Wildlife photos from Community Science walk with Crisis members

Last Friday was the inaugural 'Creative Conservation' Community Science event with Crisis members from Sheffield -  consisting of a guided wildlife walk around the Millstone Edge and Padley Gorge area led by the Community Science team and Tom from the National Park Ranger Service, followed by an introduction to Community Science (and lunch stop) at Brunt's Barn near Grindleford.

Peacock butterfly (c) Steve Smith

Crisis member and photographer Steve took some pictures of some of the wildlife which was spotted, including the Community Science target species the Peacock Butterfly (above) - seen and recorded just below Millstone Edge.

A northern hairy wood ant nest (c) Steve Smith

Some of the other species also seen/heard and talked about were: orange-tip butterfly; early, white-tailed and tree bumblebees; willow warbler, chiffchaff, redstart, pied flycatcher, meadow and tree pipits, stonechat, buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, northern hairy wood ants, bluebells, lesser celandine, wood sorrel and birch polypore fungus (also known as razor strop) and red kite.

Female pied flycatcher (c) Steve Smith

Red kite (c) Steve Smith

Thanks to Steve for sending in these great photos, and also to everyone else involved for making it a very enjoyable day.

Surveying bumblebees - Sheffield University Conservation Volunteers

Guest post by Amruta Tendolkar (Sheffield University Conservation Volunteers)  http://sheffuniconservation.wix.com/sucv

As a sequel to the Sphagnum moss workshop that we did with the Moors for the Future, 15 of us headed to Longshaw Estate on Saturday to learn how to identify and survey bumblebees.

SUCV looking for bees!

Loss of flowers for foraging, loss of suitable nest sites and use of pesticides have led to the rapid decline of many bumblebee species in Britain. Bumblebees are better pollinators than most other species of bees because they can travel up to 2km from their nests in search of flowers and their tongues are much varied in length. Hence, it is essential to save them.

Studying bumblebee specimens before heading out

For this reason, Moors for the Future has initiated surveys to note down the abundance of bumblebees around moorland. They have chosen three species which are easy to identify and will be interesting to track in response to climate change. The morning session gave us pointers to identify these three bumblebee species and a few others commonly found in the area.In the afternoon, we took a walk around Longshaw Estate in search of some bees. 

 

Bumblebee survey materials

Since it is quite early for them to come out of hibernation, we could spot only two. However, the weather was sunny and everyone had a great time!

SUCV taking a well earned break at the end of the day

Thanks to everyone who came for the workshop and a big thank you to Tom, for conducting it.

Why I am helping to record Sphagnum

Guest blog post by 'The Big Moss Map' volunteer Debbie Wallace

Sphagnum is very important for healthy peatlands and knowing where it is and how well it is faring is essential for its conservation.

I am studying for an MSc Biological Recording and I like to spend my time doing this…

These are a few examples from my survey route.

I am recording the location of Sphagnum in the Peak District for the Big Moss Map.

If you take a good close look at Sphagnum, you will be rewarded; they are really fabulous.  

Some species can have quite vibrant colours and they have subtly different leaf shapes and characteristics.  

After participating in several mosses and liverworts courses and a Sphagnum identification workshop during 2015, I really wanted to put what I had learned to good use and contribute to this very worthwhile project.

The Moors for the Future survey method is simple to follow and it can be carried out by anyone with an interest in nature and a love of the outdoors. No prior knowledge of Sphagnum identification is required.

http://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/community-science/bigmossmap/stepbystep

I can highly recommend attending one of the survey training days; they are really informative and enjoyable. The training provides all of the information that a volunteer needs in order to get out and collect some really valuable Sphagnum records for the Big Moss Map. 

My surveys so far

I am recording all of the Sphagnum which grows within 2m of each side of this track and I have found quite a lot so far. It takes a keen eye as sometimes it can be quite well hidden.

Chapel Gate - 21st January 2016

So far, I have been surveying during December, January and February (it's nicer than it sounds). 

It may sound pretty obvious but you can't find and record Sphagnum if it is under a blanket of snow. This meant that sometimes I had to wait for days when the snow had cleared. I am looking forward to spring and summer.

In addition to the very sound safety advice provided by the Moors for the Future team, http://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/sites/default/files/csp/HealthAndSafetyGuidelines.pdf, I also found the following routine to be very useful in keeping me safe and warm during my winter surveys:

• I check the mountain weather forecast to make sure that the weather is suitable for a survey. http://www.mwis.org.uk/english-welsh-forecast/PD/
• I know my route well and my partner knows exactly where I am going.
• I carry a first aid kit, plenty of food, spare clothes, and some shelter.
• I find hand warmers are really useful and hot soup on a cold day is wonderful.
• I use a phone app which, providing I have a phone signal, allows me to text, email or tweet my grid reference very easily. I send text updates throughout the day. http://www.mike-irving.co.uk/portfolio/mobile-apps/gb-grid-ref-worker/ 

On a cold day hot soup is an excellent thing to have

   

My survey routine 

Each patch of Sphagnum has a number on the survey form

I take a piece or 'Whiteboard' (smooth wipe-clean plastic will do) and a dry wipe pen. 

For each new patch of Sphagnum, my first photo has the patch number and the grid reference. The 25cm scale is drawn on with a permanent marker. This is the start of my photo series. 

I take some close up photos which show the characteristic 
features, and a general habitat photo.

All of this makes entering records and uploading the corresponding photos much easier.

Although I had already attended a Sphagnum identification workshop and wanted to record the specific species of Sphagnum that I found, this is not necessary in order to take part in the survey and to contribute to the Big Moss Map. The 'Sphagnum Species' column is an optional one.

I am getting out there to find out, 'Where is all the Sphagnum?' http://moorcitizens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/where-is-all-sphagnum.html

Debbie Wallace, February 2016