• Flora - Within the membership of Shotover Wildlife are several competent field botanists, and some members help other wildlife groups with species surveys.
• Bryophytes - Identification of mosses and liverworts by Jacqueline Wright: County Recorder for Oxfordshire (VC23) and Berkshire (VC22).
• Birds - Shotover Wildlife has strong links with Oxford Ornithological Society, and several members contribute to our monthly systematic surveys on Shotover Hill. See also our book:- The Birds of Shotover
• Butterflies - Butterfly records from Shotover Wildlife members are collated centrally on a database. Some members specialise in butterflies.
• Other Invertebrates - Identification and survey of bees, wasps, ants, sawflies, spiders, beetles, molluscs and some groups of flies.

Shotover Wildlife aspires to high standards of accuracy with species identification. Towards this end, we offer as much help as we can, from our own knowledge, from the organisation's library and from the many links that Shotover Wildlife has with other experts and organisations. (Other Organisations)

Bird Recording Tours (Monthly)

Shotover Wildlife maintains regular and systematic bird surveys on Shotover Hill. These are designed to monitor any changes in common bird numbers and breeding activity. The survey tours record all birds in a 10 minute period, at 10 fixed locations once each month, and take about 2-2.5 hours.

If you are interested in taking part and/or improving your skills in bird monitoring, let us know and we can send extra communications about events and monitoring days.

All data are shared with Oxford Ornithological Society (OOS) and Shotover Wildlife collates a database of bird observations in the area of Shotover Hill (see Information and Advice)

Butterflies

Shotover Wildlife is accumulating a database of butterfly observations in the region of Shotover. The records come in from both 'casual' and dedicated observers, and are passed on to the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) as well as the British Butterfly Conservation Society. There are many ways in which anyone interested in butterflies may contribute: for example by concentrating on a specific area, habitat or selected important species. This work can be contributed quite independently from other organised work of Shotover Wildlife. It would be particularly useful to maintain regular monitoring of a fixed transect, however, this requires some commitment.

Insect Sampling

This rewarding activity does not necessarily need special skills, just a commitment to visit and service insect traps every few weeks. This could be easily accomplished by a younger enthusiast yet yield some very important results.
The work can be extended to the sorting of the catch into basic insect groups. This is particularly helpful, and very instructive to anyone who would like to become familiar with the diversity of insects. It is also well suited to project work for schools or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Invertebrate Surveying

We have links with various entomological organisations (Oxford University, British Entomological and Natural History Society, The Northmoor Trust etc.) and this framework provides the opportunity for anyone to pursue an interest of their own, under some of the best advice possible. Shotover Wildlife currently surveys for various invertebrate groups including spiders, bees, wasps, ants, sawflies, butterflies and dragonflies.

Flora
The ADOPT-A-SECTOR SCHEME
If you would like to use, or increase, your knowledge and recognition skills with wild plants, in a way that is manageable to you, why not adopt your own (small or large) area of Shotover on which to concentrate. This scheme has worked very well, and has been of great benefit to many members over the years. One member of Shotover Wildlife is now enjoying a career as a professional botanist having benefited significantly from the Adopt-a-Sector Scheme!

Each year we divide a large area of habitat into sectors, and individuals work on a component sector in the 'company' of the surrounding observers.

This is an excellent opportunity for anybody to choose a sector that suits their level of skill. We will help you to confirm any plants that you are not sure of, and you can survey in your own time, and it is a real contribution towards building a comprehensive appreciation of Shotover's flora.

Veteran Trees

Here is a great project involving the older trees in the area: finding them, mapping, estimating their age, assessing their health, ensuring their survival and looking at their contribution to wildlife and biodiversity. We have information on the dating and management of veteran trees, and are accumulating a register of the notable trees of Shotover.
See The Shotover Ancient Trees Project

Amphibians and Reptiles

Shotover Wildlife is currently surveying for reptiles to add to our knowledge of the status of this group in and around Shotover. Anyone wishing to focus on systematic observations of reptiles and/or amphibians would be very welcome. The objective is to understand distribution and status, and assist in compiling records for the county initiatives in these species groups.

Mammals, including Bats

Sightings of mammals are accumulated on a dedicated data base and many members report their ad hoc observations, and help to increase our overall knowledge.

Shotover Wildlife owns a heterodyne bat detector, with supporting CD and booklet, for loan to members. Very little surveying for bats has been done on Shotover, and this type of work presents a most interesting and productive surveying opportunity.