1 Registered Charity No 207076 THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS

BEXLEY LOCAL GROUP RSPB NEWSLETTER No.77 Spring & Summer 2017

Dear Member, Welcome to the spring edition of our newsletter. In the Autumn and Winter 2016 newsletter I asked if we could at least match last year’s total of £3000 which we sent to the RSPB. I am pleased to say that we had already matched our donations of last year by early December 2016. We have been able to maintain our levels of fundraising thanks to the many supporters of our Christmas raffle, our 200 club, our indoor meetings and our field trips. Whilst mentioning the 200 club we take this opportunity to thank Come to our annual Sandra Sheppard who has stepped down as our organiser as she has moved away from our area. Spring Fair We would also like to welcome Nicky Wilson who has volunteered to take it over. If you are SATURDAY not a member of our 200 club please consider joining as it is a way in which you can help raise 22 April 2017 money for the RSPB especially if you are unable to support our other fundraising events such as 10am – 1pm our general knowledge quiz nights. Please contact Stuart Banks on 0208 854 7251 to book a table for the next quiz night to be held on 25 At the Freemantle Hall March 2017. 2019 is a significant year for the Local High Street, Bexley. Group as we will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary. We have set up a sub-committee to Seedlings, Annuals, Shrubs, organise events for that year. To help them plan Trees, Preserves, these I would ask you to take the time to respond Arts & Crafts, to their article to show what level of interest there might be especially for a gala dinner. Tombola, Refreshments etc. I would also like to thank everyone who made Plus RSPB Goods and Crafts our Autumn Fair such a success especially our new volunteers who stepped in at the last minute to help run our stalls and to those people who Admission….30p donated items. It would be unusual if I did not make an appeal for donations for our Spring Children Free Fair. If you have any items you wish to donate please contact Stuart Banks on 0208 854 7251 who will make arrangements to collect the items close to the date of the fair.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 2 Registered Charity No 207076

On our coach trip to Sculthorpe Moor and Working Parties Holkham we said farewell to Len Mitchell who was our intrepid coach driver for nearly twelve Our Group has been providing practical assistance to the North Kent RSPB reserves for years and we wish him and his wife Sue a long many years, tackling a variety of practical tasks and happy retirement. In future we will be using designed to improve habitats for wildlife Jay & Kay coaches of for all our field including birds and water voles. trips which actually means that we are able to Work at your own pace, no previous experience increase the number of seats to 49. Please book necessary, tools and instruction provided. early to avoid disappointment. If you are new to Meet at Northward Hill RSPB Reserve bird watching each trip has a designated leader Saturday mornings who will guide you and help you to identify what we are seeing. 21 Jan. 17 16 Sep. 17 I am also pleased to say that our long weekend 18 Feb. 17 21 Oct. 17 trip which has been changed to Yorkshire, is also completely sold out. If anyone wishes to be 18 Mar. 17 18 Nov. 17 put on a waiting list please contact Stuart Banks. For more details call – We would like to thank Diane Lelliott who has Bob Parker on 01322 665849 retired as our Christmas Draw promoter and Rosemarie McClavey who has had to step down as our Minutes secretary but who has volunteered to take over the Christmas Draw. QUIZ NIGHT We therefore need a volunteer to take over the AT JOHN FISHER CHURCH HALL role of Minutes Secretary and if you are SATURDAY 25 MARCH and interested please contact Stuart Banks. We SATURDAY 28 October 7:00 – 10:00 would like to welcome Richard Keene who has TABLES OF SIX at £5 PER PERSON taken on the role of newsletter distribution. The bar will be open. Bring your own Finally we are in need of newsletter deliverers nibbles. for DA16 Way and DA17 Upper Belvedere areas. Call STUART BANKS on – 0208 8547251 Happy Birding Stuart Banks

10% discount at Cotswold The national chain of stores selling outdoor clothing, footwear and camping equipment are still offering a 10% discount to RSPB members at all their outlets. Quote reference AF-RSPB-M6 Our nearest Cotswold store is at Nugent Shopping Park, Cray Avenue, Orpington.

You may also order by phone (Tel. 01689 885560) or online at www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

We have specimen catalogues for you to browse at indoor meetings.

This discount depends on the amount of sales during the year, so do consider taking advantage.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 3 Registered Charity No 207076

BRAEBURN PARK is a site of 22.25 hectares and is situated in Crayford on the far side of the railway from and Crayford Rough. It has been a market garden and an orchard in the past and sand and gravel extraction took place before the 1980s. When this industry ceased the site had a history of land fill and the Crayford Gun Club was based here. The site has been managed by the Wildlife Trust in partnership with the Land Trust since 2014 following an agreement with the developer of the neighbouring estate and Bexley Council. Habitats. There are two sand cliffs that remain at the higher (south-western) end of Braeburn which are very good for a wide range of invertebrates and reptiles. Some years ago this was home to sand- martins, but there has been no sign of these in recent years. There are also acid grassland slopes in two separate areas. Oak and hazel woodland slopes occur at the south-western end, close to the A2 and also large sections of buddleia and bramble along the northern boundary by the railway between Bexley and Crayford. An area of willow-carr is being coppiced to improve a small area of wet woodland. The former at the south eastern corner is geologically notable for its cliffs which are SSSI. Recent bird sightings: buzzard, kestrel, sparrow hawk, woodpeckers, linnets, thrushes, warblers, chiff chaff, blackcap, whitethroats in summer as well as goldfinch, grey wagtail, robin, great/blue tit and wren. The highlight is the bullfinch whose nest was found in early summer within a small area of Japanese knotweed which was then left untreated. At least two tawny owls have been heard in the oak woodland. A red kite was seen overhead a few months ago but did not remain for very long. Records of sightings are poor so far and this needs addressing! Bird nesting/breeding areas were mapped out across the site in 2015 acting as an aid when deciding on which areas to open up during clearance work. Some bird walks are planned for 2017, to start in the spring. Other wildlife. There are lizards and slow worms at various locations around the site as well as toads and frogs; refugia are placed around the reserve and these will be monitored in 2017. Known butterfly species are peacock, red admiral, brimstone, small heath, coppers, whites (no dingy skippers seen yet) and a butterfly transect is to be set up in spring, 2017. Common spotted and pyramidal orchids occur on site and one man orchid appeared in July 2016. Bat walks are to be organised in spring 2017, as part of a series of walks aimed at informing the public about the reserve. Evidence of deer visiting and several active badger setts exist in certain areas of the reserve. Work Programme. We have ongoing work to open up dense areas of scrub with the aim of creating open grassland habitat; mowing of the two acid grassland slopes and thinning out of gorse/broom will be continuing during Winter 2016/17. Hazel coppicing was started in 2015/16 and will resume once a cycle has been determined. Scrub is being mown along paths on a three year cycle and overgrown vegetation is also cleared during the growing season. Japanese knotweed is being treated at the appropriate time where found and this has proven successful so far. New steps have been constructed at two locations to improve access, while footpath improvements are also ongoing. Benches are being made from spare timber, to be installed at some point in 2017 and interpretation and signage will be introduced at entrances and at key points along footpaths. There are no facilities on site. It is open all hours and accessible from Lower Station Road, Crayford DA1 4RG where Crayford station is found and is on bus routes 96,428 and 492. Other access points are found on the former A2 road on the south east boundary and from the estate in Galloway Drive via a grassland path connecting with Falstaff Close. There are ONLY THREE active volunteers from the Braeburn area plus others from other boroughs. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Shaun Marriott (Reserves Officer) on 07719 194 268 or [email protected].

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My thanks go to Shaun for providing material for this article. Ed. CRAYFORD ROUGH. Possible Friends Group. Many members will have enjoyed the occasional walks organised by the Group through Hall Place to Crayford Rough. The site is yet another that is soon to be encroached by building development. Below is a statement by Chris Rose, Vice-Chairman of Bexley Natural Environment Forum which offers opportunities for group members to get involved in protecting this site for the future. If nothing else more bird records would help inform future management and they can be sent to me at the usual address [email protected]. Thank you Ralph Todd On April 14th 2016 Bexley Council's planning committee voted in favour of a 359 residential unit development on the former Electrobase industrial site between Crayford town centre and Crayford Rough (the area downstream of Hall Place, south of the River Cray towards ). Despite the best efforts of objectors, the permission allows building to extend beyond the industrial estate fence-line onto a triangle of land in the north east corner of the Rough, amounting to around 10% of the existing open land, despite this being the richest part of the site for orchids (very uncommon in Bexley), the only part of it where bee orchids have been seen in recent years, having a lot of the nationally scarce yellow vetchling on it and being the best section for reptiles (all species of which are Biodiversity Action Plan species). One result of the objections was an added condition that a 'mitigation plan' has to be submitted to and agreed by Bexley before any work commences, and that flora, reptile etc. considerations must be addressed. It will be important to ensure that this is held to and that such plans get to be scrutinised by local wildlife experts given what has gone on at other sites. It will need to include credible 'improvements' to the remainder of the site to provide suitable conditions for greater orchid and reptile numbers without compromising other inhabitants such as scrub-favouring birds. There was also the threat of more land being taken from within the SMINC for a footpath to Crayford station, though this could be routed through another industrial area instead. Consequently there has been an initial meeting between representatives of Bexley Natural Environment Forum with knowledge of the Rough, North West Kent Countryside Partnership (which has said it may be able to provide seed corn funding) and Thames21 Cray Riverkeepers who may be able to organise some events early on, to get the ball rolling on setting up a Friends Group. We are also liaising with at Braeburn Park on the south side of the railway line. One of the outcomes of the whole 'deal' is that Bexley will take ownership of the northern half of the Rough to add to the southern part it already has. BNEF chair Ray Gray is therefore writing to the Council expressing our intention to start a Friends Group and saying that we wish to be involved in looking at 'mitigation' proposals. Discussions had been had on a previous occasion about overall management plans. Once the Council owns the land there is a precedent for small groups of people to do work under the Council's own insurance without a formal Friends Group, something we may need to explore here as a stop- gap measure. One such task would be to 'rescue' a good-sized patch of pyramidal orchid that is being overrun by scrub, another to create more reptile basking sites. There may also be a case for trying to transplant orchids off the condemned area next year. More bird records and counts from this underwatched area would also help inform future management. For example, bullfinches are at Braeburn. Do they also use the Rough? Kestrel, buzzard, greenfinch, pheasant, water rail, siskin and grey wagtail are amongst species that you can expect to see or hear during the winter months. At present we do not know when 'development' work might begin. It is in the nature of these things that wheels may move somewhat slowly, not least on transfer of the land ownership, so if you'd like to be involved in a Friends Group for this great wildlife area, and you want to be informed once some work can be done on-site, please contact Ray Gray Donna Zimmer of Hall Place Hiders has set up a Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/955138467965502/ which provides a further communication

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 5 Registered Charity No 207076 channel for interested people. Chris Rose – Vice Chair, Bexley Natural Environmental Forum. AUTUMN AND WINTER 2016

Autumn and winter got off to a flying start at Crossness with large numbers of waders and wildfowl being recorded on the Thames foreshore. Over 1000 dunlin were seen, as well as good numbers of teal, shoveler, lapwing, redshank, black-tailed godwit and much more. Common and green sandpipers were seen foraging on the wader scrape with common snipe being flushed at various locations across the nature reserve and southern marsh. A particular highlight was a spoonbill flying north-east over Crossness Sewage Treatment Works on 2nd October. Meadow pipits are a frequent sight on the reserve, but the less common rock pipit was seen by the Outfall at the end of October. It has been a good period for raptors. A barn owl was seen in early December, and since October, marsh harriers and common buzzards were seen almost daily. A pair of kestrels were seen in and around the pole-mounted nest box in which they have previously bred, while sparrow hawks have been spotted on numerous occasions, and an adult and juvenile peregrine falcons were seen over the reserve and the adjacent sewage treatment works. A kingfisher was seen frequently throughout October. Water rails were heard and seen on Crossness Southern Marsh. Although known to be present on the nature reserve, this is the first year in which we have been aware of them on the southern marsh. It is good to see them expanding their territories. The beautiful bearded tits were seen and photographed frequently in the protected area reed beds. Fieldfare and redwing were recorded at various locations, but particularly at the bottom of the protected area where they were roosting. Several pairs of stonechat have been recorded all over the reserve, but particularly in the Parsley Field area. One of them, which was nicknamed by observers as ‘Blingy’ for all the identification rings it carried on its legs, was recorded at the end of October and was still present in December. This particular female carried two pink rings on one leg, with a yellow ring and more conventional silver on the other. Information from BTO tells us that the bird was ringed as a nestling near Brandon Park in Suffolk on 19th June 2016 and has since been seen frequently at Crossness some 107km away. The mild winter saw the odd bumblebee flying as late as 14th December! A dragonfly was seen in mid- October, as well as a clouded yellow butterfly and a green-veined white. Other wildlife of note included common seals being seen regularly on the foreshore, and a weasel seen on the nature reserve footpath on 8th November. Karen Sutton

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION

I retired from organising newsletter distribution at the end of 2016 and would like to thank all the distributors who have volunteered in the last thirteen years to ensure the majority of the 3500 newsletters have reached their destination, as well as the members who ensure that bags of newsletters reach their distributors and all who have volunteered to give their time to sort and label the newsletters twice a year as well as the three updaters. Thankfully the mantle has been taken on by Richard Keene whose details are on the back of the newsletter and I would urge everyone to give him the same support as I have enjoyed in the past. It would be helpful if a distributor could give him plenty of notice if they are coming to the end of distributing so that a letter can be included with the newsletters asking for a replacement. John Turner

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 6 Registered Charity No 207076

NORTH KENT MARSHES 2016-17 Northward Hill. It was a record year for lapwing nests at Northward Hill, with 31 nests being recorded, up from 26 last year, the first time that the 30 nest barrier has been exceeded. 35 redshank nests were recorded, down from 42 last year, but still a very good figure in a historical context. Avocet nests were a notable absentee from the marsh. Although around 30 birds were roosting in front of the hide in March there were no nests established. Nightingales had a solid year, remaining stable from 2015 with 22 territories. Once again visitors came from far afield as the glorious song of the nightingale filled the air in April and May in particular, although we still had singing birds until late June. We again had four pairs of turtle doves and if you were fortunate, the sound of them purring could be heard around the woodland in June in particular. The grey heron colony had fewer nests, with 135 compared to 252 in 2015 – the adverse weather would have likely been a factor here. Little Egret nest numbers increased from 48 in 2015 to 70 in 2016. Cliffe Pools. As usual, Cliffe kept us busy this season. We erected a temporary electric fence around a section of the site to keep foxes out of the key wader area. Black-winged stilts returned, and set down nests for a third consecutive year, which we, again, kept quiet due to the species being a very rare breeder in the UK and therefore, unfortunately, a target of occasional negative behaviour such as egg collecting or disturbance. We received terrific support from several volunteers to monitor the nests, and a high of eight stilts were on site in late-April. There were multiple nesting attempts, but sadly the adverse weather and predation meant that no chicks managed to fledge although two did hatch and one reached almost 3-weeks old before perishing in a thunderous downpour. Lapwings had a great year with 31 pairs (2014:20) and there were 34 pairs of redshank (2014: 41). The avocet colony was smaller than in 2015 with 142 nests versus 172 last year but still the second best year for the species at Cliffe and the UK’s largest avocet breeding site. There were 22 nightingale territories, up from 18 last year, and the joint highest the site has recorded in the past 10 years. Cliffe was again a superb place to see cuckoos with three pairs present, the same as in the previous two years. Higham and Shorne Marshes. 2015 was a fantastic year for these reserves as three years of continued management reached fruition. 2016 was another good year with 94 pairs of Lapwing (2015:111) and 167 fledged young between the two reserves (2015: 188). Redshank also did well with 102 pairs and an estimate of 202 young (2014: 144 pairs). Both Higham and Shorne had garganey breed for the first time since we have kept records. Higham also saw a breeding attempt by black-winged stilts, with the eggs sadly being predated by crows one day before they were due to hatch. Winter Work Programme. October traditionally saw the start of our winter work programme, which is focussed on some of the heavy habitat work at a time of year designed to minimise disruption to wildlife (and people). At Northward Hill we have a rotational coppice programme which means that certain areas of the woodland are ‘coppiced’ each year. This involves the clearing of smaller trees to allow sunlight to the ground to encourage flower and scrub growth, and ensure diversity and regeneration in these plots. The oldest and largest trees (the ‘standards’) are maintained and have an increased amount of room to grow and thrive. We coppice around 1-2% of the woodland each year, and we leave the most mature sections of the wood untouched (areas such as The Heronry). We also rotationally cut the scrub areas in a similar fashion. At Cliffe Pools we brushcut the islands within the pools, removing the tall vegetation, ready for the bird breeding season. This creates the ideal feeding and nesting habitat for our target species – the islands are favourite locations for our breeding avocets and common terns.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 7 Registered Charity No 207076

Protecting our breeding waders. Breeding waders are ground-nesting birds, and as such are extremely vulnerable to predation from the red fox. To counter this threat we have electric anti-predator fences at Shorne Marshes and at Northward Hill which aim to exclude foxes from these key breeding areas. We received external funding for some groundworks and the installation of a new 2.5km long electric fence at Richardsons Marsh. Early winter is the time for annual maintenance, upgrades and checks to these fences. Water Management. During the winter we control and monitor water levels on the wet grassland to provide the optimum level of shallow flooding for the breeding wader season. Depending on rainfall levels, this can involve pumping water from the main external watercourse onto the marsh and into rills in our fields (shallow channels within the wet grassland). This is something we monitor closely over the next few months and the water abstraction is licensed by the Environment Agency. We then allow the shallow water to ‘draw down’ and decrease slowly during the spring to provide perfect feeding and breeding grounds for waders such as lapwing and redshank. Bird Surveys. WeBS (Wetland Bird Surveys) run by the British Trust for Ornithology took place during autumn and winter when we surveyed the North Kent reserves each month as part of a national survey programme. Highlights from our November surveys included: Northward Hill: 221 greylag geese, 244 lapwing and one whooper swan. Higham Bight: 41 curlew, 255 lapwing and 256 wigeon. Cliffe Pools: 2,000 dunlin, 1,300 lapwing, 90 curlew, three water rail, 26 pintail, 68 grey plover and 119 redshank. To see the largest winter numbers, particularly at Cliffe Pools and Higham Bight, it is recommended to visit at high tide as birds are pushed in from the Thames. Tide tables can be viewed on the PLA website, and nearest point referenced is Tilbury. http://www.pla.co.uk/Safety/Tide-Tables We have a change of Assistant Warden. Ben Newton has left the RSPB and our new Assistant Warden is Ruby Merriman, who is a former RSPB North Kent Intern and is currently working for the Wildlife Trust. DUNGENESS AUTUMN AND WINTER 2016 Wildlife Sightings. Late summer bird highlights included great white egrets, a cattle egret and spoonbill. We have had lots of waders on our islands including; green sandpiper, black-tailed godwit, golden plover, sanderling, wood sandpiper, dunlin and turnstone. Cuckoos and yellow wagtails have successfully bred on the reserve this year as we saw lots of juveniles about. Wheatears, willow and garden warblers and whitethroats were seen. Kingfishers were also sighted more often which is wonderful as they are such colourful birds. Speaking of colourful, we did have a bee-eater which visited us for a day in July. A red-necked phalarope appeared for a week but our star bird was a buff- breasted sandpiper. Other waders that could be seen on our islands on Burrowes pit included: avocets, lapwings, redshank, greenshank, ringed and little ringed plovers, hundreds of golden plovers, common, wood, green and curlew sandpipers, ruffs, knots, dunlins, little stints, bar and black-tailed godwits and water rails. We also had a cattle egret on the reserve – living up to its name and hanging out with our cows in the fields. Lots of raptors were seen too. We saw honey buzzards, hen harriers and a Montagu’s harrier. Ospreys and hen harriers were seen frequently on the reserve as they started their journey south. Winter visitors arrived such as goldcrests, bramblings and goldeneyes. We were lucky enough to have frequent sightings of a glossy ibis and we also counted over 15 great white egrets around the reserve too! With our unusually warm weather we saw large numbers of dragonflies around, plenty of newts and a grass snake or two! We have seen a significant increase in our winter wildfowl numbers. We had lots of waders feeding on the islands on Burrowes pit including avocets, jack snipe

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 8 Registered Charity No 207076 and water rail and we have had an influx of smaller birds such as firecrests and goldcrests as well as over 200 goldfinches, chaffinches and siskins seen flittering around the reserve. Black necked and slavonian grebes have been recorded and ducks such as pintail, teal, goldeneye, shoveler and goosanders have been seen around the reserve plus we’ve had some superstars visit us in the form of a pair of scaup and a rare ringed neck duck which was around for some time! We’ve had our highest number of great white egrets counted at 19 and we were also graced with the presence of five spoonbills which could be seen very clearly on Burrowes pit. We still had the cattle egret on the reserve. warblers, rock and water pipits, yellow-legged and Caspian gulls as well as over 50 stock doves flying over the reserve have been some of the other autumn bird highlights. We were pleased that our long-eared owl returned to its favourite spot from last year! It again roosted in the willow trees by the dipping pond next to the visitor centre. The ringed-neck duck seemed to be here to stay for the winter too, as it was sitting on Cookes Lake (just by Boulderwall farmhouse at the entrance of the reserve) with his tufted duck companions. We also had our first smew of the winter with up to four redhead smews on Burrowes pit and a gorgeous male. The cattle egret returned and great white and little egrets were seen daily too. Other superstars have been the bearded tits which have been using the grit tray up by the viewing ramp over the Dengemarsh side of the reserve. Bearded tits eat grit to help digest the seeds they consume after switching from their summer diet of insects. We are pleased to have had some fantastic sightings and hope they will continue to use it for years to come! Work Programme. Essential maintenance work has been carried out at Makepeace hide to repair damage to the roof and the right hand side of the hide which received a lot of damage from prevailing winds. The hide could still be used but we apologise for any disruption caused. We hope this will make the hide a bit more comfortable in the winter months so people can enjoy the views without getting dripped on! We’ve also cleared the views from in front of the hides for better wildlife viewing over the lakes. We’ve finished off a range of surveys including our medicinal leech and water voles. Medicinal leeches were found in 58% of the water bodies surveyed and the average number of leeches found in each survey site was nine. A whopping 66 leeches were caught in our dipping pond! Water vole populations have significantly increased since our last survey in 2013. This was really encouraging news as water voles are in trouble. With water pollution, the loss of healthy river bank vegetation and the pressures from mink predation we’ve lost more than 90% of our water voles in the UK. Thus the rise in water vole numbers here on the reserve is an important step to halt their decline. We have also been surveying for invasive non-native plant species around the ditches and water bodies of the reserve, monitoring their impact and ensuring they are managed effectively. We have carried out our annual management work on our ditches and deep water features, creating shallow scrapes and cutting vegetation including clearing willow to restore the natural fen habitat.. This work created diversity within the habitat structure of our ditches and wetland edge benefitting the biodiversity of the site including the invertebrate assemblage and wader population. A lot of willow has been cleared from the ARC trail to increase the damp sand habitat for our rare jersey cudweed and damp sand beetle. Some of the cut willow has been sunk using concrete posts into Burrowes Pit creating artificial fish reefs to encourage feeding waders and diving birds onto Burrowes. It has been proved a success as we have seen many kingfishers, cormorants, herons, great white and little egrets gather in the shallow parts and on perches to feed. It was a spectacular sight from the visitor centre! We have released our grazing sheep out onto the reserve. Grazing the shingle peninsula is a historical method, traditionally how the area used to be managed prior to urbanisation and our reserve is the only place that continues to do this. The sheep help reduce rank grass in the hollows and pit edges promoting floral diversity across the reserve. If you are visiting, keep an eye out for them as you drive or walk through the reserve and

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 9 Registered Charity No 207076 remember to keep all gates closed. Please do drive slowly down the entrance track as the sheep do like to stand right in the middle of it! Louise Kelly

COACH TRIP REPORTS

Rutland Water L & RWT Reserve - 18 September 2016

Like a lot of other pastimes bird watching involves a certain amount of luck, especially when you arrange a trip six or more months in advance. The end of the summer and the beginning of autumn can be excellent bird-wise with migrant waders stopping off on their way south but it can also be tricky, even if you discount the possibility of hitting a sudden spell of bad weather, which can happen when living on an island at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. As we headed north mist clung to the trees and hedgerows, thicker in some places bringing forth memories of odd days in the past looking for birds in fog, at best a frustrating exercise. However with luck on our side the cloud cover gradually thinned, the mist was banished by the strengthening sunlight, and one could only be optimistic when the sparkling waters of the reservoir came into view, framed by woodland and sheep-grazed fields below the road to the left. Very soon after pulling into the car park all 40’ish of us were booked-in, watered and ready to go and after sorting out some juvenile gold and green finches our little group headed north, along the well surfaced path past sheep pastures, checking out the local jackdaws and listening to a chiffchaff. The bird watching area of the reservoir is at its Western end, and the many hides are found mainly along the shore lines, both North and South of the Visitor Centre, our first stop being at the Redshank Hide. Once seated comfortably inside we were soon watching a hobby that swooped back and forth hunting dragonflies over the water and marshy ground, eating the unfortunate insects on the wing, as is their habit. The light wasn’t ideal but I could make out the hobbies face pattern, very similar to the stockier, and shorter winged peregrine. Masses of duck, a large proportion in eclipse plumage, floated sociably on the open water and with a little effort it was possible to sort out the diminutive teal from the wigeon, the pintail from the shoveler, the mallard from the gadwall and the tufties from the pochard. Luck plays no part in this sort of exercise as the shape, comparative size and plumage details of birds only become familiar if one takes time to look properly and get ones bird guide out to compare and confirm. I am very much aware that people go on coach trips to enjoy the social aspect, I certainly do, but I’m sure some would enjoy the days even more with just a little effort, making the very common birds less mysterious than some still seem to find them. Few however had any trouble identifying the little egret, the great white egret and the grey heron, that were all quite close, and at times all in the same binocular view together! However, being too similar in their feeding methods the heron and the great white soon fell out over territory. Waders were a bit thin on the ground but our group managed to find black-tailed godwits, greenshank, green sandpiper, dunlin, lapwing, ringed plover and a good number of snipe that fed in the open at a number of locations. A significant part of the reserve was left unexplored by our little group but I think the group as a whole saw most of what was on offer bird-wise and all seemed to be pleased with their day. On our way home I went through the bird list as usual and was surprised by a report of wood warblers that sounded exceptional. I was shown excellent photographs of the birds but my very limited knowledge of warblers meant I was unable to confirm the I.D.

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 10 Registered Charity No 207076

The following day, with the benefit of many years of birding, our good friend Ralph Todd was able to say “fresh plumage chiffchaffs” which goes to prove that I certainly have a lot to learn. My total for the day was an enjoyable 49 and the total for the group as a whole was 69. Leader Tony Banks

Sculthorpe Moor and Holkham, Norfolk - 20 November 2016

This trip marked the end of a relationship between our Group and L.S Travel who have carried us on approximately six trips per year since the end of 2004. Len Mitchel has piloted his coach for many hundreds of miles along motorways carrying us in safety and comfort, and along narrow rutted reserve gravel tracks without a word of complaint where lesser mortals might have turned back and made us walk! Len and his lovely wife Sue (who even served us hot drinks in the early days) are retiring and we wish them all good luck as they travel far and wide in their new camper van. On this day with the words of the forecasters “Amber Weather Warning” fresh in our minds we headed for Sculthorpe Moor near Fakenham in Norfolk with just intermittent light drizzle to keep the wipers busy. Arriving at the Hawk and Owl Trust Visitor Centre, a new venue for the Group, we alighted in a dry spell and after checking out the facilities headed out onto the nature trail stopping first at a viewing screen where a water rail took food dropped by finches on the feeders above. When the rail had wandered out of view we went on to the Frank Jarvis Hide where we found more feeders being visited by chaffinches, greenfinches, marsh, blue, great and coal tits, nuthatch, robin, dunnock, moorhen, blackbird, and a half a dozen pheasants. The paths through the obviously wet woodland here are all boardwalks and my last stop was at the Volunteer Hide which is elevated and reached by an aerial walkway. Going in I found some of our members sharing a couple of windows where birds including brambling had been watched as they fed just a few feet away on a shelf-like bird table outside. Bramblings, so similar to chaffinch but easily separated, are not common and after a few minutes wait I was able to appreciate the plumage differences once again. Back at the Centre with hot chocolate in hand I was directed to a glass box wherein very active harvest mice proved just how wonderfully varied and surprising nature can be. The drive from Sculthorpe to Holkham should be about 25 minutes, just enough time for most on the coach to eat a sandwich or two but I’m afraid I was a little too engaged with my cheese & pickle and, against his better judgment, managed to direct Len onto the wrong road! Undaunted Len took the first left and we regained our proper course via the villages of Little Snoring and Great Snoring – the “pretty route.” Sorry Len. With the coach temporarily parked in Lady Anne’s Drive we donned waterproofs once more but with some extra layers plus woolly hats to keep out the colder coastal breeze. The fields each side of the Drive held a few hundred pink footed geese, large flocks of wigeon and a good selection of waders including lapwing, curlew, godwit, snipe, redshank and ruff. The little group with me spent some time here while we went through the ducks and waders sorting out the varied lengths of bill and leg. The birds on view were disturbed for a few minutes by a marsh harrier that flew over looking for a meal but they soon resumed their eating, preening and sleeping. With time marching on we marched off towards the sea, negotiating the very shallow pools that snake across the sands at low tide. The sea is generally pretty rough here but the gales promised in the forecasts hadn’t materialized. Birds were few and far between with just herring gulls on the beach and a mix of black headed and larger gulls further off. Only one dark looking gannet passed by before we went back to the dunes to look for brent geese reported earlier, and we eventually spotted about 30 of them feeding in the saltings some way away. These were just about the last birds of the day for me and I climbed back on the coach glad that the day had been so relatively mild for November. Leader Tony Banks

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2019, 130, 50, 40 – WHAT IS THE CONNECTION? 2019 – 130 years since the formation of the RSPB. 2019 – 50 years since the formation of the first local members’ groups (Coventry and ) and finally and most important to us: 2019 – 40 years since the formation of the Bexley Local Group – 23rd March to be precise. I hope you will share the excitement of the current committee for this memorable forthcoming anniversary. A sub-committee has already been set up to begin the planning process of celebrating this special occasion and I am honoured (as, together with Brenda, I was the founder of the group and first leader), to have been asked to Chair this committee. Already several ideas are beginning to occupy our minds and over the next year or so events will be organised (any ideas welcome). Watch this space!! An Anniversary Gala Dinner is to be held on 23rd March 2019 (SAVE THE DATE) at a location to be determined within the Borough. Details of this event are yet to be finalised (including ticket cost). Can you email the address below if you would like to express interest and add your name to our list for further updates. This does not commit you! It is hoped a special anniversary brochure will be produced, drawing upon the wealth of memories and photographs of you our members, past and present. Can you let us have any stories that stand out from meetings, field trips or other events and let us have any photographs labelled with event/date and names wherever possible. Please send me the original or scan and send via email. Digital images will be most welcome. We will keep you up to date with developments through the newsletter, at meetings and through social media. [email protected] Thank you – the 40th Anniversary sub-committee: Ralph Todd, Chair, Roz Nichols, Nicky Wilson

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Any advertisements contained within this newsletter are not specifically endorsed by The RSPB or The Bexley Local Group

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENTS Coach trips leave promptly from outside Library in Townley Road. Please bring suitable clothes and footwear for the expected weather conditions bearing in mind that some destinations will have limited shelter. In most cases it will be necessary to bring food and drink for the day. If in any doubt call the trip leader for information. Once at the venue you are free to do your "own thing" but the leader will be pleased to guide you for all or part of the day and help with bird identification. Beginners to bird watching are especially welcome and sharing of telescopes as well as knowledge is always in evidence. Equipment may be available on loan for the day. (Please call to check). Non-RSPB members are welcome on all trips but a small entrance charge may apply at RSPB reserves. We reserve the right to change the destination of coach trips at short notice because of circumstances beyond our control. Car Trips are open to all, and beginners are especially welcome. Equipment may be available on loan. If the weather is inclement and the trip looks doubtful please ring the named leader to check if it is on. Children and Grandchildren? Although our Group does not have a children’s section we do welcome accompanied young people at all of our events, and half fares are available for under 16’s on our coach trips. Some of the venues for our field trips can be challenging, particularly in the winter, but we can advise on the suitability of each. If you are in any doubt contact the trip leader named in the programme. Indoor Meetings - Our meetings are held at: John Fisher Church Hall, 48 Thanet Road, Bexley DA5 1AP beginning at 7:45p.m. There is limited parking at the hall but the public car park next door is free after 6.00 p.m. Bexley train station is about five minutes walk away and buses serving Bexley are 132, 229, 269, 492, 601, 669, and B12. Doors usually open at 7:15p.m. As well as enjoying the illustrated talk you may purchase raffle tickets, buy bird food and book coach trips. We also maintain a small RSPB sales stall. The atmosphere is friendly and informal with an opportunity to exchange information and seek advice both before the talk and during the interval with tea and biscuits. Admission charges – RSPB Member - £3.50 Non-Member - £4.50 Under 16’s-50p Mobility Impaired Access - As a Group we welcome people of all abilities to our events. At some venues however facilities may be basic or non-existent and access may be difficult or impossible for those who are mobility impaired. If you require further information please call the trip leader. Working Parties - Working parties usually take place on the North Kent RSPB reserves, (mainly Northward Hill) and provide an opportunity to do some worthwhile practical conservation work whilst gaining an insight into the workings of a reserve and some healthy exercise! “Rough” clothes and stout footwear are advised due to the nature of the work. Tools, and instruction in their use, will be provided. The tasks usually run from 9:00 until 12:00 so you may want to bring a drink and snack. We meet at Bromhey Farm. From the A289 take the first road on the left for High Halstow and then left at the church. After about half a mile turn right into Bromhey Farm entrance, which is signposted to Northward Hill. For further information and to confirm the meeting place call Bob Parker on 01322 665849

Please Note - IF YOU RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST EVENT IN THE PROGRAMME PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES. WE RELY ON VOLUNTEERS FOR DISTRIBUTION AND CANNOT THEREFORE GUARANTEE DELIVERY WITHIN SET TIME-SCALES. (The Committee)

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 13 Registered Charity No 207076

Friday 10 March 2017 Wildlife in Northumberland Glennda Law Glennda is an experienced traveller and has visited many places around the world. Tonight she will be sharing with us her visit to Northumberland. We will be looking at the birds, flowers and scenery.

Saturday 11 March 2017 Woods 09:30 - 12:30 Meet at the new Visitor Centre. Toilets are available and possibly refreshments as well. Park in New Road or Abbey Road (B213).There is a possibility of woodland birds and spring flowers, especially wild daffodils. Leaders – Ralph and Brenda Todd

18 March 2017 Cliftonville, Kent (Post code – CT9 3PP) 09:45 - 13:30 Our target species on this part of the coast will be purple sandpiper but sadly success is not assured. However if we miss out on the sandpipers there should be plenty of other waders to see, and on previous visits we have found geese, sea ducks, divers and gannets. Meet in Palm Bay Avenue (B2051) near Princess Margaret Avenue. Leader – TBA

Saturday 25 March 2017 Quiz Night

Friday 21 April 2017 Journey to Chile Jeff Blincow (Please note Good Friday is on the 2nd Friday so the meeting has been put back a week) Jeff has enjoyed bird watching all his life. He has travelled extensively especially in South America and will share with us his experiences of Chile including birds, wildlife and scenery.

Saturday 22 April 2017 Spring Fair

23 April 2017 Oare Marshes (KWT), near Faversham. (Post code – ME19 6PE) 09:15 - 13:00 This is a popular destination offering easy viewing of waders and duck especially during migration when stints and curlew sandpiper are regularly seen. Meet in the car park at the end of Harty Ferry Road. Leader – TBA

Tuesday 25 April 2017 Meadows – Wood and Five Arches 09:30 - 12:30 Meet at the car park by the old stables off Rectory Lane. After a very pleasant walk in December the potential for this area for a spring walk was recognised so we’re giving it a go. There should be bird song from resident and summer visitors as well as wildfowl activity at Five Arches and the River Cray. Leaders – Ralph and Brenda Todd

Friday 12 May 2017 AGM and Social Evening

14 May 2017 Weeting Heath NWT reserve & Lakenheath RSPB reserve, Norfolk 07:30 - 19:00 (Charge at Weeting for non-NWT members) Weeting is a small reserve but we hope that everybody will see the beady-eyed stone curlews that breed there. At the Lakenheath RSPB reserve the extensive reed beds are inhabited by marsh harriers, bitterns and bearded tits, and where cranes have bred. The golden orioles will probably NOT be present. Leader – TBA

Tuesday 16 May 2017 River Shuttle and Bexley Woods 09:30 - 12:30 Meet Love Lane DA5 1RJ (east end adjoining Knoll Road Bexley).A gentle walk looking for nesting resident and summer visitors with a possibility of grey wagtail and kingfisher on the river. Leaders – Ralph and Brenda Todd

Saturday 10 June to 13 June 2017 Group trip to Yorkshire (Contact Stuart Banks)

Friday 08 September 2017 Chris Corrigan: Regional Director of the RSPB S.E. Region Office The work and future plans of the S.E. Region and how it will affect wildlife in our area.

17 September 2017 Titchfield Haven (LNR) Hampshire (Additional charge) 07:30 - 19:00 Members may remember the Siberian stonechat that we saw during our 2014 visit. However, even if no rarities are present this time we should find some interesting wildfowl, waders and raptors on the reserve and perhaps sea ducks

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 14 Registered Charity No 207076 or grebes on the Solent. The café in the visitor centre can provide a meal to suit the finest palate, or just coffee and cake. Leader – TBA Tuesday 19 September 2017 Crayford Marshes 09.30 - 13:00 Meet at Moat Lane/Hazel Road junction DA8 2LT – (close to Station and bus route 89, 99 428). This is a longish walk to the River Thames looking for autumn passage waders along with possible whinchat and other autumn migrants. Leaders – Ralph and Brenda Todd

Friday 13 October 2017 Birds of the Falkland Islands John Buckingham John will be speaking of his trip to this remote archipelago in the South Atlantic, which offers a superb opportunity to discover at close hand, some exciting Antarctic bird species, including albatrosses and penguins.

21 October 2017 Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (KWT) (Post code – TN13 3DH) 09:30 - 12:30 The river Darent flows through the reserve and its main features are a number of well matured gravel pits which support a variety of wildfowl plus kingfisher and passing waders. Walking the paths along the well wooded banks usually turn up finches, woodpeckers, tree-creeper etc. Hot drinks and confectionary are available at the visitor centre. Meet in the reserve car park off the A25 in Bradbourne Vale Road. (No charge here but donations are gratefully received) Leader – TBA

Saturday 28 October 2017 Quiz Night

Friday 10 November 2017 Ethiopia, its landscapes, people and wildlife Martin Davies Ethiopia is surely one of the most diverse countries in Africa from deserts to high mountains, forests to scorching soda lakes. This talk as well as looking at the birds and the mammals will look at the variety of landscapes, the people and their way of life and relate this to conservation and development issues.

26 November 2017 Lynford Arboretum and Lackford Lakes, Suffolk 07:30 - 19:00 (Additional charge at Lackford for non-SWT members) We will be making a short visit to the edge of Lynford arboretum where hawfinches can sometimes be spotted. Lackford Lakes is a reserve by the River Lark that attracts some special birds like bittern, goosander and goldeneye during the winter. Add to this a good range of more common birds, a number of hides and a comfortable visitor centre with hot drinks, and you have an attractive destination. Some paths here can be very muddy in wet winters. Leader – TBA

Friday 08 December 2017 The Plight of the Bumblebee Dr Nikki Gammans Dr Nikki Gammans is the Lead Partner of the BBCT (The Bumblebee Conservation Trust) working with Natural England, RSPB and Hymettus on the long-term project to conserve bumblebees. She will introduce our three different types of bees, and then discuss conservation, importance and decline of our bees. Nikki will explain how to identify our most common bumblebee species.

17 December 2017 Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Lydd 08:30 - 17:00 We will be looking primarily for winter visitors to the reserve which might include smew, long-tailed duck, goldeneye, bittern and peregrine. We are assured of some good views of more common birds from the visitor centre and the spacious hides. Leader – TBA

Friday 12 January 2018 Birds beyond the Boughs Simon Ginnaw We welcome back Simon, a popular speaker with his new talk. He will be looking at the secret behaviour and lives of our woodland and garden birds. He will also be looking at their song and their identification.

Friday 09 February 2018 Out of Amazon Swapnil Kumbhojka This will be Swapnil’s first visit to the group and he will be talking about the birds in the Peruvian Rainforest. He will introduce the area, exploring the Amazon, its biodiversity, bird species and their role. He will be looking at the current

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 15 Registered Charity No 207076 threats to their survival. It will be a spectacle of colours. Swapnil has been a Game Ranger at the Kruger National Park and is now actively involved in various conservation works.

COACH TRIP BOOKING FORM Formal applications for the trips will be accepted from 1 March 2017. Please call Diane Lelliott on 020 8850 9705 to check availability before posting - 1) A completed form, a photocopy to avoid spoiling your newsletter or letter with full details. 2) A cheque (made payable to RSPB Bexley Local Group). No place is confirmed without payment. 3) A stamped & addressed envelope for the return of tickets to: Diane Lelliott, 51 Holbeach Gardens, , DA15 8QW. Please send me tickets for the following coach trips - (Under 16’s go Half Price!) Sunday 14 May 2017 Weeting Heath NWT reserve & ( ) Tickets @ £18 Lakenheath RSPB reserve, Norfolk Sunday 17 September 2017 Titchfield Haven (LNR), Hampshire ( ) Tickets @ £18 Sunday 26 November 2017 Lynford Arboretum and Lackford Lakes, Suffolk ( ) Tickets @ £18 Sunday 17 December 2017 Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Lydd ( ) Tickets @ £18

(Please note – Fares now £18. A small supplement might be applied if costs rise significantly) Names – OF ALL PASSENGERS please Total - £

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………......

Address.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Post Code……………………………Tel. Home……………………………Mobile……………………………..

200 CLUB

It costs just £12 per annum to join the 200 club. We have a monthly draw where you could win one of the following prizes currently £40, £25, or £15.The 200 Club is one of our most successful fund raisers and to date we have 172 members. Winners will be published in the newsletter and on our website. If you would like to join the 200 Club please complete the form below and return it to me, the promoter: Nicky Wilson, 29 Days Lane, Sidcup, Kent DA15 8JL. ------Cut------Bexley Local RSPB Group 200 Club Application for New Members Name…………………………………………Title (Mr. Mrs. Miss. Ms.)………………………………………....

Address...………………………………………………………………………………...Post Code………………. I wish to apply for ( ) entry/entries to the RSPB Bexley Local Group 200 Club and enclose my cheque for £ (£12 or a multiple thereof).

Cheques should be made payable to RSPB Bexley Local Group.

Signed……………………………………..Date ……………………………………………………………......

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 16 Registered Charity No 207076

------Cut------(Complete fully in BLOCK CAPITALS please) The RSPB Bexley Local Group would like to keep your details to send you further information about group activities and the work of the RSPB. If you want to amend or update your details or you do not want us to use them in the way stated please contact me at the above address Group Contact Details

Group Leader Working Party Organiser - Bob Parker Membership - Stuart Banks Tel 01322 665849 Mobile 07974309775 Tel 0208 8547251 Mobile 07791473569 [email protected] Coach Seat Bookings - Diane Lelliott Tel 0208 8509705 Treasurer and Newsletter Records - Alan Mayes Fairs Organiser - Roz Nichols Mobile 07922255133 Tel 0208 3109097 Minutes Secretary - Vacancy [email protected] Group Sales Organiser and Pin Badge Box Non-committee volunteers Coordinator - Linda Blackett Indoor Meeting Organiser - Lorna Kahan Tel 01322 435339 [email protected] Tel 01322 271657 [email protected]

Field Trip and Coach Bookings Organiser - Draw Promoter - Rosemarie McLavy By Committee - Vacancy Tel 01322 401564 [email protected] 200 Club Promoter - Nicky Wilson Peanuts & Seeds - Jackie Tappenden Tel 07958353750 Tel 0208 3046306 Mobile 07963 188269 Newsletter Editor - John Turner Newsletter Production - Steve Ansell Tel 0208 3038930 [email protected] Tel 01322 275955 Campaigns Organiser - Martin Burke Trip Leaders - Tel 07886785470 [email protected] George Kalli Tel 0208 854 8385 Tony Banks Tel 0208 8593518 Newsletter Distribution - Richard Keene Tel 0771941428 S/E London & North Kent RSPB Rep. - [email protected] Ralph Todd Tel 01322 528335 [email protected]

200 Club Winners Christmas Draw Winners 2016 July 2016 Congratulations to all our winners and thank you for 1st Mr L Harmer, 2nd Mr G Bowen, helping to make this a successful fund raising venture 3rd Ms Sue Turner-Brown August 2016 1st £200 Linda Pilcher Dartford 1st Mrs M Hockey, 2nd Mrs C Black, 3rd Mrs L Mayes 2nd £100 Mr G Seymour Welling September 2016 3rd £50 Mrs L Burke Crayford 1st G Phillips, 2nd Miss Sally Jacobs, 3rd Mrs V Hudson 4th £50 Mr J Donachey October 2016 5th £10 Mrs Saker Bexley 1st Mr Graham Blackett, 2nd Mr Raymond Sutton, 6th £10 P.Coe Crayford 3rd Mrs Linda Blackett 7th £10 Mr S Chapman Welling November 2016 8th £10 W. Sillince 1st Mrs Sheila Blanks, 2nd Mr G Bowen, 9th £10 Mrs Cockett Bexley 3rd Mrs Marion Beach December 2016

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley 17 Registered Charity No 207076

1st Mr S Banks, 2nd Mrs Wraight, 3rd Mrs L Burke

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We play a leading role in BirdLife International, a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the RSPB www.rspb.org.uk/groups/bexley