There has been a very welcome focus on the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in the past year. First we rather broke the mould by being the first local group to succeed in attaining grant funding for a biodiversity project (see the article on Ranging for Nature) which allowed us to buy lots of gardening and maintenance equipment as well as a lot of wildlife recording list such as bat detector, trail cameras and moth traps. All of this is available to borrow by local community projects. It also allowed us to build our tree nursery in Rickarton. In October we hosted the national AGM which was a sell out and really interesting to attend with the Trust’s new chairman, Kenny Taylor, taking office. I took the opportunity of providing a presentation, assisted by David Elston, on the wildlife of Aberdeenshire. Last week I was privileged to meet the 10 or so north east people accepted onto the Trust’s Neighbourhood Network programme which provides them with the communication skills to set up their own local projects (see later article). Our area was chosen as the third pilot in this programme and the first outside the central belt. Our local group will support these budding wildlife leaders as much as we can.
Finally, do you realise how much effort by our local Trust committee goes into organising all the talks, walks, local biodiversity events, queries from members and providing volunteering opportunities? We would really welcome more members helping in this. Its very interesting and rewarding and, for young people, great experience that helps future careers. Roles and tasks are very flexible and every little helps! If you can spare us a little time please contact us at committee@swtaberdeen.org.uk
Roger Owen
The Special Wildlife of Aberdeenshire – Roger Owen
The north east of Scotland, and Aberdeenshire in particular, has some astounding wildlife that often goes under the radar of most of the people who live here. After all, the land area of the county is 9% of that of Scotland and the proportion of the population is about 8% so it is quite significant. The biodiversity of Aberdeenshire is underpinned by the diversity of habitats ranging through coastal, agricultural, woodland, upland, montane and arctic-alpine as well as urban. The far west of the county forms part of the Cairngorms National Park with its stunning wildlife and iconic species such as capercaillie, mountain hare, red squirrel, pine marten, red and roe deer, dotterel, snow bunting and ptarmigan. The Dee and Don rivers, and their tributaries, harbour protected species such as freshwater pearl mussel, atlantic salmon, river lamprey and otters but also an amazing array of river bed invertebrates which include rarities like the stoneflies Brachyptera risi and Protonemura montani. Really scarce plants like alpine sowthistle and twinflower can be found in the National Park.
Apart from the Cairngorms there are some really special and protected places in Aberdeenshire that are a must see for anyone interested in our biodiversity. The National Nature Reserves at Mar Lodge Esate, Muir of Dinnet and Glen Tanar are marvellous upland areas while Forvie Sands and St Cyrus (see the article by David Elston in this newsletter) are incredible coastal habitats. The Trusts own reserves are wildlife havens too at Longhaven Cliffs, Gight Wood, Red Moss of Netherley and Coulnacraig meadow. Our volunteer recording contributes hugely to extending our knowledge of biodiversity, for example, at Red Moss we have extended the list of mammal species from 3 in 2010 to 24 in 2021!
Some very special species in Aberdeenshire include the mountain burnet moth, found only around Braemar, Dickie’s bladder fern, re-discovered in coastal caves and crannies on our coast and, incredibly the world’s only population of Rubus longiflora , a bramble found only in Kincardineshire and Angus! In very recent years we have also acquired a breeding population of Cranes around the RSPB reserve of Loch of Strathbeg – very exciting!
I could say much more but have run out of allocated space. I would encourage you to go out and enjoy this north east treasure trove of wildlife with your friends and families!
Roger Owen
Reserves Report – Rab Potter
Longhaven Cliffs
A 2nd tranche of funding was successfully granted which has allowed us to replace the 2nd set of steps at heathery Haven and re-route the stone steps at the southern end of the reserve
New southern end path 2nd set of steps at Heathery Haven
We are now seeking funding to replace all the interpretation on the reserve and contract a company to get a professional opinion on whether we can repair the closed northern section of the path. Further attempts have been made to purchase a small piece of neighbouring land at this section but these discussions have been unsuccessful.
Zachery Brown, our Seasonal North East Ranger did a very good job of maintaining the footpaths, with a small team of volunteers. The few remaining pampas grass growing in the old pipeyard was removed.
Our Angus Ranger sprayed the Japanese knotweed around the ruined cottage next to the Trust’s old carpark.
Gight Woods
Again, Zach did a very good job maintaining the footpaths, along with various other maintenance tasks at Gight.
Our Reserves Project officer from Dundee removed three fallen trees over the footpath at the beginning and end of the season.
The memorial bench was installed with the help of our Convenor and other Trust members.
Zac carried out an Herbivore Impact Assessment.
We have a stalker maintaining roe deer numbers at an acceptable level.
Red Moss of Netherley
Zac strimmed the access path to the reserve, and carried out other maintenance tasks.
He also carried out dipwell monitoring.
With volunteers some of the small regenerating birch on the reserve.
Coulnacraig Meadows
Meadow was cut and raked.
Entrance gate cleared of bracken and scrub.
Other
Our Seasonal Ranger for 2023 (Zac) has now been employed full-time by the Trust as the Reserves Project Officer based in Angus. You may well see him on Aberdeenshire reserves in the future!
Applications for the Seasonal Ranger had a completion deadline of 19th of January.
Rab Potter
North East Scotland Mammal Network – Rose Toney
The North East of Scotland is known for gems such as some of the highest Mountain Hare densities on the east Cairngorm moors, resident Bottlenose Dolphins at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour, thriving Red Squirrel and Pine Marten populations, some of the last remaining cats with high proportions of Wildcat ancestry, and a Grey Seal haul out that can hold over 5,000 animals. It has a thriving community of wildlife recorders and is a base for researchers studying rodent population dynamics, predator-prey relations, sea mammal ecology and conservation, farmland bats, deer ecology and other topics.
Up until now, there has been no single hub to champion and celebrate the region’s mammals, but that has now changed with the creation of the North East Scotland Mammal Network. The NES Network brings together amateur enthusiasts and professionals, individuals and organisations, citizen scientists and researchers, united around a fascination with, and passion for, the region’s mammal fauna.
A focus on diversity and inclusivity is embedded from the outset to ensure a broad and sustainable base for its activities and that the Network is relevant to as wide a range of the community as possible. In particular, it seeks to enable young people to become involved in mammal-related activities. Aberdeen, especially, has a vibrant student population and a team from SRUC took a podium place in last winter’s University Mammal Challenge. The launch event for the Network was a camera trapping training workshop with students from University of Aberdeen and this was followed by recording bats, small mammals and other species as part of a BioBlitz event for families and the local community in a much-valued greenspace in Aberdeen.
During the coming year, membership will be free. We want people to join in and take part, and to share our vision of a Network that enables people from all sectors of the community to coalesce around a passion for the amazing mammals that we share the region with. We have recently started a webinar series and plan in person events over coming months covering topics ranging from Badger surveying to marine mammal identification, bat walks to tracks and signs, and camera trapping to bioacoustics. We will seek to develop skills, and to enable communities to be advocates for our mammals and their habitats. By working together, we hope to act as a catalyst for securing the future of some of our most iconic species.
Please do follow our story on social media on Facebook at @nesmammalnetwork and X @nesmammals, and look out for a website coming soon! If you want to get in touch you can email us at nesmamnet@gmail.com.
Rose Toney
Small Adder’s-tongue at St Cyrus NNR, new to Kincardineshire – David Elston
A vice county recorder’s work is never done. So, after spending a very pleasant day leading a Wild Flower Society walk at St Cyrus NNR in July last year, I made a return visit to an area of dune slack behind the Visitor Centre to see if the Field Gentians discovered there in September 2022 were still present. On my way, I noticed some Hairy Sedge and went to find a marker so I could point it out to Therese Alampo the Reserve Manager. It was when I was bending down to insert the marker that something far more interesting caught my eye: some tiny ferns with undivided sterile fronds, some of which had an associated fertile frond. These were undoubtedly an Ophioglossum (adder’s-tongue) of some description, the only question being which species. Regardless, I knew it was a very special find, the only previous Kincardineshire records of Ophioglossum date from the 1800s. Hence, I did some counting, took some measurements and photos and went home to ponder.
As far as I could tell from books to hand, the jury was split: the number of segments of the fertile fronds was slightly more consistent with Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) than Small Adder’s-tongue (Ophioglossum azoricum), and the plants were certainly bigger than the diminutive Small Adder’s-tongue plants which grow between Balmedie and Forvie, first recognised as such during survey work stimulated by the application for a golf course at Menie Links. However, the presence of pairs of leaves pointed in the other direction. With encouragement for certainty from Mike Smedley, NatureScot, I contacted BSBI fern referee Fred Rumsey who said he had seen similar-looking plants in the New Forest and they were undoubtedly Small Adder’s-tongue, citing also the posture of the sterile fronds and relative length of sterile and fertile fronds as distinguishing features.
Having tweeted this as likely the best botanical find of 2023 in Kincardineshire, and so it proved to be. Together with BSBI staff a press release was written leading to articles in The Scotsman and Yahoo News. Follow me on X/Twitter (@1DavidElston) if you want to be kept informed of exciting botanical revelations in the future!
David Elston
Meet the reservists – Liz Chellingsworth
Photo credit: Tawny owl chick by Zac Brown
Last summer on Facebook we shone a spotlight on some of the people who look after our Local Nature Reserves here in the Northeast. Our ‘reservists’ are a combination of staff and volunteers who work together to develop and execute reserve management plans, maintain the reserves and keep an eye on the species that live there. Here is an excerpt from their interviews.
Mark Young volunteers as the Reserve Convenor for Gight and Longhaven and has been involved at both sites since they became reserves. He has seen many changes over the years. “At Gight, the main changes have been to do with the trees. We have lost some magnificent elms, and are now beginning to lose ash trees, both to introduced diseases! We are also struggling to reduce the rampant sycamores, which are not native to the area and are threatening to take over. However, these losses are greatly overtaken by the planting and excellent establishment and growth of so many native trees. Over the years, our volunteers have collected tree seeds, grown on the seedlings and helped plant them out. Long may it continue.”
Zac Brown was our seasonal ranger last year and supported volunteers in various reserve volunteering opportunities including Bio Blitzes. We asked Zac about some of the species he has seen at the reserves this season. “At Longhaven Cliffs, I was fortunate enough to watch two minke whales pass by. At Red Moss highlights included the Grasshopper Warbler and the flowers produced from the Round-leaved sundew. Coulnacraig Meadow provided the Marsh Lousewort and many species of orchid. At Gight Wood, the wild service trees were pretty special and I was lucky enough to spot a Tawny owl chick.”
Louise is one of our volunteers who has helped out on the reserves. “I have been volunteering for about 18 months helping the seasonal rangers with path maintenance, strimming, tree removal, ditch maintenance etc. I love my days on the reserves. I am learning so much and I see new species every time I am out. I would thoroughly recommend Longhaven to newcomers to the area. The cliffs and the riot of seabirds during summer are really quite dramatic.”
Liz Chellingsworth
Nextdoor Nature is now in your neighbourhood! – Zora Tamás
Since November, the Trust has been working with a dozen individuals from communities in Dundee, Aberdeen, Kirriemuir, Arbroath and Glenkindie as part of the Nextdoor Nature project.
These 12 people form the third group being supported through the six-month Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme, developed by the Trust thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Involving online modules, interactive webinars and in-person events, the training covers topics such as wildlife ecology, community organising, running public events, fundraising, health and safety, communications and more.
In addition to this training, the participants (aka the ‘pioneers’) are being supported to deliver projects within their communities that benefit both wildlife and people. Projects underway include habitat improvements in a church garden, teaching neighbours how to build bird boxes, creating pollinator friendly gardens, making private gardens pollinator friendly, extending community gardens and engaging children and young people with the natural world.
If you missed out on applying for the programme, fear not, you can still get involved! The pioneers are ready and raring to make change happen and are looking for enthusiastic people that are keen to help. Whether you’re already green fingered or not, whether you’re a wildlife expert or have just learned the difference between a blue tit and a great tit, the pioneers would be happy to connect with you and include you in their work. If you’re interested in finding out whether there’s a pioneer in your area, contact Zora Tamas, Community Engagement Officer for the project by emailing ztamas@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk or calling 07795220527.
Zora Tamás
The importance of Species on the Edge in the North East of Scotland – Caitlin McLeod
Species on the Edge is a partnership programme that is committed to conserving 37 of Scotland’s most vulnerable and threatened species along our coasts and islands. With substantial funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and additional funding from the likes of NatureScot, Esmee Fairburn Foundation and Trekmates to name but a few, eight organisations are working together to deliver the programme: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, NatureScot, Plantlife, and RSPB Scotland.
The East Coast project is divided into two areas. My responsibility encompasses the Aberdeen to Monifieth coastline, while Tracy Munro (Butterfly Conservation) covers Spey Bay to Brora. Our joint efforts aim to conserve seven of the target species: Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Purple Oxytropis, Bordered Brown Lacewing, Northern Brown Argus, and Small Blue. In my area, the focus is on the three invertebrate species.
The Angus and Southern Aberdeenshire coastlines harbour a diverse range of landscapes, from towering cliffs to steep grasslands, sandy beaches to rocky shores. Despite their visual contrasts, these environments share a common thread: the ongoing struggle for survival among coastal wildlife. This challenge is a consequence of factors such as detrimental land practices, tidal squeeze induced by climate change, and the increasing frequency of 'extreme' or harsh weather events, something that has frequently been witnessed across the country this winter. These habitats are inherently fragile, constantly evolving, and particularly sensitive to the impacts of our changing environment. This emphasises the significance of conservation initiatives like Species on the Edge, which aims to boost the chances of survival of species through surveying and monitoring (to learn more about the species’ and their ecology), practical habitat work (to improve, manage and even create new habitat) and involving local people and communities through raising awareness, providing training and resources to equip them with the skills to continue to look after these species once the programme comes to an end.
As we enter 2024, we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers for various activities. In 2023, the Bordered Brown Lacewing (Megalomus hirtus) was recorded at three locations near Stonehaven and Muchalls, the search for this species will continue along the coast (and potentially inland) this year. There will be survey and ID training workshops to come in the spring as well as survey days throughout the summer.
The Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes) has been confirmed at various sites along the south Aberdeenshire coast, and training for this species will likely be combined with lacewing training.
There are Small Blue (Cupido minimus) sites dotted along the Angus coast, many have been damaged by stormy weather this winter. This year we hope to work with landowners and volunteers to restore and repair the damaged habitats, in addition to conducting surveys for the species and their food plant, Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria).
If you would like to take on a site to survey, to join me on surveys or to go out and survey independently then please get in touch at: caitlin.mcleod@buglife.org.uk
For training and events keep an eye on the Buglife, Butterfly Conservation and Species on the Edge social media pages. Alternatively, you can also get in touch via email.
Caitlin McLeod
The Local Group are looking for new committee volunteers! Could you be our next Secretary?
Are you interested in local wildlife? Would you like to be part of a friendly and collaborative volunteer force? Would you like to contribute to the smooth running of our Walks and Talks programme? Or get to meet new people through local projects and initiatives? Then do we have the role for you!
Our local group needs a new secretary from April 2024. It’s a varied, interesting and rewarding role and helps keep the group functioning smoothly. Tasks include:
Arranging meetings and taking notes
Fielding queries by passing on to relevant people/groups
Liaising with the Trust head office
No experience needed – we can guide you into the role. If you are unsure, please ask for a chat with one of us, with no commitment, by emailing: committee@swtaberdeen.org.uk
Perhaps you would like to join with a friend or partner to share the duties between two people? This could work for us so if you think this would work for you, then please get in touch!
Outdoor meetings venues as noted - Booking Essential. To book on the walks please contact bookings@swtaberdeen.org. To check details of the Talks please contact Kirsten Dickson committee@swtaberdeen.org.uk. Please check www.swtaberdeen.org.uk or our Facebook page (Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire Scottish Wildlife Trust) for latest information and if the Walks are going ahead.
March 14th – Scottish Badgers – Joe Connelly – Ellon Location, TBC
April 25th – AGM & SSRS – Emma Sheehy (talk via zoom)
April (date TBC) – Esther’s Wildflower Area Planting, Tullich – Emma Williams/Ewen Cameron
May (date TBC) – Tree Nursery Volunteer Work, Rickarton – James Davidson/Roger Owen
June (mid-June TBC) – Mountain Botany Outing, David Elston – Location TBC
July (date TBC) – Joint identification training session with the NE Mammal Network
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (registered number SC040247), having its registered office at Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh EH6 6NF. It is also a Scottish registered charity (charity number SC005792).
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Local Group
Some very special species in Aberdeenshire include the mountain burnet moth, found only around Braemar, Dickie’s bladder fern, re-discovered in coastal caves and crannies on our coast and, incredibly the world’s only population of Rubus longiflora , a bramble found only in Kincardineshire and Angus! In very recent years we have also acquired a breeding population of Cranes around the RSPB reserve of Loch of Strathbeg – very exciting!
The North East of Scotland is known for gems such as some of the highest Mountain Hare densities on the east Cairngorm moors, resident Bottlenose Dolphins at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour, thriving Red Squirrel and Pine Marten populations, some of the last remaining cats with high proportions of Wildcat ancestry, and a Grey Seal haul out that can hold over 5,000 animals. It has a thriving community of wildlife recorders and is a base for researchers studying rodent population dynamics, predator-prey relations, sea mammal ecology and conservation, farmland bats, deer ecology and other topics.
During the coming year, membership will be free. We want people to join in and take part, and to share our vision of a Network that enables people from all sectors of the community to coalesce around a passion for the amazing mammals that we share the region with. We have recently started a webinar series and plan in person events over coming months covering topics ranging from Badger surveying to marine mammal identification, bat walks to tracks and signs, and camera trapping to bioacoustics. We will seek to develop skills, and to enable communities to be advocates for our mammals and their habitats. By working together, we hope to act as a catalyst for securing the future of some of our most iconic species.
A vice county recorder’s work is never done. So, after spending a very pleasant day leading a Wild Flower Society walk at St Cyrus NNR in July last year, I made a return visit to an area of dune slack behind the Visitor Centre to see if the Field Gentians discovered there in September 2022 were still present. On my way, I noticed some Hairy Sedge and went to find a marker so I could point it out to Therese Alampo the Reserve Manager. It was when I was bending down to insert the marker that something far more interesting caught my eye: some tiny ferns with undivided sterile fronds, some of which had an associated fertile frond. These were undoubtedly an Ophioglossum (adder’s-tongue) of some description, the only question being which species. Regardless, I knew it was a very special find, the only previous Kincardineshire records of Ophioglossum date from the 1800s. Hence, I did some counting, took some measurements and photos and went home to ponder.
The Angus and Southern Aberdeenshire coastlines harbour a diverse range of landscapes, from towering cliffs to steep grasslands, sandy beaches to rocky shores. Despite their visual contrasts, these environments share a common thread: the ongoing struggle for survival among coastal wildlife. This challenge is a consequence of factors such as detrimental land practices, tidal squeeze induced by climate change, and the increasing frequency of 'extreme' or harsh weather events, something that has frequently been witnessed across the country this winter. These habitats are inherently fragile, constantly evolving, and particularly sensitive to the impacts of our changing environment. This emphasises the significance of conservation initiatives like Species on the Edge, which aims to boost the chances of survival of species through surveying and monitoring (to learn more about the species’ and their ecology), practical habitat work (to improve, manage and even create new habitat) and involving local people and communities through raising awareness, providing training and resources to equip them with the skills to continue to look after these species once the programme comes to an end.
There are Small Blue (Cupido minimus) sites dotted along the Angus coast, many have been damaged by stormy weather this winter. This year we hope to work with landowners and volunteers to restore and repair the damaged habitats, in addition to conducting surveys for the species and their food plant, Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria).