

To find out more about Arran's Mountain Wildlife why not book a place on the Sundews, Red Deer & Golden Eagles walk on the 14th May? If you are feeling less energetic then don't miss the talk about Arran's Amazing Mountain Wildlife on the 13th May tat the Ranger Centre in Brodick.
The Sundews, Red deer and Golden Eagles walk is generously sponsored by Arranshand Business Development Services.

Stunning weather, fantastic views....

2010-03-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

Ok so todays post is all about the views! I had a meeting at the Old Byre Showroom just north of Machrie today and wow- look at the views they have outside their back door!A herd of Red Deer stags on the hill behind the Old Byre

Stunning views of a snowy Beinn Bharrain to the North.... Fantastic!

If you go down to the woods today.....

2010-03-01T00:39:00.000-08:00

.............You might meet Carol from the Co-operative in a slightly worrying bunny suit and lots of wildlife rangers with furry animal puppets (what is the collective noun for wildlife rangers?).
Whats going on? Well without breaking the official secrets act I can tell you that Brodick Ranger service have called in mainland reinforcements to help them prepare for the primary schools workshops during the festival, so Lucy from FCS and Linda from Eglington joined Kate Corinna and Liz for some seriously creative sessions at Shore Lodge last week.
The workshops will be sponsored by th Co-op, who are becoming one of our key partners. The picture is of Carol presenting the rangers with a cheque for £655 at an Arran Banner photocall! Look out for the article in this week's Banner: www.arranbanner.co.uk
Thank you!

A cold and crisp seashore safari.

2009-12-03T06:53:00.001-08:00

After the wild weather of recent weeks the team at the Arran Wildlife Festival were VERY relieved that the day of our seashore safari for local businesses dawned cold and crisp!
We had a fantastic afternoon poking about in rockpools on the beach. The hands stayed warm enough to find some amazing looking beasties, fish, invertebrates, starfish and a few mysteries too. Thanks to Kate Sampson from the NTS Rangers, Howard Wood from COAST and Graeme Walker from SNH who lent a hand.
Afterwards we enjoyed a drink at Lamlash Golf Club and a chat about the 2009 festival and plans for 2010. A perfect end to a fab day.
Gerard Tattersfield from the Auchrannie Resort gets up close to a starfish.

Some of the diverse life to be found at low tide on a rocky shore, even at the end of November!

Answers on a postcard please? (Clue- it appeared to have an armoured body and was about an inch long...)

The moon rises on a perfect afternoon on the beach.

Whiting Bay Primary School wins a turtle

2009-10-08T05:15:00.000-07:00

Remember the Cool Seas Roadshow at last years festival? All of the island's primary school children took part in a fantastic day of marine themed activities including life sized inflateable sea creatures.

The children created wonderful collages of sealife and best composition was judged by Howard Wood of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust. It was pure coincidence that Whiting Bay school won the competition (Howard is a resident in the village!).
In recognition of their fantastic artwork, last week the school won an adopted turtle, under the Marine Conservation Society's "Adopt A Turtle Scheme". Under the scheme, for as little as £3 a month, you can support the work of the MCS and other conservation groups in protecting turtles around the world. Whiting Bay Schools turtle was funded by the Wildlife Festival.

The children were presented with a certificate and information pack, as well as a toy turtle to enjoy.

To adopt your own turtle and to find out more about the scheme visit http://www.mcsuk.org/marineworld/adopt-a-turtle/turtle+adoption

Somethin’ Rottin’ in Sannox

2009-09-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 12 September Graeme Walker from Scottish Natural Heritage clearly demonstrated that there was somethin’ rottin’ in Sannox.

During a two hour guided walk starting at the Fallen Rocks car park at North Sannox he shared his passion for the incredible world of fungi with over thirty residents and visitors. Well over thirty species of fungi were found and Graeme displayed his extensive knowledge in a most interesting way. The spontaneous applause of the participants at the end of event was a clear measure of their enjoyment of the experience.

Arran Wildlife Festival Chairman Jim Cassels said “This Fungus Foray was an excellent taster for the 2010 Arran Wildlife Festival which will take place from the 12^thto19^th May 2010 and involve over 70 guided walks, talks and events.”

Press Release: Fungus Foray to Launch the Arran Wildlife Festival

2009-08-27T04:49:00.001-07:00

The Arran Wildlife Festival will be putting the “fun” in to Fungus with a special Fungus Foray on Saturday 12^th September.

Prepare to be amazed when you join Graeme Walker from Scottish Natural Heritage for a free guided walk at North Sannox to find out about incredible fungi and the astonishing hidden world beneath the soil. The two hour woodland stroll will start at North Sannox Carpark (NS015465) at 1pm.

Graeme said “The Arran Wildlife Festival takes place in May each year which is great for most local wildlife but not the ideal time for spotting fungi so we thought we would do something Autumnal to launch the next festival with a Fungus Foray. On this walk we will prove just what a rotten place Arran really is!”

Arran Wildlife Festival Chairman James Cassels is pleased to be launching the dates for next year’s festival. “We are already excited about plans for next year and are keen to get started. The 2010 festival will take place from the 12^th-19^th May and we will be celebrating our fifth year,” he says, “next Saturday’s Fungus Foray is a taste of what the festival offers so put these dates in your diary now and expect something really special in May.”

Last May the 2009 Wildlife Festival attracted hundreds of visitors to over 70 guided walks, talks and unusual events. Over the coming months the organisers are looking forward to presenting the highlights of the festival to meetings around the island. For more information please see the website www.arranwildlife.co.uk or email info@arranwildlife.co.uk. The festival co-ordinator Lucy Wallace can be contacted on 07825 644161.

Image credit: Amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) Graeme Walker

Arran Wildlife Festival Photography Competition: Winners Announced

2009-05-23T03:18:00.001-07:00

During the Arran Wildlife Festival there was a photography competition for images of wildlife taken during the festival (13th-20th May). The standard of many entries was high, and in the adult category the competition was intense. However, local photographer Steve Ewart who was judging the competition felt that Leslie Holburn's image of a black guillemot taken at Imachar on the 15th stood out from the crowd. The picture captures the charismatic nature of this species perfectly, and shows off the brilliant red of its feet and inside the beak.
Meanwhile, in the under 18s category, local photgrapher Bailey Robinson aged 10 ran away with the top prize with his photograph of mallard drakes in his grandmothers garden. The judge felt that it was a good effort for a young photographer. Mum Angela said, "I think winning has spurred him on to start taking more photographs and the book he won will help him do that".

Images from the 2009 Festival

2009-05-23T02:35:00.000-07:00

View of Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Pladda from Kildonan.

Intrepid seafarers brave the choppy waters for a once in a lifetime trip to RSPB reserve Ailsa Craig, home to 40,00 pairs of gannets, as well as guillemots, puffins and razorbills.

Rob Logan of Forestry Commission Scotland has a license to check barn owl nests and during the festival people were able to watch him do this (from a safe distance). Barn owls are protected by law and it is illegal to disturb them unless like Rob you have a license issued for a specific conservation purpose.

On board the Holy Isle ferry with Howard Wood from the Community of Arran Seabed Trust, finding out about Scotland's first No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay.

On the summit of Holy Isle.

The Seawatchers set up camp at the Southend of Arran. Amongst the many seabirds seen, a rare pomerine skua was spotted.

Terry Southall rings a song song thrush at Kildonan.

Kirk and Gen get help making a bug box from their dad, joiner George Inglis at the Family Fun Day.

Jenny Meade of COAST at the fun day.

Fiona Laing is chair of the Arran Natural History Society and Kate Sampson head ranger at NTS Brodick Castle, Country Park and Goatfell Property.

Graeme Walker of SNH practicing for his Bats and Beer presentation later that evening.

Ross Kerr has a go with the black grouse radio tracking equipment.

Gay and Andy Christie from Hessilhead Wildlfie Rescue Centre.

Tom Vella Boyle of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust at the Fun Day.

The staff at Brodick Co Op volunteered to help with the tea room and ran a raffle.

Liz Maclean, manager of Brodick Co-op gets into the spirit of the Fun Day.

Gemma Totty has her face painted at the Family Fun Day.

Community of Arran Seabed Trust divers demonstrate the marine wildlife of Lamlash Bay on board Arran Power and Sail's RIB.

Family Fun Day

2009-05-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

Take Action for Wildlife.

A range of conservation groups were at the Ormidale Sports Pavillion on Sunday 17th May as part of the Arran Wildlife festival.

Lots of visitors came to discover how to help wildlife.

There were plenty of fun activities for children on the day and lots of ideas for adults too, there was something for everyone, from making your garden more wildlife friendly to finding out how to organise a beach clean or record the wildlife in your area.

Making pan pipes and bug boxes.

Arran Wildlife Art Exhibition

2009-05-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

A sneak preview of some of the Arran Wildlife Art exhibition in Corrie Arts Shop. Open from 15th - 28th May.

A group of local Artists

Marvin Elliot - Sculptor Carver.

Graham McArthur - Wood Carver and Wood Turner.

Richard LeClerc - Stained Glass.

David Underdown - Poet

Avril Paton - Artist

Jane Milloy - Artist

Fulmars of Drumadoon Point

2009-04-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

Had a quick scout around Drumadoon Point at Blackwaterfoot the other day to see check out the lie of the land for guided walks later in the year that I am doing through the RSPB. It was a wild and windy day so quite hard work for bird watching but there was plenty of wildlife action on the cliff faces and along the shore.
Drumadoon itself is a basalt sill with obvious columnar jointing also seen in this region at Fingals cave and over the water at the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. The cliff is eroding to form a series of overhangs and ivy covered ledges that provide shelter for nesting fulmars and other birds. It is quite interesting from a geological perspective, and on the day I was there the place was also hooching with geology students....

The fulmars that nest on the cliffs choose sheltered ledges where they lay an egg either on bare rock or in a shallow depression lined with plant material. They look superficially like gulls, but closer inspection reveals that they have a tube on the top of their bill, like an albatross. They are in fact closely related to albatrosses, and are members of the petrel family. They are well adapted to a life of foraging on the open ocean, with stiff wings for soaring, and the tube is believed to help them smell out patchy food resources at sea. They are beautiful birds but be warned- if you get too close they will spit an evil smelling oily liquid at you. This is a very effective deterrant for predators, such as bird of prey, as it will damage their flight feathers. The chicks also have this ability and this may explain why the fulmars tolerate a ravens nest at the other end of Drumadoon- which would probably be a threat to less well armed nestlings.

There will be opportunities to watch fulmars and find out more about these charismatic birds during the wildlife festival. Holy Isle Sea Life Special rib trips will be leaving Brodick on the 13th and 14th May, and on the 14th May there will be a survey techniques masterclass along the shore at Blackwaterfoot. See the full programme here.

A Forest Walk

2009-04-06T03:22:00.000-07:00

After a morning last week doing a guided walk with a fantastic family from Northern Ireland I decided the rest of the day was too good to waste and walked home from Brodick through Glencloy. The glen has a mixture of open fields, where the gorse is currently in glorious bloom, commercial forestry plantations, and native woodland.
The native woodland runs along the burn at the bottom of the glen, and although the buds on the trees are only just staring to come in to leaf, honeysuckle is rambling through many of the trees with bright green shoots, giving the trees an illusion of full leaf (spring tends to be later here on Arran than further south- for obvious reasons). After crossing the burn, the path climbs up and joins a forest road through a conifer plantation. A significant part of Arran's landscape is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. This includes areas of commercial forestry, clearfell, and open moorland. In many places these clearfell areas that are left after the trees have been felled are being allowed to regenerate naturally, or native trees are being planted in the place of the imported sitka spruce that has been removed.
Dead trees are left standing in the empty places as calling posts and perches for raptors and other birds. This is not the only thing that the local forestry officers are doing for our birds, in some parts of the forest, curious objects have been appearing in trees. I am often asked by people why plastic barrels have been placed high up in trees. The answer is simple, they have been put up to provide homes for barn owls. The scheme has been very successful, and the evidence points to an increase in the population of barn owls as a result of these innovative owl boxes. During the Wildlife Festival it will be possible to join Forestry Commission Scotland for a special guided walk during which the FCS Rangers will be investigating the breeding success of one of these nest sites. Spaces are limited and disappearing fast so book early to avoid disappointment! Link to barn owl walks page.

The perils of plastic bags and balloons

2009-03-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

A recent kayaking trip on the west coast of Arran revealed that our marine birds are also getting started with their breeding season. Rafts of eiders were spotted off shore, with groups of 8 or so males and females gathering up and down the coast. Pairs of shelduck and mergansers were also spotted. Spring can be an optimistic time and it was great to see these signs of courtship.
However, the trip also reveled a darker side of life as large amounts of plastic and other rubbish was being swept ashore on a rolling swell from the Irish Sea. A line of debris about 50m off shore stretched from Imachar to Lochranza. Amongst the rubbish were some really dangerous items for wildlife, including this balloon. Filled with helium, it once brought a smile to someones face, but released, accidentally or deliberately, it inevitably found its way in to the sea where it could easily have been mistaken for a jellyfish. Leatherback turtles and even whales and dolphins have been known to eat balloons and plastic bags, often with fatal consequences. Marine litter is a serious hazard to wildlife, and it is not just balloons and plastic bags that cause problems. Smaller plastic pieces are ingested by seabirds, such as fulmars, and these can also be fatal. Birds and animals may become entangled in fishing nets and lines and other abandoned debris. Microscopic particles of plastic are ingested by all sorts of creatures. Plastics easily absorb pollutants and these then enter the food chain- our food chain.
Here on Arran, many of the villages organise regular beach cleans to try and minimise the amount of rubbish on our beaches. The Marine Conservation Society, one of the charities involved with the Arran Wildlife Festival, campaigns to reduce the amount of plastic that enters the sea in the first place, through education programmes, encouraging a reduction in plastic bag use, and annual beach cleans. For more information have a look at the MCS website's pollution pages: http://www.mcsuk.org/mcsaction/pollution/introduction

Booking lines now open!

2009-03-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

It is March 13th and although it is also a Friday, this is a lucky day for the wildlife festival as today the booking lines have opened and bookings are starting to come in. Our new programme has been launched- you can look at it on the wildlife festival website.
For information or to book your places just call 07501337532.

Meanwhile, from a wildlife point of view, a new season is emerging on Arran with the first spring bulbs now in bloom. The birds are singing, and although the weather is still cold and a little bit grim, there is an optimistic air of spring about the place. Our summer visitors are starting to return and the coming days and weeks will only see more and more activity. Watch this space!

13th-20th May 2009

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An exciting programme of events is being prepared for this years Festival. This blog will be updated daily during the Festival. If you are attending an event and would like to write a piece for the blog and share your photos then please contact us.