Term 3 - Week 2 - Clyde Muirshiel Country Park

Location: Clyde Muirshiel Country Park
Activity: Bird Watching (Hen Harriers!)


Female Hen Harrier on Nest

In fresh winds and the odd heavy shower we made our way up onto the moorland that forms part of the Clyde Muirshiel Country Park. After an interesting debate over the identity of some small birds (still unconfirmed) we were lucky enough to see a male Hen Harrier flying across the glen.

Hen Harriers are a red listed species of high conservation concern and the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Clyde Muirshiel Country Park is specially designated because of the Hen Harriers.
For more information on Hen Harriers please visit the RSPB Website


Male Hen Harrier


Female Hen Harrier


Female Hen Harrier
Photographs all taken from www.toothandclaw.org.uk (All copyrights apply)

Term 2 - Week 3 - Auchincruive

Location: Auchincruive Estate
Activity: Bird Ringing Talk

This week we received a talk on Bird Ringing from lecturer David Grant.

As well as being a lecturer David is also a licensed ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology and delivered a presentation on the reasons for ringing birds and methods used.

Many thanks to David for a very interesting talk, and we look forward to seeing him back for bird ID skills later in the term.

Anybody that is interested in Bird Ringing can find out more information at the BTO Website

Term 2 - Week 1 - Auchincruive

Location: Auchincruive Estate
Activity: Pond Maintenance

As the first year students had a site visit to Stevenston Beach Local Nature Reserve, it was left to the hardy second years to do battle with the vegetation surrounding the wildlife pond at the bottom of Mount Allan Wood.
The task was the removal of over hanging trees from the pond to allow more light into the woodland floor, this then gives ground dwelling plants a better chance to grow.
As normal, the cut wood was left in habitat piles to provide cover for insects, small mammals and birds.

Week 10 - Auchincruive Estate

Unfortunately things didn't quite go to plan for Week 10, due to unforeseen circumstances at Kelburn.

Instead, the Conservation Society was involved in a couple of different projects;
- Rhododendron Clearance
- Tree Felling
- Clearance at the Wildlife Pond
- Bat Boxes

Looking at the blog it might seem that we cut down an awful lot of trees, but the woodland we are managing at Auchincruive has been left to its own devices for many years, and fast growing species such as birch are crowding out slower growing species such as oak. Oak has greater importance in terms of biodiversity, and the birch and beach that we have been cutting down will soon re-grow. We also leave the trees that have been cut down in the woodland. As the trees rot down they provide food and shelter for insects, and habitat for small mammals and birds. All of which are important in the woodland environment.