Surveys
Throughout the year a number of surveys are carried out to obtain important information on the status of particular species. These surveys help to measure the success of current management and help to develop future management objectives.
Recent Surveys
Amphibian Survey- A successful day
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 6 March 2007
The annual amphibian survey was at last a success after a very mild winter this year! Common Frogs had already begun spawning on the 5th March at Bramblefields LNR (4 days earlier than last year) but there was even more frogs on the Tuesday (6th march), with over 13 breeding pairs counted! This is down on previous records but it is expected more pairs will spawn over the coming week. There was also only one record of Smooth Newt on the day but once again more are expected.
Other Reserves visited on the day included:
Perse Girls School- No records
Byron's Pool LNR- Frog spawn in channel next to weir with some paired adults around
Adam's Road Sanctuary- Smooth Newts recorded
Barnwell East LNR- Huge numbers of Toads (20+ pairs observed) and around 20 pairs of frog recorded. There was only one record of frog spawn.
Ponds like this one at Barnwell East LNR play an essential part in an amphibians life cycle.
Common Frogs, Toads, Smooth Newts have all been recorded at these reserves and Great Crested Newts have also been recorded at Adam's Road Sanctuary. This basic survey helps identify the presence or absence of species. More detailed surveys by lamping (by licence permit holders only) and egg counts will take place over the next few weeks.
Amphibian Survey- Cold weather continues!
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 14 March 2006
The annual amphibian survey was once again hampered by cold weather! Already postponed from the 7th March there was no let up from the artic air and there was unfortunately very little activity to observe.
Common Frogs had already begun spawning on the 9th March at Bramblefields LNR but on visiting the site on the survey day there was no sign of any frogs! However there was an impressive 46 clumps of spawn, indicating around 90 frogs had been active in the pond the week before.
Other Reserves visited on the day included:
-Perse Girls School
-Byron's Pool LNR
-Adam's Road Sanctuary
-Barnwell East LNR
Common Frogs, Toads, Smooth Newts have all been recorded at these reserves and Great Crested Newts have also been recorded at Adam's Road Sanctuary.
Further surveys throughout the breeding season will be taking place.
A turn up for the day was an injured Pipistrelle Bat found on the pathway at Byron's Pool LNR! The bat was taken to the Cambridge Bat Group.
Butterfly Survey Day-Byron's Pool LNR
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 26 July 2005
13 different species of butterfly were recorded on a dry but overcast day at the Byron's Pool LNR Butterfly Survey Day held on the 26th July 2005. These were:
-Large White
-Small White
-Green Veined White
-Small Skipper
-Essex Skipper
-Large Skipper
-Gatekeeper
-Red Admiral
-Peacock
-Holly Blue
-Meadow Brown
-Comma
-Speckled Wood
Unfortunately there were no White-letter Hairstreak or Purple Hairstreak butterflies recored, probably due to the poor weather conditions. Here are a few images of the species recorded.
Gatekeeper (Hedge Brown)
Essex Skipper? A closer look of the antennae can confirm whether this is an Essex or Small Skipper. Essex Skippers antennae are black on the underside where as the Small Skipper are orangey/brown.
Green Veined White feeding on a thistle, an important nectar source.
Comma, its jagged outline helps to protect it from predators.
Small Mammal Survey-Barnwell East LNR
Barnwell East, Tuesday, 19 July 2005
3 different species of small mammal were recorded, these were Wood Mouse, Bank Vole and Pygmy Shrew. Previously Harvest Mice have been recorded at the site but no records were found on this occasion. Other Mammal records for the site include Field Vole, Fox, Rabbits, Grey Squirrel and Muntjac Deer.
Whilst looking for small mammals we came across a Grass Snake. These were first recorded at the site last year. A good supply of froglets was also found on the same day, evidence of a good food supply for the Grass Snakes.
Images of the Wood Mouse, Bank Vole and Grass Snake can be found here.
Wildlife on your doorstep survey
Barnwell East, Tuesday, 19 July 2005 from 16th-31st July-Wake up to Wildlife events
Your New Biological Records Centre Needs You!
A new centre for recording and storing the county’s wildlife is appealing for people around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to help them build a vital information store on our flora and fauna.
As part of LNR Celebrations, the centre will be running a Wildlife on your Doorstep survey to encourage people to get out, enjoy their local nature reserve and also to start recording their sightings of wildlife and establish a regular supply of records for the centre.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an experienced wildlife recorder, or an expert at identifying a particular group anyone can get involved and record useful and valuable data. All records are important, even for very common species. Survey results will also be published so you can see what other people have been spotting in your area and throughout the rest of the county.
Please download a survey form here and get recording! To help you get started come and join us at one of the events throughout the Wake up to Wildlife Celebration in Cambridge.
For your data to be included in the “Wildlife On Your Doorstep” survey results,please return your survey form to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Biological Records Centre by 5th August.
Bat & Moth night/Insect day survey results
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 5 July 2005
3 different species of Bats were detected, Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Daubenton's Bat. To view the moth list in a new window please click here.
Five species of Warbler join in the Dawn Chorus!
Bramblefields, Tuesday, 3 May 2005
As with last year we failed to hear any Nightingales at Bramblefields but were lucky to hear a variety of birds including five different warblers! These included Willow Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. We also visited Barnwell East LNR and recorded other species including Skylarks, Bullfinches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds and Great Tits.
Nightingales are a declining species visiting the south and east of England to breed in early summer. Often only heard, Nightingales prefer damp scrubby areas to nest and this is a habitat that can be found at Bramblefields LNR.
In previous years there has been records of Nightingales singing at Bramblefields LNR and there has been confirmed breeding at Milton Country Park which is near by.
Fungi Foray at Byron's Pool on Sunday 10th October 2004
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 2 November 2004
33 species of fungi were recorded on the day including the rare Arched Earthstar Geastrum fornicatum.
To view the species list please click here.
To view images of the earthstars please click here.
White-letter hairstreak survey
Byrons Pool, Tuesday, 13 July 2004
On the 13th July 2004 White-letter Hairstreak and Purple Hairstreak butterflies were recorded at Byron's Pool for the first time! The White-letter hairstreak has distinctive white 'W' on the underside of its wings but is often very difficult to find as it spends most of its time in the tree canopy. In the 1970's this species was severely affected by dutch elm disease which decimated their food-plant (Elm). The Purple Hairtsreak is also found in the tree canopy but its preferred food-plant is oak.
Following the discovery of these species at Byron's Pool a specific objective has been included in the new Summary Management Plan to try and protect and enhance their preferred habitats. For more information on these species and images please visit http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/
Bat & Moth night
Byrons Pool, Friday, 11 June 2004
3 different species of Bats were detected, Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and Daubenton's Bat. To view the moth list in a new window please click here.
Forthcoming Surveys
Coming Soon...
Details of forthcoming surveys will be published here soon.
How can I get involved?
A number of surveys are carried out as events and through the Tuesday Conservation Group programme and are open to everyone. You do not need any previous experience, as training will be provided.
Records can also be submitted by filling in the Recent Sightings form.
If you have any records or are planning to carry out a survey that will cover any of the LNR’s please let us know - your records are extremely helpful. Click here to fill out our Contact Form