 |
The UK's islands offer amazing opportunities for wildlife
watching in winter.
Islands are often milder than inland areas and contain
a diverse selection of wildlife from birds of prey to creepy crawlies. | | Golden Eagle territory - the
Isle of Arran |
Why not take a few tips from the
Nature's Calendar team as we get close to wildlife with three activities that
you can participate in.
Watching Golden Eagles
on Arran
 Look
out for Golden Eagles in late winter when the adults start to 'display' as a precursor
to the breeding season.
Watch for the birds performing a spiralling display
where they weave in and around each other - they do this all year round but it's
more intense and spectacular just before the breeding season. These birds
are believed to mate for life and they frequently have more than one nest. They
can sometimes have up to 10 nest sites which they alternate between. The
birds have a six feet wing span which makes them stand out. Keep your eyes
peeled for ledges and crags - nests can be up to 10 feet across and four feet
deep so they tend to stand out. Look for the birds using the rising air
of the mountain sides to rise and spiral high. A telescope and a tripod
are essential because these birds can move quickly. The best places to see
Golden Eagles on Arran are located to the north of the island. February
is a good month for watching these giant birds of prey when they are particularly
active and you may even see them nest building in advance of the breeding season. Fossil
hunting on the Isle of Wight  The
Isle of Wight is one of the best places in the British Isles for fossil hunting.
Although
some fossils are easy to spot, others are less easy to find. Compton Bay
is a good place to try your hand at fossil hunting because it contains a fossil
forest. Others include Chilton Chine and Brighstone Bay. The Dinosaur
Isle Museum on the island runs field trips.
Safety
advice: * Consult the tide
times before you leave home - these are available from Tourist Information shops
and on the Admiralty website. * Avoid visiting
a coastal location if there is a rising tide or slightly stormy weather. It is
easy to get trapped, particularly at localities like the fossil forest at Hanover
point, which is submerged for most of the day. *
Wear a hard hat. Although most fossil hunters don't bother, this could be a life
saver if someone above you on a cliff throws rocks down to the beach below. *
If you are using a Hammer, wear safety goggles. *
Be careful with your hammering - do not hammer continuously at the same cliffs
as this can weaken them and make them unsafe. *
Don't climb up the cliffs as they can be unstable and dangerous due to the softness
of the clay. * Avoid walking on rock falls
or mudflows, as these are dangerous in winter. At Barnes High there is a thick,
orange, gluey sludge that oozes out of the cliff, and people have had to be pulled
out. * If you are out collecting fossils alone,
tell friends or relatives where you are going in case you get stuck and need to
be rescued.
Spider watching
on the Isle of Man  The
Isle of Man is one of the best places to see the British Cave Spider - contact
the Manx Wildlife Trust for details of trips.
You'll need to look up at
the ceiling but remember to keep your mouth closed when you're looking up - you
never know what might drop down! Watch out for the spiders' egg sacs suspended
from the ceiling - they look like balls of silk - you can tell them from their
large teardrop shape and their resemblance to cotton wool. | 
