Recording Events
Each year, TWIC organises a number of excursions to sites across the Lothians and Borders, some in conjunction with other local recording groups. These are principally aimed at existing or budding recorders, rather than members of the public. However, anyone with a general interest in wildlife recording is welcome to attend. The excursions are a great opportunity to record in a social environment, enabling beginners to learn from experienced recorders, giving access to new and/or unusual sites and sharing objectives and purpose across taxonomic groups. They also increase knowledge of Lothian and Borders wildlife by visiting under-recorded and/or potentially important sites. TWIC usually prioritises recording on sites proposed as Local Biodiversity Sites (pLBS). This means that any data generated from the excursions can inform the assessment of the site.
For information on previous year’s recording excursions, please click on the links at the side of the page.
Excursions for 2012
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th April 2012
Venue: Westfield Pond; small pond with woodland and marsh situated near Livingston, West Lothian. The site is a natural hydrosere formed in a depression about 100 years ago. You can download the site map here.
Leader: Gary Hovell tel 07523286741 e-mail gary_hovell@lothian-arg.co.uk
Aim: To give an introduction to bottle-trapping for newts. Breeding amphibians were previously found in the pond in the 1970s; we will check the status of the site for amphibians. This is a joint meeting with Lothian Amphibian and Reptile Group (LARG).
Meet: Saturday evening: meet at 6pm to construct/put out the traps. Park at Murieton Castle Farm (NT04936351). Sunday morning: meet at 9:30am to retrieve and check traps. Park at Murieton Castle Farm (NT04936351).
Requirements: 1 or 2 empty two-litre plastic bottles, wellies, warm clothes. On Sunday bring lunch.
Other: BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Please contact Gary Hovell to book a place on the excursion. Please share lifts if possible.
Saturday 14th April 2012
Venue: Girrick Meadow, near Kelso. Small, but potentially interesting grassland site in Berwickshire Vice County with few recent records. Local notables include Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides), Few-flowered Spike-rush (Eleocharis quinqueflora) and Annual Knawel (Scleranthus annuus). You can download the site map here.
Leader: Michael Scott mob 07770 287077 e-mail MAScott@scotborders.gov.uk
Aim: To obtain sufficient data to allow the site to be assessed as a Local Biodiversity Site.
Meet: Park and meet in the car park of the nearby Hundy Mundy green burial ground, NT66183773, at 11am.
Requirements: Stout footwear, waterproofs, lunch.
Other: Failed attempt to visit the site last season. We hope to have better luck this time round!
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd April 2012
Venue: Cockleroy Reservoir, near Linlithgow, West Lothian; a small reservoir surrounded by broadleaved plantation, willow scrub and neutral grassland. The main interest of the site is the possible use by breeding amphibians. You can download the site map here.
Leader: Gary Hovell tel 07523286741 e-mail gary_hovell@lothian-arg.co.uk
Aim: Cockleroy Reservoir was originally listed as a Wildlife Site due to the presence of breeding amphibians. Surveys 4 years ago failed to uncover any newts, although the habitat was deemed suitable for breeding amphibians. We will check the status of the site for amphibians. This is a joint excursion with Lothian Amphibian and Reptile Group (LARG).
Meet: TBC
Requirements: 1 or 2 empty two-litre plastic bottles, Wellies/boots. Bring lunch on Sunday.
Other: BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Please contact Gary Hovell to book a place on the excursion.
Saturday 19th May 2012
Venue: Denholm Dean, Denholm, near Hawick, Borders. Small valley site with Dean Burn running through centre. The valley sides comprise mixed woodland and there is a fairly good ground flora. Botanical interest: Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Hard Shield-fern (Polystichum aculeatum). Historic records exist for Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea), Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) and Wintergreens (Pyrola spp.). You can download the site map here.
Leader: Michael Braithwaite tel 01450 372129 e-mail mebraithwaite@btinternet.com
Aim: To record the woodland flora and collect other species records to inform the assessment of the site as a Local Biodiversity Site.
Meet: Meet at 10:00am at northern entrance to the site in Dean Road (NT568181). Park in the village of Denholm.
Requirements: Wellingtons, lunch.
Sunday 20th May 2012
Venue: Park Farm to Philpstoun section of the Union Canal towpath. Species of note include West Lothian LBAP species, Tufted Loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) and Flat Ramshorn snail (Hippeutis complanatus). You can download the site map here.
Leader: Jackie Muscott mob 07525141105 e-mail jmuscott69@btinternet.com
Aim: To generate species records to allow the site to be assessed as a Local Biodiversity Site. TWIC currently hold few records for the site.
Meet: Meet and park at 10:00am adjacent to Park Farm (NT029770).
Requirements: Lunch, suitable footwear.
Other: If time permits or numbers allow, there is the option to survey the Canal in the Linlithgow direction as well.
Sunday 24th June 2012
Venue: Whitmuir Moss. A mature semi-natural woodland on the site of a former raised bog site, 3 miles south-east of Selkirk. You can download the site map here.
Leader: Teyl de Bordes mob 07745506471 e-mail whitmuir@aol.com
Aim: To survey under-recorded parts of Whitmuir Moss proposed Local Biodiversity Site and to attempt to re-find the Coralroot Orchid (Corallorhiza trifida) with the help of Rod Corner (BSBI Recorder for VC 79 & 80). The Coralroot Orchid was first discovered at Whitmuir Moss in 1895 by Dr. Muir of Selkirk. It was re-found in 1899 and in 1906, but not seen again until Rod Corner re-found it at the site in the 1970s. It has not been recorded again since, but like many orchids it has its good and bad years and is worth searching for again.
Meet: Whitmuir farm yard, NT494267, at 10am
Directions: From Selkirk (A7) turn onto A699 towards St Boswells and after approx. 1.5 miles take the first turning to the right signposted Whitmuir/Whitmuir Hall. From St Boswells (A68) take the A699 towards Selkirk and after approx. 6 miles take the turning on your left signposted Whitmuir/Whitmuir Hall. Follow this narrow road until you come to a T junction, turn right and follow road, ignoring turn off to the left. After a few bends you will see a sign for Whitmuir Farm with a pair of pheasants on top. Carry on along this drive till there is a building directly on the left hand side of the road. After the end of the building turn left into the farm yard where you can leave your car.
Requirements: Boots/Wellies, lunch, expect some boggy ground.
Other: There is a Bothy with toilet and kettle for use by participants. Opportunity to see some of the other interesting sites on the Estate if time allows.
Saturday 4th August 2012
Venue: Fauldhouse Ponds, a collection of 5 small ponds with 6 dragonfly species recorded. You can download the site map here.
Leader: Pat Batty. Tel: 01546605316, e-mail: dragonflybatty@gmail.com
Aim: To give an introduction to dragonfly recording. To visit 10km squares with no or few recent records to look for larvae and adults. Joint meeting with the British Dragonfly Society (BDS).
Meet: 10:30am Lanrigg Road, entrance to track on west side of B7010 at NS93646146.
Requirements: Boots/Wellies, lunch, colander, plastic spoon, midge repellent, expect some rough ground.
Other: Possible visit to nearby site in NS75.
Sunday 19th August 2012
Venue: Kirknewton Estate; large varied estate in West Lothian. Main botanical interest: Common Wintergreen (Pyrola minor), Chickweed Wintergreen (Trientalis europaea) and Adder’s-tongue fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum). You can download the site map here.
Leader: Barbara Sumner tel 01968 679550 mob 07748 501157 e-mail b.sumner@btinternet.com
Aim: One of West Lothian’s proposed Local Biodiversity Sites (LBS). The site lacks a recent plant list. We will address this by collecting botanical records and other species data to enable to site to be assessed as a LBS.
Meet: 10:00 am at the western entrance to the estate at NT11266648 on B7031 (north of Jubilee Wood). Parking available in nearby Kirknewton.
Requirements: Suitable footwear, lunch.
For further information please contact the TWIC office (01875 825968) or email natalie@wildlifeinformation.co.uk.
Notes:
1. Safety on excursions: Anyone attending a TWIC excursion does so at their own risk.
2. Adequate clothing and sound footwear should be worn and waterproof clothing carried.
3. Please bring a packed lunch.
4. Anyone who can assist with transport to excursions, or who requires assistance with transport should contact TWIC who will endeavour to put recorders in contact with one another to arrange matters themselves.
5. The leader reserves the right to change or cancels outings as circumstances dictate.
6. The leader’s mobile phone number is for contacting him/her on the day.
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