Dursley Birdwatching & Preservation Society
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DURSLEY BIRDWATCHING AND PRESERVATION SOCIETY NOVEMBER 2017 BULLETIN FROM YOUR CHAIR AND COMMITTEE “Hello again Dursleys! Since writing my last notes I have suffered a broken bone in my ankle, which has curtailed my birding somewhat, but I do hope that you have all been able to get out and about and enjoy some autumn birding? My ankle is healing nicely and I am now mobile again! I do have some news for you all, which I hope that you will find as exciting as I do. I was approached by Scott Petrek, one of the reserve wardens at WWT Slimbridge, to ask if the Society would like to sponsor the purchase of some traditional fruit trees to create a 'mini-orchard' to replace some of the sallows being removed from in front of the Willow Hide, on the Holden Walkway. The trees would be of old Gloucestershire varieties and provide food for wintering birds and, hopefully, entice in winter thrushes to feed close to the hide. I felt that this kind of activity supports the conservation aims laid out in the Society's Constitution, which maybe we have not done as much of in recent times as we could. I put the suggestion to the Committee, who voted unanimously to support the scheme to the value of £300. The Society's donation will be acknowledged by a plaque placed in the hide. I hope that the Committee's decision meets with the approval of you all. In the last Bulletin, I also confirmed our interim decision on charging for our trial afternoon meetings (a £1 charge to cover refreshments). At the last indoor meeting (an excellent talk by Cotswold 'moth-er' Bob Smith) I mentioned that it had been suggested that if we were going to charge £1 at afternoon meetings, then the same charge should apply at evening meetings. I invited members attending that meeting to let me know their thoughts on this and some of you have already done this. At our recent meeting, your Committee decided the following, which will apply to the remaining meetings during the current 'trial' of afternoon meetings. "Afternoon meetings will be treated in the same way as our normal evening meetings, with no charge for entry, but with a discretionary charge of fifty pence for refreshments." If any member has any thoughts on this please do let me know, you can contact me through the society’s e-mail address at [email protected] Dursley Birdwatching and Preservation Society (Founded: 1953) Page 1 Please do let me know what you think, both about holding afternoon meetings and about any method of 'charging' for them in the future, as the opinions of the members do inform the Committee's decisions and the only way we can make these informed decisions is if you share your views. On a sociable note, it will soon be time to think about our seasonal 'social evening' and photo competition. In the meantime, do get your favourite photos ready and let's make this year's an extra special one. Please take note of the arrangements outlined later in this Bulletin. So, as the clocks go back this week-end, autumn is well and truly upon us and winter will be fast on its heels. For birders though, every season has its joys and this month signals the arrival of all the wonderful wildfowl that make birding in the Severn Vale so exciting through the winter. I hope to see many of you soon and once again I wish you good birding!” Roberta Goodall DBWPS Chair FORTHCOMING EVENTS Upton Warren, Worcestershire – Leader: Colin Crew - Saturday 4th November 2017 This event will be by car share as the mini-coach is not available. We will try to match drivers and passengers living in similar areas, subject to agreement from drivers. Please contact Mike Robinson on 01453 842566 if you would like to book, stating if you are prepared to drive and take passengers or just wish to be a passenger. 15 members are already booked. We will meet at 0930 at the Sailing Lake car park. Directions: Take the M5 north to Junction 5, then follow signs to ‘Webbs of Wychbold’ (a large garden centre) on the A38 North. After passing the garden centre entrance, on the left of a very large roundabout, take the second turning into the sailing club car park on the right. The café at the Sailing Club may or may not be open and we have previously been able to get hot and cold refreshments there, but it is advised that you bring a packed lunch. After meeting and obtaining permits (if you are a member of the Wildlife Trust please bring your card) our leader will take us to the hides overlooking the saline lakes. It is generally easy walking on flat, well laid out paths, but it may be muddy in places. The special habitat of the ‘Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve’ at Upton Warren makes it the county’s premier birdwatching habitat, with a total of 230 species recorded. The southern three Flash Pools and surrounding grasslands are one of only two inland salt marshes in Britain: a condition caused by brine seepage from the saline sandstone sediments below. Three hides overlook the Flash Pools and three more overlook the nearby Moors Pool, giving birders the opportunity to enjoy good numbers of waders and other birds in winter. Dursley Birdwatching and Preservation Society (Founded: 1953) Page 2 Wildlife of Eastern Poland (Indoor) – Presenter: Marek Borkowski - Monday 13th November 2017 As our advertised speaker is currently recovering from an operation, we will be changing this event. We have been lucky enough to persuade well-known Polish wildlife photographer and conservationist Marek Borkowski to step in and give us an illustrated talk. His organisation, Wildlife Poland, manages the Biebrza Marshes, a wetland complex located on the Biebrza river valley in Suwałki, Łomża, in the northeast of Poland. With the aid of film and pictures, Marek will show us some of the wonderful species which, although now rare in Britain, can be found in numbers in these marshes and surrounding areas. Aquatic Warbler, Corncrake and Great Snipe (Right, photograph by Marek Borkowski) are found here, alongside White- backed Woodpecker. Wildlife Poland works to protect these sites, which have survived as an unaltered habitat for thousands of years, using the motto ‘Saving to Show – Showing to Save’ and they encourage visitors to these areas to help support their work. We are very fortunate that Marek, who is currently touring the UK, has been able to step in so please do come along and support what will doubtless be a fascinating evening. Chew Valley Lakes – Leader: Mike Robinson - Sunday 19th November 2017 We will meet at Herriot’s Bridge on the A368, which is on the south side of the lake, at 0930. After spending some time here looking for birds, we will walk up the road to the bird ringing station for morning coffee and biscuits, a chance to see a few birds in the hand and to learn about ringing. It is hoped that we will be invited to join the ringers when they visit the nets by the lake. A voluntary donation of £1 each is suggested and we will probably be able to get our permits for the rest of the day’s bird watching here. Please bring a packed lunch and drinks, as we will aim to visit many of the hides around the lake. Boots or wellingtons are suggested for the visit to the ringing station, as the fields can be muddy. Severnside – Leader: Tony Johnson - Saturday 25th November 2017 We will meet at Sea Walls, Severn Beach at 0845 (Grid Ref: 540 848). This area is good for wildfowl and waders. High water at Avonmouth should be 0927; hence the tide should just about be on the turn during our visit. All being well, once the mud is exposed, the wading birds, possibly Dunlin and Ringed Plover, should start feeding. Once satisfied with our sightings, we will drive to New Passage. The ebb tide may have fallen enough for the wading birds to feed here. If not, we will walk over the bridge to Pilning Wetlands to record the birds in this area, before returning to New Passage where a variety of birds should then be feeding. We will check for Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail near the bridge over the stream and it may be worth driving home via Aust, where Short- eared Owl is possible. Please bring suitable clothing and sustenance. There are public toilets and provisions in Severn Beach. The meeting should finish between 1400-1430. Dursley Birdwatching and Preservation Society (Founded: 1953) Page 3 Directions: Take the A403 from the first Severn Crossing towards Avonmouth. About 100 metres after going through the second set of traffic lights, exit the A403 at the dual carriageway for Severn Beach. Take the first exit at the mini roundabout, then after about 100 metres, follow the road to the left and park considerately near the houses. For New Passage, drive through Severn Beach village and continue to a mini roundabout, take the exit to New Passage and park where the road ends. Unst, Britain’s Final Frontier (Indoor) – Presenter: Arthur Ball - Monday 27th November 2017 A personal introduction from Arthur: “I was born and brought up in Oundle, in Northamptonshire. After serving six years in the Royal Signals, I ended up at GCHQ for 34 years, when computers took over my old job! I am a founder member of the Cheltenham Bird Club and have been recording birds and wildlife at Dowdeswell Reservoir for almost 44 years.