Welcome to the fifth DOG Bulletin. I think I am getting
back into the swing of things since returning from maternity leave.
A huge thank you goes to Julia Armstrong who was wonderful in covering
for me over the summer. I am still a bit behind on records so PLEASE
can everyone endeavour to get them in as soon as possible. See overleaf
for sightings news and the results for the whole of 2005.
Otter Group December Social
Thirty DOG members, both new and old, got together in December to celebrate
another year of excellent surveying. Many thanks go to John Stobart, the
County Mammal Recorder at English Nature, who provided a mammal quiz,
which included examining porpoise jawbones, dormice signs and water vole
droppings, as well as an excellent talk about mammal recording in Dorset.
Hawk & Chalk project to Film Otters at Walford Mill,
Wimborne
Jason Fathers from the Hawk & Chalk Project also gave a fascinating
presentation at the Christmas Social about his filming work in the county.
Christine Lawry, from Walford Mill Craft Centre in Wimborne, and Jason
are collaborating to film otters (and water voles) at the centre. The
Environment Agency have very kindly offered to financially support this
project, so hopefully we will get some footage to premiere at the next
Christmas social.
Reporting Otter Deaths & Road Mitigation Work
As many of you know, the Environment Agency carry out post mortems
on any dead otters reported. This provides valuable information
about pesticide levels in their tissues, diseases and, in rare cases,
evidence of foul play eg snares or poisons. If you find an otter
carcass, please contact Neil Standen at EA on 01258 483486 IMMEDIATELY
as bodies need to be fresh to be of use.
In Dorset, about 8 otters per year are found, mainly killed in road traffic
accidents. Sadly, one of the most recent was a lactating female found
on the bypass at Wareham on the Frome, which means a cub will also have
died. A male otter was found in Charmouth, seemingly perfect and we are
waiting to find out whether it had bile fluke.
The emphasis of the EA funded otter work in 2006 will be on minimising
road deaths by:
• installing some mitigation works at existing blackspots
• working with local authorities within the road planning system
• surveying road bridges in the West and East of Dorset to assess
risk of otter deaths.
I would really value DOG members’ assistance with the 3rd part of
this work, and I intend to offer some training with the full survey carried
out in Autumn 2006. Watch this space!
Summer 2006 Blitz Survey
Following the success of previous Stour and Fleet recording ‘blitzes’,
it was decided at the last committee meeting to concentrate on the West
of the County this summer. The Bride Valley now seems to be covered, so
we are looking at the Mangerton River and the Asker where we have had
tantalising records for a while, but want to get the full picture. The
survey will take place on the 10th June, and participants can book onto
a range of walks, each led by an expert. We would like to be able to get
some new surveyors and sites for the Brit catchment, so if you are interested
let me know. I will send out booking forms in April.
WANTED: Volunteers for Winfrith & Tadnoll River Restoration
Project.
Practical works planned for Summer 2005 – call Sarah Williams
on 01305 264620 or email swilliams@dorsetwt.cix.co.uk
for further info.
Contact for DOG matters: Rachel Janes (Rivers
& Wetlands Conservation Officer) on 01305 264620 or email rjanes@dorsetwt.cix.co.uk
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