news...
This is
the early-summer news update for SeaWatch SW
2008, including a summary of UK Balearic
Shearwater records between 1st January and
31st May 2008, and a final call for
observers for the SeaWatch SW survey this
summer. Further details can be found on the
SeaWatch SW website: http://www.seawatch-sw.org.
Send us your UK Balearic Shearwater
sightings now!
One of the main aims of SeaWatch SW is
to provide a central point for Balearic
Shearwater recording in UK waters; this will
allow us to put project results into a
national context. The 2007 results are
already feeding into ongoing conservation
efforts led by RSPB and Birdlife
International. We are grateful to all
observers who provided us with 2007 records,
and urge anyone who sees a Balearic
Shearwater in the UK in 2008 to contact us
with details of the sighting, and/or submit
their record to BirdGuides. We have already
received over 130 records up to the end of
May, roughly double the number received to
this point in 2007.
SeaWatch SW gears up for 2008 survey
Due to
the continuing support of our sponsors and
volunteer observers, SeaWatch SW will
continue to run a full programme in 2008. As
well as co-ordinating the recording of
Balearic Shearwaters in UK waters throughout
the year, we will again be surveying all
marine wildlife offshore of the Gwennap Head
watchpoint (near Land's End in Cornwall)
from 15th July to 15th October. We will also
be collaborating with Marinelife in
boat-based survey work off south and
southwest England for the second year
running. Have a look at our 2007 annual
report (available to download from the
project website) to see what we discovered
last year, and volunteer to get involved
this summer if you haven't already!
Volunteer observers still required in
Cornwall this summer
Thanks to
a great response from our volunteer
observers, we have coverage for about 90% of
the 93-day survey period by experienced
seabird observers, with supporting marine
wildlife observers for about 80% of the
period. This is therefore a final call for
volunteer observers to fill the remaining
slots. One or more seabird observers are
required for the period 31st August-10th
September only. Volunteers must have
previous experience of Balearic Shearwaters
and other migratory seabirds and, in return
for recording all seabirds seen during a
full day of observation, seabird observers
are provided with free 'bed and brunch' at
Ardensawah Farm B&B, a short walk from the
Gwennap Head watchpoint. Supporting marine
wildlife observers need no prior experience
and most available slots are in August and
September. Although accommodation is not
provided, this is a great opportunity for
students and conservationists who want to
get experience of marine wildlife
observation and recording. Further details
and a provisional schedule can be found on
the 'Get Involved' pages of the project
website.
Unprecedented Balearic Shearwater influx in
early 2008
This year is already shaping up to be
very interesting for Balearic Shearwaters,
and it appears that the species is now
essentially resident in small numbers off
southern England. Unprecedented numbers
lingered into January and February off
southwest coasts, and small numbers
continued to be seen throughout March and
April. After a lull in early May, small
numbers of 'returning' birds were again seen
off southern England from 21st May onwards.
The peak count this winter was up to 50
birds off Portland Bill on 13th January, a
winter record count for the UK. Monthly
summaries and distribution maps can be found
on the 'Results' page of the project
website.
SeaWatch SW data contribute to
conservation planning
SeaWatch SW data are helping
conservation organisations in the early
stages of planning for Marine Protected
Areas off southwest UK. Finding Sanctuary is
a partnership charged with establishing a
network of marine reserves in the region,
following legislation laid out in the
proposed Marine Bill. SeaWatch SW data are
helping to establish key species and
locations that are priorities for
protection. Examples include concentrations
of moulting Balearic Shearwaters off
Portland Bill in mid-summer, and feeding
Basking Sharks and cetaceans over the
Runnelstone reef off Gwennap Head.
SeaWatch SW and Cornwall Wildlife Trust
join forces for Basking Shark survey
Cornwall Wildlife Trust is joining
forces with SeaWatch SW this year in a study
of Basking Sharks off southwest Cornwall. In
addition to the regular survey off Gwennap
Head between mid-July and mid-September, we
are hoping specifically to record Basking
Sharks there from mid-June onwards, and also
monitor one or two other sites in southwest
Cornwall between 15th and 31st July at the
same time as Gwennap Head is being
monitored. The aim is to better understand
how tide and seafloor topography affects the
time and duration that Basking Sharks appear
at the surface. The call for observers,
including results from SeaWatch SW 2007, was
recently featured on the BBC News website.
Ken Shaw joins up with SeaWatch SW for
unique pelagic trip
We recently advertised for an
experienced marine wildlife observer to join
us during a scientific expedition to the
northeast Atlantic this autumn. From 1st
September to 7th October the flagship of the
UK research fleet, RRS James Cook,
will be working offshore between the north
Biscay margin and the Canary Islands as part
of a geological research expedition. The
marine wildlife observer will be responsible
for recording all seabirds and cetaceans
during the trip, and providing daily updates
for the SeaWatch SW website. Of those who
applied, two stood out as being particularly
strong candidates. After some deliberation
we were delighted to offer the place to Ken
Shaw, one of the UK's most experienced
seabird observers and a previous supporter
of SeaWatch SW. Well done to Ken, and thanks
to all who applied. Watch this space to see
what we discover!
More
research students join up with SeaWatch SW
We
are pleased to announce that Alice Jones
will be joining the SeaWatch SW team this
autumn as a NERC-funded PhD student,
sponsored by SAHFOS. Alice will be using
SeaWatch SW data to investigate how
environmental and biological factors affect
the distribution and occurrence of migratory
marine apex predators off southwest England.
We are also pleased to welcome Rachel Evans
and Kathryn Driscoll, who are undertaking
research projects this summer on Basking
Sharks off Gwennap Head. Finally, thanks to
Rafe Holmes, Leire Ordorika, Steph Hinder
and Cecile Chauvel, who supported the
project in 2007 as part of their Masters
research projects.
SeaWatch SW Annual Report 2007 available
online
This full
112-page report, illustrated with colour
photos throughout, contains the results of
monitoring of the critically-endangered
Balearic Shearwater in UK and Irish waters
during 2007, together with results of
effort-based surveys off southwest England
covering all migratory seabirds as well as
cetaceans, Basking Sharks and Ocean Sunfish.
These include data from the epic 93-day
continuous survey off Gwennap Head near
Land's End from mid-July to mid-September,
together with the findings of intensive
land-based surveys at Strumble Head in
Pembrokeshire and Berry Head in Devon, and
boat-based surveys in the western English
Channel.
Finally,
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who contributed to SeaWatch
SW during 2007, and those who are continuing
to support the project in 2008
Russell
Wynn
SeaWatch
SW co-ordinator
http://www.seawatch-sw.org
Dr Russell B Wynn
Co-Chair of Geology and Geophysics
National Oceanography Centre
European Way
Southampton
SO14 3ZH
U.K.
E-mail: rbw1@noc.soton.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)23 80596553 (office)
80596555 (secretary)
80595000 (switchboard)
NOC website:
http://www.noc.ac.uk
Co-ordinator of UK Turbidite Architecture
and Process Studies Group (UK-TAPS):
http://www.uk-taps.org
Co-ordinator of SeaWatch SW Project
http://www.seawatch-sw.org
______________________________________
Dutch Spoonbills flying the flag
In early November 2007, 7 Spoonbills were
reported from Wacker Quay, near Torpoint on
the River Lynher, a tributary of the River
Tamar in Cornwall. This is a regular
wintering area for between one and three
birds but seven is unprecedented. On 10th
November, I led a birdwatching cruise on the
Rivers Tamar and Lynher and found 6 of the
birds together in Shillingham Creek, but the
views were rather distant. However it
appeared that two Spoonbills were sporting
yellow leg flags and colour rings indicating
they were of Dutch origin. If close enough
views were obtained, the colour combination
would enable the birds origin and life
histories to be discovered. The 7th
bird, an adult was on its own at Wacker
Quay.
On the 25th November another
birdwatching cruise with 70 people on board,
obtained excellent views of 6 Spoonbills
feeding together on the rising tide near
Wacker. On two birds the yellow leg flags
could be clearly seen, but the movement of
the boat made it difficult to clearly see
the other colour rings. Several photos were
taken in the hope of fully identifying these
birds later.
Then the detective work began. Back at home,
I checked the internet and contacted Otto
Overdijk of the International Spoonbill
Working Group in Holland who confirmed they
were Dutch birds. Photos taken by Nick
Tomalin and Andy Nicholas were digitally
enhanced showing that both birds were
juveniles and indicated that Bird 1 carried
metal/green/yellow flag on left leg and
yellow/blue/red on the right. (Photograph
A). Bird 2 showed light green/yellow/metal
on the left and yellow flag/light green/red
on the right leg. (Photograph B) These were
emailed to Otto who was able to confirm the
identity of the birds and provide their life
histories.
Bird 1 was ringed as a nestling on 21 May
2007, on the island of Schiermonnikoog, the
northern most inhabited island in the Dutch
Wadden Sea and a National Park. It was seen
again 64 days later at Lauwersmeer, another
National Park 14 km to the south of
Schiermonnikoog. Its next sighting wasn’t
until it arrived on the River Lynher having
travelled a distance of nearly 800 km.
Bird 2 was ringed, again as a nestling at
Onderdijk on the west bank of the IJsselmeer
on 6 June 2007. By the end of the month it
moved to Den Oever, 21 km to the north west
where it was seen on numerous occasions
until 2 October. Its next sighting was on
the River Lynher, having travelled 694 km.
It is interesting that these birds have come
from breeding colonies 100 km apart, yet
have homed in on the River Lynher as a
wintering site. It is also interesting to
speculate the origin of the remaining birds
but they are probably of Dutch origin. The
majority of the Dutch population winter much
further south, in southern Spain or
Portugal, many venturing even further, into
West Africa. Hopefully, they’ll remain for
more people to enjoy on the next bird
watching cruise on 9 December (see Cornwall
Birding website for details).
Thanks to Otto Overdijk and the
International Spoonbill Working Group for
their help in preparing this note.
Tamar Birdwatching Cruises are organised by
Bruce Taggart in conjunction with Tamar
Cruising, the RSPB, Cornwall Birds and the
Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The trips aim to
show people the diversity of birdlife on the
Rivers Tamar and Lynher in winter and to
record all sightings.
Photograph
A - Bird 1 by Andy Nicholas
Photograph
B - Bird 2. by Andy Nicholas
Spoonbills on River Lynher,
Cornwall on 25th November 2007. Bird
1 is second from the left and Bird 2 on the
right. Photograph by Andy Nicholas.
Cirl
Buntings in Cornwall
Cirl buntings are breeding
again in Cornwall thanks to the RSPB’s cirl
bunting reintroduction project in partnership
with Paignton Zoo, Natural England and the
National Trust. Cirl buntings are small farmland
birds that used to be found throughout the
county, and right across England’s south coast,
but now they are restricted to a narrow strip of
coastal farmland in south Devon. Despite a
revival in numbers over the last 15 years, this
population is still vulnerable, so it was
decided to establish another population within
its’ former range.
Last summer saw the first
releases at a ‘secret’ site in south Cornwall.
Young chicks were taken from Devon nests under
licence from Natural England, then transported
to the site and reared by aviculturalists from
Paignton Zoo. When the chicks were old enough,
they were moved outside to aviaries, and
released into the wild a week later. By the end
of August last year 72 cirl buntings had been
released. They were all ringed with a unique
colour combination so each bird could be
identified. During March, pairs began to form
territories and showed signs of breeding
activity, with the first chicks hatching out in
June.
Though this represents a
great success for the species, more birds will
be needed for the population to be able to
sustain itself. More young birds have been
brought down from Devon and released this year,
and will be for the following two years, and we
are working with local farmers, landowners and
Natural England to provide suitable habitat for
cirl buntings under the government’s
Environmental Stewardship schemes. If anyone has
any sightings, would like to commit to regular
voluntary work (*see below), or simply wants
more information, please feel free to contact me
on 07702 779345 or by
e-mail.
Nick Tomalin
RSPB Cirl Bunting
Reintroduction Project Field Officer
*
In
the RSPB volunteers are a major resource and
make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to
take action for the conservation of wild birds
and the environment. On a project like this we
would need someone with good field
identification skills and reasonable fitness who
could commit to at least one day each fortnight,
since it requires regular work to become
familiar with the ring identification and the
monitoring area. For more information please
contact Nick Tomalin – details above.
Photos by Nick Tomalin
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