founded February 1950
Welcome to the website of Cookstown
Wildlife Trust
Chairman 2013/2014,2015/2016,2017
Michael Mullan
Michael, a semi-retired Dairy Scientist
has a keen interest in all aspects of Natural
History. He has written several monographs,
and runs (among others) a Dairy Science
web-site.
Michael has held a number of positions in
Cookstown Wildlife Trust over the years.
Talks Programme 2017/2018 (provisional)
Date
Talk
Speaker
Tuesday 10th Oct. 2017 Birds of Prey
Jim Wells.
Saturday 14th Oct. 2017 Outing followed by lunch at Lissan House
Maureen Graham
Tuesday 14th Nov. 2017
Tuesday 12th Dec. 2017
Tuesday 9th Jan. 2018
Tuesday 13th Feb. 2018
Tuesday 13th Mar.
may be contacted by mobile. 07717732034 or
E-mail:
Mark Edgar(Biodiversity Officer
for Mid-Ulster Council)
Information on other natural history events.
2018
Irish deer-numbers,predators & other issues
Martin Malone?
Members evening.
Irish hares-status & challenges by Brown Hares.
Una Fitzpatrick
Hoverflies and other pollinators.
Otters,pine-martins,Red Squirrels etc.
Send your wildlife records to Cedar.
Find records for species recorded in N.Ireland
•
Details on Bumblebee identification can be accessed at this informative web-site.
•
One of our younger members-Sebastian Graham has set up an interesting and
successful web-site on ‘old mills’.Well worth a look.
•
You might be interested in taking part in this.
Challenges for red squirrels in Ireland. Declan Looney
Tuesday 10th April. 2018 A.G.M.
Neil Reid
Autumn/Winter 2016/2017 talk reports:
July topic-Water Crickets
Ulster Wildlife, a local charity, champions native wildlife in Northern Ireland and works with local people to secure space for nature
in our countryside, towns, coastlines and seas.
Through twin visions of Living Landscapes and Living Seas,they hope to inspire people to champion nature, protect and restore habitats
through practical action and research, to stand up for nature by influencing government policy and promote health and well-being
through enjoyment of the natural environment.
UW has almost 12,000 members whose generosity and commitment are making a real difference for wildlife and wild places here in NI.
Click logo for web-site
Talks from 7:45pm-approx 9.15pm March-April
Food Technology Building, Loughry College ,Cookstown
Success-rejuvenation of Lissan
Wildflower meadow has shown
improvement in range of plants.
Click for records from 1972
Almost 50 years ago,a butterfly garden was established in Drum
Manor. In 1972 the late Dr.Henry Heal surveyed the butterflies in
Drum and assisted in establishing the ‘Butterfly Garden’
Sebastian Graham kindly forwarded Dr.Heal’s report on ‘Butterflies
in Drum Manor’ (link above).This makes interesting reading.
Wood White, Wall and Silver Washed Fritillary were all present, but
are now apparently gone..
It is many years since I have seen a Silver Washed Fritillary or a
Wall Butterfly there. Drum has apparently deteriorated as a habitat
for butterflies.
Coincidentally, Henry Heal was my inorganic chemistry lecturer at
University. A tall gangly man,always with a smile on his face.
Thanks to Sebastian for Species 1972.
Silver -washed Fritillary
in Drum.
See navigation menu above for early records
researched by Sebastian Graham.
Jackie sent some interesting
and well taken photos.
These are ladybird
larvae at diff.stages of
development.Ladybirds lay
rafts of yellow eggs on
undersides of leaves
(often dock),There are a
number of ladybird species in
Britain.
He also sent a lovely photo of
a male Common Blue
Damselfly…and some
butterfly larvae.
The final picture shows larvae
of the peacock butterfly on
nettle leaves.
AGM PHOTOS from Michael-new camera is top class!
.
Wondered for a long time what these fast- moving
creatures in the pool were.
Water Crickets are surface water bugs about 3/4cm in
length. They taste terrible so trout eject them unharmed.
Water Crickets spit on water to lower surface tension,this
allows them to move faster. They practice group klepto-
parasitism (ie) If one has prey too heavy to transport,
other water crickets help eat the prize! The middle legs
are held up like oars. The front and hind legs bend backwards, and the feet lie
longitudinal with the body to lower resistance to flowing water. The middle
legs only touch the surface for rowing motions.In bright light Water Crickets
have white spots on a black body and red dashes down the sides. The
species usually seen is Velia caprai. Water crickets feed on small water
insects. They eject a fluid that spreads over the water surface so they can
move silently.In spring the larvae leave the eggs and after five changes are
imagos. There is only one generation in a year.
Click for:
