Latest news with #RobColeman
The Independent
16-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Elusive purple emperor butterfly sighted at National Trust estate
An elusive species of butterfly, which is the second largest in the UK, has been sighted at a National Trust estate. The purple emperor, with a wingspan of around 8cm, was sighted at Sheringham Park in Norfolk in June during a weekly survey to monitor butterfly populations over time. The National Trust said sightings at the estate had dwindled in recent years, but that it has now seen an increase – bringing renewed hope for the species. The purple emperor, second in size only to the swallowtail, was spotted in Norfolk in 2016 following a 50-year absence. Sheringham Park was believed to be the location of a breeding colony in 2018, but after a last sighting in 2021 things appeared to have 'gone quiet' until this summer. A purple emperor was discovered in a butterfly transect at the estate in June this year, and staff and volunteers have since reported further sightings. Male purple emperors have a stunning purple sheen on their upper wings, while females are typically brown with white markings. Despite their colourful appearance, they are elusive as they spend a large amount of time high up in the tree canopy. Butterfly enthusiasts have been known to try to lure males down from the canopy with banana skins and even shrimp paste, according to the Woodland Trust. Rob Coleman, of the National Trust's Sheringham Park, said: 'This a magnificent butterfly, second only in size to Norfolk's famous swallowtail. 'It was exciting to see the first one back at Sheringham Park in 2016, after it had been absent from the county for the best part of 50 years. 'At the time, some people were sceptical that a breeding colony had been established, but small numbers of sightings in the subsequent years supported this theory. 'However, things had gone quiet on the emperor front recently, and with our last sighting in 2021 and the establishment of populations elsewhere we thought 'His Majesty' had moved on. 'So, I was utterly delighted to see a handful of male purple emperors soaring again in an oak canopy on one of our weekly butterfly transect surveys.' The estate's ancient woodland, with oak and sallow trees, is vital for the purple emperor's lifecycle. Early indications from transects elsewhere in the country show numbers of purple emperors on track to potentially beat 2018, which was the last record year, the National Trust said. The conservation charity said that shifts in temperature and weather patterns can impact both the butterfly's breeding cycle and habitat suitability. Naturalist and nature writer Matthew Oates said: 'This is indeed proving to be a record purple emperor year. 'Hibernating larvae survived the winter very well, with unusually low predation rates. 'Then larval development was assisted by the fine spring. 'The weather was reasonable during the crucial pupation period, and now the butterflies are benefiting from fine midsummer weather. 'So, it's win, win, win, win – and all after a ghastly year for butterflies and other insects last year. Emperors are turning up all over the place, including in the Yare valley downstream of Norwich.' It is possible that rising temperatures could lead to this butterfly moving further north in the future, the National Trust said.
Glasgow Times
03-07-2025
- Science
- Glasgow Times
Arctic tern numbers down nearly a third at key breeding site, experts warn
Some of the UK's rarest seabirds, including Arctic terns and little terns, nest at Long Nanny, near Beadnell in Northumberland, which is cared for by the National Trust. But reports from the charity suggest the number of occupied Arctic tern nests at the breeding site has fallen from 1,037 in 2024 to 724 this year, a drop of 30%. Arctic terns are at risk from climate change and disease, conservationists warn (Gillian Day/National Trust/PA) The findings come just a month after a high spring tide washed away the nests of Arctic and little nests at Long Nanny, despite efforts by rangers to protect them from weather extremes. National Trust conservationists warn that the seabirds are facing mounting pressure from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change – as well as bird flu, which has devastated seabird colonies around the UK's coasts. The Arctic tern, which makes one of the longest migrations of any creature on Earth by flying from the Arctic to the UK and then onto the Antarctic for the winter in an annual journey of 44,000 to 59,000 miles, was last year added to the 'red list' of species of highest conservation concern in the UK. Little terns are one of the UK's rarest seabirds (Rob Coleman/National Trust/PA) James Porteus, Lead Ranger for the National Trust at Long Nanny, said: 'After several difficult years due to storms washing out nests and then bird flu, we have been saddened by the drop in Arctic tern numbers returning to Long Nanny this year to breed. 'We don't know the reason for the decline but suspect it will be due to factors such as climate change, food availability and of course avian influenza. 'Arctic terns have been badly impacted by the disease at their breeding sites here in the UK in recent years, but we don't know how the species has been affected by the disease outside of the nesting season. 'Little and Arctic terns are facing mounting pressures from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change, and disease.' Arctic and little terns, and ringed plover, breed and nest on the fragile dunes and beaches at Long Nanny, monitored by seven National Trust rangers who rope off around 10 hectares (25 acres) each summer and protect the birds from being disturbed, or preyed on by foxes, badgers, stoats and other birds. The Long Nanny tern site on the Northumberland coast (Mandy Fall/PA) The trust says the colony has grown since it began managing the site in 1977, when there was not a single Arctic tern, and only a handful of little tern nests. Numbers of Arctic terns peaked in 2018, with more 2,800 nests recorded, while the smaller numbers of little terns were at their highest in 1994 when 57 pairs nested. But Mr Porteus said: 'Despite our best efforts, even the most carefully protected nests can be lost in a single tide. 'The changing fortunes of these remarkable coastal birds underscore just how vulnerable our seabird colonies are.' However, 10 pairs of little terns have made a second nesting attempt at Long Nanny, while the remaining birds may have located to Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, managed by Government conservation agency Natural England. American black terns are rare visitors to the UK (Gary Woodburn/National Trust/PA) And a very rare visitor to the UK, an American black tern, has returned once more. The bird, which was ringed last year to confirm it was the same bird returning each year, has spent the summer at Long Nanny for the last six years and in 2024 made a breeding attempt with an Arctic tern. Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust said: 'The importance of Long Nanny is testament to the work of the dedicated rangers and volunteers who work 24/7 to protect our precious seabirds. 'The Long Nanny and wider Northumberland coast will remain a focus of our conservation work to help these delicate birds continue their extraordinary lives,' he said.
Western Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Science
- Western Telegraph
Arctic tern numbers down nearly a third at key breeding site, experts warn
Some of the UK's rarest seabirds, including Arctic terns and little terns, nest at Long Nanny, near Beadnell in Northumberland, which is cared for by the National Trust. But reports from the charity suggest the number of occupied Arctic tern nests at the breeding site has fallen from 1,037 in 2024 to 724 this year, a drop of 30%. Arctic terns are at risk from climate change and disease, conservationists warn (Gillian Day/National Trust/PA) The findings come just a month after a high spring tide washed away the nests of Arctic and little nests at Long Nanny, despite efforts by rangers to protect them from weather extremes. National Trust conservationists warn that the seabirds are facing mounting pressure from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change – as well as bird flu, which has devastated seabird colonies around the UK's coasts. The Arctic tern, which makes one of the longest migrations of any creature on Earth by flying from the Arctic to the UK and then onto the Antarctic for the winter in an annual journey of 44,000 to 59,000 miles, was last year added to the 'red list' of species of highest conservation concern in the UK. Little terns are one of the UK's rarest seabirds (Rob Coleman/National Trust/PA) James Porteus, Lead Ranger for the National Trust at Long Nanny, said: 'After several difficult years due to storms washing out nests and then bird flu, we have been saddened by the drop in Arctic tern numbers returning to Long Nanny this year to breed. 'We don't know the reason for the decline but suspect it will be due to factors such as climate change, food availability and of course avian influenza. 'Arctic terns have been badly impacted by the disease at their breeding sites here in the UK in recent years, but we don't know how the species has been affected by the disease outside of the nesting season. 'Little and Arctic terns are facing mounting pressures from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change, and disease.' Arctic and little terns, and ringed plover, breed and nest on the fragile dunes and beaches at Long Nanny, monitored by seven National Trust rangers who rope off around 10 hectares (25 acres) each summer and protect the birds from being disturbed, or preyed on by foxes, badgers, stoats and other birds. The Long Nanny tern site on the Northumberland coast (Mandy Fall/PA) The trust says the colony has grown since it began managing the site in 1977, when there was not a single Arctic tern, and only a handful of little tern nests. Numbers of Arctic terns peaked in 2018, with more 2,800 nests recorded, while the smaller numbers of little terns were at their highest in 1994 when 57 pairs nested. But Mr Porteus said: 'Despite our best efforts, even the most carefully protected nests can be lost in a single tide. 'The changing fortunes of these remarkable coastal birds underscore just how vulnerable our seabird colonies are.' However, 10 pairs of little terns have made a second nesting attempt at Long Nanny, while the remaining birds may have located to Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, managed by Government conservation agency Natural England. American black terns are rare visitors to the UK (Gary Woodburn/National Trust/PA) And a very rare visitor to the UK, an American black tern, has returned once more. The bird, which was ringed last year to confirm it was the same bird returning each year, has spent the summer at Long Nanny for the last six years and in 2024 made a breeding attempt with an Arctic tern. Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust said: 'The importance of Long Nanny is testament to the work of the dedicated rangers and volunteers who work 24/7 to protect our precious seabirds. 'The Long Nanny and wider Northumberland coast will remain a focus of our conservation work to help these delicate birds continue their extraordinary lives,' he said.
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Science
- South Wales Argus
Arctic tern numbers down nearly a third at key breeding site, experts warn
Some of the UK's rarest seabirds, including Arctic terns and little terns, nest at Long Nanny, near Beadnell in Northumberland, which is cared for by the National Trust. But reports from the charity suggest the number of occupied Arctic tern nests at the breeding site has fallen from 1,037 in 2024 to 724 this year, a drop of 30%. Arctic terns are at risk from climate change and disease, conservationists warn (Gillian Day/National Trust/PA) The findings come just a month after a high spring tide washed away the nests of Arctic and little nests at Long Nanny, despite efforts by rangers to protect them from weather extremes. National Trust conservationists warn that the seabirds are facing mounting pressure from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change – as well as bird flu, which has devastated seabird colonies around the UK's coasts. The Arctic tern, which makes one of the longest migrations of any creature on Earth by flying from the Arctic to the UK and then onto the Antarctic for the winter in an annual journey of 44,000 to 59,000 miles, was last year added to the 'red list' of species of highest conservation concern in the UK. Little terns are one of the UK's rarest seabirds (Rob Coleman/National Trust/PA) James Porteus, Lead Ranger for the National Trust at Long Nanny, said: 'After several difficult years due to storms washing out nests and then bird flu, we have been saddened by the drop in Arctic tern numbers returning to Long Nanny this year to breed. 'We don't know the reason for the decline but suspect it will be due to factors such as climate change, food availability and of course avian influenza. 'Arctic terns have been badly impacted by the disease at their breeding sites here in the UK in recent years, but we don't know how the species has been affected by the disease outside of the nesting season. 'Little and Arctic terns are facing mounting pressures from rising seas and stronger storms due to climate change, and disease.' Arctic and little terns, and ringed plover, breed and nest on the fragile dunes and beaches at Long Nanny, monitored by seven National Trust rangers who rope off around 10 hectares (25 acres) each summer and protect the birds from being disturbed, or preyed on by foxes, badgers, stoats and other birds. The Long Nanny tern site on the Northumberland coast (Mandy Fall/PA) The trust says the colony has grown since it began managing the site in 1977, when there was not a single Arctic tern, and only a handful of little tern nests. Numbers of Arctic terns peaked in 2018, with more 2,800 nests recorded, while the smaller numbers of little terns were at their highest in 1994 when 57 pairs nested. But Mr Porteus said: 'Despite our best efforts, even the most carefully protected nests can be lost in a single tide. 'The changing fortunes of these remarkable coastal birds underscore just how vulnerable our seabird colonies are.' However, 10 pairs of little terns have made a second nesting attempt at Long Nanny, while the remaining birds may have located to Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, managed by Government conservation agency Natural England. American black terns are rare visitors to the UK (Gary Woodburn/National Trust/PA) And a very rare visitor to the UK, an American black tern, has returned once more. The bird, which was ringed last year to confirm it was the same bird returning each year, has spent the summer at Long Nanny for the last six years and in 2024 made a breeding attempt with an Arctic tern. Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation and restoration ecology at the National Trust said: 'The importance of Long Nanny is testament to the work of the dedicated rangers and volunteers who work 24/7 to protect our precious seabirds. 'The Long Nanny and wider Northumberland coast will remain a focus of our conservation work to help these delicate birds continue their extraordinary lives,' he said.
