247 HOC NEWS November quarterly bulletin for birdwatchers 2018

Sand Martin Project Update page 15

Diggers at Bodenham Lake page 14

The Birds of Burley Gate Update page 4

Photo of Herefordshire Apple Tree by Mick Colquhoun Editorial by Nicky Davies Hello and welcome to to the November issue of HOC News! This edition is packed with lots of news, project updates, pictures and diary dates, what’s not to like?! Once again, Robert has provided “What’s in a name” (page 12) - the answer has been provided towards the end of the newsletter but before you look at the answer, try and work it out. We have two more Herefordshire birding sites (pages 8 & 10). It’s an exciting time of year for looking out for our feathered friends with autumn migrants starting to dip into the County. Go and explore - you may turn up a new bird for Herefordshire or even for Britain! Updates include news about the Birds of Burley Gate project (page 4), Bodenham Lake works (page 14) and Andrew Strong has written about the Sand Martin project (page 15). Remember that the closing date for submissions for the next edition of HOC news is 14th January. Please add this date to your diaries. Submissions dates are on the same dates every year. They are as follows; 14th January, 14th April, 14th July, 14th October Please send items for submission in the next edition to me as word documents, email text, and images in jpeg format. Images that are embedded into word documents can not be used so please ensure they are sent as separate files. Finally, If you have any queries about submitting information, please contact me on 07855 126642 or email at [email protected] Happy birding Nicky

Grey phalarope. Picture by Mick Colquhoun

www.herefordshirebirds.org 2 Contents

Editorial2 The Birds of Burley Gate4 HOC Garden Birdwatch6 Herefordshire Birding Sites6 Notes from the Chair7 Birding Spot Highlight - Bircher Common 8 Birding Spot Highlight - Wellington Gravel Pits 10 What’s in a name? 12 HOC Field meetings13 Diggers roll into Bodenham Lake14 Sand Martin Project Update15 HOC Field meeting reports16 HOC sighting highlights18 HOC Indoor meetings19 Advertising/Submissions/Contacts20

3 www.herefordshirebirds.org

Kestrel. Picture by Mick Colquhoun The birds of Burley Gate – one year down, two to go? By Robert Taylor As reported in previous Newsletters, a core team consisting of Gerald Wells, Dennis Chapple, Mervyn Davies and Robert Taylor, supported by Rachel Jenkins and Angela Starling, are in the process of surveying the wintering and breeding bird populations on farmland at Burley Gate, to compare with similar surveys carried out at the same site in the 1960s.

As far as possible, we replicated the survey techniques used during the 1960s. Current BTO breeding codes were ascribed to records during the breeding season. As in the 1960s’ studies, the territorial male, together with other breeding criteria, formed the basis of the survey. Multiple records of singing males in the same locality, together with confirmed breeding codes, were used to create territory maps for most recorded species. It is difficult to make reliable comparisons of the bird populations between the two periods for a number of reasons, including some variations in the methodologies used, some minor changes in the size of the total study area, lack of access into the only woodland on the site (Pye Coppice) and likely differences in the observational competencies of the 1960s and current survey teams! Furthermore, the 1960s’ data was collected between 1962 and 1966, whilst to date we have data from only one year. Further work is underway to minimise these potential effects, and we will, for example, re-compute the 1960s’ data so that it more closely matches the boundaries of the site as it is today. Our preliminary findings must therefore be interpreted with due caution. The key findings from the winter survey are: • a decrease of almost one third since the 1960s in the total number of birds recorded; • a small reduction in the number of species recorded from 51 to 48; • the complete absence of five relatively Figure 1: Surveying the orchard at Burley Gate common species from the 1960s: Common Gull, Grey Partridge, Lapwing, Linnet and Tree Sparrow; • relatively large reductions in numbers of the following additional species: Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Rook, Starling and Woodpigeon; • relatively large increases in numbers of Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Skylark, Wren and Yellowhammer. The key findings from the breeding season survey are based on records of singing males and other evidence of breeding, as illustrated by the exemplar mapping for Skylark shown in Figure 2.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 4 Figure 2. Breeding records for Skylark at Burley Gate. 2018

The most frequently recorded breeding species at Burley Gate are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Ten most frequently recorded breeding species at Burley Gate.

1962-1966 2018

Species No of breeding pairs Species No. of breeding pairs

1 Skylark 22 1 Skylark 19

2 Blackbird 21 2 Blue tit 17

3 Tree sparrow 20 3 Wren 15

4 Chaffinch 17 4 Dunnock 11

5= Dunnock 14 5= Whitethroat 10

5= House sparrow 14 5= Yellowhammer 10

7 Starling 12 7 Great tit 9

8= Blue tit 10 8= Blackbird 7

8= Great tit 10 8= Robin 7

8= Robin 10 10 Chaffinch 6

8= Whitethroat 10

www.herefordshirebirds.org 5 The main changes between the 1960s and 2018 are: • a decrease of around 40% since the 1960s in the total number of breeding pairs of birds recorded; • a decrease of just over 50% in the numbers of breeding species from 50 to 24, although we anticipate that the number of breeding records will increase with further survey time in 2019 and beyond, as it did in the 1960s, with only 33 species recorded in the first year; • the complete absence of 23 breeding species from the 1960s: Bullfinch, Curlew, Garden Warbler, Grey Partridge, Lapwing, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Little Owl, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Moorhen, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tree Sparrow, Willow Tit and Willow Warbler; • two species recorded breeding in 2018 – Grasshopper Warbler and Kestrel - were absent in the 1960s, • relatively large decreases in the number of breeding pairs of the following additional species: Blackbird, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Jackdaw; • relatively large increases in the number of breeding pairs of Blue Tit and Wren. The survey will continue this autumn and winter and in the 2019 breeding season, with greater resource being put into finding and confirming evidence of breeding. If you would like to join the project team, please contact Robert Taylor at [email protected] or on 01989730537. We would benefit in particular from some younger, more agile members (!) and those with nest finding skills.

HOC Garden Bird Watch I have taken over the management of the Garden Bird Watch from Ian and Natalie Buttriss and would like to invite anyone who is not already signed up to join. It does not take up much time. We ask you to record the maximum number of birds of each species seen at any one time during each week in your garden. These records are collated and a newsletter is issued quarterly to participants giving a summary of the records. The information produced, compared with previous years, gives a picture of how our garden birds are faring. More significantly, your records will also be added to other county records and feature in the HOC Annual Reports. So GBW is a great way to make a contribution to our knowledge of the county’s bird life. If you are interested please contact me at [email protected] or phone me on 01989 763182. Ann Wilkinson

Herefordshire Birding Sites This edition of the Newsletter includes two further birding spot highlights, and thanks to offers of help for many of the remaining sites, there is only one site for which we are still in need of help. If you know Site 27 Lyepole, River Lugg, we need you! We are also looking for photographs of as many of the Birding Sites as possible, to use on the new HOC website due to be launched in 2019. We need landscape photographs, as jpegs. Photographs of the entrance points to sites or of iconic views or habitats will be particularly important. The photographs can be taken on any device, including mobile phone cameras. If you can help, please contact Robert Taylor at [email protected] or on 01989 730537.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 6 Notes from the Chair by Susannah Grunsell

Well here we are nearing the end of an interesting year of climate change. We have had several hot and dry months, and as I write, the temperature is falling to a more seasonal norm. This will I hope, herald the continuing arrival of our winter migrant birds. Perhaps we will even have a visit from Waxwings, devouring our wild berries if Europe’s crops have not met their demands. We in the club are desperately seeking what potential fruit the membership can yield to ensure our future existence. We rely on you to make your interests known to us with offers to fill vacancies as they occur, and share your expertise and interests. We are still in need of someone to put themselves forward to, not only, fill the post of Treasurer, but also Secretary of the Club.

Wood White. Image by Mick Colquhoun

I’m sure both present post holders, Jim Wilkinson and Una Morgan, respectively, would be pleased to talk to you about what these posts involve so please make yourselves known to them. If you would like to speak to me about the task involved, please do approach me at anytime. As a club we are also keen to have more contact with Herefordshire’s many organisations involved with the stewardship of our natural history. The more links we can make with these groups, the stronger our voice will be. In particular when there are potential threats to the environment, habitat and inhabitants of our County. We will shortly be inviting similar groups to confirm our relationships and share our concerns and work in the future. Lastly we hope to be launching our new website in January 2019, so please keep a look out for this. Best wishes for the season.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 7 Herefordshire Birding Spot Highlight - Site 2. Bircher Common Compiled by Tim Cooke Overview

Bordered by the Croft woods to the west, Bircher Common is an extensive open area which can attract a variety of heathland and woodland birds. From the bracken-covered heath with gorse and small deciduous trees around the cottages and farms, the Common rises towards the north to open grazing, giving views across the county. Conifer plantations include Oaker Coppice enclosed by a ring of mature pine and beech trees. The mixed deciduous area near Highwood in the south-west includes old trees, notably Lime, Sweet Chestnut and Oak.

Directions, parking, access times and other facilities

Map reference: SO 462 664

SatNav: HR6 0BN (approx)

Vehicular access: Directions from B4362 road. Main access points: (1) Welshman’s Lane, signposted Bircher Common. After cattle grid, most visitors take rough track to right and park on open common at SO 466 663. (2) For western side of Common, take lane signposted Highwood (and Croft Castle brown sign). Continue up lane and after cattle grid, take track to right. Some parking on left, with more parking space after about 150 metres.

Access by foot: Oaker Coppice is fenced and has four access points for walkers: gates on the east and west sides, and stiles at the south-east and north-east points.

Other facilities: No immediate facilities. Facilities available at Croft Castle for NT visitors. Church has a shop and cafe, which does lunches Monday to Saturday.

Maps: Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheets 148 & 149 and Explorer Sheet 203.

Birds to see

Resident Bullfinch. Siskin, Linnet, Greenfinch. Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Jay, Raven. Occasionally Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Red Kite. Winter Redwing, Fieldfare. Occasionally Brambling. Historic site for Great Grey Shrike, last recorded March 2011. Summer Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Stonechat, House Martin, Swallow, Cuckoo. Spring / Autumn Occasionally Wheatear.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 8

Resources Croft Castle www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croft-castle-and-parkland; Yarpole Church http:// www.yarpole.com/index.php/gallery-café and http://www.yarpole.com/index.php/yarpole-community- shop; Mortimer Trail http://www.exploremortimercountry.com/s4l54/walking-mortimer-trail.htm; Nearby sites The National Trust woodlands to Croft Castle and Croft Ambrey Fort adjoin the common and contain fishpools. The Mortimer Trail passes across the north of the common.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 9 Herefordshire Birding Spot Highlight - Site 41. Wellington Gravel Pits Compiled by Viv Quinn Overview

One of the most important birding sites in Herefordshire is a working gravel pit with mixed habitat. There are several pits, islands, reedbed, farmland and hedges. A public footpath crosses the site, with one hide on the footpath overlooking the main lake.

Directions, parking, access times and other facilities

Map reference: SO 500 478

Postcode: HR4 8BY

Vehicular and footpath access: Access to the site is by public footpath that runs from the A49 approximately five miles north of City at SO500478, proceeding east to join the minor road to Marden at SO515478. Parking is usually possible in the lay-by on the A49 opposite the start. From here the path runs through the centre of the area, initially passing north of the new workings and then the fly-fishing pit with a small pit to the left. Following the public footpath, you cross the Wellington Brook keeping to the public footpath continuing to hide at SO509478. For those approaching from Marden, there is a pedestrian crossing over the railway line at SO511478; due care should be taken at this crossing.

During quarry working hours the site can be accessed at the main entrance gate SO509482 and vehicles may be parked in the visitor’s car park (check at the weighbridge office for the closing time). The site is accessible at any time via the footpaths. Leave the car park via the gate and footpath, travelling south with the reedbed on your left, followed by a small pit after which you will join the public footpath directly opposite the hide. Other facilities: There are no facilities available at the site. However, on the opposite side of the A49 there is a Wyevale Garden Centre with a café and toilet facilities and in Wellington Village there is a Public House and a Village shop

Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer 202 & Landranger 149.

Birds to see

Resident Barn Owl, Little Owl, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Buzzard, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose and Greylag Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Goldcrest, Kingfisher, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Green Woodpecker, Oystercatcher, Reed Bunting Winter Fieldfare, Lesser Redpoll, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Redwing, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Snipe and occasional Jack Snipe Summer Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler Spring / Autumn Green Sandpiper, Cuckoo and the first county record of Bearded Tit in 2016

www.herefordshirebirds.org 10 Resources: Information about archaeological findings on the site of the gravel pits can be found at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/.../archaeology_at_wellington_quarry_herefordshire.pdf Nearby sites: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust www.herefordshirewt.org Queens Wood Country Park HR6 0PY, open 24hrs. Queens Wood Café open 9 – 4. Bodenham Lake Nature Reserve SO523511 open 24hrs.

Grey Phalarope by Mick Colquhoun

www.herefordshirebirds.org 11 What’s in a name? by Robert Taylor This species is in decline nationally, but still recorded annually across the County. Its current English name first came into use in 1662, fairly late in comparison with most other species. It is sometimes called the Chait in Worcestershire and Chancider in some other regions; both names probably arising from the sound of its call. The distinctive, yet understated plumage of the species, with white and contrasting grey-brown parts, has given rise to the name Miller in Shropshire and White Baker in Northamptonshire. The names of Beam Bird in a number of south-eastern counties in , Wall Plat (plat = a flat beam on top of a wall) in Devon and Wall Chat in Yorkshire all testify to the nesting habitat of the species. The name of Cobweb in Northamptonshire relates to the bird’s nest lining. The name Post Bird, recorded in Kent and Sussex is particularly diagnostic. Having found a good nesting site, the species returns year after year, as recorded movingly by the legendary Gilbert White in his Natural History of Selborne: “…the [species] builds every year in the vines that grow on the walls of my house. A pair of these little birds had one year inadvertently placed their nest on a naked bough, perhaps in a shady time, not being aware of the inconvenience that followed. But an hot sunny season coming on before the brood was half fledged, the reflection of the wall became insupportable, and must inevitably have destroyed the young, had not affection suggested an expedient, and prompted the parent bird to hover over the nest all the hotter hours, while with wings expanded, and mouths gaping for breath, they screened off the heat from their suffering offspring.”! If still in doubt, the origins of the scientific name of the species, Muscicapa (from the Latin musca, a fly and capere to catch) and striata (from the Latin striatus meaning striated or striped) should provide the final clue! ANSWER: PAGE 19

Herefordshire Orchard by Mick Colquhoun

www.herefordshirebirds.org 12 HOC Field Meetings: Nov 2018 - March 2019 Wapley Hill Thursday November 8th Meet at 9.30 am in the car park (SO 359 622). Walk through the wood looking for winter finches and possible Marsh and Willow Tit. Lunch in cars then pm to Shobdon Lakes, meeting at (SO 401629) for a short walk. No dogs please. Leader: John Pullen (tel: 01600 750266) Bodenham Lake and Wellington Gravel Pits Sunday December 9th Meet at 10am at the Bodenham Lake car park (SO 529 512) (HR1 3JT) for a visit to the hides and a look at the ongoing project work, then on to Wellington gravel pits. Wildfowl and other wetland birds will be the focus of the day. Please bring a packed lunch, nearest toilets Queenswood. No dogs please. Leader: Trevor Hulme (tel: 01432 882071) WWT Slimbridge Wednesday 9th January Meet at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust car park (SO 722 048) (GL2 7BT) at 10.00am. Travelling time from Hereford is about 1.25 hours, traffic permitting. Entry is free for WWT members (remember your card) and a concessionary entry fee will be available (voucher from Leader) for non-members. Easy walking and access to the many hides. Always a good range of winter wildfowl, waders, and passerines. Warm clothing essential. Lunch can be carried and eaten en route or bought and consumed at the restaurant. There is a shop and toilets on site. No dogs please. Leader: Gerald Wells (tel: 01531 640124) , River Lugg, Easters Wood (Woodland Trust) Wednesday 13th February Meet at 9.30am in Broad St, long stay car park (HR6 8DD) (adjacent to the Fire Station), Leominster. From Hereford take the A49, at 3rd roundabout of Leominster bypass, take the first exit, over the railway line and at the mini roundabout take the first exit, the car park is situated a short distance on your left. Please meet at the far end. Parking charges apply (currently £2:50 all day or £2.00 pre-booked on line). The habitat is a mixture of urban, river, farmland and woodland. There are some steep steps over the railway line and be prepared for some muddy areas. We hope to see Hawfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker among other farmland and woodland birds. Carry lunch. No dogs please. Leader: Viv Quinn (tel: 07772 004174) Welsh Newton Common and Skenfrith Tuesday 5th March Meet on the Common (SO 514 175) at 9.00am. Three miles easy walk, lunch in cars and after visit Skenfrith for a short walk along the Monnow. Possible general farmland birds, winter finches and riverine species in the afternoon. Leader: John Pullen (tel: 01600 750266) Kenchester Pools Thursday 28th March (Morning only) Meet at Community Centre (SO 445 429) at 9.00am where there is adequate parking space and cars can be shared for the short trip to a reduced parking space at Kenchester for a walk around the pools located within this area. Looking for possible waders on passage and wintering ducks and grebes that may still be around. Easy walking with no steep gradients although part will be along a minor road where great care must be taken. No dogs please. Leader: Gerald Parker (tel: 01432 760023) Proposed future meetings: April – Upton Warren & Highnam Wood, Gloucestershire (Nightingale); May – Olchon Valley, Siege Wood, near Woolhope and Wigmore Rolls (Wood Warbler); June — Forest of Dean (Nightjar) and others to follow. 13 www.herefordshirebirds.org Diggers roll into Bodenham Lake By Sophie Cowling

On the 3rd of September two 20 tonne diggers arrived at Bodenham Lake to shallow the lake margin and make the ex-gravel pit more like a natural wetland.

The first stage of the works was to continue the work started by HOC and Lugg Wetland Gem project volunteers, clearing the dense stand of young alder trees in the reprofile areas. Clearing the trees allowed us to make a more ecologically valuable habitat, reedbed.

Reedbeds are listed as priority habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, as it is one of the most threatened and in need of conservation action.

Thousands of tonnes of soil were pushed into the Figure 1a: Before the works started lake to make a shallow lake margin, suitable for nearly one hectare of reedbed to establish. We are aiming to create a mixture of dry reed (0.2-0.4m deep) and wet reed (0.6-1m deep). Dry reed areas are important for reedbed specialist birds, such as Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler to nest in, these species feed on invertebrates in the wet reed areas. Otters will often lie up in areas of dry reed and grass snakes lay their eggs in piles of dry reed.

Once the contractors finished the graded reprofile, channels were dug into the new lake shore, to make areas of open water. Channels increase the area of reedbed edge, a habitat which has a high Figure 1b: Part way through re-profiling the density of young fish and attracts species such as lake margin bittern to feed. The channels we have created are funnel shaped to maximise viewing opportunities from the old bird hide. The works are funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

Figure 2: Channels being dug into the re- profiled areas

All images courtesy of Sophie Cowling

www.herefordshirebirds.org 14 Sand Martin Project Update October 2018 by Andrew Strong

The name Sand Martin was first used to distinguish this bank nesting species from ‘Martin’, as House Martins were originally known. ‘House Martin’ came much later.

Bitter Bank and Bitterie are local names for the Sand Martin, referring to the way it ‘bites out’ its nest chamber.

I am providing this useless information in lieu of any further ringing data this year, as during the hottest, driest summer for years, we set our alarms for an early start to complete the ringing of this years colony on what turned out to be the one day of rain and strong winds. It was not safe to use the nets, although at least 100 birds were flying overhead.

The following weekend we returned and the birds were gone! We counted a total of 145 nest holes used this year.

The latter visit was the first week in August. The birds at Sellack usually disperse at about this time. Some people, including me, are confused by the fact that the birds have disappeared from the site, but mean departure dates are not until September, and the BTO Birdtrack shows consistent or increasing numbers of Sand Martins in the UK throughout August into September. However, the Birdtrack percentage should increase, as Sand Martins become more evident away from breeding sites and at coastal locations where birders are present and more likely to record sightings. Any seen locally will have dispersed from other sites around the country.

We will continue monitoring the colony next year, and also intend to establish the number of colonies we have breeding along the banks of the Wye in Herefordshire.

Further updates will appear as this project progresses.

Bodenham Lake by Mick Colquhoun

www.herefordshirebirds.org 15 HOC Field Meeting Reports Docklow Circular walk to Hampton Wafre Farm. 17th July 2018 Leader: Susan Griffin This walk was entirely on private farmland in the centre of the Herefordshire Plateau thanks to generosity of the neighbouring landowners. Thirteen people attended on a fine warm day, a light cloud covering prevented it from becoming too hot. We met in the car park at Docklow Manor where Goldcrest, Goldfinch and Stock Dove were recorded from the surrounding woodland and pasture. We were then shown the rear of the Manor and the Swift nests below the eaves. Will had not seen Swifts use the nest site at adjacent Rose Cottage this year, but then just on time one duly obliged. We then followed footpaths to Hampton Wafre Farm, some of which were very overgrown in places; clearly not a well used route, but we were greeted by regular bird sightings. In particular, Yellowhammers were encountered frequently and occasionally we heard calls of Linnets from the hedgerows. The highlight in this respect was a group of four recently-fledged Yellowhammer at Burnt Mill Farm; some lucky members were able to get within about three metres of them. Around the farm buildings was a flock of 40 Starlings, including juveniles. There was also three recently-fledged Swallows on top of an aerial being fed by their parents. At Hampton Wafre Farm we visited the pool which was rather disappointing with just Mallard and Moorhen present. The pool was heavily overhung by large alders, however, the adjoining woodland was more promising with Treecreeper, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat. Members were impressed with the regularity Ravens were encountered; a flock of five, including juveniles, was seen on high ground at Hampton Wafre Farm. We then walked up to Wessington Camp, which is an Iron Age promontory fort, on top of which is a large area of set-aside, with coarse grasses and a mass of young sallow. In spite of its potential very few birds were seen here, probably because it was hot and in the middle of day. We then had lunch in the garden of Hampton Mere admiring the beautiful ponds and attractive garden before heading off to Nicholson Farm to the north in the parish of Hatfield. There we met up with the farmer Tim Brook who told us about the large Jackdaw roost in the valley woodland; he reckons as many as 1000 birds have been present and recent sightings by Tim include Hobby and Kingfisher. We were able to add Canada Goose, House Martin and Pied Wagtail to our list. In total, 40 bird species were recorded during the day. Wigmore Rolls - joint HOC walk with Butterfly Conservation. July 31st 2018 Leader: Rhona Goddard, accompanied by Alan Reid. Report by Robbie Ledlie! On a sunny, late July morning, 11 HOC members, plus three others, met at Wigmore Rolls for our first joint walk with Butterfly Conservation. The walk was led by Rhona Goddard, Butterfly Conservation Wood White project officer and she was joined by Alan Reid, who is Wildlife Ranger for the Marches area and therefore very knowledgeable about the woods that we were walking through. Rhona started with a short introduction to the Wood White project, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery for three years and involves working with volunteers, partners and supporters across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. Butterfly Conservation has provided management advice and completed management works at a number of sites across the three counties, to benefit the rare Wood White, including the reintroduction of adults at two sites. She told us that early results look promising, with good numbers seen at both sites, especially this summer. As we set off along the forest ride, we were immediately greeted by several white butterflies and spotted our first Silver Washed Fritillary of the day; this beautiful large orange butterfly was a recurring sight throughout the morning, often seeing three or four flying together and allowing those with cameras some excellent photo opportunities.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 16 As we progressed through the wood, we began to see Wood Whites in good numbers, including a pair displaying their courtship behaviour and an egg was found on their food plant, meadow vetchling. At one sunny clearing, we watched many different species nectaring on the woodland plants, including several Common Blues, male and female, Gatekeepers, Red Admirals, Ringlets and the migrant Painted Lady. We stopped occasionally for Alan to answer questions about the area and speak about the many challenges of managing the woodland, one of the problems being the large number of grey squirrels present. Rhona showed us one of the woodland scallops or clearings, an area which is cleared on a rotational basis to allow the caterpillar food plants to emerge. It was clearly a success as we stood and watched numerous butterflies feeding on the many flowering plants. Despite the skies clouding over, we succeeded in seeing 15 species of butterfly, including 26 Wood White and between 30-40 Silver Washed Fritillaries and three species of moth. Regarding birds, it was a quiet day, with only 11 species being recorded, including Red Kite and Bullfinch. However, quantity was more than compensated for by quality; the highlight was a pair of Crossbills, spotted in a dead ash tree by the ever vigilant John Davies. We had good views of them in the tree and they then very obligingly flew down onto the path in front of us, allowing everyone to enjoy an excellent sight of their amazingly vibrant colours, before they disappeared together over the tree tops. A first sighting of Crossbills for many of the group, so thank you John! Altogether, a thoroughly enjoyable day and something that we may well repeat in the future. Many thanks to Rhona for such a well organised and informative outing, to Alan for his valuable contribution, to Gerald Wells for keeping the bird list and of course to all those who attended. ! Bunch of Carrots, to . 6th September 2018 Leader: Gerald Parker Having divided our transport between the Bunch of Carrots and Mordiford 15 HOC members set off to walk downstream following the . The morning was bright with a cool autumn breeze and a promise of a possibility of showers later. Lesser black-backed Gulls were moving overhead, a Little Egret flew downstream and a Little Grebe was diving nearby. Small groups of Mallard, still in eclipse, were hanging around in the shallows and a Cormorant flew overhead. Birdsong had almost disappeared except for a steadfast Robin and some Chiffchaffs calling from nearby willows. We were very lucky to find a Small Copper butterfly and then several more on the river bank; all in excellent condition and obviously a recent hatch. There were still some Swallows and House Martins around although numbers have not been high this summer. A Green Woodpecker called nearby and a Greenfinch surveyed us from the top of a conifer. A flock of 20 House Sparrows were taking advantage of the abundance of fruit and berries this year and a party of Goldfinches were happily doing the same. A Grey Heron flapped across the river and four more Little Egrets were seen. A congregation of gulls were spotted in a nearby field and closer inspection turned up 31 Herring Gulls (possibly a record for Herefordshire) 26 Lesser black-backed Gulls and about 60 Black headed Gulls, a Buzzard flew over causing consternation amongst their ranks but they soon settled again. There were several small groups of female Goosander scattered along the river and a group of Mandarin comprising two male and five female were briefly viewed as they swam between waterside herbage. A strange guttural bleating noise was heard nearby which turned out to be made by 18 Cormorants perched high up on an electricity pylon and a group of 140 Starlings sitting on a power cable were taking turns to fly down and raid an elderberry of its fruit. A Hornets nest was spotted nearby in a fissure of a tree and it was amazing to watch them moving to and fro quite oblivious to us. Nearby a Coal Tit was spotted as it moved around and a sudden shrill whistle indicated that a Kingfisher was nearby, a brief view was all it gave as two of them flew off downstream; an excellent bird to end with. As we reached the cars parked at Mordiford it began to rain so all in all a highly successful morning with a total of 43 birds found. Many thanks to all who attended.

www.herefordshirebirds.org 17 Goldcliff and Newport Wetlands 16th October 2018 Leader: Tony Eveleigh After a few wet days we were pleasantly surprised to have a dry day for our meeting. Seventeen members set off to look for waders at Goldcliff and almost immediately we found Curlew, two Dunlin, together with a Little Stint and approximately 50 Lapwing. On the way to the next hide we found two Chiffchaff and there were numerous birds flying over, including Meadow Pipit, Skylark and two Lesser Redpoll. The shoreline from the sea wall was productive with Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and one Great Black-backed Gull, but these soon disappeared with the rising tide. A male Sparrowhawk interrupted everything flushing the numerous Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail. A flying flock of Golden Plover and separate flock of Dunlin were also seen. From the last hide we found three Greenshank, three Little Egret and a showy Water Rail together with seven late Swallows overhead. We then moved to the RSPB Newport Wetlands Centre and were soon hearing Cetti’s Warbler in a few places. A Kestrel was showing remarkably well and close on a large stone just below the old lighthouse. There were 10 plus Turnstone on the tide line. We then walked around the reed beds and viewed at least six Stonechat. Then we enjoyed tea/coffee with Welsh cakes at the centre.A very satisfactory day, with 61 species seen in total.

HOC SIGHTING HIGHLIGHTS July - September 2018 Compiled by John Tilby

Date Bird Quantity Site Observer

15.07.2018 Chough 1 Bradnor Hill Paul Leafe

18.10.2018 Redshank 1 WGP G Bilbao

18.10.2018 Black-tailed Godwit 1 WGP G Bilbao

19.07.2018 Great White Egret 1 I J Buttriss

20.07.2018 Black-tailed Godwit 1 WGP C Jones

21.07.2018 Mediterranean Gull 1 BGP J Tilby & N C Pegler

21.07.2018 Black-tailed Godwit 2 WGP G Bilbao

22.07.2018 Redshank 2 WGP J Tilby & N C Pegler

29.07.2018 Redshank 1 Kenchester Pools J Tilby

11.08.2018 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Kenchester Pools NC Pegler

12.08.2018 Greenshank 1 Kenchester Pools NC Pegler

13.08.2018 Wood Sandpiper 1 Kenchester Pools NC Pegler

15.08.2018 Black-crowned Night Heron 1 Hoarwithy G Mangwana, D&K Cooke

24.08.2018 Wood Sandpiper 1 Kenchester Pools NC Pegler

01.09.2018 Greenshank 1 Kenchester Pools NC Pegler & J Tilby

16.09.2018 Ring Ouzel 3 Red & Black Darren C Robinson

23.09.2018 Grey Phalarope 1 WGP NC Pegler & J Tilby

23.09.2018 Sandwich Tern 2 WGP NC Pegler & J Tilby

WGP = Wellington Gravel Pits, BGP = Brockhall Gravel Pits www.herefordshirebirds.org 18 Whats in a name: ANSWER - Spotted Flycatcher!!! HOC Indoor meetings Every 2nd Thursday in the month. Held at the Holmer Parish Centre (SO505:423) Holmer, Hereford. On the A49, Leominster Road, just north of ‘The Starting Gate Inn’ roundabout and on left by Holmer Parish Church; car park and other facilities. All meetings are on Thursdays at 7.30pm. A fee of £2 per member, £3 per non-member, includes refreshments

Date Speaker Subject

8th November Mick Colquhoun Swifts

13th December Keith Offord Magical Merlins

10th January 2019 Dominic Couzens Bird behaviour

FRIDAY (not Thursday) 15th February Tim Birkhead Dr Walker Memorial Lecture -“Francis 2019 Willoughby - the First True Ornithologist" (To be held at Bartestree Village Hall due to large numbers of interested attendees)

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Chair: Susanna Grunsell, 67, Foley Street, Hereford, HR1 2SQ (01432 344837) [email protected] Secretary: Una Morgan, 5, Abercrombie Close, , Herefordshire. HR8 2UR (01531 631347) [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Wilkinson, Coughton Forge, Coughton, Ross-on-Wye HR9 5SF (01989 763182) [email protected] Recorder: Mick Colquhoun , Old Gore House, Old Gore, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. HR97QT. 01989 780580) Mobile: 07587 151627 [email protected] Data Manager: Chris Robinson, Rock Cottage, Newton St. Margarets HR2 0QW (01981 510360 [email protected])

www.herefordshirebirds.org 20