Wildlife meeting

[Jonny]

This evening I had a meet up with the other volunteers. The countryside wardens gave us our tasks for the year. I managed to get on the reptile surveying again with the addition of a new site, owlbeech woods, which are woods no more, most of the area has had the trees removed to revert it back to heathland, which it was originally. Should find Adders there. I am also doing plant surveying and am really keen to find new species in the area as I found a new species last year (guernsey fleabane). I am also doing bird surveys, but that is more unofficial as I can't commit to that, its an as and when thing that I do with my boy.
Looking forward to an exciting year of finds...............Jon

[Tinkerbell]

Sounds like a particularly interesting pastime Jonny - I imagine it makes you even more observant whilst out for a casual walk. You must see some of the signs of habitation which we might miss. Any tips?

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

Sounds like a particularly interesting pastime Jonny - I imagine it makes you even more observant whilst out for a casual walk. You must see some of the signs of habitation which we might miss. Any tips?

The only tip I can think of at the mo is go out there with someone who knows more than you and as often as poss. I bumped into a plant expert at the meet and will hopefully be going out with him soon, so I hope to learn more from that. Also take a keen youngster with you as they see more than you give them credit for. My boy who is 8 will often see things that I miss, I think it is because they are lower to the ground than you.
Another thought is get to as many different meets as poss. Last year I went to bat meets, bumblebee meets, entomology meets, plant meets and bird meets, I learnt from them all. I am lucky to have some very keen countryside wardens here who organise all these things....................Jon

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Jonny

The only tip I can think of at the mo is go out there with someone who knows more than you and as often as poss. I bumped into a plant expert at the meet and will hopefully be going out with him soon, so I hope to learn more from that. Also take a keen youngster with you as they see more than you give them credit for. My boy who is 8 will often see things that I miss, I think it is because they are lower to the ground than you.
Another thought is get to as many different meets as poss. Last year I went to bat meets, bumblebee meets, entomology meets, plant meets and bird meets, I learnt from them all. I am lucky to have some very keen countryside wardens here who organise all these things....................Jon

Forgot to say..............I also went to a few moth meets too..............Great fun......................Jon

[pheonix]

i go out with very experienced ecologists everyday and everyday is a scholl day

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by pheonix

i go out with very experienced ecologists everyday and everyday is a scholl day

And I bet you would agree, its the best way to learn.............Jon

[pheonix]

certainly. last week i was doing initial animal surveys and phase 1 botany survey, today i went out today to talk with some people about bat mitigation for a proposed new tea room where they have bat roosts, next week im down in devon looking at Badger setts.
its always good to keep asking questions aswell even if you think they may be daft, if you dont ask you dont find out..