Autumn 2008 started with a ladybird identification workshop at Duchy College, Rosewarne lead by Dr Keith Alexander. The workshop was run because ladybirds tend to be very popular with naturalists, but some species are not easy to identify.
The day started by covering ladybird identification and introduced attendees to the range of species likely to be found in Cornwall. The workshop also included a discussion on the habitat associations of ladybirds. To learn more about the day, open the poster below:
2008 Ladybird Workshop Poster
In May 2009 the staff of the Marine Conservation Team at Cornwall Wildlife Trust ran a beginner level workshop on Rocky Shore Surveying and Identification. The day gave attendees a basic understanding of the flora and fauna found on rocky shores, how to identify particular groups, their adaptations to their habitats and the environmental factors affecting them. The afternoon field trip allowed everyone to look at the variety of habitats found on rocky shores.
In June 2009 ERCCIS organised at workshop run by Dr Keith Alexander on the Great Trees of Cornwall at Lanhydrock Estate, Nr Bodmin
The workshop focused on the ancient and veteran trees, which support a rich and diverse invertebrate fauna, including the wood decay (saproxylic) and bark and wood surface (epiphyte or epixylic) invertebrates. Attendees explored the ancient and veteran trees within Lanhydrock Park and discovered many invertebrate field signs as well as examining many live specimens. For more information and the day's inventory, download the Great Trees of Cornwall poster.
In July 2009 at Cornwall Wildlife Trusts headquarters in Allet, Ian Bennallick ran his second workshop on Getting to Know the Higher Plants of Grasslands.
The course was well received and enabled attendees to identify many of the species of flowering plants and ferns found in different types of grassland in Cornwall. The final workshop of 2009 the Winter Bird Identification course, run at Loe Pool near Helston, proved very popular. This course was aimed at beginners and attendees furthered their understanding of key bird species of woodland, wetland and open water. The focus in particular was on winter visiting wildfowl and the value of these species, their habitat and management. ERCCIS have been running recording workshops and field trips for many years, in 2007/2008 there were fourteen courses.
In the past ERCCIS has organised a variety of workshops. Autumn 2007 events started with an Introduction to Semiaquatic Mammals run by Cor
nwall Wildlife Trust’s Wealth of Wildlife manager, Kate Stokes. The workshop was aimed at beginners wanting to develop their knowledge for identifying and surveying four semiaquatic mammals: the otter, water vole, water shrew and American mink. The workshop attendees were also made aware of the key threats and issues surrounding these species and their habitats. 
The June 2008 workshop, giving an Introduction to Bumblebee Recording was particularly successful and inspiring. It was run by bumblebee expert Patrick Saunders at Duchy College, Rosewarne. Attendees were introduced to bumblebee indentification and the methods employed for recording them. Emphasis was especially on the species found in Cornwall, their ecology and the various environmental pressures bumblebees face.
ERCCIS also organises marine indentification workshops and July 2008 saw Joanna Doyle, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Conservation Officer, lead a Cetacean Identification and Recording workshop. A basic understanding was gained by all into the cetacean species that visit the Cornish coast and aspects of their ecology, status, distribution and threats were covered. How to identify both alive and dead cetaceans in the field was taught. Effort-based surveys were carried out from the shore at St. Ives Bay Godrevy Point and a bottle-nosed dolphin spotted as a result!
The 2008 workshops finished with an introduction to Shieldbug Identification, lead by Dr Keith Alexander. The day was well attended and the shieldbug search and identification session in Rosewarne gardens was enjoyed by all attendees.
