Thanks to Ron Jackson who brought my attention to this piece of research from Australia about dog walkers spooking birds - and the effects this has.
The piece is on the BBC news website.
Horse riders, microlite fliers, scrambling bikers etc etc etc may also be interested.....
It's not so much "one-off" disturbance that bothers me, it's repeated flushes of roosting waders etc on the beach, they do not have limitless supplies of energy after all.
For the story, click here
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Three Honey Buzzards in Sefton Park (Liverpool) at 1pm today, heading over the trees towards Wirral on flat wings.
Cloud probably kept them low.
Just like watching them migrate abroad!
Anyone else seen any Honey Buzzards today?
Interestingly as well it was also dogs on leads and not just those on a 'right to roam'.
Well John, I don't think any of us who birdwatch on the Sefton coast needed our Australian friends to prove to us that dogs disturb birds!!
You only have to try Formby Channel at high tide where uncontrolled dogs regularly flush the gull and wader roost. In fact it doesn't need dogs - human beings do just the same.
I can't count the number of times when I've been diligently working through the resting flocks with my scope only for humans (with or without dogs) casually walking along the tide edge and right through the roosting flock, apparently completely oblivious to the presence of the birds, even though there are about ten thousand of them wheeling frantically around their head.
Quite honestly they're a pain in the bum, and considering it's a SSSI, Ramsar, etc etc site, I don't think they should be allowed to do it.
36 Little Egrets in the Freckleton roost tonight.
Thanks to Ron for the suggestion but it had already occurred to me to look out for the Great White Egret. I have also had other birders with me on some dates and frustratingly it hasn't been coming in.
Regards,
Stephen.
Dog walkers are also major contributors to the massive decline in ground nesting birds, eg Whinchats, in the Sefton dune system.
It's not just roosting waders they disturb.
Went to Mere Sands Wood on Tuesday, not a lot by way of waterfowl yet but nice to see a Kingfisher plus some lovely Roaches and Perches in the lake.
The place could do with some artificial Osprey perches a la USA wagon wheels on old telegraph poles things 'cos the reserve could certainly attract and possibly hold them given the fish stocks and clean clear water.
Ron
I agree with Ron regarding artificial Osprey nesting sites at Mere Sands Wood,can anyone at Lancashire Wildlife Trust make this happen?
There is mounting concern about the impacts of dogs, from both public safety, amenity and ecological standpoints. Certainly, dog numbers seem to be increasing rapidly on the Sefton Coast; many owners now have two or three and they expect to exercise them on important wildlife sites. Also, there are professional dog-walkers out there who may have 10 or more in tow.
Dog fouling is a major problem despite the fact that a summer dog-ban has been introduced on all bathing beaches, while all the foreshore and dunes are included in a "Poop-scoop" Order under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. In the worst places, as well as being a health and visual amenity issue, nutirent input from dog-droppings damages dune and heath vegetation (European protected habitats!).
As we have heard from Derek, some owners still allow their pets to chase internationally important assemblages of shore-birds. I understand that Ian Wolfenden has evidence that dog disturbance has played an important role in the huge decline of Skylarks in his Hightown study area.
Any scrape or pond dug for conservation purposes in the dunes is automatically assumed to be a dog-bathing pool. The result can be serious mortality of Natterjack Tadpoles washed out of the water and destruction of marginal vegetation which is important for dragonflies, etc.
Until recently, dog attacks on livestock have been mercifully few, but Natural England staff have documented several serious incidents over the last winter.
Perhaps the dog lobby would like to respond?
Dog attack, fatal, on sheep in Hesketh Bank area recently.
Ron
Although general weather pattern seems set fair for forseeable future, a weather-front expected from west/north-west during Sunday and Monday, with cloudy skies and moderate to fresh onshore winds, suitable for sea-watching over the morning tides