FOULA HERITAGE
Foula - The Edge of the World
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FOULA HERITAGE
Foula - The Edge of the World
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Foula 1924-37 Telegraph Installation Foula 1936 The Edge of the World Red-throated Diver or Rain Goose
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The FUNERAL was held in Foula on 28/12/06 of Kenneth Robert William Gear, who died shortly before Christmas aged 69. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
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Ranger Service News Update August/September 2006
The changes go on ... During September the dredger Lantic Bay worked for 10days inside and outby the pier to deepen the water in the Voe. During this time there was no ferry service at all to Foula. The dredging will improve conditions for the 'New Advance' at low water, and allow the 'Snolda' further in to load and unload on community runs. N.B. A community run of the Snolda has been booked for October 17th to remove scrap and old vehicles. Any other cargo to be booked through Jim Gear.
The new electricity scheme Malakoff Ltd have had workmen in the isle since early July building the battery house and the solar panel array at the bottom of the school yard. They have also built and erected a footbridge across the burn to the Hydro Turbine at the foot of Quivrigill
The Foula ferry saga still not resolved There is still a state of limbo concerning when the new company Atlantic Ferries will take over the running of the Foula ferry service. Meantime the Foula crew are operating to the old SIC timetable with sailings reduced to Tuesdays and Thursdays. The new SIC ferries timetable from 1st October 2006 shows no scheduled autumn/winter service at all for Foula, simply the note "From 1 October 2006 another service provider may operate this service". We're still waiting! The ferry lifting davits at the pier developed a fault on the 30th June, and the 'New Advance' couldn't be lifted out of the water for the 18 weeks it took for the SIC to effect repairs. Luckily it's been an exceptionally fine summer and the vessel could lie moored alongside the pier much of that time. The crew had to take the vessel to Scalloway during poor weather and while dredging took place in the Voe. The engine which provides the hydraulics for the ferry lifting gear is to be replaced in October. The crane and davits will be out of operation AGAIN - this will disrupt the ferry service even further as the boat will have to lie out in Scalloway. It would have been better management and less disruptive to have organised this work to take place during the boat's refit or the dredging operations.
The rebuilt BT exchange is up and running and several customers are now enjoying the benefits of BT Broadband. The first peerie gale of September, however, a force 7-8 westerly, tore off the turf and plastic sheeting along with the stockproof wire which should have held it all down on top of the concrete roof. It remains to be seen whether the replaced roofing will survive a real gale. The Cyfish ceased operations for this year in September. Visitor numbers at the end of September reached the record total of 918, greatly boosted by 5 cruise ship visits. Birdwatchers are still arriving. The archaeologists from Somerset and Wiltshire have published the report on their geophysical work this spring. There's some excitement over what appears to be concentric egg-shaped stone circles on the Heights at Tamson's Crub. The winter sunrise line goes straight through the middle. They hope to do more work next summer.
Environmental news The Foula 2006 SOTEAG seabird monitoring is now complete and the report is being compiled. Sheila was assisted this year by Penny, Lyn and Jim, with Kevin providing transport. Several groups of twitchers have been combing the island for a few weeks now. As well as the customary migrant blackcaps, goldcrests and chaffinches, brambling, redwing and fieldfare, a rustic bunting, a river warbler, and a pintail duck were spotted. A basking shark was spotted close inshore at the end of August. The damp very mild weather has rushed up large numbers of different varieties of fungi. (see top)
Directflight took over the inter-island air service from Loganair on 1st August 2006. Shetland Islands Council has leased the 'Islander' aircraft shown below - affectionately known as "the Sick Bag" - and is said to be purchasing a second 'Islander' soon. For various reasons, the number of flights to Foula in August/September 2006 has been 37 compared to Loganair's 52 flights in the same two months of 2005, a drop of almost 30%.
The Foula Heritage website (www.foulaheritage.org.uk) has been producing all sorts of interesting and encouraging contacts. Dear Mrs. Isobel Holbourn,
Foula
... and from another friend of Foula Heritage in London called Gilbert Holbourn who enquired if we were a charity (which we are not) ... My firm supports three or four charities through a christmas card scheme - and I spend half of my time on charity clients. I was hoping we might support foula this year - I will see if we can do something. Gilbert. _____________________ FOULA HERITAGE Ranger Service News Update July 2006
Times they are a-changing ..
Farewell to Loganair After providing Foula with an excellent air and ambulance service for nearly 37 years, Loganair have bowed out of the Shetland inter-island service. They have been replaced by DIRECTFLIGHT from 1st August 2006.
Capt. Alan Whitfield’s first Loganair ‘Islander’ landing on the South Ness in November 1969. The community collected the splendid sum of £285 to present to Capt. Eddie Watt in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Foula well beyond the call of duty. Paul handed over his balloon to Eddie along with the card signed with good wishes by all the islanders.
More changes … The preferred bidder for the Foula ferry service is Atlantic Ferries, a new company set up by Shetland salmon farmer Angus Grains. The crew and vessel are to be based in Foula, and the present crew may transfer their current jobs to the new company. The New Advance is due to go out for her refit on 7th August, and the service will be run by the Snolda from West Burrafirth during that time.
Foula welcomes our new community nurse Elena Mera-Long and her husband Ioan who arrived in the middle of July. They both enjoy fishing and can often be seen casting a line from the point of the pier.
Foula Heritage have had Foula postcards printed from 8 of our own photographs. Thanks to Jane Puckey and Tony Mainwood for their generous donation of certain photographs. Postcards and small Foula souvenirs can be bought from the Post Office, Allison and Isobel.
Scottish Water hope to start improvements to the island water scheme in September this year. A new bigger storage tank for the whole island is to be built on Da Heights a short distance away from the present tank, but well to the side of the current site which is raising a great deal of archaeological interest. A new tank-feeding pipeline is to be installed northwards from the pump-house to the new site, and the current pipeline will feed down to all properties. It is hoped the new system will avoid the present problems with chlorine tasting the water.
New Electricity Scheme Malakoff workmen are currently building the foundations for the solar panels to be erected at the south edge of the school grounds. These panels will be tilted at an angle of 30 degrees and will be separated from the playground by a sturdy wooden fence which will also serve as a wind-break. The men are building the new battery house inside the original wooden palings behind the genny shed. In a week or so they will start on a footbridge over the burn near the hydro-turbine house at the foot of Quivrigill.
Yet another cruise ship !
The Polar Pioneer put ashore 86 passengers at the North End on 5th July due to sea conditions. Several islanders drove the visitors round and chatted to them as they viewed the displays in the school. Donations were made to Foula Heritage in gratitude.
Six kayaks arrived about the same time.
The ‘peerie minister’ Jason Lingiah spent five days in Foula in the middle of July. He held a Sunday School, and a church service on Sunday evening the 16th July. He also made pastoral visits all round the island.
Environmental news There have been at least 6 brief sightings of minke whales this month mostly at the North End and the West Side. Fish stomach contents examined this summer have contained only 2 sandeels! Both fish and seabirds are feeding off small white fish. However there have been more baby sillocks in the Voe than usual. Paul spotted a strange fish in the Voe and Lyn caught it with a pock. It turned out to be a Sea Stickleback— we have no record of this fish being seen in Foula before.
Norie (puffin) chicks are still dying presumably from starvation. A few tirricks (Arctic terns) are still around but they didn’t breed. Sheila has done a dunter (eider duck) count helped by Lyn, and numbers are well down, though there is a normal proportion of chicks per female. Bonxies are so hungry they’re eating each other’s chicks. There are 9 different species of the annual wild flower eyebright including the Foula eyebright which was discovered here c. 100 years ago. Eyebrights are growing particularly well this year.
FOULA RANGER OPEN DAY Wed. 2nd August (changed from 26 July)
FOULA WALK SHETLAND OPEN DAY Friday 1st September 2006 __________________
Foula Heritage Ranger Service News UpdateJune 2006
Summer flowers in abundance... Seapinks make a thick carpet over the Banks Ness and Ristie Green at the North End. And there’s more….
… tormentil (bark), bog-cotton (luckaminny’s oo) and squills (grice’s ingins) blanket the Nort Toons
Two cruise ships in one day On June 1st, a dozen people in the community joined the rangers to welcome a second lot of 46 passengers from the 'Grigori Mikheev' from 9.30 till 3.30, and 86 people off the 'Explorer' on an Adventure Canada cruise in the evening. The bad forecast materialised so an exhibition was prepared in the school hall showing sheep and peat work.
Marion demonstrated hand-spinning, and the newspaper cuttings books were on display. Short walks were organised due to the rain and low cloud, then passengers assembled in the school to chat to islanders. Grateful thanks are due to all who helped — Allison's new range of Foula souvenir fridge magnets & keyrings, and the ranger picture calendars proved popular with the visitors.
The Cyfish returnsThe Cyfish has made several trips already this season. Jim has accompanied the passengers round the island and rangers have organised guided walks. The Cyfish makes Wednesday day-trips.
Visitor Numbers The total number of visitors so far this season has reached 456.
Bumblebees Shetland bumblebees are still scarce. Rangers would be glad to hear of any sightings.
Butterflies Large numbers of Red Admirals and Painted Ladies descended on the island in sunny weather on June 14th.
Birds More seabirds are breeding this year, but they're not doing well enough to keep the chicks alive. Arctic Terns (Tirricks) are staying around but not laying, and the Arctic Skua (Allen) chicks which have hatched are starving. Some kittiwakes have hatched under Da Stee, and there are 7 Red-throated Diver (Rain Goose) chicks out and more still to hatch. Some small birds are doing well, the first Wheatear chicks are flying along with young Starlings, and a good number of Blackbirds are nesting.
New BT Exchange The new BT exchange is now commissioned. Telephone lines are much improved and dial-up Internet speeds have more than doubled. BT Broadband is now available but takes 2 weeks to activate after applying.
Navy divers on the Oceanic A team of navy divers camped in the isle for 5 days in June to undertake a training exercise diving on the wreck of the Oceanic at Da Shaalds. Well-equipped rubber boats and sophisticated diving equipment were used. They brought ashore some small scrap remaining after the Crawford & Martin salvage operation in the 1970s.
A BBC Naturewatch TV team visited Foula for 3 days in June to film bonxies and other seabirds for a programme on British seabirds to be shown early next year.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) The RSPB have given Foula Heritage a grant of £1000 for the next three years to help support the ranger service in general, as well as in recognition of the bird monitoring data made available to them annually.
NEXT RANGER OPEN DAY Wednesday July 26th 2006
The Foula Ranger Service is supported by financial contributions from Scottish Natural Heritage, Shetland Enterprise, the Crofters Commission, Shetland Islands Council Planning and Community Development Depts., Walls & Sandness Community Council, and Foula Heritage ___________________
FOULA HERITAGERanger Service News Update May 2006
A late Spring … Indian Dockens (Japanese Knotweed) and a patch of golden Blok (Marsh marigolds) make a bright splash of colour at Ham
Cruise ship lands passengers The 'Grigori Mikheev' anchored off Ham at 8am on 22nd May. Jim Gear and Jane Puckey were taken aboard to chat to passengers while the ship sailed round the island. 46 passengers came ashore in the afternoon and were taken on guided walks — those not able to walk far were driven around by car to see the island. Rangers Isobel & Sheila were able to manage the fairly large groups of passengers through the willing help of a number of volunteer assistants—Donna & Geoff Atherton who entertained a large group of bird enthusiasts; Jim Gear and Jane Puckey who went aboard the vessel; ranger trainees Penny Gear and Lynn Robertson who assisted on the guided walks. Laminated calendars, and small souvenir keyrings and fridge magnets made by Foula Heritage members were available for the first time. The ship is due to visit again on the 1st June.
Plane crash site enthusiastsThree plane crash site enthusiasts who had been in touch with individual islanders for some months previously visited Foula for a few days in May. Members of the community took them to the crash sites and showed them a variety of artefacts.
The group were also very interested in the Foula film "The Edge of the World" and were delighted to collect Edith Gray's autograph. Edith took part as an extra in the film in 1936. The group sent the following message of thanks:- "Just to say a big thanks for making us so welcome on our visit to your wonderful island. All the folks made our visit very special and we had such a fantastic time ... meeting all the folks we did really made the holiday."
Archaeologists visit 6 archaeologists from Bath & Camerton Archaeological Society (BACAS) came to the island with John Holbourn for 10 days in early May. They carried out geophysical surveys of sites at North Harrier and round Tamson's Crub on Da Heights identified for further study by Helen Bradley of Sheffield University. Data from the Resistometer and Magnetometer surveys is currently being analysed, and first indications show potentially very interesting results. A full report from BACAS should be available soon.
Environmental monitoring Geoff and Donna found a red-throated pipit catching flies around a tank outfall on the south side of the Valley. They shared the sighting with delighted passengers from the Grigori Mikheev cruise ship.
Sheila's seabird monitoring shows most species doing slightly better than last year, but still poor in comparison to a few years ago. The last day of May tirricks (Arctic Terns) were seen carrying in single 3" sandeels — they need a plentiful supply of feed close by to rear chicks successfully. A few allens (Arctic Skuas) are trying to breed, some have been laying but corbies (Ravens) are stealing the eggs. Moorland birds like lapwings, curlews and snipe seem to be doing well, and small birds like sparrows, pipits and blackbirds etc are fledging. A Minke whale was seen spouting off Ham Voe the last week in May, and Geoff and Donna saw a pod of killer whales (Orcas) swimming SE off the South Ness.
Can you spot the Sandy-loo chick in the picture? It's one of a brood of Ringed Plover young outside the Hametun dyke. British Telecom new exchange With the Snolda bringing in the new equipment, work is almost complete on the new Foula exchange alongside the old telephone hut. Hopefully the badly churned up site will soon be fully reinstated. The old landmark wireless poles have been replaced by communication dishes. The modern new equipment will greatly improve the telephone and communications system, allowing BT Broadband to be accessed by all BT customers in Foula. These improved telecommunications will allow rangers to transfer data quickly and easily to and from funding bodies, and will be particularly useful when there are sightings of rare birds and other species.
The picture shows BT's crates of electronic equipment delivered by the Snolda to the Foula pier.
FOULA HERITAGE RANGER SERVICE OPEN DAY Wednesday June 28th 2000 ____________________ Foula Heritage Ranger Service News Update April 2006
Normal spring weather ….. or climate change?
Foula Heritage ranger service 2006-08After an intensive round of funding applications early this year, Foula Heritage has secured funding from SNH for the ranger service during 2006-2008. This new package of funding is for an extended 5 days a week job-share from mid-April to the end of October. Funding has also been secured from other agencies for extra activities which will complement the ranger service, these to take place over the winter months: e.g. - Training courses associated with the ranger service - Improving and sharing computer skills in the community - Foula postcard and calendar-making - Creation of small Foula-theme souvenirs for tourists - Developing more walk leaflets and interpretive material The 2006 ranger service will run from 17th April to 31st October. Foula Heritage will be pleased to hear from anyone in Foula interested in helping with the ranger service in any small way, or taking part in any of the activities, or with other similar ideas. We'd be grateful for any help at all that's available now that the job-share is down to 2 rangers, after Tony Mainwood finished his time as a Foula ranger in September 2005.
FrogsAfter the first lot of snow and frost in March, numbers of frogs came out of winter quarters and frog-spawn was seen in various places. Unfortunately another spell of snow and ice followed soon after and many dead frogs and quantities of lifeless spawn were found.
Birds A few weeks ago Jeff and Donna saw a woodlark which is smaller than a skylark, with a shorter tail and no white wing-edges.
There's a more hopeful sign for seabirds this spring with kittiwakes back at their nests, and shags (scarfs) in breeding plumage. A few bonxies have been seen in early April, but not very many arrived by the middle of the month. Good numbers of oystercatchers (shalders), lapwings (tieves' knackit), curlew (whaup), snipe (snippick, horse-gok) and ringed plover (sandy-loos) can be seen regularly. Easterly gales brought in huge numbers of migrating chaffinches with some greenfinches among them, and there have been many redwing around for a while, and blackbirds which are singing and showing signs of nesting.
Flowers Celandines and daisies (kokkilurie) are coming out now in mid-April in spite of the cold wet weather.
Archaeology A group of archaeologists from Bath hope to arrive in Foula on 3rd May to undertake a geophysical survey of interesting sites at North Harrier and elsewhere in the island. This will entail using instruments to 'look' underground to scan what's there. This will help in determining what the sites may be and their approximate age.
FOULA HERITAGEMinutes of AGM held In Foula School 5th April 2006 at 19:30 Present: Jeff Atherton, Kevin Gear, Penny Gear, Sheila Gear, Allison Gutcher, Isobel Holbourn, Lynn Robertson, June Smith 1. Apologies for absence: Martin Smith, Jane Puckey 2. Minutes of the last AGM were approved, proposed by Isobel, seconded by Sheila. 3. Matters arising: Jane Puckey checked and signed the Foula Heritage accounts for 2005. Jim Gear suggested that advice should be taken whether it was satisfactory to the funding bodies for a member of FH to audit the accounts. 4. Presentation of annual report and financial statement: Isobel said the full annual report had been welcomed and approved by all the funders. FH received a lot of praise for how we'd developed the ranger service in different ways and travelled to other islands to describe it - so much so that FH was being quoted by SNH and the Crofters Commission as an example others might copy. A 3-year summary of the ranger service had also been produced for the authorities to compare the unique Foula service with the other ranger services in Shetland. Sheila offered copies of the detailed spreadsheet of ranger income and expenditure, and explained that the total grants to Foula Heritage for all activities, including the over-winter ranger tour, SOTEAG seabird monitoring and Access gates and stiles etc, came to £13,163. Direct donations from visitors totalled £621. 5. Election of FH committee: Penny Gear, Sheila Gear, Isobel Holbourn, Allison Gutcher and Kevin Gear were re-elected, and June Smith and Lynn Robertson were appointed to the committee for the first time. 6. Election of office-bearers: The following were re-appointed - Penny Gear, Chairperson; Isobel Holbourn, Secretary; Sheila Gear, Treasurer. 7. Appointment of Auditors: See 3. above. If a FH member is satisfactory it was proposed that Jane Puckey should continue. If not the secretary should find someone else and propose to the committee. 8. Interim report on 2006-08 project proposals and funding applications: Isobel described the new 3-year project which includes the ongoing job-share ranger service with increased hours 5 days per week from mid-April to end of October. There is a new element to be carried out over the winter months for training to be done with ranger trainees and others eg. computer and ranger skills, and mini-projects which will enhance the ranger service such as producing small souvenirs, calendars, postcard, leaflets etc. Isobel asked those present to appreciate the ranger service needed all the help it could get at busy times eg cruise ships and Open Days, and recognised all the voluntary help offered in the past. There was some money available to pay for trainees to learn and help. Sheila suggested she attended a course on Mosses in August. Sheila said the new funding applications for the next 3 years were progressing well, ranger funding was already secured for 3 consecutive years from SNH, Shetland Enterprise, the Crofters Commission, and Foula Heritage. Funding for 2006 was secured from the Community Council and the Regeneration Outcomes Agreement, and decisions were awaited from the SIC Community Development Dept. and the Crofting Community Development Scheme. 9. AOB: A considerable number of FH's own photographs was spread out for the meeting to decide on 8 to go forward as the probables for printing as the Foula Heritage batch of postcards. There was some discussion about types of souvenirs, calendars, etc which could be produced and sold. Isobel agreed to pass on some Internet research on prices of small items like key-rings and fridge magnets which could hold Foula photographs. John Holbourn had done some work on behalf of FH on an Edge of the World film leaflet for visitors which was currently being finalised. The meeting closed at 20:40. ______________________
FOULA HERITAGE Ranger Service News Update July/August 2005
Da Waster Hivda burn ...
… flows backwards in a summer gale
Cruise Ship in July It would appear Foula is making a name for itself among small cruise organisers - another company arranged for their cruise ship 'Polar Pioneer' to call along Foula on 17th July while sailing among the Scottish islands from Oban to Aberdeen. They put 56 passengers ashore and Tony, Isobel, and Sheila each took a group on guided walks and drives around the island. The visitors greatly appreciated the rangers' assistance and made a generous contribution to Foula Heritage funds. If this vessel returns next year it will extend the cruise ship season from May through to July. Visitor numbers for July/August There has been a total this year of 176 visitors in July and 121 in August, making a total of 753 for the year so far. (557 of these have been tourists, family and friends). 291 people have been taken on 54 guided walks and drives. Leona has accompanied a ranger as a trainee on 2 walks this summer. The Cyfish has made fewer trips to Foula this year due to poor weather for most of the summer. Open Day Another successful Open Day was held on Wednesday 27th July. A full load of visitors was welcomed off the Cyfish after they had cruised round the island, and divided into 2 walking groups led by Sheila, Isobel & Leona. Tea and cakes were provided in the school, and the newspaper cuttings books raised the usual interest. Again visitors made donations to Foula Heritage for an enjoyable and interesting day. Summer gale Seas were high during an unusually strong summer gale on 29th August. Gardens and wild flowers were withered and salt spray browned the grass, and crusted windows.
Sheepie almost out of sight in a big wave, 29th August 2005 Visiting yachts More yachts and small boats than usual have come into the Foula pier this summer - this may be partly due to the Island Games on the Shetland mainland in July. A number of the yachtsmen were Faroese and Swedes. Birds The breeding season has been very poor again for seabirds, though marginally better than the disaster of last year. Waders such as Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers were starting to return from their Arctic breeding grounds. Migrant warblers were rather scarce in late August though there were two or three Chiffchaffs that appear to have spent the summer in Foula. Birds of note included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Barred Warbler, and up to 60 White Wagtails and a Common Rosefinch.
Summer flowers Summer flowers came and went very quickly this year largely due to the prolonged cold spell in July. There was a splendid show of red clover along the Ham road, and before long tall ‘spootiedrums’(angelica) took their place.
New Road Signs
In line with improved access legislation a new kind of road sign has been installed which we hope will be pony and ram proof. This one is intended to guide visitors to the Nurse quickly if required, and to the Post Office for post cards etc. Allison painted the lettering on a muckle flat stone which Tony fetched from the beach at Da Riggs. More similar signs are planned.
Exchange visit from Orcadian islanders Four islanders from Stronsay, Sanday, Eday and North Ronaldsay were due for the weekend beginning 12th August to learn at first hand about the Foula Heritage ranger service. This resulted from Tony and Isobel's presentations about our ranger service in Hoy, and at the Small Isles Forum in Kirkwall last winter. The chap from Eday didn't make it, but the other three enjoyed their visit very much and took away ideas to use in their own work in Orkney. Funding for Tony, Sheila and Isobel's presentations in Shetland and Orkney last winter, and the Orcadians return visit to Foula in August, came from the Crofters Commision, LEADER+ through Orkney Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Community Development Department of the SIC.
Foula Ranger Exchange of Good Practice funded by:-ORKNEY ENTERPRISE LEADER+ FUNDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPT, SIC SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE CROFTERS COMMISSION
FOULA HERITAGE RANGER OPEN DAY The last open day of this summer will be held on Wednesday 28th September 2005 __________________
Foula Heritage Ranger Service News Update July 2004
'... July Jewels ...'
Northern Marsh Orchid - Muckle Muldoorie
FOULA RANGER NEWS UPDATE - July 2004
DonationsFoula Heritage has benefited this month from a number of donations from visitors who have greatly appreciated the ranger services and enjoyed guided walks. The total of donations for May, June, and July 2004 has reached £210.
Visitor numbersFoula has had a total of 160 visitors of different kinds in July - day-trippers by plane and with John Tulloch on the Cyfish, along with workmen, visitors, and family and friends staying for a number of days. This makes the total number of visitors 356 since 1st April.
Guided Walks and wet day activitiesSheila, Penny and Isobel have provided 13 in the full range of guided walks for 84 people in July, and Jim has offered similar local experience to Cyfish passengers as they sail round the island. These experiences are proving very popular, and the ranger service is receiving many compliments from visitors - some were so impressed they wrote to our funders praising the service. There has also been good positive reaction from the funding bodies and other members of the public.
New stiles on the North end walk
ArchaeologyMasters student Helen Bradley has completed her month-long work recording archaeological remains in Foula. She presented her meticulous maps, records and drawings of 745 sites to an enthusiastic group of islanders and visitors in the Foula School on Tuesday 27th August. We wish Helen well and look forward to receiving her published work to keep in Foula Heritage's records.
Foula's archaeology evening
Open Day Wednesday 28th July The ranger service held another successful Open Day in Foula on Wednesday 28th July, in spite of the plane not making it into the isle due to poor visibility in the morning. A full load of 12 people came for the day on the Cyfish, and with the assistance of young trainee Leona Gear, and two other helpers, the 3 rangers provided the 17 visitors from Shetland and beyond a range of experiences and guided walks throughout the day. Visitors were given a choice of activities according to their interests and ability - this was much appreciated particularly by older visitors.
Moths and other insects On 22nd July 2004 Geoff and Donna caught 2 separate individuals at light of an unusual moth called 'Crambus Pascuella' - a new moth record for Foula. They belong to the family of Pyralid moths known commonly as 'Grass moths', but it isn't known if they are resident or migrant. Anther find was a bright green 'Potato Capsid'.
The Foula Fly Two years ago David Scot-Langley and Brathay Exploration Group set pitfall traps around Ham and subsequent identification of the contents revealed a short-winged, very small fly (2-3mm) belonging to the genus Philygria. The two experts who looked at it have declared it as possibly new to science. Being short-winged, it is probably a very weak flyer, flying no more than a few millimetres above the ground amongst vegetation. This is not a species that is likely to be spotted by chance. As only one specimen was caught, one of the aims this year was to try and collect more specimens to eliminate the possibility that it was a one-off aberration. Plenty of flies were collected and these will be identified over the coming winter, including hopefully the new species.
Environmental Impact Assessment for the new electricity scheme Sheila has been continuing the monitoring work on habitats and birds, and Archaeologist Beverley Ballin-Smith from Glasgow University spent two and a half days in the island surveying the archaeology of potential sites involved in the proposed new electricity scheme. Data from these studies will be used to work out the possible wind turbine and other sites which will have the least impact on the environment.
'Fields of Gold .........' |
