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The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group

HeronHeron The

Newsletter - January 2015

The Royal Society for the protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076, in

Scotland no. SC037654

Introducing Mike Roberts as tonight’s speaker

Mike originally trained as a forester before working as a ranger with The Mersey Valley Partnership and eventually heading their land team. A wildlife photographer of many years, he is currently Trees and Woodland Officer with St. Helens Council. His talk will illustrate the diversity of landscape and wildlife found in the Somerset Levels, and in particular an area known locally as the Avalon Marshes. This area has become increasingly important for wildlife in recent years with the spread of bitterns, the arrival of new breeding species such as the great white egret, and the introduction of the common crane.

DIARY DATES

January 2015

Sunday 25

WGBG Coach Trip: North Lancashire Coast Depart at 8 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Judith Rees 0161 980 5034 or Steve McGann 01625 533652

Sunday 25

National RSPB Event: Big Garden Birdwatch Join Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers and the RSPB Macclesfield Local Group for the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch. Come and help us count the birds at one of the most attractive and innovative gardens in Cheshire at the Jodrell Bank Arboretum, University of Manchester, Macclesfield, SK11 9DW. LR Grid reference: SJ796717 (N53.24205, W2.30667) Meet at the Jodrell Bank car park. 10.30 am - 12.30 pm. Discounted Group entry for RSPB members (confirmed on booking) or free to Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre ticket holders. This covers entry to the Discovery Centre and all exhibitions. Booking essential - places still available, it’s not too late to book!. Contact: Tina Hanak 07870 804413

February 2015

Friday 6

CAWOS meeting: Wader Quest by Rick and Elis Simpson 7:30 pm for a prompt 7:45 pm start at St. Vincents Roman Catholic Church, Tatton Street, Knutsford, WA16 6HR

Tuesday 10

Indoor Meeting: Wildlife of Cheshire’s Peaks, Plains and Coasts by David Tolliday Plus ‘Bring and Buy’ in aid of Group funds Introduced by: Ray Evans 01625 432635

Sunday 8

Outdoor Meeting: Southport Area A search for winter waders retreating from the advancing 13:25 pm high tide at several sites in the Southport area finishing with a visit to WWT Martin Mere reserve. Meet at Duke Street car park at 9:00 am for an all day visit Leader: Alan Brereton 01625 615628

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The Times they are a-changing by Ray Perry

Happy New Year to all our Readers

T he Times newspaper has changed because Simon Barnes, their nature watching commentator and Chief Sports Editor, is no longer a permanent member of the Times staff. When asked by another journalist why he had left, he said he was told by management that they could no longer afford to pay him. He had worked for the Times

for 32 years winning many awards and receiving copious plaudits plus he has written 18 books about sports and nature. His coverage of the 2012 London Olympics was regarded as excellent. Many will remember his articles for the RSPB magazine Birds/Nature’s Home.

There is good news however; he now writes for the magazine British Nature about his passion for the natural world. Also he has recently written for the Spectator and the Independent on Sunday. On the 6th November 2014, the Wildlife Trusts presented him with the Rothschild’s Medal for services to conservation.

More good news is that daily papers are now frequently mentioning nature. Here are some snippets from Times newspapers from July to the end of 2014, most included coloured photos:

July: (a) Three pictures showing an osprey attacking a mallard but the mallard fought back, chasing the bird of prey away; the duck was defending its ducklings. (b) Two mallards gave birth to 20 ducklings in the beer garden of a Birmingham pub. The manager gave them their own paddling pools. £100 was raised to provide duck food. (c) A bumper summer expected for marbled white butterflies. (d) A female mute swan was pictured with 6 cygnets, 3 were on its back – a “maternal boat”! (e) A long article about the cuckoo, surprisingly by Simon Barnes. (f) An article about starling flock formation. (g) Yet another article by Simon Barnes! In this article, he confesses that he had only one more week left of his contract to write his regular Into the Wild article. He talks about his patch and the addition of greenshank to his patch list, making a total of 97.

August: (a) Derwent May’s regular Feather Report still appears on a weekly basis. His long article on the 2nd August 2014 was mainly about the grey partridge. Among many interesting facts he mentioned that a group of partridges is known as a covey but at roost they are known as a “jug”. (b) Jim Dixon now writes a regular article called “Nature Notebook”. Jim shows great concern for the demise of the hen harrier. There is still a battle going on between moorland owners who raise grouse for the pleasure of shooting parties’ “sport”. The hen harrier is, therefore, subject to persecution and illegal killing. The RSPB and journalists, like Simon Barnes, have been fighting this evil practise and have pointed out a way

forward to satisfy all interests. The landowners have ignored the pleas of conservationists. In his article Jim also mentioned glow-worms and peewits (lapwing). (c) A returning osprey to Perthshire arrived for its 24th season. This particular bird has laid 71 eggs over the years and raised 50 chicks but in 2014 her eggs did not hatch. The Scottish Wildlife Trust do not expect her to return again from Africa.

September and October: Little was reported in the Times during these 2 months about nature but the following two articles are worth a mention: (a) Nature embraces the whole world - that is man and the natural scenery - or the physical universe. Man has a great influence on the state of nature. Mankind is its destroyer and its saviour. A piece by Ben Webster, the Environment Editor of the Times demonstrates man’s quandary. It is reported that the CO2 in the atmosphere has gone up by 3ppm (or 1%) in the last year. The seas mop up a quarter of the CO2 but the fear is that the seas will become too acidic and damage marine organisms. CO2 becomes carbonic acid

Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)

Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)

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in water BUT is a very weak acid thus is unlikely to affect corals etc. Forests should take out about another quarter but deforestation is reducing uptake. (b) Another Times writer, Matt Ridley, points out that our weather is not getting worse. There is no global increase in floods, cyclones, tornados, blizzards and wildfires: there has been a decline in the severity of droughts. In other words, weather is as normal and as variable as it has always been. November: More than 400 million birds have been lost across Europe in the last 30 years. However, some species have increased in numbers including robin, raven and buzzard. The most marked decline has been in farmland birds. Data was generated by a number of organisations including the RSPB. December: (a) There were seven articles concerning wildlife in the December 12th edition of the Times. The worst piece of news was that the oceans are drowning in plastic. It was found that the “Med” had more plastic than anywhere else, at 900,000 pieces per sq. km!! This problem has been reported before but is obviously getting much worse. (b) Cranes, planes and automobiles! Seven whooping cranes flew into a marshy park on the southern US coast, guided in by micro-lights. Because of heavy snow the birds this year were transported part of the way by lorry! If weather is good then the birds can migrate all the way by themselves. (c) On the 21st December, there was a long article in the Sunday Times about the decline in country wildlife. The article was wide ranging covering many concerns of country folk. The writer was very complementary about the bird-watchers having done more for conservation of wildlife and landscape than any other group. I think he means the RSPB but doesn’t specifically say so! He did mention “The Nature and Wellbeing Act” proposed and drafted by the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB.

The Times they are a-changing by Ray Perry continued

Cheque presentations at the December meeting

Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)

T wo cheques were presented at the December 2014 meeting to RSPB representatives who joined us for the evening. The

first, saw eleven members from our Wildlife Explorer together with leaders Tina Hanak and Martin James hand over a cheque for £2,175 to Jarrod Sneyd, Site Manager at RSPB Coombes Valley reserve for conservation work on the site. Jarrod is pictured front left about to receive the cheque from the Wildlife Explorers. Jarrod spent a few minutes telling us

about the work being undertaken at Coombes Valley and the recently opened ‘Family Nature Play Trail’.

The second cheque for £7,225 was presented to Carol Tresadern, Local Groups Officer, Northern England, pictured receiving the cheque from Lydia Taylor the Group’s Membership Secretary. Our successful WOW event in September last year contributed £5,500 to this total with the remainder coming from our Gawsworth coffee mornings and refreshment sales at Dunge Valley Gardens. The December 2014 Newsletter gave a detailed breakdown of where the Group recommended these funds should be allocated for conservation work by the RSPB.

Photograph by David Tolliday

Photograph by David Tolliday

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Health and Safety

In the event of fire or other emergency necessitating evacuation of the building, please leave in an orderly manner

via the nearest available Emergency Exit or as instructed by a designated Committee member. Emergency Exits are

indicated by the internationally recognised symbol of a ‘running man’ on a green background.

If required, there is a first aid kit in the kitchen. (If you do have an accident, however minor, while here tonight please

report it directly to a Committee member who, amongst other things, will ensure that details are logged in the

Accident Report Book.)

Long Service Awards for Group Volunteers

BRING & BUY NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 10 February 2015

L ooking ahead to the February

Indoor Meeting sees the return of our annual “Bring & Buy” sale. This popular event provides an opportunity to recycle Christmas gifts for the benefit of birds and wildlife. In addition, demand remains high for homemade cakes, jams, marmalades and chutneys. How about doing a little baking on our behalf or making a jar or two of jam. Past experience shows these items sell well. Any contribution, however small is gratefully received. Please ensure that each item you bring is clearly priced and be prepared to take home any items that are unsold.

FANCY A BOAT TRIP IN 2015

The RSPB South Lincolnshire Local Group are offering birdwatching cruises on The Wash aboard the Brighton Belle.

Opportunities to visit Snape and

Havergate Island RSPB Reserves in Suffolk are available in 2015. Access to

the new wetland reserve at Snape is restricted to RSPB guided walks only

and Havergate Island is via boat on pre-booked trips.

Leaflets are available on the side tables in the refreshment hall which give more

information about these trips. Please speak to Ian Taylor if the leaflets run out

and he will arrange to get the information to you.

Big Garden Birdwatch

24 - 25 January 2015

Not yet paid your membership this season or decided to join the Group

With four Indoor meetings as well as the Spring and Summer Outdoor programme and the AGM still to come for this season becoming a member of the Group or renewing your membership

makes perfect sense. Membership ensures that you will receive your membership pack in August which contains your copy of the ‘Heron’ magazine and the new season's Programme.

Please see Lydia in the foyer at any indoor meeting or contact her by email or post.

Membership of the Group remains at £10.00 per person payable by Standing Order, Cash or Cheque made payable to: RSPB Macclesfield Local Group.

NOTICES

P ictured with Carol Tresadern (second left) receiving their Long Service Volunteer awards from left to right are; Chris Johnson and Ian Taylor (20 years) and David Beer (10 years). We congratulate them for this fine volunteering achievement.