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GUIDELINES FOR BIRDWATCHERS IN THE FIFE NESS AREA
It is important to remember that although Fife Ness may be an outstanding area for migrant birds, it is also an even more important area to the people who make a living, or reside in the area. Please respect the land and have courtesy for the local people. With this in mind it is requested that the following points be observed.
1. General
2. Fife Ness Muir - Update (see map)Nothing in our natural world stands still forever. Over the years since Jim Cobb first started planting the Muir, to establish the migration Ringing Station, the vegetation growth was initially very slow trees and shrubs struggled and strived to get away and establish themselves, as can be witnessed from the current slow growth of the Golf Course plantings. Now the Muir is a thriving and diverse habitat a mixture of scrub and maturing trees and is now considered to be at its optimum blend in supporting breeding birds and being attractive to migrants in need of shelter and food. The Muir now needs active and regular management to ensure this optimum blend is continued. Coppicing is now a hard necessity, as is tree cutting in way of the overhead power lines. Pathways; (see map) to some extent come and go in relation to the growth and necessary management as do mist net rides. Pathways are strimmed for access towards the end of summer after the birds have bred. This year’s management has seen the closure of an old pathway alongside the inner edge of the shelterbelt and a replacement pathway has been routed as shown on the site map. It is also considered that with this update it is an opportune time to remind you of the guidelines for the Muir. Access: There is only one access route to and from the Patch and that is via the pathway, which runs from the coast guard access road. The path runs up along the outside of the garden wall to the north side of the Pink Cottage, up over the hill skirting the golf course to the south-east corner of the Patch. Danes Dyke: The discussion as to whether or not this is a public right of way is immaterial, as there is no access to the Patch from the direction of the dyke. Further more members are advised that it is unsafe and discourteous to use the dyke as it cuts across a number of fairways. Golf Course planting area: The architecture of the course has left the land between the Patch and Danes dyke as rough ground, which under the course design has been designated for planting. This area is not an extension to the Fife Ness Muir reserve although effectively this land will extend the area of available habitat for passage birds. Planting in this area has taken place, however it will require a few years for the shrubs and trees to establish themselves. Looking to the future as the new plantings in this area mature permission for access will be sought. In the meantime, not only in order to protect the plantings, but more importantly as this area is a highly visible part of the golf course members are requested to refrain from entering the area. Ringing activities: The Muir is a migration Ringing Station. Jim Cobb has installed a ringing hut and current information on bird and ringing news is always available from the friendly ringers when on site. During both the spring and autumn migration at least one ringer will be present daily and a ringing log is kept in the hut. A species list for the Muir is displayed in the window and any information on new additions is welcomed.
Paths: As many paths as possible will be kept open during the migration season but these are not cut open during the summer until August time when most birds have finished breeding. We will try to maintain viewpoints so that thick areas can be watched without disturbing them. Birding the Muir: Many of the birdwatchers visiting the Patch consider it as essential to walk along the gully path looking for birds. In fact this is not the most effective method to bird the gully as many of the birds are either pursued through as fleeting glimpses, double back along the outer edges of the gully. This is not to say don’t walk along the path and try to see these birds, but a more effective means of seeing many of these birds is to view from the banking above the gully. In this respect the benches are ideally positioned to sit and watch the birds as they feed in the foliage along the gully. Log Books: There are two sightings log books at Fife Ness and either or both can be used to record your sightings to inform other members of what birds are about. The log book for the Muir can be found in the box situated alongside the pathway at the entrance to the Muir (see map). The other log book is situated in the sea watching hide. Although this book is mainly used to record sea bird sightings by those using the hide, it can also be used for recording other sightings from the surrounding area.
3. Balcomie (see map)
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