In This Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
newsletter NO 94 SUMMER 2018 Newsletter Editor: Linda Tagg 3, Carpenter Way, Potters Bar, EN6 5PZ Tel: 01707 656 715 email: [email protected] GROUP LEADER’S COMMENTS by Ian Sharp Welcome to the 2018 Summer Newsletter. I am drafting this article on a damp, cool In April day and the thought of warm dry summer weather seems a long way off. this Despite the poor winter weather, there were several successful trips organised Issue by the Outings Team, including a day News trip to the Paxton Pits, with predictions Group Leader’s Comments……....1 of heavy snow. Despite the wintry Obituary (Angela Cotton)….…......2 conditions, the group had a number of Forthcoming Events & Keeping in good sightings, including a large mixed Touch……………….……………..10 flock of thrushes. 100 Club & Application Form…..12 Everyone packed their thermals for the Find the Bird. Paxton Pits in the Snow Group Activities long February weekend in Somerset but Local Outing Reports………...…...2 were pleasantly surprised to find it was sunny and (relatively) mild. Good birding Coach Outings……………..….…...3 weather. Another very successful trip and I hope the Outings Team can continue to Local Bird Report………………….6 arrange good weather for the next planned three-night stay in Suffolk in October! Group Holiday, Somerset………...8 Another winter highlight has been the regular (for some) sightings of hawfinches. Notices Frustrating for those, like me, who didn’t manage to see any. Hopefully, they will Annual General Meeting………....5 continue to over-winter in Hertfordshire in good numbers next winter. Local Group Website…………….12 Our Monthly e-news………….…..5 We were very sorry to hear that Angela Cotton passed away in December. Angela Newsletter Copy Date………...…12 accompanied by her faithful Labrador was a regular at the Friday evening meetings, Quiz Night..……………………....10 helping with the 100 Club draw. Both have been missed. Quiz Booking Form……………...12 In March we had another very successful quiz night, thanks to the organisational Photographic Competition…...…..2 skills of Lesley Causton our treasurer, ably supported by Gill Barlow and her team Data Protection ………..…………12 who made sure we were fed. The quizzes are always well attended which shows Advertisements how much people enjoy them. They also help generate funds for RSPB with this Minuteman Press….………….…...5 one raising the grand sum of £743.00. That brought our group’s total 2017/2018 Covers Outdoor Store…….……...11 donations to the RSPB to £5200. Many members deserve credit for helping us contribute so much to support the Society’s work. Group Website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ Elsewhere in the newsletter (page 5) you will see an “advert” for the e-news. John pottersbarandbarnet or just search Rowley does an amazing job preparing this and distributing it by email to everyone for Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB who has signed up for it and given him their email address. It is a great way of keeping up to date with what is going on and upcoming events. If you don’t The Royal Society already receive it I strongly recommend you get on the email distribution list. for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: As always, we have a very interesting autumn programme so if you don’t already England and Wales no. 207076, do so, why not come along to either a Wednesday afternoon or Friday evening Scotland no. SC037654 meeting (or both, as many members do). We are a friendly group and always pleased to see new faces. Any advertisements enclosed with this newsletter are not specifically I hope you all have a good summer and, ever the optimist, I am looking forward to endorsed by the RSPB or the Potters warm, dry sunny days and long balmy evenings. Bar & Barnet Local Group Local outing reports: by Mark and Cilla Mead 4 February A group of us went to Bramfield Woods. The irdsb seen 3 December (2017) included: yellow hammer, hawfinch, and brambling. Two people went to Tyttenhanger. 4 March Birds seen: kingfisher, redwing, Today four people came redpoll, tree sparrow. along. The big freeze was over and finally the wind 7 January Redwing (RSPB Images) was calm. We decided to Six of us on this outing to Stockers Lake. The weather was visit Amwell for a morning’s very cold, but excellent array of birds-48 species, bird watching and were Male Pintail Drinking (RSPB Images) including red kite, sparrowhawk, siskin, ring-necked very pleased and lucky to parakeet. see 50 species with good views of red kite, sparrowhawk, several pintails (all males) and a wonderful view of the bittern. A really nice morning. PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION - 2018 Come and share your wild life images from 2018 with the group at our Christmas Meeting. 1. The subject to be broadly about wildlife and the world around us. 2. The photographs can be in colour or black and white. 3. The photographs should be no bigger than 10” x 8” and no smaller than 6” x 4”. 4. The photographs can be mounted or unmounted; please provide a caption for the front. 5. You may enter as many photographs as you wish. 6. Please put your name, address and telephone number on the back. Photos will be displayed and voted on by everyone at the Christmas social meeting on Fri 14 Dec at Tilbury Hall, Potters Bar 7:45 pm. You can collect your prints at the end of the meeting. Come along and have a chat and refreshments. Closing date for entries: 16 NOVEMBER 2018 (the Friday evening meeting). Obituary Angela Cotton 20 August 1948 – 23 December 2017 Angela moved to Potters Bar shortly after retiring from her job as an NHS physiotherapist. She was not one to sit around at home and soon joined local groups and became an active member of the United Reformed Church. Before long she was a familiar sight in Darkes Lane always with her guide dog, first Connie then Jess. I first met Angela at a Pilates group then a few days later I spotted her and Connie getting off the Dial-A-Ride bus at Tilbury Hall for one of our Friday evening meetings. We soon discovered a shared passion for the Archers so we just had to become friends. Angela was a great supporter of the RSPB, a regular at our Friday meetings, donating numerous raffle prizes and always organising a quiz table. She also attended her old Enfield Local Group’s monthly meetings. Angela loved animals and supported many charities particularly her beloved Guide Dogs for the Blind for whom she did her share of tin rattling, she also gave talks to schoolchildren. The dog was, of course, always a great attraction. Despite having no sight Angela led a busy, active life – travelling, cooking, shopping, knitting, socialising and entertaining her huge circle of friends. She was also visiting her mother in a care home, she died only 15 months ago only 8 days short of her 103rd birthday. Angela’s memorial service was packed and the tributes paid were testament to what a generous, kind, thoughtful person she was. However, she was also strong and forceful particularly where the rights of the visually-impaired were involved. Heaven help a taxi driver or shopkeeper who refused to accept her dog. Luckily these occasions were rare, Angela brought out the best in people. I only knew Angela for 7 years but wish it had been a lot longer. A remarkable lady who will be greatly missed. Chris Youthed 2 COACH OUTINGS by Elaine Eyles Photographs Joy and John Rowley Welney WWT Sunday 12 November On this particular day the skies were very overcast with a Our group came dressed for the cold snap which light drizzle and misty Remembrance Sunday had to offer us. As our coach conditions; the Thames was at travelled through the countryside, the trees and roadside high water - everything was shrubs were lovely in their autumn colours. very grey! Cold northerly winds, clear visibility, interspersed with The QE11 bridge did come into bright sunshine, we arrived to a warm welcome in the nicely view eventually, and the heated visitor centre with the café and the main observatory. railway was about as far as one It was tempting to remain there and look over the fens and could see. the main lagoon. There was plenty to see too: lots of tree The quiet was broken only by Lapwing over Rainham Marshes sparrows taking turns to use the feeders and, on the water, lots of house sparrows wigeon, pochard and black-tailed godwits. twittering outside the centre taking turns to visit the feeders. To have a chance of seeing more species we set off to visit the other hides, which were rather draughty and noisy due Very few visitors or locals about apart from us. With to the strong wind, contrasting with the more sheltered patience and to some extent luck, there were birds to be pathway behind the banks of the Washes. The water levels found. Between the 32 of us 61 species were seen, mostly had been raised and created ideal conditions for the ducks, just the briefest of sightings. By going either clockwise or geese and wading birds, but many were tucked up to escape anticlockwise round the reserve each person gets a different the wind. count. For example: on the marsh a large flock of lapwing A marsh harrier was around and from time to time the sky on a few occasions; a sprinkling of ducks e.g. shoveler, was filled with clouds of birds set off by its presence. We pintail; a few waders: curlew, golden plover, black-tailed watched the start of the swan feed before leaving.