Here there be dragons....

Our dexterity and speed of movement was put to the test during the summer as Allen and Mellon staff went out in search of dragonflies and damselflies. The project was managed by CEDaR / NMNI and the main objective was to obtain data on the status of the Irish damselfly Coenagrion lunulatum and Scarce bluetailed-damselfly Ischnura pumilio at regular and former sites. The Irish damselfy is our only protected species of odonata and so a licence was required for use of the net during the surveys.

The survey was not designed to be comprehensive as the main objective was to survey sites for which there was no recent data or the previous survey in 2012 had recommended should be re-visited. We found Irish damselfly at 11 sites, including several where they had not been recorded for many years. Four sites also proved positive for scarce blue-tail.

In addition to this targeted work a selection of sites within commercial forestry such as fire dams, old quarries or natural ponds were also surveyed. This provided useful information on species such as black darter Sympetrum danae which were found at a number of these sites.

Irish damselfly, Cloghcor Lough, County Tyrone

Castlewellan Forest Biodiversity Audit

In 2018 Allen and Mellon completed a Biodiversity Audit and Action plan for Castlewellan Forest Park on behalf of Newry and Mourne District Council. The Audit found that the forest park supports an exciting range of priority habitats and protected species:

• Designated sites: 1

• NI Priority Habitats: 6

• European Protected Species: 6

• NI Protected Species: 27

• NI Priority Species: 39

Some of the forest park’s most iconic assets include Castlewellan Lake ASSI, its remnant parkland and the healthy population of red squirrels. Pine martens also occur and the report author was lucky enough to bump into one as he carried out the audit.

The park also harbours some lesser known gems including the Opossum shrimp Mysis salemaii which occurs on the main lake and Lilljeborg’s pea-mussel Pisidium lilljeborgii which was found some years back in one of the smaller ponds by one of our associates Dr. Roy Anderson.

The audit provides recommendations for the protection and enhancement of important habitats such as the parkland, and identified what further research and monitoring is required. It will inform management of the forest park by both DAERA Forest Service and the Council for years to come.

Rathlin Island Goose Management - scoping study

This project for the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) was completed in March 2017.  We worked with goose expert Kerry Mackie to scope issues relating to the feral Greylag Geese on Rathlin Island, which are increasing in number.  In winter the feral birds are joined by geese from Scotland and possibly Icelandic birds as well.  We carried out co-ordinated counts of geese on Rathlin and Fair Head, where Rathin birds are known to visit.  Observations of neck-collared birds have established movement of birds between Rathlin, Fair Head and Islay.  Orange NCL and NDD have been recorded from all three sites.

Kerry also managed to catch three birds on Rathlin and fitted them with neck collars.  The new collars are Orange BVH, BVI and BVJ.  If you see any of these collars please contact us to report your sighting.  It will be fascinating to see where they end up.

Kerry with Orange BVI

We carried out field by field assessments of goose activity and interviewed landowners on Rathlin to find out more about the geese throughout the year.  We also investigated issues relating to feral geese including potential damage to grasslands and silage.