CHELMSFORD & CENTRAL GROUP NEWS

Winter 2017/18

The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654

But all I could find for the beautiful, intelligent GROUP LEADER’S WINTER blackbird was a poem entitled “Thirteen Ways REPORT of Looking at a Blackbird” by the modernist Alan Thorpe American poet, Wallace Stevens, 1879-1955. “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” I hadn’t heard of this poem previously, but it turns out to be rather famous and highly With the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch regarded as a thought-provoking, (BGB) on the horizon (January 27-29) I philosophical work. It was partly responsible thought I would begin my leader’s report for for the award to Stevens, shortly before his this winter edition with a Christmas tale about death, of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. To be my favourite garden visitor. candid, I struggled with the 13 stanzas of the I refer to the blackbird, which is popular, poem itself and, regrettably, I struggled even widespread and numerous in Britain. It came more so with many of the erudite and baffling third in the poll organised in 2015 by David analyses of the work. I have the same Lindo to find the UK’s national bird (behind problems with abstract art! However, I think robin at no. 1 and barn owl at no. 2), and it maybe I did come to understand, at least was also the third most commonly seen bird partially, the third stanza, which reads as in Essex gardens as determined by the follows: RSPB’s BGB of 2017 (house-sparrow at no. “A man and a woman 1 and starling at no. 2). Are one. I’ve always enjoyed the sight and sounds of A man and a woman and a blackbird blackbirds, and I’m intrigued by their Are one.” behaviour. They appear to be highly One analyst, discussing these lines, made territorial and unsociable to each other as reference to Taoism which speaks of “a base compared with, say, starlings or house spiritual kinship we have, not only to each sparrows, but, nonetheless, they appear to other as humans, but to every object in the be capable of forming strong bonds with universe”. In other words, man, woman and humans. A beautiful male bird perched on a blackbird – we are all one in nature. The garden chair and peering through the kitchen RSPB would surely endorse that sentiment. window a few inches from our faces at Another reviewer obviously understood the breakfast time so obviously represents direct idea of oneness in nature and respected communication between a wild animal and Stevens’ work so much so that he wrote an human beings. It is actually asking us the article entitled “Thirteen Reasons Why You question, “How about a little food treat for Should Care About This Poem”. I particularly me?” A quick response in the form of like his thirteenth reason: sultanas offered at the back door and both “The blackbird wants you to care. Nobody parties are satisfied. wants to disappoint a blackbird”. I find that relationship amazing and You will judge from what I’ve written earlier wonderful. that I like these sentiments greatly. I certainly Now, let me explain the title of this section of care very much about the blackbird, but my report. I was looking on the internet for would go one step further; rather than poems about blackbirds. After all, there are disappointing a blackbird, I positively want to some very well-known allegorical poems please it. dedicated to other birds such as “To a Skylark” by Shelley – “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! Bird thou never wert.....” and “The Eagle” by Tennyson – “He clasps the crag with crooked hands.....”, and many others.

1 “Four Ways of Being a Blackbird” I will conclude with the conundrum “when is a blackbird not a black bird”? The simple answer is, of course, “when it is juvenile or if it is female”. In both these forms, the black of the male is replaced by different shades of brown with subtle pale spots on the breast. But these are not the only non-black types, as I described in the newsletter of two years ago (January 2016). In that article I wrote about, and showed a photograph of, a leucistic blackbird that appeared on our “SNOWFLAKE” EXPERIENCING SNOW IN THE GARDEN garden one day, sporting an elegant, Tudor- ALAN THORPE 12.12.17 like, white ruff. The white feathering femaleness but it’s difficult to be absolutely condition is caused by a genetic fault that certain about this. prevents the production of the dark pigment Also, although it is difficult to detect whether melanin in certain areas of the plumage. the “normal” blackbirds are ostracising her, I (*See footnote below for more detail on this.) wonder if this different, snowflake plumage Leucism is an abnormality that occurs in might be disadvantageous in the acquisition several bird species, but is relatively common of a mate; which leads to the question as to in blackbirds. ‘Whitey’, as we called this bird, whether: disappeared within a short time, but recently A black blackbird and a white blackbird (November 5 2017) we welcomed another Are one. leucistic blackbird to our garden. We named I hope very much they are and that a her “Snowflake” due to the abundance and successful oneness might produce a little random distribution of her white feathers (see blizzard of “Snowflakes” next spring. photograph). At the time of writing * Footnote: In this article I have given a (January 1 2018) she is still an active simplistic, genetic explanation for the member of our blackbird garden community phenomenon of leucism since my primary and we have seen and admired her every aim was to explore the aesthetic rather than single day since her arrival. As a newcomer the scientific aspects of blackbirds. Genetic to the blackbird garden clan she has quickly mutation is certainly an important component, made herself at home among the resident but it is worth recording that many complex and migrant birds, and has learnt how to ask events of cell biology, embryological for sultanas. Because she is so instantly development and cell & tissue differentiation recognisable, and because we’ve given her a are combined to produce the variety of name, she has almost achieved the status of leucistic abnormalities seen in nature. a pet. Swift Awards At the last indoor meeting of 2017 (December 14), on behalf of the RSPB, I was pleased to present Sue McClellan and Robin Heafford with 5-year volunteer service awards. Volunteers organise the running of local groups and are indispensable to the functioning of the RSPB at a national level, through campaigning and fundraising locally. The authorities at RSPB headquarters maintain “SNOWFLAKE” CONTEMPLATING A BATH 6.11.17 that the current number ALAN THORPE of 12,000 volunteers I have just a few final thoughts about give 900,000 hours of “Snowflake”. I refer to the bird throughout their time, which is this article as female, but I’m not at all sure equivalent to 547 about its true gender. The dark feathers permanent staff. Our appear to be more brown than black, the group is very lucky to beak is not wholly yellow, and there is no have, amongst our very SWIFT AWARD yellow eye ring. All of these features indicate 2 small band of volunteers, people like Sue who does three major jobs that greatly help in RSPB GOODS the smooth, successful running of our group. Thus, she works as indoor meetings FROM THE RSPB CATALOGUE AND secretary, website editor and publicity officer. WEBSITE Robin, as a general volunteer, has organised fundraising quizzes annually, thereby raising FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR considerable funds which go to support the RSPB. POSTAGE FREE On behalf of our group, I sincerely thank these two 5-year awardees for their FOR FULL DETAILS CALL considerable, selfless efforts and I couple with our thanks, the hope that someone, JEAN WILCOX somewhere reading this newsletter may think 01245 262452 “I’d like to become a volunteer and assist in promoting the RSPB’s work”. If you would AND SUPPORT THE CHELMSFORD like to help our group (your group!) please GROUP email or phone any member of our committee as given in the newsletter elsewhere. We would be very pleased to welcome you.

back of the building via an entrance a short Funds raised in 2016-2017 (April to April) distance up the main road from the main A few days ago our treasurer, Diane, gate. On a personal note, I can thoroughly received from RSPB a “Certificate of recommend both the topic and speakers at Fundraising” for 2016-2017 which showed this meeting. The title is “Working with Little that our group had earned the sum of £3,638 Terns in the UK”, by Sue Rendell-Read and to help support the work of the RSPB. The Jerry Lanfear. Sue is the manager of an EU- bulk of this princely sum was raised by Mike LIFE+ project on the recovery of the little tern Logan Wood as a result of his community in the UK and Jerry will back up her national talks – £1,573; Jean Wilcox from sales of overview of the breeding successes or RSPB goods – £639; and Robin Heafford – otherwise of this species by talking £200+ from his 2016 quiz. Very many thanks specifically about the Essex little terns. At an are due to these three main fundraisers for all end-of-year Little Tern Event held at Old Hall their hard work and to everyone else who has Marshes mid-October last year, attended by contributed in a variety of ways to our Diane and myself, the feedback made it clear balance sheet credits. We are sad that Mike how important it was to enlist more is retiring from his volunteering work in birdwatchers to help with the survey work. providing community nature talks (500 in Perhaps there are members of our group who total!), but we thank him most sincerely and would like to help? Please try your best to wish him and Laura a happy retirement. I will attend the meeting; I really think you will be do my best to continue in his footsteps so if amazed at the ingenuity, dedication and hard anyone has any requests for talks to different work to help in the survival of this delightful groups please let me know. species. It is RSPB work at its best, not necessarily giving nature a home, but more a case of protecting its home. Talks & Walks (with special reference to the indoor meeting of 8 March) Since it happens to be New Year’s Day, I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy Details of these events are referred to in the 2018. newsletters, posted on the website and are also advertised in the Essex Chronicle. I Alan Thorpe January 2018 hope that you are able to read about and attend some of these events. I would especially like to give a few details about the indoor meeting on March 8 which will be given NOT in the Northumberland Theatre, but in the main lecture theatre, just a few steps beyond the college’s ground floor reception area in the main campus building.

There is plenty of car parking space at the LITTLE TERN 3 OUR LOCAL GROUP WALKS he was a young buck. These are truly wild and come and go in and out of the Forest. Hatfield Forest In October, group members David and Win In common with most other areas, there was Simmonds led eight of us on a walk round evidence of Ash Dieback, but bunches of Hatfield Forest, a National Trust property. mistletoe were plentiful, along with other This is his report: woodland berries. Despite the close proximity of Stansted Airport, there was I was pleased that the Forest’s Tramper abundant growth of lichen and fungi. Louise mobility vehicle was available, which meant impressed us all with her identification of the we were all able to go along the paths and magnificently-named Stinkhorn fungus. tracks away from the busy café and lake area. It was unseasonably warm with sunshine and a light wind. We started from the Shell House, built in 1759 as a picnic house. As well as internal decorations made of shells from all over the world, there is a representation of a bird above the entrance. Some think it is a turkey, others a peacock and yet others a phoenix. What is known is that its body is made from the fossil of a bivalve mollusc from the Cretaceous period, up to 145 million years ago!

STINKHORN FUNGUS The number of birds seen was somewhat disappointing, but this is often so at an inland, rather than coastal, location. We saw 14 species, with one heard. The highlight for us was a couple of bullfinches, which were beautifully illuminated by the autumn sun.

FAÇADE OF THE SHELL HOUSE During the walk, we talked about the history of Hatfield Forest from its establishment as a Royal Hunting Forest around 1100AD to its transfer to the National Trust in 1924. We saw the traditional techniques of wood coppicing in enclosed compartments and pollarding, on plains now grazed by Red Poll cattle, which were very close to our path as we returned towards the car park. High visitor numbers and wet weather have resulted in paths becoming very muddy and some walks have been closed, using hurdles BULLFINCH FEB 2017 DAVID SIMMONDS made from chestnut, grown and Our walk was well-timed as the forest was manufactured at the Forest, to enable closed the following weekend due to Storm recovery and re-growth. While looking down Brian. one of the closed rides, two fallow deer were David Simmonds – Walk Leader & seen. One had modest horns suggesting that National Trust Volunteer at Hatfield Forest 4 Ed: This walk was very much in line with the hares on this trip although they are often RSPB’s focus on nature as a whole, as we seen at Blue House Farm – maybe next time. experienced and enjoyed many different Stuart Anderson November 2017 aspects of nature (and history too!). Although Ed: a group of us stayed a little longer in one we did not see all that many birds on our of the hides, and spent quite some time walk, this is clearly not always the case at watching a bird in a hedge a distance away. this site; the week or so after our walk, Every time it flew off along the hedgeline, it birders on the Essex Birding Forum were was harried by a crow, so it would only go a regularly reporting large numbers of short distance then go back in and sit for a hawfinches in Hatfield Forest, some quite while before trying again. The bird was too close to the car park! As always, it is just a far away for identification, even with a matter of timing and luck. telescope, although we reckoned it was Blue House Farm probably a sparrowhawk or a peregrine Stuart Anderson led us round Blue House falcon. Farm () in November. He says: 21 of us (this must be close to a record!) met on a sunny, still but chilly autumn day, with our first “spot” a buzzard being mobbed by crows. We headed off to the flood wall on the north bank of the , hoping that the rising tide would displace plenty of waders and geese, and we were not disappointed. Wave upon wave of Canada, greylag and brent geese flew overhead, while PEREGRINE smaller flocks of golden plovers and dunlins performed low over the water. We saw a Bowers Marsh reserve (RSPB) variety of gulls and a lone great crested Our December walk was led by Gerry grebe. Johnson, our local group pin badge co- ordinator. He says: As the group assembled in the Bowers Marsh reserve car park we were met by RSPB volunteer Clive Woodward, who kindly agreed to give an introduction about the area and how the reserve was created. Being just a couple of weeks before Christmas and a freezing morning the number attending was, as expected, a little lower than normal. We walked back along the access road

CANADA GOOSE STUART ANDERSON towards the excellent sunflowers plot with Descending the flood wall we saw a reed other wild seed being used as cover and bunting in the shrubs by the borrow dyke, and winter food to support declining farmland then followed the permissive footpath over species. The seed mix sown this year had the marsh to the hide overlooking the fleet. proved to be very successful and is more Here we found various wildfowl. Little was than likely to be repeated again next year. seen from the other two hides and in fact the Spending some time watching this winter scrape was dry. (Ed: Blue House Farm has cover plot we saw many finches and tits. had a major problem with an invasive plant Sadly there was no sign species. The scrape has been flooded with of the bramblings seen sea water in an attempt to kill it off, and the amongst the finches sea water was then drained away. In time over the past couple of the scrape will fill back up of its own accord.) weeks. Looking back But heading back, we had views of a marsh towards the barn some harrier, four curlews flew overhead, and the of the group saw a hedge round the car park was rich in finches, marsh harrier gliding tits and sparrows. over and everyone heard and saw the six 52 species were seen (this must be close to redwings. BRAMBLING a record too!). We didn’t spot any brown

5 Starting to feel the cold we decided to DESCRIPTION OF A continue along Lapwing Trail. Before BLACKBIRD’S SONG reaching the first kissing gate we heard a green woodpecker. The old year has passed and we can now look forward to the growing chorus of birdsong. What pleases you most? The nightingale must come first of course, but this is now getting so rare. The song thrush may come next, but its phrases are always repeated, at least three times, which can become boring at times, and here is another bird that is becoming rarer by the season, at least here in Essex. What about GREEN WOODPECKER the blackbird then? Personally this is my Moving on we viewed the freshwater lagoon, favourite, for his song flows in wonderful which was all but totally frozen over with a phrases. I wondered how I could describe sheet of ice, with only a small area of open my love of his song adequately and soon water, where gulls were standing. A few realised that this was impossible, so I thought waders and wildfowl were on the island, and I would see how other bird lovers had coped a fox was seen walking around the edge of and try to put together a small selection of the lagoon, probably looking for a meal. We examples which could maybe underline my moved onto the tidal saline lagoon where feelings. So here goes:- many more water birds were seen. Another From “John Clare’s Birds” edited by Eric highlight was to see four fieldfares well Robinson and Richard Fitter, published by through telescopes in good light conditions, Oxford University Press feeding on remaining hawthorn berries. John Clare has been described as “the finest It was the intention to walk the Wetland Trail, poet of Britain’s minor Naturalists”, especially but Clive advised that this would take another at his best during 1824 and 1832. 90 minutes. Being conscious that the time was approaching the scheduled 2½–3 hours “That blackbird’s music from the hazel and that people were getting cold, he bower suggested that we save the longer walk for Turns into golden drops this summer shower another day. To think the rain that wets his sutty wing Should wake the gushes of his soul to sing On the return walk to the Hark at the melody how rich and loud car park we added more Like daylight breaking through the morning species to our list including cloud a stonechat which perched How luscious through that sea of green it up well. Steve Foster had floats kindly maintained the day’s Knowest thou of music breathed from list of species seen, which sweeter notes amounted to 40. Nothing Than that wild minstrel of the summer shower that rare amongst the Breathes at this moment from that hazel sightings, but a good bower selection of waders, To me the anthem of a thousand tongues wildfowl and winter Were poor and idle to the simple songs migrants on an To that high toned and edifying bird STONECHAT excellent cold winter day’s That sings to nature by itself unheard…” bird watching.

It was fortunate that we chose to hold the From “Birds Brittanica” by Mark Cocker and December walk on this Saturday, as on the Richard Mabey, printed by Chatto & Windus next day most of Essex was covered with an of London unexpected heavy snow fall, up to 15 cm (6”) “Not that the lack of literary references offers in some places, followed by a few days of a measure of blackbird song. Many consider very low temperatures, all of which are it equal if not superior to that of its smaller considered quite unusual weather conditions relative. for mid-December in Essex! The onset of spring for me is represented by Gerry Johnson December 2017 the incomparable song of the blackbird, even Ed: full trip reports with lists of species seen if it does wake me very early in the morning. can be found on our website. Others share that high opinion: “Having ruled 6 out close contenders like the song thrush and 2017 FUN QUIZ nightingale, my supreme champion is We're very pleased to announce that blackbird. I admire the languid excellence Kathleen Lord of Hoddesdon, and Richard and polished ease of a male singing in its Yeates of Swanage, are joint winners of our third year. I ignore the sometimes poor and recent "Four Letter Words" quiz, both having scratchy ending. The song is marked by scored 100% correct answers. Quizmaster fluent and beautiful fluted notes. It is the Robin received 20 completed entries, mostly epitome of summer in a woodland glade or achieving 40-49 out of 50 correct answers, dusty suburban street.” together with a few hand written notes saying The spontaneously composed freshness of how much people had enjoyed the the song was once apparently proverbial. To challenge...one even said that it had given “whistle like a blackbird” was to do something them lots of fun! The local group is very easily. W H Hudson thought its careless grateful for everyone's contributions which beauty came nearer to human music than raised a record £300+ this year. any other bird song. People sometimes Many thanks again to:- detect snatches of our own melodies or • Robin for creating the quiz, speech in the performance. Edward Thomas distributing bundles to several RSPB suggested in his poem “Adlestrop” that the reserves, selling a copy to everyone birds could sling their collective net of music he came across before and after across an entire county.” Christmas, and collecting up most of the proceeds. He certainly put his enthusiasm, persistence and ADLESTROP persuasive banter into practice! Yes, I remember Adlestrop – The name, because one afternoon • Those who bought a quiz sheet and Of heat the express-train drew up there spent many hours puzzling over the Unwontedly. It was late June. festive period. …. • Sue McClellan for her administrative And for that minute a blackbird sang assistance and technical support. Close by, and round him, mistier, Robin already has an idea for his next quiz Farther and farther, all the birds which will be available later this year. Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Enthusiastic competitors can therefore have another go! CLAXTON – field notes from a small planet The answers to the quiz can be found on our by Mark Cocker, printed by Jonathan Cape website, if you would like to check the ones 13 February 2006 you couldn’t solve. Suffolk “There were 12 blackbirds spread across a Blackbirds are so embedded in our large sunken dell that was covered with dead experiences of the countryside they are a sort foliage from a number of ancient oaks. The of English history in themselves. I see them birds were so intent that some were virtually glancing up from their leaf tossing exercising covered beneath leaf litter and at a glance to watch Harold on his way to Hastings. Or the dell looked like a uniformly copper German aircraft droning over to their coloured bowl without signs of life yet, if I bombings, in the Blitz of the Second World closed my eyes, their combined leaf turning War, their noise matching the sharp created the sound of some wonderfully light- hysterical blackbird call. Blackbirds are part footed being moving across the woodland of our great European character and heritage floor. The meticulous industry of their efforts with our past heaped up like bullion or like made them seem those heaps of dead leaves.” that they were the I do hope that you have enjoyed these park’s archivists random thoughts and that you can look at carefully blackbirds in a different way perhaps. unearthing then simultaneously Mike Logan Wood 4 January 2018 reburying the Excerpts printed with permission secrets of the Ed: Fascinating that both Alan Thorpe and wood. Mike Logan Wood have taken a similar topic OAK WOODLAND for their articles, and yet have produced such different pieces. 7 SPONSORING RSPB LOCAL PRESIDENT’S AWARD GROUP TALKS Would you like to celebrate an event, remember a loved one or simply support the RSPB by sponsoring one of our monthly talks? Your local group is introducing a scheme whereby people (whether or not RSPB members) may donate an amount of their choice to help offset the costs of these events. (As a guide, sponsors to a similar scheme that another RSPB local group has run for several years are happy to donate within the £40-60 range, but the amount is up to the individual). Further to the article in the last newsletter, At the donor's request, personal details, e.g. the picture shows Mike Logan Wood "Sponsored by Mary Scott in memory of her receiving the RSPB President’s Award from husband Peter Scott " can either appear with Miranda Krestovnikoff at the AGM last the chosen talk or be omitted, e.g. " The autumn. sponsor of this event wishes to remain anonymous ". If readers would like to participate and/or SAY “YES” TO THE RSPB discuss donation possibilities, they are very Don’t forget to respond to the RSPB’s “Say welcome to contact Sue – Meetings Yes” campaign, which urges members and Organiser – on 01245 471576 or via supporters to opt in to receiving [email protected] Any enquiries will remain communications from national RSPB. Details confidential unless the individual says can be found on page 50 of the spring edition otherwise. of “Nature’s Home” magazine. If you want Thank you very much in advance for any more information about what you are saying offers. “yes” to, you can call 0300 777 2610 (calls charged at standard rate). Sue McClellan Local Group Meetings Organiser Don’t worry, as whatever you do (or don’t do), you will still receive your copy of Nature’s

Home and membership information as this LOCAL GROUP AGM does not require a specific opt-in. Our local group AGM takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday 12 April, prior to the talk at 8pm. BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH Do please come and join us, as this is your Here we are at the end of January and it is opportunity to hear about the work of the time for the Big Garden Birdwatch again. group, ask questions and express your views Just watch for one hour in your garden or about the group’s activities. local green space over the period If you would like to join the committee, we January 27-29 and record the birds and other would welcome you; please contact Group wildlife that visit. If you don’t see anything in Leader Alan Thorpe to talk about this. If you that hour, submit your record anyway, as a nil are not a committee-type person, please return is as valuable in the results as a list come to the AGM anyway; we won’t force with twenty different species on it. you to join the committee but we would love to see you. If you don’t tell us what you think Around half a million people now take part in about us (good or bad), we can’t do anything this huge annual survey. BGB allows the about it. RSPB to monitor trends, providing valuable information about the wildlife using our parks and gardens SAVING POSTAGE STAMPS FOR in winter. You can THE RSPB submit your Please send used postage stamps to RSPB findings Stamps, PO Box 6198, Leighton Buzzard, online at the Bedfordshire LU7 9XT. They continue to RSPB’s raise funds for the Albatross Task Force. website.

8 PAGE 3 BIRDS MY HAPPY HEDGEHOG STORY Generally speaking I find reading the daily For the last few years, I’ve left my rear newspaper a fairly dispiriting affair as it is so garage door open permanently, knowing that full of doom and gloom. However a recent hedgehogs are around. At 1.00am in early headline on page 3 about birds caught my November, I was interested to see large eye and for once, it seemed like good news hedgehog Derek (he looked like a Derek) (and I can assure you it was not the kind of mooching around. I gave him some cat birds seen on page 3 of the Sun!). biscuits, and left him munching. Ten minutes The headline read “Subsidies for farmers to later, to my amazement, I found baby improve habitats help bird numbers to Daphne tucking in beside him! As she was recover”. Research has shown that planting far too young to be out this late in the year, I wildflowers and put her in a box with shredded newspaper, protecting nests water and more biscuits, and left her for the on farms night. enables birds, Next morning, I took 210gm Daphne to my from skylarks to Hedgehog Haven acquaintance who retained starlings, to her for a check up and course of lungworm bounce back treatment. Three weeks later, Daphne came rapidly from “home” to live in a cage in my shed where long-term she’ll remain until the spring. I already had declines. Nugget, found as a 93gm(!) baby in SKYLARK Farmland bird someone’s garden during the day a couple of numbers in the UK have fallen dramatically weeks earlier, so caring for two required only since 1970. Subsidy schemes that pay a little more time than for one. farmers to use about 10% of their land to support birds and other wildlife have been shown to have a positive effect. A study of more than 60 farms in East Anglia, Oxfordshire and the West Midlands showed that farms enrolled in the Higher Stewardship Scheme (HLS) sowed seed-rich plants and wildflowers which support insects to provide food for birds, as well as leaving patches fallow for birds such as corn buntings, and avoiding cutting hedgerows when birds were nesting. In East Anglia, farmland bird numbers on HLS farms increased by 50%. 17 key species were tracked and not all had DAPHNE AND DEREK the same level of success. House sparrows Hedgehogs often give birth so late in the and stock year that hoglets have insufficient time to doves did gain enough weight for hibernation. They well, but turtle need to be at least 600gms to see them doves and through the winter. The result is that many yellow die due to inadequate food supplies. To wagtails alleviate this mortality, volunteer fosterers showed no throughout the country are fulfilling benefit at all, hedgehogs’ basic needs by providing food, perhaps water and bedding material in an unheated, because of secure and weatherproof environment. In my pressures they YELLOW WAGTAIL case, domestic pet cages in a garden shed face on migration. are working well. Whilst these results are encouraging, the The only “burden” on fosterers is the need researchers found that the amount of land to for room service daily, or less often if the be covered by environmental schemes to halt hogs decide to hibernate…not all do. the loss of birds would have to increase from Burden? I think not. I’m very happy to be 20% to 33% in East Anglia. saving two little lives, and playing a very Louise Fuller, from the Guardian small but rewarding part in helping to save newspaper this endearing species.

9 Prior to Nugget’s arrival in late October, I Derek Ling, 1934-2017 knew nothing about hedgehogs’ behaviour, Visitors to RSPB Rye Meads (on the hibernation routine, idiosyncrasies, etc., nor Herts/Essex border near ) will be sad just how messy they are! Why poo in your to learn of the death of Derek Ling. food bowl, and why tip your water bowl over Derek was a long-time volunteer who gave a every day?! Fortunately, Daphne and Nugget fantastic service in all respects, especially in are now doing what hedgehogs do – sleeping vehicle maintenance, and also as a guide in for 3-5 days, emerging for a snack and a poo, the hides, where his patience and then going back to bed. tremendous knowledge were superb and If you’d like to join the fostering team, much appreciated by visitors. contact Hedgehog Haven Essex on 07709 He will be greatly missed by all who came 767511. For more information about into contact with him. hedgehogs, including the importance of creating hedgehog highways, go to Robin Heafford December 2017 www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk and www.hedgehogstreet.org CANVEY WICK Meanwhile, if you see a sick or injured Member Carol Wilsher alerted me to an hedgehog, or one that is out in the daylight, it article in the Guardian newspaper last needs urgent help. Pick it up wearing autumn which I then recalled reading myself. gardening gloves, place it into a box with a Canvey Wick is home to some of Britain’s towel or some soft fabric, and ring the rarest insects. It is a brownfield site, and number above. sometimes these can be as valuable to Sue McClellan wildlife as the most pristine nature reserve. Ed: Many of you will remember the RSPB’s So far nearly 2,000 species have been TV advertisement where a little girl makes a discovered here, with more turning up all the home for hedgehogs. time. The site is managed jointly by the RSPB and Buglife, and is Britain’s first and only bug reserve. RSPB WEEKEND 6-8 APRIL 2018 The shrill carder bee The RSPB weekend for members and can be found here, supporters takes place in Nottingham this even quite late into the spring. There is an exciting and varied autumn, when it programme so you can pick and choose what requires late-nectaring interests you most. plants such as the You can hear about ground-breaking everlasting pea. It conservation and community projects. The really does have a RSPB is working to save some of the most high-pitched (shrill) threatened species as well as improving buzz. Another bee is habitats and protecting special places. There the sea aster mining will be guest speakers, including wildlife bee, whose sole food photographer and cameraman, Doug Allan, is – you guessed it – SHRILL CARDER BEE who has filmed for TV series including Blue the sea aster, a mauve, daisy-like plant. This Planet. rare bee builds a waterproof lining around its A range of workshops covers topics from underground cell, so it can survive an wildlife sketching to photography to unexpectedly high tide. Isn’t nature clever! gardening for butterflies. Guided walks will You might see a bombardier beetle: a take guests to discover the local wildlife, or striking insect with metallic blue-green wing venture further afield on excursions to places cases. If you do spot one, don’t disturb it, or such as Rutland Water. you risk the beetle detonating an explosion Book online at rspb.org/rspbweekend inside its abdomen, spraying you with hot liquid. It will do this to any perceived attack, human or otherwise. The reserve has a mosaic of different habitats, and as a result is alive with butterflies and moths, bees and wasps, slowworms and common lizards, grasses, reeds and flowers. Louise Fuller 10

RSPB LOCAL GROUP COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2017/18 Alan Thorpe Group Leader 01245 222029 [email protected] Diane Thorpe Treasurer/Joint 01245 222029 [email protected] Membership Secretary Janet Hawkes Secretary 01376 512628 [email protected] Sue McClellan Meetings (Talks) 01245 471576 [email protected] Secretary Vacant Field Trips Co-ordinator Could you be this person? Contact Alan Thorpe Louise Fuller Newsletter Editor/Joint 01245 421614 [email protected] Membership Secretary Gerry Johnson Pin Badge Sales Co- 01245 356633 [email protected] ordinator EVENTS DIARY Interested non-members are welcome at all non-native species? Come along to this talk to events. find out what invasive non-native species are, the damage they cause and what you can do to stop For further details of all events, including future them! dates not in the newsletter, please see our web site: Thursday 8 March 2018 www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chelmsford/events/ WORKING WITH LITTLE TERNS IN THE UK – A If you are planning to attend any of our events, please check the website in case of any last minute changes, rather than calling the organisers, unless the details of the event specifically say otherwise.

TALKS Talks are held at the Northumberland Theatre, Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3RP, commencing at 8.00pm SPECIES RECOVERY PROJECT and finishing about 9.50pm, with an interval where refreshments are available. The lecture Please note this meeting will be held in Writtle theatre is across Lordship Road from the main University College’s MAIN CAMPUS BUILDING, college building, to the right of the Wilkins tea Lordship Road, Writtle. The lecture theatre is just room, and there is free parking on site. Access is a few steps beyond the reception area on the at ground level. ground floor. Entry £3.50 adults. No discount for postal group Sue Rendell-Read, Project Manager EU LIFE + members. Little Tern Recovery Project, and Jerry Lanfear, both from the RSPB, will present this informative Thursday 8 February 2018 and highly recommended talk. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON – ALIEN INVASIONS Little terns – our smallest breeding tern – were AND YOU once common along all our shores, nesting on Danny Heptinstall, RSPB's and BirdLife Europe's open beaches and feeding by plunge-diving into invasive non-native species specialist, has been a the sea just offshore. Coasts would be alive with birder all his life and is delighted to be working to their chatter as they passed overhead bringing save nature with the RSPB. The local group is small fish to feed their young chicks. Over time very happy to welcome Danny to present this there are fewer colonies and birds, with the month's talk. recent population decline from 2000 to 2015 Hunting, loss of habitat, changing agricultural recorded as -18%. The LIFE Little Tern Project practices ... we've all heard of the damage they aims to start the recovery of the UK population cause to UK wildlife. However, did you know that by trialling management measures and setting one of the greatest threats to nature is invasive out a long-term conservation plan. As part of the

11 recovery work 10 organisations across more than reserve is entered at the western end from the 20 sites are working together to better minor road between Tollesbury and Tolleshunt understand and share how we can increase the D’Arcy. From the A12 take the B1023, via Tiptree number of breeding pairs, improve hatching to Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Turn left at village maypole success and protect more chicks through to then right into Chapel Road (back road to fledging. Tollesbury). After approx 1 mile (1.6 km), turn The life of the little tern, and the many threats it left into Old Hall Lane. Continue up Old Hall faces, will be explained through the efforts of Lane, over speed ramps and through iron gates to staff and volunteers involved nationally, and Jerry cattle grid, then follow the sign with an arrow will update us on the conservation work that's pointing to the office car park. going on in Essex. The walk will be led by Kieren Alexander, Site Manager at OHM. Old Hall Marshes is one of the Thursday April 12 2018 largest remaining areas of ancient coastal grazing This meeting is preceded by the AGM at 7.30pm. marsh in Essex. The reserve is surrounded by the OPERATION TURTLE DOVE Blackwater estuary and in the winter it is a Emma Stobart, the RSPB's Turtle Dove wonderful time to see a wide range of birds. Conservation Advisor for Essex, will be presenting Highlights should include brent geese, wigeons this talk. and teals grazing on the short grass. Out on the Turtle doves were once abundant summer estuary, diving ducks including goldeneyes and visitors to our countryside but over the last half red-breasted mergansers can be seen, whilst century we have seen a dramatic decline in their peregrines, short eared owls and marsh harriers numbers. These iconic birds face many patrol the skies. challenges, both in the UK and across their The walk should last 2.5 to 3 hours. Although flyway. Join us to learn about the work that the we'll mostly be on public footpaths, these can be RSPB is doing through Operation Turtle Dove, in muddy and rutted in places so appropriate the UK and with partners in other countries, to footwear is a must. Please wear warm clothes try and reverse this decline and combat the including hats and gloves as this can be an challenges that these beautiful birds face. exposed and wild place. Kieren Alexander mobile 07864 943752 email [email protected] This will be the last in the present series of talks.

The new season starts on Thursday September 13 with THE HUDSON LEGACY. Details will be in Sunday 18 March 2018 future newsletters and on our website. (EWT), South Green Road, Fingringhoe CO5 7DN (grid reference 048,194 on Landranger OS Map 168) WALKS Meet in the Visitor Centre at 10.00am . Walks are all “own car” outings, suitable for all Free entrance to EWT members, suggested ages and birding abilities; help with bird ID will be donation of £2 for non-members. available. There is no charge for the walks unless Stuart Anderson will be leading the walk. there is an entry charge to the venue or a parking Fingringhoe is always a great site with a wide fee. Walks usually last about 2 – 2.5 hours and range of habitats and lots of potential for a involve walking some distance, although not at variety of birds. Don’t forget your warm clothes speed. Wear suitable clothing and footwear and as it is an estuarine site and can get cold. A bring your own refreshments. Walking boots are bonus – the visitor centre with toilets and a little advised for our walks as the terrain could be wet café! and uneven. The sites are often exposed and you If bad weather is forecast, please ring Stuart on may need warm and waterproof clothing, 01245 261102 or 07443 411934 on 17 March (no especially for our winter trips. There are no toilet later than 9pm) or on the day (between 8am and facilities at most of the walk venues. 9am only) to check whether the walk is going ahead. Saturday 17 February 2018 E-mail: [email protected] OLD HALL MARSHES (RSPB), Old Hall Lane, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, CM9 8TP (grid reference TL We do not have any further walks planned at 959 122 on Landranger OS map 168). present but keep your eye on our website as we Meet in the office car park at 10.30am . The will post them up there when details are known. 12