Basingstoke Local Group Basingstoke Local Group April 2016 Newsletter

BASINGSTOKE LOCAL GROUP BASINGSTOKE LOCAL GROUP APRIL 2016 NEWSLETTER

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

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 Notices

 Big Garden Birdwatch

 Swift Conservation In Hampshire

 How We’re Helping: Cranes

 What’s Happening?

 April’s Outdoor Meeting

 Evening Walks Programme

 May’s Outdoor Meeting

 March’s Outdoor Meeting

 Sri Lanka: Ahh! The Heat!

 Local Wildlife News

 Quiz ‘Page’

 And Finally!

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

Welcome to April, the spring and the more than welcome passage of birds back from their winter quarters off to the south.

As I sit here, on a bright early April, afternoon occasional visits to the conservatory door have provided me with my first local Swallow and House Martin of the year and several of both Red Kite and Buzzard. On the other side of the Borough a handful of Stone-curlew have been noted in the past day or so, so it’s all happening! The peak time for spring migration locally is about the third week of April, so there’s still an awful lot more to arrive or pass through the Borough etc. in the coming weeks – do make the effort to get out in the field to make the most of this, and don’t forget to tell us all about what you’ve encountered! Will you find the near annual Borough Hoopoe this spring, a Wryneck or Red-backed Shrike, only time and your efforts will tell!

And now I’m back to the Newsletter, several weeks after the last work on it!

And again, it now the evening of the Indoor Meeting!!! Too much to do, too little time to do it in, all the good intentions directed towards the Newsletter, and so many other things, disappearing rapidly in a blizzard of work, work and more work!

So, another magnolia-disabling frost this morning, followed by temperatures reaching high in to the teens, it must be spring, albeit perhaps only briefly. This bodes well for the forthcoming Outdoor Meeting on Sunday, this to one of the Group’s ‘favourites’, Pulborough Brooks RSPB, where many may well hear their first Nightingale of the year. Other incoming migrants should be obvious and with fare weather it’s to be anticipated that birds will be plentiful, as are sure to be the cakes etc. to be consumed in the tea room! This Outdoor Meeting really ought to put a little life in to the birding steps of those attending and I’m sure that there will be much to talk and write of on returning homewards. If you can, do come along, not only to see the birds but the reserve, Information Centre etc., all of which have been established and maintained with your donations in the past. There will I’m sure be plenty to see on Sunday, as there is indeed even more locally on a daily basis at present.

In the words of one far more knowledgeable than me:

“Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?”

David Attenborough Peter E. Hutchins Notices

Fair Isle In July

During the summer several locals spent time on Fair Isle, finding the experience perhaps far more rewarding than anticipated, their previous visits always having been in the autumn; the peak time for birds of more note to be recorded about the island.

Due to this it's been proposed that a further visit is made, during summer 2016, to take in the seabird colonies, skua-dotted moors, flower-filled meadows, archaeology, stunning scenery and open spaces where access is unlimited. Activities to be participated in are to include petrel ringing, heligoland trap rounds, wildlife and travel presentations and the daily 'log call' during the evenings, visiting the museum and croft cottage industries, warden guided and other exploratory walks about the island, as well as taking in the wildlife on the way to and from the island.

Accommodation will be in the Bird Observatory, newly built and opened as recently as 2010, with breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening refreshments included within the cost.

If you find the thought of being inches from Puffins, 'encouraged' by Bonxies and Arctic Skua to leave their territories, watching dolphins, whales and seals from the ferry and rafts of thousands of auks from the island, seeing flowering Oyster Plant covering the foreshore and blood-red fields of flowering Sorrel, watching seals loafing on the beaches, being 'sung' to sleep by Storm and Leach's Petrel, encountering south-bound migrants and looking for the Northern Lights attractive, please get in touch for further details.

Peter.

British Birds

We’ve been given a number of copies of British Birds that are no longer of use to the original owner, these covering the years 2001 to 2008; in total 96 issues and the Index for each of the eight years.

If you’d be interested in purchasing any of these please contact the Group Leader. They will also be on sale at the Indoor Meetings, with a price of £1 per issue or £10 for a year, 12 copies and the Index, having been suggested.

As always, any profits gained through the sale of these items will go to the RSPB and its’ continuing work.

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 to source 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 during for a while, 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

Big Garden Birdwatch

The initial local results! % Old County and GOR etc Species Mean Rank gardens

Basingstoke and Deane House Sparrow 3.39 1 56.9 Basingstoke and Deane Blue Tit 3.28 2 83.1 Basingstoke and Deane Woodpigeon 3.07 3 88.8 Basingstoke and Deane Starling 2.11 4 33.9 Basingstoke and Deane Blackbird 2.08 5 86.9 Basingstoke and Deane Goldfinch 1.63 6 33.2 Basingstoke and Deane Great Tit 1.60 7 61.4 Basingstoke and Deane Robin 1.37 8 81.7 Basingstoke and Deane Collared Dove 1.26 9 46.5 Basingstoke and Deane Chaffinch 1.25 10 43.1 Basingstoke and Deane Long-tailed Tit 1.16 11 28.9 Basingstoke and Deane Magpie 1.00 12 51.9 Basingstoke and Deane Dunnock 0.78 13 43.7 Basingstoke and Deane Jackdaw 0.73 14 21.7 Basingstoke and Deane Coal Tit 0.67 15 36.0 Basingstoke and Deane Greenfinch 0.54 16 21.5 Basingstoke and Deane Carrion Crow 0.39 17 16.7 Basingstoke and Deane Feral Pigeon 0.35 18 11.6 Basingstoke and Deane Great Spotted Woodpecker 0.27 19 22.5 Basingstoke and Deane Pheasant 0.26 20 11.9 Basingstoke and Deane Wren 0.24 21 21.4 Basingstoke and Deane Rook 0.24 22 7.9 Basingstoke and Deane Bullfinch 0.16 23 7.9 Basingstoke and Deane Nuthatch 0.14 24 10.6 Basingstoke and Deane Common Gull 0.11 25 2.7 Basingstoke and Deane Jay 0.06 26 5.1 Basingstoke and Deane Siskin 0.06 27 2.3

Basingstoke and Deane Red Kite 0.05 28 3.5 Basingstoke and Deane Song Thrush 0.04 29 3.5 Basingstoke and Deane Blackcap 0.03 30 2.7 Basingstoke and Deane Goldcrest 0.02 31 1.8 Basingstoke and Deane Tree Sparrow 0.02 32 0.8 Basingstoke and Deane Mallard 0.02 33 0.7 Basingstoke and Deane Pied Wagtail 0.02 34 1.3 Basingstoke and Deane Marsh Tit 0.02 35 1.1 Basingstoke and Deane Buzzard 0.01 36 0.8 Basingstoke and Deane Lesser Redpoll 0.01 37 0.3 Basingstoke and Deane Brambling 0.01 38 0.6 Basingstoke and Deane Redwing 0.01 39 0.3 Basingstoke and Deane Sparrowhawk 0.01 40 0.7 Basingstoke and Deane Grey Heron 0.01 41 0.6 Basingstoke and Deane Moorhen 0.01 42 0.4 Basingstoke and Deane Green Woodpecker 0.01 43 0.6 Basingstoke and Deane Herring Gull 0.01 44 0.3 Basingstoke and Deane Kestrel 0.01 45 0.6 Basingstoke and Deane Reed Bunting 0.01 46 0.3 Basingstoke and Deane Willow Tit 0.00 47 0.4 Basingstoke and Deane Fieldfare 0.00 48 0.4 Basingstoke and Deane Mistle Thrush 0.00 49 0.4 Basingstoke and Deane Treecreeper 0.00 50 0.4 Basingstoke and Deane Grey Wagtail 0.00 51 0.3 Basingstoke and Deane Red-legged Partridge 0.00 52 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 0.00 53 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Barn Owl 0.00 54 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Chiffchaff 0.00 55 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Little Owl 0.00 56 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Ring-necked Parakeet 0.00 57 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Stock Dove 0.00 58 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Tawny Owl 0.00 59 0.1 Basingstoke and Deane Black-headed Gull 0.00 60 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Black Redstart 0.00 61 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Corn Bunting 0.00 62 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Gadwall 0.00 63 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Great Black-backed Gull 0.00 64 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Great Crested Grebe 0.00 65 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Grey Partridge 0.00 66 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Hooded Crow 0.00 67 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Lapwing 0.00 68 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Lesser Black-backed Gull 0.00 69 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Linnet 0.00 70 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Meadow Pipit 0.00 71 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Mute Swan 0.00 72 0.0

Basingstoke and Deane Raven 0.00 73 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Skylark 0.00 74 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Teal 0.00 75 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Tufted Duck 0.00 76 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Waxwing 0.00 77 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Wigeon 0.00 78 0.0 Basingstoke and Deane Yellowhammer 0.00 79 0.0

Swift Conservation In Hampshire

Swifts are declining in the UK: the BTO Breeding Bird Survey recorded a 38% reduction in range in the 15 years to 2010 and the Hampshire Bird Atlas notes a 64% reduction in range in approximately 20 years to 2010. There is evidence this decline is at least partially linked to a reduction in the number of available nest sites and this in turn is caused by the modernisation of housing stock, eliminating the structural features of older houses preferred by nesting swifts. A stark statistic on the Swift Conservation website (see link below) states that swifts nest almost exclusively on pre-1944 houses, with no nesting on properties built after 2000.

The good news is that creating sites suitable for swifts is not difficult; a number of different nest boxes are available as well as internal boxes which can be incorporated into the structure of a property. In the case of older houses, or other buildings such as churches, undergoing renovation or the building of new houses or other buildings, boxes can easily be included in the planned works. In areas where swifts are already present the creation of additional nesting sites in this way can be very successful. In areas where swifts are less evident they can be attracted by playing swift calls in the proximity of the boxes. Completely new colonies have been established in this way and in some areas “swift towers”, elevated structures containing numerous swift nesting holes, have been installed. http://www.xeno-canto.org/27236

In many parts of the country (as well as in Europe) regional “swift groups” have been established with the objectives of:

- surveying and counting swift nest sites - suppling nest-boxes and working with householders and businesses to maintain and increase the number of nesting sites - providing advice to householders, builders and businesses on swift conservation

In Hampshire we already have a number of individuals who have installed swift nest boxes but we have no swift groups as such and so there is a lot more we can do to conserve these fabulous birds.

It would be fantastic if the RSPB Basingstoke Local Group was able to participate in this and I’d welcome any enquiries.

Many thanks

Andy Broadhurst [email protected]

Swift Conservation: http://www.swift-conservation.org

How We're helping: Cranes

Have you ever heard the mysterious bugling call of a common crane?

https://vimeo.com/80362459

It’s a noise that drifts across wetlands throughout northern Europe and, if you lived in the UK up until around 400 years ago, you probably would have heard it regularly.

In fact, crane might even have been on your menu - Henry III's 1251 Christmas menu included an indigestion-inducing 115 cranes. Now that’s a Christmas feast! Cranes were widespread back then, but then drainage of their wetland haunts and hunting made them extinct in the UK.

That was until 1979, when a small group re-established themselves in Norfolk. Whilst this group was doing well, it was small and vulnerable. Along with our partners Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and Viridor Credits, we decided it was time to bring cranes back in a bigger way.

How Are We Helping?

And so began the Great Crane Project.

The plan was to supplement the cranes in Norfolk with another population of cranes elsewhere in the UK. To do this, crane chicks needed rearing in captivity, before being released into the wild.

After careful consideration about where to release the young cranes, the Somerset wetlands and moors were chosen.

The area offered plenty of food and suitable nesting sites, giving the released cranes the best chance of not only surviving, but establishing a self-sustaining population of their own.

Eggs were brought over from Germany and chicks reared at WWT’s Slimbridge reserve. From there the young cranes went to crane school!

This saw the birds' keepers dress in grey, with headgear shaped like a crane's neck and head to boot, to teach the youngsters all about life as a crane (see image

below). Once the youngsters finished their schooling, they were released into the wild.

How Are Cranes Doing?

A milestone moment was reached in 2015, when cranes released through The Great Crane Project successfully fledged chicks in south-west England – the first cranes fledged there for 400 years! Nine pairs of release-project cranes bred this year, with four of those going on to hatch and rear chicks, and four of these chicks successfully fledging. Released cranes also dispersed further than ever last year, and started integrating with the native UK population. Brilliant news!

What’s Next?

With no more releases planned, we’re moving to monitoring the birds and UK- wide habitat creation. Cranes are long-lived and breeding success is slow, but perhaps soon the crane’s wild, bugling call will be heard throughout more of the UK.

It's all thanks to you!

Without the backing of people like you, our supporters, we couldn't help give nature a home in the UK. Thanks!

Kevin Middleton

What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained as the spring really gets going, or not:

Basingstoke Natural History Society [email protected]

Flashetts & Little Meadow

Date 10th May

Time 19:00pm

A guided walk about The Test and the Overton Biodiversity’s Little Meadow.

For this meeting please meet in the Overton Hill car park; SU 517 497.

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/

Snake’s Head Fritillaries And Morning Coffee

Snake's-head Fritillary

Mark Heighes

Date 21st April

Time 11:00am to 1:00pm

Join us for a visit to Heckfield to see Snake’s Head Fritillaries. Meet for morning coffee in the Wellington Farm Shop to be followed by a short walk to see the flowers. Booking Required

Wellington Farm Shop, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 OLJ

Grid reference SU705629

Floodplain Meadows: Does Biodiversity Prevent Flooding?

River Itchen in Winchester

Date 4th May

Time 6:30am to 8:30pm

An evening stroll along the Itchen Valley

Trust reserves officer Rachel Remnant will guide us through the watermeadows of the river Itchen on a walk and talk covering flooding and the biodiversity of chalk river meadows, including St Faith’s Meadow. We will end around sunset as the bats begin to emerge from their roosts.

Booking is essential

Sorry no dogs.

Meet in Garnier Road at the start of the footpath to St Cross by Meadow View Cottage. Parking by the start and along Garnier Road, St Faith’s Meadow, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9QG

Grid reference SU 479 282

Woodlands In Spring

Date 6th May

Time 09:30am to 12:30pm

Woodlands come alive in spring and are rich and diverse habitats for wildlife. On our Woodlands in spring course you will find out about the history and management of

ancient woodland and look at some of the species, including carpets of Hampshire’s famous bluebells, associated with this special habitat

In relaxed and interesting morning of discussions, observations and practising wildlife identification using FSC guides you will learn basic skills in:

 Tree identification  Wildflower/ancient woodland indicator identification  Wildlife identification

You will also have an introduction to woodland management and woodland ecology overview.

At the end of the morning you will have gained knowledge to identify common species of plants and animals in woodlands and enrich your spring woodland walks.

On our Woodland in spring course you will walk approximately 3 miles on public footpaths alongside the beautiful Harewood Forest.

Is this course for me? This course is suitable for you if you are interested in exploring Hampshire’s woodlands and you would like to understand basic woodland wildlife species and ecology.

When and where? Friday 6th May 2016 - 9.30am to 12.30pm Please arrive 10 minutes before the course is due to start

We will be meeting at Wherwell village playing fields car park, Longparish Road, Wherwell, SP11 7JP which has free parking you can use.

What do I need to bring?

 Appropriate clothing for walking outside for the weather on the day  Comfortable and sturdy walking boots,  Binoculars may be useful if you have them  Refreshments

Tutor Susan Simmonds – Assistant Education Officer

Susan has a lifelong passion for wildlife and graduated in Environmental Science, she has worked and volunteered in the conservation sector for over 15 years. Susan has previously worked as a sessional lecturer on the BTEC National Diploma course in Countryside Management and currently covers a number of degree sessions at Sparsholt College. Susan has a Certificate to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (CTLLS) and enjoys teaching her skills through courses like plant species identification and mammal

tracks and signs to others. She has a desire to make a difference and to play a part in conserving our natural world and believes that she can do that through further study and ultimately through lecturing and research. She loves species identification and regularly teaches wildflower identification; water vole survey techniques and more recently river fly surveying. Susan has worked closely with a local primary school to assist them in using their outdoor environment. As the chairperson for the school’s Woodland Committee she has written a management plan for the site and oversees its management. You can hear Susan several times a month in a slot on BBC Radio Wiltshire on Sunday lunchtimes, where she speaks about seasonal aspects of the countryside.

Wherwell village playing fields car park. Wherwell Village Playing Fields, Longparish Road, Wherwell, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 7JP

Grid reference SU397415

Open Garden - Brick Kiln Cottage

Brick Kiln Cottage

Barbara Jeremiah

Date 7th May

Time 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Privately owned wildlife friendly garden open to the public for one weekend.

Come and visit this 2 acre spring garden which is spectacular at this time of year with a beautiful display of native English bluebells. Previously a brick works and the home of the former Herriard Estate Brick Master the site is shown on the 1874 map as the Herriard Brickworks. The dips and hollows left by the old workings have been turned

into ponds (including a billabong), hollows for ferns and a stumpery which can all be inspected on a walk along a circular pathway. Closer to the house a traditional cottage garden and vegetable patch boasts beautiful hollyhocks and plenty of aromatic herbs. There is even a pebble garden.

The garden is visited by a host of wildlife including deer, badgers and foxes, owls, tree creepers and cuckoo.

The garden was awarded a HIWWT wildlife friendly gardening award in 2015 which recognises the sensitive way it is managed by its owners. They have three compost heaps and use sawdust and leaves to line their woodland path which then simply naturally rots down. They collect rainwater in butts for watering the plants and lawns and channel water off the driveway as well, to feed their billabong water feature. Slugs and snails are kept at bay using ash and soot and they do not use any pesticides at all.

In the main part of the garden you will find native spring flowers and other plants chosen not just for their beauty but because the local deer and rabbits don’t find them too tempting! The tastier and more vulnerable plants in the cottage, herb and flower garden are protected by a rabbit proof fence. On top of all the living beauty if you are looking for adventure why not climb the treehouse for a view over the local countryside or take a look at the traditional Australian shepherds hut. After all that fun you can relax and soak up the surroundings with tea, homemade lemonade and cake on the lawn.

How to get there

North East of Alton

From the A339 turn onto The Avenue, pass Lasham Gliding Club (on your right) then pass Back Lane on the left and take the next track on the left.

From B349 turn onto The Avenue, pass Southwood Road (on the left) and take the second track on the right. If you get to Back Lane (on the right) you have gone too far.

Brick Kiln Cottage, Avenue Road, Herriard, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 2PR

Headley Gravel Pit Orchid Count And Picnic

Green-winged Orchid

Mark Heighes

Date 15th May

Time 2:30pm to 5:00pm

Annual Orchid count and Group Picnic

Join us at Headley Gravel Pit for the annual count of Green Winged Orchids followed by, weather permitting, a group picnic. Bring a camera, your picnic and a rug.

Last year the site had a record of over 5000 orchids; join us to see what effect the mild winter has had on their success.

Please book your place.

Park in car park for St Peter’s Church off A339 or, if full, on Ashford Hill Road. Entrance via track from car park W side of A339 approximately 100 meters S of turning to Ashford Hill Road, look for Trust sign on verge at Map reference SU 512 626.

Headley Gravel Pit, Headley, Hampshire

Grid reference SU 512 626

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.

The Oakley Gardening Club.

May 9th

Sweet Peas For Exhibition And Pleasure.

Jim McDonald

June 6th

Behind The Scenes At Hilliers.

Steve Austin

For further information please contact: Mrs. Joan Crame on 01256 - 780137.

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 Mill Field Local Nature Reserve Chineham Oakley Cliddesden Old Down, Kempshott Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King Overton George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale) Popley Kempshott South View

And further afield in the coming month:

The Norfolk Bird & Wildlife Fair

The Norfolk Bird & Wildlife Fair is held at Mannington Hall, south of Holt in Norfolk over the weekend of 21 and 22nd May 2016. Mannington Hall is surrounded by a moat, beautiful grounds with both formal gardens and wonderful wild spaces where a Spotted Flycatcher was easily seen during the 2014 fair. I really enjoyed the ringing demonstrations in 2015.

This is the fair’s third year and the chosen project is the BTO's Farmland Bird Appeal.

This fair is much smaller that the Rutland event and is run by a dedicated local family in association with the Hawk and Owl Trust and The Norfolk Wildlife Trust, but has a similar format. Bringing together businesses, charities and people with a love of wildlife to raise money for conservation programmes in Norfolk. There are lectures throughout the weekend and stands to help raise awareness of the many Norfolk Nature reserves and open spaces.

For more information: www.norfolkbirdfair.com

Margaret Carr

Email: [email protected]

April’s Outdoor Meeting

Pulborough Brooks RSPB: 24th.

 For this outing please meet in the reserve car park for a 10:00 start (TQ 060 165 – O.S Landranger Map 197). This is on the western side of the A283 as you head south from Pulborough towards Storrington and is well signed on being approached from both the north and south.

 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 46.38 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 46.0; a travelling time of 69 and 85 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 site of many habitats, managed primarily for birds, at the peak of incoming migration in the early spring – need I say more!

 Some of the paths that will be used do have a quite a slope on them, this sometimes exasperated by wetter conditions. However, there are always ways to get around this, so please don’t let it put you off what is sure to be a very worthwhile outing.

 The Outdoor Meeting will commence as soon as we get out of the cars, the feeders adjacent to the Visitor Centre and flanking woodland sure to start the meeting off with a good number of familiar and showy species; Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Goldfinch and Song Thrush perhaps to be among them.

Time spent in the Visitor Centre will then allow the Group to plan their shopping, ‘lunch time’ catering arrangements, check on what’s about and to, dare I say it, even look for further birds, this from the panoramic window that faces westwards out on the reserve. Past visits and viewing from here have seen Barn Owl hunting over the pasture, skeins of geese moving to and from the marsh and water meadows and herds of Fallow Deer grazing out in the open, at times the latter in very good numbers. Venturing out on to the reserve proper this view will again be seen, the vista opening out over the Arun Valley to the west and south and Pulborough to the north.

Water meadows, marsh, the Arun and its’ flanking scrub and woodland all being on show from this high vantage point. Wildfowl, waders and gull are sure to be on the wing as we enter the spring sunshine (!) and further territorial vocalising will also help fill the air.

Dropping downhill the hedgerows and small fields to the left will hold ‘little brown jobs’, these hopefully to include Nightingale as we near the denser vegetation by the wetter area in the woodland.

Nightingale These to be on territory by the time the Group visit

Other chorusing migrants could include Blackcap and Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, so a real chance to get to grips with these songsters once again. The scrub may also hold both Sedge and Reed Warbler as they continue their northbound travels before settling in to more expected habitats. The more open aspect of the area being walked may also allow for incoming hirundines to be noted, all three of the commoner species quite possible and a further indication of how far forward the season now is.

The scrubby woodland and hedgerows to be found on heading north on the reserve provide homes, shelter and food for many species, Bullfinch often being very obvious, though elusive, here. The rough pasture attracts waders and the Lapwing etc. feeding here need to be carefully looked through, just in case a migrant Ruff or Whimbrel has dropped in amongst them for a refuel.

Moving down on the lower reaches of the reserve, the hides and blinds, three of the latter allowing viewing over the more open parts of the reserve, will be used to allow viewing out over the flooded meadows where greater numbers of wildfowl, gull and, hopefully, waders will be evident. Seated scanning here should add further birds for the day and, for some at least, new birds for 2016. Shelduck, Redshank, Snipe, Mute Swan and Mallard are to be expected but there may still be wintering wildfowl lingering and, not at all impossible, a spring visitor such as Garganey could be loitering among its’ commoner cousins. Even smaller, many of the waders may take a while to find, but will be worthwhile on doing so; a nicely ruffed Ruff would make for some discussion.

Pulborough Brooks Looking back north-west towards Pulborough

Moving off towards the western end of the reserve the hides, a total of four being available, here will again allow viewing out over a substantial area, the wetter bits here often attracting yet more waders with these including the birds favouring the quieter areas to feed and roost; Black-winged Stilt and Crane are two of the more notable species recorded here in recent springs. The open aspect will need regular scanning for these, as well as the raptors both resident and migratory to the area, Hobby being perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated of these.

Hobby Another migrant to be looking out for

The warmer, hopefully, days of spring will have already made available odonata for these, as well as giving the local reptiles the opportunity to warm up; Adder occasionally to be found basking in the more open areas of vegetation and paths about this part of the reserve.

Adder Something to watch out for on a sunnier day!

Heading back, eventually, towards the Visitor Centre we shall again look out over the Arun Valley, just in case we’ve missed anything that has appeared in from the south. We will be back to the Centre in plenty of time for those who wish to make the most of the Tearoom, this serving hot lunches to 14:30 but remaining open to 16:30, for those taking a post-lunch wander about the reserve.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as the Coldwaltham, Fittleworth and Helsworth Commons, Petworth and Cowdray Parks, Selborne and Noar Hill 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.

Evening Walks Programme

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

STA RT MAP CONTACT DATE DAY TIME SITE MEETING PLACE REFERENCE LEADER DETAILS 3rd 18:3 Petty's Brook & Northern side of Whitmarsh SU 667 522 Richard 07884 - May Tuesday 0 The River Lane, Chineham (RG24 8LQ) Gilham 044544

Loddon The Test, 11th 18:3 Source to Holy Trinity & St. Andrew SU 533 499 01256 - May Wednesday 0 Southington Church, Ashe (RG25 3AJ) Simon Yates 781964 The Mill Field LNR, Barton’s Mill and 17th 18:3 Cowdery’s Basing House / Millstone PH SU 660 530 James 07775 - May Tuesday 0 Down car parks, Old Basing (RG24 8AE) Andrews 564257 25th 18:3 SU 587 342 01256 - May Wednesday 0 The Alresfords Old Alresford Village Hall (SO24 9SJ) Geoff. Sharp 470295 Basingstoke Canal, The 1st 18:3 Whitewater & The Pumping Station, SU 722 513 01256 - June Wednesday 0 Butter Wood Deptford Road, Greywell (RG29 1BS) Lydia Knight 334316 8th 18:3 Benyon's The Layby on Kings Road, SU 624 625 07786 - June Wednesday 0 Inclosure Silchester (RG7 2NR) Doug. Kelson 647784 07895 - Crookham and The parking area at the 388378 / 14th 18:3 Greenham northern end of Old Thornford SU 520 646 Peter E. 01256 - June Tuesday 0 Commons Road (RG19 8DE) Hutchins 770831 22nd 18:3 Woolhampton The lay-by north of Bottle SU 572 660 07786 - June Wednesday 0 GP's Cottage, Woolhampton (RG7 5SF) Doug. Kelson 647784 The grass car park adjacent to 29th 18:3 The Test, north of Larkwhistle SU 445 448 01256 - June Tuesday 0 Longparish Farm (SP11 6QJ) Geoff. Sharp 470286

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

May’s Outdoor Meeting

Durlston Head Country Park: 22nd.

 For this outing please meet in the car park by the Information Centre for a 10:00 start (SZ 032 773 – O.S Landranger Map 195). This is signed on reaching central Swanage.

 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 81.45 miles between Basingstoke and Durlston Country Park, the AA site 81.5; a travelling time of 108 minutes being quoted by both 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.

 Few places in Britain equal Durlston Country Park! The bare statistics merely hint at the amazing diversity of wildlife: 33 species of breeding butterfly, over 250 species of bird recorded, 500 wildflowers, 500 moths and thousands of other invertebrates. Durlston's special qualities stem from a combination of geography, geology, history and careful management which has created a mosaic of nationally important wildlife habitats: sea-cliffs, downs, ancient meadows, hedgerows, woodland, and dry-stone walls each with their characteristic plants and animals.

The headland, Durlston Castle and the Country Park

The Group on leaving the car park and Information Centre, after looking out over the feeders placed to attract birds close to the latter and, perhaps, the results of the overnight moth-trapping, will head towards the Castle, taking in the trees and scrub about the car park before walking alongside further more mature trees on dropping down towards the castle.

If wished, a visit of the castle will be included, even if only to get better views out over Durlston Bay where the seabirds that have returned to the adjacent cliffs may be seen as they move to and from their nest sites.

The Great Globe!

Lower down still, and along the cliff edge time will be spent looking at the local antiquities, though not birdy they’re excellent for photography! The cliffs below here will hold breeding auks and gulls, which attract Peregrine in to both feed and take up residence.]

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

On completing the hopefully successful search for these stunning raptors time will be taken to look out to the south, the time of the Group’s visit coinciding with a time of frequent cetacean sightings. Fishing Gannet may well attract eyes to these, whether they’re following fishing boats or shoals of fish. Harbour Porpoise and Bottle-nosed Dolphin are the most likely to be seen, though others of the family have been recorded from the cliffs previously. Also offshore will be, again, auks and gulls, both adult and immature birds being on or over the sea, particularly in the case of both Guillemot and Razorbill. Puffin are possible as there’s a small breeding population not too distantly to the west, but as yet their numbers have not increased sufficiently to guarantee a sighting of this most enigmatic seabird.

Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria One of the many spectacular plants in the Country Park

Moving away from the water the Group will walk both the heavily vegetated valleys and cropped turf of the cliff tops / downs, where orchids will be in flower and the occasional late / lost migrant / vagrant might also be encountered as it moves further inland. Many of the summer visitors should be obvious, especially the sylvia warblers such as Whitethroat and Blackcap. Also in song should be Skylark, Yellowhammer, Linnet and Goldfinch, all making the most of the easily foraged downland and flanking farmland. The chalk grassland has a varied flora and this in turn ensures a wide range of invertebrates, including colourful butterfly and moth, vocal grasshopper and cricket and the perhaps not so appreciated arachnids; these however all much appreciated by the resident and migrant birds which we will be looking for.

Hedgerows high on the downs will harbour the anticipated smaller passerines, perhaps butterflies etc. being prominent, if the weather’s good to the Group! Thermals created by the cliffs encourage raptors to soar and circle, Buzzard the most likely to be seen, though Sparrowhawk and Kestrel are near to hand; the habitat here being of particular importance to such birds, well, their prey anyway! Swallow and House Martin will be visiting from nearby nests and Swift will be overhead as they intercept the aerial plankton. Here the birdlife can include that which is expected in residential gardens, the park edge being close to such areas.

 The current car parking fees are as follows:

1 hour = £2, 2 hours = £2.50, 4 hours = £4 and all day = £5.

Due to being so close to the sea the Country Park’s a place where weather can change and ‘happen’ very quickly, so do come prepared for this, even though we’re visiting in the late spring!

 The Outdoor Meeting will last in to the early afternoon, when it will be possible to take lunch on site or partake of your ‘picnic’, before moving towards home, other sites en route or lingering for another walk about the site.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Why this image? Well, the last Local Group visit to this site had at least one found, the last visit to Dorset, another! A hat trick of sightings would be nice!

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Wareham Forest, Arne RSPB, Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island, Blandford Forum (for Otter), Blashford Lakes and The New Forest NP 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.

The website for the Country Park is at: http://www.durlston.co.uk/

March’s Outdoor Meeting

th Hengistbury Head: 20 .

11 attended on a grey, fairly cool and all too breezy late March morning, the latter driving the apparent temperature down throughout the circuit of the promontory, this especially noticeable when on the open heath covering the higher areas of the headland. A busy car park was soon left behind, an anti-clockwise direction being taken so as to allow

the tide in Christchurch Harbour to drop sufficiently to encourage waders and the like to be on show on the return leg of the walk.

Skylark Alauda arvensis & Linnet Carduelis cannabina

A pair of confiding Stonechat drew the Group towards the cliff top, a party of Linnet then seen foraging in the adjacent dunes, as were Skylark. The nature of the Stonechat was mirrored by others seen about the headland, presumably the enormous amount of visitors habituating them to us and allowing both very close views and photographic opportunities; several were in song, so even a hint of spring being evident on the day.

Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

This pair moved to an enclosure of scrubby grassland, where the first summer migrant of the Group's year was found, a male Wheatear. Distant, but still looking clean and tidy and very active after its crossing from the continent. Moving further along the southern side of the headland a further two Wheatear were seen, singletons lingering along the cliff edge, as were a further pair of Stonechat; the male seen to take a larval moth.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

A groyne on the people-filled beach attracted a Rock Pipit, then two more, much interaction, perhaps more signs of spring, being noted between two of these.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus

Stonechat Saxicola rubicola & Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus

Looking out over the calm waters to the west little was to be seen, small numbers of gulls being seen to follow several of the smaller local fishing boats. Further afield, The Needles were very evident, though no Gannet or other more marine-type birds were seen in the watching of this area. Moving higher on to the headland viewing of the somewhat distant harbour added wildfowl and waders on the high tidal waters, Dark-bellied Brent were still present, but perhaps not for long, as were wintering Wigeon. A small party of Black-tailed Godwit fed on the as yet to be covered mud, Gadwall and Little Grebe on the deeper waters close to them. A shingle spit, even more distant, held 'drying' Cormorant and the pied bulk of Great Black-backed Gull, these dramatically larger than the Black-headed Gull littered about them. Brighter still in the near autumnal grey were fishing Little Egret and Mute Swan.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

A pond, the first of the Natterjack Ponds, was watched for some time but no amphibians were seen to be present, Stonechat however again putting in an appearance closer to the cliff edge. Pheasant were heard to the north, as were Grey Heron in the heronry in The Wood, the latter having just two nests and so not quite yet as viable as would be liked. This especially the

case when only a week or so beforehand the video feed of the nests showed one adult eating the young and eggs present!!! This delightful episode, known as filial cannibalism, sure to have endeared the birds to those watching! Off the cliffs an immature Shag was fishing, the identification agreed by all, eventually! The method of fishing, a Tufted Duck-like leap in to the air before diving, helping to confirm this.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

About the nearby heath further Stonechat showed close-to-hand, again, and Woodpigeon moved low over the trees, these, for a change, only being noted in small numbers. As the Group reassembled by the lower Natterjack Pond the woodland flanking the path provided some shelter to both walkers of the road from Mudeford Sandbank to the car park and birds; Long-tailed and Blue Tit being heard as we confirmed that there were again no toads to be found.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

A roadside tidal pool inland of the sandbank and beach huts held a feeding group of Black- tailed Godwit, some coming in to their summer finery, but this tranquil scene of avian refuelling was soon devastated, this as an adult male Peregrine swept in over the group! This bird after 'encouraging' the waders onward, drifted ever higher and eventually out of view over the areas already walked, though moving back towards the Group on occasion; definitely one of the highlights of the outing.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

Heading towards and through The Wood further birds were located, miniature Goldcrest

and Coal Tit both proving vocal, and not that easy to find as the spring hints of leaves and the like erupted, though lichen was still more conspicuous on many of the trees. A Grey Heron was showy on the conifers of the heronry, where Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling. At the time of viewing the heron the Group were not aware of the happenings of the past, and so just appreciated the bird for its' striking plumage, rather than it's as equally striking banqueting choices!

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

A pasture nearby held feeding Meadow Pipit and Blackbird, skulking Song Thrush and several Woodpigeon, the first gathering of the latter noted. More unusual was a Chiffchaff, feeding almost alongside the more strikingly marked pipit in the grass. This was presumably a newly arrived migrant as this was hardly normal foraging behaviour for a phylloscopus warbler; the scientific name generally translating to 'leaf watcher', but this presumably not being due to such anomalous behaviour as that seen! The drop of the tide saw further wader activity in the harbour, several Curlew being seen amongst the Oystercatcher, Cormorant, gulls and wildfowl still present. Redshank were seen on the wing, as were numbers of the smaller wildfowl, though no reason for their flushing was to be seen, unlike the Dark-bellied Brent which were being pushed along / up by walkers on the far shore. Shelduck were another distant splash of colour added on the receding waters.

Continuing towards the car park bramble scrub pathside provided another notable bird, a singing Dartford Warbler. This bird showed on-and-off in the brambles but never fully came out in to the open, the persisting wind ensuring that it was not the time or place to see a Dartford doing this. The final bird addition of the walk was Starling, these again confiding birds being gathered about the picnic tables outside the cafe, amongst the ice-cream partakers and the like providing food for them, intentionally or otherwise.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone

The 'List': Avocet Gadwall Jay Bewick's Swan Goldcrest Kestrel Blackbird Golden Plover Lapwing Black-headed Gull Goldeneye Lesser Black-backed Black-tailed Godwit Goldfinch Gull Blue Tit Goosander Linnet Buzzard Great Black-backed Little Egret Canada Goose Gull Little Grebe Carrion Crow Great Crested Grebe Long-tailed Tit Cetti's Warbler Great Spotted Magpie Chaffinch Woodpecker Mallard Chiffchaff Great Tit Marsh Harrier Coal Tit Green Woodpecker Meadow Pipit Common Gull Greenfinch Moorhen Coot Greenshank Mute Swan Cormorant Grey Heron Oystercatcher Curlew Grey Plover Peregrine Dark-bellied Brent Grey Wagtail Pheasant Dartford Warbler Greylag Pied Wagtail Dunlin Herring Gull Pintail Dunnock House Sparrow Pochard Feral Pigeon Jackdaw Redshank

Redwing Skylark Tufted Duck Reed Bunting Snipe Turnstone Robin Song Thrush Water Rail Rock Pipit Sparrowhawk Wheatear Rook Spotted Redshank Wigeon Ruff Starling Woodpigeon Shag Stock Dove Wren Shelduck Stonechat Shoveler Teal

Grey Squirrel Rabbit Harbour Porpoise Roe Deer

Great Crested Newt

A further walk about the headland, from mid-afternoon to early evening, by several of the Group saw the wind eventually dropping off and the very occasional patch of blue appearing amongst the grey clouding. Of note amongst that seen were up to three Harbour Porpoise breaching off the western side, a Great Crested Newt-filled pond, the one we'd watched so intently earlier in the day, brief views of the male Peregrine, the immature Shag, now off the head, three showy Stock Dove and an aigrette-covered and wind-blown Little Egret.

All images courtesy of Doug. Kelson.

Sri Lanka

Ahh! The Heat!

It had been several years since I had experienced proper tropical conditions and the transition from a cool, crisply frosty English November to the truly steamy, sauna-like air, with temperatures in the high 30's C. of Colombo, Sri Lanka, was extreme. I was soon shiny with sweat; to be expected in the near 100% humidity.

We three were there for the birds, of course, and had already started our list while our 'plane taxied on the runway. We'd logged the ubiquitous urban House Crows and a small party of Common Mynas, foraging in typical starling-fashion. A third bird for our Sri Lanka list turned out to be the familiar feral pigeon!

After the relief of being re-united with our luggage, we were driven through the turbulent traffic of trucks, taxis and tuc-tucs of mainly urban parts of Negombo province, on the south west coast of Sri Lanka, to our hotel. We were, apparently, the only, off-season guests at the more-than-slightly ramshackle Hotel Lagoon Paradise. This is situated on a narrow bridge of land between a wide lagoon and the surf of the Laccadive Sea. This place had, evidently, seen better, more prosperous times (perhaps before the civil war and the tsunami) but it had the advantage, to us, of being in about two acres of its own, spacious grounds. Out back of the of the hotel was the shallow, muddy, mangrove-fringed Negombo Lagoon and our first leg-stretching excursions were amongst the coconut palms, lawns and flower-beds between hotel and lagoon.

House Crow Brahminy Kite

A gang of gregarious, Jackdaw-plumaged House Crows rummaged through the rubbish of a small domestic garbage heap while a Moorhen-like White-breasted Waterhen pecked delicately, nearby. We soon added the glossy-plumaged Jungle or Large-billed Crow uttering gargling caws from the crown of a palm. Brown-plumaged Common Mynas, again, chortled from branches. Continuing the sombre theme, of black plumage, was a White- bellied Drongo, with a deeply-forked long tail, hawking for flies. We found a mainly-black Magpie Robin, lurking in thick cover. This was in total contrast to my last experience of the species, on roof-tops in Kathmandu. Little, Indian and Great Cormorants flew over the lagoon or perched with an Indian Darter, spread-winged on poles and branches stuck into the mud (moorings, fish or shrimp traps?) by fishermen, out in the lagoon. A Common Sandpiper bobbed along the shore-line.

The dark colours of the birds we'd seen were brightened by Great White and Little Egrets and a single juvenile Western Reef Egret. Usually much further out, over the lagoon, or perched near the cormorants were Bridled and Whiskered Terns, Gull-billed and bulky Caspian Terns and a pair of Lesser Whistling Ducks flew rapidly by as did the much smaller shape of a Common Kingfisher. No Red Kites here but we were soon familiar with the brilliantly ginger-rufous and white forms of Brahminy Kites which patrolled majestically overhead, occasionally indulging in aerobatic chases and swoops, as graceful as those of the

Red Kites, and occasionally perched in the palms. Oddly, though common in southern India, just to the north, Black Kites are rarely seen in Sri Lanka.

There were passing Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, little Striated Heron and a single Black Bittern arrived to disappear into undergrowth around a small pool beyond the lawns. At least one Whimbrel seven-whistled by and we were glad to spot the local version of our familiar Barn Swallow.

Time for more colour; a bright-yellow Black-hooded Oriole, and the Jackdaw-sized chocolate and blue White-fronted Kingfisher in waterside trees.

Common Indian / House Toad Four-clawed Gecko

After our spicy meal (how I was to long for the “bland” food of the UK, after a while!) we ambled outside to enjoy the cooler air of the tropical night. It was too overcast to see stars but was enlivened by the vanishing sparks of fireflies wavering through the darkness, bats swooping amongst the trees, the chirping Katydids and tree frogs and the flaccid-bellied Common Indian or House Toad. These latter amphibians were seen in several places during our tour and were very variable. They grow slightly larger than our Common Toad and, whatever colour, always have a black “eyebrow” line which runs backwards from the snout. Back indoors, we enjoyed watching the local Four-clawed Geckos chasing insects attracted to lighted walls. In daylight, these pinkish reptiles become blotched with camouflaging colours. Geckos are expected room-mates in the tropics (they avoid rooms chilled by air- conditioning) and I miss seeing them when I'm not there.

In the morning, we had a little time before our guide, Hetty, arrived with transport so we explored the local area, following a track over the road to the beach. Rat-sized, stripy Palm Squirrels ran along wires and climbed palms, a party of dun-coloured Yellow-billed Babblers foraged path-side, like starlings. In Babbler species it is usual for a dominant pair to breed and be helped by subordinates, usually offspring from a previous brood. Large, red and black and yellow millipedes sine-waved over the tracks and bright butterflies visited flowers. We found a nest of weaver ants (probably Red Tree-ants). These insects pull leaves together and bind them with sticky silk “squeezed” from their own larvae. The larvae are used like tubes of glue by their older siblings.

Unfortunately, one of our party stood too long near an unnoticed column of these mini- beasts and found out that they have painful stings.

We passed copulating cats and dogs doing it “doggy-fashion” (and not for the last time) but, looking upward, we found our only Lesser Hill Mynas of the trip, high in a coconut palm.

Along the grey-sanded beach there were not many birds but we did discover Common Whimbrel and Redshank and watched a Palm Squirrel “freeze” against a palm trunk to avoid the notice of a gang of the ubiquitous and noisy House Crows.

Palm Squirrel

A Shikra (close relative and look-alike of the Sparrowhawk) skimmed through the Coconut Palms (yes, they did sway in the tropical sea-breeze) then posed on a roof-top and glared down at us. In the gardens of the local homes were palms and fruit trees and an abundance of cables braced poles or carried electricity in all directions, forming perches or routes for squirrels, lizards and birds.

In the gardens a few Cattle Egrets stalked grasshoppers on the ground and an Indian Pond Heron stared at us from a tangle of cables. These small herons, though streaky-brown and camouflaged, when wings are closed, appear mostly and startlingly white, when they take flight.

Shikra Indian Pond Heron Great White Egret

We looked for small things, too and were fascinated with the moths, spiders, beetles, grasshoppers and other arthropods and molluscs inhabiting the undergrowth. I'd love to have

deployed a sweep net to collect and examine some of the invertebrate fauna but wouldn't have had much clue about what I was looking at when it came to specific identification. Anyway, there's only so-much I can carry.

On returning to the hotel, we climbed a modest, somewhat rickety tower, for a last scan over the lagoon and local gardens. A breeding-plumaged Great White Egret perched in the crown of a tree, at eye-level to us, we watched an exquisite male Purple-rumped Sunbird seeking spiders and small insects in the leaves and a bristly-billed Brown-headed Barbet called a monotonous but resonant ”tock-tu” from the crown of a tree.

Back at the hotel, we met-up with our guide, Hetty (he insisted we couldn't pronounce his real name) and quickly loaded our gear onto the mini-bus and were driven inland, dodging dogs, tuc-tucs and wandering pedestrians; pavements or road-side space for walking were in short supply but progress was steady as we made for the hills along the winding, bumpy Kandy Road.

Most of the route was along what was rather like a giant, linear village; the road fringed with houses and tiny shops and stalls selling anything from fresh produce to clothes, plastic beach toys, Barbie-dolls, model elephants and Spiderman models to baked items, fish and fast-food. There were occasional glimpses of paddy fields, plantations or orchards beyond. We longed to get out and bird properly but enjoyed watching Sri Lanka bump by.

I noticed a number of derelict houses and much re-building going on but could not say if they were properties damaged by the tsunami of a few years before (unlikely, the further we travelled from the coast) casualties of the recent civil war (most fighting took place further north) or just the result of economic downturns caused by both events. It was noticeable, though, that some buildings, surrounded by wooden/bamboo scaffolding, incorporated a momentarily-startling human figure hanging in the structure. These, we were assured, were dummies, put there to ward-off evil spirits and to assure people that the building was actually being worked on.

Of course, we stopped for the traditional roadside birding. The shallow water of rice paddies or damp pastures, supporting Water Buffalo produced plenty of small prey for the likes of the electric-blue, Mistle Thrush-sized White-breasted Kingfisher, occasionally, the even- larger Stork-billed Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, occasional Brown Shrikes and modestly-plumaged Ashy Wood-swallows, most of which used power-lines as convenient perches.

Below them, stalked Asian Open-billed Storks, looming over the Cattle Egrets which perched on cud-chewing Buffaloes, even a Purple Heron attended one Buffalo. The familiar Little Egrets were usually to be seen in the paddy fields, often very close to people working there, sometimes following the little motor-ploughs/cultivators, in the manner of gulls following tractors in the U.K.

White-breasted Kingfisher Blue-tailed Bee-eater Stork-billed Kingfisher

Sometimes there were rather unexpected traffic hazards to be contended with; while driving through Hindu areas large bovines might wander about the roads to add to the problems of driving, or troops of Toque Macaque monkeys might cross, in a nervous gallop, a few at a time, Mothers carried babies+ on their backs.

Despite the domestic and wild animals on the roads, I don't recall seeing evidence of road- kill. Are the animals more traffic-savvy? Are drivers (especially Hindus?) more careful? Are corpses quickly removed, by people or scavengers?

This bull Asian Elephant was probably used for ceremonial parades; it showed a large amount of the prized pink colouration around the head. Check out the car seats for sale on the left and the dear-old Morris Minor, on the right.

Asian Elephant, Sri Lanka race

Asian Openbill Grey Pansy Scaly-breasted Munia

Some roadside sightings were not quite so obvious as the Openbills. The little Munias are finches about the size of Coal Tits and the Grey Pansy butterfly is just a dead leaf until it moves or opens its wings. The bill of the Openbill is supposed to help it when manipulating large, rounded water snails into a suitable position for the operculum to be removed and the adductor muscle to be snipped by the bill-tip so that the meaty body can be extracted and eaten. The juvenile Openbills don't have the gap, though, so must just muddle-through the best they can, I suppose. Fortunately, the birds also eat a variety of other organisms, such as

worms, frogs, small fish, freshwater crustacea and large insects, so young birds can survive until their bills open-up enough for them to acquire the adult mollusc-scoffing skills.

During one stop, we all enjoyed good views of a Crested Serpent Eagle which floated over us, to settle in a tree. Not long afterwards, a pair of Black Eagles soared over us. These will sometimes grab entire nests and their broods from trees, when hunting.

There were Grey Herons, we identified Intermediate Egret (Little, Intermediate, Great; you get the idea), Red-wattled Lapwings, Black-winged Stilts, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, and many others to distract us as we travelled. Less attractive were the first of a succession of sad Indian Fruit-bat corpses, hanging on power lines where they had managed to touch two wires and cause the short-circuit which had electrocuted them. Happily, we did find the huge, live ones, hanging-out, though not in the traditional “bat- cave”!

We also saw these large fruit bats, later, over urban streets, coming out to feed, just as the House Crows were gathering on wires before going to roost.

“Fried” fruit bat corpse Part of an Indian Fruit Bat roost

Right now, however, we had to press on, to give us time for exploration of our first Sri Lankan forest; the Udawatte Kele Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Kandy.

Doug. Kelson

Local Wildlife News

The following ‘highlights’ reports received over the early spring period. 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 the spring passage is now truly under way.

Angle Shades – one of the more exotic moth already on the wing, though most often noted at roost during the day.

Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa Mike. Wall http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/2306.php

Blackcap – birds in song were noted from the middle of March; many hearing or seeing their first birds this year, not having had any overwintering. Blue Peafowl – both males remained vocal in Overton, often displaying, seemingly to just about anything!

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Ashley Warren Mike. Duffy

Brambling – a flock at Ashley Warren on 20th March numbered in excess of 100 birds! Birds continued to be seen there to at least 27th. Dartford Warbler – the only ‘local’ birds reported were on Crookham and Greenham Commons.

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Crookham Common Dave. Levy

Fieldfare – the last reported was at Turrill Hill on 25th March. Great Grey Shrike – the Laverstoke Lane bird remained in to mid-March, another, or the same, being seen at Forton until at least 19th April. Greenfinch – the reports of these continued to be very variable, some gardens still attracting none, others flocks.

Greenfinch Chloris chloris Lumsden Stewart Woolley

House Martin – the first reported was over Overton on 5th. The first birds reported as

retuning to pervious nesting areas were on 15th. Kingfisher – sightings dropped off dramatically with The Loddon in Old Basing becoming the best place to see them locally as the spring progressed. Little Egret – these were seen at Overton and Ashe, the latter area holding birds to late in March, at least. Nut-tree Tussock – one trapped overnight in Kempshott, 12th / 13th, was the earliest ever seen there.

Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli Dave. Levy A rather worn individual

Peregrine – a male was circling, almost with a Buzzard, over Overton on 25th March, a female, with two Buzzard, on 5th. Raven – one was over Overton on 25th March. Redwing – the last reported were on the night of 16th / 17th April. Red Kite – these remained ever present with breeding activity reported from several areas. Ring Ouzel – birds appeared locally within days of April commencing, though none lingered long enough for any but the finder to see. Sand Martin – the first reported were over Overton on 5th. Short-eared Owl – at least one remained to the north of Overton early in the month. Stonechat – birds / pairs were reported from several local heaths and other ‘waste’ ground.

Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Crookham Common Dave. Levey

Stone-curlew – two were on The Millfield LNR late on 4th, perhaps up to a further four being noted moving over there the previous night. Several pairs were reported back at favoured breeding areas. Swallow – the first local bird reported was in Sherfield-on-Loddon on 24th March. Water Rail – local birds were noted at The Vyne Watermeadows, as well as at the more distant Winnall Moors and Dinton Pastures CP.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Winnall Moors Dave. Levy

Wheatear – the first ‘local’ birds were reported from Crookham Common on 25th March.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Crookham Common Dave. Levy

And once again, from over the Border:

“Another bird noted today, Green 8C, ringed in Perthshire in 2000. Our local bird. Glad to see it return again. Mossat Trout Fishery. I'd like to think I can get a better image at some point through the season!!”

Stewart Woolley

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 in to the spring proper, hopefully. 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’

The earlier quote from David Attenborough inspired me to look for further quotes relating to or involving birds – see if you recognise any of those below and if you recall who originally made the quotes.

1.Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

2.Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.

3.Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

4.A forest bird never wants a cage.

5.It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.

6.The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation.

7.No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

8.I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.

9.Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.

10.My heart is like a singing bird.

11.It's impossible to explain creativity. It's like asking a bird, 'How do you fly?' You just do.

12.The compelled mother loves her child as the caged bird sings. The song does not justify the cage nor the love the enforcement.

13.The bird, the bee, the running child are all the same to the sliding glass door.

14.Praises for our past triumphs are as feathers to a dead bird.

15.The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: it is supported by them.

16.It's best to have failure happen early in life. It wakes up the Phoenix bird in you so you rise from the ashes.

17.History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird.

18.I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself.

19.If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.

20.I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.

And from March – April Showers, May Flowers: the solutions!

1. Which unusual flower is pollinated by gnats and the larvae of thrips? Pussy willow Jack in the pulpit The Jack in the pulpit has an odd name and is indeed pollinated by gnats (how annoying)! It’s a tuberous perennial that is also known as Indian Turnip. These plants can live 20 to 100 years, and the sex of the flowers on a single plant can change from year to year. Freaky.

Wood anemone

2. Which flower is symbolic of the first emotions of love? Purple lilac In Victorian times, culture was focused on symbolism and flowers played a large part. Though there are several colours of lilac, the purple variety symbolizes the first emotions of love. So be sure to include that in a corsage for your prom date. Skip the orange lily, which symbolizes hatred and dislike. Orange lily Yellow jasmine

3. Which flower does Prince Charles collect as rent for the Isles of Scilly? English rose Iris Daffodil There are no tenants on the Isles of Scilly, but the local Environmental Trust still pays one daffodil annually to Prince Charles as rent for the lands.

4. Which plant names comes from the English word dægeseage, meaning “day’s eye”? Dahlia Daisy The daisy is a shortened version of “day’s eye,” and it was named this because the flower’s yellow centre looks like the sun. Dogwood

5. Which flower has varieties that include triumph, fringed and parrot? Tulip

Tulips include these variations as well as many others. They often have varied bloom times and heights, so it’s nice to plant a range of varieties together for an interesting garden display. Rose Lily

6. Which state chose the dogwood as its state flower? South Carolina North Carolina This flower is found all over the southern U.S., but North Carolina claimed it as its own. Dogwood trees are known for their beautiful spring blossoms in white and pink varieties. Virginia

7. Where does the hyacinth get its name? Someone’s grandma A Greek myth Hyacinths get their name from a character in Greek mythology, Hyakinthos. He was a favourite of the sun god Apollo, and when Hyakinthus was fatally wounded by a flying discus, a beautiful flower sprang up from the ground where his blood had fallen. Apollo named the plant Hyacinth after his deceased friend. The Dutch word for star

8. Which ancient flowering tree evolved before bees existed? Magnolia Magnolias are truly ancient. Some varieties have been found in fossils dating back to 95 million years ago and many others date back 20 million years. Because they came into existence before bees, magnolias have tough flowers and leaves to withstand damage from beetles, which did the pollinating back then. Dogwood Cherry blossom

9. Native Americans use this flowering plant as an antiseptic to treat wounds. Wood anemone Wood anemone is a natural healer and many herbalists use it. The roots have antiseptic properties and are often used to make a cleansing wash to put on cuts and wounds. Native Americans also made a tea from the roots that relieved headaches and dizziness. You might want to stock up on this cure-all plant. Spirea Allium

10. Why do gardenias inspire romance? They smell good They stand for secret love Gardenias mean “I love you in secret,” and it is very good luck to give them to a man. Unless he is already attached. Is there a plant to calm angry girlfriends and wives?

They are aphrodisiacs when eaten

11. What colour of rose means “please believe me"? Yellow Pink Red roses stand for love and desire, yellow roses symbolize infidelity and jealousy, and pink roses mean “please believe me.” Don’t you wish there was one that simply meant “my bad”? Red

12. Why did flower symbolism become so popular during the Victorian era? Gardening was a popular activity. Queen Victoria loved flowers. Expressing emotions was frowned upon during this time. During the Victorian age, it was not appropriate to openly express emotions such as love and grief. Instead, the Victorians gave their flowers emotional symbolism, so you could say what you meant with flowers. For example, instead of sending an e-mail, your boss would send a nutmeg geranium which clearly says “I expect a meeting.”

13. Though not technically a flower, which of these items stands for stupidity? Pine cone Rhubarb Nut Nuts symbolize stupidity. Try this trivia on your nutty friends and see if they get it.

14. What colour of flowers are often more strongly scented than their peers? White White flowers tend to have more of a scent than their colourful compatriots. Funny, since white is the absence of colour. Apparently it makes up for that in aroma. Red Pink

15. Which flowering plant was once used to make life jackets? Roses Sunflowers Though rose-smelling life jackets might make your hours afloat more pleasant, sunflowers offer the most benefit. Before modern flotation materials were created, they used dried sunflower stalks to fill lifejackets and keep them buoyant. Zinnias

16. Which types of plants come back every year? Annuals Perennials Both Most people know perennials bloom every year, while annuals die and have to be replanted. But that isn't the whole story. If you plant the right type of annuals, you only have to do it

once. Choose reseeding annuals like larkspur, poppies, cosmos and coreopsis. They drop their seeds on the ground and pop back up the next spring!

17. When was the first book about flower symbolism published? 1649 1819 The first modern book on the meaning of flowers was published in 1819. This guide to symbolism was called "Le Language des Fleurs" and it was written by Madame Charlotte de la Tour. In 1884, Kate Greenaway wrote “Language of Flowers,” which has since become the most popular book on the subject. 1884

18. Who was known as "England’s Rose"? Queen Victoria Queen Elizabeth I Princess Diana Princess Diana was also called “England’s Rose.” When Elton John performed at her funeral service, he changed the lyrics of “Candle in the Wind” to use this nickname.

19. Which famous female singer sang "The Rose"? Bette Midler Bette Midler sang this song, featured in the film of the same name. In “The Rose,” Bette stars as Mary Rose Foster, a rock star struggling to cope with the challenges of her career. Not only a great movie and soundtrack, but a great karaoke song. Liza Minnelli Bernadette Peters

20. Name the flower that is extra tasty in a stir fry? Pansies Daylilies Daylilies are delicious! The buds and flowers taste a bit like asparagus and are really yummy when stuffed with goat cheese or fried into fritters. Seriously. There are recipes. Google it. Peonies

And Finally!

Just a few of the things that have been brought to my attention over the past month or so!

Poor Weather Hits Garden Birds

With the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Garden BirdWatch results now published for 2015, we can see the full impact last year’s wet spring had on our garden birds. Some of

the birds that had a particularly poor year were those that are most familiar to us, such as Blackbird and Blue Tit. Will this year see common garden bird numbers recover from 2015's poor breeding season? Your help is needed to find out.

The annual results of the BTO Garden BirdWatch show an interesting story for some of our more common garden birds, with Blue Tit, Great Tit and Blackbird numbers all well below average during the second half of 2015. Blackbird numbers were 13% lower than usual between June and December, whilst both Blue Tit and Great Tit were at their lowest numbers on record for June, down 19% and 14% respectively. This is the time of year when the numbers of these species seen in gardens normally rises sharply, as juveniles leave the nest and join their parents at garden feeding stations.

Blackbird numbers were 13% lower than usual between June and December

It is thought that these results were due to a poor breeding season, which was caused by cold, wet weather in the spring, resulting in fewer juvenile birds. “Data collected by BTO Nest Record Scheme volunteers show that the number of chicks fledged per Blackbird nest in 2015 was the lowest since records began in the mid-1960s,” explained Dave Leech, Head of the Nest Record Scheme. “Small clutches meant that numbers of young reared by both Blue and Great Tits were also significantly lower than average.”

Clare Simm, from the Garden BirdWatch team, commented, "While numbers of some of our common garden birds were low, the good news is that we had a mild winter and overwinter survival should have been high, boosting numbers at the start of 2016. The reason we can see how garden birds fare throughout the year is because thousands of people collect data for the BTO Garden BirdWatch each week."

The poor spring weather of 2015 started with widespread rain over the Easter weekend. This Easter weekend is looking better, so hopefully garden bird numbers will increase this year, but we need your help to find out.

You can explore the BTO Garden BirdWatch annual results here

Devastated farmer...

I sit here tearing my hair out with mixed emotions. For the past two decades we have been working a commercial, and, I suppose, a relatively intensive arable and beef farm. We have however, from the start, tried to work with and to encourage wildlife on our farms. The results have been extremely encouraging with increasing numbers of some farmland birds, our many bee hives are flourishing and wildflower margins continue to develop well, my

problem is not one of commodity prices, bureaucracy, the public's impression that we are all badger hunting toffs, or polluters of the planet, my problem is 2016,, or more to the point the weather,,, the late and very wet period that we are experiencing has led to there being thousands of acres of ploughed ground in Aberdeenshire that in any other year would have been cultivated and sown by now. the issue with this for me is that many thousands of pairs of lapwing, Skylark, Oystercatcher and Curlew are already nesting on areas that are soon due to be heavily worked.. As an experienced operator I am constantly looking out for bird movements and nest sites and always work around them and mark nests so subsequent passes do not disturb or destroy nests.. But, unless you can see a bird sitting from the tractor cab it is almost impossible to avoid damage. I fear that this year is going to have a very serious impact on farmland bird breeding success as the machines are poised and ready to go when if and when it dries up.. I just wanted you to be aware that some of us do care deeply for our surroundings, and head home after a day of unintentionally and unavoidably destroying some of our most vulnerable breeding birds, absolutely flattened and disheartened, I just want to sit and cry knowing that I am responsible, in some way, for the decline in these fabulous birds. No matter how many good dry spring periods we have had, with hundreds of Lapwing chicks running around, one miserable wet spring will undo a lot of this... Yours, Stewart J Woolley.

From BerksBirds:

25/03/16 Kingfisher River Kennet 2 R Booth

14:00 presumably m and f. Flying from a steep bank, and then at a perch maybe 300 metres further East, one bird entering the water. I met an O.A.P. who had always fished that stretch, who told me he'd once had a kingfisher perch on his rod after he'd sat still there for a long time!. SU686709.

Also riverine related:

“It is not uncommon for voles to have clarinet practice on Friday nights!”

pic.twitter.com/wQnn1en45B

And last, and probably definitely least!