<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society Newsletter
Newsletter of the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society
Mount Vernon Common Bird Census Plot in the Quernmore
Valley.  (Vacancy)
Spring 2001
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This farmland plot has been surveyed since 1982 for the British Trust for Ornithology and the area covered is 75 hectares in size.   The land stretches from the River Condor up to Littlefell Lane at 100 metres.  It is mainly  comprised of grassland grazed by sheep and beef stock, with mixed woodland on the steeper slopes and  stream valleys.  There are some extensive wet areas in the valley floor adjacent to the river.  The land around Mt. Vernon has not had artificial fertilizer applied for over 50 years, but additional land making up the total plot has been treated.   As you would expect,  this area is like an oasis of wildlife in contrast to the surrounding agricultural desert.   In 1999, the results of the CBC gave the highest numbers of  pairs since 1982 of the following species :  Wren 20 to 26 pairs,  Blackbirds 13 to 20 pairs and Chaffinches 24 to 28 pairs.  This is presumably a result of a series of mild winters.  In total, 231 territories of 38 species were recorded and a further 15 species casually noted.

Over the years of surveying,  it has not just been the birds that you see,  but all the other wild life that is present, from Roe Deer, Hares (guaranteed), to Stoats, and the occasional Fox.   There is, of course,  a good variety of flowers and butterflies as well, which makes this type of bird watching and recording so enjoyable and valuable.

With farmland being under pressure so much,  it is extremely valuable to the BTO for tracking the fortunes of our common birds.  It would be wonderful if someone could take this work on!  I can promise you will enjoy yourself.  The BTO have selected this plot as ideal and would like to carry out a habitat survey soon.  Please contact me on 417069 or E-mail to brian.townson@ic24.net I will take you on your first few visits.

*This was obviously received prior to the foot and mouth epidemic.   At the very least, it will not be possible to carry out a full CBC in terms of time-span for visits.   However, it would seem to provide an opportunity for someone to visit the site with Brian during the later stages of the CBC time-span and get to know the site in anticipation of 2001/2.   Ed.




Birdtours.co.uk
Worldbirder.com
Local Sightings
LDBWS Website
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