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1 THE KNOT NOTTINGHAM RSPB GROUP NEWSLETTER Volume 11 Number 1 October 2016
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THE KNOT NOTTINGHAM RSPB GROUP NEWSLETTER
Volume 11 Number 1
October 2016
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Editor’s Notes
In the October 2015 edition of the ‘Knot’ our Group
Leader, Doreen, expressed the hope that the EU
Nature Directives would not be watered down. Since
the referendum vote means that eventually we may lose
the influence of Europe on environmental decisions it is
even more important that we stand up for the protection
of wildlife and resist any pressures, commercial or
political, which would lead to a loss of amenity. I am
sure that the RSPB will be at vigilant in fighting any
threats which would lead to a weakening of wildlife
safeguards. I am certain you will agree that the
wonderful natural diversity of Britain is well worth
fighting for.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a registered charity: England and Wales no 207076, Scotland no SC037654.
Articles, photos and adverts should be e- mailed to me
at [email protected] or posted to my address, 39,
Forester Street, Netherfield, NG4 2LJ. The deadline for
the January edition is 1st December 2016.
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Birding to the Finnish - A tale of two halves
As a reward for falling off a ladder, missing a holiday in Costa Rica and generally starting off 2016 badly, I decided that an extended weekend in Finland looking for owls would be some compensation. What could possibly go wrong? Well…. The taxi didn’t turn up. I’d ordered it for 12.50 am and in their wisdom the taxi company decided I meant 12.30pm. Standing ready at the bottom of my drive I needed to phone again then persuade the driver I had to be at Broad Marsh bus station in double-quick time. He obliged, fortunately. I’d spent the evening kicking my heels watching telly when National Express rang to say my 1.20am coach journey to Heathrow would begin with a taxi to Leicester. No problem, I thought. My taxi rolled in at 1.20 but we got to Leicester on time for the 2.10am coach…..But where was the coach? Fifteen of us hung around the draughty bus station with no toilet facilities (locked) for thirty five minutes before contact was made with National Express. We were told a coach would be with us in twenty to twenty five minutes. Forty five minutes later a coach arrived and we all piled in. No apology from the driver, who proceeded to take a ten minute break before departing. Bearing in mind that I’d never been with Birdfinders before and I was expected to check in at 5.30am, panic began to set in. When we reached Luton Airport at
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5.00am I asked the driver the estimated arrival time at Heathrow and was told approx. 6.00am. Fortunately I’d been given a contact telephone number for the Leader I was expected to meet at Heathrow. I rang and got an answerphone-so I left a garbled message and hoped for the best. In order to save time at Heathrow I decided to use the coach’s toilet facility. I don’t know if you ever tried to conduct a phone conversation whilst standing at a urinal in a noisy coach toilet, but let me tell you that return call was ill timed! I wasn’t sure if my message was understood, but at least contact had been established. Needless to say no-one met me at check-in, but at least I caught up with my group in the Departure lounge, much to everyone’s relief. The regular leader of that tour had to cry-off and his two substitutes had no prior knowledge of the tour ahead other than reading about it. We were to be very much in the hands of the Finnature Guide whom we had yet to meet. As it turned out he was a pleasant and knowledgeable young man so the rest of the day went to plan. There must have been six hundred little gulls in the bay near our hotel as well as garganey, marsh, wood and other sandpipers, plus Temminck stints among more common water birds. Pied flycatchers and yellow wagtails were in abundance in the grounds. An encouraging start, I
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thought. Over dinner we were all nervously awaiting the early morning departure announcement, which turned out to be 4.00am.
Our party duly assembled in the car park in good time, but where was the Finnature Guide? We discovered that no staff stayed on site overnight. There was a central reception area and two separate wings. Birdfinders were in one wing and could only access that wing. Our guide was in the other (inaccessible) wing. Fortunately someone found a telephone number for the on-call staff member, who organised for the off-site security guard to gain access to the other wing. All this took time and we eventually left with an embarrassed guide at 4.50am.You’ll be relieved (as we were) to know that it was all plain sailing from there onwards. We had excellent views of pygmy owl, Ural owl, Northern hawk owl - all suitably posed for the photographers in the party. The Tengmalm’s owl had to
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be persuaded to show itself a second time at its nest box hole for those photographers who’d missed it first time. Believe me its repeat appearance revealed how much it resented this further intrusion by glaring disdainfully at the onlookers and disappearing rapidly. Never having experienced the displeasure of a rogue male capercaillie, it was one that will remain with me for a very long time. Whilst blindly following the Guide’s lead minibus we were instructed to reverse a little distance. It seems we’d just passed a capercaillie by the roadside, so we duly reversed and there it was atop a small bank. It soon disappeared out of sight so further reversing was required to obtain access to a narrow lane alongside where we’d seen the bird. It was a dead end where both buses could park side by side. We scrambled out and through a gateway into the field occupied by the bird. There it was at the bottom of the field strutting its stuff. It would start at one side and march to the other all-a-quiver, uttering indescribable noises, tail feathers spread wide, head rising and falling and occasionally charging forward head down. We watched this display for about twenty minutes as it gradually made its way up the field towards us. Then at the far side it did a ninety degree turn and began to home in on us - a photographer’s dream. The nearer it got the higher the testosterone/noise levels. At one stage it leapt high in the air in mid-charge. At this point our Guide suggested a calm
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withdrawal so we collected behind him. He had prepared his defence by uprooting a small bush. The capercaillie saw its chance of advancing more forcefully. It confronted our Guide, who fended it off with the bush and ordered us to retreat to the bus in haste. We watched in safety from the bus as the caper began jumping up at the bush in the Guide’s hand. For a few minutes we were besieged by the rampant capercaillie as it encircled the buses. By signalling when it was clear to reverse the two buses gradually edged themselves out of the lane pursued by a triumphant male capercaillie. A memorable experience. The most difficult sighting was of hazel grouse. We knew from its calls that it was there, but how did it manage to circle us several times at a relatively short distance with limited cover and remain unseen except for fleeting glances? The whole party eventually caught sight of it briefly, but we’d all cheerfully sign its application to join the Magic Circle! There were great views of bluethroat, Slavonian grebe, three-toed woodpecker, Siberian jay, Terek sandpiper and wryneck. Four hectic days at Oulu and Kuusamo - it was a poor start, but well worth it for the remainder and an unforgettable experience. Terry Adams
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In accordance with the RSPB’s aim to ‘Give Nature a Home’, here is one of Barry Nelson’s little quizzes. Each of the clues leads to the name of a flower. Please excuse the poetic licence!
1. Always in the garden 2. A proper little girl 3. Has a lovely cathedral chime 4. Can be seen at tea 5. Sweet and feeds the young 6. Worn by a well-dressed animal 7. Used for kissing 8. Unhappy at a party 9. Worn by a female animal 10. Used for seeing 11. Always knows me 12. A musical instrument 13. What an ambitious young man wants to do 14. A black bird did this when swearing 15. Not a sour letter 16. A letter of the alphabet, an air and close 17. A vehicle and a people 18. Frozen vapour. Fall 19. Contends. Exclaims, then allows 20. Found in the sea 21. A smart animal 22. A prickly wine 23. You might burn yourself with this 24. A convenience and one at the finish
Answers later in the newsletter.
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A letter from your Leader
Welcome back after what I hope has been an enjoyable and successful summer for you. Now autumn is here, and there is plenty to look forward to: autumn colours, flocks of wintering birds returning to our parks and gardens, and a full programme of speakers, walks and outings with the Nottingham RSPB local group.
As usual, we are hoping that even more of you will join in our activities, accompanying us on our walks and outings, coming to hear our speakers and sending us your photos and ideas for inclusion in our Newsletter. With this in mind, we are asking you to complete a survey about our outings. We need more participants to keep these financially viable, so please let us know what we can do to encourage more of you to join us. For our ‘regulars,’ we’d like to know what you most appreciate about the outings.
How lucky we are to be living in Nottinghamshire at the moment with so much happening! Langford Lowfields is now well established under Warden Jenny Wallace, and is on the way to becoming the largest reedbed in the East Midlands. We can look forward to marsh harriers, booming bitterns and bearded tits there. In Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, the new multi-million pound visitor centre project, led by the RSPB, is well under way. Beyond the Major Oak is our newest Midland reserve, Budby South Forest. The Warden, Chloe Ryder, has been working with volunteers on the
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reserve for over a year and a nightjar survey was conducted there this summer. She would be pleased to welcome more volunteers to participate in conservation work, bird surveys and so on. She can be contacted on [email protected].
Whether volunteering or not, do try to visit one of our local reserves this autumn.
Doreen Markam
Fundraising Events
Many thanks to all those who helped with our Garden Centre collections this summer. Two days at Wheatcrofts-Notcutts, and one at Bardills raised nearly £300. In addition, our ‘token box’ turn came up at both branches of Waitrose and they have made a generous contribution to our funds. Thank you to those who put a green token in our box.
The next event to look forward to is our Autumn Fair on Saturday 19th November at St Helens Old Church Hall, Burton Joyce (10am to 12 noon.) We shall have our usual stalls: books/DVD’s, games, cakes (our star stall last year) and RSPB goods. If you can provide anything (cakes, gifts…) please contact a member of the committee. We’ll be very happy to see you there, whether it’s to help, to do some shopping or simply have a sociable cup of coffee with us. We look forward to seeing you.
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RSPB Sales
From October 2016 I will be taking over the role of running the RSPB sales function in the group. Graham and Kim have very successfully run this area for the last five years. They have made it a great success and will be a hard act to follow. Whilst talking to them as part of our handover, I learnt a number of new things and I wanted to share these with you in case you were not aware of them.
1) I can order and stock any item that is available from the RSPB catalogues which are sent out to all members quarterly.
2) If you order anything from these through me then you will not have to pay any postage and packaging costs.
3) You can order anything through me either at the monthly meetings or by e-mailing me your requests at [email protected]. Your purchases should then be ready for collection and payment at the next meeting or from my home address.
4) Please also let me know of anything different that you would like me to stock at our monthly meetings.
5) Of all the money that we raise, 35% of this can be used by the group to sponsor any local RSPB initiatives. Currently we are supporting the new
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Langford Lowfields reserve and donated £1700 to them in the last financial year.
Therefore this is a win-win situation both for you and for our local reserves. I do hope that you will make full use of this in the coming year. John Forester
Membership
The time is fast approaching to renew your membership of the Nottingham RSPB Group. The annual subscription, due in January is £7 a year. Those paying by Standing Order should ensure that this reflects the current rate. Some members have not informed their bank of the present subscription and, by still paying the old rate, are effectively being subsidised. Bearing in mind that the membership covers every family member at the same address the £7 represents very good value. Payment by cheque should be made out to ‘Nottingham RSPB Local Group’ and sent to the Membership Secretary, Chris Blunsdon, 20, Elmswood Gardens, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 4AW.
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One of the sandpipers seen by Terry in Finland was the Wood
Sandpiper
Nigel Oram’s picture of a Bluethroat
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Rick Goodwin’s shot of Black-necked Grebe and young at
Potteric Carr
A Puffin at Bempton photographed by Robin Brace
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One of many Curlew Sandpipers at Frampton Marsh
Our ‘birds and young’ theme continues with Robin Brace’s shot of
Kittiwake and young at Bempton
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Brian Smith’s fine shot of young Reed Warblers at Frampton
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It’s ‘follow my leader’ for young Canada geese at Ynys Hir
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Outings Coach outing to Gibraltar Point on Sunday 11th December 2016
Almost our local reserve, only a few miles from Skeggy! What a difference those few miles make. This is a reserve of sand
dunes, grassland, scrub, salt and fresh water marsh and lagoons. In winter it plays host to flocks of Brent Geese, Shelduck and
Wigeon while Hen Harriers, Short eared Owls and Merlin are regularly seen. Sea birds including Divers are seen offshore.
Facilities: Brand new visitor centre and café, toilets and hides Bookings: 1st November
Cost: £16.50 (including permit) Coach trip to Blacktoft Sands on Sunday 15th January 2017
A good place to visit in winter. Habitats include reed beds, saline
lagoons, lowland wet grassland and willow scrub with over 270 species reported here. Our last visit provided excellent views of a hunting Barn Owl and a Merlin perched on a bush outside one of
the hides. Marsh and Hen Harriers, Snipe, Stonechats, Little Egrets and Golden Plover were also seen. What will we find this
time? Facilities: Toilets, visitor centre and six hides
Bookings: 1st December 2016 Cost: £16
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By coach to Martin Mere on Sunday 12th February
A Wildfowl and Wetlands reserve famous for wintering Bewick and Whooper Swans, Pink footed Geese, many species of Ducks
and a selection of Waders and Raptors. Its year round attractions include an otter enclosure, an inspirational eco-garden and the chance to enjoy close encounters with around a hundred species
of international water birds as they swim, feed and wander in custom designed wetlands mimicking their natural homes.
Facilities: Visitor centre, café, gift shop, toilets and hides Bookings: 1st January
Cost: £29 adults, £26.50 concessions, £19 WWT members
If after booking for one of the trips you find you cannot make it for any reason please let us know as soon as possible as we may be
able to let someone else have the seat.
Keep in touch with all our activities via our excellent web-site at notts-rspb.org.uk/.
Cheques made payable to ‘Nottingham RSPB Local Group.’ Paid at the indoor meetings or sent to Jan & Dave Goodwin at 22
Wray Close, St Ann’s, Nottingham, NG3 2FS. Please note that stout footwear and all weather clothing should
be worn on all trips. In emergency please phone 0751 097816. Please note that personal possessions such as bins, scopes etc.
are only covered by personal insurance. Please note that, as we have to pay for the bus, booking fees are NOT REFUNDABLE. Children are welcome though the trips are
not suitable for children under seven years old. Pick up points are
as follows.
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Lowdham 7.10am Burton Joyce 7.15am
Carlton Square 7.20am Mount Street (by Gala Casino) 7.30am
Following the introduction of car parking charges on Sundays in Nottingham, though free parking is available at Carlton Square
and there are streets near Mount Street with limited space at £1, people have wondered if other pick up points can be arranged.
The following will now be REQUEST stops only. Requests must be made to Jan & Dave before the trip date and it is YOUR responsibility to be at the stop on time. If you are not there the
coach will not stop and wait.
For trips leaving Nottingham by the A52 eastwards the coach will stop by request at Trent Bridge. For trips leaving Nottingham by the A453 the coach will
stop by request at the Man of Trent, Clifton. For trips leaving Nottingham by the A60/A614 the coach
will stop by request at The Vale Hotel. For trips leaving Nottingham by the A52 westwards the coach will stop by request at the Priory Island.
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West Sussex Weekend 2017
From Saturday 22nd to Tuesday 25th April at the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing.
Cost: £241 per person in a twin or double room and £271 for a single room (there are no singles left). Cheques to be made
payable to RSPB Outings with a £30 deposit and the balance due by 1st March.
Saturday 22nd RSPB Rainham Marsh Sunday 23rd Pagham Harbour
Monday 24th RSPB Pulborough Brooks Tuesday 25th Paxton Pits
The RSPB
The RSPB is the country’s largest conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and
countryside will teem with life once again. We also play a leading role in a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations.
All articles in this newsletter convey the opinions of the writers
and not necessarily those of the RSPB. Similarly, any advertisements enclosed with this newsletter are not specifically endorsed by the RSPB or the Nottingham Group.
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Booking Forms
Please reserve seat(s) on the trip to Gibraltar Point on Sunday 11th December
Name
Address
Postcode Telephone
Pick up point
Bookings commence 1st November Cost £16.50 (including
permit)
Please reserve seat(s) on the trip to Blacktoft Sands on Sunday 15th January
Name
Address
Postcode Telephone
Pick up point
Booking commence 1st December Cost £16
Please reserve seat(s) on the trip to Martin Mere on Sunday
12th February
Name
Address
Postcode Telephone
Pick up point
Bookings commence 1st January Cost £29 adults, £26.50
concessions, £19 WWT members
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Bird of the Day Potteric Carr Sometimes too few people see a bird that would, under normal circumstances, be a hot favourite for ‘Bird of the Day.’ This was one such occasion when a handful of group members saw a White Stork fly over the reserve. This was sufficient for the bird to achieve third place but it was beaten by both a very obliging Bittern and the eventual winner, a fine Black-necked Grebe, complete with family.
Bempton In contrast to previous visits the weather was beautiful, hot and sunny with a cooling breeze off the sea. The cliff nesting birds were there in their usual impressive numbers. The stiff-winged Fulmar garnered some support and it was nice to see a couple of Corn Buntings but it comes as no surprise to find that
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everyone’s favourite auk, the Puffin, was a clear ‘bird of the Day.’
Frampton Marsh A rather windy but warm day greeted us and Frampton Marsh did not disappoint. The variety of birds meant that an astonishing eleven species were nominated for ‘Bird of the Day.’ Signs of return migration dominated the sightings with Yellow Wagtails the third most popular. A limited number of members saw the runner up, the beautiful and increasingly rare Turtle Dove, (a vote which included three votes for the rare sub species, the Ditto.) A narrow victor, the Curlew Sandpiper, was testament to the fact that over two hundred of these small waders was present, a record for the reserve.
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Data Protection Statement
The RSPB Nottingham Local Group would like to keep your details to send you further information about group activities and the work of the RSPB. If you want to amend or update your details or you do not want us to use them in the way stated above. Please contact Chris Blunsdon at 20, Elmswood Gardens, Sherwood, Nottingham, NG5 4AW. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please confirm your e-mail address.
Quiz Answers
1. Everlasting flower or Gardenia. 2. Primrose. 3. Canterbury Bells. 4. Buttercup. 5. Honeysuckle. 6. Foxglove. 7. Tulips. 8. Wallflower. 9. Cowslip. 10. Iris. 11. Forget-me-not. 12. Viola. 13. Marigold. 14. Crocus. 15. Sweet Pea. 16. Petunia. 17. Carnation. 18. Snowdrop. 19. Violets. 20. Anemone. 21. Dandelion. 22. Hollyhock. 23. Red hot poker. 24. Lavender.
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Indoor Meetings
Wednesday 2nd November A new speaker this month as John Kitchener comes to tell us about the life and work of ‘Charles Waterton-19th Century Naturalist and Conservationist.’ A chance to find out more about one of the pioneers of the conservation movement. Wednesday 4th January A welcome return for Nick and Maggie Williams who will be illustrating a talk in the often unique species found on ‘Bird Islands.’ A subject not to be missed. Wednesday 1st February After quite a gap we return to the subject of ‘Wildlife Crime.’ David Hunt from the RSPB Head Office at Sandy will bring us up to date with the latest efforts to combat this serious threat to our native species. All meetings commence at 7.30pm at the New Mechanics Institute, North Sherwood Street. The cost is £3 for adults and £1.50 for juniors.
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Ten Most Wanted
Several members kindly send me photographs that they have taken which I can use in the centre pages of your newsletter. One problem is that while I receive lots of photos of some species, (if I never receive a picture of a gannet again I’d be delighted!) other species seem to escape the photographer. Accordingly I have listed below the ten most wanted photos of British birds, in alphabetical order. One further thought is that if you send photos of more exotic species please provide identification.
1) Bar tailed Godwit
2) Blackcap
3) Brambling
4) Cetti’s Warbler
5) Green Woodpecker
6) Grey Plover
7) Hobby
8) Lesser spotted Woodpecker
9) Raven
10) Sparrowhawk
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Odd Droppings
Well Spotted!
When a small group of members conduct the bi-monthly bird survey at St Ann’s allotments we split into two groups to cover the whole area. The survey on August 23rd took place on a very warm day. Hedges were high and trees still in full leaf. It seemed that we were heading for a low count. Then Chris Blunsdon spotted a bird in a dead tree. The view through binoculars showed that it was a spotted flycatcher. What is more, the arrival of three others suggested that it was a family party on the move. We phoned the other group who joined us in record time and we enjoyed seeing the birds in characteristic feeding mode. Our day was complete when a hobby joined in, probably hunting some of the dragonflies that were present. A day that looked as if it was a case of ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ became ‘All’s Well that Ends Well!’
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a registered charity: England and Wales no 207076, Scotland noSC037654
