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Rimrose Ringers is made up of members of the South-West Lancashire Ringing Group and other individuals interesting in monitoring wildlife on Rimrose Valley Country Park. Here is a little more information about our more active members.
Rimrose Ringers is made up of members of the South-West Lancashire Ringing Group and other individuals interesting in monitoring wildlife on Rimrose Valley Country Park. Here is a little more information about our more active members.
Peter Fearon
I have been involved with ringing for many years, having started as a boy, ringing in the UK and Portugal. My love affair with birds and wildlife was nurtured by my father, spending most weekends out ringing in the local area at places such as Ince Blundell, Little Crosby and the old sewage works at Homer Green, more recently moving to the site at Fazakerley. In 2002, having graduated from Holy Family in Thornton, I moved to Manchester to study Applied Ecology, a course that saw me turn my passion into an academic vocation, spending a year studying in Buffalo, New York before graduating in 2005.
In 2006 I was lucky enough to spend six weeks ringing on a project in Ontario, Canada. I returned in the autumn to run the project that later became the Ausable Bird Observatory (AuBO). The project involved running daily ringing efforts to a standardised protocol in line with that of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) that was run by Bird Studies Canada. The Observatory also offered educational programming to visitors of the Pinery Provincial Park and between 2006 and 2007, more than 20,000 visitors observed ringing demonstrations and seminars offered by AuBO. Following two successful years during which 15,000 birds of 120 species were ringed, I returned to the UK to begin training to be a secondary teacher.
Since returning to the UK in 2007, I have run weekly ringing sessions at Little Crosby and more recently Kings Moss whilst participating in ringing sessions with other members of SWLRG at sites such as Ince Blundell, Hightown and Mere Sands Wood. In 2009 I started spending time on Rimrose Valley birdwatching and looking for dragonflies and 2010, I started ringing at Brook Vale Nature Reserve and, later in the year, Fulwood Marsh. I have become very interested in the ecology of Rimrose Valley with some of our results highlighting the importance of this site for both migrant and resident birds and insects. Early in 2010, we started completing some important management work at Brook Vale, including willow scrub removal, whilst this work is very physical, it is both important and rewarding, essential for the ongoing productivity of the reed bed habitat.
I remain very involved with ringing projects in Portugal and regularly visit the north and interior of the country to participate in long-standing research projects. Since 2009 I have been collecting biometric data on Blackbirds and other species as part of the Blackbird Project along with my colleagues Miguel Araújo and Paulo Tenreiro, the results of this project will be published in the coming year.
In 2006 I was lucky enough to spend six weeks ringing on a project in Ontario, Canada. I returned in the autumn to run the project that later became the Ausable Bird Observatory (AuBO). The project involved running daily ringing efforts to a standardised protocol in line with that of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network (CMMN) that was run by Bird Studies Canada. The Observatory also offered educational programming to visitors of the Pinery Provincial Park and between 2006 and 2007, more than 20,000 visitors observed ringing demonstrations and seminars offered by AuBO. Following two successful years during which 15,000 birds of 120 species were ringed, I returned to the UK to begin training to be a secondary teacher.
Since returning to the UK in 2007, I have run weekly ringing sessions at Little Crosby and more recently Kings Moss whilst participating in ringing sessions with other members of SWLRG at sites such as Ince Blundell, Hightown and Mere Sands Wood. In 2009 I started spending time on Rimrose Valley birdwatching and looking for dragonflies and 2010, I started ringing at Brook Vale Nature Reserve and, later in the year, Fulwood Marsh. I have become very interested in the ecology of Rimrose Valley with some of our results highlighting the importance of this site for both migrant and resident birds and insects. Early in 2010, we started completing some important management work at Brook Vale, including willow scrub removal, whilst this work is very physical, it is both important and rewarding, essential for the ongoing productivity of the reed bed habitat.
I remain very involved with ringing projects in Portugal and regularly visit the north and interior of the country to participate in long-standing research projects. Since 2009 I have been collecting biometric data on Blackbirds and other species as part of the Blackbird Project along with my colleagues Miguel Araújo and Paulo Tenreiro, the results of this project will be published in the coming year.
Steve Tyrer
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As a keen naturalist and ornithologist I have enjoyed many years watching, photographing and filming wildlife in its natural environment. I guess the next step for me was to better understand the habitat and behavior of the wildlife that I had spend many years watching. I decided that I wanted to work within a volunteer group in order to exchange and develop my experience/knowledge in British wildlife, and to give something back by doing my small bit to protect and improve the environment that our wildlife inhabits.
As a member of the RSPB and WWT I was already aware of bird ringing and the vital part it played in helping us understand and protect our bird population in this ever changing eco system. In December 2010 I decided to become a Rimrose Ringers volunteer following an introduction by the BTO. This experience has been incredible! I have had the pleasure of being involved in numerous Rimrose Ringers projects during 2011, which with the support from the Sefton Rangers have achieved significant improvements at Brook Vale Nature Reserve. Projects included major fence repairs, the removal of Willow from reedbeds and of course the ringing management of migrant and resident birds at both the Brook Vale NR and Fulwood sites along the Rimrose Valley.
The Rimrose Ringers have been monitoring bird activity and supporting the important habitat management carried out by Sefton Coast & Countryside for many years now, and I feel proud to be part of this team. I look forward to many more years as a volunteer with Rimrose Ringers, and intend to continue my training to ultimately become a qualified BTO ringer.
As a keen naturalist and ornithologist I have enjoyed many years watching, photographing and filming wildlife in its natural environment. I guess the next step for me was to better understand the habitat and behavior of the wildlife that I had spend many years watching. I decided that I wanted to work within a volunteer group in order to exchange and develop my experience/knowledge in British wildlife, and to give something back by doing my small bit to protect and improve the environment that our wildlife inhabits.
As a member of the RSPB and WWT I was already aware of bird ringing and the vital part it played in helping us understand and protect our bird population in this ever changing eco system. In December 2010 I decided to become a Rimrose Ringers volunteer following an introduction by the BTO. This experience has been incredible! I have had the pleasure of being involved in numerous Rimrose Ringers projects during 2011, which with the support from the Sefton Rangers have achieved significant improvements at Brook Vale Nature Reserve. Projects included major fence repairs, the removal of Willow from reedbeds and of course the ringing management of migrant and resident birds at both the Brook Vale NR and Fulwood sites along the Rimrose Valley.
The Rimrose Ringers have been monitoring bird activity and supporting the important habitat management carried out by Sefton Coast & Countryside for many years now, and I feel proud to be part of this team. I look forward to many more years as a volunteer with Rimrose Ringers, and intend to continue my training to ultimately become a qualified BTO ringer.
Pete Fearon
_I started birdwatching in the 1950's at a time when you were
considered very odd to have that interest and bought my first pair
of binoculars in 1959. In 1962 I began studying for a Degree in
Applied Chemistry in Liverpool and met up with another birdwatcher
Don Gunn on the course. Together we birdwatched in the local area,
around Britain and Ireland and abroad in Holland, Austria,
Hungary,Yugoslavia, Greece, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Spain and
Majorca whilst we were studying for our degree. During this time we
had a chance meeting with some ringers at the old Tobacco Dump on
the Formby dunes and my interest in ringing was aroused. Soon after
I met up with Tony Duckels who had started to ring with the late
Dave Low. Together we formed the ringing partnership Low, Duckels
and Fearon and this was soon to evolve into the South West Lancs
Ringing Group.
I have now been ringing for almost 50 years in the local area. In addition, I have ringed at eight bird observatories around the coasts of the British Isles, in Nottingham whilst studying for my Ph.D. and wih various ringing groups around the UK. I have participated in ringing expeditions to the remote Salvage Islands in the Atlantic, The Ebro Delta in Spain and Majorca. Since 1977 I have visited Portugal in all but a handfull of years for up to 6 weeks at a time and helped to train many Portuguese during this time. The main site I have visited is Sto. Andre and this was very heavily hunted initially but is now part of a reseve 15km long and several km wide with no hunting - progress indeed. In 2006 I assisted my son Peter in Canada for one week in spring and returned the following year to spend nine weeks with him spread over the spring and fall migration periods at the Ausable Bird Observatory.
Rimrose Valley was one of my first birdwatching spots and I remember the old tip, the piggeries ( we used to keep our food waste for collection every week to feed the pigs) and the old reedbed which was full of Snipe in the winter. I hope that I can help preserve this important part of our local heritage by assisting in the gathering of data along with the other ringers.
I have now been ringing for almost 50 years in the local area. In addition, I have ringed at eight bird observatories around the coasts of the British Isles, in Nottingham whilst studying for my Ph.D. and wih various ringing groups around the UK. I have participated in ringing expeditions to the remote Salvage Islands in the Atlantic, The Ebro Delta in Spain and Majorca. Since 1977 I have visited Portugal in all but a handfull of years for up to 6 weeks at a time and helped to train many Portuguese during this time. The main site I have visited is Sto. Andre and this was very heavily hunted initially but is now part of a reseve 15km long and several km wide with no hunting - progress indeed. In 2006 I assisted my son Peter in Canada for one week in spring and returned the following year to spend nine weeks with him spread over the spring and fall migration periods at the Ausable Bird Observatory.
Rimrose Valley was one of my first birdwatching spots and I remember the old tip, the piggeries ( we used to keep our food waste for collection every week to feed the pigs) and the old reedbed which was full of Snipe in the winter. I hope that I can help preserve this important part of our local heritage by assisting in the gathering of data along with the other ringers.
Charlie Fletcher
_Having found great pleasure in watching birds on and off for
over 50 years I recently decided to learn more about them. Groups of ringers like the
SWLRG for instance who operate through the BTO provide a lot of data that
supports many studies that have been carried out, and it is only through this
process that I have been able to begin to learn more about them. It seemed
natural then for me start training to become a ringer and to join the SWLRG (and what a great bunch they are).Appreciating and recording butterflies and moths has been a
passion of mine since 2008 and more recently I have developed an interest in dragonflies. I
have completed studies at the Liverpool Museum on identifying difficult moth species by
means of genetalia determination but the use of various chemicals as well as a
good microscope means that I often escalate some work to the County Recorder.
Spending a couple of hours in a woodland etc. mothing can be very rewarding. Personal acheievements include finding the first Lyme Grass to be recorded on the west coast of Britain. I am fascinated by the vast variety of moths and roughly two and a half thousand can regularly be seen in Britain. As a member of Butterfly Conservation I have also been involved in various studies that record our Butterflies.
Understanding biodiversity and how important it is in our ecosystem is something that affects us all in one way or another. This and being a local is why I am pleased to be a part of the Rimrose Ringers. Sightings of any wildlife seen in Rimrose Valley would be much appreciated or help with any identification by means of a photograph is available.
Spending a couple of hours in a woodland etc. mothing can be very rewarding. Personal acheievements include finding the first Lyme Grass to be recorded on the west coast of Britain. I am fascinated by the vast variety of moths and roughly two and a half thousand can regularly be seen in Britain. As a member of Butterfly Conservation I have also been involved in various studies that record our Butterflies.
Understanding biodiversity and how important it is in our ecosystem is something that affects us all in one way or another. This and being a local is why I am pleased to be a part of the Rimrose Ringers. Sightings of any wildlife seen in Rimrose Valley would be much appreciated or help with any identification by means of a photograph is available.
Tineke van Boven
I moved to Liverpool from Dorset in the summer of 2009 having visited regularly since the summer of 2008. I am currently studying for a BA in Interactive Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University but I have had an appreciation for wildlife since an early age, growing up in New Zealand and later, Dorset.
Since moving to Liverpool, I have developed an interest in birds, spending time ringing with members of SWLRG, including Rimrose Ringers. This interest has inspired some of my artistic creations, including a 2010 piece entitled To Fly Is Everything. More recently, I have begun to work with natural materials as I develop work inspired by sustainable and ecologically compatible living.
To me, Rimrose Valley Country Park is place to think, a place to be inspired and a place to escape the urbanisation that surrounds us. I continue to be pleasantly suprised by each new discovery as I spend time ringing or walking my dog, Canela.
Since moving to Liverpool, I have developed an interest in birds, spending time ringing with members of SWLRG, including Rimrose Ringers. This interest has inspired some of my artistic creations, including a 2010 piece entitled To Fly Is Everything. More recently, I have begun to work with natural materials as I develop work inspired by sustainable and ecologically compatible living.
To me, Rimrose Valley Country Park is place to think, a place to be inspired and a place to escape the urbanisation that surrounds us. I continue to be pleasantly suprised by each new discovery as I spend time ringing or walking my dog, Canela.