Mournes, Do you know the areas affected by fires?

[Paul72]

Did you get any photos of it? What does it look like on a map?

[LennyJ1]

I did get photos but unable to up load as I have no Internet access ant home at the moment. I dont understand the 2nd question. did you mean where in the map?

[Paul72]

Yeah, sorry wasn't very clear about the map question!  If you were looking at Annalong Wood on the OS 1:25000 map what area would the fire damage cover?

[LennyJ1]

When walkling under binnian it most of the wood next to the track. I will dig out a map on here and put it up.

[sjh1]

There is still the sound of birds in the trees

One reason to look on the bright side is that the Mournes conifer plantations aren't actually very good for birds other than a few conifer-liking species such as goldcrest coal tit, siskin and crossbill (not sure if the latter are present in the Mournes). Generalists such as woodpigeon, hoody crows etc. are present too and where there are broadleaved trees the common /garden tits, finches and thrushes in low densities.

But in general, the conifer forests are not great for birds or invertebrates. Think wood mice numbers are also lower under conifers than deciduous. Basically cos conifers are non-native so the species we have aren't adapted to live in them.

Hopefully some of the areas affected by the fires will be left to regenerate naturally allowing a range of deciduous scrub and woodland to develop. If this happens the variety of bird species and overall bird numbers should increase.

However I don't welcome the fires cos Annalong Forest is my favourite Mournes camping spot. (On a number of occasions there I've seen abandoned campfires still burning fiercely). Also some areas that were previously burned/felled just don't seem to have regenerated at all.

[MikeD]

Its a bit strange to me (city folk) that you don't see more wildlife when out walking in the mournes.  Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, but I always feel a little disappointed I dont see more.....

Today at the park, I saw a cat chase a mouse through the carpark, they were both running towards me.   I had the dog with me in the back of the car, I wish I could have let her out, so I'd have had, a dog chasing a cat chasing a mouse 

[sjh1]

Its a bit strange to me (city folk) that you don't see more wildlife when out walking in the mournes.  Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, but I always feel a little disappointed I dont see more.....

The uplands generally support less species than the lowlands but there is wildlife in the Mournes. There are a few upland specialists e.g. ring ouzel, snow bunting, red grouse, plus birds of open country such as skylarks, meadow pipits and wheatear. Peregrines and ravens nest on the cliffs. Also present are the few bird species of the conifer plantations discussed above. There are also generalist species which are good at surviving anywhere e.g. foxes.

Usually the lower slopes, where there's more mixed habitat with gorse scrub and deciduous trees, support more wildlife.

A general tip is that early morning or late evening are best for seeing wildlife. Also fewer people is better.

Re. the fires harming wildlife the skylarks and meadow pipits probably lost quite a few eggs / nestlings. Hopefully most of them will nest again this year. 

[MikeD]

Nice tips, I think I just need to make more effort and learn to identify the different animals.

[ChuckMcB]

Posted some pics over in this thread, never been soo happy to see a slimy slug digging about in the ash

[whoRya]

I took this picture on Sunday.  Pretty much everything that looks black in the picture is burnt.