This newsletter is co-edited by Peter Reed (01904 492494) and Chris Lloyd. Views expressed or advertisements

contained in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the RSPB or the York Group Committee. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/york

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SCO37654

Group Leader: Barry Bishop

DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER

In this issue

It’s that time of year

Note from the Editor

Sponsorship from

Deirdre Brown Travel

Clements Hall

Leader’s notes

Membership renewal

Snippets – Clever

birds, Peregrines and

Stargazing

Golden Eagle and

Cirl Bunting news

Bulgaria – LG trip

report

Local walk and trip

reports

Winter programme

Day trip venues

Barry and all the

members of the

committee wish you and

your families a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR Don’t forget Val and Larry have a large selection of bird food for sale at very competitive prices. Do have a look at their selection after the indoor meetings….

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Just an update on the option of receiving this newsletter by email if case you have missed or forgotten about this new option. We now have 48 members who receive it in this way and we hope you are satisfied with how it works and that you can

read it alright on your PC or tablet etc. Any comments are welcome and in case you accidentally delete it you can email me for another or download it from our website. If any other members would like to take up this option, or try it out, please let me know, copied to Lynne Borthwick. In this edition I would like to thank all contributors particularly Ken for his trip reports and Bob Coursey for the splendid account of the LG Bulgaria trip this autumn. If you have any other suggestions on the content or would like to provide a photo or article etc. please let me know. Peter Reed SPONSORSHIP FOR 2017 FROM DEIRDRE BROWN TRAVEL We are very grateful to Deirdre Brown Travel for sponsoring the printing of our programme cards for 2017. Please see page 3 for further information in their advert and visit their website if visiting Mull next year with the LG or planning a coach holiday elsewhere. And please thank them for sponsoring the York LG when booking!

__________________________________________________________

RSPB YORK LOCAL GROUP

__________________________________________________________

2

Information on location of our new meeting venue – Clements Hall, York

A map to assist finding our new venue is given below:

No through roads for traffic are marked with an X and main bus stops are indicated.

Postal address Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road, York, YO23 1BW. (Between Scarcroft Road and Nunnery Lane) Map and further information at http://clementshall.org.uk/ If you use SatNav: use YO23 1BS to navigate to the front of the building. Parking There is no parking at the Hall itself. There is very limited on street parking (between 10 minutes and 2 hours depending on the time of day). The only exception is for blue badge holders. The nearest car parks are at Nunnery Lane or Bishopthorpe Road or use York’s Park and Ride. Askham Bar Park and Ride - buses stop nearby on Blossom Street. Parking will be available at Scarcroft Primary School opposite the hall for the evening meetings and afternoon meetings during school holidays (applies to February and October in 2017). Public transport York Railway Station is about a 10 minute-walk from the Hall, and many buses stop on Blossom St. or The Mount, or at Bishopthorpe Road Shops or Bishopthorpe Road opposite Charlton Street. Bicycle - There are a number of hoops to lock your bike up at the front of the hall.

Peter Reed

Bus Stops – Blossom Street

Bus Stops – The Mount

X

X

X

Clements Hall

Car Park

Bus Stops Bishopthorpe

Road opposite Charlton St.

Bus Stops

Bishopthorpe

Road Shops

X X

Google maps

Scarcroft Primary

School

3

From the RSPB York Group Leader

I am writing these comments after watching the “super moon” rise and what a marvellous sight it was. It appeared very large and orange as it rose over the Humber, it was disappointing that it soon disappeared behind the clouds. I was watching the moon rise from Singleton hide at Blacktoft Sands and had been on duty in the reception hide after a very busy day cleaning the windows! The reason for me having to keep cleaning the windows was that the team at Blacktoft have been working hard and have made vast improvements to the Xerox lagoon and the ditch in front of the reception hide. This meant that visitors to the reception hide could see dunlin, redshank and black tailed godwits at close quarters. The star of the show though was a male kingfisher who perched just outside and proceeded to dive into the ditch and catch shrimps! I lost count of the number of ‘wows’ I heard, but the visitors kept breathing on the windows so I had to keep cleaning them! It was worth the effort to see the smiles on their faces and to be able to help people connect with nature, which is part of the reason I volunteer for the society and at the reserve. By the time that you read this newsletter we will have had our last meeting at St. John’s College and will have had two indoor meetings at our new venue of Clements Hall. A map and details on how to reach this venue in York are on the opposite page. We hope that you find this a suitable venue and I look forward to chatting to people over a cup of tea at the interval. If you would be willing to help at our indoor meetings please let me know. It is the time of year when some people make New Year resolutions and I have a suggestion to make if you need a resolution! Please register and use The BTO’s ‘Birdtrack’ to report your bird sightings. It is free and easy to use and can be a very useful site. Not only does it record your records, you can see how many birds that you have seen in a year, check on the earliest and latest sightings of migrating birds and produce a list of birds seen at various sites across the country. I have had enquiries from four groups of people who are concerned about developments taking place in their area and the effect that it may have on wildlife. If they had used Birdtrack to record their sightings then they would have been able to show prospective developers what a good wildlife habitat it has been over the years. Please let me know if you require any help to join Birdtrack. https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack/about I hope that you and your family have a pleasant Christmas and New Year and perhaps we may have a waxwing winter. Thank you for your support.

Barry

Sponsorship for 2017

The RSPB York Local Group is very grateful for sponsorship of the printing of the 2017

programme from Deirdre Brown Travel, who are organising the trip to Mull next year. Please visit

their website and mention the RSPB Local group if joining any other of their holidays!

http://www.deirdrebrowntravel.com/

4

Local Group Membership Renewal

This is the time of year when your membership of the York Group is due for renewal. Thank you to those who have already renewed either by standing order or by cheque. Your continued support is very much appreciated. Your membership card and programme for 2016 is included with this copy of the newsletter and for those of you who receive the newsletter by email the membership card can be collected at the next Indoor meeting. For those of you who haven’t renewed your membership yet, but intend to do so, you can pay at the next meeting. Alternatively you can send your payment of £4 per household to me, Lynne Borthwick, 29 Whin Road, York, YO21 1JZ. Your cheque should be payable to RSPB York Group. If you want to receive your membership card in the post please included a stamped addressed envelope with your payment or you can collect your card from me at the next Indoor Meeting. If you haven't renewed yet the enclosed programme and newsletter are complimentary. If you do not wish to renew your membership please do let me know. My email address is lynne.borthwick@btinternet.com If we hear nothing from you by the end of December your details will be removed and your membership considered to be cancelled.

Lynne

Snippets

How clever are your birds? Have you ever tested them with the floating worm task?! It’s your chance to turn scientist! Put a jam jar in the garden, half filled with water, with a dried mealworm or something similar floating on the surface out of reach. Leave a pile of stones nearby. Then watch….which species work out how to get the prize? If you have a go, do let us know any results….?! (Or a photo would be even better! ..Ed) Peregrines on the Minster You may remember our article in earlier editions – the birds diet is still being studied by Jack Ashton-Booth and the latest unusual prey items found under the Minster have been a juvenile Common Tern, Water Rail, Corncrake and Grey Plover, amongst other things! York Local Group – Stargazing Barry Bishop writes in the RSPB Volunteers newsletter Autumn 2016… “The York group were invited to attend a Stargazing event at St. Peter’ School. I wanted to participate in the event rather than just have a stall so I came up with this idea. As the event was about stargazing I wanted to talk about how some birds use stars to migrate. I used the following equipment:

a map of the world.

pictures of birds such as swallows, arctic terns, whooper swans etc.

a game called Don't Buzz the Wire. People who visited the stall were invited to choose a bird. We then talked about the bird, its life, migration etc. People where then invited to have a go at the game to see how they could navigate. It proved very popular and we will use the buzz game at some of our local parks.”

5

Welcome rise in Scotland’s golden eagle

population, according to fourth national survey

Adapted from an RSPB Scotland press release 10 November 2016 Results from the fourth national golden eagle survey show that the population of these birds of prey has increased to 508 pairs in Scotland. That is a rise of 15% since the previous survey in 2003, when 442 pairs were recorded, and indicates recovery of the population towards levels thought to have been present in this country historically. Golden eagles are regarded by many people as Scotland’s national bird and it is more than likely that Scotland is actually home to the entire UK population, following reports earlier this year that England’s only resident golden eagle is feared to have died. The national survey was carried out during the first six months of 2015 and was co-funded by the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Golden Eagle Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

The results are significant because the eagle population, having surpassed 500 pairs, now meets the targets identified to define it as having ‘favourable conservation status’ in the UK. The population increase also highlights the continuing steady recovery in Scotland from very low numbers in the mid-19th century. The northern Highlands and the central spine of the country, between the Great Glen and Stirlingshire, saw the greatest increase in numbers between 2003 and 2015. Recovery also continues in much of the west Highlands and islands with modest increases noted there. However, part of the Highlands west of Inverness has remained stable between 2003 and 2015, after a significant drop in occupied territories between the 1982 and 1992. The reasons for the lack of recovery aren’t clear, but likely involve a number of potential factors such as grazing pressure by deer reducing habitat quality for eagle prey, persecution, recreation and forestry. The poor spring and summer weather also had an adverse impact on breeding success, especially in the western parts of Scotland. Golden eagles also continue to be absent in many parts of the eastern Highlands. Less than one third of the traditional ‘home ranges’ in this area were occupied by a pair of eagles and no eagles were recorded at all in over 30% of them, despite the fact that these should be very productive landscapes for these birds. Many of the vacant territories in this area are on ground managed intensively for driven grouse shooting and in recent years, four eagles fitted with satellite tags have been found illegally killed in the central and eastern Highlands. Good News for Cirl Bunting also Rare farmland bird reaches major milestone Re-written from an RSPB Scotland press release 17 November 2016 The cirl bunting – one of Britain’s most threatened farmland birds – has continued its comeback from the brink of extinction in the after its UK population reached more than 1000 pairs, according to the latest national survey by the RSPB. The dramatic rise in the population of the Cirl bunting to 1078 pairs comes at a time when many other farmland birds continue to struggle. The jump in numbers follows a 25-year project between the RSPB and local farmers in the south west of England to help manage their land in a cirl bunting friendly way providing year round food supplies and habitat for the threatened species, e.g. by growing spring barley and leaving weedy stubble and grassy margins. From the RSPB Media Centre page where there’s always something exciting to read: http://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/releases/index.aspx

Peter Reed

6

York RSPB group visit to Bulgaria September 2016

Bob Coursey writes about our local group visit to see the bird migration spectacle on the

Black Sea coast

On Saturday 3rd September 18 local group members flew to Burgas on the Black Sea coast of

Bulgaria with Roger Barnes and Phil Palmer, our leaders from Bird Holidays. We stayed four

nights at Hotel Lazuren Briag in Sarafovo followed by three nights at Hotel Yanitsa at Krapets,

north of Kavarna. Both were coastal resorts situated on a major European migration flyway,

known as Via Pontica (after a local Roman road), where huge numbers of birds follow the

coastline southwards from northern Europe and Asia towards Africa each autumn. The area

around Burgas has extensive lakes, lagoons and saltpans which attract pelicans, storks, waders,

other waterbirds and soaring birds of prey, as well as many passerines. We were given expert

local advice from members of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB).

Sunday September 4th

Despite arriving after midnight, some early risers were rewarded

by the sight of golden orioles, Syrian woodpecker, black-necked

grebe and commoner warblers on the beach outside our hotel.

After breakfast two minibuses took us to Lake Pomorie where

large numbers of waders, terns, ducks and egrets fed happily

alongside local bathers covering themselves from head to toe in

black mud! Despite the competition, we saw black-winged stilts,

marsh, curlew and wood sandpipers, Kentish plovers, avocet,

pygmy cormorants, whiskered and white winged black terns and

some delightful penduline tits. As we travelled round the lake

large numbers of bee-eaters passed overhead calling and red-

backed shrikes frequented the fields; both these sights were to

be features of the week. Lunch in a nearby forest produced a

passing booted eagle, a sombre tit and red-breasted flycatcher.

Returning to the lake we saw osprey overhead and broad-billed

sandpipers (right).

Monday September 5th

A visit to Lake Atanasovsko produced Caspian terns and our first pelicans – over 1000 white

pelicans circling spectacularly overhead on their way south (below) and smaller numbers of the

local Dalmatian species. A raptor count

nearby was a bit slow but Montagu’s

harrier, short-toed eagle, hobby and long

legged buzzard were seen. Flocks of

Spanish sparrows on the move became a

daily feature. At Burgas Lake, where we

picnicked at a BSPB centre, we recorded

white-tailed eagle. Lake Mandra saw us

add gull-billed tern, ferruginous duck,

squacco and purple heron and, for

variety, a water snake, terrapin and

tortoise to our list.

© Ian Brookes

© Bob Coursey

7

Tuesday September 6th

We saw a great reed warbler, being ringed (right) at

Lake Atanasovsko and also recorded honey

buzzard, lesser spotted and short-toed eagles on

the move. A vantage point in the Balkan Range of

hills rewarded us with views of three black and over

200 white storks migrating overhead, plus goshawk,

hoopoe and rollers. We lunched at a cafe at Banevo

by Roman baths, with our drinking water of

unknown vintage drawn from the Roman well. After

exploring the baths we returned to the hotel, picking

up five red-necked phalaropes at some salt pans en

route.

Wednesday September 7th

Today we set off for our next hotel, further north along the coast, narrowly avoiding a striking

miners' roadblock, and travelling via the Dulino Pass. We met some interested Russian tourists

and were intrigued by a praying mantis, which obligingly perched on the hands, shirt of the author

and even the head of a member! The Pass produced good views of cirl buntings, lesser grey

shrike and ravens. After lunching at a restaurant nearby, we explored the Goritza Forest for

woodpeckers and, after some effort, managed to see specimens of grey-headed, middle spotted,

great spotted and green. We then continued north through the city of Varna, whence Dracula set

sail for Whitby - but there were no reported sightings. Our new hotel proved to be more modern

with a complex of chalets set around a swimming pool by the sea.

Thursday September 8th

After good pre-breakfast birding with common and black

redstarts, red-breasted and spotted flycatchers and whinchat in

the hotel beach area, we went to the BSPB's Durankulak and

Lake Shabla reserves. These host most of the world's wintering

red-breasted goose population but we were too early for them.

Very good views were obtained of red-breasted flycatcher (right)

near the centre cafe – a smart bird. Flying over the beach we

saw an immature great black-headed gull – an impressive sight.

The dried -up part of Lake Shabla was a mecca for waders (and

more mud-bathers!) with sightings including up to five broad-

billed sandpipers, Temminck’s and little stints as well as turtle

dove and more ospreys moving south. Later after dinner we

enjoyed a fine cake to celebrate one member's birthday!

© Peter Reed

© Ian Brookes and Peter Reed

© Peter Reed

8

Friday September 9th.

We saw pallid swifts as we went east towards Cape Kaliakra, where the habitat was more steppe-

like with rough grassland. The expected wheatears

were soon found with good roadside views of black-

eared, pied and northern. Woodchat and lesser grey

shrike were also present, along with a handful of stone

curlews, crested larks and tawny pipits. The Cape itself

was once called the Despotate of Dobruja where there

was a memorial (right) to 40 maidens who reputedly

tied their locks together and threw themselves into the

Black Sea to escape the invading Ottomans. The

excitement on our visit was limited to a cormorant of

the Dalmatian race, the taking of a group photo (below) and a

souvenir shop selling mugs boasting past and present

Russian Presidents' portraits. We returned via the Bolata

Valley, whose cliffs are home to eagle owls. Sadly, none were

found despite a long search, but further views of great reed

warbler (left) and red breasted flycatchers plus our sixth

woodpecker – a lesser spotted – were a consolation.

Saturday September 10th

On our way back to Burgas airport we stopped off at Pomorie again for further good views of

waders and the opportunity to stock up on Black Sea mud and salts of the packaged variety. We

thanked all our guides fulsomely at Burgas and Manchester for what was a very good holiday with

fine weather, good catering, plenty of interesting birds – 184 species in all – and of course,

excellent company!

Bob Coursey

© Peter Reed

© Bob Coursey

© Bob Coursey

9

Local Walks and Day trip reports July - October 2016

May 22nd Blacktoft Sands (Missed from September newsletter) Ten members joined this event which also coincided with ‘Meet the Ponies’ day at Blacktoft Sands. The reserve has just got two new ponies to join the other four Konic ponies that do a valuable job of grazing, and accessing areas of the reserve the team cannot reach. BBC Lincolnshire turned up and recorded an interview which was broadcast on Look North a few evenings later. Before lunch the group visited the hides to the left of the visitor centre and enjoyed views of a Cetti’s warbler. There are several of these birds on the reserve and they have been there all winter. It is very common to hear the birds but it is not everyone that manages to see them. Black tailed godwits looked very attractive in their orange plumage. These birds would normally be in Iceland but they have been on the reserve for most of the summer so are probably non-breeding birds. “Dusky maidens” or spotted redshanks were also seen (left). Some of these Mike Langman (rspb-images.com) birds still had their black plumage and were probably females. The females leave the breeding areas before the males, who migrate later together with the young birds. After lunch the group visited the three hides to the right of the visitor centre where they were able to get excellent views of the dozen or so breeding pairs of marsh harriers. The males would fly low over the reeds then drop and collect some food item. They would then fly high over the reeds until their partner flew up and they would then drop the food item for the female to get and take it back to the nest. Barry Bishop 17th August Rawcliffe Ings Rawcliffe Park and Ride car park was a convenient venue for this midweek walk. Thirteen members met for a brief introduction to the walk from Ken. There was little bird song or sound at this time of year but wild flowers provided interest as we walked along the footpath and National Cycle route towards Beningborough. We paused by a flood control point where rare iridescent tansy beetles (below) showed well on the tansy plants. The banks of the River Ouse are one of the few, if not the only place that this insect survives in this country.

Ken took the opportunity to explain that Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, crossed the river around here on a “bridge of boats” prior to engaging the Parliamentary army at Marston Moor in 1644. Probably as a result of these diversions most of us missed the kingfisher which was spotted by some flying down the river. However most of the group saw a couple of sparrow hawks drifting across the sky towards Skelton before we proceeded to the half-way point of the walk, close to Overton. Nothing of note was seen on our return route to the car park. The following were the main wild flowers seen, amphibious

Image : © Ken Searstone bistort, sneezewort, prickly lettuce, water mint, golden rod and bitter sweet in addition to 14 bird species seen along with green woodpecker and willow warbler heard. 18th September Nunburnholme On a bright Sunday morning a dozen of us convened near the church of St. James, just out of the village of Nunburnholme. We parked by the Oak Apple sign of the Wolds Way (79 miles of Wolds from Hessle to Filey), which indicated the start of today’s walk. Swallows and house martins, circled overhead as they prepared to leave our shores for warmer climes in Africa.

10

The historical link of a past rector of the church and the RSPB was mentioned, but for more detail Ken suggested looking at the information board beyond the church on our return journey. Our route took us around a field, across a road and up a steep track through Bratt Wood (right). From the top of this climb the Plain of York could be seen, and to the left in the distance, the three Yorkshire power stations of Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge were visible, two of which are now redundant. The route through Wold Farm and then back into Bratt Wood didn’t produce many birds but the “Indian Summer” weather suited a range of butterflies which included speckled wood, small and large white, green veined white, red admiral, small tortoiseshell and latterly a comma. In addition to the hirundines noted above, chiffchaff and blackcap were amongst the total of 28 species seen during the walk and another four were heard. We returned through the attractive village, passing a smaller group walking in the opposite direction, to reach our cars. 25th September RSPB Old Moor in the Dearne valley About 12 members gathered at the car park at this reserve, and, after avoiding the temptations of the shopping area and coffee shop, found ourselves at the bird feeders. Here abundant tree sparrows, greenfinches and a few dunnocks were found and a hungry squirrel. Then we moved to the first hide, where a brilliant kingfisher caught a fish the size of itself, and spent some minutes trying to bash it into submission on a post. Buzzard, kestrel and sparrow hawk were seen from here and a common darter was basking in the morning sun. Many geese, ducks and waders were here and including many Canada Geese, gadwall, teal and lapwings. After lunch, we progressed to the other hides, where good views were had of many ruff, a few dunlin and two green sandpipers, and singles of black-tailed godwit, little egret, grey plover and a fly-over hobby, that caused a stir. This was my first visit to this impressive reserve where there are many educational and other facilities, and it makes a suitable site for families with lots going on! We then visited briefly Broomhill Flash nearby where there were a few great-crested and many little grebes and tufted ducks and just as we were about to leave although they had been there all the time – a pair of kingfishers on the sunny bank just in front of us (right). A kingfisher day all round!

Peter Reed 16th October Huttons Ambo We were hoping that the forecast rain would come later in the morning as nine of us met by the roadside in High Hutton. Ken explained that Huttons Ambo is not a place but as Ambo is Latin for “both”, the name covers High and Low Hutton. Huttons Ambo was also adopted by the now disused railway station which served both Huttons. As we moved off to start the walk the rain started and unfortunately lasted for most of the rest of the walk. Birdlife was rather scarce so the main interest on our outward journey was an earthwork just outside Low Hutton. Subsequent research by Jenny established that this was the site of Cotswain Manor, a 13th century building which had been partially excavated in 1956. The rain cleared as we entered the village prompting some to indulge in ice creams from the local shop. The walk back to High Hutton and our cars gave a good sighting of brambling moving through a hedge bordering one of the fields. On a fine day the splendid views from this walk would have been much more enjoyable.

All reports by Ken Searstone unless otherwise given

© Ian Brookes

© Peter Reed

11

Winter programme of events – January – April 2017

Note all evening and afternoon meetings are now held in Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Rd, York and details of its location and other information is given on page 2.

JANUARY

Wed 18th 7.30 pm INDOOR MEETING – Keith Clarkson “Life on the Edge”. The changing

fortunes of our seabirds at Bempton Cliffs and the wider Yorkshire Coastline. Keith Clarkson is RSPB Bempton Cliffs Site Manager. Responsible not only for the relaunch of the reserve, Keith is also a dedicated, lifelong birder and pioneer in the dark art of visible migration. This talk presents the results of 10 years of monitoring the progress of the ¼ million seabirds who breed along the coastline. This research gives us insight into the changing ecology of these colonies, the factors that affect them and the threats and challenges ahead.

Tues 24th 2.30 pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING – we are approaching daytime

speakers who can attend at fairly short notice – please see website. Tea and/or coffee included.

Sun 29th 10.00 am MORNING WALK at Harewood House.

Entry from Weardley OS Ref 299448 N53.89852885 W-1.54646570 to Harewood Yard OS Ref 306448 N53.89848825 W-1.53581335

FEBRUARY

Tues 21st 7.30 pm INDOOR MEETING – Steve Race – “Wild Shetland”.

Steve Race is a passionate local Naturalist and lead photographer at Yorkshire Coast Nature. From his start with a film camera in the early eighties right up to the digital era of today, Steve has acquired a great eye for wildlife photography. Steve was one of the "commended" winners in the international "BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year" and was also commended" in the British Wildlife Photography Awards. His images have been used by the RSPB, the Natural History Museum, the National Trust and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. In addition to his role on the YCN team, Steve works part-time as Community Education and Outreach Officer for the RSPB at Bempton Cliffs Reserve, East Yorkshire. He has also worked on projects with the national media and appeared on the BBC's Countryfile, and Springwatch . The Shetland Isles is one of Steve’s favourite places in the UK for wildlife. The rolling hills, lochs and rugged coastline offer an incredible list of species. This talk highlights some of the key species of birds and mammals that breed on and call Shetland their home. From Mountain Hares and Otters to Red-throated Divers and Arctic Skuas the Shetland Isles are truly a magical place to visit and are very wild indeed

Wed 22nd 10.00 am MORNING WALK at YWT Adel Dam and Breary NR. Meet at Golden

Acre car park OS Ref 274419 N53.872587 W-1.5847626

Tues 28th 2.30 pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING – we are approaching daytime

speakers who can attend at fairly short notice – please see website. Tea and/or coffee included.

MARCH

Sun 19th 10.00 am MORNING WALK at Nether Poppleton. Meet by pumping station. Main

Street OS Ref 556549 N53.987801 W-1.1528108

12

Thurs 9th 7.30 pm INDOOR MEETING – Derek Niemann Birds in a Cage.

Derek Niemann, a freelance writer and editor, has had a lifelong interest in natural history, history and Hamilton Academical Football Club. He worked at the RSPB HQ for 25 years. He has published many books on conservation and wildlife and is a regular contributor to the Country Diary column in The Guardian. His acclaimed book, Birds in a Cage, is the story of an obsessive quest behind barbed wire. Through their shared love of birds, a group of British POWs overcome hunger, hardship, fear and stultifying boredom. Their experiences leave them scarred, but set them on a path to becoming greats of the conservation movement.

Tues 21st 2.30 pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING – we are approaching daytime

speakers who can attend at fairly short notice – please see website. Tea and/or coffee included.

APRIL

Fri 21st – Sun 23rd RSPB MEMBERS’ WEEKEND at East Midlands Conference Centre,

Nottingham.

Tues 11th 7.30 pm INDOOR MEETING – Ian Robinson Pearl in the Indian Ocean (Sri

Lanka). Sri Lanka is an island of the Indian subcontinent, shaped like a teardrop falling from the southern end of India, its area of 65,600sq km is about the same size as Ireland. Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the most bio-diverse areas in South Asia. The tropical climate and exotic landscape of the isle makes it a true haven for birds (and bird lovers) who arrive from all over the world. Sri Lanka is home to more than 400 bird species with around 23 endemics and 200 migratory species arriving from India, Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe.

Tues 25th 7.00 pm EVENING WALK to Pretty Wood, Welburn. Meet roadside near Crown

and Cushion OS Ref 721680 N54.10286378 W0.89886518

DAY TRIP VENUES January – April 2017

Please book these trips directly with Barry either by telephone (01904 639853), email (barryjbishop@hotmail.com) or in person at meetings, mentioning if you would like a lift or are able to provide one. Strong shoes or boots will be required on all the trips as well as a packed lunch. Please tell Barry as early as possible and note we will never pass on your contact details to anyone else. Don’t forget your RSPB or YWT membership cards if necessary.

Sunday 15th January 2017. Derwent Valley or North Cave if wet, by car 9am

Saturday 4th February 2017. Filey – by car 9am

We will go to Filey first where we should see a good variety of gulls, waders, divers and passerines. After lunch we will decide where to go. Last year we saw snow bunting and a rough-legged buzzard.

Sunday 26th March 2017. Fairburn Ings – by car 9am

Saturday 8th April 2017. Saltholme - by car 9am

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to

give nature a home