Owl Cam



Owl Cam Star photo by James Axe

We’ve had an owl box sited for a few years now and have evicted numerous grey squirrels from it in the past, but it came as an enormous surprise to us when Ross our academy ranger noted a birds tail occupying it.  After climbing a nearby tree to get a better look we discovered our new tenant was non other than a tawny owl.  It wasn’t until Tuesday night when I was down on the site natterjacking that I could get a peek inside the box without the female about.  There intermingled at the bottom were 3 fluffy grey babies!  The female would have been there for 30 days incubating the eggs and the chicks will be there a further 35-39 days.  They looked only a few days old, therefore I jumped to it and have installed a camera on the tree opposite to hopefully get some footage of our new family growing up.  It seems though that since my initial viewing of our little ones there only appears to be 2 surviving.

Over the next few weeks I will post some of our highlights, starting with this great scene of a not so cunning fox…

Natterjack Toad Walk 19th April

Due to the bad weather and the late Spring our natterjacks appear to be late for their own event!  We will still be holding the guided walk as planned, however there would be a better chance of the full natterjack experience on the walk on the 26th April.

Natterjacks like the weather to be a little warmer and the wind to have died down somewhat.  They don't however mind the rain, in fact it makes them feel a little amorous!

Both walks start in the car park at 7.30pm.  We will have an introduction at the artificial scrapes, then make our way to the main breeding pool on site.  The walk is about 1.5 miles over uneven ground and beach passing by water courses on the way.  Bring a torch and warm clothing.

For more info contact the Rangers on 01229 462855




One of last years star attraction photo by Ken Jones

  Please note that it is illegal to disturb natterjack toads in any stage of their lifecycle with out a licence, a guided walk by our licenced rangers ensures the best view of these amazing creatures.

All doom and gloom...

I would have loved to bring you photos of the fells covered in snow whilst the sun shone on the beach, or the volunteers erecting a fence whilst Barrow off shore wind farm towered above them.  Instead our camera has become clogged up with sand and the lens now refuses to move, so I can’t.  This is a regular hardship we have to endure working on a beach!

This time last year I would have been writing exciting news about our emerging natterjack toads, however this year there is no sign of them.  We have just put in our dams to raise the water levels in the artificial toad scrapes but they have been frozen ever since.  We have a natterjack guided walk on the 19^th April and I’m starting to get a little nervous that there will be nothing to see.

Birds are a strange one too.  Many of our winter waders have disappeared but with the exception of an early Chiffchaff on the 19^th March, we can’t bring you news of the arrival of any of our summer migrants.

Flowers remain dormant.  Only in the sheltered dips with full sunlight will you get a glimpse of our dune pansies and even then in small numbers.

Easter remained fairly busy for us though, as a constant stream of people visited for a quick, bracing walk along the beach taking in spectacular views across the estuary.  We put on a display along the boardwalks about some of the creatures you might find washed up on the beach.  The high tides usually bring in some gems but unless they were keeping quiet, no body found anything note worthy.

Dreading half term??

Bring your kids along to our free

Wildlife Explorer Day

Thursday 14th February 2pm-4pm

Find some frogspawn, seek natural treasures on the beach and spot some birds

Come along to Sandscale Haws for a fun day exploring with the rangers!  No need to book, just turn up at the Sandscale Haws car park, Hawthwaite Lane, Roanhead, near Barrow in Furness.

Remember to wear warm waterproof clothes and boots or wellies.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Call 01229 462855 for details or email joanne.day@nationaltrust.org.uk

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sandscalehaws

Sand Dune formation in action



The view of our dunes from the estuary



Every time we step out onto the beach we are never quite sure how the frontal dunes are going to look.  Our dunes are constantly changing as they are susceptible to the wind and the waves.  A wind as low as 5 meters per second can lift a grain of sand and move it along the beach.  Marine debris, litter or vegetation can intercept these grains trapping them, forming little hummocks of sand, these are called embryo dunes. 

Embryo dunes forming near our car park

The main dune system at Sandscale consists of three dune ridges separated by areas at ground water level, these are called dune slacks. The fore dunes (yellow dunes or white dunes) rise to about 10m along the northern edge of the dune system and about 15-20m on the more exposed westerly point.

Two of our dune ridges

The steepening of the beach at the northern edge, the high tides, heavy winds and human pressure are all leading to increased erosion at the northern end of the site.  With the changes in the Duddon river channel sculpting the frontal ridges into shallow bays and points

Heavy erosion near our blow out

Storm waves are destructive in nature as they break steeply with a powerful backwash however they also provide accumulation of larger stones and shingle up the beach. Much of this material, and the rocks which compose the shingle, originates from the western and central fells of the Lake District and further north from western Scotland



Erosion from the waves in progress

 









Recent conditions on site

Work on site has been pretty impossible at the moment.  The reserve is under more water than has ever been seen in Neil's (Ranger supervisor) time here at Sandscale.  The only way to get about is on foot and with wellies on and it's tough going, having to break the ice.
We have however put in a new stile and dog gate at the southern end of the reserve. 

New stile and dog gate

We were having to fix the fence on a regular basis where people were cutting it to get through.  New signs have been erected at that end too welcoming people and giving some information about illegal use of our track there.  We experienced a slight incident last week where we had three motorcyclist using the track to access the dunes for some off road practise.  Fortunately we caught up with them and were able to advise them that  the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature reserve and the law behind those designations. They left the area even phoning the police afterwards to apologise...a good result.

We spent an afternoon with our student volunteer Vicky, just before Christmas surveying the erosion on the frontal dune ridge where it is exposed to the wind and the sea. 
It was during this surveying that we caught sight of a single Snow bunting.  These are large-ish buntings which breed in around the Arctic areas like Scandinavia and Greenland, although they make their way to our coastal areas during winter months.  It was great to see and a brilliant record for the reserve.
Also that day we saw a couple of Stonechat which are becoming far and few between for our records. 
During our volunteer work party on the 19th December we were lucky enough to experience 19 Whooper swans flying low right over us, a beautiful sight and a reward for all the hard work the Volunteers were putting in.  The Short-eared owl is always a welcome visitor and we see the signs of them more than we see them but the 21st Dec was one such sighting....great stuff!

We love hearing from you and what you have seen on the reserve.  If you have any records or photos please email them to me at joanne.day@nationaltrust.org.uk or leave a comment below.

Grand Designs for our Natterjack Scrapes

Natterjack Toads need clear open pools in which to breed.  Over the years vegetation and silt have built up in our artifical breeding pools making them less suitable.



We employed a contractor to remove the vegetation and silt from the pools and to relay the inlet pipes.



The pools were relined with fresh sand from the beach

The sides were re-profiled for a gentle gradient which the toads prefer.  The water is warmer in the shallows.



The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through a project run by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.



All works have been agreed with Natural England and measures were in place to minimise disturbance to wildlife.



Scrape 39 nearly finished with just the new fencing and boardwalks to go



New inlet pipes will help to fill the pools with water come April time for the start of the breeding season

Our stream complete with overgrown vegetation and collapsed bank

Excavation of the bank and removal of plants

An army of volunteers and staff laying in new recycled plastic revetments

The story so far, lets hope they stand up to the winter weather!