In the first event of a brand new programme of SLEF activites, over 20 residents and visitors joined visiting expert David OBrien to discover more about lizards, newts, frogs and toads in Arnisdale yesterday.

David began the session in the Ceilidh House with an entertaining and highly informative presentation, focussing on species of amphibians and reptiles likely to be found locally, but with passing reference to non-native species and some of the threats they present.

After packed lunches and cake, we headed out into the glen to look for the real thing.

Several artificial 'refugia' or tins (ie pieces of rusty metal sheet and an old plastic sledge!) had been strategically placed a few days before hand in the hope of tempting a few temporary residents, but unfortunately, this cunning plan failed and we had to search elsewhere.

However, with many of pairs of keen and enthusiastic young eyes, the first of numerous frogs was found, closely followed by several toads. 

Lizards and slow worms proved elusive although known to be in the area, probably due to the untimely arrival of clouds (remember them?) and a resulting dip in temperature.

Guddling in a drainage ditch was rewarded by discovery of various damselfly lavae, small sticklebacks, much frogspawn, including one clump tended by a toad...and an impressive great diving beetle.

A final triumph for the hardy group still hunting at 4pm was the discovery of several young newts in the deepest part of the ditch. These would have spent the winter at the bottom of the water and, given a slight warming in the temperature, will emerge as adults in the next few weeks, though won't mature enough to breed themselves for about 3 years.

A big thank you to the residents of Arnisdale for allowing us the use of the lovely Ceilidh House for the morning session and for being part of the enthusiastic group and to David OBrien for sharing his passion for this fascinating group of cretaures with us.

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

The two young naturalists clubs in the local area were grateful to each receive donations from the South West Ross Field Club recently. The Field Club donated £150 to both the RSPB Skyelarks and SWT Lochalsh Wildlife Watch groups. The Field Club has donated £150 to both groups annually for a number of years now.

Jenny Grant, the Highland Council ranger who organises Skyelarks, said: "Last year this very helpful donation was put towards our Adventure to Raasay –an overnight stay in the hostel and nature related activities on each day. It was a lot of fun for adults and children who attended. This year we have lots planned too- for a copy of our exciting programme please get in touch with me [contact details are below]."

National Trust for Scotland  ranger Rule Anderson, who co-runs the Lochalsh Watch Club said: "We are very grateful to receive this funding from the South West Ross Field Club. This is very important in helping us to continue to offer activities to children aged 12 and under- a vital age group for instilling a connection with wildlife and their environment that will hopefully last a lifetime." 

Jenny Grant can be contacted on Jenny.Grant@highland.gov.uk and Rule Anderson at randerson@nts.org.uk

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

We often remind our local schoolchildren about just how lucky they are to have beautiful countryside and wonderful wildlife right on their doorstep. National Trust for Scotland rangers at Kintail recently helped the children see just how close some of their wildlife really is. A stealth camera, which is triggered when it detects motion, was placed near to the school. This caught video footage of an otter on the shore nearby and a pine marten virtually in the school grounds. There can’t be too many schools with both otters and pine martens within just a few metres of their front door! 

The footage can be seen by following this link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASl0Dx9bYQE

*The camera was funded by the SW Ross Field Club and has provided a valuable educational resource.
 

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

The South West Ross Field Club are very pleased to confirm that Professor John Brown, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, will give their next talk in January. Professor Brown's talk entitled "Some astonishing vital statistics of our cosmos" is sure to provide a "highly interesting" evening. It will be held at Kirkton Church Hall, around 5 miles east of Kyle, on Thursday 24th of January at 7.30pm. Professor Brown recently played a key role in the Glenelg-NASA celebrations. Call Rule on 01599 511231 for more information on the Field Club talks.  

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

Nineteen years ago a visiting artist Sherry Palmer came across a wood ant nest in Sleat, Isle of Skye.  Only recently did she report it to Roger Cottis who confirmed its continuing presence and sent specimens to Murdo Macdonald of Highland Biological Recording Group for identification.  The ant was found to be the rare wood ant Formica lugubris.  Of course Roger filled in the 'Our Wildlife' Submit Biological Records form.

Read the whole story HERE.
 

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

In partnership with the LANDsARE forestry skills course, SLEF is running an introduction to the 'Lever and Mulch' method of Rhododendron control.

The course will run on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th January, possibly stretching to a third day, depending on budgets and the trainers' availability.

We will start the Tuesday morning with an indoor intro, health & safety etc session, in Achmore Village Hall, then go out to Strome Woods for practical work. We may use other sites as well for variety of size plants to tackle.

On Tuesday, we will return to the village hall for food and presentations by folk with relevant experience, aiming to finish by about 7.30pm. There is no evening activity planned for Wednesday.

The course will be FREE, packed lunches and Tuesday evenings meal provided and travel expenses for participants can be paid.

Participants will be expected to provide their own personal safety gear (safety boots, gloves and visor) and basic tools, further details regarding equipment etc will be sent on later, we will have some tools available for borrowing if necessary.

In order to get the most out of this course, numbers are limited, so if you are interested in attending, please contact Outreach Project Officer, Judith Bullivant, as soon as possible.

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

The first SLEF newsletter is now available to read / download / send on to your Grannie....

It gives a brief review of the work undertaken by the Outreach Project so far and a few hints of things to come.

Click here to access the newsletter.

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

A contribution to South Skye's response to fish farming

An opportunity for residents of Sleat (and others) to visit a local seashore and witness
its spectacular wildlife above and below the water, with particular consideration of
predictable harmful ecological effects of the proposed fish farm developments.

Led by local biologists James Merryweather and Roger Cottis
Contact: 01599 566291 or 01471 833325

Meet at Ord on the sea front
11.30 a.m. on 15th November 2012
Low tide around 1.15 p.m. End approx. 2.30 p.m.

Wear warm, waterproof clothing and bring your lunch.
Wellies or waders are essential and thermal rubber gloves recommended.

The going will be rough in places: grassy/muddy slopes, slippery boulders etc.

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

SLEF was delighted that Peter Cairns found time in his busy schedule to share with us some of his fantastic images and inspiring stories about wild places.

Pete is an award-winning nature photographer and writer with a deep fascination for our relationship with the natural world. In addition to documenting Europe's high profile wildlife species, he covers a range of topical conservation stories.

Pete is one of the photographers chosen to create images for 2020VISION - "the most ambitious nature photography project ever staged in the UK. It aims to engage and enthuse a massive audience by using innovative visual media to convey the value of restoring our most important but often fragmented natural habitats - to show that healthy ecosystems are not just for wildlife, but are something fundamental to us all."

For more details about Pete's work, see www.northshots.com.

Pete's presentation took place in the Dunollie Hotel, Broadford, on Monday 12th November....as promised, the 60+ folk who came along had an evening to inspire and remember.

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website

Undeterred by darkening skies and the threat of rain, 32 folk from far and wide gathered at Broadford Village Hall to Explore the Shore on the afternoon of Wednesday 17th October.

After a short introduction to tides, seashore life and guides to aid identification, we headed to the shore to follow the falling tide as it dropped to one of its lowest levels of the season.

Skye holds some of the best coastal sites for biodiversity in Britain, and whilst Broadford Bay may not quite make it into this category, there is life a-plenty right on the doorstep of the village....and it's there to explore and enjoy for FREE!

Armed with trays and buckets, a the group discovered a wealth of wildlife, from scuttling hermit crabs to tiny delicate sea urchins, part-grown edible crabs to part-eaten dogfish (sorry to the person who wanted to find their dinner!).

Carefully turned rocks (we always put them back) revealed starfish, butterfish and bearded rockling and the low tide allowed us to see a wide range of different seaweeds.

above: Dogfish teeth

  Left: close-up image of a sea-urchin

A scavenger hunt for younger participants, prepared in case of flagging enthusiasm, was not required...only the lure of hot chocolate and biscuits tempted folk back from the beach to the warmth of the village hall.

There, hot drinks in hand, we examined some of the specimens collected from the beach with the aid of one of SLEF’s new toys – a USB digital microscope - and discussed other finds, sites for visiting and future events. I suspect the microscope just might feature on one or two wish list in the near future!

A highlight of the afternoon, missed by the camera, was the expression of delight on one wee boy’s face when told he could keep the guide to crab identification that he’d been using...that alone made the afternoon worthwhile.

A huge thanks is due to James Merryweather for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for local ecology both in the hall and outside, and to Roger Cottis for great help with identification and explanation on the shore.

Judith Bullivant SLEF Outreach Project Officer

This feed was drawn from the Skye and Lochalsh Environment Forum website