British wildlife adapts well to confusing year of two springs and no summer
Unusual weather
December 2011. Much British wildlife has enjoyed a successful year thanks to a mild spring and a warm autumn with abundant spring-like sunshine, according to experts at the National Trust. It managed to survive the cool and wet summer, the second in a row.
The weather for the year created favourable breeding conditions for many species with National Trust wildlife experts reporting a boom in grey seal, avocet, spring insects and autumn berries in particular. The warmest April and the second warmest autumn on record meant that warmth-loving insects such as butterflies, bumblebees and spring mining bees thrived.
Autumn
The glorious autumn resulted in an abundance of fruits and berries from spring-flowering shrubs, especially apple, hawthorn and sloe, beech nuts and acorns. These provided deer, badgers and grey squirrels with a plentiful food source and fattened up well prior to see them through the tough winter months. Many winter birds will also benefit.
Matthew Oates, wildlife adviser at the National Trust, said: "The unusual weather this year has confused some of our native wildlife but many species have responded well.
"Wildlife emerged from winter to a fantastic spring which promised so much but failed to deliver for many species, which were let down by a poor summer. Luckily the ‘Indian summer' in autumn months with spring-like temperatures came to the rescue leading to many second appearances, an abundance of berries and huge numbers of migrant species to our shores."
Birds
A combination of the warm autumn and high winds has resulted in many rare bird visitors to our coast and countryside with North American buff-breasted sandpipers at several locations, desert wheatear at Man Sands in Devon, red-flanked bluetail at Orford Ness in Suffolk and a bufflehead at Helston Loe Pool in Cornwall.
Flowers
The earliest spring this century lead to an early appearance of vibrant spring flowers. Primroses peaked at the end of March, a fantastic display of bluebells emerged during April and most vegetation and blossom appeared three to four weeks earlier than normal, but the dry conditions was not good news for frogs, toads and newts, as many of their breeding ponds dried up.
Drought
Autumnal tints were visible from late July, and by late August autumn was visible almost everywhere, due to the early start, local drought and summer cold. In much of England water levels were worryingly low, the lowest since 1976, with water rationing being threatened.
Matthew Oates continued: "It has certainly been an unpredictable year of weather and the extreme fluctuations throughout just a single year continue to provide challenges to our wildlife."
January
The year was preceded by the coldest December on record. But after the first week of January snowy conditions retreated beyond the Highland line. A mild, wet and windy week followed before dry but cold weather dominated the second half of January.
Waxwings, a scarce winter migrant bird, were widespread, feasting on berries in towns and countryside.
A fantastic winter for garden birds, with the nation spending a fortune on bird feed. Successful Big Garden Birdwatch weekend at end of month, with many fieldfares and redwings counted.
Hazel catkins were profuse, catching hay fever sufferers out late in the month.
February
Plenty of cloud and bands of rain brought in by westerly weather for most of the month. There were some strong winds in the first week but temperatures were generally near or above normal throughout.
Rooks started building and blackbirds tuning up by the middle of the month.
A 17 per cent increase in the number of flowering plants and bulbs in bloom suggests that spring arrived earlier than 2010, according to the annual flower count of 38 National Trust gardens on Valentine's Day
March
The year woke up with a bang in March, which after a cold grey start became one of the driest and sunniest on record.
Abundance of marsh fritillary caterpillars on downs in Dorset and Wiltshire; in places consuming all of their foodplant leaves (devil's bit scabious).
Frog & toad spawn appeared somewhat late the legacy of the cold December, then tadpole development was hindered by pools and ponds drying up.
Primroses flowered early, at peak in late March in the south, and finished there by Easter.
April
High pressure over or near to the UK for much of the month ushered in the warmest April on record, which was incredibly dry apart from in Scotland, Northern Ireland and NW England.
The best Easter weather on record, with temperatures reaching 24C on Easter Saturday.
Bluebells and an abundance of spring blossom, especially in orchards, but a poor year for the rare pasque flower due to spring drought.
The dry conditions caused heath and moor fires at places such as Marsden Moor in Yorkshire and chalk streams dried up.
Superb month for spring insects, including mining bees and their parasitic bee flies, and record immigration of bar-tailed godwits, pushed in by easterly winds in late April.
May
By the start of May vegetation in gardens and the countryside had rushed headlong into early summer but the fine weather broke at the end of the first week of May. The southern two thirds of Britain then experienced cold drought conditions, with many cold nights after grey windy days.
Vegetation and blossom was three to four weeks ahead of the norm - June arrived early. May blossom (hawthorn) was practically over in the south of England as the month began.
But much late frost damage in many districts, with many oaks defoliated. Difficult conditions for pregnant female bats, possibly delaying birth of pups.
Successful breeding season for avocets at Orford Ness in Suffolk, despite a lack of mud for feeding.
June
A cool, cloudy and wet month with with many cold nights though the rain helped to avoid drought conditions. It was especially poor in the north.
Another record year for the large blue butterfly at National Trust's Collard Hill reserve in Somerset, with the population up by a third on 2010's dizzy heights.
Purple emperor butterfly emerges at Bookham Common on 13 June - earliest national appearance since 1893.
July
July started and ended well, though the bulk of it continued the cool wet trend. It was a rather cool month overall, with mean temperatures about 1 °C below average over England and Wales making this the coolest July since 2000.
First blackberries were on bushes before the middle of the month roughly a month earlier than normal.
Cool weather meant that on many days, insects were reluctant to take to the wing in northern England.
Foul, wet and windy weather in the north did have a silver lining by encouraging the first waxcap fungi of the autumn in the Lake District.
August
August followed a similar pattern to July after a promising start. A cool and grey holiday season with a lot of rain in the north of England. The last good August was in 2006.
Rare heathland broad-headed bug (Alydus calcaratus) discovered by the National Trust's Biological Survey Team on Dunkery Beacon in Exmoor, along with the scarce cow-wheat shieldbug (Sehirus biguttatus). A rare tiger beetle wasp was discovered at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.
Poor feeding conditions for young bats due to cold weather and rain.
September
Apart from a gale at the end of the first week, September was pleasant, ending in a strong anticyclone, the first since the spring.
Early autumn leaf fall due mainly to spring and autumn drought.
Tail end of Hurricane Katia brought in many buff-breasted sandpipers from North America to places such as Dunkery Beacon in Somerset, and Dale Head in Pembrokeshire, but only a single vagrant monarch butterfly, to Ringstead Bay in Dorset.
Numbers of common crane fly, an important food source for bats and some birds seemed to continue to make a slow recovery after the population crash of 2007, possibly caused by the summer floods in that year.
October
October began with an un-seasonal heat-wave, producing the hottest October day ever. It was unusually mild, and dry away from the far west and north.
Fantastic autumn for fruits and berries from spring-flowering shrubs, especially apple, hawthorn and sloe, beech nuts and acorns. Deer, badgers and grey squirrels fattened up well to see them through the lean winter months.
Poor season for fungi in many districts, due to cool summer and autumn drought. Good though in East Anglia, including many waxcaps at Blickling and Hatfield Forest.
Good autumn for rare vagrant birds, including a red-flanked bluetail on Orford Ness, Suffolk coast. A kingfisher that had been ringed in Poland became a record breaker when it was seen at Orford Ness.
November
The second warmest November in over 100 years thanks to a southerly flow with only November 1994 warmer. Plenty of cloud at times and some persistent fog over eastern England, but any rainfall was showery and mainly confined to the west and north.
A ‘second spring', with many spring shrubs and plants flowering, including many dandelions and white dead nettle, and many garden plants.
Bats and moths active until late in the month as the warm weather lead to a longer lasting food supply.
Record breaking grey seal breeding season at Blakeney Point with more than 750 pups born from early November to mid-December.
A desert wheatear followed the southerly air steam up from North Africa to spend a few days at Man Sands in Devon.
December
Great year for holly and mistletoe berries in most districts, a knock on from the fine spring.
15 Short-eared owls overwintering at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, perhaps suggesting good success on Scandinavian breeding grounds and maybe a sign of a population crash in the vole population there. Also seen at Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, and on the North Wiltshire downs.
Pine marten tracks in snow at Castle Ward in County Down.
Five cranes paid a visit to Buscot and Coleshill Estate in Oxfordshire, possibly part of the influx that brought birds into the British Isles in November.
The autumn rains at last arrive in central and eastern England.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/british-weather.html
Showing posts with label British wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British wildlife. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Will for Wildlife Week
Make nature your legacy
Take action for wildlife this Will for Wildlife Week
Once a love of nature has us in its grasp, it becomes part of us and, we want to protect it. Will for Wildlife Week, from 18 to 22 October, offers the chance to take action for the benefit of wildlife and future generations, with The Wildlife Trusts.
Anyone with an interest in nature will have green spaces in their local area that are special to them - perhaps it's somewhere to walk the dog, sit and think, or play with the children. Often there is a local Wildlife Trust, looking after this space so that it remains a healthy habitat for wildlife, and a place people can enjoy. But they cannot do this without the generous support of the public. Legacies are one of their most important sources of income.
Whether it's the stir of the wind in the leaves, the brush of wildflower petals at your ankles or the hum of bees collecting nectar that gives you pleasure, your mark can be left indelibly within them if you leave a will for wildlife.
A donation of any size could help purchase new land to transform into a thriving habitat, go towards managing a wetland where wading birds can thrive, or connect fragmented patches of woodland or wildflower meadow, linking them into a new living network.
Sir David Attenborough, vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Anyone who cares about wildlife has a marvellous opportunity to do something quite unique, by remembering their local Wildlife Trust in their will. This generous act is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy."
The Wildlife Trusts' chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added: "Legacies make a huge difference to The Wildlife Trusts. A donation to your local Trust in your will means you can look after the natural environment on your doorstep in future, making sure your ancestors can benefit from it the same way that you have.
"We believe many people would like to write, or update, their will to reflect their current situation but simply haven't got round to it yet. A clearly written will, kept updated throughout your life, is essential to ensure that your wishes are respected."
Select solicitors are offering discounts on will writing in connection to Will for Wildlife week. To find out if there are any in your area, or if you want to know how else you can get involved in Will for Wildlife Week, contact your local Wildlife Trust. You can find their details here:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/will-wildlife.html
Take action for wildlife this Will for Wildlife Week
Once a love of nature has us in its grasp, it becomes part of us and, we want to protect it. Will for Wildlife Week, from 18 to 22 October, offers the chance to take action for the benefit of wildlife and future generations, with The Wildlife Trusts.
Anyone with an interest in nature will have green spaces in their local area that are special to them - perhaps it's somewhere to walk the dog, sit and think, or play with the children. Often there is a local Wildlife Trust, looking after this space so that it remains a healthy habitat for wildlife, and a place people can enjoy. But they cannot do this without the generous support of the public. Legacies are one of their most important sources of income.
Whether it's the stir of the wind in the leaves, the brush of wildflower petals at your ankles or the hum of bees collecting nectar that gives you pleasure, your mark can be left indelibly within them if you leave a will for wildlife.
A donation of any size could help purchase new land to transform into a thriving habitat, go towards managing a wetland where wading birds can thrive, or connect fragmented patches of woodland or wildflower meadow, linking them into a new living network.
Sir David Attenborough, vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Anyone who cares about wildlife has a marvellous opportunity to do something quite unique, by remembering their local Wildlife Trust in their will. This generous act is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy."
The Wildlife Trusts' chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added: "Legacies make a huge difference to The Wildlife Trusts. A donation to your local Trust in your will means you can look after the natural environment on your doorstep in future, making sure your ancestors can benefit from it the same way that you have.
"We believe many people would like to write, or update, their will to reflect their current situation but simply haven't got round to it yet. A clearly written will, kept updated throughout your life, is essential to ensure that your wishes are respected."
Select solicitors are offering discounts on will writing in connection to Will for Wildlife week. To find out if there are any in your area, or if you want to know how else you can get involved in Will for Wildlife Week, contact your local Wildlife Trust. You can find their details here:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/will-wildlife.html
Will for Wildlife Week
Make nature your legacy
Take action for wildlife this Will for Wildlife Week
Once a love of nature has us in its grasp, it becomes part of us and, we want to protect it. Will for Wildlife Week, from 18 to 22 October, offers the chance to take action for the benefit of wildlife and future generations, with The Wildlife Trusts.
Anyone with an interest in nature will have green spaces in their local area that are special to them - perhaps it's somewhere to walk the dog, sit and think, or play with the children. Often there is a local Wildlife Trust, looking after this space so that it remains a healthy habitat for wildlife, and a place people can enjoy. But they cannot do this without the generous support of the public. Legacies are one of their most important sources of income.
Whether it's the stir of the wind in the leaves, the brush of wildflower petals at your ankles or the hum of bees collecting nectar that gives you pleasure, your mark can be left indelibly within them if you leave a will for wildlife.
A donation of any size could help purchase new land to transform into a thriving habitat, go towards managing a wetland where wading birds can thrive, or connect fragmented patches of woodland or wildflower meadow, linking them into a new living network.
Sir David Attenborough, vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Anyone who cares about wildlife has a marvellous opportunity to do something quite unique, by remembering their local Wildlife Trust in their will. This generous act is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy."
The Wildlife Trusts' chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added: "Legacies make a huge difference to The Wildlife Trusts. A donation to your local Trust in your will means you can look after the natural environment on your doorstep in future, making sure your ancestors can benefit from it the same way that you have.
"We believe many people would like to write, or update, their will to reflect their current situation but simply haven't got round to it yet. A clearly written will, kept updated throughout your life, is essential to ensure that your wishes are respected."
Select solicitors are offering discounts on will writing in connection to Will for Wildlife week. To find out if there are any in your area, or if you want to know how else you can get involved in Will for Wildlife Week, contact your local Wildlife Trust. You can find their details here:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/will-wildlife.html
Take action for wildlife this Will for Wildlife Week
Once a love of nature has us in its grasp, it becomes part of us and, we want to protect it. Will for Wildlife Week, from 18 to 22 October, offers the chance to take action for the benefit of wildlife and future generations, with The Wildlife Trusts.
Anyone with an interest in nature will have green spaces in their local area that are special to them - perhaps it's somewhere to walk the dog, sit and think, or play with the children. Often there is a local Wildlife Trust, looking after this space so that it remains a healthy habitat for wildlife, and a place people can enjoy. But they cannot do this without the generous support of the public. Legacies are one of their most important sources of income.
Whether it's the stir of the wind in the leaves, the brush of wildflower petals at your ankles or the hum of bees collecting nectar that gives you pleasure, your mark can be left indelibly within them if you leave a will for wildlife.
A donation of any size could help purchase new land to transform into a thriving habitat, go towards managing a wetland where wading birds can thrive, or connect fragmented patches of woodland or wildflower meadow, linking them into a new living network.
Sir David Attenborough, vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Anyone who cares about wildlife has a marvellous opportunity to do something quite unique, by remembering their local Wildlife Trust in their will. This generous act is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy."
The Wildlife Trusts' chief executive, Stephanie Hilborne, added: "Legacies make a huge difference to The Wildlife Trusts. A donation to your local Trust in your will means you can look after the natural environment on your doorstep in future, making sure your ancestors can benefit from it the same way that you have.
"We believe many people would like to write, or update, their will to reflect their current situation but simply haven't got round to it yet. A clearly written will, kept updated throughout your life, is essential to ensure that your wishes are respected."
Select solicitors are offering discounts on will writing in connection to Will for Wildlife week. To find out if there are any in your area, or if you want to know how else you can get involved in Will for Wildlife Week, contact your local Wildlife Trust. You can find their details here:
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/will-wildlife.html
Friday, August 13, 2010
First beaver born in the wild for 400 years
From the Guardian online.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/13/beaver-born-wild-scotland-uk
It has taken a while to arrive, but late last month the first beaver to be born in the wild in Britain in roughly 400 years emerged from its lodge.
The young animal, known as a kit, is one of at least two that have been born to wild beavers released in May last year around several lochs deep in an ancient, uninhabited forest on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland.
The small, shy animals are now about eight weeks old and their arrival is a pr
ofound relief to the Scottish conservationists who have pioneered the reintroduction of beavers into the UK, centuries after they were hunted for their pelts and oil into extinction.
The first kit was spotted by Christian Robstad, a field officer with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. "It emerged as part of a 'family outing' with its parents and older sister close by to offer additional protection," he said. "It kept close to the edge of the loch and called out to its family for reassurance while it began to learn to forage for food."
The experiment at Knapdale, south-west of Lochgilphead, is being closely watched by naturalists in southern England and Wales, where beaver reintroduction projects are being pursued.
The Scottish scheme has had a troubled history. Six of the wild beavers flown in from Norway in 2008 died in quarantine or could not be released. After back-up beavers were moved from a wildlife reserve in the Highlands, 11 were eventually freed in Knapdale. Since then one family of three has gone missing, with fears that the female was deliberately shot. A fourth new pair was released in May to bolster numbers.
Simon Jones, the Scottish Wildlife Trust's project manager, said: "Receiving confirmation of the presence of at least two beaver kits this year in Knapdale is a fantastic step forward, as we can now begin to see how a small reintroduced population starts to naturally establish itself in the wild.
"Both families have built their own lodge and one family has had great success building a dam to access better food supplies. This has created a magnificent new area of wetland in which wildlife is now flourishing."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/13/beaver-born-wild-scotland-uk
It has taken a while to arrive, but late last month the first beaver to be born in the wild in Britain in roughly 400 years emerged from its lodge.
The young animal, known as a kit, is one of at least two that have been born to wild beavers released in May last year around several lochs deep in an ancient, uninhabited forest on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland.
The small, shy animals are now about eight weeks old and their arrival is a pr
ofound relief to the Scottish conservationists who have pioneered the reintroduction of beavers into the UK, centuries after they were hunted for their pelts and oil into extinction.The first kit was spotted by Christian Robstad, a field officer with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. "It emerged as part of a 'family outing' with its parents and older sister close by to offer additional protection," he said. "It kept close to the edge of the loch and called out to its family for reassurance while it began to learn to forage for food."
The experiment at Knapdale, south-west of Lochgilphead, is being closely watched by naturalists in southern England and Wales, where beaver reintroduction projects are being pursued.
The Scottish scheme has had a troubled history. Six of the wild beavers flown in from Norway in 2008 died in quarantine or could not be released. After back-up beavers were moved from a wildlife reserve in the Highlands, 11 were eventually freed in Knapdale. Since then one family of three has gone missing, with fears that the female was deliberately shot. A fourth new pair was released in May to bolster numbers.
Simon Jones, the Scottish Wildlife Trust's project manager, said: "Receiving confirmation of the presence of at least two beaver kits this year in Knapdale is a fantastic step forward, as we can now begin to see how a small reintroduced population starts to naturally establish itself in the wild.
"Both families have built their own lodge and one family has had great success building a dam to access better food supplies. This has created a magnificent new area of wetland in which wildlife is now flourishing."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
UK government fails to halt wildlife declines
But a least the targets and reporting in the Biodiversity Action Plan Process enables us to make that judgement!
May 2010. The Government has quietly slipped out a report showing that more that twice as many of the Government's highest priority species for conservation are declining as are increasing and 5% of the species have actually been declared extinct since the start of the process in 1994.
Wildlife conservation organisations are unhappy that this report has been sat on for almost a year and been given such a low profile launch in the ‘International Year of Biodiversity'.
Underfunding
The animals and plants were protected under the 2006 Natural Environment and Communities Act and the 2004 Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act and all public bodies were given a duty to have regard to, or further, the conservation of the species. Despite this declines and losses continue. This is due to a profound underfunding of the conservation of wildlife and a failure to get Local Authorities and other Government departments to put their weight behind action to halt declines and habitat destruction.
On the positive side having these species and habitats highlighted as needing conservation action and being given targets and a formal reporting process means that the UK is able to clearly see how we have been conserving wildlife; not just the overall negative trend, but also examples where focused action has been successful and has saved species from probable extinction - for instance the Ladybird spider.
New government
The new Government has committed that ‘We will introduce measures to protect wildlife and promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitats and restore biodiversity.'
This work is urgently needed because we rely on wildlife for a healthy environment. For instance bees, moths and hoverflies pollinate £440 million pounds worth of crops every year but more than 250 pollinators are listed as needing conservation action on the UK BAP list.
There is also an urgent need to refresh the Biodiversity Action Plan process. At the start every species was given a biological target so that wildlife charities, government departments, funders and businesses could all work to a commonly agreed objective and the status of each species was assessed on a three year reporting cycle. The lists of threatened species were revised in 2007, but targets have not been set for the newly listed species, most existing targets for previously listed species come to an end in 2010, and there is no agreed process for reporting on the future status of the species.
British wildlife in crisis
"British wildlife is in crisis; species that have lived here for thousands of years are declining and disappearing. The UK and country authorities must now redouble their efforts if they are to have any hope of meeting the new EU target of ‘halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restoring them in so far as feasible'." Said Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife - the Invertebrate Conservation Trust.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/biodiversity-loss.html
May 2010. The Government has quietly slipped out a report showing that more that twice as many of the Government's highest priority species for conservation are declining as are increasing and 5% of the species have actually been declared extinct since the start of the process in 1994.
Wildlife conservation organisations are unhappy that this report has been sat on for almost a year and been given such a low profile launch in the ‘International Year of Biodiversity'.
Underfunding
The animals and plants were protected under the 2006 Natural Environment and Communities Act and the 2004 Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act and all public bodies were given a duty to have regard to, or further, the conservation of the species. Despite this declines and losses continue. This is due to a profound underfunding of the conservation of wildlife and a failure to get Local Authorities and other Government departments to put their weight behind action to halt declines and habitat destruction.
On the positive side having these species and habitats highlighted as needing conservation action and being given targets and a formal reporting process means that the UK is able to clearly see how we have been conserving wildlife; not just the overall negative trend, but also examples where focused action has been successful and has saved species from probable extinction - for instance the Ladybird spider.
New government
The new Government has committed that ‘We will introduce measures to protect wildlife and promote green spaces and wildlife corridors in order to halt the loss of habitats and restore biodiversity.'
This work is urgently needed because we rely on wildlife for a healthy environment. For instance bees, moths and hoverflies pollinate £440 million pounds worth of crops every year but more than 250 pollinators are listed as needing conservation action on the UK BAP list.
There is also an urgent need to refresh the Biodiversity Action Plan process. At the start every species was given a biological target so that wildlife charities, government departments, funders and businesses could all work to a commonly agreed objective and the status of each species was assessed on a three year reporting cycle. The lists of threatened species were revised in 2007, but targets have not been set for the newly listed species, most existing targets for previously listed species come to an end in 2010, and there is no agreed process for reporting on the future status of the species.
British wildlife in crisis
"British wildlife is in crisis; species that have lived here for thousands of years are declining and disappearing. The UK and country authorities must now redouble their efforts if they are to have any hope of meeting the new EU target of ‘halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restoring them in so far as feasible'." Said Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife - the Invertebrate Conservation Trust.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/biodiversity-loss.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)