Our second habitat management weekend of the Winter was successfully completed on the Birkdale dunes, despite the howling gales of the weekend. With tremendous help from a dozen members of ARGSL, led by David Orchard, and John Gramauskas from the Sefton Coast Ranger Service, we were able to clear a considerable area of scrub and trees, helping to restore the habitat where Sand Lizards previously thrived, as well as improving the terrestrial habitat of Natterjacks. The resulting brash was burnt in a number of fires, helping to keep us warm on a cold weekend!

An unusual rarity has turned up on the local beaches in the last few days. Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the smallest and rarest sea turtle in the world and is critically endangered. However, one (or possibly two separate individuals) have been found stranded on the Merseyside sea shore (see photo above), far from their normal habitat in the warm, shallow waters of the western Atlantic ocean. In fact, most of the world's adult population of these two feet long turtles breed on one 16 mile long beach in Mexico.

Unusual weather patterns are thought to have brought these turtles to our cold shores, with other specimens found on Walney Island in Cumbria and in the Netherlands. Anyone finding a stranded turtle on the beach should contact the local RSPCA or the Ranger Service, who will arrange its rescue and, hopefully, recovery. The turtles should not be returned to the sea, as the water is far too cold. They require shelter and warmth.

Our first habitat management task of the Winter was undertaken on the weekend, 13/14 December, when we were joined by our three chainsaw wielding friends from SWWARG, Pete Hill, Richard Pond and Mark Barber, who helped us clear an enormous clump of sea Buckthorn on one of our fixed dune Sand Lizard and Common Lizard sites. The resulting brash was disposed of by dragging into several large, roaring fires, very efficiently organised by John G. from the Sefton Coast Ranger Service. (See the pictures above).

We also removed some smaller scrub and small trees from other parts of the site and we plan to remove more of this during the remainder of the Winter.

Many thanks to everyone who helped with this task, including the burning of the brash, which carried on into the following week.

 

We have arranged the following weekend dates for habitat management work on the Sefton Coast this Winter. The tasks will consist of scrub and tree clearance for the benefit of Sand Lizards and Natterjack Toads. Anyone interested in joining us, please contact Mike at the email address below :

Saturday, Dec. 13 & Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014

Saturday, Jan. 10 & maybe Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015

Saturday, Jan. 31 & Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015

Saturday, Feb. 14 & Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015

 

All the above tasks will be joint with other ARG groups, but we will probably be arranging some additional tasks for our own group.

Hatchling Sand Lizards have been spotted on the Merseyside sand dunes since mid-August, but few so far in the more fixed dunes. They've also been seen in our re-introduction site this week, proof of successful breeding for the first time.

Today (Saturday, September 6th), several members of our group helped with the release of captive bred Sand Lizards in North-East Wales, the second of three planned releases at that site.