newsletter NO 93 wintER 2017

Newsletter Editor: Linda Tagg 3, Carpenter Way, , EN6 5PZ Tel: 01707 656 715 email: [email protected]

GROUP LEADER’S COMMENTS by Ian Sharp

I have now completed my first year as Group Leader and it is only by attending In committee meetings that I have seen how much other members contribute, making my role much easier than it might have been. The advice and support from other this committee members has been invaluable. Issue In June, we were delighted that Drew Lyness, the RSPB Eastern England Local Groups and Volunteering Support Officer, presented Bruce Bennett with a 20 year long-service News award. Bruce has volunteered tirelessly over that time, being an active committee Group Leaders Comments……….1 member, membership recruiter, given many talks and always supported Group events. Announcement……………….…...2 RSPB AGM & Members’ Day…....2 Members enjoyed a Group holiday at the Aigas Field Centre in Scotland at the end of 40th Anniversary Celebrations….10 April, and you will find a report summarising the trip further on. Say ‘Yes’ to the RSPB…………..…2 Forthcoming Events…………...….2 We continue to support local events, 100 Club & Application Form…..12 running a stall at the Potters Bar Carnival in June and another at the Group Activities RSPCA Southridge Fun Day in July. Local Outing Reports………...…...2 Promoting nature and the RSPB at Coach Outings……………..….…..3 these events encourages new Local Bird Report………………....6 members and raises vital funds for Group Holiday, Scotland………...8 the RSPB. This relies heavily on the support of Group members who give Notices up their Sunday, set up a colourful Local Group Website…………….12 stall and enthusiastically engage Potters Bar carnival. Young footballers fascinated as John Newsletter Copy Date………...…12 with anyone who comes within its Rowley dissects an owl pellet to reveal its dinner Keeping in Touch……………..….12 range. The Data Protection Act…………12 This year the Group marked its 40th anniversary with celebratory cakes at the June Advertisements Wednesday and Friday meetings plus a well-attended boat trip along the River Lee in Minuteman Press….……………...5 July. There is more about this, plus some photographs, later in the Newsletter. Covers Outdoor Store…….……...11 The Outings team have continued to meet and as well as organising Sunday coach trips, Group Website: are planning two weekend trips in 2018, to Somerset in February and possibly Suffolk in www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ October. Watch this space! pottersbarandbarnet or just search for Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB Another of our unsung heroes is Gordon Daniels who looks after several pin badge boxes scattered about shops and cafés in Barnet and Potters Bar. Pin badges are very The Royal Society popular and Gordon regularly updates the stocks of pins, banking the donations. It is for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is surprising how those £1 coins add up. Between April and October this year, Gordon a registered charity: has collected £600, despite two boxes being stolen from local cafés. England and Wales no. 207076, Scot- Our Eastern region raised an amazing £117,912 last year, contributing nationally to a land no. SC037654 total of over £921,000. Quite amazing. Any advertisements enclosed with So, summer seems to have passed by more quickly than ever, but every season has its this newsletter are not specifically beauty so do enjoy the nature that autumn and winter bring us. endorsed by the RSPB or the Potters Bar & Barnet Local Group

Local outing reports: by Mark and Cilla Mead 6 August Six people including Mark went to 3 June Birds seen: green and common sandpiper, whitethroat, chiff Three people, (including Mark and our youngest son Peter chaff, willow warbler, garganey. Mark), went to Tring. Birds seen: pied wagtail, yellow 3 September wagtail and grey wagtail- all Unfortunately no outing due to Mark being together. To add to that an array of unwell. warblers. Above us were buzzard, red kite 1 October and a wonderful number of swifts. Four people came along to brave the rain Swift in flight RSPB( Images) which never really materialised, in fact it 4 July was quite pleasant as we walked Rainham A group of four enjoyed a lovely morning walk around Marsh. Heartwood Forest. Not a long list, but we did manage Kingfisher RSPB( Images) Birds seen: yellow hammer, reed bunting, goldfinch and kingfisher and peregrine both sitting linnet; above red kite. birds and good scope views. Also some nice early pintails, Many butterflies: ringlet, marbled white, and gatekeeper. and a few waders including ruff and snipe. Overall numbers were a little low probably due to the active peregrine, but all in all a very nice morning.

RSPB AGM AND MEMBERS’ DAY 7Oct 2017 accompanied by audio/visual presentations. Stuart by Joy Rowley Housden, retiring as Director for Scotland, related successes of reserves north of the Border. Work with children and Having enjoyed the afternoon talks at the AGM a couple of families in South Wales has been well received - this is a years ago we decided to go for the full day this year and priority area for the RSPB nationally. Nearer to home we experience an AGM. We met up with two other Committee learned of the work with Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in members at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster. the Ouse washes to conserve the black-tailed godwit. How The Annual Report and Accounts were formally presented. habitat enhancement, tracking birds on migration, and The society has had a 3% yearly growth in members and the rearing chicks in captivity is helping to boost the population. highest ever income. Questions from the floor were ably The say ‘YES’ campaign (see below) was explained to us, responded to by several RSPB staff. Professor Steve and is vital to funding future projects. Ormerod has been succeeded as chair of Council by Kevin Cox, who has worked for the World Land Trust; other new The last talk was on a new and different RSPB reserve – Council members were declared. Later that morning several Sherwood Forest - an opportunity to bring nature dedicated volunteers received President’s awards; the RSPB conservation to a whole new and large, audience. The visitor Medal was presented to the widow of Dick Potts for his centre is due to open next year. work on the requirements of farmland birds. The Members’ Day was well organized, informative and inspiring. Next year’s event will be at the same venue We enjoyed a good lunch after which we could look around the displays by RSPB departments and spend a little money (Queen Elizabeth II Centre), on 20 October 2018. The members’ weekend (6- 8 April 2018), is also highly in the shop. The afternoon was devoted to talks recommended.

As a result of new legislation The RSPB needs each member’s formal permission to be able contact us in future, for appeals and campaigns. So please, if you have not already done so, complete the form in writing, or on line, or by telephone to the RSPB. It is vital to their future projects for Giving Nature a Home. Details of how to say ‘Yes’ are in the front of your Nature’s Home (Winter 2017) magazine.

ALAN JOHNSON AND JOHN SCIVYER We are sorry to report that both of these longstanding and supportive members have recently died. Alan was a keen walker and a member of the Cheshunt Natural History Society. John was also a keen naturalist and at one time was the warden at Fir and Pond Woods reserve. We offer our condolences to both Molly and Doreen.

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COACH OUTINGS by Elaine Eyles

unfortunately inland, although woodland gave shelter en route Weeting Heath and Lakenheath Sunday 28 May to the Bittern Tower Hide and the Island Mere Route. We were pleased to welcome three people who had not been on Following the year’s hottest days so far and then some welcome a trip before and guide then round and help with identification. rain, we had an easy run, (by avoiding the Bank Holiday traffic RSPB volunteer guides were also on hand to point out the likely at Duxford), to a welcome cuppa at Brandon then quickly onto places for wildlife sightings and we learnt about the insects Weeting Heath (Norfolk Wildlife Trust). using the sandy soil to This area has the best habitat to see the stone curlew and luckily burrow and breed, such for us a young birder with a scope had located a bird with chick, as the jewel wasp and across the fields beyond the reserve (out of range of binoculars). female bee-wolf wasps. After enjoying this treat we had time to sit in the two hides and All thoroughly enjoyed walk the area around the visitor centre. the day, birds and their At the West Hide swifts were flying—inside the hide as well as offspring giving plenty out, their skill was spectacular. Red-legged partridge sauntered of activity to watch. The by and a skylark called. From East Hide a distant perched bird count: 67 species: buzzard and muntjac deer were spied. Through the shade of including marsh harrier, the pine tree woodland, we heard songs of gold crest, long- avocet, black tailed tailed tit and mistle thrush with young. A few of us saw yellow godwit, shelduck, swallow, View over Minsmere hammer and kestrel. sand martin, reed and sedge warbler, linnet, greenfinch, Lakenheath RSPB Reserve Mediterranean gull, Sandwich and common tern, kittiwake, We arrived around 12.30pm and picnicked before exploring the barnacle goose, gadwall, shoveler; swallows and bittern flying, trails and the footpath by the River Little Ouse. From New Fen were lovely sights for those on their first outing. We were viewpoint there were good views of kingfisher (perching and relieved that a bittern just missed being attacked by a marsh flying), great crested grebe with young, and common harrier. whitethroat; also a variety of damsel and dragonflies. Nearby The flower buffs were treated to the many plants unique to dry from East Wood came long sessions of cuckoo calling, (and seen shingle habitat eg yellow horned-poppy; in damper areas by a few of us). Other sightings: hobby, goldfinch, Cetti’s inland, orchids. Other wild life: many dragonflies and damsel warbler, reed warbler and sedge warbler; plus six species of flies, six species of butterfly, and cinnabar moth. A few were butterflies, weasel and stoat. At the new Mere Hide, accessed lucky to see red deer, hare, water vole, slow worm and adder. via boardwalk through the reeds, Happy 70th birthday Minsmere! And we look forward to coming marsh harrier and reed bunting again (and again). were seen. Over the river common tern and lapwing. Too late for us, a male marsh Strawberry Hill House Wednesday 19 July warbler was singing at the far end An enjoyable outing for the of the reserve, (estimated less group, and other interested Reed Bunting (RSPB Images) than 10 nesting pairs in Britain friends, to Twickenham, close to compared to 70 in 1970’s). Nor did we manage any crane, short- the Thames. eared owl or barn owl. Nevertheless the 24 of us had a super Known as Walpole’s Gothic day, rounded off by delicious tubs of ice cream and a cuppa, Castle, the house was designed and a nightingale singing near the reception area. A newcomer by Horace Walpole (son of Sir especially enjoyed her first outing with us - a kingfisher is not a Robert Walpole) and built Strawberry Hill House bad start at birding. The day’s bird count: 66 species, with birds between 1748 and 1776, of the day the stone curlew and yellowhammer. converting an existing villa. It originally overlooked the river, but sadly the water meadows were built on in the 1920s. However, the “back garden” and woodland walk remain and Minsmere RSPB Reserve Sunday 18 June give brilliant views of the white painted gothic façade and The temperature was a record high again for the outing to chimneys- quite an unusual sight. Minsmere on the Suffolk coast. Thanks to Dave for getting us During our guided tour we were amazed at the quality of the there and back with a cool 18°C on the coach. recent restoration to the rooms, especially the luxurious State Despite the sun and heat most of us managed to get round the Apartment rooms, the Gallery and Tribune, impressive Coastal Trail to the hides facing the scrape and where an fireplaces, beautiful wooden flooring, and hand-painted glass. offshore breeze gave some respite from the heat. Not so Continued over

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Walpole’s designs were inspired by the architecture of the great Wisley Gardens (Surrey) RHS Wednesday 16 August cathedrals and abbeys of Europe. Apart from his privately A coach of members plus other gardening fans visited Wisley, a owned printing press, very few of the original contents remain. very popular destination all year round. The weather was good The collection was dispersed in the great sale of 1842, but the to us, a cool start and not too hot when sun came out. catalogue remains, and some items can still be viewed by the Wisley has something different to see at every turn so the map public elsewhere. was essential, and situated After lunch some joined a tour to learn how the garden alongside the River Wey restoration project is going. A copy of the famous white Shell there are plenty of quiet Bench is an interesting feature there. places to retreat to and

explore. Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and At the northern end there Dungeness RSPB Reserve Wednesday28 June is the heather collection A dual visit pleasing railway and nature enthusiasts alike – and and a pinetum, along yes, it is possible to be both! The weather was dry and cloudy, grassy paths. Overlooking and fairly cool; quite different to our previous coach trip two the river is a bird hide, the weeks ago. The “other” Dave took us across Romney marsh via entrance is at ground level New Romney to the start of the line at Hythe. but inside you have the Members admiring trials fields at Wisley From there we joined the 12.10pm train. Doctor Syn, (one of the option to go downstairs to 12 scale steam locomotives), pulled us along the 13.5miles of see the river from a lower level, the feeder only one metre from track to Dungeness. The lineside “backs” and wide expanse of the window. At the southern end, Battleson Hill with a tree trail marsh with ditches, level crossings and sheep were a delight. with set paths, the trials fields which were a riot of colours, and Trying to spot birds at 22-25mph was a challenge but we saw the orchards. We were pleased to see that trials are ongoing to buzzard, a flock of sparrows and pheasant close to. evaluate various methods of controlling slugs and snails! Most popular are the wide/long mixed borders, and the While some took a fish and chip lunch in the new “End of the Glasshouse with its three climate zones, complete with waterfall. Line” restaurant, others walked to the shore or went to investigate the old lighthouse. The power station dominates the Wisley is now at the start of a long term development running to landscape, and alongside an estate of various dwellings mainly 2020. In the plan, new facilities and seven new gardens; The bungalows and weather-boarded shacks, all with shingle Laboratory will be open to the public, and a new Learning gardens, some with imaginative decorations. Instead of Centre to show how horticultural science impacts our daily lives. traditional garden plants they have the free unique flora of the So we look forward to all that. National Nature Reserve: eg the vivid blue of viper’s bugloss, yellow horned-poppy, mallow (pink), fleabane (blue), ragwort Pagham Harbour Sunday 8 October (yellow), and burdock (purple). Situated between Bognor Regis and Chichester this was once an Then up the road to Dungeness RSPB Reserve where those that important English port until a huge storm engulfed it in 1341; an wanted to could chill and enjoy the shop in the visitor centre attempt was made in the 19th century to drain the area for with its view of farming with an embankment to hold back the sea. However, Burrowe’s Pitt. this failed during a storm in 1910 and was not rebuilt. Others visited the Since then Pagham has silted up and it has created an important four nearest hides wildlife refuge. Entrance to the sea is less than 100m wide and gave a couple between two shingle spits and when the tide is right out a large of newcomers a expanse of intertidal mudflats and shingle is exposed with taste of saltmarsh and shallow lagoons. birdwatching. We visited the western side of the harbour. Part of the path Birds seen: marsh there at Church Norton is temporarily cut off at high tide, (so harrier, great check the tide table beforehand!). The churchyard is peaceful crested grebe, place to picnic with several benches. ring plover, Common tern on floating raft - Dungeness RSPB reserve (RSPB Images) It was a lovely autumn day, no wind, no rain and no gloves. Just common tern, along the path near the visitor centre a host of red admiral oyster catcher, butterflies were feeding on ivy flowers; and further on, alongside swift, lots of cormorants, various gulls, Egyptian goose, lapwing, Ferry Channel a tiny common lizard sunning itself on a wooden (a possible pipit?); and flock of starlings. bench. We enjoyed the view of the vast expanse of sky over the To summarise the day we quote the RSPB’s Dungeness leaflet - harbour on our left side and the countryside on the right. “There’s nowhere else quite like it!” Continued over

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High tide was 1:50pm that day and some hot footed it down to Two very knowledgeable RSPB volunteers accompanied us, the end to beat the tide. However, of the 15 birders in our their telescope coming in very useful when we had squeezed group, one did have a little paddle! into the main hide and scanned the mud flats and islets for A good selection of birds was seen between the group. Those birds. few with a scope had the advantage to spot the more distant Plenty of waders: redshank, dunlin, ringed plover, birds. This list is just a sample: gannet, red-legged partridge, oystercatcher, flocks of avocets, geese, and a flock of spoonbills, oystercatcher, dunlin, grey plover, turnstone, whimbrel, later joined by others flying Sandwich tern, meadow pipit, stonechat, willow warbler, in, a lovely sight. jackdaw, linnet. Most numerous were lapwing, starling and Birds of prey were much in brent geese. In total 70 species were noted (Cetti’s warbler evidence too: a clear view heard but not seen). of a peregrine falcon, Bird of the day was a whimbrel (good close view). female marsh harrier, The RSPB visitor centre although small has an automatic drinks buzzard and a kestrel machine, just the thing to round off the afternoon. amazing us with superb

hovering. Some of us Members reach the main hide on Havergate Island Havergate Island RSPB Reserve Sunday 10 September were lucky enough to by Joy Rowley see a barn owl and a hare– the latter very close to. Havergate continues to maintain a population of these shy mammals. After an early start to ensure we caught the ferry at 10.00am, an easy journey gave us plenty of time to board our boat We left the island as high tide approached; the wind had ‘Regardless’ at Orford Quay. The day was dry and cloudy with increased its strength by then and back at Orford the tea shop a strong breeze. As we motored down the channel, we had was popular and a stroll around the attractive village, or the good views of avocet, godwit and curlew, busily feeding on the castle, before returning home. exposed mud flats.

We are indebted to our printer Minuteman Press who has kindly printed this edition without charge.

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LOCAL BIRD REPORT from Philip Brown

As you can see from the map our local area is divided into 4 sections. Each area has a corresponding column on the table which lists the species observed. The areas are split east to west by the M25 motorway, north to south by the A1 (M), and bordered to the south by the A406 and to the west by the M1 motorway. The border to the north is OS TL15 and to the west is OS TL40.

Key AM Amwell HPR Hillfield Park Reservoir HW Heartwood Forest KGV King George V Reservoir RM Rye Meads TH Tyttenhanger TP Trent Park

The species listed do not include many of the more common birds as it is a selected list, and the lack of a cross in the column may just be that the area or bird has been under recorded. This is particularly true of zone B. This re- port covers the period from 1 April to 30 September 2017.

Star species for the summer were the seven bee-eaters seen at Bayford on 17 August. King George V Reservoir con- tinues to throw up rarities with Manx shearwater, spoonbill, turtle dove, grey phalarope and red-breasted mergan- ser among its visitors. Amwell saw fulmar, kittiwake, purple heron and wryneck. Tyttenhanger had a white- winged black tern, Temminck’s stint, Iceland and Caspian gulls and a ruddy shelduck, while Hillfield Park was visited by two Slavonian grebes and an osprey, with black-necked grebes breeding. Elsewhere there was a spotted crake at Rye Meads, a stone curlew at Ellenbrook Fields and a red-backed shrike at Heartwood Forest

Locally, a honey buzzard was sighted over Potters Bar, three white storks flew over Totteridge, a great white egret visited a New Barnet garden and a lesser spotted woodpecker visited one in East Barnet. Trent Park had up to five spotted flycatchers. The period has ended with the first redwing and siskins for the winter being recorded.

My thanks go to everyone who has contributed reports for this item. Please keep sending your reports to Philip Brown, Tel: 020 8441 3830, E-Mail: [email protected]

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SPECIES AREA NOTES SPECIES AREA NOTES A B C D A B C D

LITTLE GREBE X X CASPIAN GULL X X Tyttenhanger, Kings Meads SLAVONIAN GREBE X Hilfield Park 29 April - 7 May ICELAND GULL X X Tyttenhanger 24-25 Apr, Hilfield Pk 5 Apr BLACK-NECKED GREBE X X X Hilfield Park, Amwell, King George V Res KITTIWAKE X X Amwell 5 Apr, KGV FULMAR X Amwell 30 Apr SANDWICH TERN X King George V Res 1 Apr MANX SHEARWATER X King George V Res, 21 Jul COMMON TERN X X X X First Tyttenhanger 5 Apr BITTERN X Rye Meads, Amwell ARCTIC TERN X X X Hilfield Pk 5May, Amwell 15Apr, KGV GREAT WHITE EGRET X New Barnet, Jul/Aug LITTLE TERN X King George V Res 28 Apr LITTLE EGRET X X X 26 at Amwell, 10 Jun BLACK TERN X X X Tyttenhanger 11May, Amwell 5-6May, KGV PURPLE HERON X Amwell 11 Aug WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN X Tyttenhanger 12-16Sep SPOONBILL X over Enfield Lock, 29 Apr TURTLE DOVE X X over Hatfield 8May, KGV 15May WHITE STORK X X over St Albans 30 Apr, over Totteridge 2 Sep RING-NECKED PARAKEET X X X X BARNACLE GOOSE X X X Tyttenhanger, Aldenham CP, Amwell CUCKOO X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Rye Meads, Enfield Lock EGYPTIAN GOOSE X X X Tyttenhanger, Fishers Green, Grovelands Park BARN OWL X X X Shafford Farm (St Albans), Amwell, Totteridge RUDDY SHELDUCK X Tyttenhanger from 14 Aug LITTLE OWL X X X Heartwood Forest, Home Farm (Elstree), Totteridge SHELDUCK X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilfield Pk, Rye Meads, Amwell TAWNY OWL X X X Heartwood Forest, Rye Meads, Trent Park, East Barnet MANDARIN X X X X , Aldenham CP, Trent Park SHORT-EARED OWL X Ellenbrook Fields WIGEON X Amwell, Rye Meads SWIFT X X X X First Hilfield Park Res 16Apr; last Tyttenhanger & KGV 9Sep GADWALL X X X X KINGFISHER X X X X Tyttenhanger, Aldenham CP, Rye Meads, Trent Pk, Dollis Brk TEAL X X X BEE-EATER X 7 at Bayford 17 Aug PINTAIL X King George V Res, 9 Apr WRYNECK X Amwell 7 Sep GARGANEY X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilfield Pk, Rye Meads LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER X East Barnet, Finchley N3 SHOVELER X X X X WOODLARK X X Amwell 23 Apr, KGV 24 Sep RED-CRESTED POCHARD X Tyttenhanger 23 Jun SKYLARK X X X X Tyttenhanger, Elstree Airfield, Essendon, Trent Park POCHARD X X X X SAND MARTIN X X X X Last at Tyttenhanger, 15 Sep COMMON SCOTER X Hilfield Park 3 Jul SWALLOW X X X X GOLDENEYE X X Hilfield Park, KGV HOUSE MARTIN X X X X First at Tyttenhanger, 1 Apr RED-BREASTED MERGANSER X King George V Res 4 Apr TREE PIPIT X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilfield Pk, Holyfield Farm, Totteridge HONEY BUZZARD X over Potters Bar 4 Jun MEADOW PIPIT X X Meadow Pk (Borehamwood), Gunpowder Pk RED KITE X X X X YELLOW WAGTAIL X X X Tyttenhanger, Kings Meads, KGV MARSH HARRIER X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell, Rye Meads GREY WAGTAIL X X X X SPARROWHAWK X X X X WAXWING X Hatfield Park 21 Apr BUZZARD X X X X NIGHTINGALE X X Fishers Green, Sewardstone Marsh OSPREY X X X Hilfield Pk 8 May, Rye Meads 21 May, Hertford 12 Aug BLACK REDSTART X X Tyttenhanger, Ridgeway Mill Hill, KGV KESTREL X X X X REDSTART X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Woodside, Rammey Marsh HOBBY X X X X First over Potters Bar 4 April WHINCHAT X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Panshanger Pk, Totteridge PEREGRINE X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilfield Pk, Amwell, Totteridge STONECHAT X X X Shafford Farm (St Albans), Rye Meads, Totteridge WATER RAIL X X X Tyttenhanger, Rye Meads, Sewardstone WHEATEAR X X X Tyttenhanger, Kings Meads, Totteridge SPOTTED CRAKE X Rye Meads 26 Sept RING OUZEL X King George V Res 23 Apr OYSTERCATCHER X X X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell, Holyfield Lake, KGV FIELDFARE X Last at Tyttenhanger, 3 Apr AVOCET X X X Hilfield Pk, Amwell, KGV REDWING X X Last at Totteridge, 12 April; First at Rye Meads 26 Sept STONE CURLEW X Ellenbrook Fields 22 April CETTI'S WARBLER X X X LITTLE RINGED PLOVER X X X Stanborough GP, Rye Meads, KGV GRASSHOPPER WARBLER X X X Heartwood Forest, Rye Meads, Rammey Marsh RINGED PLOVER X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell REED WARBLER X X X X First at Rye Meads, 2 Apr GREY PLOVER X X X Tyttenhanger, Rye Meads, KGV SEDGE WARBLER X X X First at Rye Meads, 2Apr LAPWING X X X LESSER WHITETHROAT X X X X First at Heartwood Forest, 8 Apr SANDERLING X X X Tyttenhanger 17 May, Amwell 14 May, KGV WHITETHROAT X X X X First at Kings Meads, 9 Apr LITTLE STINT X KGV 27 Sept GARDEN WARBLER X X X X First at Kings Meads, 15 Apr TEMMINCK'S STINT X X Tyttenhanger 30 April, KGV 8 Aug BLACKCAP X X X X DUNLIN X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell, Rye Meads CHIFFCHAFF X X X X RUFF X X Tyttenhanger, Rye Meads WILLOW WARBLER X X X X SNIPE X X Stanborough GP, Hall Marsh, Rye Meads FIRECREST X Pymmes Park 12 Aug BLACK-TAILED GODWIT X X Tyttenhanger, Rye Meads SPOTTED FLYCATCHER X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Hertford, Trent Park BAR-TAILED GODWIT x X X Tyttenhanger, Rye Meads, Amwell, KGV MARSH TIT X X Sharrardspark Wood, Amwell WHIMBREL X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilfield Pk, Amwell, KGV RED-BACKED SHRIKE X Heartwood Forest CURLEW X X over Welwyn Gdn City 1Jul, Sewardstone 11Apr HOODED CROW X Tyttenhanger 17 April REDSHANK X X X X RAVEN X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell GREENSHANK X X X X TREE SPARROW X Tyttenhanger GREEN SANDPIPER X X X Lemsford Springs, Rye Meads, Sewardstone SISKIN X Tyttenhanger 26 Sept, Shafford Farm WOOD SANDPIPER X X Rye Meads 11-13 May, KGV 29 Sept LINNET x X X Heartwood Forest, Wildhill, Brimsdown COMMON SANDPIPER X X X X LESSER REDPOLL X Trent Park TURNSTONE X King George V Res 5 May, 26 July, 8 Aug CROSSBILL X X Heartwood Forest, Amwell, GREY PHALAROPE X King George V Res 14 Sept BULLFINCH X X Fir & Pond Woods, Trent Park, Totteridge MEDITERRANEAN GULL X X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell, KGV YELLOWHAMMER X X Heartwood Forest, Tyttenhanger, Wildhill LITTLE GULL X King George V Res 1 April REED BUNTING X X X X YELLOW-LEGGED GULL X X Tyttenhanger, Cuffley, Amwell

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Group Holiday Spring 2017, Aigas Field Centre Scotland 29 April– 6 May Collated by Ian Sharp Contributors : Joy & John Rowley, Andrew Hutchings, Sally & Bruce Bennett and Ian Sharp A golden eagle soars above

Day 1 (Saturday) We were very pleased to see settled weather was forecast for our eagerly awaited visit to the Aigas Field Centre near Beauly in the Highlands. Welham Travel took us to Heathrow and a smooth flight to Inverness in time for lunch, exploration, and some birding with goosander on the Ness and swallows and sand martins swooping over.

Day 2 (Sunday) After a comfortable night in our wooden chalets and a substantial breakfast (including porridge), we started our exploration of the Aigas estate in the company of the very knowledgeable Rangers. This included the site of (though not inside the area of) the captive wild cat breeding project, where they hope to release some offspring to the wild (it is the UK’s most endangered mammal). Further on a beautiful small loch, where a beaver introduction project aims to show the benefits to the landscape and local ecology. We were fascinated to see a beaver lodge and the chewed tree stumps. After lunch we set off a short way to Strathfarrar. Here we saw sandpiper, merganser (distant), greenshank and our first red deer. Evening brought us our visit to the Campbell hide. Suitably wrapped up Signs of beaver activity on the loch (Aigas Estate) against the chilly air, we waited patiently, looking avidly for any movement in the pine trees. Robins sang till late, owls hooted but would the badger or even pine marten really come? Yes! At around 9pm the badger arrived for peanuts, its noisy chomping contrasting with the delicate feeding of the pine marten who came soon after (a “first” for several of us). We had lovely views of them for about half an hour. Day 3 (Monday) Today was to be a long one with a drive over to the west coast, hopefully to see eagles, among other specialties. We set off through Muir of Ord. A stop off at Silverbridge was rewarded with good views of a male bullfinch on the opposite bank of the river. Further west, the scenery became bigger and very spectacular, the road passing beside large lochs with an impressive mountain backcloth. On Loch Droma we had good sightings of a black-throated diver, sitting in its nest. Later Sir John told us the nest is an artificial one which he was involved in building. Apparently it rises and falls with the water level, thus overcoming the risk of the nest being flooded. As we approached the west coast we had fabulous views down Corrieshalloch Gorge which leads to Loch Broom. We stopped at the head of Little Loch Broom and spotted curlew, merganser, oystercatcher, dunlin and greenshank. Our next stop was Gruinard Bay opposite Gruinard Island, famous for the war time biological warfare experiments. We hoped to see golden and even white tailed eagles there, but unfortunately none appeared, despite the clear weather. As a consolation, we spotted a great northern diver in summer plumage in the sea below. We lunched at Mellon Udrigle, a very pretty sandy beach and had a pleasant walk around the picturesque bay, clambering over the boulders, Lunch at Udrigle Bay where we saw terns, great skua, razorbill, black guillemot and twite. A good lunch stop. For a while, we thought we were marooned there when our driver realised the driver of the other minibus had left with our keys too. Fortunately he realized and returned, so we didn’t have to spend the night on the beach! We continued our scenic tour of the west coast accompanied by a fascinating geology lesson from the drivers. Our final stop was alongside the picturesque Loch Maree, which some say is Scotland's most scenic loch, although there was little birding to be had there. Overall, a very good day with very dramatic and different scenery to previous days. Continued Over 8

Day 4 (Tuesday) Today we were off to the east coast to the Black Isle looking for bottlenose dolphins and waders. On the way we stopped at Udale Bay and had good views of lapwing, wigeon and teal. In the tall grass in front of us a reed bunting and, in the fields to the left of the bay, we saw a wheatear darting from a fence post to the ground and back again. We pulled into some laybys further along the road to see scaup and long-tailed duck far out on the water. We arrived at Cromarty with time to eat our packed lunches before donning rather fetching (?) blue all-in-one waterproof suits, and life-jackets ready for our RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) trip on the Moray Firth. The boat ride was exciting - a bit wet at times, but worth it. We passed close by giant oil rigs and had fantastic views of the bird colony with fulmars and kittiwakes flying over us, black and common guillemots in the water around us and on the rocks, along with many shags and cormorants. Just before we arrived back at the harbour we had good sightings of harbour porpoises really close to the boat. But no dolphins. However, all was not lost….. An exciting view of dolphins swimming near Chanonry Point To end the day we made our way to Chanonry point where the Firth narrows. About an hour after low tide, as the tide rises, the bottlenose dolphins are known to chase the fish. We were lucky enough to witness an amazing show with several dolphins swimming synchronously, and a pair breaching, their full body out of the water, all very close to the shore. Addendum for Tuesday A small group of us opted not to take the boat trip, and had a tour round the coast of the Black Isle and had wonderful dolphin sightings and a flock of pink-footed geese and other waders at Udale Bay. We also visited Fairy Glen, the smallest RSPB reserve, with a lovely rushing river complete with dippers and a footpath surrounded by glades of wildflowers. Day 5 (Wednesday) A very early start to the day as we set off at 4.10am to meet the RSPB warden at Corrimony. In the reserve we carefully approached the first lek site and observed a good number of lekking black grouse in superb detail through the mist. The air was still and the bubbling and hissing sounds of the grouse were easily heard, with several males displaying in full swing. We spotted two greyhens munching on the buds in a larch tree just off the track, totally ignoring the males as they strutted their stuff. We drove to a second lek by which time the mist had cleared. There were more grouse here but they seemed to be quite subdued; Black grouse at the lek maybe there weren't any females around for them to show off to. After breakfast the group set off to explore the Strathglass Glen, more local to the estate. At Loch Carne, we saw greylag geese, mallards and pied wagtails, together with goosanders and some meadow pipits. We heard (but could not see!) a cuckoo. Some spotted a crested tit too. Later in the day we had red-breasted merganser, mistle thrush, wheatear, golden plover, and swallow. We could hear a woodpecker. The highlight of the day was the golden eagle, seen soaring over the hills - fantastic! Also a brace of buzzards. Two stop offs on our way back to the centre - the first to view a peregrine nest across the river Beauly; and from the second, a higher point, we were extremely fortunate to see an osprey from a distance across the river; with the aid of scopes the bird was clearly visible. On the non-avian front: a peacock butterfly and several red deer. Our guide told us that deer antlers are shed annually and that old antlers are used for dog chews (today’s factoid!). While parked up observing the osprey nest we met two delightful piglets, Rosemary and Thyme, who took great delight in eating all the apple cores left from our packed lunches! Day 6 (Thursday) The programme for today was to visit Strathconan and in particular to observe a known golden eagle nesting site. To minimise disturbance, the three vans kept to a separate itinerary. Our minibus went to the nest site first but the bright morning sunlight made it very difficult to pick out the nest high on the cliff. The scenic narrow road passed through three private estates and a series of lochs. We had a delightful loch-side lunch stop and then took a walk towards the head of the loch (Loch Beannacharain). Continued over 9

After driving back down the strath we took a short walk up a side track and found butterwort and sundew in a damp ditch and had an excellent golden eagle sighting including a scope view of it perched in a tree. We then drove to the Strathpeffer and finally on to a loch where we had excellent sightings of Slavonian grebe. The day was completed with an interesting talk on fungi in the impressive Magnus House. We learned later that one of the other vans had a sea eagle sighting – lucky them! Members enjoy Loch Beannacharain Day 7 (Friday) Our final day was spent in Speyside in the heart of the Cairngorms. Our first stop, a layby on the busy A9 south of Inverness, was apparently a good spot to see ring ouzel. One did appear briefly and flew away from us, so only a few managed to identify it. We stopped at Loch Morlich for lunch, a very picturesque spot and caught glimpses of goldeneye and black-headed gulls. Up at the Cairngorm Ski Centre there were reindeer, looking less than glamorous in their summer garb and a female ring ouzel calmly sitting on her nest, right underneath the tracks of the very noisy ski lift. On the way down Strathdearn, we caught a number of brown hares and rabbits in a sheep field, along with curlew and red- legged partridge. We had afternoon tea alongside a wide shallow river, an ideal spot for dippers which appeared to order for once. Finally as we set off for home over classic highly-managed grouse moorland, we saw at least a dozen red grouse with very bright wattles.

!! 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS !!

50 members, including some welcome faces from the past, joined our celebratory boat trip to mark 40years of the Group. Sunny weather with a light breeze made for a pleasant cruise from Ware down to Kings Meads (part of which is a nature reserve), then back through Ware, passing the “gazebos”, and nearly reaching Amwell nature reserve. The waterside vegetation was lush with balsam, loosestrife, meadow sweet and water-lilies, and lovely banded demoiselle damselflies flitting about. Plenty of waterfowl- grey-lag geese, moorhens, coots with young, great crested grebes, mute swans, terns, grey wagtail, and above kestrel and swifts. Back in Ware, we were served drinks and a lovely cream tea by staff at the Waterside Inn.

At the June meetings in Potters Bar and Barnet we also had special celebration birthday cakes with our tea, to mark the occasions. These were ceremoniously cut by long- standing members: Ron Crummey and Olive Finch at the afternoon meeting in Members enjoy the cruise on the River Lee Barnet, Bruce Bennett and Jean Dand in the evening meeting in Potters Bar.

Thanks go to the committee for our celebrations and especially to Bruce Bennett for organising the boat trip . Olive and Ron cut the cake at Barnet Jean and Bruce do the honours at the Potters Bar Meeting

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OUR LOCAL GROUP WEBSITE NEWSLETTER COPY DATE www.rspb.org.uk/groups/pottersbarandbarnet or search for Many thanks to all our contributors for their much Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB. valued input to this newsletter. I will be delighted to You will find lots of information about the Group’s activities receive your articles, notices, news items, including our outings booking form and meetings programme. photographs, correspondence. (Click on News and then News Archive - January) [email protected] This newsletter can also be viewed there with the added bonus that Closing date for copy for our next edition will be all the photographs are in colour. Friday 13 April 2018

FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND KEEPING IN TOUCH Newcomers are always very welcome at the Group meetings and coach outings. You don’t need to be experienced. Information is in your enclosed programme, but here is a taster of events January 2018 Wed 10 Jan Yellowstone in Winter: Ron and Maggie Tear, excellent photographs from a stunning area of natural beauty. Fri 19 Jan A Naturalist in Northumberland and Upper Teesdale: Tom Gladwin, a previous Chairman of the British Ornithologists’ Club, will show us the wildlife and natural history of Northern England. Sun 21 Jan Coach outing to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve: expect to see pochard, shelduck, goosander, goldeneye, golden plover, marsh tit, water rail, bittern and kingfisher and more. If you would like to receive the monthly update by email, or your newsletter and programmes by email, please email to [email protected] with your request, name and postcode. (You can always unsubscribe if it does not suit you).

John Rowley Website Editor.

100 Club Another donation of £400 has been made to the RSPB, this makes a total of £1600 in two years. The 100 Club works by members subscribing to one or more of 100 numbers. A subscription costs £12 per number per year. There is a monthly draw with prizes of £20 and £10 and an extra prize of £50 in June and December. The remaining funds, after minimal expenses, are donated to the RSPB. There are only 12 spare numbers before we reach our target of 100. Why not take out a subscription – you could be one of the lucky ones and you would be helping the RSPB. There is an application form below, or we are usually at the Friday evening meetings so you can speak to us there. Many thanks, good-luck to those who already support the 100 Club. Chris & Ron Youthed

Potters Bar & Barnet RSPB Local Group 100 CLUB

I wish to join the 100 Club and enclose my cheque for £….....…….. for ….....…. number(s) made payable to Potters Bar & Barnet RSPB 100 Club. Name______Address______Phone______Email______

Please return to: Chris and Ron Youthed, 29 Allandale Crescent, Potters Bar, EN6 2JZ Phone: 01707 656796 email: [email protected]

DATA PROTECTION ACT

This newsletter is delivered to all RSPB members living in our catchment area (covered mainly by postcodes EN5 and EN6), the list being provided to us and updated by RSPB Head Office. If any recipients would prefer to be removed from our local mailing list please inform the editor.

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