RECORD Newsletter Issue 1: Winter 16/17 by RECORD LRC

Issue 1 Winter 2016

The Local Environmental Records centre serving Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral

Issue 1 Winter 2016/2017

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) ÂŠ Tony Broome

Contents RECORD Round up

Count Me in Graduates

Fiona Megarrell tells us about her experiences with RECORD as a Community Engage-

ment Trainee at Saltscape Wildlife on your doorstep by Lisa Reeves

6-7

New species in Cheshire

Hoverflies and my garden by Tony Broome

8-10

Winter Beetling by Clive Washington

10-11

Species Spotlight - Ring-necked Parakeet

What to look out for in the coming months

13-14

Upcoming events in Cheshire

15-17

Shared on Social Media

18-19

A note from the editorâ&#x20AC;Ś Welcome to the first issue of RECORDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new newsletter.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed, we have some interesting articles about what we, our partners, volunteers and recorders have been up to over the past couple of months. I hope you enjoy reading it, if you have any ideas or suggestions for future issues then please do get in touch. Leanna Dixon (Data Services Officer, leanna@record-lrc.co.uk)

RECORD Round Up It has been a busy year at RECORD with several events, workshops, exhibits and new data-keying volunteers! Here is just a taster of what we have been up to….

Dragonfly Identification Training Day

Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

Small skipper butterfly at Furey Woods

Recording day at Weaver Valley Parkway

Migrant hawker nymph

Saltscape - With the shared aim of increasing the collective understanding of wildlife within their project area we have worked closely with Saltscape to deliver four events this year including three recording days and one training day. We also exhibited at the Lion Salt works anniversary weekend where we completed the famous RECORD wildlife quiz with visitors and created a list of all the species we could spot on site. We were joined by the Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society (LCES), as part of their annual exhibition, their members recorded a wide number of invertebrate species including some rarities. A selection of photos are shown above, for a full write up of these events visit the Saltscape section on our website. Wildlife Connections Festival - As a partner in Chester Zoo’s Wildlife Connections campaign we attended the festival in mid-September. We hosted nature walks on the zoo’s very own nature reserve, visitors recorded the wildlife they spotted and pinned their sightings on a large map of the reserve (pictured left). The records generated on the day will be used to inform future work on the reserve. 3

Count Me In Graduates (CMIG) Saturday 8 October - Royden Park and Irby Quarry, Wirral th

Ten of the CMIG group went to seek out and record the flora and fauna of Royden Park and Irby Quarry, near Thurstaston Common, with an emphasis on fungi. The recent dry weather had not encouraged a proliferation of fungi, but nevertheless, some interesting species were found including: Purple brittlegill (Russula atropurpurea) distinctive in its red wine colouration, Shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes

complex) with thick brown scales prominent on the white cap, Yellow stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) which derives its name from the strong yellow colouration produced at the base of the stem when cut and finally, a cluster of Bovine bolete fungi (Suillus bovinus) distinguishable by large angular pores, rather than gills, extending downwards from the underside of the cap. The weather on the day was ideal for meandering through the woods at the usual sedate pace, starting around Roodee Mere and then through the woods to Irby Quarry where some members were lucky enough to spot a green woodpecker flying overhead. Chief recorder Steve produced a comprehensive list of species and photographer for the day, Rob, provided the visual evidence as seen above! On top of the fascinating fungi and chance woodpecker encounter the

group were very pleased to find a Spined shieldbug (Picromerus bidens), pictured, characterised by its bright red legs and antennae as well as the obvious

Spined shieldbug (Picromerus bidens) ÂŠ Richard Rowlandson

pointed shoulder spikes. This was one of CMIGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly visits to local areas of interest chosen by members of the group. CMIG was set up after the completion of two projects, 'Count Me In' and 'Habitats & Hillforts', involving RECORD and the Heritage Lottery Fund. These projects encouraged people of all ages and backgrounds to record and appreciate wildlife in the Cheshire region. A hardcore selection of people were so inspired and enthused by these projects that they set up a regular wildlife recording group, which over the years, has become as much of a social group, as a recording group! 4

Fiona Megarrell tells us about her experiences with RECORD as a Community Engagement Trainee at Saltscape…

I have been the Community Engagement Trainee for Saltscape Landscape Partnership for about 6 months now where I’ve been learning what a Landscape Partnership is and why it’s so important they exist. The idea behind Saltscape is to work with local organisations such as Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust and of course RECORD amongst others to collaborate on protecting and enhancing the Saltscape area that has been so hugely defined by the salt industry. Community engagement with this uniquely crafted area is a central aspect and encouraging the public to use and benefit from organisations such as RECORD enables them to understand the true significance of this Cheshire area. So far within my traineeship I have been lucky enough to be heavily involved with the relationship between Saltscape and RECORD. Altogether there have been six wildlife training and recording sessions with a handful of extra general recording days exploring the Saltscape. Recording our wildlife gives an important insight into animal, plant and fungi behaviour as well as the geology of Dragonfly identification day at Anderton Nature Park

the area which is particularly important for Cheshire. There are large areas where salt mining was extensive and

eventually led to land subsidence when the mines collapsed. These vast pits were then filled with lime waste resulting in us gaining the perfect habitat for rare species such as the dingy skipper butterfly. As a beginner I felt like the more I learnt the less I knew! However, with a little encouragement from the RECORD team and volunteers I have gradually been building my basic knowledge which started with accompanying them on one of the Saltscape recording days and observing how they went about identifying species. Sadly I’ve realised I will never know everything off by heart! Even the pros have their books out to join the dots. But slowly, I have learnt where to look and why. I now know to look at

the markings on the thorax of a dragonfly and to note the spacing of the gills on a fungi, to notice the flight pattern of the bird flying overhead and observe whether the leaves on a tree are staggered or adjacent. Knowing these major tell-tale signs has been paramount to being able to use field guides properly and I’ve even been passing my knowledge on to others!

If you are starting out or would just like to join us on a day of wildlife recording we will be holding a beginners’ wildlife recording day next year in Northwich. Visit www.saltscape.co.uk for more information. 5

ÂŠ Lisa Reeves

Wildlife on your doorstep by Lisa Reeves November comes in with a bang, as fireworks light up the night sky and bonfires surround the landscape with pockets of smoke. Nature also puts on its own display. The vibrant leaves that were seen in October are dropping to the ground forming a crisp blanket on the grass. The earthy smell of damp decaying leaf litter fills your nostrils. The early morning mists and the frosts dazzle cobwebs that hang like decorations on the hedges. The larch tries to hold on to its copper hues as long as possible and holly entices winter birds and insects to eat its colourful berries. Acorns, sweet chestnuts and apples rain down from the trees littering the ground waiting for a variety of creatures to have a tasty bite of them. As nature unravels her autumn clothes she reveals her skeleton for all to see. Suddenly I can see squirrel drays and rookeries high up in

the trees. The woodland floor is alive with unusual shapes and colours as fascinating fungi can be seen poking out from the leaf litter and perched on dead branches. Many people think that the garden has gone to sleep at this time of year, but if you brave the cold and the rain you will see a different picture. As I walk around the garden I notice that the oak tree is trying desperately to hold on to its golden autumnal leaves and that the crab apple is absolutely laden with fruit. The hedges are decorated in bright coloured berries and windfall pears and apples are scattered upon the ground. I look upwards to see a flock of Long-tailed tits merrily tweeting and fluttering from one tree to the next. A Robin watches me from the hedge and the feeders are a hive of activity with Blue tits and sparrows feeding. There are so many birds in the garden at this time of year such as Wrens and Blackbirds. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lovely to see Rooks, Jays, and Magpies combing the ground for worms and insects, and I even see the odd Pheasant and Moorhen now and again. At the bottom of the garden there is a wild area. Here there is a pile of dead leaves, compost heap, and a log pile. I hear a scuffling noise and to my amazement there is a vole a few feet

Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) ÂŠ Lisa Reeves

away from me. Woodmice love this area too as do the hedgehogs and foxes, but I only see them at night. Looking under some logs and through the dried leaves I spot frogs, spiders and millipedes. As I walk back towards the house I stop to look in the pond only to see two frogs staring back at me and a variety of tiny creatures such as daphnia, leeches and water slaters busily moving about in the water. Some people retreat indoors at this time of year but for those that dare to venture out there is a delightful treat waiting for you. You never know what delightful creature you will meet in your garden no matter what the

Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) © Lisa Reeves

weather.

Learn more about garden wildlife by visiting Lisa’s Blog - Ljay Nature

New species in Cheshire The hoverfly Eriozona syrphoides, pictured left, was spotted and photographed by RECORD volunteer Richard Rowlandson at Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere on the 6th September. The identification of the hoverfly was confirmed by Roger Morris of the Hoverfly Recording Scheme via the UK Hoverflies Facebook group - a very useful resource for anyone interested in hoverfly identification and photography. This is the first record for Eriozona syrphoides in Cheshire. With its yellow face and orangey red tip to the abdo© Richard Rowlandson

men, it is a very striking hoverfly.

The Large garden bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus), pictured right, is also new to Cheshire. With a very long face and tongue it is Britain’s largest bumblebee. It is very similar to the Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum). It was once a very common species in central and southern England but numbers have dramatically decreased in the last 100 years, primarily due to agricultural intensification and development.

It was spotted on the 28th July at Port Sunlight River Park by Tony Parker of Liverpool World Museum, identification was confirmed by Carl Clee. Another first for Cheshire - the Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae), pictured left, was recorded in Wirral Country Park on the 9th November by Carl Clee. It was new to Britain in 2001 and since then it has been spreading across much of southern England and moving northwards. It is the last solitary bee to emerge each year with its peak activity matching the flowering period of its forage plant , ivy (Hedera helix). 7

Hoverflies and my garden by Tony Broome

I have always been interested in anything that flies: birds since I was seven years old, butterflies in the 80s, moths since 1978, dragonflies in the 90s, bees and wasps around 2012 and then hoverflies during the last two or three years. It was a natural progression, if you like, and I’ve

always been into painting and photography with a love of the world of colour. Hoverflies are indeed colourful and have the added advantage of being approachable and photogenic. Add to that the fact that my garden has always been planted for birds and insects, and I found myself in a position of having hoverflies come to me without the need to travel. I think the final incentive to know more about them was the publication of ‘Britain’s Hoverflies’ by Ball and Morris, which meant that I could begin to correctly identify what I was seeing. Finding the best flowers to attract insects is fairly easy as long as you follow some basic rules. They must be single flowered and preferably occur here naturally,

Interesting fact: A well

although some imports from further afield are fine as

established hoverfly population in

long as they aren’t double-flowering scentless

your garden can help to naturally

breeds. There are the must-have favourites that are

control an aphid infestation

magnets in any garden. The two at the top of my list 8

are Ragwort and Canadian goldenrod. Both bright yellow, both heavily scented when you get close enough and both also attract bees and wasps. The first smells

Interesting fact: At least 30

of honey, the second has a peppery scent. If I had no

insect species (and 14 fungi

room for anything else, these are the two species that

species) are entirely reliant on

I would grow. After that the list is long and varied.

ragwort

I grow around a dozen types of mints which all attract hoverflies, as do my collection of umbellifers which number around eight species. The king amongst the latter is without doubt Hemlock water dropwort. I’ve recorded more scarce insects on this plant than any others including gasteruption wasps. (Please note that Hemlock water dropwort is a poisonous plant, although safe to grow, care should be

taken when handling it by wearing gloves and covering skin). Then there are alliums, asters, loosestrifes (especially purple), knapweeds, Borage, foxgloves, valerians, eryngiums, Common fleabane (which is a great late summer flowerer), Coltsfoot, achilleas, willowherbs, geraniums, heleniums, Jacob’s ladder, lupins, Meadowsweet, evening primroses, Viper’s bugloss, scabiouses, thymes, Marjoram, hemp-nettles, mulleins and toadflaxes. Also any of the asteraceae the daisy family - including all the dandelions, hawkweeds and hawkbits. I’ve only recently been collecting these and although ignored by most gardeners, I encourage as many as I can cram in.

I also have a few shrubby plants but keep them to a minimum: these include buddliea, wild roses, bramble sp. and ivy. The last two mentioned are simply outstanding and if you manage to get ivy to flower, which I have difficulty with, then hoverflies will arrive in droves. Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

©Leanna Dixon

I have also planted a hedge at the bottom of the garden which has Hazel, Field maple, Hawthtorn, Bird

cherry, Sallow and Rowan in it. If growing these, they have to be kept trimmed or, if in a south-facing garden, they will cast a shadow over everything. I must admit to having a manicured lawn instead of a wildflower meadow, but I feel I make up for that in the variety of flowering plants I have. Plants are rarely what we see. By that I mean that our eyes aren’t usually good enough to appreciate what they look like to an insect. Canadian goldenrod is a perfect example. To me it just looks like racemes of bright yellow flowers. When you look at macro pictures there are actually thousands of tiny bell-like flowerettes arranged in rows that the insects probe. The same is true of most complex flowers. They are quite amazing. I never stop thinking, ‘wow’! The key to having a successful insect garden is sunshine and plenty of it. It’s no good having a garden 9

that is cool and shady although some species of hoverflies do prefer trees. But generally, flowering plants that have a scent and bright colours can be enjoyed by hoverflies, other insects and you as the gardener. There are a few tricks that can be used, even in a

“...visit a garden centre and wander around, noting

small garden. If you prefer a specific type of plant and none of the

any of the plants that are

above suit your taste, visit a garden centre and wander around,

covered in insects ...”

noting any of the plants that are covered in insects and that have a scent. Use plant pots. Many of my own plants are in pots which means that they don’t spread or are covered by neighbouring plants and they are easy to keep watered in dry weather. As some finish flowering I put them to the back of the area and bring those that are in flower to the front so that I always have flowers and insects close to me as I sit on my bench. I also have a Golden Hop growing up the wall and the bright green leaves attract insects in the morning where they sit on the leaves Helophilus pendulus ©Leanna Dixon

and warm up. So it’s dead easy. Sit back, enjoy the colours and the scents, and wait and watch. I stand still by groups of flowers and wait,

watching to see what appears from underneath flowers or what drops in. A plant that is empty one moment can have insects jostling for position on it the next. I simply let them get close and they soon get used to me and allow my camera to be poked into their worlds. To then see them magnified many

times on a computer screen is simply amazing.

Winter Beetling by Clive Washington I spent a couple of hours recently at a local nature reserve, looking for beetles. This was mid-November and the weather was fairly wet and cold; not ideal conditions for entomologists, but this is Cheshire and we just have to put up with it….

Chrysomelid beetle (Chrysolina polita) © Jeff Clarke

...I had my sieve, and was going through various lots of leaf litter and ground debris, when a chap with binoculars (= birdwatcher) approached me and asked what I was doing. I explained that I was looking for insects, primarily beetles, and that I had recorded over 200 species from that reserve so far in the year. “Well”, he said, “surely there can't be many about now we've had the first frost?” (this had happened about a week previously). That, of course, is a common misconception. Frosts – at least mild ones – don't kill many insects. But they do signal that winter is coming and it might be time to get down and find a snug hole somewhere to wait 10

out the next few months. A surprising number of

insects overwinter as the adult, and either pair up and breed in spring, or overwinter as fertilised females. Many of us will have seen peacock butterflies tucked away in a corner of the shed, or fluttering about in the first spring sun. The indoor roosting of hundreds of Harlequin Ladybirds is also well-known. So at the time I was sieving litter mainly to look for

Peacock butterflies (Inachis io) regularly overwinter in sheds or outhouses © Steve J. McWilliam

two groups. Staphylinid beetles (“rove beetles”) are active through the winter in leaf litter and debris, in fact it can be the best time to find them. And

lots of Chrysomelidae (“leaf beetles”) will drop into the litter layer and overwinter there. On this occasion I found Chrysolina staphylaea, a large bronze leaf beetle which has around a dozen records in the region in recent times. This find made me recall a curious Chrysolina incident which happened a few years ago, again in the depths of winter. I think it was January – I was bored one evening so I went outside and gathered in all the cobwebs under my windows, brought them indoors, and started searching through them under the microscope for any interesting insects. (Yes, entomologists do that sort of thing). After a few minutes I was surprised to find a dark green beetle wing-case with a metallic rainbow sheen to it. I

recognised it immediately as coming from Chrysolina americana, the Rosemary Leaf Beetle. These are an alien species which first appeared in the UK in 1994 and have been spreading from the south; I had never seen one, although Jeff Clarke had spotted the first for Cheshire about a year earlier. So they were somewhere round here... but where? The only place I could think of was the Rosemary Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina Americana) by Matthew Kirkland is licensed under CC BY 2.0

short row of lavender plants (which they seem to prefer to rosemary in my experience) just outside my front door.

So, half past midnight, I am outside with a head torch, sieve and tray, I dragged all the dead leaves and litter from under the lavender and put it through the sieve. Within 2 minutes I had my first live specimen, a little sluggish from the cold, followed shortly by another. Since then I've seen it on several lavender plantings in Cheshire; it seems to be more common in the spring. To return to my recent recording: my total of beetles for the day was 29 species, of which 12 were new for that site. So, although hunting insects in winter is definitely harder than in

summer, the cold weather is no excuse to shut up shop! 11

Species Spotlight Ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Edited by Natasha Murwill from information supplied by Tony Parker.

Description Easily recognisable – the Ring-necked parakeet is the only species of parrot to have established populations in the UK. These noisy birds are bright green with a red beak, with the males having a black chin and thin black & pink collar. Distribution

The Ring-necked parakeet is the most widely distributed parrot in the world. Wild populations are spread across Africa, and Asia. And due to their popularity as domestic pets – escaped individuals have created successful breeding groups across Europe as well. In the UK, the RSPB estimates we have around 8,600 breeding pairs. The majority of populations are based around London, especially to the south and south-west. More locally, there are known communities in Sefton Park and Greenbank Park in Liverpool, and a recent sighting in Warrington.

Ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) by Lee Turner is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Ecology The Ring-necked parakeet’s diet includes a variety of different fruits, nuts and seeds and can often be found on garden bird feeders and tables. These parrots are very adaptable and are found in a wide range of woodland types, farmlands, parks and gardens. Highly sociable, they often form large flocks which may number several thousand birds in their native environment. They nest in natural tree cavities or holes that other species have made, as well as rock crevices and buildings. Breeding season is January to April, but may extend into June or July – during this time they generally

have 3-4 eggs and once hatched are fed by both parents. How Can You Help? Ring-necked parakeets – like all the wild birds in the UK – are protected by law. As such, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, they cannot be captured or harmed without an authorised licence. But as they are an introduced species, their populations need to be tracked and behaviours monitored. This means that we need any sightings of parakeets to be reported. So if you spot a Ring-Necked parakeet (even if you think it may be an escapee) please pop it on RODIS or send us an email at info@record-lrc.co.uk . 12

What to look out for in the coming months As we begin January, the days are short, but can be crisp and bright and many bird species have migrated southwards. Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (Turdus iliacus) move in flocks through the countryside, whilst many smaller birds come to garden bird tables to find enough food to survive. As the month progresses, the Song thrush (Turdus philomelos), with its strident repeated notes, starts to proclaim its territory. On sunny days Blackbirds (Turdus merula), Greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) and Great tits (Parus major) also sing. In woodlands you may be lucky enough to hear a Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) drumming against a tree. As winter progresses, flooded grasslands may attract gulls. Where sites are more permanently flooded, and possibly even managed that way, ducks such as Wigeon (Anas penelope), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), Teal (Anas crecca); waders such as Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), and Mute swans (Cygnus olor) may visit.

Song thrush (Turdus philomelos ) ÂŠSteve J. McWilliam

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) by Sergey Yeliseev is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Woods are quiet, save for the twitters of occasional flocks of small birds moving through. However, there is a glimmer of better things to come as Lords and ladies or Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum) leaves are starting to emerge in a curled funnel formation and a precocious Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) may dare to flower.

On the road sides, one of the first wild flowers that appears is the Winter heliotrope (Petasites fragrans). Its round leaves form large clusters with delicate pink and white flower spikes poking up. January is really a low point in terms of plant hunting. However, there are some signs of things to come. Precocious Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale agg.) may flower, as may other common wayside plants.

Winter heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) ÂŠPeter McSweeney

The first of the Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkins are stretching out into golden tassels. Many ferns can still be seen in winter. The common Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) can be found growing abundantly in many damp woods and hedges. While they mostly stay underground, evidence of Badgers (Meles meles) making a foray in milder weather can be found by looking for fresh pad mark or scratch marks on their well worn paths. Insects are few and far between. Some butterflies migrate but many over-winter as a pupa or adult.

Lichens are easily found at all times, and it is worth venturing into graveyards, for instance, where the air is not too polluted, to discover Badger (Meles meles) ©Jeff Clarke these fascinating organisms. Even in January some fungi are still bright and fresh and various orange capped fungi bring some colour to a winter woodland. Come February and the first signs of the coming Spring are there to see. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) now poke their heads above the cold earth in abundance. Although not native, in many places they have become naturalised and can carpet the woodland floor. Snowdrops have particularly spread along river banks in some localities. Winter aconite (Hyemalis eranthis) will also be early flowering introductions, with their cheerful yellow buttercup-like flowers. In woodlands Dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and Violet (Viola) leaves will also start to green up the woodland floor between the clumps of mosses. Other plants such as Ramsons (Allium ursinum) and the leaves of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) start to poke through the leaf litter. Where the ground is waterlogged Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) bears its tiny yellow flowers. Occasionally you may come across a rosette of red spotted, broad leaves, this is an Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula).

Siskins (Carduelis spinus) and Mistle thrushes (Turdus viscivorus) may be a treat at this time of year for the garden bird watcher. Some birds, such as Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), are already prospecting for nesting sites and hence it will be important to get bird boxes in place straight away. Edited by Rachel Cross from articles by Peter McSweeney on his website: When to Watch Wildlife

Upcoming events in Cheshire 7th January 2017 - Warrington Plant Group: Bryophyte meeting, Chester Meadows Exploring the bryoflora of this popular riverside nature spot. This meeting is aimed at adults with an interest in bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts). The aim is to make a species list for the site, practise using identification keys and improve ID skills. Beginners welcome. Hand lens essential. Wrap up warm. Time: 10:00am, meeting point to be arranged nearer the time.

13th January 2017 - Cheshire Wildlife Trust: Appreciating the life of our soft shores: not just acres of sand, mud and birds Interactive talk by Ian Wallace - How to find invertebrates inhabiting our estuaries and all about shells and other remains washed up on the beach. Ian will bring along samples for the audience to handle. Venue: 111 Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 4RH Time: 7:30pm to 9:30pm Admission charge: Adults £3; Children £1. Further information from info@wirralwildlife.org.uk

21st January 2017 - Saltscape: Geological Resources Talk How is geology used and how does it link to the Weaver Valley and its history? A fascinating lecture looking at the area around us with Dr Ros Todhunter from Cheshire RIGS (Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites). Venue: Lion Salt Works Time: 3-4pm. Email info@saltscape.co.uk or ring 01606 723 160 and ask to speak to Saul Burton to book .

25th January 2017 - Cheshire Wildlife Trust: East Cheshire Wildlife Illustrated talk by local botanist, Jack Swan Venue: The lounge of St Mary Magdalene Church Centre at the side of the church, at the junction of Harboro Road and Moss Lane, Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale. M33 6GD. Entrance from Moss Lane. Ample car parking on site Time: 7:45pm to 9:30pm. Admission charge £3.00 tea and biscuits included Further information from Jean Dufty tel 0161 973 9965 15

12th January and 19th February 2017 - RSPB: Burton Mere Wetlands: Wildlife Wanders Join one of the RSPB’s friendly, knowledgeable volunteers for a leisurely amble around much of Burton Mere Wetlands, including the unmissable viewpoint at the end of the Hillfort Trail on Burton Point. Take in the sights and sounds, learn more about the wildlife that thrives there, the work they do to give nature a home and the remarkable history of the estuary. No booking required, just turn up on the day. A reasonable level of fitness and sturdy footwear are required. Walks typically last up to 3 hours, weather permitting. 1:00pm start at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF. Free, but donations gratefully received on the day.

29th January, 26th February and 26th March 2017 - RSPB: Raptor Watch at Parkgate Join the RSPB group for a chance to see up to seven different birds of prey including peregrine and merlin, plus two types of owl that all make their home on the RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserve. With its panoramic views of the saltmarsh, Parkgate is one of the best places to watch for the birds hunting. Stick around until dusk for a chance to see the graceful and endangered hen harriers flying into roost for the night on the marsh close to the Old Baths car park, plus a ghostly barn owl emerging to hunt. No booking required, come along any time between 1 pm and sunset. Dress appropriately for the weather and don't forget your binoculars! Public toilets and various pubs and cafes are situated close by along Parkgate promenade.

Friday 10th March 2017 - Cheshire Wildlife Trust: Wilde About Birds Findlay Wilde is a local young conservationist and naturalist – his talk will include the story of how he’s working to raise awareness about the persecution of hen harriers and other raptors. Venue: 111 Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 4RH Time: 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Admission charge: Adults £3; Children £1 16

Wildlife Champions Course Aimed at people involved in community groups these training workshops, led by experts at Chester Zoo, will give you all the know-how and resources you need to run inspiring activities with your group that are great for wildlife! The course includes...  Planting for wildlife  What you can do to help birds, hedgehogs, toads and other nocturnal wildlife  Wildlife recording  Water for wildlife  Introducing invertebrates  Lots of practical ideas for activities you can do with your group to help wildlife The same course in being run in two locations… 1. Chester Zoo 10am – 3pm on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th January and Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th February 2. St Margaret’s Church, Wrexham 10am – 3pm on Friday 27th January, 3rd, 10th & 17th February

To cover all the topics on offer you need to come to all the sessions at either location. Contact Manon Keir at m.keir@chesterzoo.org by 20th January for more information or to book. Visit chesterzoo.org/connections to find resources and details of other events that will help you make safe spaces for our most precious local wildlife.

Shared on Social Media A selection of photos shared on our Facebook and Twitter pages...

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo )

RECORD/Saltscape recording day at Weaver Valley Parkway

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