Cormorant proposals - my comments

Thanks to those who sent me comments or responded directly to Canal & Rivers Trust about the recent proposals for reducing Cormorant predation of fish at Earlswood. I've just emailed the following to the fisheries manager.

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Dear Carl,

I hope I'm not too late to comment on the Cormorant proposals at Earlswood Lakes. I am a birdwatcher who has been visiting Earlswood regularly for over 7 years. My comments are below in red:

Improvements to the existing floating islands on Engine pool. This included new coir mats and replanting of native plants on the island. An increase to the perimeter edge of the islands with coir rolls and new perimeter fencing around the island to protect the new plants while they establish as well as hindering the perching areas used by the cormorants. As well as fish refuges beneath islands suggested by Bob Roberts, maybe also plant more reeds in the water around the sides of the pool as additional fish refuge habitat.

The long thin island nearest to the Engine pool on Terry’s pool is noted as a roosting and feeding location for the cormorants. Remove all the wooden posts surrounding the island that are used by the cormorants to perch on. Coppice all the trees and the island to reduce potential perching locations but retain valuable habitat for nesting of local birds. Only the tree at the western end of the long island tends to be used by resting Cormorants, so only this would need coppicing. The wooden posts surrounding the island may be holding it together, so alternatively the posts could be used along with branches or some other material to retain soil added there and then planted with reeds, making it unsuitable for the Cormorants but providing some useful breeding habitat for other animal species. The lakes would benefit from having more reedbed habitat than they currently have.

Opening up of more areas around Terry’s pool by removing encroaching branches to allow for more visual appreciation of the pool as well as naturally disturbing cormorant resting and feeding due to more visual public presence. Terry's Pool is used as a refuge by many of the shyer waterbirds that visit the lakes, not to mention breeding species, due to its more sheltered situation and less disturbance. Opening up more areas around the pool is going to cause more disturbance to the birds seeking refuge there, making humans and dogs more visible to them, and allow strong winds to penetrate what is effectively a shelterbelt for the birds. It will remove cover possibly being used by fish as shelter, and remove bird nesting habitat. It will also encourage more illicit fishing there by providing more access points to the water's edge. 

Use of starting pistol by fishery bailiff and an angling representative to create loud bang and disturb roosting or feeding birds. Conditions and code of practice to be agreed on time of day, number of times fired and per day, other users to the site etc.  Use of a starting pistol is going to cause disturbance to non-target bird species, and whilst Paul Wilkinson assures me that any disturbance like this will not take place during the breeding season, birds visiting at other times of the year are going to be affected. It will also be a nuisance and potential hazard to other human users of the lakes and those residents living within hearing distance.

Kind regards,

Matt Griffiths

Proposals for reducing Cormorant predation of fish

I was recently forwarded an email (below) about proposals to reduce Cormorant predation of fish at Earlswood, and would appreciate your comments. Cormorant numbers have increased at the lakes during the last few years, annual peaks being in the late teens/20s mostly during the autumn. I'm concerned about two of the proposals. Opening up more areas around Terry's Pool is going to cause more disturbance to other bird species seeking refuge there and encourage more illicit fishing. Use of a starting pistol is also going to cause more disturbance to non-target bird species, and I would certainly be against its use during the breeding season for obvious reasons. It's quite depressing really - Earlswood is more than adequately disturbed as it is! Please share with anyone else who might be interested.

Kind regards,

Matt

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Dear all,

On Tuesday 24^th February 2015 a group of interested representatives met at Earlswood Lakes to discuss the problem of cormorant predation and potential measures to help reduce the damage to fish and loss of fish being caused by cormorant predation.

The following people were in attendance:

Canal & River Trust: Carl Nicholls (Fisheries & Angling Manger), Paul Wilkinson (Senior Ecologist) and Sue Blocksidge (Waterway Supervisor).

Local anglers: Richard Verney, Mark Carney and Barry Cheese.

Angling Trust Fisheries Advisor on Cormorant predation: Richard Bamforth

Earlswood Wildlife Partnership Secretary: Bob Roberts

Fishery Licensee / Bailiff: John Collins

Local anglers and the fishery bailiff report increasing numbers of cormorants visually present with a maximum of 35 being recorded on one day. Bob Roberts and local bird watchers comment that they have seen numbers up to 25 present at times. Anglers and the bailiff are reporting fish visually being taken by birds as well as numbers of fish that are being caught having damage marks from either escaping or being too big for the cormorant to swallow. Actively feeding cormorants are also disturbing and stopping fish from setting on anglers baited areas which is affecting and reducing anglers catches. The effect of fish being eaten and angler’s catches being reduced is reducing pleasure and match angling attendances which is having a knock on effect in less income being received by the Trust.

Fish are also a valuable asset to the Trust with the average cost of fish now being £8/lb. On average a cormorant eats 1lb of fish. With a potential of 25-35 cormorants a day visiting the site this would equate to 175lb-245lb of fish being eaten per week at a replacement cost of £1400-£1960.

The group discussed and these are the proposals made:

·         Improvements to the existing floating islands on Engine pool. This included new coir mats and replanting of native plants on the island. An increase to the perimeter edge of the islands with coir rolls and new perimeter fencing around the island to protect the new plants while they establish as well as hindering the perching areas used by the cormorants.

·         The long thin island nearest to the Engine pool on Terry’s pool is noted as a roosting and feeding location for the cormorants. Remove all the wooden posts surrounding the island that are used by the cormorants to perch on. Coppice all the trees and the island to reduce potential perching locations but retain valuable habitat for nesting of local birds.

·         Removal of the Tern raft to allow the raft to be improved so that it is more attractive to its purpose species.

·         Opening up of more areas around Terry’s pool by removing encroaching branches to allow for more visual appreciation of the pool as well as naturally disturbing cormorant resting and feeding due to more visual public presence.

·         Use of starting pistol by fishery bailiff and an angling representative to create loud bang and disturb roosting or feeding birds. Conditions and code of practice to be agreed on time of day, number of times fired and per day, other users to the site etc.

·         Fishery bailiff and angling representative to carry and wear Orange Hi Viz vest to back up and enforce the use of the starting pistol. The cormorants build up an association with being disturbed and shot at with the colour Orange. Future association means the birds will naturally avoid areas where they see people in bright orange.

·         Fishery bailiff and angling representative to continue to monitor and record cormorant numbers and photograph any fish caught with damage caused by cormorants.

Should the above measures not help with a desired reduction in cormorant predation? An application may be made to Natural England to apply for a licence to shoot cormorants to re-enforce scaring methods and habitat improvements.

I would be grateful if you could take some time to look at the proposals and make any comments or suggestions?

Kind regards

Carl Nicholls

Fisheries & Angling Manager

Canal & River Trust, Peels Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, B78 3QZ

T 01827 252048   F 01827 25062    @CRTFisheries

Help shape the future of Earlswood Lakes!

I recently received the following from Dermot O'Brien, who is involved with the Tanworth-in-Arden Neighbourhood Development Plan, and is hoping for responses from as many interested parties as possible. Please comment, tweet or email me your thoughts and I will pass them on.

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I am trying to contact as many groups/organisations that use the Earlswood Lakes and the immediate surrounds.


The Lakes are in the Parish of Tanworth in Arden. The Parish is working with local residents in order to construct a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Parish.


The main focus of this plan will inevitably be on the housing issue. Where to build and what to build in order to comply with new homes requirements from Stratford District Council.


A part of this plan will also consider the best way to identify other developments which would protect the lakes and enhance the experiences of the disparate groups using the Lakes environment.


To this end we are inviting user groups and interested parties to consider how they would like to see development of the Lakes. There may be particular aspects pertinent to your group that we need to consider, or there may be a desire to maintain and protect the status quo.


If you have any thoughts on this development I would welcome your input.



Dermot O’Brien
NDP member and Parish Councillor

Sites with wildlife interest vs. possible development sites

Further to the previous post, here's the Earlswood map of possible sites for future housing development alongside sites with wildlife interest:

In addition to the key on map:

• Areas with dark green border are being considered for possible development.
• Sites in light green have Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation.
• Sites in yellow have Local Wildlife Site (LWS) designation - These are wildlife-rich sites selected by a panel of experts for their local nature conservation value. They can contain important, distinctive and threatened habitats and species. Their designation is non-statutory and their only protection comes via the planning system. They are not protected by law like SSSIs or National Nature Reserves. Further info here.
• Sites in orange have potential Local Wildlife Site (pLWS) designation - These are sites identified by a basic habitat survey but awaiting a more detailed survey before being considered for LWS status.
• The area with purple border is National Trust estate (The Old Moathouse), where there has been talk about possibly allowing public access to the fields and improving them for wildlife.
• Sites in pink have no formal designation but in my opinion have some importance from an Earlswood perspective for birds, attracting species that are uncommon or rare in Warwickshire.

Fortunately none of the sites for possible development encompass a site with known wildlife interest. However E8 is situated very near to Clowes Wood SSSI and Terry's Pool and may have some botanical interest, so this is now being monitored by Earlswood Wildlife Partnership. I'm also concerned about E7, which adjoins both a hedge that annually attracts Redstarts on passage and a field with pLWS status, whilst the E7 site itself may also have some botanical interest. The five sites near the Common are of less concern, but E4 is on the Old Moathouse estate, where in the future management of the fields may possibly become the responsibility of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and possibly be opened up to the public.

Perhaps E3 may be the most suitable site because of its larger size and lower impact on the streetscene? However I've never really had a proper look at it.

Sources:

• http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Portals/0/StrategiesPlansPolicies/LandscapeandEcology/NatConsStratMap.pdf
• Map of LWS and pLWS in Earlswood emailed to me from Jon Bowley, Habitat Biodiversity Audit, 16/04/2014.
• Local birdwatchers

Possible sites for future housing in Earlswood

From what I gather, 100 new houses are to be built in Tanworth parish, around 50 of which will be at Earlswood. Eight sites at Earlswood have so far been suggested for consideration, and I'm concerned about two of these in particular: E7 along Gypsy Lane, a small field that adjoins the "Redstart hedge"; and E8 Rose Farm (off Cloweswood Lane), which adjoins Clowes Wood SSSI. Both sites look to have semi-unimproved grassland, with more botanical interest than a great many other fields in the Earlswood area, so I'll be keeping an eye on this. The following has been copied from Tanworth-in-Arden Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan documents available from the website.

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Possible Sites

This simply records all the sites that have been identified in one way or another. It must stressed that the list includes every site that has come to the attention of the Housing Group, in whatever way, and absolutely no judgement of any kind has been made about any of them.

Earlswood

E1 Valley Road

• Mentioned in SHLAA and rejected because within flood zone 3
• Close to centre and next to built up area

E2 Meadowside, Earlswood Common [just north of motorway]

• Mentioned in SHLAA (2012) and rejected because in area of high/medium landscape sensitivity to development

E3 Shutt Lane (north of Umberslade Rd) [20 - 40 houses]

• Identified by Group
• Next to built up area – almost infilling
• Scope for improving village centre (larger Co op; car parking; ?)
• Access difficulties
• Possible highway issues

E4 Shutt Lane (south of Umberslade Rd) [10 - 20 houses]

• Identified by Group
• Next to built up area - almost infilling
• ?Possible scope for improving village centre
• Owned by National Trust

E5 West Side of The Common

• Identified by Group
• Depending on how the built up area is rounded scope for 5 to 10 houses
• Owned by Parish because of Enclosure Award 1857 Trust

E6 Copes Scrap Yard 

• Identified by group 
• Brownfield site

E7 Rear of 96-98 Malthouse Lane

• Identified by owner
• Number of units not mentioned

E8 Land at End of Cloweswood Lane

• Identified in Landscape Study

EWP Birding for Beginners 2014

EARLSWOOD WILDLIFE PARTNERSHIP BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS COURSE 10TH MAY

A morning’s practical introduction to Birding for Beginners on a local ‘patch’. Led by Tony Philp, an experienced local birder, the course will take the form of a guided walk around Earlswood Lakes and surrounds and will cover:

Equipment including binoculars, telescopes, cameras and clothing.

Fieldcraft or how to improve your chances of seeing birds.

Identification including bird behaviour, birdsong, plumage, seasonal variation and situation.

Books and Guides including information on where to find out what can be seen and where.

Stout footwear is recommended. Binoculars would be an asset, but can be provided where required.

As course numbers will be limited, advanced booking is essential. There is no course fee, but a donation towards the conservation work of the EWP would be appreciated.

Phone 07528 595444 for details or e-mail ewp2010@btinternet.com

N.B. Please note that this is primarily a beginners course and not really suited to clued-up birders.

Heritage Open Day, St. Patrick's Church

The Heritage Open Day at St. Patrick's Church is to be held this Saturday. If you'd like to know how this bird came to be in the church and the story behind it, then you're welcome to come along. Another tick for the patch perhaps?

Below is a copy of the poster and the press release for further information.

Information and images from Tony Philp.

Increasing involvement of young birders‏ with local bird clubs

I received an email from a West Midland Bird Club Management Committee member asking for opinions on how the involvement of young members with the Club could be increased. The member is also interested in how bird clubs in general might be able to increase young birders' involvement. All opinions are welcomed, but particularly from birders under the age of 50. Please send responses, either as a comment, tweet or via email, to me by September 9th.

Here's an edited version of the email:

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At the last West Midland Bird Club Management Committee meeting there was a fair amount of discussion on how to get a greater degree of involvement from younger members in the running of the Club – an essential as, if there is no succession to the present (largely but fortunately not exclusively) ageing bunch, there won’t be a WMBC in say thirty years’ time.

Only three younger members appear to have had any involvement in recent years in the running of Club matters. One as recorder for two years on a nestbox project, who had to give it up due to work commitments, but has since helped with the forthcoming Annual Report. Another as branch secretary at Stafford, who also has had to stand down (possibly due to pressure of work). The third as branch secretary at Birmingham, who apparently has a busy lifestyle and doesn’t consider they have scope for taking on extra commitments within WMBC.

So is the lack of involvement from younger members due to:

1. 24/7 work ethic, and working life is simply too busy for members under 40 to take a significant role in the Club’s management.
2. Perception among the under 40s that WMBC is simply not run in a manner with which they can identify?

If the latter, what aspects of the way the Club operates are felt to be in need of improvement?

Are the branch activities still useful/relevant, and do the branches still serve a useful purpose in communication between the Management Committee and the members? (Indoor meetings have been dropped by Birmingham for lack of support, and the only branch where they get good support is Kidderminster. Stafford have dropped field meetings for lack of support, and the only branch where support is good is Birmingham, for the long-haul trips).

The quality of the website has in recent times become a subject of criticism. We are very conscious of this, and steps are in hand to improve the situation.

I shall be interested to know what you, and near-contemporaries among your birding friends and fellow-members, see as the changes necessary to move the Club forward, make it more easily identifiable for younger members, and encourage them to be more involved in future management. Responses received will be looked at during the next Management Committee meeting, and views will be received with interest and respect.

A Fifteen Minute Butterfly Survey

Each Summer Butterfly Conservation, in association with Marks and Spencer, organises "The Big Butterfly Count" - a nationwide butterfly survey. This year its being held between 20th July and 11th August and all you have to do is spend 15 minutes in your garden, or park, or woodland etc., and count the butterflies or certain species of day flying moths that you see in a fifteen minute period.

The survey was launched in 2010 and last year 27,000 people participated spotting 223,000 butterflies. Butterflies react quickly to environmental changes and are, therefore, excellent biodiversity indicators and can provide a warning also of other possible wildlife losses. The survey will also help the charity to spot butterfly trends and identify any declining species.

For more information please visit the website www.bigbutterflycount.org which gives details on how to take part and you can also download an id chart. You can repeat the survey as many times as you like and submitting results is really easy and only takes minutes.

(Thanks to Tony Philp for copying this to me)

Anyone know any of these observers?

As part of my research for the A History of the birds of Earlswood book, I wonder if anyone knows the forenames or contact details for any of the following people who have sent in Earlswood bird records to the West Midland Bird Club in the past? Any leads would be helpful. I'd like to contact them about further records/memories:

A. Abrahams
J.M.S. Arnott
D.W.H. Adams
P.J. Bateman
Miss E. Batchelor
R.F.E. Butler
R.S. Cropper
B.B. Daykin
K.A. Faulkner
P.P. Feeny
G. Fellows
N.D. Galloway
G.I. Giles
D.J. Harper
R.R. Higgins
C. Hill
B.J. Hulett
M.D. Humphreys
G.M. Ireson
M.R. Kimble
K.N. Kingscott
W.G.G. Lindley
E.C. Needle
J.E. Needle
C.D. Parnell
G.W. Rayner
J.R. Reynolds
G.L. Roberts
L. Salmon
Robert L. Smallwood (Bob?)
C.R. Stubbs
J.E. Sunderland (Ted)
D.M. Thomas
K.H. Thomas
Miss G. Thomas
A.A.K. Whitehouse
Miss O. Willetts
J.D.M. Wright

Red = recently added (08/04/2013).

Also, Peter Morgan, if you're reading this, I'm still interested in your records. As always, I'll be pleased to hear from anyone else with records/memories too!


Matt
www.twitter.com/earlswoodbirds