News Update: Press Release

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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....

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.....

.............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!