Moorland March Update: Saturday 19th/Sunday 20th

Bird Ringing demo, Nocturnal Wildlife Tours and a glorious W.T.M.S

This weekend's activities kicked off bright and early on a chilly Saturday morning with the Bird Ringing demo at the Laverock Hide. In excess of 70 birds were caught, ringed and processed and the event was well attended despite the cool breeze. Many thanks to Mike and Brian from the Solway Ringing Group who made the trip on Friday to lend their expertise and stayed over night at the hide in their camper!

 

 





Bird Ringing at the Laverock Hide.



Jake gets to grips with a Chaffinch




A Great Tit ready for release.



Greenfinch (L) and Coal Tit (R) - Courtesy of Tom Hutton

 

 

 

 Unfortunately most people had drifted off before the Nocturnal Wildlife Tours arrived but those who remained were lucky enough to experience a fantastic demonstration of thermal imaging and night vision equipment. Thanks to Keith and his wife for making the trip from Castle Douglas and be sure to check out the NWT website at wildlifetours.co.uk

 

The weather Gods were smiling on the Watch the Moorland Skies event on Sunday morning. From 7.30am the sun shone from the clear blue and many raptors (and other birds) made the most of the fine weather. Observers were treated to excellent views of both male and female Merlin (including mating), a female Hen Harrier (most likely Hattie), many buzzards, a displaying Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and distant views of a Red Kite. All around us the moor was waking up with singing Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Curlew and the various vocalisations of Red Grouse.

Thanks to all who attended the events. Your support is very much appreciated!

 

Moorland March Updates:

 

 

A look at what's been going on and what's still to come.......

 

 

 

Saturday 5th March 2016

 

 

 

After a great exhibition opening at the old Post Office on Langholm High Street earlier in the week, Saturday found the MMM Team heading out onto the moor with 14 well wrapped up brave souls. The weather was relatively kind (by Langholm standards) and the various talks, demonstrations and musical interludes were interesting, entertaining and enjoyed by all along the way. Wildlife highlights included Peregrine, a stunning male Merlin and a Red Kite which circled above the Monument as Langholm Folk sang below. A huge thank you to all who came along, those who offered their skills, talents and knowledge (Billy, Rob, John, Hamish and Vi, Charlie and Alan) and to everyone involved.



Cat discussing Sphagnum Moss with the group.

 



Rob Waitt's 'Raw Edge' Chainsaw Sculpting demonstration.

 

 

Langholm Folk singing at the Monument.

 

 



Hamish 'Half-Goat' Odinson and his fantastic leatherwork.

 

 

John Crouch Cookery Demonstration.

 

 

The 'Making The Most Of Moorlands' Team.

 

 Still to come.....

Saturday 19th March 2016

 

Bird Ringing Demonstration

 

FREE – just drop in between 8am and 12noon.

Join us for a special bird ringing demonstration – Members of the North Solway Ringing Group and our team will be netting, ringing and releasing a variety of birds at The Laverock Hide on Langholm Moor.

 

 

Followed by..... 

 

Saturday 19th March 2016 - 3pm-5pm

Nocturnal Wildlife Tour 

"A truly unique experience awaits you on Langholm Moor"

 

Come and meet Cowan and Keith from the Nocturnal Wildlife Tours team “as seen on BBC’s The One Show” as they show you their specially prepared NWT Land Rover, complete with various night vision and thermal imaging devices which they use on their tours. For a small fee you can book a short trip with them later in the day.

 

 

And then the following day.....

 

Watch The Moorland Skies

 

Sunday 20th March 2016 - 8am - 12 noon

 

FREE – Drop in anytime between 8am and noon.

Join our experienced wildlife guides at ‘Harrier Corner’ on Langholm Moor (GridRef: NY392865) to watch the moorland skies for signs of resident moorland species and spring visitors.

Thank you for all of your support and remember, the Exhibition at the Old Post Office will be running until the end of March. Hope to see you soon!

 

 

 

 

 



Moorland March 2016

Moorland March 2016

Next week marks the start of Moorland March 2016, and we’re very excited about it. 

Moorland March is a new festival hosted by the Making the Most of Moorlands Project, which will celebrate all things moorland through a series of events, workshops and exhibitions. The team have been planning this since autumn last year, contacting activity organisers, liaising with local accommodation providers, involving the local arts community and pulling together an amazing month of events. 

The festival will begin on Tuesday the 1^st, with the festival and exhibitions launch, beginning at 6.30pm at the Tourism & Community Hub and visiting the Old Post Office. Cut the Mustard Gallery, who are also putting on a Moorland Themed Exhibition will be open for the evening, as will Blue Moon – where the crafters have been busy making a moorland banner to display in their window. The Community Café at Canonbie church will also be displaying moorland art work during its normal March Opening Hours.

If arts and crafts are your thing, you are spoilt for choice during Moorland March. Alongside the 4 exhibitions, there are a number of different workshops being run by local makers. Leather bracelet making, wool felting and willow weaving are all available during the month of march.

Ann Smith

Ann Smith

If you’re out on the moor on Saturday the 5^th , you may be surprised to hear singing and chatter. It’s our “Guided Walk with a difference”, with highlights including music, local history and a wild food cooking demonstration from local celebrity chef John Crouch. For only £10 this is an event not to be missed.

Scotland’s most celebrated nature photographer, Laurie Campbell, will be running full day photography masterclasses on the 12^th and 13^th, which there are only a few spaces left on. Local photographer, Barry Young, is offering shorter guided photography walks, lasting 2 hours on the 19^th and the 26^th. The 19^th is now SOLD OUT, so be sure to snap up a place quickly for the 26^th. 

Grey Heron, Laurie Campbell.

If something a bit different tickles your fancy, Keith Kirk and the team from Nocturnal Wildlife Tours will have their LandRover, complete with various night vision and thermal imaging devices, at the Laverock Birdhide, 3-5pm, Saturday 19^th. For a small fee you can also book a tour out with them onto the moor after darkness falls. 

Saturday 19^th will be a busy day at the Laverock Birdhide, with North Solway Ringing Group giving a bird ringing demo in the morning. Drop in to see how birds are caught and ringed, and a view of your favourite garden species up close.

A blog post hardly seems long enough to summarise all the wonderful events going on, later in the month there are guided watches, ponk treks, and an Easter Sunday gathering at the monument. Blue Moon are hosting two children’s moorland craft workshops and the project are running a range of kids Easter holiday activities.

To see a full list of events, including booking information, please visit the Making the Most of Moorlands website. 

We look forward to seeing you over the coming month!

- Beckie Davies, Education Assistant

Langholm Moor 2016

Apologies for the lack of posts, to say it has been a busy time would be an understatement. The last few months have seen a few changes but the project is going from strength to strength; part time Education Assistant Beckie Davies, who joined us back in October, has been working hard all autumn and is currently busy with some after school art groups at Langholm And Hottsbridge Primary schools (see below). Beckie has successfully secured the full time seasonal position that begins mid-February and we are really excited to welcome Rick Taylor to the team in the part time education role, within the next few weeks. Judith Johnson has also come on board part time to help organise Moorland March - a month long series of events celebrating all things moorland (see below) so the team is growing!

Red Grouse (MMM volunteer)

It has been a wet and windy winter at Langholm, like most of the country we have been visited by storm after storm making the conditions incredibly hard for wildlife up on the moor. Several colder periods with heavy snow have created some beautiful wintry scenes but added to the challenge for the resident species.

Harriers

The 'Langholm three'  (Hattie, Grainne and Cyan) are doing well. Despite the challenging weather conditions Hattie and Grainne have not had reason to leave the moor and seem to finding enough food to sustain themselves. Cyan  has adopted the area to the west of Langholm and moves between Eskdalemuir  and Moffat. 

'Langholm three' winter 2015/2016

Art work

Pupils at Hottsbridge and Langholm primary schools have been working with education assistant Beckie Davies to create some superb moorland inspired artwork.

 

Moorland March

Over the last six months we have been working with the local community, businesses and artists to create a month long series of events based on and around Langholm moor and celebrating all things moorland.  Keep an eye out for our leaflets or check online for a full listing of events. Why not join us for a guided walk, moorland massage, horse trek, wool felt workshop, photography masterclass or nocturnal wildlife tour? There is lots to do throughout the month.

www.langholmmoorland.co.uk

Scottish Rural Award Nomination.. how exciting!

www.scottishruralawards.org

 The Making the Most of Moorlands Project has been nominated for a Scottish Rural Award 2016! To be  nominated for such a prestigious national award is very exciting for our little community/education project and we'll be heading along to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on March 31st to attend the awards ceremony, wish us luck!

October 2015 update

In general, it has been a chilly and bright start to Autumn and the gamekeeping team have been making the most of the dry weather to do some heather burning.



Langholm Moor

It has been fairly quiet bird-wise up on the moor but there have been several sightings of Wheatears in the last week or so - looking very out of place amongst the frosts. I had a wonderful experience last week when I encountered 14 Ravens interacting together up on the high ground. I heard them before I saw them, that characteristic 'cronk' a real giveaway but I wasn't expecting such a large group. A couple of Buzzards made the mistake of getting too close  and quickly moved on to another part of the hill. 

 

Raven - the superb wedge tail clearly visible (John Wright)

 I watched the group for 15 - 20 minutes or so playing on the wind, displaying to each other, twisting and turning upside down, absolutely stunning. Having watched myself in the past as they carried off young chicks and eggs, Ravens are most certainly an opportunistic predator, but they do not seem to deserve the term - an 'unkindness' of Ravens - as on this occasion at least they were a joy to watch.

 

Tarras Valley (Tom Hutton)

 

 Hattie and Grainne, our 'resident' harriers continue to hunt Langholm moor for voles and small birds. Cyan (the young male harrier tagged at Langholm this summer) has been down in North Yorkshire for the last few weeks but a few days ago he returned home to Langholm. He didn't stay long but journeyed briefly over to the Moffat hills before returning to Langholm once again.



Cyan returns home to Langholm

 



It has been quite a busy few weeks with educational activities - we were joined by Gretna Scout group a few weeks ago on an expedition onto the moorland edge and a visit to our bird hide.

Gretna Scout Group approaching

 

 

Gretna Scout Group setting up for a delicious lunch

We have  enjoyed several activities with Langholm Academy over the last month including multiple visits with the S1 Biology students having a go at freshwater sampling in the Tarras. Working with the local schools to try and find practical opportunities to parts of their curriculum - like these students  learning about Indicator Species and Simpson's diversity Index.

 

Langholm Academy students collecting data



Langholm Academy students learning that even on a fairy bright dry day the moor can be cold and bleak place.



Project stand at Canonbie Day of the Region

 We are pleased to welcome new part time member of staff Beckie Davies who did a work placement with us back in June. Beckie will be leading some education events in the coming months including two events this school half term.

Check out this link to our website for information on upcoming events: http://www.langholmmoorland.co.uk/events.html



After an exciting encounter with an adder on the moor, enjoying a snack in the woods

 

Cyan on the move

Over the last couple of months Cyan has made various short forays away from his natal site but over the weekend he has made his first significant move away from Langholm, travelling over 130km south into North Yorkshire.

No change for Hattie and Grainne who remain on the moor at Langholm.

The Harrier and the Hare

One of the challenges young harriers face after fledging is learning to hunt effectively and feed themselves. I have been sent some great photos of a young harrier at Langholm attempting to take on a little more than it could 'chew'. The more typical prey for Hen Harriers are voles and small birds, but with the vole population at Langholm currently very low this young harrier has been experimenting with other slightly larger prey.

 

 These photos were taken  from the roadside at Langholm, the activity was some distance away but show some interesting behaviour.

 

The young Hen Harrier took three passes at the Brown Hare and eventually gave up, the last image in the sequence shows the Harrier and the Hare sitting side by side in the heather. The Hare was unharmed and looked rather non-plussed by the whole event.

 

Many thanks to Guy Broome for these images. Click on any of the images to see them enlarged.

 A few Short Eared Owl shots - why not?

 Check out Guy's website www.avefaunaphotographic.cou.uk

No news to report from Hattie and Grainne our 'resident' harriers, they are doing their usual thing.  Cyan recently made a move towards Hexham but he did not stay long and has spent the last 10 days or so exploring Eskdalemuir.