One Million Bluebells for Ramsey Forest Biodiversity Matters The Ramsey Forest Project is If one million bluebells sound good, look The Manx Wildlife Trust are now actively celebrating the purchase of Crossags at the maths: trying to turn the remaining 55 acres Coppice; a five-acre field of gorse and from conifer plantation by the Hairpin Each bluebell stem has, on average, bracken that is being turned into new into bluebell woodland too - an extra eight flowers. Each flower will last one woodland that will link two neighbouring half a billion insect meals. week, refilling with nectar every night. woodlands together to create a 60-acre Indeed, on a warm day in May, you will site at the Ramsey Hairpin. see honey-bees, bumble bees, mining Andree Dubbeldam, One of the great attractions of this new bees, nomad bees, hoverflies, beetles Manx Wildlife Trust purchase is its magnificent show of and butterflies competing for the 56 bluebells in the spring: over one million million insect dinners served up by this of them in the five acres. site every year. (Crossags Coppice was funded by kind If that’s the significance of this site at donation from Society for the the little end of the animal spectrum, we Preservation of the Manx Countryside can also look at the other end. Manx and Environment). Birdlife surveyed the site in May and recorded both sparrow hawk and peregrine falcon on site. Walk the 60 Issue 10 — August 2019 acres of the Hairpin woodlands on a Dragonfly Hotspot What do bogs do for us? regular basis and you will see the Terns at remains of a ‘kill’ pretty much every The smaller satellite ponds at the Point Bogs are wetland areas special and sometimes  Search for specialised the Ayres day. That’s 360 small birds taken from of Ayre Nature Reserve are teeming where near-permanent colourful habitats that wonders such as insect- the ecosystem every year. We just have with dragonflies, making it the best waterlogging prevents the support specialist species of eating sundews and to think about the bluebell maths and place on the Isle of Man to see these complete decomposition of plants, insects, and birds. butterwort flowers. Through the summer Bluebells at Crossags Coppice look around the woodland to dead plant material which, in Possibly the most important Shaun Gelling, DEFA ©Andree Dubbeldam understand how this woodland can turn, forms peat. Sphagnum months, the beaches at the service that bogs provide for Uplands Manager sustain this. moss is the main bog builder; Ayres NNR are punctuated free is carbon capture and this is a highly specialised storage. It is estimated that by the calls of Arctic and plant that thrives in the Hen Harrier Monitoring the Manx upland peat soils little terns. These birds, correct conditions on wet store somewhere in the upland areas and lowland which migrate thousands of region of 14,000,000 tonnes sites such as the Central A small team of hardened volunteers of carbon. It is, therefore, no miles each year, Valley as well as in glacially monitor winter roosts of hen harriers surprise that the upland peat aggressively and noisily formed depressions at once a month in all weathers and soils are our Island's largest Red-veined darter at Point of Ayre Ballaugh Curragh and on the defend their nests and temperatures. Their efforts are well carbon store. rewarded as the data collected confirms Nature Reserve ©Pete Hadfield northern plain. Sphagnum young chicks. What you can do: that the Island has the highest density absorbs water like a sponge, which helps to take the sting of wintering hen harriers in the British fascinating insects. The current list  Buy peat-free compost to stands at 10 species out of the 18 out of rain storms as water is Isles. The peak co-ordinated count for protect peat bogs. the 2018/2019 winter period was 50, recorded. held in the hills for longer. recorded in January. The ponds hold three quarters of the This helps reduce  If you own a boggy area, known Manx emperor dragonfly downstream flooding, keeps consider how you can Some monitoring also takes place over population and in 2019 we confirmed streams flowing in droughts enhance bog moss Little tern feeding a the breeding season. The long, hot the reserve has breeding species and also helps to filter our growth by keeping the Sphagnum moss at Dalby juvenile © Marc Hughes summer of 2018 produced good sized found nowhere else on the Island drinking water. Bogs can be site wet. broods with a high fledging success including; migrant hawker, brown large or small but all are rate. Brood size was down in 2019, hawker and black-tailed skimmer. This year’s breeding season with one to three chicks recorded per Being our largest area of freshwater, it resulted in eight Arctic terns nest. makes it a hotspot for migrant Manx Bats Male hen harrier ©Pete Hadfield and 14 little terns fledging Sadly hen harriers are the most dragonflies from the European from the shore. persecuted bird in the UK; it is likely Man have disappeared in Wales before continent during UK wide influxes. Four bat experts from the UK Curragh ASSI and Ramsar The two bats known to have a There have been several records of that Manx bred birds are leaving the they had a chance to breed themselves. recently visited the Isle of site, had five of the Island’s close association with water, This is the first time in three Island and are illegally shot or trapped The fact that they have disappeared the stunning red-veined darter and Man to undertake a week of eight bat species. Daubenton’s bat and soprano without a trace suggests the birds have even a breeding attempt from a pair of intensive survey work of the pipistrelle, were found years that little terns have and this is suppressing the breeding Common pipistrelle bats were been persecuted. This year, four lesser emperors. Island’s bats. adjacent to the River Neb at successfully fledged on the population here. Through satellite the most abundant and females have been tagged; hopefully the Raggart. tagging, in conjunction with Manx Bird The bat ecologists were recorded at every location. Isle of Man, so this season they will stay on the Island where they Pete Hadfield, Dragonfly Recorder Life, RSPB and the Manx Ringing Group, licensed by DEFA to fit radio Analysis showed that Manx Bob Moon, are safe and not wander elsewhere. for the Isle of Man has provided a very we can track individual birds’ tags to the bats and this common pipistrelle bats are Manx Bat Group welcome change to recent movements and monitor their enabled the identification of smaller than those found in Public access is not currently permitted survival. This can be a gloomy process Louise Samson, Hen harrier roost two new whiskered bat Cambridgeshire. Whiskered trends and we hope next to the gravel pits, but groups can as two females tagged on the Isle of count co-ordinator roosts. Eight sites around the bats were, surprisingly, organise guided walks through Manx year will be even better! Island were monitored. Manx encountered at every site Birdlife (contact via email at Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Wildlife Trust's Close Sartfield and are more abundant than Glen Geeves, DEFA [email protected] or phone reserve , part of the Ballaugh previously thought. Rheynn Chymmyltaght, Bee as Eirinys on 01624 861130). Biodiversity Warden Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St Johns IM4 3AS Common pipistrelle © Sue Moon Telephone: (01624) 685835 Email: [email protected] Biosphere Badge Manx Biological Recording Partnership Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch 2019 Sea Watches A ‘Biosphere Badge’ launched for Encouraging sustainability is a priority of ‘For the Life on Land goal, members The high winds have meant that sightings have been Girlguiding Isle of Man is encouraging UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man. have explored the Island; had visits limited this year. However, on 29th July four species were participants to care for their Island. from Isle of Man Beekeepers; learned reported, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, Risso's Unique to the Isle of Man, the Guiding about bugs and wildlife from the Manx dolphin and our winter visitor the bottlenose dolphin. Badge was launched in January and has Wildlife Trust and met Highlands cows already been awarded to 150 members. and learned how they help the land. Sunday Sea Watches at the Sound Su Simpson, Guiding Development Come join the team at the Sound on Sunday 18th August ‘Units have really embraced the Chair, outlined the imaginative ways and Sunday 1st September to spot whales, dolphins, and challenge and they are starting to think members earn the badge. porpoises (or basking sharks or seals). Session are held about our Island in different ways.’ Orb weaver spider © Scabious sawfly © Steve Crellin from 11:30 to 13:00. Watches will be weather dependent ‘For the Zero Hunger goal, units have Kate Hawkins The world’s first Biosphere donated to the Food Bank,’ Su said. and subject to change at short notice. Follow Manx Whale Girlguiding badge Jo Overty, UNESCO Biosphere Isle Kate Hawkins and Steve Crellin two notable specialists, are and Dolphin Watch on facebook for updates. ‘Tackling the Clean Water and Sanitation of Man Project Officer — DEFA devoting more time to their recording work in an attempt to goal, a unit raised money for a toilet- locate and identify rare species on the Isle of Man. Kate Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and twinning project. recently found a newly recorded species of orb weaver Rangers earn the badge by completing Getting involved in spider (above left) at Dalby Mountain MWT reserve, which is tasks relating to the United Nations’ 17 ‘Looking at Life Below Water, a unit had likely to be Hypsosinga pygmaea. Steve took this splendid Sustainable Development Goals. a visit from Manx Whale and Dolphin your Biosphere Public watch at the photo of a scabious sawfly (above right) at Ballaugh Watch, calculated the length of a whale Sound © Bryony Manley The Global Goals, as they are known, and went on a whale watch. Units have Entries are open for the second Curragh. This fly has a very specific food plant on the Island, are a plan of action for people, the linked up with Beach Buddies and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man devil's-bit scabious, which grows in damp acid grassland. planet and prosperity. carried out beach cleans. Awards, with categories for Energy, Economic Sustainability, Education/ Public Awareness, and Environment. Manx Wildlife Week Overview For further information about the The Colourful World of Grassland Fungi awards visit:

In 2018, Manx National Heritage, with www.biosphere.im/biosphere-awards Most people tend to overlook fungi. Clubs, spindles and corals inadvertently damage or even wipe the Manx Wildlife Trust and DEFA, However the bright colours and pleasant As well as waxcaps, you may also them out completely. Old lawns and launched Manx Wildlife Week to From May to July 2019, UNESCO smells of our grassland fungi can encounter an equally colourful array of grasslands that have not been highlight some of the beautiful and enchant even the fungophobes. As well clubs, spindles and corals. fertilised or reseeded are the best Biosphere Isle of Man, Culture interesting species found on this Island. Vannin and The Manx Bard as vibrant mushrooms, a natural places to see a good variety of these It proved to be so popular that we invited the public to submit entries grassland can have equally colourful These fungi are like tiny coloured little gems. thought we’d do it all again; after all, for a Poetry Map of the Isle of Man. clubs, spindles and corals, creating a fingers deep among the grass, with you probably won’t save what you don’t miniature magical world reminiscent of some branching like coral or antlers. If you have a waxcap lawn or love. From the 3rd to the 12th May we fairy tales. Some species are very common, while grassland and would like to know More than 170 poems about the Isle had more than 700 people attending 29 others are rare and indicators of fungal- more about the species you have and of Man's environment, nature, events. Waxcaps rich ancient grasslands. how to look after them, or if you wildlife, biodiversity, habitats and Waxcaps are among the first fungi that would like to join us on an autumnal There were lots of different activities for landscape were received. all ages and abilities, whether it was most people notice in their lawn. They potter looking at, and photographing learning how to identify and control come in a wonderful array of colours: these beautiful fungi, please contact Entries for the Poetry Map are now invasive plant species, discovering bee red, scarlet, orange, peach, yellow, the Isle of Man Fungus Group, or find closed and judging takes place keeping, listening to talks by experts, purple, green, brown, beige and white. us at https://www.facebook.com/ in August 2019. having guided walks in the countryside They have thick, waxy gills and features groups/fungusiom/ by wardens, making herbal tonics at Bumble bee © Laura McCoy such as a wet, greasy cap and stem that Cregneash, learning to identify Show your support for UNESCO help to identify the species. Some Liz Charter, Isle of Next year, Manx Wildlife Week will butterflies and flies, bird spotting, Biosphere Isle of Man and for a waxcaps have distinctive smells that Man Fungus Group be from the 8th to 17th May. listening for bats and many more. We more sustainable Isle of Man by have given rise to their common names also invited back Simon King of BBC taking the Biosphere Pledge and including the honey waxcap and the Originally the purpose of Wildlife Week Spring Watch fame to give a lecture at signing up your business, community cedarwood waxcap. Blackening waxcaps Ballerina waxcaps was to celebrate the Isle of Man the Manx Museum that was impassioned group, etc as a Partner. Visit the are one of the first to appear in autumn; becoming a member of the NBN Atlas and inspiring. website – www.biosphere.im/get- they are yellow-orange initially but (https://isleofman.nbnatlas.org). This involved – to find out more. gradually turn to black before shrivelling Earthtongues To finish off there was a UNESCO free public site helps answer questions up and returning to the soil. The pink Earthtongues are like tiny monoliths and

Biosphere event - Voices For Our Future about when and where you can find waxcap, also known as the Ballerina, is come in a variety of shades of black. - which had popular keynote speaker wildlife by searching a database of Search the website below to apply to one of the most elegant mushrooms you They can occur singly or in troops. Dara McAnulty come to the Island and sightings that have been gathered become a partner to UNESCO are likely to see and always raises the encourage young conservation together and recorded for more than a Biosphere Isle of Man. spirits on an autumnal day. It is not Places rich in grassland fungi are advocates to come together and work hundred years. very common and is a valuable indicator becoming increasingly scarce. We only https://www.biosphere.im/become-a towards a better future. of old grassland. see these fungi when they are fruiting -partner/ and the rest of the time they are below ground and forgotten, making them vulnerable to practices that may Golden waxcap

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