Squares of the Month – February: NY0477 and NX2087
This year SWSEIC will be highlighting some under-recorded 1km squares and encouraging recorders to visit them. For most of the squares we are highlighting it means there are no records of any bird, plant, fungus or insect attributed to these 1km squares in the SWSEIC database. In due course SWSEIC will be publishing an interactive map on our website which will allow recorders to explore the map and see squares near to them with few or no species recorded in them.
Whilst admittedly these 1km squares may not always hold the most diverse range of habitats, it is worth remembering that even a record of feeding Rooks, a patch of Gorse or a slithering Brown Soil Slug will be more than we knew before! You will certainly be improving the distribution mapping of any species you record.
In Scotland we have a right to access the outdoors, so long as we do so responsibly in line with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Watching and recording wildlife falls within these access rights. However it is worth being aware that some of these under-recorded squares may be in more remote areas with landowners that are not used to having members of the public on their land. We would encourage you to keep this in mind, and it may be worth contacting a land owner beforehand if you know who they are.
Ayrshire
The first Ayrshire square we are highlighting is NX2087, directly NE of Pinwherry in South Ayrshire. Last year we had a project Nature Connections in the Carrick area to promote locals to get involved with nature recording, and with that in mind we thought it fitting to a pick a local square!
NX2087 encompasses parts of Drumspillan Hill, Jockens Glen, Rashnagalloch Hill and the Linkumtoy Burn. The square seems to be largely dominated by semi-improved grassland with areas of rush pasture, running freshwater and a small patch of woodland.
In addition to this square two adjacent squares are also without records. The squares NX2187 and NX2287 would also be well worth visiting. NX2287 includes Glake Burn which has an interesting looking cleuch with riparian woodland which may yield good results, particularly later in the field season.
Dumfries and Galloway
The first Dumfries & Galloway square we are highlighting is NY0477, SE of Torthorwald and only a 10 minute drive from Dumfries. The square includes Whiteside Hill and several farms. The square mostly encompasses improved grassland but has some scattered trees, rocky knolls and scrub.
In addition, the square immediately north (NY0478) has only a single species recorded and the square immediately east of that one (NY0578) has no records.
Malcolm Haddow
SWSEIC Support Officer