autumn/ winter 2018 galloway local group · treated to beshbarmak, a traditional dish of boiled...

ACBK are keen to develop nature-based tourism opportunities in the Ecological Park. The focus of my sabbatical, therefore, was to carry out some baseline breed-ing bird surveys to inform the develop-ment of a management/business plan for the area, and to provide some suggestions on the development potential of Alty Sai as a nature-based tourism destination. Working with five wildlife rangers from ACBK, and Kevin Kelly from RSPB Leighton Moss, our field work consisted of walking transects and carrying out counts of birds along them. We

covered a variety of habitats within the Ecological Park – steppe grassland, permanent wetlands, seasonal wetlands and riparian scrub being the predominant areas. We arrived in Alty Sai in early May, coinciding with peak bird migration through the area. We were stunned by the sheer numbers and diversity of species we encountered – waders, wildfowl, raptors and passerines - recording 177 species, of which 23 were new to the Park’s species list. The steppe specialities included pallid harrier, steppe eagle, long-legged buzzard, demoiselle crane, little bustard, black-winged pratincole, calandra lark, black lark, white-winged lark, lesser grey shrike, rosy starling and red-headed bunting, all of which we expected to see. However, we were not prepared for the commonest

warblers to be Siberian chiffchaffs, greenish and paddyfield warblers, or to observe hundreds of yellow wagtails of at least 3 sub-species, over 1,000 red-necked phalaropes in one flock, thousands of ruff and wood sandpipers and hundreds of white-winged black terns. All in all, Alty Sai is a sensational bird-watching destination, with eye-watering numbers of birds; but the limited availa-bility of accommodation and pretty ap-palling dirt roads (I won’t complain about potholes in D&G as loudly as I used to) are two huge challenges for ACBK to address, if they are to develop the park as a destination for more than just the most adventurous nature-watcher. Whilst we mostly camped out in the wild steppe, we did stay with local families as

Newsletter of the RSPB

Galloway Local Group

Issue no 63 Autumn/ Winter 2018

The Steppe is one of the least protected habitats in the world. RSPB Manager Andrew Bielinski explains how he took part in an astounding species and habitat conservation project to protect this habitat type in Kazakhstan. Earlier this year, on a sabbatical, I had a wonderful opportunity to work with the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity Kazakhstan. For a number of years, ACBK have been running a large, long-term multi-stakeholder project in central Kazakh-stan—the Altyn Dala Conservation

Initiative—where the RSPB remains a key partner. One of the project objectives is to

create a network of protected areas, and to restore the saiga antelope population. Last year, ACBK acquired a lease on 340,000 hectares adjacent to Altyn Dala (known as the Alty Sai Ecological Park), and this was the area where I was working. The project area is known to be important for a range of species, but information on the biodiversity of the area is limited to records of larger mammals and a basic list of bird species - counts of bird species had previously been made by ACBK rangers only when driving through the area. In addition to the protection of wildlife,

Bird watching in the steppes of Kazakhstan

A demoiselle crane

Kazakhstan steppe landscape

Continued on page 4

The Steppe with extensive reed beds beyond

Breeding update Numbers of breeding lapwings un-fortunately dropped this year, although the number of fledged young increased, giving a produc-tivity of just over 3 per pair nesting. The redshank pairs increased, as did the numbers of young per brood, which is all very positive. The numbers of mallards breeding this year increased as did the num-ber of young produced. However, we think many fell foul of predators, relieving the predation on the lap-wings and redshanks. We had widgeon and pintail until quite late in the season, with many only dis-appearing once they entered eclipse. The Ospreys nested further up the bay, as they have done for the past 4 years, and have treated us with their fishing in the bay and soaring above the reserve looking for fish.

Summer heat The Crook suffered under the heat during July, with drain down of the lagoons being more effective due to evaporation. This however was a boon to the land management operations. With the expected shortage of quality straw, our neighbours were more than willing to cut and remove our rush for bed-ding this year. Once all the fields were dragged for breeding birds by volunteers, predominantly for snipe, this resulted in a total clearance of rush across 60 hectares of wet grassland. We managed to get both fields 7 and 8 cut quite early in July (Fig 1)but because of a question mark over possible water rail breeding

within field 6, cutting was deferred to mid-July. Fields 2 and 3 were both deferred to late July, and areas that would be beneficial to feeding birds (such as water courses and the la-goons) were left until late August or early September. The Lagoons were finally finished on the 9

th of September. This is the first

time in 8 years we have been able to mow and clear the aftermath - being alluvial clay, getting onto certain areas always proved tricky. (Fig 2) Other tasks have been fence repairs due to delinquent cattle, and supply-ing enough water to keep the latter hydrated in the heat.

Saltmarsh vegetation The Saltmarsh has come into its own over the past couple of years and two botanical surveys have listed many of the species. However, the summer survey on the 9

th

August recorded six lax-flowered sea lavender Limonium humile (Fig 3), as well as a single Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides, both not

recorded for 30 years. Both had been severely affected by over grazing and live-stock trampling. The reduction in livestock density for the past 7 years is therefore start-ing to show its worth from a biodiversity point of view. Other tasks during this period have been the digging of two scrapes by staff and volunteers

RSPB Crook of Baldoon Update

to meet with Agri envi-ronmental grant condi-tions. Also some minor altera-tions to the water con-trol across field 1 which will help improve the control and make it safer for operation. (Fig 4)

Volunteer thanks As always, my thanks to the Thursday Volun-teers who excel each

week at achieving the given tasks and more. Safe to say,

without them the Crook would cer-tainly not have come as far as it has, and the RSPB owe them a great deal of thanks for their continued work traveling from far and wide to give 6 hours of time each week.

Paul Tarling

Fig 2: Rush cut and bailed, leaving a foraging margin around water course

Fig 1: Field 7 after the rush has been cut

Fig 3: Lax–flowered sea lavender

Fig 4: Field 1 lagoon control

MONTH ACTIVITY LOCATION NOTES

Thurs 18 Oct 10am-4pm

Wild at Clatteringshaws Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre

Hands-on family activity. Wild challenges & mini beast hunts.

Fri 19 Oct 10am-3.30pm

What’s that Duck? RSPB Mersehead Hands-on family activity.

Mon 22 Oct 10am-3.30pm

What’s that Duck? RSPB Mersehead Hands-on family activity.

Tues 23 Oct 10am-12.30pm

Red Kites & Geese in Flight RSPB Ken Dee Marshes

Guided Walk BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Thurs 25 Oct 11am-1pm

Mersehead Discover Walk RSPB Mersehead Guided Walk BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Sun 28 Oct 12noon-2pm

High Tide Perambulation RSPB Crook of Baldoon


Thurs 8 Nov 11am-1pm


Sat 17 Nov 10am-3pm

Reserve’s Last Piece in the Jigsaw

RSPB Mersehead Preston Merse


Mon 19 Nov 7.30pm

‘Changing Fortunes of Gold-en Eagles in Scotland’

GLG Gordon Memorial Hall

Talk by Stuart Benn, Retired RSPB Conservation Manager

Thurs 22 Nov 11am-1pm


Sun 25 Nov 12 noon-2pm

High Tide Perambulation RSPB Crook of Baldoon


Thurs 6 Dec 11am-1pm


Mon 17 Dec 7.30pm

‘South West Railway Adopters Gardening Group’


Talk by Louis Wall, SWRAGG, followed by Festive Food and Wine

Thurs 20 Dec 11am-1pm


Wed 26 Dec 2pm-4pm

Boxing Day Walk RSPB Crook of Baldoon


Wed 2 Jan 2pm-4pm

New Year Walk RSPB Crook of Baldoon


Mon 21 Jan 7.30pm

‘The Isle of May Uncovered’ GLG Gordon Memorial Hall

Talk by David Steel Isle of May Reserve Manager

Mon 18 Feb 7.30pm

‘Green Birding & the Adventures of the Biking Birder’


Talk by Gary Prescott Biking Birder

Mon 18 Mar 7.30pm

‘Fur, Fins, Feather – Wildlife of Luce Bay’


Talk by Derek Farr of ‘Island Adventures’

Mon 15 Apr 7.30pm

‘Highlights of the Conserva-tion Work of RSPB Scotland’


Talk by Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Head of Species & Land Management

Events in Dumfries & Galloway

GLG events are organised by the RSPB Galloway Local Group

RSPB guided walks: Pease bring stout shoes, binoculars if you have them, and check the length of walk and accessibility with the organisers. For info and bookings please use contact details on page 4

If you no longer wish to hear from RSPB Galloway Local Group, please contact us as below, confirming your name

and address, and stating that you wish to unsubscribe from the RSPB Galloway Local Group’s communications.

For info about the Galloway Local Group:

Contact: David Henshilwood

Telephone: 01556 650129

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.rspb.org.uk/ groups/Galloway

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership of conservation organisations working to give nature a home around the world.

RSPB Scotland is part of the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home.

The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654.

Contact us

well. On those occasions we were treated to beshbarmak, a traditional dish of boiled meat (generally horse and/or mutton) and pasta, served with mutton broth, which is a great honour. It is also accompanied by many toasts involving the imbibing of vodka! I have to thank my Kazakhstan hosts for their enormous generosity, and both ACBK and RSPB for providing the opportunity to participate in this amazing trip.

Andrew Bielinski RSPB Area Reserves Manager

Dumfries & Galloway

The Steppes of Kazakhstan

@RSPBMersehead

@GallowayKiteTrail

@RSPBDandG

RSPB GALLOWAY LOCAL GROUP

MONTHLY TALKS

Sept-April: 7.30pm, 3rd Mon of month.

Location: Gordon Memorial Hall, Whitepark Road,

Castle Douglas DG7 1EX Costs: Local Group members £1.50,

Visitors £2.50, U18s Free.

NEWSLETTER Advertising & contributions to the Editor - by 27 Feb for Spring/ Summer editions & by 15 Aug for Autumn/ Winter editions

E: [email protected]

RSPB RESERVES

IN

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

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1

3

4

5

1 Mull of Galloway

2 Wood of Cree

3 Crook of Baldoon

4 Ken-Dee Marshes

5 Mersehead

RSPB EVENTS: Contact locations for details prices.

Crook of Baldoon DG8 9AQ Grid ref: NX442530 www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/crookofbaldoon/

To book Tel: 01988 402130 Email: [email protected]

Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre DG7 3SQ Grid NX552764 To book Tel: 01556 670464

Email: [email protected] Mersehead DG2 8AH Grid ref: NX928566

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/c/mersehead/ To book Tel: 01387 780579

Email: [email protected] Ken-Dee Marshes DG7 2LY Grid ref: NX699684

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ken-dee-marshes/

To book Tel: 01556 670464 Email: [email protected]

Map

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Google

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autumn/ winter 2018 galloway local group · treated to beshbarmak, a traditional dish of boiled...

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