Basingstoke Local Group Annual General Meeting

BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

MAY 2017 NEWSLETTER

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 Notices

 Annual General Meeting

 What’s Happening?

 Evening Walks Programme

 May’s Outdoor Meeting

 June’s Outdoor Meeting

 April’s Outdoor Meeting

 Sri Lanka: Yala National Park

 Local Wildlife News

 Quiz ‘Page’

 And Finally!

Charity registered in England and Wales no. 207076 From The Group Leader

Welcome to May, the Newsletter and the sultry, humid and rain-filled days of the latter part of spring!

Let’s hope not to the latter and that we’ll be blessed with some real spring and summer-like weather in the coming months, to be enjoyed by us all as we make the most of the ever- more animated countryside both close to home and further afield. The recent frosts and rains have thankfully not had too much of an impact on local wildlife, though the ‘burnt’ magnolias, Ivy and the like might not agree with this!

For once it looks as if the local birds may well produce a good crop of offspring, even if they’re late in as appears to be the case for many of the anticipated migrants. Have ‘your’ House Martin, Swallow, Swift, Cuckoo, Nightingale and similar arrived as you’d anticipate? I know that the Secretary recorded his first sightings of Swift at home on 5th May, exactly as expected, so perhaps things aren’t quite as bad as it may seem? Do let us know how you perceive what’s happening, as have locals spending time in Spain recently where they’ve noticed numbers of birds pausing in their migration due to the even more inclement weather being experienced there. So, again, perhaps things aren’t so bad and we’re still to receive more migrants in the coming weeks, and not just the anticipated late- comers such as Spotted Flycatcher and Nightjar. We shall see, hopefully.

May as always is a busy time for the Local Group with the Evening Walks Programme outings being added to the monthly Outdoor Meeting and the Annual General Meeting taking place. In years past it was not unusual to have a long-weekend away to the likes of East Anglia, Devon or Kent during the month, perhaps a thing that ought to be brought back in to being? How would you feel about such a venture?

With regard to the big event of the month, the Annual General Meeting, please do attend if you’re able – it really is one of the better opportunities to highlight what you think is god, bad or indifferent about the Local Group and its activities, as well as bring to the attention of all attending your currently thoughts on that going on within the birding and wildlife world that the Society, and others, is involved in. As always, if we, the Committee, are not aware of what you’re thinking we’re not going to be able to move the Local Group in the direction that you think is best, and after all the Local Group is for you!

If you’re not able to attend, please do feel free to forward any thoughts to me or any other Committee Member as they appear, at any time! We need your input, in so many ways, to ensure that the Local Group is as you want it and therefore will continue to attract you and others and so thereby benefit both the Society and all that it protects in the future – we may be small but you’d be surprised what we can achieve!

Peter E. Hutchins Notices

Committee Members

Yes, we want you!

If you’d be interested in helping to both lead and direct the Local Group forward in to the future do please contact a Committee Member at any time – a warm welcome can be assured!

The Local Group has a small Committee, currently consisting of just five Members, and it would be a very positive step to take on more volunteers to help in the administering of this and the Local Group. Do you have any specific qualities or knowledge, wildlife or work- based, that you think could be used in such an environment? If yes, again please do make the Committee aware of this.

We look forward to welcoming you!

New Mailing Address

Please be aware that due to the previous issues with the ‘normal’ mailing address a new one was created specifically for your enquiries, sightings, thoughts, gripes and groans and other input and anything else RSPB, wildlife-related or otherwise that you’d like to bring to the attention of the Group Leader / Committee.

This is [email protected] and is available now for your use.

The electronic versions of the February and March Newsletters have been forwarded from this mailing address so all those in receipt of these should now have the new mailing address to hand for future use. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Stamp Recycling

Please do remember that the Local Group continues to collect, sort and forward used stamps to the Society for conversion in to yet more conservation-minded monies.

The Local Group’s lucky enough to have Eileen Poulter continuing to do this on its’ behalf, so do please keep her busy!

A convenient mnemonic...

Remember Stamps Post to Bedfordshire

Butterfly Walks In Hampshire And The Isle of Wight

Butterfly Conservation Saving butterflies, moths and our environment

A new book detailing 25 walks about the county and island where you’re most likely to bump in to these other airborne beauties – even more pertinent as we head towards, hopefully, the time of year when numbers of butterflies increase dramatically and often seem to be in greater numbers on the wing than birds!

You can inspect some sample pages from the book here ...

The Press Release about the book is available here ...

To order your copy send a cheque for £7.25 (£6.00 for the guide and £1.25 for postage and packing) made payable to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Branch Butterfly Conservation, together with your name and postal address to: Kevin Freeborn, c/o Butterfly Conservation, Unit 2, Bull Pens, Manor Farm, Itchen Stoke, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0QT

Copies will also be available for purchase (cash only) from Jayne Chapman on the Wednesday Wanders, and Ashley Whitlock on the branch fieldtrips where he is the walk leader.

Or to buy a copy online click here ...

To report any inaccuracies in the book please email here.

Brian’s Bees

The honey that has been on sale at Indoor Meetings is still available! In three varieties! Thank you to all those that purchased this locally sourced product, and to all those that do you in the future! Please do remember when considering sourcing honey in the future that this is both locally produced, some of you may even know the bees, and that a donation to the Group is made on each purchase!

Local Group Website

The Local Group website continues to be worked upon by our trusted band of computer- literates, well Tim. Carr, so if you haven't been to the site recently, why not take a look and tell us what you think. Any thoughts on what we should, or should not, include within the site will always be appreciated, this then helping to make the site more relevant to current group members, and helping to get across the right message to potential members.

Link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke/

Newsletter Mailings

Do we have your email address? If not, please do pass it on so that the Group can communicate with you in a more environmentally sensitive manner! The monthly Newsletter being an example of this, saving resources, money and time by being mailed to you, rather than hard copies being created and perhaps only sitting partially read until the next one appears. With regard to this, it’s hoped, seemingly never-endingly, that the lack of hard copy will be resolved in the future!

Bird Food

We are happy to supply any bird food to you at any time, just call on 01256 – 770831, 07895 – 388378 or mail us on [email protected] and we will arrange delivery to you. If you have any requirements that are not listed, please do let us know and we will ensure that they are available when you, or your birds, need them.

The below are examples of just a few of the items that we can supply. Please do enquire after anything else and we will provide you with a cost, time of delivery etc. As both of us are currently working in / about Basingstoke delivery can be expected to be completed within a day of an order being received – can you get that service anywhere else? Prices vary according to the seasonality of the foods, where we are able to source them from, and so on:

Wild Bird Mix – Peanuts – Black Sunflowers – Sunflower Hearts – Niger – Fat Squares – Fat Pecker Balls – Birdboxes – Feeders – Wildfowl Food – Bat Boxes – Mealworms – Suet Pellets – Hedgehog Feeders.

A variety of items will be available at most Indoor Meetings but if there is something ‘missing’ that you want, please do let us know.

Peter & Alison

Annual General Meeting

THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS

BASINGSTOKE LOCAL GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The thirty-eighth Annual General Meeting of the Basingstoke Local Group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will take place on Wednesday 17th May 2017 at The Barn, Church Cottage, Church Street, Basingstoke at 7.45pm.

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Introduction

2. Apologies for Absence

3. Minutes of the thirty-seventh Annual General Meeting

4. Matters Arising

5. Chairman’s Report

6. Treasurer’s Report

7. Appropriation of Surplus

8. Elections

9. Any Other Business

Nominations for the Committee, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, should be given to the Secretary by Sunday 30th April 2017.

Geoff Sharp Secretary

What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained as the gays lengthen and the weather continues to improve, hopefully!

Alton Natural History Society http://altonnaturalhistory.webnode.com/

Bishop’s Meadow, Farnham – For Botany

Pepper Saxifrage Silaum silaus

Date 21st May

Time 14:00am

A botanical walk led by Isobel Girvan about the 35 acres of low lying agricultural meadow to the west of Farnham’s town centre.

Meet in the Wagon Yard car park off Lower Church Lane by the New Ashgate Gallery.

Grid reference SU 839 446

Alice Holt Pound – For Birds

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

Date 3rd June

Time 10:00am

A birding walk led by Steve Mansfield about this ancient woodland that has been managed by the Forestry Commission since 1924!

Meet in the car park off Gravel Hill Road

Steve Mansfield: 07786 - 060289

Grid reference SU 803 434

For further information about any of the meetings please contact the Programme Secretary Ted. Raynor on 01256 – 862541

Basingstoke Natural History Society [email protected]

Old Down, Kempshott

Date 13th June

Time 19:00pm

For details of any of the indoor or outdoor meetings please contact: Patricia & Colin Stubbs: 01256 323324; Diane Rampton: 01256 467533 or Nicola Williams: 01256 353194.

Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust http://www.hwt.org.uk/

Winnall Moors: Behind The Scenes.

Date 18th May

Time 09:30am to 12:30pm

Winnall Moors in summer

Deryn Hawkins

Enjoy one of the best parts of the Itchen valley and learn more about its management.

Join the Reserves Officer as we enjoy a springtime walk around the meadows and chalk streams. This walk includes the north of the moors which are not usually open to the public. Booking essential. Participants need to be able to walk 3 miles on uneven, boggy ground and be able to cross stiles. Booking is essential.

Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, Durngate Place, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8DX

Hazeley Heath RSPB Reserve Visit

Date 18th May

Time 10:00am to 12:00pm

Walking in wildlife

Emma Bradshaw

A guided walk by the local ranger around the recently acquired reserve near Hartley Wintney to see the work being carried out to improve habitat for wildlife on this area of scarce lowland heath. Bring binoculars. May be wet underfoot after rain.

"Park and meet just off layby on B3011 Bracknell Lane opposite Arrow Lane (Parking limited - please share) Map ref: - SU 756 578 Nearest postcode: - RG27 8LT"

Butterflies And Flowers At Old Winchester Hill

Date 20th May

Time 10:30am to 3:00pm

Chalkhill Blue

Micky Pape

Join Brian Fletcher for a walk at this chalk downland National Nature Reserve to see spring butterflies such as skippers and blues, and other wildlife. Bring a packed lunch.

Meet in the main reserve car park on the minor road south east of Warnford (map ref SU 646 214), Old Winchester Hill, near Warnford

Basingstoke Wildlife Watch

Date 20th May

Time 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Wildlife Watch In Action

Let's go on a reptile hunt!

Fun wildlife-themed and outdoor activities for children aged 5-15 years

Please note, under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. All sessions will be held outdoors, whatever the weather, so wrap up warm and don’t forget your wellies!

Wildlife Watch events are for families and young people that want to get out and about and more involved with nature. The activities are based mostly outdoors, in natural surroundings. Please make sure you come prepared with a waterproof coat and some wellies.

Find out more about Wildlife Watch club membership here.

For further details, please contact:

Clare Lloyd Williams 01256 782665

The Wildflowers Of The Watermeadows

Date 25th May

Time 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Steve Page

Bringing back the wildflowers: how to restore species rich grassland

With 97% of our lowland wildflower rich meadows lost to drainage, development and intensive agriculture how do we save what is left? Join Reserves Officer Rachel Remnant to learn how the Trust has encouraged the return of meadow flora and fauna.

Garnier Road, next to Meadow View Cottage on the footpath leading to St Cross meadows, Garnier Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9QG

Grid reference SU479282

Old Burghclere Lime Quarry Walk

Date 3rd June

Time 10:30am to 1:00pm

Mark Heighes

Join volunteers to see the butterflies and orchids in this Trust reserve

Enjoy the late spring butterflies (we hope for small blue, dingy skipper and others) and orchids at this reserve guided by the members who help maintain it and record its wildlife.

Meet and park in the Old Burghclere station farmyard (map ref: SU 470 578) (in area to the left of the entrance), reached by a rough lane, south off minor road through Old Burghclere between the manor house and old railway bridge

Wildlife Walk At Broughton Down

Date 17th June

Time 11:00am to 3:00pm

Chalkhill Blue

Micky Pape

Join the Winchester local group for a visit to this Trust reserve to see the flowers and butterflies and learn about the Trust’s management of this chalk downland site. Bring a packed lunch.

Meet at the western end of Buckholt Road, Broughton, off the B3084 (map ref SU 301 325). Broughton Down, near Stockbridge

Please note that all the events noted above may be filmed and photographed for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's fundraising and publicity purposes. If you have any concerns, please speak to a member of staff.

Local Opportunities for Conservation Volunteering

Are you interested in your local environment? Do you have a passion for conservation and wildlife? If yes, try the following the site to check on what’s happening locally that you could become involved in. http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2BEA9CA3-DD29-414A-AAE4- 0F8A916F61E4/0/Conservationworkparties.pdf

There are opportunities for you as an individual, a family or a social group to join the groups of volunteers already working in the following areas:

Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Plantation Kempshott Chineham Mill Field Local Nature Reserve Cliddesden Oakley Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King Old Down, Kempshott George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale) Overton

Popley South View

Evening Walks Programme

Please find below details of the remaining events in the Evening Walks Programme that will run throughout the remainder of May and June.

MAP CONTACT DATE DAY START TIME SITE MEETING PLACE LEADER REFERENCE DETAILS The Mill Field LNR, Barton’s Basing House / Millstone SU 660 530 James 07775 - 16th May Tuesday 18:30 Mill & Cowdery’s Down PH car parks, Old Basing (RG24 8AE) Andrews 564257 Petty's Brook & The River Northern side of SU 667 522 Peter E. 07895 - 24th May Wednesday 18:30 Loddon Whitmarsh Lane, Chineham (RG24 8LQ) Hutchins 388378 Paices Wood Country Park The Park’s car park, off the SU 587 639 Stewart 07895 - 31st May Wednesday 18:30 A340 north of Tadley (RG7 4PG) Woolley 388378 Longparish The car park next to The SU 445 448 Geoff. 01256 - 7th June Wednesday 18:30 Test, N of Larkwhistle Farm (SP11 6QJ) Sharp 470295 Crookham Common Old Thornford Road, SU 523 645 Richard 07884 - 14th June Wednesday 18:30 Crookham Common (RG19 8EU) Gilham 044544 The Basingstoke Canal & The Wharf car park, at the SU 747 517 Peter E. 07895 - 21st June Tuesday 18:30 Odiham Common north end of London Road (RG29 1AJ) Hutchins 388378 Woodgarston & Piccadilly Hill The lay-by on the northern SU5 87 548 Doug. 07786 - 28th June Wednesday 18:30 side of the A339 (RG26 5TD) Kelson 647784

Please note that the postcode displayed is the nearest available to the meeting place and at times may be a short distance from this - as always, if there are any issues with this, or anything else, please do contact the Leader in advance of the walk.

May’s Outdoor Meeting

Otmoor RSPB: 21st.

 For this outing please meet in the reserve car park for a 10:00 start (SP 570 126: OS Landranger map 164).

 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 49.92 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 49.9; a travelling time of 71 minutes being quoted by both sites. These routes are via the A339 and A34, more direct routes being somewhat slower and therefore possibly taking longer than the noted times. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

And just in case: From A34 take B4027 to Islip. Through Islip, continue along B4027 towards Wheatley. After four miles turn left to Horton-cum-Studley. Turn left to Beckley. After one mile, road drops down short steep hill. Turn right before Abingdon Arms. Turn sharp left into Otmoor Lane. Follow road to end, about one mile, left through reserve entrance. Car park is on your right. From A40 travelling west: at Headington roundabout, turn right, taking exit sign posted Crematorium, Beckley, Horton-cum-Studley, Headington. After two miles, turn right at junction onto B4027 then immediately left, signposted to Horton-cum-Studley. Follow directions to Beckley as above. The reserve has no postcode,

but OX3 9TD will take you into Otmoor Lane, and just follow this road to the reserve car park at the end. As car parking is limited, please can you can share wherever possible.

 The site to be visited this month is one of the more notable inland RSPB reserves in the south of Britain, consisting primarily of reedbeds, open grassland, some farmland and the hedgerows, scrub and copses that break up the ‘flat’ landscape.

Reed Warbler Acroephalus scirpaceus

The wetter areas of the reserve at this time of year play host to large numbers of reedbed denizens, Reed and Sedge Warbler being more than evident whilst wildfowl, waders and rails are just as plentiful, but perhaps less likely to be seen or heard as the ‘reed warblers’. Bittern regularly breed within the reserve and so views of these may be obtained as they move to and from their feeding and nesting areas, Grey Heron are also present in larger numbers and in recent years the likes of Purple Heron have even lingered during the spring!

There are several reedbed viewing screens and a number of other vantage points to look out over such habitats, ensuring a good range of birds and other wildlife are readily available.

The more open waters, especially with those with areas of shallower water, draw in waders such as Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Snipe in to breed whilst the more farmland-like and distant waters hold Lapwing, both adults and the leggy young likely to be seen amongst the lengthier grass and stock, as might Yellow Wagtail.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

The beds and water-flanking vegetation provide shelter and food for many invertebrates and so in turn increase the avians about the reserve; Hobby may be taking advantage of the plentiful dragon and damselflies, Cuckoo the furrier caterpillars and warblers, pipits and flycatchers the aerial plankton that can cloud the air on more clement days. Grasshopper Warbler is one of the birds many associate the reserve with and these have even be heard from the car park on past visits! The nearby scrub affords them shelter and it may be some time before they’re tracked down, though the wait / search will certainly be worthwhile.

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Steve Round

Another much-anticipated bird that frequents the reserve during the summer is the seemingly ever-decreasing Turtle Dove; again these can even be heard / seen from the car park so not too far in to the walk there should be evidence of these being present. For some this may well be the only opportunity to catch up with this iconic bird during the year, so take it and make the most of both it and all that the reserve has to offer; you won’t be disappointed!

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur One of the summering specialties of the reserve

The hedgerows and low-lying scrub that criss-cross the reserve encourage warblers such as Whitethroat to linger amongst the resident Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting, the adjacent ditches often providing plentiful food in the form of the aforementioned odonata, aphids and the reed-grazing larvae of moths. We’re sure to see some of these on investigation, as well as some of the butterfly nectaring about the hedgerows, bramble flowers being plentiful and adding both colour and food sources to the outer limits of these. Hairstreaks, browns, whites, blues, skippers and the vanessids are all possible, as well as some striking day-flying moths such as the tigers and china-marks.

The plentiful sources of food supplied by the reserve ensure a range of raptors are to be seen on a daily basis, particularly if the weather remains clement. The reedbeds play host to Marsh Harrier and Hobby drift overhead, looking for less than wary prey items below them.

Hobby Falco subbuteo Another summer visitant that makes the most of the increased fauna on site, as will we

Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are all likely, in varying numbers, and the attentions of these will help to draw more species in to the air as they move over – pipits, wagtails, buntings and warblers perhaps among those to be disturbed, as might be the raptors and herons that have made the reeds their summering home.

For those not totally bird-oriented the timing of the visit will allow them time to relax amongst the on-the-wing lepidoptera, the ever-increasing blooms of arable and water-borne plants and the huge array of invertebrates and the occasional amphibian and reptile as those about them fill their notebooks!

Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea Otmoor now probably the best site in Oxfordshire for odonata, including this hairy beast!

 Please be aware that there are no facilities on site, the nearest being in the village of Beckley.

 The walk will take us through to early afternoon when there will be a number of options for those attending – lunch, of course, on site or in Beckley, go directly home, move off to other sites of interest or participate in a further walk about the area during the middle / latter part of the afternoon; all are more than welcome to join the latter.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Farmoor Reservoir, Dinton Pastures CP, The Ridgeway, Lower Farm GP, Thatcham NDC and Greenham / Crookham Commons will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

For the latest news from the reserve please try: http://otmoorbirding.blogspot.co.uk/

June’s Outdoor Meeting

Martin Down NNR: 25th.

For this Outdoor Meeting please meet in the car park at the southern end of Sillen Lane, Martin for a 10:00 start (SU 056 191, OS Landranger map 184; SP6 3LB).

This is south off Martin Drove End, at the ‘triangle, in Martin, this being accessed off the A354 between Salisbury and Blandford Forum.

 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 47.78 miles between Basingstoke and Passage Lane, the AA site 48.1; a travelling time of 65 and 75 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

 A walk about this National Nature Reserve should provide those attending with a varied range of both birds and other wildlife, the reserve being particularly well known for chalk downland habitat specialities of bird, butterfly and plant; the 342 acres representing one of the largest uninterrupted areas of this habitat in Britain – not that we’ll be covering all 342 of them!

As well as the significant natural history interest of the site the substantial archaeological interest will be obvious at times during the walk, the Bokerley Dike, many tumuli and long barrows helping to create a less than even landscape.

We will walk south from Martin out on to the lower stretches of the downland, hedgerow immediately flanking us and flower-laden scrub to the front where Whitethroat will be in song, Yellowhammer perhaps adorning the top of the Hawthorns and other warblers to hopefully to be found lurking in the now densely leafed hedgerows. The latter also affording us the first opportunity to catch up with some of the many butterfly species to be found on the reserve, as well as perhaps some of the more obvious day-flying moths such as Cinnabar.

In the past the stands of trees and fields close to the car park, the latter often filled with Poppy, have held singing Turtle Down and Quail – what chance this year? Only time will unfortunately tell, though the doves have been recorded there this year, having safely made it back – this time!

Moving out on to the more open down land, gaining height as we do, Swift and hirundines and raptors may be taking advantage of the, hopefully, warmer weather to both feed and thermal. In the past, again, Montagu’s Harrier has been seen by the Group here and so ‘eyes to the skies’ might just provide something of note. Corvids, perhaps to include Raven, will also be on the move, as will gulls, the latter including birds moving away from their breeding areas to the adjacent farmland to make the most of the farming techniques that at least allow these birds some sustenance.

The grassed and flower-pocked downland harbours huge amounts of invertebrate life and some, such as the Dark Green Fritillary will be sure to brighten even a dull day; coppers,

blues, browns, whites, hairstreaks and argus all among that possible on a day of benevolent weather.

Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja

The already mentioned flowers will also provide both colour and interest, 12 species of orchid for example being recorded on site, as well as plants endemic to this ever-decreasing habitat; Bastard Toadflax and Field Fleawort perhaps not as exotic sounding as the orchids but even more notable in their need for this habitat to continue vivifying the summer months.

The most southerly area of the downs bring us to tumuli, ditches, open areas of shorter turf and the fencing separating the reserve form the real world! Corn Bunting will hopefully be ‘jangling’ from the latter whilst the shelter afforded by the other areas will increase both the numbers and variety of both plants and their accompanying invertebrates, the latter increasing the likelihood of finding further insectivorous birds, as will the thicker scrub about the car park just off the main road to Blandford Forum. The increased insect and therefore mammalian life also draws in reptiles, with Adder having been seen here on previous visits and both Grass Snake and Slow Worm about, though with better weather all are unlikely to be seen; having warmed themselves sufficiently earlier to ensure a rapid retreat on our arrival!

This area of chalk downland in the west of the county is sure to provide good watching, good walking and good photographic opportunities, so perhaps due to this taking longer to cover than might be anticipated!

 Please be aware that the walk will take in areas of unmade paths and that once out on the downs we’ll be in the open, and therefore possibly having to be aware of the sun and its’ affects!

Beware!

 The walk will take us through to early afternoon when there will be the options to head home, linger about the area or complete a further walk nearby.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Sixpenny Handley, Vernditch Chase, Blandford Forum, for Otters, Broughton and Stockbridge Downs and Rooksbury Mill will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

April’s Outdoor Meeting

Bolderwood: 23rd.

Seven attended on a truly spring-like morning when the car park at Bolderwood was surprisingly empty, the weather seemingly not having encouraged many out to this regular area of New Forest wandering by mid-morning; not a bad thing for both the Group and the birds they hoped to see, and hear.

The canopy Peter E. Hutchins Comprised mainly of Oak and Apple at the entrance to the Lodge – note the colour of the sky! This is where the Hawfinch moved through, albeit all too swiftly for most

On moving off towards the deer-viewing platform a detour was made to look out over the grounds of Bolderwood Lodge, where several Swallow were looking for aerial prey. A single House Martin passed through northwards during the time spent here, one of very few birds noted overhead during the walk.

The Group & Bolderwood Lodge grounds Peter E. Hutchins

A fence line close to the northern boundary of the grounds provided a perching place for a showy male Redstart, his partner also seen as they moved about the nearby trees and a presumed nest site.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Doug. Kelson

A very colourful start to the walk, with the sighting of up to two Hawfinch over the woodland there being a bonus, for those that saw them! A Woodcock was even less obliging, being seen by just one as it flew low through the primarily Holly and Oak woodland. Willow Warbler and Blackcap were in song in the grounds where a Buzzard was briefly seen, dropping out of view, unlike the Grey Squirrel that cantered across the open ground.

Fallow Deer Dam dama

Peter E. Hutchins & Doug. Kelson The observation platform and some of the resident cervidae

The Fallow Deer anticipated in the grounds didn’t disappoint, perhaps 50+ being on view on approaching the viewing platform, almost all being hinds, of a varying range of colours! The crowds had started to build and so the Group swiftly moved on in to the woodland south of here. The mature conifers soon gave up singing Firecrest with one again being encouraged down close to the Group, as had happened at Blashford Lakes HIWWT earlier in the Outdoor Meetings Programme. This aggressive bird was much appreciated, several foreign tourists even making the most of the opportunity to capture this miniature forest fire-cracker digitally. I wonder if they knew what they were watching? More coniferous work saw a number of Crossbill feeding on the cones, a male being followed up by a pair and then a family party of five, so all plumages were seen, as was the extraordinary bill that allows these birds to winkle out the conifer seeds. Debris from the latter’s extraction could be heard dropping to the forest floor.

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Doug. Kelson

Further Firecrest assailed the ears of the Group, as did Siskin moving over, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, the occasional summer visitant in the form of Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff and resident thrushes; the latter including both a well-grown immature and brooding adult.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Doug. Kelson

The immature bird was found on another Woodcock being seen in flight, this one at least being seen by several of the Group, before it too disappeared in to the woodland floor scrub. The searching for this provided the only odonata of the walk, a Large Red Damselfly that drifted up from a wetter ride, just briefly before settling back out of site. Nearby a very active Southern Wood Ant formicary was found, many thousands of the inhabitants being seen both at the nest and as they spread out over the forest floor to hunt and scavenge. Not everybody’s favourite ‘sighting’ but interesting nonetheless!

Southern Wood Ant Formica rufa Peter E. Hutchins & Doug. Kelson Just be pleased that I can’t at present upload the video taken of this very busy formicary to the Newsletter!

Bolderwood Grounds, the trees, the Group Peter E. Hutchins

Further insects were seen in the form of a ride-hugging Speckled Wood and a basking Red Admiral.

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Doug. Kelson

Conifers, Bracken and emergent blooms – the forest floor Peter E. Hutchins

Moving away from the woodland of Bolderwood Grounds the Group moved out and up on to the heath, north of Stinking Edge Wood!

The heath west of Bolderwood Grounds

Peter E. Hutchins Showing both the razed and fresher areas of habitat

The track leading out across the heath provided views over the already walked woodland, as well as areas of recently burnt heath and that which was recovering from prior abuse, very little Gorse or other plants being seen above the blanket of heather. The latter may well have been part of the cause for no Dartford Warbler being present, though a pair of Stonechat was located breaking the skyline on the higher heath, as was a pair of Meadow Pipit.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Doug. Kelson Giving the photographer the ‘cold shoulder’!

Much closer, brighter and even smaller a Green Tiger Beetle scuttled about the track, one of the most predatory and rapidly moving of the British coleoptera.

Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris Doug. Kelson A stunning beetle that’s likely to be found on most local heaths visited

Less easily seen and identified were two day-flying moth flitting to-and-fro in the denser heath, their brief period of containment however allowing both easier viewing and identification to be confirmed. A Peacock flew more purposefully over the heath.

Common Heath Ematurga atomaria Doug. Kelson Quite appropriately named!

A singing Cuckoo then broke the silence, another duetting with it as it sat atop yet another, all too distant, conifer. Another year’s first for many.

Cuckoo Cululus canorus Doug. Kelson The first of the year for many – this male very, very distant

Reaching the higher heath raptors were, at last, sighted in the thermal-filled air, a female Goshawk drifting down and of sight over the woodland where a Peregrine then took its place, thermalling upwards before also allowing the trees to hide it, two Buzzard distantly over the woodland then drawing the attention of the Group.

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Doug. Kelson Oh yes it is!

On approaching Oak fringed with masses of almost glowing green new growth a lek of Adela reaumurella was seen, this long-antennaed micro-moth dancing in the continuing afternoon sun.

Adela reaumurella Mike Wall

The heath, the Group and recently vacated woodlands

Dropping back down towards the woodland the Group came across Petty Whin, a delicate Gorse-like plant that the forest is well known for.

Petty Whin Genista anglica Peter E. Hutchins A much underrated plant that’s often mistaken for Gorse or Broom

Of more note, to most present, was a male Wheatear that posed delightfully on the only tree stump away from the woodlands; another first for the year!

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Doug. Kelson Always a pleasure to see, this male being particularly obliging

Redstart could again be heard in song on reaching the woodland, perhaps four males being noted in their territorial duties during the walk, though just the original female being seen. On returning to Bolderwood Grounds it was not just the chats that were in song, further Firecrest being found taking the minimum count of singing males recorded to 14!

Before and after! Peter E. Hutchins Note the map being ‘displayed’ by one of the Group, before moving off to Blashford Lakes HIWWT – it really wasn’t that windy!

1.Blackbird 2.Blackcap - four were found in song. 3.Blue Tit 4.Buzzard – five were seen, including two in the same area as both Goshawk and Peregrine. 5.Carrion Crow 6.Chaffinch 7.Chiffchaff - five were found in song. 8.Coal Tit 9.Crossbill – at least eight were seen in the woodland south / south-east of the deer viewing area; a male, a pair and a family party of five. 10.Cuckoo – two were heard in song, one of these lingering atop a distant conifer for all to see. 11.Dunnock 12.Firecrest – 14+ territorial male were located, including a bird that came to within feet of the Group; with a little encouragement! 13.Goldcrest 14.Goldfinch 15.Goshawk – a female drifted northward over the heath and woodlands west of Bolderwood Grounds. 16.Great Spotted Woodpecker – a drumming bird was heard on several occasions. 17.Great Tit 18.Green Woodpecker 19.Greenfinch 20.Hawfinch – two all too brief sightings were had in the woodland between the main car park and Bolderwood Lodge. 21.House Martin – a singleton moved north over the grounds of Bolderwood Lodge, accompanied by Swallow. 22.Long-tailed Tit 23.Meadow Pipit – a pair was on the heath west of Bolderwood Grounds. 24.Mistle Thrush 25.Nuthatch 26.Peregrine – a female circled over the woodland west of Bolderwood Grounds.

27.Redstart – a pair at Bolderwood Lodge gave excellent views as they attended a possible nest site. Later, a further three male were heard in song, although not being seen. 28.Robin 29.Siskin 30.Song Thrush – an active nest was found, as was an active immature bird; from another brood. 31.Stock Dove – a pair was seen on the wing, the male being heard in song earlier. 32.Stonechat – a pair was on the heath west of Bolderwood Grounds. 33.Swallow – a minimum of four were seen about the grounds of Bolderwood Lodge, possibly as many as nine however being noted about / through this area. 34.Treecreeper 35.Wheatear – a male posed out on the heath, atop a tree stump. 36.Willow Warbler - two were found in song. 37.Woodcock – single birds were seen in flight low through the woodland on two occasions. 38.Woodpigeon 39.Wren

Fallow Deer – c.50 were seen from the viewing platform with a singleton then seen further west on leaving the area; a ‘wild’ one! Grey Squirrel – one was seen in the grounds of Bolderwood Lodge, another deeper in the Bolderwood woodlands.

Green-veined White – a pair in cop. about one of the wetter woodland rides. Peacock – one moved low north over the heath west of the woodlands. Red Admiral – a relatively dull individual sunned itself alongside one of the woodland tracks. Small White – a singleton, on the wing close to the deer ‘paddock’. Speckled Wood – one, along a woodland ride.

Common Heath – two male were seen on the heath west of Bolderwood Grounds. Adela reaumurella – ‘displaying’ groups of at least three and eight were seen about new Oak growth out on the heath.

Large Red Damselfly – a singleton briefly moved up and on to the wing in one of the wetter rides.

Green Tiger Beetle – one was found on a ‘path’ across the heath, west of Bolderwood Grounds. Common Pond-skater – several were seen in a flooded woodland ditch.

Southern Wood Ant – two formicaries were found, holding many thousands of these, as well as a captive Two-banded Longhorn Beetle Rhagium bifasciatum.

Drone Fly – one appeared to find the company of one of those attending to its liking!

Common Sorrel Foxglove Gorse Lousewort Milkwort Petty Whin Tormentil Wood Spurge Yellow Pimpernel Many of the Group moved on from Bolderwood to the Tern Hide, Blashford Lakes HIWWT, where they remained in situ until moved on by the warden on the hide / reserve closing for the day!

The Group, Tern Hide & Ibsley Water Peter E. Hutchins

The time spent looking out across Ibsley Water provided much that was new for the day, with birds being seen both near and far, though much of that trying to spend time on the shoreline outside the hide was very quickly moved on by a very maternal Lapwing.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Doug. Kelson The ever-observant mother and her charges

Other waders that attempted to feed close-to-hand included a striking Ruff, several Common Sandpiper, pairs of Little Ringed Plover and Redshank. Further afield another pair of Little Ringed Plover was active over the pit, a Snipe fed amongst the older stubble-like vegetation and two breeding plumaged Dunlin frequented the more distant shorelines.

Ruff Calidris pugnax, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Snipe Gallinago gallinago, Redshank Tringa totanus and Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Doug. Kelson All viewable from the, relative, comfort of the Tern Hide

Out on the water both Great Crested and Little Grebe were diving, a pair of the former confirming their partnership with displaying being seen.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Doug. Kelson

Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Goose were to be expected, unlike the flock of ten grazing Wigeon and the drake Mandarin that flew through, returning later to alight at the northern side of the pit.

Greylag Goose Anser anser & Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Doug. Kelson Synchronised smoothing!

This area was the focus of attention for many, a 1st summer Bonaparte’s Gull there amongst the Black-headed Gull; just possibly the 3rd record for the county and so twitched by many over its prolonged stay. Though remaining distant for much of the time it did however fly towards the Group at one stage, allowing far better views as it reached the middle of the pit.

Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia Doug. Kelson The ‘big’ rarity on site!

Closer to the hide a Little Gull, also an immature, proved more obliging, feeding low over the pit before settling atop one of the gravel islands; again appearing dramatically small in comparison with the neighbouring Black-heads.

Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus Doug. Kelson

Closer still the spit outside the Goosander Hide was thronged with gulls, the Black-heads this time mingling with their larger, more exotic cousins, Mediterranean Gull. Most of those present were adults in full breeding finery, just a few being 2nd summer types with areas of black intruding on to their wingtips.

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus & Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Doug. Kelson

The raucous pair above in distinct contrast to the more elegant and refined ‘foreigners’ Half-a-dozen Common Tern were feeding about the pit, these recently arrived migrants lingering for longer than the flock of Swift that was seen milling about over the furthest corner; the first of the year for most present. Further passage birds appeared as the sit-in continued, Swallow, Sand and House Martin.

To complete the outing several, on being moved on, briefly visited The Avon and adjacent watermeadows at Ibsley Bridge, where the latter were covered in blanketing Marsh Marigold and Cuckooflower. Both Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler were in song off the road bisecting the watermeadows, Common Tern repeatedly moving up and down the river either side of the roadbridge.

Ibsley Water, Blashford Lakes HIWWT Additions etc.:

40.Black-headed Gull 41.Bonaparte’s Gull – a 2nd calendar year bird was seen about, primarily, the northernmost reaches of Ibsley Water; this only the 3rd record for Hampshire. 42.Canada Goose 43.Common Sandpiper – at least three were seen about Ibsley Water. 44.Common Tern – a minimum of six generally very active birds were seen about Ibsley Water. 45.Coot 46.Cormorant 47.Dunlin – two were seen on Ibsley Water shores. 48.Egyptian Goose – at least six were about the islands and banks of Ibsley Water. 49.Feral Pigeon 50.Gadwall 51.Great Black-backed Gull – a singleton was on an Ibsley Water island. 52.Great Crested Grebe – several pairs were seen displaying to one another on Ibsley Water. 53.Grey Heron 54.Greylag Goose 55.Herring Gull 56.Lapwing – two immature birds outside the Tern Hide, Ibsley Water were continuously being protected by their mother, she driving off any other wader that alighted nearby. 57.Lesser Black-backed Gull 58.Little Gull – a 2nd calendar year bird was seen well as it hawked for invertebrates over Ibsley Water, before settling on an island for some time. 59.Little Ringed Plover – at least two very mobile pairs were seen about Ibsley Water, one close to hand, when the maternal Lapwing allowed! 60.Mallard 61.Mandarin – a drake through eastwards may have been the one that dropped in to the northern reaches of Isbley Water early evening.

62.Mediterranean Gull – birds were continuously present about the islands / promontories in Ibsley Water, perhaps 30+ being recorded, all but two of which were breeding-plumaged adults. Later, a further four, in apparent pairs, moved south over the watermeadows west of Ibsley Bridge.

Mistle Thrush – one flew north along the eastern bank of Ibsley Water. 63.Moorhen 64.Mute Swan 65.Pied Wagtail – a single male was seen.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii

Doug. Kelson

The only bird that the Lapwing didn’t escort off the Tern Hide shoreline!

66.Redshank – two+ birds were active about the southern shores of Ibsley Water. 67.Ruff – a striking male showed to all about the islands / shoreline viewable from the Tern Hide, Ibsley Water. 68.Sand Martin 69.Shoveler

70.Swift – at least six birds were seen over the north-western parts of Ibsley Water and the adjacent River Avon. 71.Tufted Duck 72.Wigeon – ten were grazing on the eastern banks of Ibsley Water.

Ibsley Bridge Additions etc.:

Common Tern – at least five birds were patrolling The River Avon. Stonechat – a pair was about the reedbed and nearby gates / fence line north of Ibsley Bridge. 73.Oystercatcher – one dropped in to Avon-side pasture north of Ibsley Bridge. 74.Reed Bunting – one was about the riverside vegetation north of Ibsley Bridge.

Red Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Doug. Kelson Note the already prevalent willow ‘fluff’

75.Sedge Warbler – three were in song at the western end of the watermeadows, in vegetation by the stream east of Harbridge House.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Doug. Kelson Showing well!

Marsh Marigold – many thousands of blooms were evident in the watermeadows at Ibsley Bridge. Cuckooflower – smaller, but still notable, numbers were in bloom in the Ibsley Bridge watermeadows.

Sri Lanka

Yala National Park

Yala National Park, though not quite on the scale of some of the huge African reserves does have something of the “feel” of such places. It contains many large and dangerous wild animals and teems with wildlife. We had already goggled at many wonders and were eager for more; some of them being “targets”, i.e. must-see species. Right now, a former “target”; Sri Lanka's National bird, the Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl (we'd found it in Horton Plains) was crowing the start of the day and a splendidly flame-combed individual strode off into cover. A Plain Prinia sang, competing with a Common Iora but neither could out-shout the splendid Indian Peafowl displaying to a couple of interested but playing hard-to-get Peahens. Such a familiar sight but far more “special”, in their natural surroundings.

Clockwise: Sri Lanka Junglefowl; Plain Prinia; Common Iora; Peafowl. I thought he deserved a little more space than most!

We watched a Baya Weaver colony, where a male was building industriously; pushing grass-blades into the nest and pulling them through to create a beautiful construction to swing in the wind. Its efforts did not go unwatched by local fauna, though. A female Asian Koel was watching closely. She is a typical cuckoo and, as soon as the Baya Weaver left to collect more building materials, she flew up to the nest, only to find it not in the correct stage for her to drop one of her own eggs in it.

The nest wasn't finished; the male weaver bird hadn't even induced a mate to start laying there, yet. Perhaps the Koel was young and inexperienced but, maybe, it was just checking- out a future victim.

Male Baya Weaver, nest-building Female Asian Koel, prospecting

There were birds to delight, in all directions; some spied as we clung to the superstructure to avoid being bumped from our vehicle and more spotted when we stopped to enjoy what we'd found. There were Indian Robins (same shape as typical Robin but mostly black) and a new flycatcher, the hyper-active White-browed Fantail, dashing to snatch and pick prey from foliage; the glossy Loten's Sunbird shone metallic-blue in the sunlight, a Yellow- crowned Woodpecker pecked and picked its way up a tree trunk, a male Purple-rumped Sunbird preened amongst leathery leaves.

Purple-rumped Sunbird White-browed Fantail Paddyfield Pipit

In the grass, a Paddyfield Pipit allowed the vehicle to approach closely as it stretched to peer for insects and spiders. But all these birds were just appetisers for what we found, courtesy of Hetty's eyes and information for what we were to find calmly watching us, without apparent concern.

Leopard

This was, according to Hetty, our guide, a juvenile Leopard, still dependant on mum, though, not for long, now. Evidently a family Hetty knew about.

Yala hosts what is probably the densest population of Leopards in the world, a fact underlined when we became aware of another Leopard, stalking its sibling from scrubby cover before pouncing, to enjoy an exuberant play-fight; leaping, rolling, mouthing, claws- retracted embracing and chasing then abruptly stopping to drift into the shade for rest. We were entranced with our views; we had the Leopards to ourselves for around half an hour, in the peaceful surroundings. They were actually doing things! So often, the tourist's big cat experience is of a somnolent animal in the shade, sleeping-off a hard night's hunting. I know (and we were, later, to see) that, in national parks, congested traffic-jams of vehicles may surround dozing Lions. Leopards have the reputation of being very difficult to see; often nothing more than the briefest of glimpses (my previous experience, in Africa) at long distance.

All in fun. Fan-flipping-tastic!

We had seen, for ourselves, the abundance of prey available for Leopards, in the park. As the Leopard has a very wide prey preference, it might snack on larger rodents, Monkeys, Hares, Giant Squirrels, Junglefowl, Peafowl, Monitor Lizards, Chital, Wild Boar, young Wild Water Buffalo and smaller Mugger Crocodiles and much else as well as occasional carrion. It is the top predator, with no Tigers on the island of Sri Lanka to make it nervous. Apart from humans, it has little to fear; though it is possible that young cubs might be predated by some of the park's other residents. Probably, the main control for the Leopard population is other Leopards. The young, carefree animals we were watching would soon have to find and fight for a territory and might die, in the attempt. The skills honed in play would be vital for them in adult life. An interloping male Leopard, if it ousts the resident male, will usually kill young cubs of the previous male, to induce the female to come back into season or the cubs will be forced to independence before they are ready. They might meet with a sounder of exceptionally ferocious large Boars or end-up on the horns and under the feet of a buffalo. Injured Leopards may starve amongst plenty.

The arrival of one other vehicle signalled the time of our departure and, well-satisfied, we moved on to find other wonders. As a lover of herpetology, I've always wanted to see a really big snake. I'd failed to find Anaconda, in South America or Python, in Africa but I knew there were enormous Rock Pythons to be seen, in Yala. These are variously known as Indian Python, Rock Python, Black-tailed Python and other names, including, of course names in other languages. I, however, was looking for a Rock Python and that was what we found, though not in the way I'd imagined.

Rock Python and Marsh Mugger

We'd just seen a large Land Monitor swinging purposefully along beside the track, forked tongue lashing the air; tasting the scents. It seemed to be on a mission. A little further along, we found a muddy pool and were astonished to see a huge Python on the surface. It was still, though, and on its side. It had an odd, lumpy appearance. Closer examination discovered a large Mugger, with jaws clamped around the neck of the snake.

I don't think the croc. killed the snake, though; I suspect that a snake that size would have been more likely to kill the crocodile. My interpretation of the scene is that the Mugger homed-in on the scent of death, as the Monitor was doing. The snake had probably been run-over by one of the tourist vehicles. Some of them, as we were to see, are driven rather quickly, when homing-in on a report of a “star” animal (better tips for the driver/guide?) or when rushing to the park gates, at the end of the day. If they are late back, the guides will be banned for a time from accessing the park; disastrous for his/her business. The “lumpy” appearance of the snake indicated a build-up of the gases of putrefaction.

Despite their reputation for snake-killing, I think that Python would have been a little too much for the Black-tailed Mongoose, we saw scuttling under bushes, not far from the scene. The Black-collared/Indian Hare allowed close approach, confident, perhaps in its camouflage, speed and was just reluctant to leave its patch of shade. A potential appetiser for any of the larger predators.

Black-collared Hare resting in its form Golden Jackal

To the Golden Jackal pictured above, the Hare would make a substantial meal but, we were to see, in an extraordinary sequence of events, it had its mind on an even bigger meal.

While approaching a large lake, we had noticed a magnificent pair of Woolly-necked Storks and a Crested Hawk-eagle circling lower. The Jackal was just sprawled on the grass, panting, in the heat. The eagle swooped in and landed on something russet-coloured, in a dip, about 30m in front of the Jackal and began to rip at whatever it was. The inevitable Jungle Crow slouched about, waiting for a chance to put its beak in, too. After a few beaks- full, the eagle seemed to become nervous of the proximity of the watching jackal and flew a few metres away. The pair of large, strikingly-marked Woolly-necked Storks strode to the apparent carcase and studied it closely, seeming to peck at the ground close to it. Insects? Flesh fragments? Congealed blood?

The Jackal stood and trotted to the carrion, seemingly unable to stand other scavengers eating what, from the Jackal's full-looking belly, it had been feasting on, already. The birds backed off as the Jackal pulled at the meat.

We had been aware of small Muggers gathering on the shore of the nearby lake but were surprised when a much bigger couple of crocs emerged from the water and stalked imperiously towards the meat; the jackal backed off. It knew when it was out-matched. Just as the first of the larger Muggers got to the carcase, the really big Mugger appeared from a gully and, without pausing, grabbed what we now could see was most of the front half of a Chital doe and walked back into the water with it, forming a kind of comet-trail of lesser crocodiles following it as it swam to a far part of the lake with the deer.

My best guess is that the deer was the left-overs from a Leopard's kill, during the night. It is unlikely the Jackal could have overcome it and a Mugger would just have grabbed the deer and dragged it down into the lake.

Top: Woolly-necked Storks, Crested Hawk-eagle, Jackal, feeding Middle: The eagle and two Stork watch the Jackal feed while smaller crocs begin to gather. Bottom, left: Crested Hawk-eagle on carcase; left: Woolly-Necked Stork confronted by large Mugger, trying to take possession of the deer.

A little later, we passed the far end of the lake and saw a disturbance in the water, where at least a dozen Muggers, of assorted sizes, from around a metre and a half to around four metres in length (though it was difficult to tell; the water was so muddy that just the heads and the movement of the tails could be seen) were gathered in the murky water. Some were just watching and waiting, others sculling gently towards the object of their attention. Every now and then there was the noise of churning water and a commotion as a large Mugger performed what we assumed was a “death-roll”; the name given to the action of grabbing a mouthful of meat and spinning horizontally, to twist out a gobbet of flesh from the deer's carcase. Crocs have teeth that can grip and hold but do not have the meat-slicing carnassial cheek-teeth of carnivorous mammals, like cats and dogs, to chew off chunks small enough to swallow. Come to think of it, they don't have cheeks, either. Mostly, they catch food such

as birds, fish, smaller reptiles, amphibians and mammals that are small enough to swallow whole but they cannot afford to pass-by the chance of a substantial meal of carrion.

Storks and Jackal realising they are out-numbered and over-matched by the Muggers

Game, set and match. To appreciate the size of the Mugger, remember that a Chital grows a little larger than a Fallow Deer

That reminded us, it was lunch time and there was much more to see. To be described next time.

If you want to hear, many of the species mentioned in this account, I recommend typing “Xeno-canto”, into whatever search engine you use, followed by the name of the species you are interested in. It is very likely that you will be able to hear the bird of your choice, wherever in the world it might be. Of course, there are many rare and little-known species still to be added but there will be no problem with British birds and I've found every one of the Sri Lankan birds I've tried for, so far. Most of the time, contributors have entered multiple examples of the bird's vocalisations, so one can listen to song, contact calls, alarm calls etc.

Doug.

Local Wildlife News

The following ‘highlights’ reports received since the middle of April. If you’ve anything further to add, please feel free to let us know at any time. All reports will be appreciated, whether they relate to birds or any other form of local wildlife. Also, as they say, this is “Just the tip of the iceberg” – there’s a great deal more out there to be found, especially as

spring hopefully continues to encourage yet more life in to both the town and the countryside about it.

Common Sandpiper – passage birds continued to be seen until at least the Evening Walk of 10th, when two were active about The Vyne NT Watermeadows. Common Twayblade – flowering spikes were now evident, if you knew where to look for them! One of our less exotic orchids, but thankfully so perhaps going by the numbers of other more obvious ones picked at local sites every year, only for them to ‘die’ before they even reach the cars of the pickers! Cuckoo – although reported by a number of locals these remained elusive with many still not having seen or heard them this year. Fallow Deer – the wood and farmland to the north of the town continued to provide records of these, including four in Morgaston Wood during the Group’s Evening Walk there. Firecrest – one continued to hold territory at the North Hampshire Hospital until at least the 15th. Greenshank – one at The Vyne watermeadows only lingered for part of a day, local Redshank being a little easier to come by, but only just it seemed! Grey Plover – though a little further afield one at Alresford Pond was a notable inland sighting, whereas the drake Garganey there was a little more expected. Little Egret – these were seen in decreasing numbers with perhaps just a single bird about the wetter areas east of the town accounting for many, if not all, of the records. Little Ringed Plover – at least one local pair remained on private gravel workings. Mandarin – wandering drakes were noted at a number of sites, though, once again, no reports of breeding birds had been noted.

Mandarin Aix galericulata Doug. Kelson A displaying drake

Marsh Harrier – a female was seen several times at Alresford Pond, an unseasonal but perhaps promising sighting for the future. Muntjac – reports were received from many sites with singletons being seen, and often heard, on many occasions. Nightjar – no returning local birds had been reported by 16th. Otter – there were sightings at Rooksbury Mill, Andover, the closest to ‘home’ with the Blandford Forum family continuing to add themselves to many a ‘day list’. Pale Tussock – just one of the many moths now being attracted to lights overnight.

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda Dave. Levy

Peregrine – reports continued to come in of birds about the town, though unfortunately there were none that confirmed any successful breeding behaviours taking place. Starling – foraging groups of adults were becoming ever more obvious, though no reports of fledged young had been received.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris Dave. Levy “Hi Peter, Just a couple of shots from the garden, only common birds but I thought pics were reasonable” Just how long will the perceived ‘common’ status of such birds remain as such?

Stone-curlew – birds remained ever elusive, unless you were one of the few to be able to access private sites, where they were reported to be doing well this year, as were Lapwing. Swallow – these and the other commoner hirundines were to be seen in increased numbers as April waned and May progressed, though numbers remained worryingly low for many observers.

Swallow Hirundo rustica Dave. Levy This lovely image captured during a spring break at / about RSPB Minsmere

Swift – a noticeable influx occurred over the weekend of 6th / 7th, House Martin also seemingly making it back in ‘good’ numbers during this period. Whimbrel – one was heard moving north over the Worting Leisure Park on 8th. Woodcock – a number of roding birds were seen / reported, including at least one during the Evening Walk that took the Group through Morgaston Wood.

As always, thank you to all those that have contributed to this report; if I have missed anything, please do let me know and be sure to keep me updated as we head further in to the spring, perhaps even the summer. If you find anything you consider particularly notable, or you would like an update on what is happening locally, please do feel free to contact me at any time. I can assure you that you will always get a favourable response! 07895 – 388378 is the hot line, well my mobile number anyway! 

Quiz ‘Page’

As local birds continue to battle against the odds to secure fledged young their condition often takes a downward turn, the stress of bringing up the young, and don’t we all know about that, ensuring that such things as the state of the plumage draw attention to this.

However, later in the summer many birds moult once again and appear as healthy as they’re ever likely to look, the ‘kids’ having left home and leaving the adults bird to fend only for themselves.

With this in mind have a look over the following images and try to ascertain what birds have ‘moulted’ to provide the unusual plumages! The wonders of computers!

This ‘bird’ is made up of four species.

As is this one.

And this one!

Just three species make up this bird-in-the-hand.

And finally, a further four have ‘evolved’ to make this one.

How did you fare with the Springwatch and RSPB Minsmere-related questions last month, well I hope? However, just in case you feel that you were less than 100% successful, here are the solutions.

1) Which iconic black-and-white wading bird is a speciality of RSPB Minsmere, where Springwatch was filmed?

Avocet Oystercatcher Turnstone Grey heron Lapwing

2) If you hear a sudden 'plop' beside a stream, river or pool in Britain, what animal is most likely to have made the sound?

Otter Water shrew Mink Beaver Water vole

3) Some badgers at Minsmere had developed a taste for birds. But what is the more typical prey of most British badgers?

Woodlice Snails Woodmice Earthworms Ants

4) Which graceful bird featured on Springwatch may spend two or more years airborne after it leaves the nest, before it touches a hard surface again?

Swallow House martin Swift Skylark Nightjar

5) Spineless Simon’ was the nickname for a 3-spined stickleback starring on Springwatch. How do male sticklebacks like Simon impress the females?

Gifts of food

Redness of their bellies Fighting other males Blowing bubbles A cheeky wink

6) Martin Hughes-Games had been helping tag adders. Why do the males spend so much time basking on sunny days in spring?

They’re lazy Like other snakes they don’t move around much To lie in wait for passing prey They are strictly nocturnal and sleep by day To help develop sperm ready for mating

7) Which reedbed bird has a territorial call that sounds like someone blowing over the top of a bottle?

Water rail Bearded tit Reed bunting Bittern Snipe

8) Female Great Crested Newts are experts in origami, neatly folding leaves to hide their eggs.

True False

9) Iolo Williams announced on Springwatch that the population of a rare bird had reached 100 breeding pairs in Scotland. Which one?

Red-necked phalarope Hooded crow Ptarmigan White-tailed eagle Golden eagle

10) BBC Wildlife columnist Chris Packham has been introducing some little-used nature words in the latest series of Springwatch. What does 'erumpent' mean:

A noise made by rutting deer Patterns on an animal’s rump Bursting out, for example a growing plant or fungus

A rabbit rubbing its backside to relieve an itch A hibernating animal

And Finally!

Video Depicting Apparent Hen Harrier Killing Released

Court proceedings against a former gamekeeper, accused of shooting a protected Hen Harrier, have been dropped by the Crown Office, who have indicated that after considering all of the relevant material they could not use RSPB Scotland video evidence to support the prosecution in court.

Since the incident occurred at Cabrach, Morayshire in June 2013, the case has been subject to a prolonged police investigation and nine separate court hearings, at a considerable cost to the public purse. Only now has the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) abandoned the prosecution just a few weeks prior to the scheduled trial.

The evidence was obtained as a result of RSPB Scotland staff monitoring the active nest of a breeding pair of Hen Harriers on the Cabrach Estate, in Morayshire, which contained four eggs. On 20 May 2013, a camera was deployed in a moorland area away from human habitation to film the nest to record the outcome of the nesting attempt — a routine part of RSPB Scotland's work to observe the success of breeding attempts for this protected and threatened species. Over the next three weeks the footage recorded at the nest showed normal hen harrier breeding behaviour.

However, the film revealed that on 10 June 2013, the female Hen Harrier was flushed from the nest, and immediately afterwards two gun shots were heard. The bird was apparently hit as a shower of feathers can be seen. A few seconds later, a man, carrying a shotgun entered the picture and moved in the direction of where the Hen Harrier had flown. He then returned into the picture holding the carcass of the dead bird, and was seen to pick up a number of feathers that had been dislodged from the bird.

On reviewing the footage, RSPB Scotland Investigations staff immediately reported the incident to Police Scotland, as they believed the footage showed clear evidence of a wildlife crime having been committed. This case was then reported for trial by the Crown Office following the identification by the police of a suspect.

https://youtu.be/tDWfQJ5U3Nk

(Video: RSPB)

Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland said: "In our opinion, the video footage clearly shows an individual involved in the illegal killing and then disposal of a hen harrier, one of Scotland's most threatened bird species. While we know that hen harriers are often illegally targeted by gamekeepers seeking to protect red grouse stocks, such crimes usually take place in remote areas, and it is therefore very difficult to obtain evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice. This incident would never have been uncovered had the nest not been monitored by our camera.

"RSPB video evidence has been used in the successful prosecution of previous wildlife crime cases in Scotland, including two very similar incidents of Hen Harrier persecution, and more recently our film footage assisted in the conviction of an Aberdeenshire gamekeeper for a number of raptor persecution offences. Digital imagery has also been used to assist successful prosecutions on a number of occasions in England. We are appalled and extremely frustrated that the court has not been given the opportunity to give a judgement based on this clear footage, and we are perplexed by the inconsistency in approach to these cases that seems to be taken by the Crown Office (COPFS). The Hen Harrier is an agreed Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAWS) priority, and yet despite this, and the quality of the evidence our staff gathered, we were notified, by email on a Friday afternoon, of the decision to take it no further. In our view, justice has not been seen to be done in this case, and the public interest seems to have been very badly served by COPFS. We have written to the Lord Advocate and will be seeking urgent meetings with the Crown Office to consider the implications. There is little point in passing laws to protect our most threatened species if the public authorities ignore the strong public concern about the scale of wildlife crime in Scotland."

Second Documented Case Of Raptor Persecution Discontinued By Court

RSPB Scotland has expressed its frustration and disappointment after another prosecution of an individual charged with alleged wildlife crime offences was discontinued by the Crown Office in Scotland.

The latest case began on 9 July 2015 when RSPB Scotland staff, walking on the Brewlands Estate in Glen Isla, Angus, discovered an illegally set spring trap placed on top of a Common Pheasant carcass that had, in turn, been placed a post just a few metres inside a pheasant pen. The trap was in effect a baited 'pole trap', which has been illegal since 1904, and is designed to snap shut and break the legs of a bird of prey, holding the victim until it can be dispatched by the trap operator.

The RSPB team, having no mobile phone signal to allow contact with the police, made the trap safe to ensure no birds would be caught. They then deployed a video camera focussed on the area, with a view to securing the evidence until the police could attend and recover the trap.

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A few days later, RSPB Scotland staff accompanied a police wildlife crime officer to the scene, where it was found that the trap had been reset. The police seized the trap as evidence, and the camera was recovered.

Review of the footage filmed by the camera showed an individual resetting the trap twice in the days after which it had been found. On the first occasion it was set, it was seen to later fall off the pheasant bait and trigger itself.

The footage was passed to the police, who subsequently identified the individual setting the trap, and who later charged him with four alleged offences, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and sent a report to the Procurator Fiscal, who marked the case for prosecution.

https://youtu.be/vwylHWprVT4

The case was first called, at Forfar Sheriff Court, on 31 March 2016, with subsequent hearings on 22 April and 12 May 2016, during which the accused plead not guilty to the charges libelled. Following two further hearings, the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service recently notified RSPB Scotland that following consideration of the case by Crown Counsel, the prosecution could not rely on the RSPB video evidence and would be discontinued. No reason for this decision was provided. The case had been scheduled for a trial beginning on 15th May 2017.

RSPB Scotland's Head of Species and Land Management, Duncan Orr-Ewing said: "For one case, where there was excellent video evidence to support the prosecution, to be discontinued inexplicably by the Crown Office so close to the trial was baffling. For a second case to be discontinued, again with no explanation from the Crown Office, and again without the opportunity for the evidence to be tested in court, is deeply concerning, and significantly undermines our confidence in the ability of Scotland's justice system to bear down on the criminals who continue to target our protected birds of prey."

And for those who haven’t seen much avian activity in their gardens recently:

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