302 NOVEMBER 19 - Gryffe Advertizer

Next deadline - Friday 15th November
Clyde Muirshiel
Photo by Dylan Glynn
The ranger team at Muirshiel have just completed another
‘Branching Out’ programme of woodland based outdoor activities
for people with mental health issues. Working with RAMH the
group have been coming to Muirshiel over a 12 week period taking
part in photography, green woodworking, bushcraft and practical
conservation and by doing so have gained their John Muir Discovery
Award.
Autumn is always busy for volunteer groups in the park. In the
past few weeks they have been burning sitka spruce piles, clearing
ponds, repairing boardwalks and removing vegetation along
pathways, as well as collecting wildflower seeds and young scots
pine seedlings for germination in spring. If your workplace would
like a day out volunteering to help us with practical conservation
tasks then get in touch with the Muirshiel rangers on 01505 843271
or Greenock Cut rangers on 01475 529543.
Finally, we say goodbye to Hayley Douglas who is leaving the park
to take up a position as the ranger on Tiree. Hayley has been in
the park since 2010 – she kept The Advertizer up-to-date with all
things gull-related through her position as Tag n’ Track Officer. We
wish her all the best for the future.
Bridge of Weir Hillwalkers
Gryffe Advertizer | www.advertizer.co.uk
RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve
What’s on this November?
As we head deeper in to autumn, the trees are now mostly bare
of their leaves, and other plants have also reduced their foliage.
The shedding of leaves from the woodland canopy and lessening
of foliage on the woodland floor makes this a great time of year
for wildlife watching as visibility is at its best. Many birds such
as woodpeckers, tree creepers or nuthatches that are normally
elusive become much more visible for those partaking in a gentle
woodland stroll.
Lots of other birds such as robins, chaffinches, goldfinches and blue
tits are also more visible, especially around our feeding stations
that can be viewed either as part of a walk or simply by sitting in
our visitor centre with a hot drinks and tasty snack.
Autumn is also the time of year that numbers of waterfowl increase,
adding to the variety of wildlife that can be observed around the
trails and viewpoints. Whooper swans that arrive each autumn
from Iceland can often be found gracefully swimming around the
lochs and can be distinguished from our resident mute swans by
their yellow bill and typically straighter necks.
Hen harriers can often be spotted gently drifting above the sedges
and reeds that form large parts of the Aird meadow as they try
to surprise unsuspecting smaller birds. Male hen harriers with
their distinctive silvery grey bodies and wings tipped black at the
ends make them an easy bird, even for the most novice of wildlife
watchers, to spot and as equally a joy for the most experienced.
As the days grow shorter and the air that little crisper, November is
a great time to observe the night sky. Many stars and constellations
are visible at this time of year, and on 15th November we will be
hosting the Astronomical Society of Glasgow who will be running
an astronomy evening with short talks and, weather permitting,
opportunities to look through their powerful telescopes to see
what distant marvels can be seen as well, as our own moon which
will be in full glow.
Astronomy Evening
RSPB Lochwinnoch
Friday 15th November 7.30pm – 9pm
Come and hear about the stars and galaxies up in the night sky! If
the weather is kind to us, we’ll go outside and see some of these
wonders for ourselves. The speakers will be from the Astronomical
Society of Glasgow. Please pay when booking as places are limited
(refunds available if cancelled over 48hrs before)
Cost: Adults: £6; Children: £4.80 (RSPB members: £4.80/£3.80)
Please telephone 01505 842 663 to book your places.
The Making of Nature Reserve
- An Illustrated Talk
46
The Lonely Gate
Our last outing was to the Ochils on a fine if windy day with the
main party climbing the highest top, Ben Cleuch. Unfortunately
our trip to the Pentlands fell foul of the weather.
November will see us out on a “Roman” stretch of the Forth & Clyde
canal, followed by our birthday weekend in Oban and an ascent of
Meikle Bin in the Carron Valley. Anyone who has not booked up for
Oban could join us for a day outing if they wish.
This photo is from the Ochils trip which afforded great views over
the Forth to Edinburgh, the Pentlands and the bridges. The lonely
gate had survived the total loss of the former fencing. “Please shut
the gate!” Want to join in? Email donwwsmith@gmail.com
Photo by Chris Newman
The Crook of Baldoon is a coastal reserve of 196 hectares lying
within Wigtown Bay. Since buying the reserve, the RSPB has
restored farmland and a willow crop to wet grassland. This provides
a breeding habitat for lapwing and redshank, as well as increasing
the richness of other wildlife. Join Paul Tarling on Friday 1st
November for an illustrated talk on the ‘making’ of this impressive
natural habitat. This event is hosted by Renfrewshire RSPB Local
Group and will be held at 7.30pm at McMaster Centre, Donaldson
Drive, Renfrew, PA4 8LX. All welcome. For more information on
this event and any others that we have coming up please check
out our events listings. For bookings and further info email:
lochwinnoch@rspb.org.uk or tel: 01505 842 663.