Cookstown Wildlife Trust

The Chairperson Ernie Hunter introduced the first speaker of the night our member Pat Rutherford.

In her talk entitled “Encounters with Mountains” Pat  referred to the numerous visits she and her husband Jim had made to mountains both locally and abroad.

The mystery surrounding their origin has caused mountains to have a special spiritual significance  for millennia. From Moses meeting God on Mount Sinai to Croagh Patrick and Slemish associated with St Patrick to the Buddhist shrine at Everest Base Camp and in more recent years the huge white Christian Cross erected on Slieve Gallion.

The scientific theory of Plate Tectonics in the 1970’s helped explain the origin of mountains.

Read more: Member's Night 12th December 2023

Our speaker for our November meeting was Ryan Boyle, an ecologist and Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Amphibian and Reptile Group. (NIARG. for short). Founded in April 2020 NIARG is based in Belfast and focuses on Northern Ireland’s native reptiles and amphibians. The group hope to start building relationships with local institutes and educational bodies to promote awareness and improve the current recording of newts, lizards and frogs.

 The collective name for amphibians and reptiles is herps which comes from the Greek word ‘crawling animal ‘There are four native herp species in Ireland: the Common frog, the Smooth newt, the Common lizard and the Natterjack toad. In Northern Ireland there are only three species as the   Natterjack toad is absent.

 Ryan Boyle from the Northern Ireland Amphibian and Reptile Group

Read more about Amphibians and Reptiles of NI Amphibians and Reptiles of NI 14th Nov 2023 by Ryan Boyle (NIARG)

On Tuesday 10^th October 2023 Daniel McAfee, Chairman of the Glens Red Squirrel group gave a very informative and entertaining talk to Cookstown Wildlife Trust on the native Red Squirrel. Northern Ireland has 15 Red Squirrel volunteer groups. Formed in 2008, Glens Red Squirrel group works in conjunction with other squirrel groups, other organisations and also with local councils. Their aims are to protect and to help maintain the population of Red Squirrels in the Glens of Antrim , to conserve Red Squirrels by  educating and raising public awareness of their plight and to educate and encourage young people into conservation To do this they have organised safari walks, given talks to many different groups, visited schools and attended festivals and fairs  They were the first group to “think ahead “ by  planting trees and planning for the future of the Red Squirrel.  Daniel also stated that they are involved in trapping and releasing Red Squirrels into other suitable areas. The traps used to do this are live traps. The Grey Squirrels are also trapped by live traps but are dispatched either by a sharp blow to the head or by shooting. Glens Squirrel Group are not an advocate of shooting them in the field as it may not be possible to fire a fatal shot resulting in injuries and painful death to the animal and inadvertently spreading Squirrel pox.  Glenarrif Forest, Ballypatrick, Glenarm, Cushendun and Craigagh Wood all have been designated as “feeder sites” where feeding tables are placed and then monitored for the presence of Red and Grey Squirrels.

Read more about Red Squirrel Conservation in the Glens of Antrim Red Squirrel Conservation in the Glens of Antrim Talk by Daniel McAfee 10th October 2023

On 12^th September 2023, Chairperson Dr Ernie Hunter welcomed a large attendance of 50 people to our first Cooktown Wildlife meeting of the new season held, in Desertcreat W.I. Hall.  The speakers for the evening were Ric Else and Hazel Watson whose talk was on “Rathlin Island’s special species from seabirds to ladybirds and butterflies to butterworts”.

Self-confessed “nature nerds” they came to the Island in 2017 with the objective of recording as many species of plants and animals as they possibly could. To date they have recorded over 1400 species of plants and animals.  These include many rarities. The Golden Hare is a rare genetic variant of the Irish Hare which inhabits the island.  They have pale blonde fur and bright blue eyes. First recorded in 1970, the golden hare is a rather elusive creature and difficult to find. In 2019 six were spotted, but this year only one has so far been seen.

 Ric Else and Hazel Watson whose talk was on “Rathlin Island’s special species from seabirds to ladybirds and butterflies to butterworts”

Rathlin is the only site in all of Ireland were the Lempke’s Gold Spot Moth lives. Other Moth rarities  found are the Dotted Carpet Moth which lives on lichen covered trees, the Chestnut Coloured Carpet moth and Caryocolum Vicinella, a sea cliff and coastal species .The Island is also the home to the 24-spotted Ladybird. This very small velvety ladybird differs from many  other ladybirds in not being an eater of aphids when an adult. It feeds on the abundance of Sea Campion. The Grayling Butterfly is widespread, loving the bare rocky cliffs of Rathlin. The Green Hairstreak and the Holly Blue Butterflies can also be seen.

Read more: Rathlin Island's Special Species: From Seabirds to Ladybirds and Butterflies to Butterworts