Cullentra, Co. Sligo; Bird Survey Report

JULY 2001

Martin Brennan, MSc.

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. SITE DESCRIPTION
3. SURVEY METHOD
4. COUNT POINTS
5. RESULTS
6. COMMENT
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
9. MAP

 

1. INTRODUCTION

Cullentra, Killerry, Co. Sligo.
Grid Reference: G 76 32 and 77 33

A network of 16 sites countrywide has been selected under the project known as The Millennium Forests the objective of which is to restore or create native woodlands. Cullentra is one of them. Ecological surveys are being conducted to establish baseline data which will inform management decision making and provide knowledge for the complimentary educational and promotional aspects of the project. This study of avifauna forms part of that broader ecological survey.

 

2. SITE DESCRIPTION

Cullentra Wood is situated about 15 kilometres east of Sligo town on the southern shores of Lough Gill in County Sligo. It is at an altitude ranging between 10 and 50 metres above sea level and comprises a total area of approximately 63 hectares. It is broken into three individual blocks and contains a diversity of woodland habitats including semi-natural oak woodland (predominantly oak); mixed oak/douglas fir; mixed douglas fir/sitka spruce; pure sitka spruce; pure douglas fir and clearfelled areas which have been replanted. It is shown outlined in red on the map attached and forms part of a more extensive area of forest.

 

3. SURVEY METHOD

The survey was conducted using the point count method. Points were selected to represent the diversity of woodland or habitat types within the study area, subject to the limitations imposed by the requirements of this method - e.g. minimum distance of 200 meters between points. Within the chosen habitats points were randomly selected where the extent of the site so permitted.

Two counts were conducted at each location and these took place between 06.15 hrs and 09.15 hrs on 26th and 27 April and 6th and 7th June 2001 respectively in favourable weather conditions.

Two separate recording bands were used at each point:- <30m and >30 meters.

All birds, whether detected by sight or sound (calls or song) were recorded.

Birds in flight and those recorded outside the official counts are shown separately and are excluded from computation of densities and from other statistical analysis.

Densities are derived from compounding the two counts for each point by taking the higher count for each species at ranges 0-30m and 0 to infinity as used in the IPA system {Blondel, Ferry and Frochot (International Bird Census Committee 1977)} - (Bibby et al 1985).

Abundance is based on recordings within the point - i.e. within the 30m radius.

 

4. COUNT POINTS

Counts were conducted at twelve points within the study plot. As far as practicable these represented the diversity of habitats within the site as a whole and a good spread of locations throughout the entire block. A brief description of the habitat at each point follows. These are specific to the habitats within the 30m radius but would be typical of the habitat generally, with only minor variations expected between any specific points chosen within it.

Point 1.
Mixed woodland of oak (Quercus petraea) and douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) with occasional birch (Betula pubescens). Canopy closed. Holly (Ilex aquifolium) understorey with ground vegetation of mosses (Bryophytes), occasional bluebells (Endymion non-scriptus) and ferns (Filiscopsida).

Point 2.
Mixed woodland of oak, birch and ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Canopy closed. Holly understorey. A considerable amount of fallen dead wood. Ground vegetation consisted of mosses with occasional bluebells and ferns.

Point 3.
Clearfelled area - replanted with sitka spruce (approx. 1 meter high). Regeneration of birch occurring. Ridges of brash. Ground vegetation consisted of heather (Calluna vulgaris), bog cotton (Eriophorum angustifolium), grasses (Graminaea) and Sphagnum.

Point 4.
Oak woodland with occasional birch. Holly understorey. Sparse ground vegetation consisting of mosses, bluebells and wood sorrell (Oxalis acetosella), with occasional ferns and woodrush (Luzula spp.).

Point 5.
Douglas fir woodland with occasional birch and sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Occasional holly. Ground vegetation consisted of mosses, wood sorrell, bluebells and occasional fern.

Point 6.
Predominantly oak woodland with some birch, ash and alder (Alnus glutinosa). Some holly, hazel (Corylus avellana), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) understorey. Ground vegetation consisted of grasses, sedges (Carex spp.), lesser celadine (Ranunculus ficaria), wood sorrell and buttercup (Ranunculus spp.).

Point 7.
Clearfelled site with birch, willow (Salix spp.) and bramble (Rubus fruticosa) scrub. Brash and stumps remaining from the former rotation. Ground vegetation consisted of grasses, rushes (Juncus spp.) and mosses.

Point 8.
Twenty years old sitka spruce. Canopy closed. Ground vegetation consisted of Sphagnum, heather (Calluna vulgaris) and grasses.

Point 9.
Twenty seven years old sitka spruce. Canopy closed. Ground vegetation of Sphagnum and mosses only.

Point 10.
Clearfelled site. Marshy area with willow scrub combined with an area covered in a carpet of brash. Some grasses.

Point 11.
Clearfelled site with birch, willow, holly and bramble scrub. Occasional birch and alder trees. Some brash and stumps. Ground vegetation consisted of rushes, grasses, ferns and mosses.

Point 12.
Clearfelled area replanted with sitka spruce (approx 0.6 meters), birch and alder. Occasional gorse and heather. Some rushes and grasses, with considerable areas of bare soil.

 

5. RESULTS

Species Richness
The number and variety of species varied from point to point and ranged between 6 and 14 (Table 1). The 12 points give a cumulative total of 22 bird species. A further 5 species (Table 11) were recorded within the study area outside the formal counts bringing the total number of bird species for the entire property to 27. No serious study was made of the bird species on the lake - a small number were recorded and are also listed in Table11. The Duchas Conservation Ranger (Tim Roderick) indicated that crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) has been recorded in this property. He also indicated that peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) - listed in Annex 1 of the EU Bird Directive - and sparrowhawk frequent the general hinterland. In addition Dr Don Cotton has recorded Raven (Corvus corax) at Bald Rock; common sandpiper (Acitis hypoleucos) breeding along the shore-line and hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) - also listed in Annex 1 of the Bird Directive - over the separate clearfelled blocks.

Blackbird was recorded at all points. A further five species - chaffinch, coal tit, robin, willow warbler and woodpigeon - were recorded in at least eight of the twelve points.

Based on bird recordings within the fixed 30 meter band, the greatest species diversity was found in douglas fir (10 species), followed by the three oak woodland sites (7-8 species). Clearfelled sites recorded only one or two species within the fixed band and the remaining sites varied between 5 and 6 species.

Table 1. Bird Species Recorded at Cullentra in Summer 2001.

SPECIES	POINTS
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Blackbird (Turdus merula)	/	/	/*	/	/	/	/*	/*	/	/	/*	/*
Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)	-	/*	-	/	/	/	/*	-	-	/*	/*	-
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)	/	/	/*	-	/	/	-	/*	/	/	/	-
Chiff Chaff (Phylloscopus collybita)	-	-	-	-	/*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Coal Tit (Parus ater)	/	/*	/*	/	/	-	-	-	/	-	/	/*
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)	/*	-	/*	-	-	-	/*	/*	/*	/*	-	-
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)	-	/	-	/	/	-	-	/	/	/*	-	-
Great Tit (Parus major)	/	-	-	-	-	-	/*	-	-	-	-	-
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)	-	-	-	-	/	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	/*	-	-
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	/
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)	/*	/	/*	/*	/*	/	/*	-	-	-	-	-
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)	-	-	/*	-	-	-	/*	/*	/*	-	-	-
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	/	-	-
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)	/	/	/*	/	/	/	-	-	/	/	/	/*
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)	/*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	/	-
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)	-	-	-	-	-	-	/*	-	-	-	-	-
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)	/*	/*	/*	/	/	/*	-	/	-	-	-	-
Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris)	/	/	-	-	/	/	-	-	-	-	-	-
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)	/*	-	-	-	/*	-	/	/	/*	/	/	/*
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)	/*	/	/*	/	/*	-	/*	/	/*	/*	-	-
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)	/*	-	/	/	/	/	/	/	/	/	/	/
Number within 30m radius	6	7	1	8	10	7	2	5	6	6	6	2
Total Number	13	10	10	9	14	8	10	9	10	11	8	6

(Note: / = recorded inside 30m zone; /* = recorded beyond 30m zone; - = not recorded)

Table 11. Additional species recorded outside formal counts.

SPECIES	LOCATION
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)	Compartment 61822U (Sub 2)
Dunnock (Prunella modularis)	Compartment 61822U (Sub 2)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)	Compartment 61822U (Sub 1)
Siskin (Carduelis spinus)	Compartment 61822U (Sub 2)
Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)	Compartment 61822U (Sub 1)
AQUATIC SPECIES
Moor Hen (Gallinula chloropus)
Coot (Fulica atra)
Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Abundance
The most abundant species varied from point to point (Table 111), with wren chaffinch and blackbird constituting the most abundant species in the woodland as a whole. Oak woodland sites were dominated by blackbird, robin and chaffinch, with treecreper, coal tit and wren also featuring in those mature broadleaves. Conifers were dominated by goldcrest, song thrush, coal tit and wren. Birch/willow scrub areas were dominated by wren and willow warbler, and the clearfelled areas by wren, with meadow pipit also at one location.


Table 111. The most abundant species at each point.

SPECIES	POINTS
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Chaffinch	3	2	-	-	3	2	-	-	-	-	3	-
Robin	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wren	-	-	1	2	-	2	1	3	2	1	1	2
Treecreeper	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Blackbird	-	1	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	3	-	-
Coal Tit	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-
Song Thrush	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Goldcrest	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	2	1	-	-	-
Willow Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2	2	-
Meadow Pipit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1

Note: species are ranked in order of abundance 1 to 3 (1 = most abundant), where species ranked equally they are given the same number in the order; - = not recorded.

Density
Bird density for the total study area incorporating the three blocks was 27.2 birds per hectare.

 

6. COMMENT

The relatively low bird density for the forest as a whole may be accounted for by the large clearfelled areas where bird density is low. These constituted approximately 50% of the total area thus reducing the overall density. Due to the unsuitable conditions (lack of or poor ground vegetation structure) these areas supported only one or two species - wren and where suitable grassy cover existed meadow pipit.

It is of note that there is an absence, or poor margin, of scrub or young broadleaved vegetation around the main crops and along roads in this property. This would mitigate against species such as chiffchaff, of which, not surprisingly, only one recording was made. The total absence of blackcap is of note also, although this site is at the edge of its range. There is an opportunity to address the scrub issue now as the new crop is being established.

The high bird species richness in the douglas fir woodland may be accounted for by the fact that it was only a small block surrounded by predominantly broadleaved woodland and may be influenced by it.

Great tit is very poorly represented, having been found only in one mature broadleaved site. Blue tit and coal tit had a better distribution.

Woodcock was flushed on a visit in early March, and may breed here although the habitat does not appear ideal, lacking as it does suitable glades.

Snipe would appear to breed here having been recorded in the main block of Compartment 61823P, both on the ground and drumming over it.

A mallard's nest was recorded in Sub. 6 of this clearfelled compartment at the base of a stump.

 

7. RECOMMENDATIONS

Develop or facilitate the development of margins of scrub along roads and along compartment edges.

Select areas for development of and retention as open spaces free of trees.

Plant clumps of mixed berry-producing scrub species. These could be developed in conjunction with the open areas. Road junctions, bends or parking bays are suitable locations.

Monitor for the presence of hen harrier and peregrine.

Monitor the impact of forest programme and operations on bird communities.

 

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anon (Forest Service) - Code of Best Practice - Ireland (2000).

Anon (Forest Service) - Forest Biodiversity Guidelines (2000).

Bibby, C. J.; Burgess, N. D. & Hill, D. A. - Bird Census Techniques (1992).

Fitter, R.; Fitter, A. & Blamey, M. - The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe (1974).

Higman, S.; Bass, S.; Judd, N.; Mayers, J. & Nussbaum. R. - The Sustainable Forestry Handbook (1999).

Humphries, C.J.; Press, J.R. & Sutton, D.A. - Trees of Britain and Europe (1981).

Mullarney, K.; Svensson, L.; Zetterstrom, D. & Grant, P.J.- Collins Bird Guide (1999).

Mutch, W. -Tall Trees and Small Woods, How to Grow and Tend Them (1998).

Peterson, R.; Mountfort, G. & Hollom, P.A.D. - A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (1954).

Richards, A.J. - British Birds, A Field Guide (1979).

Sutherland, W.J. & Hill, D.A. (Eds) - Managing Habitats for Conservation (1995).

 

9. MAP

Legend
Study area : outlined in red
Count Point : number in yellow circle