White Otters in the wild are very rare, with only a hand full of sightings in the UK over the last 50 years, the most recent an individual in Perthshire. Could there now be one in Suffolk?
Emma Strachan has contacted wildlife sightings with the exiting news of the sighting in Melton, Woodbridge on the 11/06/11 at roughly 21.00.
"While driving up my road I noticed a white otter rolling around on the grass I pulled the car over and was certain it was a white otter"
Unfortunately Emma was unable to get a photo of the otter to confirm the sighting, although with its white coat it should not be long before another sighting is made.
If you Think you have seen a white otter please contact wildlife sightings UK by email: wildlifesightings@hotmail.co.uk
Showing posts with label Suffolk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suffolk. Show all posts
Monday, 13 June 2011
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Rare Spider Sightings UK: Rare fen raft spiders released at Suffolk fen
Conservationists in Suffolk are releasing some of Britain's rarest spiders into specially-created habitats to try to save them from extinction.
The fen raft spiders will be released at Redgrave and Lopham Fen, where the species was first identified in 1956.
Only three sightings of the spider have been noted in the UK - in Suffolk, East Sussex and Swansea.
Dr Helen Smith, who is overseeing the project, said the spiders died "because of the way we've treated our wetlands."
The spider is listed as "endangered" on the UK Red List of species of extreme rarity and is protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).
The spider became critically endangered as the fen dried out when water was abstracted for public use.
Facing extinctionAlthough water levels have been restored on the fen and other wetland species have begun to thrive again, the spider population has not responded and its numbers have remained critically low.
Dr Smith has been working at the Redgrave and Lopham Fen, in partnership with Natural England and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, on the ongoing project to restore spider numbers.
"There is always a danger that we could lose them altogether and they could become extinct," she said.
"It's really hard to know how many spiders there were at the lowest point but it's likely there were just tens of adult females.
"We're lucky to have them still."
Dr Smith has been rearing the spiders in her home.
"I am very privileged to have them living in my house - that's where we do the captive rearing programme," she said.
"I can share their secret lives and learn things about them I never would see in the wild.
"We need to know how they fit in the whole eco-system. It's important to protect them for the future."
Future preservationA Species Action Plan was drawn up as part of Britain's response to the Rio Earth Summit on Biodiversity.
It aims to increase the number of UK populations of fen raft spiders from three to 12 by 2020, making them less vulnerable to extinction.
Conservation work has already begun. In 2010 a captive breeding programme was developed with a view to establishing new colonies.
The spiders were reared in captivity for the first three months of their lives because far more survive in captivity than in the wild.
They were released on Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves further along the River Waveney, and new populations are being encouraged.
In 2011, a series of pond chains are being excavated to link the old and new population centres, and expand the suitable habitat for the spiders.
It is also hoped new colonies can be established further along the River Waveney on Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves and in parts of the Norfolk Broads.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Bird Sightings: POPULATION OF BLACK GROUSE RISES DRAMATICALLY IN TEESDALE
THE population of rare black grouse in upper Teesdale has risen dramatically.
But while the iconic upland bird is fighting back in its North Pennines stronghold, extinction is looming in north-west Northumberland, where just six birds are left.
Northern England suffered a devastating decline in the population last year. But the early morning spring counts just completed by researchers from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust show that the 2010 population of 500 males has grown to 820 in the North Pennines.
Fran Atterton, the trust’s black grouse project officer, said: “Overall these are fantastic results and are a credit to the huge amount of conservation work that has been invested in our moorland fringes over the past 15 years by moorland managers, farmers and gamekeepers to improve the conditions for black grouse so that when weather conditions are good in June when the chicks hatch they breed well.”
However, she said further work is still required to safeguard this bird in northern England.
The trust has recently launched a project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to encourage landowners to establish small pockets of woodland to provide an emergency food source and cover in severe winters.
The fortunes of black grouse were affected by a series of weather related set-backs over the past few years. After celebrating a high of 1200 males back in spring 2007, the wet June weather in both 2007 and 2008 caused high mortality in newly hatched chicks. This was compounded by the exceptional snow fall and freezing temperatures of winter 2009/10 causing the population in northern England to crash to an all-time low of 500 males.
Despite the good news in Teesdale, black grouse in north-west Northumberland have collapsed from 100 males in 2002 to only six this spring and are now facing imminent extinction.
In the Yorkshire Dales, black grouse have increased from 90 to 131 males after males were moved to this fringe area.
Dr Phil Warren, the GWCT scientist in charge of the project said, “The results of this trial have certainly been heartening because it is helping them to expand their range into former haunts. We are now seeing males carrying out their unforgettable mating display in areas where they have been absent for 15 years or more.”
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Mammal Sighting: Mole in Suffolk Garden
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| Photo: Paul Haines |
Monday, 16 May 2011
Wildlife Sightings in Suffolk
What Wildlife have you seen in Suffolk?
Whether its an Insect, Spider, Bird, Mammal, Fish, Mollusc, Reptile, Plant or Fungi let us know!
Remember to add the location of the sighting and if you managed to get a photo, you can add it to your comment!
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