Hello again 🙂
Can’t believe Its been 2 month allready!!
So what have I done so far. Well I have finished doing the habitat assessments on the sites in the Falkirk vacant and derelict land register given to me by Falkirk council. Of these sites I couldn’t get access to 4 that were in Granegmouth ports and I still have 1 to do. Visiting these sites has been really interesting and I’ve learnt so much!! I’ve been learning how to id wildflowers on site which can be very tricky, especially when their not in flower but I’ve quickly got the hang of it. I’ve also been taking photographs of anything else interesting on site such as moths, butterflies, dragonflies and bees to id them as well. Its great being in the field as the weather has been great. I think I’ve only had 2 days out in the rain so I’ve been very lucky.
I have written a sort of progress report on the sites from the register that sumarises every site I have been to e.g. whether I want to go and do invertebrate surveys and if I don’t and also if the site has been develeoped etc.
I have started invertebrate surveys at my three main brownfield sites at Roughcastel, Garibaldi Bing and Forge Dam (Carron works). I have put out pitfall traps at each site that will be collected every two weeks and I also do sweep nets of the surrounding vegetation when I go to the site. After collecting my samples I am sorting the invertebrates into orders and then sorting any collected beetles, spiders and hemiptera into family. I’m finding this quite tricky as I am not looking at one group but I’m hoping that with more practice I will get the hang of it.
Since starting the apprenticeship I have attended a aquatic invertebrate course, phase I habitat survey, sawfly course and wildflower course. I also have another wildlfower course and bumblebee course coming up which I’m looking forward to. I was meant to be going to an introduction on invertebrates at Jupiter Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth but this has been cancelled as I was the only one on the course- oh dear 🙂
Not sure what my next plans are. I am waiting to have a meeting with Falkirk council and then hopefuly start sampling for invertebrates at the brownfield sites on the register.
Thats it for now I think. Will keep you posted.