Mud In Your Eye - September 2016

Wee beasties – meet your greens, pages 7-8 Out & about

Wildlife

Volunteers

October 2016

East Lothian Council Countryside Ranger Service

new paths leaf letl

3-4

Dog issues

5

Roe deer

6

Meet your greens

7-8

Plant hunting group 9-10 Wild geese count

10

Wildlife Round-up

11-12

Young naturalists

13

Volunteering

14-15

Top tree

16

Welcome to the 31st Edition of ‘Mud In Your Eye’ We’d love to hear from you! Email: rangers@eastlothian.gov.uk or follow us... @ELCrangers

East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service

Cover photograph Emerald Damselfly © Abbie Marland.

Published by East Lothian Council’s Countryside Ranger Service 2

New paths leaf let for the

Fa’side area Fa’side Area Partnership is launching the ‘Paths in the Fa’side Area’ leaflet to encourage residents and visitors to go out and explore the network in the vicinity.

The leaflet shows all the core paths in the Fa’side area, as well as details of paths around each community, to encourage people of all abilities to get out and about on foot, by bicycle or on horse-back.

The leaflet is available from local libraries,

and can be downloaded from Fa’side Area Partnership’s website at www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/200526/fasid e/1760/faside_area_partnership/4 Fa’side’s ‘active travel group’ is also undertaking a core paths audit this autumn, to obtain information on the condition the path network, in order to plan for future improvement works.

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New paths leaf let for the Fa’side area - continued

The audit will involve the whole community, including local school children, the local youth centre Recharge, members of the Walk With Scott group, East Lothian Volunteer Path Wardens, and Macmerry and Gladsmuir Action group.

© Paths For All Partnership

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Funding for the leaflet has been obtained from the Scottish Government’s ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ fund, (as part of the wider East Lothian Council’s ‘East Lothian on the Move’ project), together with the Fa’side Area Partnership itself.

Going to the

dogs?

Here in team countryside we like dogs almost as much as we like responsible dog owners.

2016, has seen, however, too many incidences of poor dog management. In addition to the ongoing problem of dog waste - either being left in situ or being put in a bag which is then tossed into the undergrowth- there have been numerous cases of dogs disturbing other site users and worrying local wildlife. 5 deer have been killed as a result of dog attacks at Levenhall Links, alone.

This autumn, and beyond, we are hoping to address these issues via piloting a few new measures. For dog fouling, dog waste bins have now been put out at all the key areas and we plan to ensure they are used via increased patrols. People who do not clear up after their dog, or

who leave bags, will be fined; the current fine standing at ÂŁ80.

We are also going to use the ‘carrot’ approach, investing resources to create a Green Dog Walkers scheme. The scheme, developed originally in Falkirk, encourages responsible dog ownership and is managed by members of the community themselves.

Thirdly at certain countryside sites, where the pressure of dogs upon sensitive habitats and species can be detrimental, we are planning to introduce management rules to better manage dogs. This will include a proposal to maintain the bar on dogs entering Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve.

For all the good dog walkers out there, the changes will only serve to enhance your time out with your pooch!

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Roe a deer Roe deer, with their delicate physique, large eyes and Bambi connections are, for many people, a joy to see in the countryside.

This enjoyment is not universal however; to some roe deer are voracious munchers of rose gardens, shrubs and small trees.

Yet others see them as a species out of control, whose numbers have grown to an extent that they need to be extensively culled to prevent road traffic accidents, the spread of disease or for their own welfare. A minority of individuals kill roe deer for a food source; legally or by poaching.

Indeed in East Lothian the fortunes of roe deer are at a crossroads, both actual and metaphorical. As the percentage of woodland in the area has increased, this habitat has provided a suitable home for roe deer. It is estimated that the increasing woodland cover in the UK,

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together with relatively mild winters, are two factors that have contributed to a rise in the overall roe deer population. Or, are we just encountering roe deer more than we used to? A bigger human population, new housing developments on the fringes of the countryside both increase the chance of people coming into contact with deer.

Perhaps there is truth in both. The consequence, however, is that the roe deer population is now under discussion in a manner that has not been so for many years. The Council is in the early stages of considering its position on deer control and people will be given the chance to express their views.

meet your

wee beasties

greens

Is green the predominate colour in the natural world? It is most likely. Certainly many species have evolved to contain green colouring in order to be able to blend into a leafy background. Here are just a few examples from around the county of some of our camouflage experts.

Not a green wasp but a Sawfly, whose larvae feeds on vegetation. This one is probably Rhogogaster viridis.

Emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa). The only damselfly in East Lothian which holds its wings half open, not along its body.

Poplar Hawk moth caterpillar (Laothoe populi). This is not only a camouflage expert but a mimic carrying a false antenna towards the rear of its body, so that the head is afforded extra protection by deception.

Wee beastie photographs Š Abbie Marland.

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more wee beasties

meet your greens - continued

Green Hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys rubi). These tiny butterflies show brown in flight, but iridescent green when still. This effect is produced by the diffraction of light on a lattice-like structure found within the wing scales.

Wee beastie photographs © Abbie Marland.

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Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris). One of our fastest sprinters of moorland and heathland, chasing insect prey. Perhaps not a camouflage issue here, more a case of ‘watch out,’ I taste nasty and I have big jaws!

Large Emerald (Geometra papilionaria).

A moth not a butterfly, flying nightly in a woodland near you.

Plant

Hunting Group People love seeing wildflowers in the Countryside, but many struggle to know a campion from a geranium.

To ease this frustration a group of plant hunters has spent the last six months learning the subtle art of plant ID. We started in the Lammermuirs on a gloriously sunny spring day looking at the early flowers growing along riverbank and woodland. If anything would excite you about plants then this day would.

Plant sessions have targeted different habitats so that a wide range of plants were uncovered.

Perhaps the highlight was a trip to Whitecastle Hill Fort where the heather was bright and sweet-smelling and late

summer gems like grass of parnassus were at their best.

The sessions showed how to identify one species from another based on different plant features, and how different species were grouped into plant families. Some of these plant features are a bit obscure and it is always great to see the reaction of people when they discover something for the first time. I think the bent awns of the oat grass family got the biggest gasp of all, not to mention a few cheeky comments when we then looked at Agrostis stolonifera.

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Plant Hunting Group (continued) The group is good at sharing knowledge and experience and some of the stories about plants and meanings behind plants names were as interesting as the plants and locations themselves.

Sadly, for botanists, plants go to sleep for

the winter and plant ID comes to an end for a few months. The good news is that we plan to start the plant sessions again in May next year. Look for updates in Mud in Your Eye nearer the time or keep your ears open for announcements.

wild

goose hunt Hot on the petals of the wild flower surveys come the wild geese. Round about now the pink footed goose returns from its Icelandic breeding ground to feast upon the fields of East Lothian. This bird is an important part of our seasonal wildlife calendar and the coast is an important European bird reserve partly because of the geese. A survey has been carried out for the last

Š Abbie Marland.

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five years to understand where these birds roost and feed. The survey takes place from Hopetoun Monument.

If you would like to be part of this year’s survey get in touch with Stuart Macpherson (01620 827242 or email: smacpherson@eastlothian.gov.uk) to find out more and to sign up.

Common Lizard Š Abbie Marland.

Wildlife Round-up summer 2016 Birds. Little egrets are on the increase in the UK and their spread has reached here to the point that you can pretty much encounter one in East Lothian each summer. They are also dead easy to identify! Many warbler species were present in good number it seems this year. Waders, however, continue to dwindle in populations as they are facing issues connected with habitat loss. Eider ducks had a successful season, with 49 nests being counted on their last mainland site. The charcoal coloured

fluffy eiderlings were first seen on the water on the 10th of May. And lastly, if you want to see a kingfisher, one has spent the summer faithfully close to the Linn rocks in East Linton.

Eider duck, male (L) female (R).

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Mountain hare © Graham Pettigrew

Wildlife Round-up (continued)

Mammals. It has been a good summer for seeing some of our aquatic mammals - 50+ bottlenose dolphins spotted off Dunbar coast. In the hills, surveys for mountain hares are continuing to discover more about these enigmatic lagomorphs.

Reptiles. An adder on a doorstep in Gifford was a striking discovery, before alas it slithered off only to be stuck down by a car. Common lizards have been seen in several upland locations as well as along the coast.

Wee beasties. An invasion of painted lady butterflies took place early in June.

The countryside team are now better informed in dragonfly id and have been employing these new skills to establish data on where these occur. And following active moth trapping several species have now been logged, including a first for the county – the red twin-spot carpet moth.

Plants. Sadly it has definitely been a good year for ragwort. A little is bearable but swathes of the stuff is a headache.

Thanks go to those who have helped removing this hazardous plant. Nicer blooms around include excellent displays of orchids in North Berwick and at Blindwells

Finally, a magnificent find from Pencaitland. On September 11 an eagle eyed, budding wildlife expert - Emily, 6 found a death’s-head hawk moth. These are migrants from the south of Europe and only very occasionally turn up here.

Well done Emily!

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Calling young naturalists Do you know someone who is between 11 and 18, lives in East Lothian and is interested in learning about nature? If the answer is yes, then they might like to join our friendly, local, Junior Ranger group.

Junior Rangers have been running in East Lothian since 2013, exploring East Lothian’s wild places as well as learning how to conserve them for future generations. In joining the group , there are also opportunities to meet other Junior Ranger groups from across Scotland.

This year, the Junior Rangers have been working on completing their John Muir Explorer Award as well as gathering evidence for their national Junior Ranger Award. They have been exploring the River Tyne from source to sea in many different ways, not least by using canoes and coracles!

If you know someone who may be interested, please contact Jen Newcombe on juniorrangers@eastlothian.gov.uk

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volunteering in East Lothian Our volunteers continue to contribute excellent work all around the county. Did you know between them all they put in 8,000 hours of time? A fantastic effort!

If this inspires you and you want to join in the fun, please get in touch with me at dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk Duncan Priddle, Countryside Officer.

Volunteers off on a trip around the Bass Rock

Removing reedmace

Wall repairs

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volunteer diary dates Where

Day

Date

Time

North Berwick Tues 27 Sept 10.00-12.30 Aberlady

Task (if known)

Who to contact

tbc

sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk

Wed

5 Oct

09:30-15.00

Sea buckthorn removal

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs

6 Oct

09.30-15.00

Scrub removal

dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

16 Oct

09:30-15.00

Sea buckthorn removal

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Path wardens Thurs 20 Oct team task

09.30-13.30

Tbc.

dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk

North Berwick Tues

25 Oct

10.00-12.30

tbc

sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady

Sun

Levenhall

Tues

25 Oct

10.00-12.30

Hedge maintenance

naitken1@eastlothian.gov.uk

Dunbar area

Wed

26 Oct

10.00-12.30

tbc

dcv@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady

Wed

2 Nov

09:30-15.00

beach clean

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs

3 Nov

09.30-15.00 Woodland path maintenance

Path wardens Thurs 17 Nov team task

dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

09.30-13.30

tbc

dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk

20 Nov

09:30-15.00

Sea buckthorn removal

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

North Berwick Tues 29 Nov

10.00-12.30

Aberlady

Levenhall

Sun

sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk

Tues 29 Nov

10.00-12.30

Hedge maintenence

naitken1@eastlothian.gov.uk

Dunbar area Weds 30 Nov

10.00-12.30

tbc

dcv@eastlothian.gov.uk

Yellowcraig Thurs

1 Dec

09.30-15.00

Scrub removal

dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk

7 Dec

09:30-15.00

Sea buckthorn removal

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Path warden Thurs 15 Dec team task

10.00-15.50

Xmas walk and lunch

dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk

09:30-15.00

Sea buckthorn removal

jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk

Aberlady

Aberlady

Wed

Sun

18 Dec

15

top tree no.9

Sycamore The Longniddry Sycamore.

Sycamore seeds

(I know, once again we feature in this section a sycamore, what is it with these woodland officers?!)

But this is a very large mature Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) growing on School Green at Longniddry Primary; the largest of two sycamores there.

Both in fact are old trees showing characteristic signs of their age. As trees age they start to reduce in size (retrench).

The stems widen and the inside of the main stem often becomes hollow.

This tree was undoubtedly around before the houses and school that surround it were built. The flared base is characteristic of a field grown tree that has been grazed.

Due to the hollowing and wounds from the dying back crowns they become a perfect home for insects, fungi and other plants.

The Council manages this slow decline into old age (of trees that is...) by conducting regular inspections to make sure they are safe and around to be enjoyed by many more generations of Longniddry’s School Children.

Do you have your own top tree?

We welcome suggestions for the no10 spot, please email suggestions with a story attached to me at dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk