Maxton Nature Watch

Borders Backyard Diversity Survey by Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre

Borders Backyard Biodiversity

Our homes and gardens are places where we feel safe and welcome, but did you know that they are also home to a huge variety of other creatures? As areas of our countryside become threatened the areas around our homes become more important as safe places for wildlife.

The Borders Backyard Biodiversity Survey will help the Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre (SBBRC) to find out how important Borders gardens are to Borders wildlife.

Biodiversity means the variety of life:
plants, animals, microbes, and the habitats in which they live. The more creatures in a habitat the greater its biodiversity. All forms of life depend on other organisms for their continued existence. Greater biodiversity therefore means a better chance of survival for all living things.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans exist throughout the country to monitor and enhance the biodiversity of certain habitats and to ensure wildlife survival.

To help protect wildlife and the places they live we need to know more about them. We can all help by looking in our own backyards.

Every sighting of a bird or butterfly can help. When all the information is put together it will tell us what animals live where and give us the information needed to help protect them.

All you have to do is tell us a bit about your house and garden and what wildlife you see there.

How you can help

You don’t need to have a big garden, a patch of grass where you hang out your washing, or even a window box, may be home to a variety of creatures.

Whatever the size and shape of your garden, your information is valuable. Wildlife sightings from many people
living in different places are more useful than sightings from a few people living in similar places.

How to complete the survey

· Fill in your details and answer the questions about your home.

· Decide how long you want your survey to last. This could be one day, a few weeks or a year. Ideally you would complete a new form at least once a year. But, remember to tell us what time period you conducted the survey, e.g. March - September 2004.

· For each type of animal (species) please indicate how often it visits your garden, whether frequently, occasionally or rarely. If you never see it leave the spaces blank. You do not always have to see an animal to record it. If you have mole-hills, then you can be certain you have moles! But please make sure that you are recording things accurately. For example don’t assume that rabbits have been eating your plants if you haven’t seen them or their droppings.

·A simple identification guide has been provided for the wildlife listed on the form. If you cannot say for sure whether a species has visited your home or not then leave it blank.

· Finally, don’t forget to return the form to SBBRC. If you would like a new form to continue recording, then please tick the box at the bottom of the form.

Good luck and happy wildlife spotting!

Mammal and Amphibian I.D. Guide
Measurements are approx. total head and body length.

Bat Small, mouse-like with wings. Flies acrobatically. Attracted to lights and night-scented plants.

Shrew Tiny, brown fur, very narrow snout, small eyes and ears, slender tail. 4-8 cm.

House mouse Dull grey-brown greasy fur, large round eyes, long pink tail. 7-9 cm.

Brown rat Shaggy brown fur, pointed muzzle, large furry ears, long tail. Up to 28 cm.

Red squirrel Dark red-brown fur, ear tufts, long bushy tail. 18-24 cm.

Grey squirrel Grey-brown fur, long bushy tail. 24-28 cm.

Rabbit Grey-brown fur, white below, long ears. Tail short and white. Up to 40 cm.

Hedgehog Spines, short legs, pointed snout. 16-26 cm.

Mole Black velvety fur, small eyes, no obvious ears. Large digging claws. 11-16 cm.

Badger Large, greyish fur, short tail. Head white with dark stripes. 67-80 cm.

Stoat Long body and black-tipped tail. 24-31 cm.

Weasel Long body and short tail. 16-23 cm.

Fox Red-brown fur, white underside, black ears and feet. Long bushy tail. 60-75 cm.

Roe Deer Long legs, black nose, white chin and rump patch. Males have short spiky antlers. Height: Up to 75 cm.

Frog Green-brown skin is moist and slimy. Dark eye patches, hop, eggs in clumps.

Toad Skin dry and warty, walk or waddle, eggs in strings.

Newt Long body with tail, may have crest. Colour varies. Individual eggs.

Butterflies and other Minibeasts I.D. Guide

Measurement is approx. total wing span (tip to tip)

Large white White with black tips and spots. 6cm.

Small white Similar to large white, but smaller and with less distinct markings. 4.5cm.

Green-veined white White on upper surface. Underside greenish, highlighting veins. 4.5cm.

Orange tip White with large orange patches on tips. Lower wing undersides are mottled green. Females lack orange tips. 4.5cm.

Common blue Males have bright blue wing upper surfaces, undersides are grey with spots. Females have brown uppers with orange spots on edges. 3cm.

Meadow brown Brown with small eye spots on tips. Males have extensive areas of yellow-orange. 5cm.

Ringlet Dark brown with several small dark spots. Undersides are lighter and spots are more visible. 4cm.

Painted lady Orange with black patches. Wing tips are black with white patches. 5cm.

Peacock Very large ‘peacock’ eye on each of 4 wing tips. Red with areas of yellow,
blue and black. 5cm.

Red admiral Dark, with red band across wings and on lower edges. White patches on tips. 5cm.

Small tortoiseshell Red-orange, with black and yellow areas. Wings edged with blue spots. 4cm.

6-spot Burnet moth Top wings are grey-green with 6 red spots. Lower wings are red.

Garden tiger moth Top wings are cream and brown patches. Lower wings are orange with black spots.

7-spot Ladybird 6 legs, black head, red wing cases with 7 black spots.

Red-tailed Bumblebee Large bee. Body completely black, with bright red tail. Males are smaller and have yellow hairs on face and behind head, and a red tail.

Garden Bird I.D. Guide
Colours listed first are the main colours seen.

Green/yellow

Blue tit Blue crown, wings and tail. Yellow chest. Black streaks over eyes and around throat. Acrobatic feeders.

Great tit Larger than blue tit. Black head with white cheeks. Yellow chest with centre stripe. Dull blue tail and wings. Noisy.

Goldcrest Tiny. Green-brown back, and pale chest. Black crown with yellow-orange stripe. High-pitched call. Can flutter.

Goldfinch Head is red, white and black. Black wings with yellow flashes. Acrobatic. Tinkling call.

Greenfinch Dull green head and back, yellow chest. Bright yellow flashes on wing edges and tail. Stout bill, forked tail. Assertive, often chasing other birds.

Siskin Similar to but smaller then greenfinch, with streaky markings. Male has black cap and bib. Sharp bill.

Black/white

Blackbird All black, with orange bill and eye-ring. Females and young are brown.

Starling Glossy purple-green, appears black or brown. Speckled markings in winter.

Pied wagtail Black, with white face, lower front and wing bars. Long tail wags frequently.

Swift Black-brown. Scythe-shaped wings and forked tail. Screaming call.

House martin Blue-black, with white chest and rump. Forked tail. Often nest on houses.

Swallow Blue-black, with creamy-white chest. No white rump. Dark red patches on face. Forked tail. Swooping flight.

Coal tit Black head, with white cheeks and nape patch. Grey body, white chest and 2 white wing bars. Acrobatic.

Long-tailed tit Black and white with long tail. Pink patches on shoulders, rump and under tail. Fly from tree to tree, with high-pitched call.

Great spotted woodpecker Black with white chest, shoulders, head patches and wing patterns. Red on nape and under tail. Females lack red nape. Fond of peanuts.

Magpie Black, with green sheen to tail, and white lower front. Long tail.

Jackdaw Black with purple-blue tinge. Grey chest and nape.

Grey/brown

Wood pigeon Mostly grey, pink chest, white collar and wing flashes.

Collared dove Mostly pink-brown, with grey wings. Black and white collar.

Tawny owl Brown, with dark head markings. White on face and wing edges. Hooting call.

House sparrow Brown and grey streaked back. Grey chest and face, with black mask and bib.

Nuthatch Blue-grey, with pale throat, and red-orange on lower front. Black eye stripe. Moves up and down trees.

Treecreeper Mousy-brown, with white front and thin, curved beak. Moves up trees.

Wren Tiny. Brown, with pale chest and dark wing markings. Pale stripe above eye. Cocked tail.

Bright/speckled breast

Robin Brown back, red-orange face and chest. White on lower front.

Bullfinch Grey back, black cap and tail. Bright red breast, white rump patch and wing bar. Females duller, with brown back.

Chaffinch Brown back, with grey-blue cap, neck and shoulders. Pink cheeks and chest and 2 white wing bars. Females lack red and grey colouring.

Sparrowhawk Fast, acrobatic bird of prey with long legs and barred front.

Song thrush Brown above, pale breast with dark spots. Very tuneful.

Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre

The Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre (SBBRC) collects, processes and exchanges biological information throughout the Scottish Borders.

This information helps to increase knowledge and understanding of the local natural environment and its biodiversity, and how best to conserve and enjoy it.

The information
This includes sightings of all types of wildlife – birds, mammals, plants, invertebrates, marine animals – as well as habitat information.

How the information is obtained:
Records are obtained from a variety of sources, including commercial surveys, expert volunteers and the general public.

How the information is used
The processed information may be used to help planning decisions such as when new housing or roads are proposed, and also for education, scientific research and assisting in the protection of designated species and countryside sites.

How you can help
You can assist us with this service by providing us with any records of wildlife you see, wherever you see it.
Records of common and rare species are equally welcome.
Start now by taking part in the Borders Backyard Biodiversity Survey.

For more information please contact:
Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre,
Scottish Borders Council,
Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre,
Ancrum, JEDBURGH TD8 6UQ

Tel: 01835 830306 Fax: 01835 830734
Email: sbbrc@scotborders.gov.uk

This project has been grant-aided by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Back to: Maxton Nature Watch

Date: 20/04/2004