West Cumbria Local Group

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home Summer 2019

Don’t miss the next trip

organised by West Cumbria RSPB Group but open to all to WWT Martin Centre Saturday 26th October 2019

Martin Mere, near , in is where wilderness and family-friendliness combine. Its year-round attractions include an otter enclosure, dipping zone, an inspirational eco- garden and the opportunity to enjoy close-up encounters with around 100 species of international water-birds as they swim, feed and wander in custom-designed to mimic their natural homes. What makes truly world class are the many thousands of migrant wild ducks, geese, waders and swans which over-winter at this Ramsar-rated marshland and especially the spectacular displays of feather and flight provided by huge migrant flocks of pink-footed geese, wigeon and whooper swans. The group committee have hired a twenty nine seat coach to take us to Martin Mere in October. The fare will be £15 and is payable on booking as we have to pay the coach company in full prior to the outing. If we have to cancel the outing due to lack of numbers we will have to pass on the cancellation charge which is 50% of the fare. Individuals cancelling for whatever reason will not be refunded unless the seat can be filled by another person. The coach will depart Mitchell’s Auction Co Ltd, Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cockermouth at 8.00 prompt and will leave Martin Mere at 16.00 for the return journey to Cockermouth. Pick up points along the route to Penrith can be arranged. As a group booking reduced admission charges apply at Martin Mere and WWT members are admitted free on production of their membership card.

Outings are open to all. Whether you are a beginner or an expert birder or somewhere in between you will be very welcome. Be sure to take suitable footwear and waterproofs. There is a café at Martin Mere providing light refreshments and of course you can take a packed lunch. Bookings can be made at the September (3rd) and October (1st) Indoor Meetings, Cockermouth Show (3rd August), the Coffee Morning (10th August), Campfield Discovery Day (1st September) or by emailing Dave Smith at [email protected]

1 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

Bumblebees at Campfield

Species of bumblebees found at Campfield RSPB reserve

Bombus lapidarius Red-tailed Not as common as elsewhere but more this year

Bombus lucorum White-tailed Very common but workers indistinguishable from buff-tailed Bombus pascuorum Common carder The most numerous of all here Bombus terrestris Buff-tailed Very common Bombus jonellus Heath bumblebee Not many found but probably more common than it seems as it is somewhat elusive and harder to identify.

Bombus monticola Bilberry Only odd ones seen. Common on the fells Bombus hypnorum Tree Mostly near gardens. Only arrived in Britain in 2001 Bombus pratorum Early Common Bombus hortorum Garden Common

In addition to the above species of true bumble bee three species of cuckoo bee have been found. Bombus sylvestris (forest cuckoo bee), bohemicus (gypsy cuckoo bee), and campestris (field cuckoo bee).

Before RSPB bought North Plain and Rogersceugh farms much of the land was monoculture grass which species) and generally noticeably smaller than the had received fertiliser and had few meadow flowers. Queens. As the summer progresses and into early Over the years as the nutrient levels have fallen more autumn new queens and males (drones) appear. wild flowers have appeared.

Nine years ago, following a route from the to the top of the drumlin at Rogersceugh, we began to record the different species of bumblebees and note which flowers they were visiting for pollen and nectar. The route we adopted covers all the main on the reserve including meadows, woodland, hedgerows, salt marsh, raised lowland (peat ) and arable fields. We began with very little knowledge and had to learn identities as we went along. This was not quite as difficult as it may sound as there are less than thirty species in Britain and of these just under half are likely Red tailed bumblebee Photo M Hutchin to occur in this area. We have been doing the surveys monthly from April to Queens, which have hibernated over winter, usually October for the nine years. So far, we have found 12 appear in late March or early April and are the only species of which 3 were cuckoo bees whose queens bees to have survived from the previous year having use the nest and workers of another species. Each year mated in late summer or autumn. They need a good there has been an increase in the total number of bees supply of pollen or nectar immediately and without found, except in 2013 when the number fell back this they are doomed. Most often we have found them slightly. Last year and this year the increase has been first on the catkins of willow trees. Queens then build more dramatic; in July this year on a single day we nests, often in old mouse or vole nests or for some counted nearly 250 bumblebees, which was more than species under clumps of grasses or other dense plants. we found throughout the whole of the first year. This A few weeks later workers can be seen. They are much year there have also been huge numbers of bees in the more numerous (up to 200 per nest depending on 2 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 arable fields, where we were only able to count a proportion of them. These fields are planted to provide seed for birds in winter but in the flowering season they are brilliant for bees and many other insects.

Over the nine years the number of plant species on which we have found bees has increased. In the first years some of the grassy meadows had practically no flowering plants but over last two or three years more and more have been found, especially vetches, trefoils and clovers but smaller numbers of other plants as well. In addition, large numbers of wild flowers have been planted particularly in the Discovery field. This has corresponded with an increase in the bees found there. Between 2010 and 2013 we found bumblebees on 47 species of plant; by the end of 2015 this had risen to 70 plants and we suspect that when this year’s figures are analysed will have risen a bit more.

Neil & Marjorie Hutchin Sea Birds and Plastic

Monitoring nest incorporation of debris by birds

Plastic pollution is an increasing, and global, among species. In a recent report assessing the environmental issue, which poses a major threat to impact of marine debris on seabirds in the north- marine biodiversity. The production of plastic eastern Atlantic, we found quantitative, published continues to rise with 4.8–12.7 million metric data on nest incorporation of debris for just two tonnes entering the oceans each year. It is species – gannets on Grassholm, Wales and therefore not surprising that seabirds encounter it. kittiwakes in Denmark. Therefore, there is a need Globally, 56% of all seabird species have been to obtain further information on the extent of this documented to have been affected by issue. anthropogenic marine debris, predominantly plastic, either through entanglement (at sea or at Last summer we carried out fieldwork across north the nest) or ingestion. It is predicted that 99% of Scotland to collect data on anthropogenic debris seabird species, and 95% of individuals, will have incorporated into gannet nests. Nest incorporation ingested plastic by 2050. However, we do still not of debris was recorded in all eight gannetries have a good understanding of how marine plastic visited. The majority of items were netting and and other anthropogenic debris affects individuals, rope, however packaging straps, plastic bags and or more importantly, populations of seabirds – balloons were also noted. The data collected especially for nest incorporation of debris. during this fieldwork will be combined with that collected by other seabird volunteers and researchers across the UK and the wider north- eastern Atlantic region. So far we have received Several seabird species incorporate debris into data from a range of seabird species including their nests, particularly those that build substantial shags, cormorants, large gull species and surface nests such as gannets and shags. This kittiwakes. This data will help us find out where can result in the injury and death of chicks and marine plastic pollution is having the greatest adults if they become entangled in this unnatural impact on our seabirds, which species are affected nesting material. To date the majority of evidence and what type of debris is involved. concerning nest incorporation of debris by seabirds is anecdotal, with little understanding of how this issue varies over time and space, or 3 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 since the 1960′s. None of this information would be available without the efforts of Sea Watch volunteers recording and reporting their sightings.

The two-hour watch produced a sighting of a harbour porpoise and a seal which Harbour porpoise turned out to be a Harbour porpoise buoy!

The porpoise was recorded on the foundations Shag nest with fishing net Photo Nina O’Hanlon website and this is something that we can all do when seabird watching or just out for a coastal I have focused on seabirds here as most of the walk anywhere in the UK. By monitoring the recent attention regarding plastic pollution has numbers and locations of whales, dolphins, focused on the marine environment. However, this porpoises and seals we can gain valuable knowledge of the health of our marine environment is not just a marine issue. The increase of plastic, and insight into the effects of chemical pollution, particularly in farmland habitats, has resulted in noise disturbance, over-fishing, accidental capture many raptors and passerines incorporating debris in fishing gear and climate change. into their nests, in some cases resulting in the injury and death of nestlings. Our next step is to Further information can be found on the foundation’s website start collecting data on nest incorporation of debris www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk by all bird species to improve our understanding of the issue away from the marine environment. Please record your sightings; every entry on the website helps to build scientific data. Dave Smith If you would like to get involved in collecting data, or have images of debris incorporated into nests Advertisement that you are happy to share, then please get in touch. Wallsend Guest House and Nina O’Hanlon, Seabird Ecologist, Environmental Tea Room Research Institute [email protected] Lyn and Andy Lewis The Old Rectory, Bowness on Solway, Sea Watch Foundation CA7 5AF

Sea Watch is a national marine environmental charity working to improve the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the seas around Britain and Ireland. I recently attended a Sea Watch from Senhouse Roman Museum at Maryport, organised in partnership between Sea Watch Foundation and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The watch was to help survey for porpoises and seals and learn about what can be found in Cumbria’s seas. Four Star ETC rated bed and breakfast Just in terms of diversity, 29 species have been accommodation. recorded this century in British or Irish territorial Tea Room open Monday to Wednesday waters. Common dolphin, striped dolphin, minke whale are among those species where numbers 10.00am to 3.00pm April to October and sighted have increased since 1980. Harbour available for private functions at other times porpoises, on the other hand, showed widespread by prior arrangement decline in the 1970′s-1980′s; and northern Tel: 016973 51055 bottlenose whales have remained uncommon www.wallsend.net 4 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 Campfield – Latest News butterflies which will benefit from the provision of more suitable areas where their larval food-plant, devil’s bit scabious, will grow. The wet areas will RSPB Campfield Marsh has benefitted from two also provide ideal breeding pools for a range of main sources of grant aid recently, and works are dragonfly species and other invertebrates. in progress to improve wetland areas across the peat bog, farmland and saltmarsh to benefit These bog edges are important feeding sites for breeding and migrating wading birds along with a snipe and the rapidly declining curlew, while other host of other wetland dwellers such as dragonflies less common species such as grasshopper and peat bog plants. warbler and water rail enjoy the cover of dense vegetation brought about by the reduction in cattle Last year a partnership led by Yorkshire Wildlife grazing. Our graziers now also use Belted Trust and including RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust Galloway cattle throughout the peat edge and other peatland owners through the north of wetlands, a hardy breed which are quite at home England won a £5.5 million bid to restore munching rushes while up to their bellies in peatlands throughout the region as part of the water. Willow tits too, will benefit from the DEFRA Peat Fund. The fund aims to restore both development of wet willow woods on the outer upland and lowland peat to help lock carbon into reaches of the peat. these important habitats to reduce the impact of peat oxidation on climate change and improve Belted Galloway conditions for a host of rare plants and wildlife at the same time. cattle grazing the wet farmland Around £100K of this money is being spent at Campfield Marsh to help produce a patchwork of wetland pools, and woodland to support species such as curlew, snipe, dragonflies and the recently colonised marsh fritillary butterfly. The work will take place where the reserve borders the peat bog to remove the ‘hard edges’ where reclaimed agricultural land bites into the area of peat. When land is drained for agriculture, The second major boost to the site has been the the peat dries and shrinks, leaving a large step in signing of a new countryside stewardship scheme level up to the peat bog. The work will aim to to install a new wetland system across the reduce the gradient of this step and via a series of farmland at North Plain. A £300K capital works small low ridges or ‘bunds’ help hold the water at programme will create a series of pools carrying surface level right onto the peaty fields. water from the peat bog down to the saltmarsh providing ideal nesting opportunities for lapwing and redshank. A series of sluices will allow the farmland to be flooded and drained when required. Drying of the fields is an important part of the management cycle, allowing rushes to be controlled and soil invertebrate populations to recover, before re-flooding attracts breeding and migrating wading birds to the site.

Work already completed looking south from The ability to rotate the wet and dry areas around Rogersceugh (photo taken from above by drone). the farm will ensure that there is always some land in prime condition for wetland plants and animals. Over time the high water level will encourage the This work will be starting towards the end of July growth of many different areas, from moss filled this year and continuing through the autumn onto pools, reedbeds and to willow woods. Re- the saltmarsh where further wet features and wetting the peat stops the release of carbon into viewing opportunities should enhance a visit to the atmosphere, helping control greenhouse gas Campfield. emissions and its effects on climate change. Dave Blackledge Site Manager However, a more immediately visible effect is the Cumbria Coastal reserves range of species which will move in to take advantage of these new habitats. Campfield Marsh This article appeared on the Campfield blog in May. A lot of remains the only RSPB reserve on the UK work on the peat bog has now been done and work on the mainland to support breeding marsh fritillary farmland is just beginning. Watch this space. Editor

5 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

Indoor Meetings Future Events

RSPB Coffee Mornings

Sept 2019 to April 2020 URC Hall Cockermouth

10.00 till 12.00 Meetings with illustrated talks are held in the United Reformed Church, Main St, Cockermouth at 7.30pm on Saturday August 10th the first Tuesday of the month th Saturday November 9 Sept 3rd Atlantic Woodlands – ------The LOST Project April Windle RSPB Campfield Marsh Plantlife Senior Project Officer Reserve Oct 1st The Pine Martin Discovery Day Bringing it Back from the Brink Kevin O’Hara, Vincent Wildlife Trust Sunday September 1st Nov 5th the Amazon, Peru Biological recording and research Lucy Dunn Dec 3rd Finland and Norway – Owls, woodpeckers and northern specialities Roy Atkins, Speyside Wildlife 2020 The Group Website is a good Jan 7th Amphibians and Toad Patrols source of news and the place to go Caitlin Pearson, Education and Outreach Officer West Cumbria Rivers Trust for information about meetings, outings and the Campfield work Feb 4th Golden Eagles party with a link to the Campfield in the south of Scotland blog and other sites. Rick Taylor, South Scotland Golden Eagle Project

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/westcumbria March 3rd Tale of the Whale Dr Simon Jackson Curator, Tullie House Museum Group Leader April 7th Restoring Hardknott Forest John Hodgson Project Officer Dave Smith email [email protected]

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Any advertisements enclosed with this newsletter are not specifically endorsed by the RSPB or the West Cumbria Local Group 6 The RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654