Mud in Your Eye 27, November2014 Editorial Comment Dear reader, due to extraneous circumstances, it has been impossible to publish this issue of MIYE in the normal way. Instead here’s a less-design friendly version, but at least you are getting the information somehow, rather than nothing at all. So, I hope you will forgive me on this occasion and I plan to have things back to normal in 2015. Regards Duncan Priddle, Countryside Officer
Out and About Not the John Muir Way! Walkers with an eye for stretching their legs may want to know that whilst the John Muir Way may end in Dunbar, it has a quieter, off-the beaten brother, that continues south of the town. The John Muir Link joins Dunbar with Cockburnspath, and by consequence connects to both the Berwickshire Bilsdean Arches, John Muir Link Coastal Path and the Southern Upland Way. The route runs for 11 miles (18km) along the coast during which you’ll pass a variety of stunning scenery. Starting at Dunbar swimming pool, visit first the nearby Harbour. From here it heads South via Lammer Street the esplanade to Dunbar Golf Club. The next section of the path is along the edge of the golf course for c.3 km. The coast has suffered badly from erosion here in the last few years. Please watch out for golfers about to play a shot, and wait until they have played, or waved you through. There are places, such as the bridge over the Brox Burn where you shouldn’t linger as you will be right in the middle of a fairway! After this, the route becomes more rural, passing Whitesands car park first, thence Barns Ness lighthouse, before arriving a few km later at Skateraw harbour, with Torness power station looming behind. Walk around the power station’s sea wall path before emerging on the wide, pale, sandy beach at Thorntonloch. Continue south, crossing the Thornton Burn and then after about 300 metres lookout for a sign directing you over a small wooden bridge and up the coastal slope.
After this, the route becomes more rural, passing Whitesands car park first, thence Barns Ness lighthouse, before arriving a few km later at Skateraw harbour, with Torness power station looming behind. Walk around the power station’s sea wall path before emerging on the wide, pale, sandy beach at Thorntonloch. Continue south, crossing the Thornton Burn and then after about 300 metres lookout for a sign directing you over a small wooden bridge and up the coastal slope. Here a grassy path follows the edge of the field, giving superb views of the coast and the sandstone arches. Later, the path enters a wooded area where you will come across Bilsdean Waterfall. The path then drops down to the coast and then continues along the beach for 400 metres. Look out for another sign pointing you up a path following Dunglass Dean. Continue under the A1 and railway bridge then turn left over the road bridge and immediately right to follow the path to Cockburnspath. Depending on the time of year, this walk offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching. Grey seals frequent Dunbar Harbour and from the sea wall at Torness. There is a nesting colony of Kittiwakes on Dunbar Castle and many other seabirds can be seen along the coast. The coastal grasslands at Barns Ness and Bilsdean are great areas for wild flowers and butterflies. A bus service from Cockburnspath -Perryman's buses will take you back to Dunbar, or on to Haddington.
John Muir Link at Thorntonloch
Wildlife and Biodiversity Lichen News Coat of many colours Look closely at a rock, or the bark of a tree and you will see colourful crusts and coral-like shapes. These are lichens, growing where nothing else can grow. Lichens grow in such difficult places that the only way to survive is to be part of a team. Half the team is an algae. This makes food, which shares it with its friend the fungus. In return, the fungus protects the algae from harsh weather.
There are hundreds of lichens around us, all different colours and shapes. They are very sensitive to different conditions. You will often see one set of lichen on the top of a branch or a wall, a different set on the sides and another mix on the bottom. Old graveyards are one of the best places to see lichens. Lots of different rock types, and angles and light and shade give lots of conditions for lots of different species. Lichens are so sensitive that they are excellent indicators of air pollution. They are also a habitat for even tinier animals. Lichens will grow almost anywhere, so keep your eyes open in your garden or when out for a walk and admire the extra colour that these amazing wee things bring.
Wildlife Round Up, summer 2014 Of birds, butterflies and bees... A pair, or two of wings doesn’t half make it easier to move around and this summer, it was just so with some of our wildlife. Of the new species identified for the first time in East Lothian, all were of the winged variety – reflecting both this mobility and, perhaps, their adaptability to our changing climate. Large skipper
In 1970, county records for East Lothian butterflies indicated a total of 12 species. By last Year this had increased to 23, with 3 new species seen for the first time during 2013. 2014 continued this upward trend as 2 new species were seen – the Large Skipper and the Green Hairstreak. Whilst the green hairstreak was recorded high in the Lammermuirs, presumably having crept over the watershed; the large skipper’s arrival was by way of the coast – it was first recorded South of Dunbar. Indeed of the new butterflies that have entered East Lothian in recent years, most have by way of what we are now calling the SE coastal corridor, providing as it does, a relatively warm and bright low-level access in from further South. The bets are on for which may be the next butterfly to turn up, and both the Gatekeeper and the Marbled White look likely candidates. Let’s see what 2015 delivers... Birds that turn up unusually in summer are less likely to be reflecting a changing climate and more likely to be simply off course. This is definitely true of the Bridled Tern which dropped in briefly to East Lothian in early July (and thence up and down the East coast of Scotland), as it is normally seen in the Caribbean at this time. Equally the Greenish Green Hairstreak warbler that sang out in John Muir Country Park in midJune normally is fund in NE Europe and not this side of the North Sea. Two, further, species, however, do reflect changes relating to climate and management. Individual Red kites seen around the county reflect this species’ recovery following years of decline (despite ongoing illegal persecution). Further, the 9 Little Egrets seen at Aberlady in late August demonstrate just how this breed is continuing to spread its range around the UK, following its first confirmed breeding in Dorset in 1996. And so onto a bit about why it is always good to record new stuff. Up until 2 years ago we had no knowledge of which bumblebees were present in the county. In our efforts to monitor changes to the botanical species at some of our countryside sites, (following the introduction of conservation grazing schemes), we decided to study our bumblebee populations. Here we have also monitored dramatic changes. During 2014, 4 new species were spotted – the Bilberry, Gypsy Cuckoo, Southern Cuckoo and Tree Bumblebees. Of these, the Tree bumblebee is a recent immigrant from France and the Southern Cuckoo bumblebee is also most likely to be a species increasing its range into East
Lothian. These observations would not have been possible without the effort put in by our conservation volunteers so an extra thanks goes to all of them for their help. If you would like to get involved with plant or beastie recording in 2015, please contact me as I am drawing up a list of new recruits for training up early next year. No prior knowledge required, only the desire to learn and willingness to put in some survey time. Tree Bumblebee
The Nurdles are with us... Not as cute as they sound, nurdles are small plastic pellets about the size of a lentil. Countless billion are used each year to make nearly all our plastic products. But spills and mishandling by industry means they are now finding their way into the sea. The Forth is surrounded by industry using, producing and distributing nurdles, making it particularly vulnerable to this type of plastic pollution, and worryingly large numbers of nurdles are now appearing on the shores of East Lothian. Unlike large pieces of plastic marine litter, nurdles are so small that they go largely unnoticed. However scientists are concerned about their effect on our marine ecosystem. At sea nurdles can attract and concentrate background pollutants to toxic levels. Analysis of nurdles from the Forth showed they had absorbed significant amounts PCBs, DDT and other toxic chemicals. Mistaken for food by many animals, nurdles and the toxins coating them can enter the food chain. The Forth is home to many seabirds and post mortems on gulls, fulmars, terns and puffins found nurdles in their stomachs. This summer 2014 a 50x50cm sampled square of the foreshore between Gullane and Dirleton was found to contain in excess of 300 nurdles.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY SHOULD DO THEIR BIT TO KEEP THE FORTH CLEAN AND PLASTIC FREE? If so, you can help right now.  Support THE GREAT NURDLE HUNT in calling for every company making, using or transporting nurdles around the Firth of Forth to sign a pledge to end nurdle pollution into our estuary.
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Become a NURDLE HUNTER. It’s fun and free and hunting for nurdles will provide the evidence needed to show the local plastics industry the extent of the nurdle pollution in the Forth. Find out more or join in the Great Nurdle Hunt visit www.nurdlehunt.org.uk
Volunteering News A BIG Thank You to the East Lothian Volunteer Path Wardens Keeping the core paths clear of vegetation this year has been very challenging for many reasons. The Countryside Team would like to record our gratitude to our volunteer Path Wardens for all of their hard work helping us to cut back the growth on the paths. We know that it can be a little soul-destroying knowing that the grass will only grow again, but I hope that you have enjoyed learning to operate new machinery such as the Great Dane and strimmers. Your hard work has really been appreciated by us and the many people who use the paths.
A few path wardens have hung up their spades recently after many months and years of service. An huge thanks goes out to these largely unsung heroes for having helped keep the byways of East Lothian in good condition. With these changes, we are now actively seeking new path warden volunteers, particularly in the Pencaitland / Ormiston areas, but anyone is welcome to join. All we ask in return is that you can give a bit of time (once or twice a month) to look after a path. In addition, if you wish, you can join in our monthly team tasks when, like the Ents of the Lord of the RIngs, the path wardens magically congregate to tackle a larger bit of work! Full training given, apart from magic, that is. Contact the East Lothian Volunteer Path Wardens at.... elvolpaths@gmail.com http://pathwardens.wordpress.com/
‘Friends of’ volunteer groups Many of our countryside sites now have their own volunteer team and below is a diary of who is getting up to – and where- in the next wee while. If you fancy a go but have never tried, just contact the relevant countryside ranger below and they can sort it all out from there. Only requirements are enthusiasm and a willingness to enjoy the outdoors.
Group
Day
Date
Start time
Friends of Aberlady
SUN
16th Nov
09:30
North Berwick Conversation Volunteers
TUES
18th Nov
Dunbar area Conservation volunteers
WED
19th Nov
Friends of Levenhall Links Friends of Aberlady
TUES
Task
Contact
beach clean
jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk
Contact the ranger for details
sranscombe@eastlothian.gov.uk
10.00
tbc
dcv@eastlothian.gov.uk
25th Nov
1000
naitken1@eastlohian.gov.uk
WED
3rd Dec
09:30
Hedge Planting sea buckthorn control
Friends of Yellowcraig
THURS
4th Dec
09.30
Friends of Aberlady
SUN
14th Dec
09:30
Sea buckthorn clearance sea buckthorn control
jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk
dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk
The ancient sport of reed tossing, Aberlady