Best nip out quick while the rain's stopped and build an ark

The Safari is thinking of building a raft in the manner of Noah but our woodworking skills aren’t as good as his were. Just in case we get more rain like wot we had earlier this week.

Following David Attenborough’s programme  and JA’s blogs going onto our raft two by two will be the following examples of Lancashire and Lakeland’s wonderful wildlife.

1 Hen Harrier – should it be on the list as it is now extinct as a breeding species in Lancashire due to entrenched Victorian attitudes that need to be addressed SOON – will our new Police and Crime Commissioner believe that wildlife crime by the Establishment ought to be a priority, will he take up the baton? We can always use his website to let him know how we feel.

2. Grey Partridge/Black Grouse combo (declining ‘game’ birds - hate that expression, they’re hardly playing Monopoly or Cluedo are they?) – both are beauties; the former suffering from current land management (scorched earth-style) the latter needs trees on moorland edge – heaven forbid – but don’t we all to slow down some of that excessive water run-off we've witnessed recently. Competition with the seemingly increasingly popular non-native Red Legged Partridge could be an issue along with the general greencreting of our farmland for the Grey Partridge.

See which grouse the Moorland Association prefer  please follow the story by clicking the continuation to find out about ‘valueless scrub’ that Black Grouse need...we’ll be coming back to that and the Moorland Assoc later in Part Ducks.

3. Ladies Slipper Orchid – just such an exotic stunner and some plonker tried to dig IT up. We visited the plant a couple of years ago.

We do know the location of that mysterious second plant in the Yorkshire Dales and even went to see it (successfully) many years ago – even took some old fashioned film photographs to prove it somewhere.

Fortunately the re-introduction scheme now seems to be working well on a nearby nature reserve and other places

4. Jennings’s proboscis worm – a bizarre creature  

The only known population of Jennings'Proboscis-worm (Prostoma jenningsi) on Earth occurs in a flooded former clay pit, a man–made habitat. Which begs the question, how did it get there and where did it come from??? Why isn’t it anywhere else? 

More info about its status and protection here, here, here and here.

5. Grass Snake – we’re still to see any species of snake in Lancashire; we’ve found a sloughed skin 20 odd years ago and we’re desperately hoping that there are some left at the top secret location but that’s yet to be proven. If anyone has any direct evidence of them in Safari-land, eg dated photos, old note books etc we’d love to hear from you.
 
We have lots of circumstantial evidence word of mouth evidence but need something more concrete for a top secret mission.

At least if we do have some they aren’t going to suffer the same fate as these poor pythons – what is it about rich people and wearing formerly live animals – get a life and give them a life! Far too much real dead animal on Made in Chelsea (particularly the girls) - case in point.

250 Cormorants still feeding at the fish shoal. A bit more gull activity and some Red Throated Divers flying about was the best of the day. 

Shells have been collected for a project  tomorrow

 One of them we didn't recognise, the one in the middle

We eventually found it ont'interweb - a Sand Gaper...didn't realise they we so much bigger than Blunt Gapers. seen here with Common otter Shell, Native Oyster (quite fresh) and Iceland Cyprine.

This mornings moonset wasn't too bad.

Where to next? Little chaance of much tomorrow so Part Ducks of the Lancashire Raft.
In the meantime let  us know what's falling into the sea in your outback.