RSPB East Local Group

NEWSLETTER SPRING 2015 No 57 LEADERS BLOG anyone know of any other sites that that was once the most abundant in Our 30th Anniversary year is now might benefit from similar North America, and reminds us just over and we are in the run up to the involvement or support? how fragile the natural world can May General Election. The result Now the weather is warming up it’s be. It surely resonates with us today will affect how Government treats time to get out and about again, in a world where man has still not Nature in the coming years. It’s particularly to enjoy a walk around learnt the lesson of living in therefore worth challenging one of our Reserves. We have harmony with the wonderfully candidates to explain how they see another varied programme of talks diverse creatures that share our public spending and regulatory and outings, including some planet and so ensuring their regimes responding to the ever popular mid-week local walks. Full survival. All our countless present threats to our wildlife and details can be found on our web site politicians who only give lip special places if they get into http://www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk so service to the so called green lobby power. why not join in? should in my opinion be forced to read Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Our advertising and recruitment John Lawrence (Group Leader). and this chronicle of an avoidable campaign seems to be paying NO LONGER A PASSENGER avian catastrophe. Brian Thomas dividends as national membership September the 1st 2014 marked the is up to more than 1.15 million. The FOLLOW USA EXAMPLE centenary of the death of Martha greater the number of members the I for one have never understood the the last surviving passenger pigeon, greater the influence we can bring continuing American love affair a species native to North America, to bear on politicians and public with firearms, notwithstanding the with flocks once so unbelievably bodies to safeguard and nurture never ending incidents of college numerous as to block out the sun Nature in their day to day dealings and other massacres there, with their passing and so turning and forward planning; also to invariably involving automatic day into night. She was so named finance our own conservation firearms. What I do admire in honour of the First Lady Martha initiatives based on sound scientific however is how seriously their Washington. The bird sadly died research and management. Legislature takes wildlife crime, aged 29 in Cincinnati Zoo. Author Regrettably the plight and and how the judges fully reflect this Errol Fuller’s recent and stunningly downward trend of our farmland in subsequent sentencing. After a illustrated book tells the birds shows no sign of abatement. very long and involved forensic astonishing story of a species that A current concern is the widespread enquiry two men were found guilty has become one of the great icons use of nicotinoids in the of shooting a bald eagle in Florida. of extinction. He describes how the countryside and the RSPB is calling One was sent to Federal prison for fast, agile and handsomely on Government to ban their use 9 months. The accomplice was plumaged creature was until more is known about the long sentenced to 18 months probation, immortalised by ornithologist and term effects on insects and bees in and 50 hours Community service at painter John James Audubon, and particular. a National Wildlife Refuge. The captured the imagination of writers maximum penalty is a year in At the end of the financial year our such as James Fenimore Cooper, prison and 100,000 dollar fine. surplus funds (£700) have been and Mark Twain. Fuller shows how The species was brought back donated towards engaging with widespread deforestation, the from the brink of extinction young people and school children demand for cheap and plentiful through efforts to ban the use of in the South East. Also with the pigeon meat and the indiscriminate DDT, which was damaging the help of a generous private donation killing of birds for sport led to the eagle’s eggs, and through the we have provided nest boxes at the species' catastrophic decline. protection afforded by the Nutfield Woodland Burial site. We Featuring rare archival images as Endangered Species Act. Clearly shall be monitoring their success well as haunting photos of live all involved were tireless in and reporting back through the birds, this book provides an bringing to justice and adequately Parish Council magazine. Does evocative memorial to a species punishing those who wantonly to no more than one weeks would welcome any records of killed a living symbol of America’s suspended sentence; surely truly possible breeding sites and freedom. derisory and ineffectual as a numbers of birds involved. Should worthwhile deterrent you have any such records please The Judge’s comments however do not hesitate to pass them on to give substantial backing for the me. (Tel. 01883 742740). need to introduce vicarious liability Keith Brandwood into . It has of course In connection with the above your already been introduced in Committee has recently sent a Scotland. As I have quoted before strong letter of objection to Surrey in these columns we have 5 million County Council concerning a planning application, illegal Common Buzzard Now supporters of wildlife organisations in this country; if every one of them disturbance and interference with compare the recent case of a former the colony of martins nesting at gamekeeper found guilty in asked their local MP when they come canvassing for the Quarry. A decision has been Norfolk of killing no less than 10 deferred until June. buzzards and a sparrowhawk as forthcoming election why they voted against or abstained in the Lapwings and other species also well as possession of pesticides and breed in the unfilled western other items to prepare poisoned vote on this subject we might be getting somewhere. portion and it is the writer’s belief baits. Who knows how many birds that conditions should have been . Brian Thomas in total might have been involved attached to previous applications so in this crime? In sentencing, the LOCAL SAND MARTINS as to permanently preserve a unique Judge rightly criticised the running Sand martins are one of the earliest piece of local biodiversity. of some shooting estates. He said: of our summer migrants, sometimes Brian Thomas "Those who employ gamekeepers arriving in the first week in March. LOCAL BIRD SIGHTINGS have a strict duty to know what is Therefore by the time you read this It’s been a truly unique 2014/15 being done in their name and on article they should be a common Winter for local birds. For their property. They also have a sight in our area. These birds, whatever reason be it mild duty to ensure that their which breed in colonies, have been conditions on the near Continent gamekeepers are properly trained recorded nesting in dry drainpipes not forcing migrants to move to and capable of keeping abreast of and natural sandy banks of rivers, relatively warmer climes or the complex laws relating to the use but in our area they invariably nest whether they haven’t needed to of poisons. In other industries, in exposed banks of working or move because of an abundance of employers as well as the employee recently finished sand quarries. food; birds like redpoll, siskin and could be facing prosecution in such Sand martins breed across Europe, brambling have been conspicuous cases and I hope therefore that this Asia and North America, with by their absence. For the first time case can serve as a wakeup call to European birds wintering in Africa ever I haven’t seen either redpoll or all who run estates as to their south of the Sahara. A sand martin th brambling in the duties. It is clear that the Buzzard ringed in Godstone on 5 August / population in Norfolk is increasing 1966 was recovered in Missour, th area (my local patch for over 60 and this is something to be Morocco on 13 April 1967. years), and only one siskin. Also applauded and not seen an Local records from the first half of th unusual has been the local ratio of inconvenience by those who choose the 20 century show breeding winter thrushes with fieldfares to run shoots." colonies at Caterham, Moorhouse, considerably outnumbering Bob Elliot, Head of RSPB Nutfield area, Oxted, Reigate, the smaller redwing. Investigations, said: "This is the Tilburstow Hill and Limpsfield A barn owl has been regular at worst case of bird of prey Common. Since 1970 breeding Cheverells , and tawny poisoning we are aware of in colonies have been recorded in the owls are more than holding their England, and one of the worst in Godstone area, Holmethorpe own in the area. One or two Short- the UK. Finding the carcases of Sandpits, Limpsfield, Moorhouse, eared owls have graced the fields nine poisoned Buzzards in a bag at and Oxted. Although these near Beech Farm for several Lambert's home was truly dreadful. attractive birds are still relatively months, feeding on the numerous Unfortunately this is a part of a common each summer, breeding field voles, but little owls have wider national problem”. You must colony sizes appear to be down sadly and inexplicably become very now be guessing the severity of the compared to older records. scarce. It’s now early April and if sentence. Well a 10 week This summer we are hoping to you are travelling on the B269 near suspended sentence with costs was carry out a breeding survey of our Botley Hill you are virtually handed down - how on earth does local sand martins.The area we will guaranteed seeing common this fit the crime for the ‘worst case want to cover will be from the buzzard, and now stand a good ever’ in England? How else can south to the Sussex chance of encountering numbers of this be viewed other than a single border and from the west of red kite and raven. Remember to buzzard’s agonising death equates Reigate to the Kent border. We check for the forked tail of kites to easily distinguish them from especially Malta and Cyprus, but on upland moors, it’s to do with buzzards and to look for the it’s tragic and incomprehensible to forestry. The birds are seen as a diamond shaped tail of the raven. still have to report major problems threat to farming livelihoods and AVOIDING TORNADOES from these shores. No less than 4 have become a target for those Some readers will well remember of the very beautiful and rare little struggling with changes to the EU the mass twitch to see the bustards were found in England this Common Agricultural Policy. diminutive but magnificent North winter and were seen by thousands There has been a moratorium on American golden-winged-warbler of grateful and captivated admirers: commercial conifer planting in six that graced the Tesco’s car park in so much pleasure given to so many areas designated as Special Maidstone for over three months in by so few. This was true for Protection Areas since 2007, to early 1989. Well these little gems Yorkshire, Sussex and Dorset, but safeguard the habitat of harriers and that only weigh in at around 9 what of the Norfolk bird? other moorland birds. The birds are grams are in the news again. In Unfortunately very few locals and largely dependent on the traditional May 2013 scientists in Tennessee less who travelled long distances farming in upland areas that has tagged 20 of them on their breeding saw this magnificent specimen existed for generations. grounds, with tiny geolocators, and before it was found dead, having Conservationists believe the current after wintering in Colombia, over been shot by some unknown ban on additional forestry within 3000 miles south, 10 birds returned ‘lowlife’ near the village of the SPA’s is entirely necessary in April 2014. However no sooner Blofield. The species is protected at given commercial forestry already had they arrived than they all all times of the year and are the dominates the landscape. There is ‘evacuated’ the area and flew back focus of intensive conservation no doubt that farmers and whole south some 400 miles to the Gulf of efforts in Spain and other countries communities are struggling in Mexico, just one day before where they breed. I personally marginal upland areas, but an tornadoes struck. There were in fact travelled to Extremadura close to approach to commercial forestry at least 84 tornadoes recorded the Portuguese border at that is clearly unsustainable is not across the USA at the time, with 35 considerable cost specifically to see the solution. These conflicts have human fatalities and over one this endangered and magnificent been resolved elsewhere in the past; billion dollars of property damage. species. alternatives need to be urgently put After the storms had blown over Not for the first time in these in place to allow the landowners to the team managed to recapture 5 columns, another enigmatic species continue farming their holdings in a birds. The geolocators indicated the hen harrier makes the headlines viable manner, which is ultimately that the birds had taken for the wrong reason. I have written for the benefit of the local unprecedented evasive action, many times about the ongoing environment and rural beginning 1-2 days before the conflict concerning this bird and communities. storm’s arrival. They escaped just the upland grouse moor shooting HIT FOR SIX to the south of the tornadoes path- interests. The latest outrage I am not a cricket fan, far less so and then went straight home again. however concerns Ireland. now following Sir Ian Botham’s By 2nd May, all 5 were back in their Heather a female hen harrier was so attempt to deflect recent attention nesting area. It is believed that the named by local schoolchildren, and away from rogue gamekeepers warblers - and other species- may was fledged from a nest in Co. before the courts for appalling sense such extreme events with Kerry in 2013. She was fitted with raptor persecution. His campaign their keen low frequency hearing. a satellite tag in a collaborative and complaint against the RSPB, We have all heard related stories of project of wildlife and community sadly backed by the Countryside birds flying inland and wild groups to raise awareness of special Alliance, has been completely animals moving to higher ground raptors. Her movements were dismissed as unfounded by the well before Tsunamis strike coastal subsequently tracked online by Charity Commission. Given the areas, and I remember reading a thousands of people. She ranged far current parlous state of our fascinating account of and wide throughout Ireland until National team would he not be unprecedented movements and being shot down in Kerry in better employed shooting a few numbers of birds flying over San January. This was very much a high salvoes in their direction? All Francisco several hours before the profile slaughter, which even the joking aside confrontation never catastrophic earthquake of 1906 Irish Minister of Agriculture gets anywhere, responsible struck. So whilst the Tesco’s bird’s publically denounced. I say ‘even’ shooting interests, landowners, navigational skills might have been since I can’t recall any of our farmers and conservationists are suspect it would appear that science British front-benchers speaking out quite capable of resolving issues could learn a great deal from these against raptor persecution! that are far from insurmountable. fascinating creatures. However sadly this is not the whole Talk, compromise, negotiation and Brian Thomas story since Heather’s death has to endeavouring to listen to and so YET MORE BIRD CRIME be seen in the context of other Irish hopefully better understand the We are sadly only too accustomed politicians recently vilifying hen other sides stance is needed so that to reading horror stories of bird harriers in Ireland. In the Emerald common ground can be found. slaughter from the Mediterranean Isle it’s not about depleting grouse Brian Thomas EVENING MEETINGS 2015 FIELD TRIPS 2015 Wed 14th Chris Gooddie: “The Jewel Hunter” Sun 18th Farlington Marshes and Hayling Island. Leader Richard Lowe ((01342 835354). A daring quest to see all the pitas of the world (32) in one calendar year. Did he succeed? JAN Wed 11th . Conor Mark Jameson: “Silent Spring Re-visited Sun 15th Shellness and Capel Fleet. Leader Brian and Looking for the Goshawk” Thomas ( 01883 623149). Double bill. A reprise of his two recently published books, one exploring the debt we owe to Rachel Carson and the other describing his

search for the ‘lost raptor’ – the enigmatic ‘phantom of the forest’. FEB Wed 11th Brian Pettit: “The Wildlife of Hants and Dorset” Sun 15th Pagham and the Burgh Leader Brian Hobley Wonder at the wildlife of the New Forest, (01883 625404).

Brownsea Island and the Jurassic coast. . MAR Wed 8th AGM. – followed by special guest speaker Sun 12th Pullborough Brooks. Leader Brian Thomas. Steve Gilbert, Conservation Programme Wed 15th Half day trip meet 9a.m. Old Lodge car park Manager, RSPB SE England Region who will be Ashdown Forest ( TV470305) Leader Brian telling us about:- The Greater Thames Thomas (01883 623149). “Futurescape” vision APR Wed 13th Chris Collins: “Birds of the Russian Far East”. Sun 10th Minsmere. Coach , Godstone 7.30 a.m. Kamchatka Peninsula and beyond, including the Wed 13th Half day trip Bough Beech Res (meet plight of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Causeway, North Lake 9a.m). Leader Brian Thomas (01883 623149). Sun 24th New Forest -7 a.m. Godstone ( Brian Thomas).. . MAY Wed 10th . Paul Roper: “Introducing the Lee Valley” Fri 5 & 19 Ashdown Forest (nightjars), meet Long Car Learn about the history of the area and park 8pm (south of Wych Cross A22.

its attractions as a Regional Park .Cuckmere Haven and Friston Forest. Leader Sun 14th for all Richard Lowe (01342 835354). JUN Wed 8th Dennis Newland: “A Passion for Butterflies” An Sun 12th Mystery Trip Leader John Lawrence

inimitable personal view of a life-long interest in (01737 553316). these delicate creatures JUL Sun 16th . Leader Brian Thomas SUMMER BREAK (01883 623149). AUG Wed 9th . Glenda Law: “Wildlife of Botswana” Birds and Sun 13th Pett level and Royal Military Canal. Leader animals encountered on a recent camping safari John Lawrence (01737 553316). to this country SEP Wed 14th John Buckingham: “How Birds Work” A simple Sun 18th Thorny Island. Leader Richard Lowe (01342 and entertaining way of looking at the anatomy 835354).

of birds

OCT Wed 11th . Bill Coster: “Canada and North USA” Sun 15th Gillingham Country Park, Motney Hill Enjoy the changing seasons in the Rockies, Leader Brian Hobley. (01883 625404). around Lake Superior and the Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks. NOV Wed 9th . Christmas Meeting – festivities including Sun 13th Dungeness. Leader John Lawrence (01737

members tales/photographs 553316). DEC Visit our website for all the latest news: www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk

Field trips start from Godstone Green Car Park at 8.00 am, unless otherwise stated. Part day trips – see above for time and place. For details of coach trips contact Richard Lowe (01342 835354).). . Warm waterproof clothing and stout footwear should be worn. Bring a packed lunch for day trips. No dogs. Alterations to some of the proposed venues may be necessary at the last minute. NOTE: If going direct to venue please notify leader at least 24 hours in advance in case of changes. Indoor Meetings will be held at the White Hart Barn, Godstone in 2015 starting at 8.00 pm. Admission currently £3.00 for adults, £1.00 for fledglings. Other events arranged during the year are advertised at the indoor meetings and on the website: http://www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk. There is no group subscription, new visitors are always welcome. Group Leader: John Lawrence (01737 553316). Newsletter Editor: Brian Thomas (01883 623149)

RSPB is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 If you would like to receive this publication by e-mail contact the Editor, Brian Thomas (e-mail: [email protected]). Publications sent by e-mail will be in glorious colour.