RSPB SOUTH LOCAL GROUP NEWSLETTER No 60 January 2012 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SC037654

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environ- ment. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way

We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organizations .

GROUP LEADERS COLUMN

The indoor meetings programme this season has been notable for changes of speaker and there are further changes to come. The 15 th September meeting was to have been addressed by David Waters Chair of the Great Bustard Group. Andrew Taylor, formerly of Weymouth Wetlands now works for the Great Bustard Group and volunteered to give the talk becoming, I believe, the youngest speaker ever to address the group. At the second meeting Paul Buckley the Regional Conservation Manager at Exeter substituted for Dieter Hoffman and gave a talk on RSPB’s International Work. The November and December meetings went according to plan and hopefully the January and February 2012 meetings will also be as planned. The speakers for 15 th March, Rees Cox and 19 th April Nick Tomlinson have both had to cancel. After some thought I have offered the March 2012 date to a speaker I had originally hoped to book for March 2013 but I have yet to receive confirmation. We are also looking for a speaker from inside the group to give a short talk 45-60mins (max) after the AGM, any volunteers? After Bruce Painting left the committee at the last AGM I took on the Indoor Meetings Secretary’s role myself. I will shortly start work on the 2012-13 speakers programme and I welcome suggestions for new speakers or requests for a return of old favourites. The Field Trips programme has so far been according to plan, the first six trips using four different leaders. Reports on these trips are on pages 2-5. The committee have received representations from some members who have dual membership of South Dorset and South Somerset local groups concerning the clash of meetings both indoor and weekend field trips. The committee has decided to leave the evening meetings day unchanged but to investigate moving the weekend field trip to a different weekend. Any comments please to Phil Standfield, Mary Robins or the Group Leader? You may be aware that Radipole Lake visitor centre is to be rebuilt. The shop will open for the last time on Sunday January 15 th . The building will then close for 6-8 weeks and will re-open as a visitor centre and café only. We are promised brand new interactive displays including some live from cameras on the reserve, more indoor seating and an improved range of tea coffee and snacks. The rebuilt building will be the base for a ‘bigger and better’ programme of events. While the shop will be no more it is hoped to have a limited facility to order items for later collection and also to host occasional optics days. I recently discovered a list of committee members dating back I believe to 2007. The committee was then thirteen strong, many hands make light work! Seven of those shown have since left the committee and two have joined and the committee is now down to eight. In 2013 three more will leave. These are myself Group Leader and Indoor Meetings Secretary, Chris Wyeth Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Website Controller and Charmian Jones Events Co- ordinator. It is possible to run a group without a formal leader and with a committee of only five but it will be hard work for those that remain. I am therefore appealing for several new committee members to join at the next Annual General meeting 19 th April 2012. We will use the year 2012-13 to decide who will do what after April 2013 and for myself Chris and Charmian to train our successors. You do not have to be an expert birder to join the committee the chief requirements are, a broad agreement with the aims of the RSPB, ability to work harmoniously with others and to attend 6 committee meetings (First Thursday of the odd months in Preston, Wyke Regis, Portesham or Dorchester) and the Annual General Meeting (usually third Thursday in April at St Georges Hall). Committee members must be members of the RSPB and the group. Anyone interested let me or any member of the committee know preferably well in advance of the Annual General Meeting .

I hope to see many of you at the meetings in 2012

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FIELD TRIP REPORTS

WINSPIT 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Ten members turned out despite the stormy weather forecast and we were all pleased that we did as we had a dry and sunny morning spent in valley with a short -watch from the ledges at midday. I decided that due to the strong winds with up to near gale force gusts that it would be too risky to walk along the coast path as there are places where the path is only a few feet from the edge. We all agreed that this was a sensible decision.

In the valley our best finds were a Garden Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers with a few Wheatears adorning the hillsides. The usual Grey Wagtail around the pumping station was very Yellowhammer obliging and we had excellent views of the many Yellowhammers topping the bushes throughout. Flocks of Goldfinches and House Sparrows were prevalent and added to the rather entertaining morning. A persistent Crow dive- bombing a Kestrel for quite a while was very amusing with the Crow finally seen off by an aggressive Sparrowhawk, obviously the Kestrel’s buddy. The sea-watch produced only two Gannets and a Shag which was rather disappointing. We returned to the car park for Tree Creeper lunch at 1.30pm.

After lunch, a few of us decided to stay on, risk the gathering clouds and walk down Hill Bottom valley at the end of the road. We had two short sharp showers but took advantage of the trees for shelter and then the sunny weather returned with several of the already mentioned passerines emerging to dry off. A Treecreeper and a Goldcrest were heard only and it wasn’t until we returned to the field car park we got our reward with a good number of Yellow Wagtails around the cattle in the adjacent field.

Total No. of species: 36.

Cliff Rogers.

KEYHAVEN 23TH OCOBER 2011

Thirteen brave group members turned up for the trip to Keyhaven, it was dry but extremely windy. We set out facing the elements but luckily the path turns so Brent Goose conditions improve especially when you can take advantage of the shelter of the sea walls. There were plenty of Brent geese in the harbour and feeding among the salt marshes, and opportunity to look for waders such as Curlew, Grey plover and Black-tailed godwits. Approaching the pools some of the group found a Dartford warbler in the brambles and another highlight was seven Spotted Redshank. These have paler winter plumage than the Common redshank and a longer, finer bill. Further on it was entertaining to watch a cormorant having caught and trying to swallow a too-large fish. An unseasonal swallow whizzed overhead, and a kingfisher was spotted in flight by most of us. We found a sheltered spot in the lee of a bank to have our picnic lunch and were thrilled to see a dark phase Arctic skua fly right over our heads, undoubtedly blown off course by the strong wind. The path turned inland to go back to the cars and everyone saw another Dartford warbler, it is good to know these are holding their own in this area after several severe winters. We watched a few Roe deer and a large flock of Linnets, and added some more bird species on a recently formed lake. We walked along the coast to the beginning of Hurst Spit, here were some Mediterranean gulls. In total we found 59 species which was amazing given the Black-tailed Godwit difficult conditions; this is a site with a good variety of habitats attracting both water and farmland birds.

Mary Robins

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SWINEHAM(am) NOVEMBER & MIDDLEBERE (pm)10 th 2011

The weather was much better than the forecast with the sun shining as 10 members met in the road by Bestwall Marsh. A brief visit to the marsh found just a few birds; a pair of Stonechats several Common Gulls, Curlews and Rooks. So we were then off down the lane on route to Swineham Point alongside the River Frome and a first stop was at the woodland section by the rugby ground. A family of Long-tailed Tits were flitting in the trees with Blue and Great Tits then a Mistle thrush call from Chris to look at Treecreepers climbing the trees nearby. Moving on a Nuthatch called and a Green Woodpecker flew ahead of us along the lane calling as it went. Stepping onto the footpath bordering the Bestwall Estate 3 Mistle thrushes were seen and as we reached the gravel pits it was disappointing to find that they were now obscured by bushes and trees that had grown in height since our last visit. Notices were telling us to keep out and we had only glimpses of Gadwall ,Shoveler and Teal ducks. Arriving alongside the river we heard Cettis Warbler and Water Rail calling and a flock of Lapwings were seen ,erecting our telescopes on the lake we recorded Tufted Duck, Little and Great Crested Grebes, a single female Goldeneye duck, Grey Heron and Canada Geese. Returning to the cars we were able to add to our list Jays and Dunnock with 45 species seen or heard.

The leader suggested to the 5 members remaining that an Jay afternoon visit to Middlebere would be enjoyable and this Hen Harrier turned out to be a fact as along the track to Avocet hide we found many bullfinches feeding on the abundant berries in the hedgerows and a large number of fieldfares with a few redwings flying ahead of us . Arriving close to the Nat Trust Cottages a juvenile marsh harrier appeared over the reed beds and stonechat and reed bunting were on a fence. In the hide we saw 2 Yellow-legged Gulls many Avocets, Shelduck, Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and two Grey {lovers. Then the best, just as we were about to leave a male hen harrier flew right in front of the hide much to our pleasure to finish off the day with another 19 species to ad to the list we had recorded in the morning.

Report by Don

3 AXE RIVER AND SEATON MARSHES 19TH NOVEMBER 2011

There was a good turnout for the visit with 18 members and 2 visitors arriving in the layby at Seaton. Snow Bunting The leader had been out earlier on the beach to find the snow buntings so this was the groups first walk through the yacht marina to get good views of the pair of birds. Nuthatch Returning to the car park unfortunately the river levels were very high with few birds to be seen as high tide was soon to peak so it was decided to relocate to Blackhole Marsh. We then set off for Colyford Common reserve on route the new Tower hide and Field Centre and Classroom were seen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker noted. From the hide at Colyford we found the 12 Brent Geese that had turned up a few weeks ago on the marsh feeding with Greylag and Canada Geese. Great spotted On the scrape were seen Dunlin, Black and Bar-tailed godwits and Lapwings also some Woodpecker members saw a Kingfisher.

Lunch was taken back at the car park with some members leaving and the remainder went to sit in the new Tower hide overlooking the river. The river level was still high but we did manage to record Llittle Egret, Redshank, Dunlin, Little Grebe, Curlew and Gulls but with reports of a spotted Sandpiper at it was decided to end the visit with 40 species recorded by members during the day.

Don

PORTLAND AND CHESIL 13th October 2011

Fifteen members met at 10.00 at the Centre. This location was chosen as high tide at Portland that day was about 07.00 and the wader feeding area by the Chesil Beach Centre should have been exposed by the falling tide. However that high tide was one of the highest of October and at 10.00 no mud was visible.

We promptly relocated to the car park at the southern end of in Easton to search for a Firecrest which had been seen in that area the previous day. We saw only a Kestrel and a distant Fox. We crossed the road descended the track to the ruined church overlooking Church Ope Cove. Sparrow Hawk, a late Swallow, Chiffchaff , Raven, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, and a distant Gannet were seen.

A further move was made to the and the party walked along the track through the top fields to the bird observatory. Sparrow Hawk. Kestrel and Buzzard were the highlights. We also saw Linnets and Goldfinch and a Skylark uttered a short burst of song. Arriving at the Bird Observatory the Warden Martin Cade had recently trapped a Goldcrest. We were able to get a close look at the bird in hand

After lunch we walked to the obelisk at the tip of seeing Stonechat and Wheatear en route. Common Scoter, Gannets, Shag, Cormorant, Oystercatcher and Turnstone were seen. The return journey via the west cliffs produced a Chiffchaff and some participants saw a Stock Dove.

Report by Andrew Parsons

Skylark

Wheatear

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WEST SEDGEMOOR RESERVE 11thDEC 2011

Never Believe the Weather Forecast!

Our trip to the RSPB reserve at West Sedgemoor was booked well in advance as you can only use the viewing platform accompanied by local volunteer staff. The weather forecast the day before was awful, driving rain passing through on a wide front all morning, just when we were due to be there. There was a last minute outbreak of manflu resulting in three less participants, however fortune favoured the brave who were rewarded with a dry and mild day. We met at Dewlands Farm, some early arrivers saw three Common Cranes flying over- head and others arrived having seen the whole flock of released Cranes nearby. We set out for a short walk across the fields to a luxurious high platform within a barn, with re- freshments provided! This vantage point overlooks the flooded meadows of the reserve, which has been recently purchased by the RSPB and converted from farm fields to this wonderful habitat for waders and dabbling waterfowl. Huge flocks of Lapwing wheeled around together with Golden Plover and there are large numbers of Wigeon, Mallard and Teal. The activity is a reaction to the presence of birds of prey attracted to the feed- ing prospects, we saw Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine, but the star raptor was a female (ring-tailed) Hen Harrier. This was first picked up in the distance but slowly flapped its way back and forth towards us giving us all wonderful close views. Our guides told us there are upwards of 20,000 Lapwing on the reserve in winter, however most return to the continent for breeding.

We moved on 10 minutes up the road to RSPB Greylake for lunch and a visit to the hide. Here again were large numbers of Lapwing and duck, some Teal very close to the hide to enable us to see the intricate plumage patterns. Two Peregrine here caused panic at times but we could see them perched nonchalantly on a gate, like bookends. Also very close to the hide were two Snipe and a Water Rail feeding among some mud and reeds. Our weather luck could not hold out forever so the group started to disperse before the imminent storm, but the late stayers watched a Merlin on a close-by fence, a fine bird to end the day.

Mary

NIGHTJAR WALK JUNE 2011

I Nightjar Walk Oakers Wood 15/6/2011

Six members met on a cloudy evening for our annual Nightjar walk. As we always do we made our way along the track to where it turns right and stood on the Headland where we can look over the heath. Whilst waiting for the Nightjars we could hear various birds calling and singing we also had a Jay in the trees behind us. It was still quite light when the Nightjar churring started, after a short time a Nightjar was seen to land on a piece of dead wood then we saw another Nightjar fly around the one sat down. We were able to watch both Nightjars flying around the area. After the light had gone we made our way back to the cars and had several sightings of Nightjars flying close to us. Although it was another disappointing turn out of members we did have good views of Nightjars.

Report by Stan

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NOTICES

PLANT SALE

Our annual plant sale is will be on Saturday 12th May in the United Reform Church Hall, Dorchester. This together with the Esplanade Stall, are our major fund raising events each year. If you are growing plants from seed please sow a few extra for us ( Tomato, courgettes, broad and runner beans are always popular) . Save any leftovers from divided plants and please do not throw any bulbs away that have finished flowering in tubs - pot them up and bring them along to the sale.

During late summer please take a few cuttings for our plant sale in 2013.

NESTBOXES

A report of our nestbox scheme is on page 11. As mentioned in the report we are looking for a volunteers to co-ordinate the project and also some helpers to monitor the boxes.

NEWSLETTER

Contributions to the newsletter are always gratefully received. Some suggestions are: trip reports, local bird and wildlife news, poems and quizzes.

WEB PAGE.

Our local group web Page on the RSPB site is for technical reasons, having to be replaced by a page in the form of a blog. For an example of how this will look please look at http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/weymouthwetlands/b/weymouthwetlands-blog/ default.aspx

To look at the many more blogs from around the RSPB reserves click on the ‘ Communities ‘ icon at the bottom of the RSPB home page to take you to ‘Communities Home’ page. From there click on ‘ Places to Visit’ tab which will bring up a list of reserve blogs.

SUBSCRIPTIONS.

If a membership application form is enclosed with this newsletter our records show that you have not renewed your membership. We hope that you will continue as a member and send the form with your subs of £3.00 to the membership secretary.

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ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CLUES REFER TO SCOTTISH PLACE NAMES

1. Ignorant chips pronounced wrong 2. Ring ahead, later take away the bomb from 60’s slogan 3. Something that you should do with you cat or dog 4. Stop a letter near the end of the alphabet 5. Be off tumbler! 6. Drink and an Irishman 7. Candle part 8. Church hits the proverbial brick one 9. A favoured place of the less hirsute 10. Be a bit more bendy 11. The communist returns but is not clear afterwards. 12. An asylum for the little rock 13. This valley belongs to the tiller 14. A prison sentence before the fish? 15. The old scot didn’t cry. Never! 16. Rascally Mona Lisa! 17. All in favour of going the distance 18. Middle of the alphabet, Miss Derek 19. This fruit is not amused 20. Place the lake about said the Scot. 21. Turn agent and add the without end

22. Language 23. Vehicle crossing 24. The Spanish drink 25. An extremely long financial establishment 26. Backward gear with the vehicle 27. Chief after saint at the gates 28. Wide Model T. 29. A twangy sound 30. A chilly cascade

Answers on back page

STEPPING UP FOR NATURE

Nature is amazing. It enriches our lives. It makes us smile, cry and laugh. It brings us happiness, exhilaration and calm. But it’s in trouble .

Nature is in a steady, desperate global decline. It will make our lives all the poorer, and threaten our very existence.

We’re determined not to let this happen. We’re determined that by 2020, you will live in a world that’s richer in nature – more beautiful, healthy and inspiring – than it is today. But we can’t do this alone. We have to work with our supporters and Government to make it happen. That’s why we’re calling on millions of people to Step Up for Nature.

Stepping Up for Nature is your chance to help the RSPB save nature. There are simple steps each of us can take, which, when we act together, will help the UK’s wildlife thrive once again. So we will encourage everyone to take steps for nature, no matter how small. This can be anything digging a pond, writing to your MP, donating to an RSPB appeal or volunteering on a reserve!

Millions of personal actions will help wildlife on the ground. But together, they will represent something much bigger – a vast movement of people determined to bring the nature we love back from the brink. A movement that will strengthen the voice of conservation, encouraging governments to make the right decisions for nature. Nature is amazing. Nature is in trouble. Let’s step up and save it – together.

More info can be found online at www.rspb.org.uk/steppingup

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, KATE HUMBLE

Hello,

This is the first time I’ve spoken to you directly via the RSPB’s local group newsletter and I want to start by say- ing a huge thank you for all the work you do. Make no mistake; the society is able to do so much more of its essential conservation work because of all your time and effort and it’s no exaggeration to say that you are its lifeblood. I suspect many of you do it for the love of the cause and I hope that you are proud of yourselves. I’m sure there are mornings when some of you are freezing cold, wet, and the birds aren’t playing ball, but you sup- port a fantastic charity and make a massive difference.

When I was elected as President two years ago, the knowledge that I was only the second female president since our charity was founded in 1889 was daunting to say the least! I was honoured, excited and surprised to be asked, but once the initial shock had subsided I was incredibly excited.

I have an interest in wildlife that stems from a childhood growing up in the countryside, and my travels as teen- ager. I’m not an academic or a specialist, but I do love learning new things and asking questions – I’m never afraid to ask. If I can communicate some of the amazing things I learn about wildlife on an almost daily basis and spark the same interest in others, that would be great. I feel very lucky to be able to nurture this interest in my job – my involvement with the BBC’s Springwatch and Autumnwatch series, and programmes like Animal Park have all seen me lucky enough to be making discoveries and speaking to some of the world’s wildlife ex- perts.

In my role as your President, my overall aim is to help increase support for the RSPB’s work. In particular I’d like to get more people enjoying wildlife first hand, whether feeding birds in their back garden, walking in the countryside or visiting nature reserves.

And making sure young people have access to the outdoors is a particular passion of mine – how on earth can a child be inspired to help protect their environment when they only see it in books and never get to feel mud under their fingers nails? I was pleased to be able to lend my support to the RSPB’s recent Every Child Out- doors project – along with some of the UK’s other biggest environmental education organisations, the RSPB, the Field Studies Council and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, joined forces and opened the doors to all their teaching sites and centres in response to a call from teachers calling for more outside facilities to ensure all children and young people have the opportunity to learn outdoors and have contact with nature.

You may have seen a piece on BBC Breakfast about the initiative too; it was a huge success and best of all, hundreds of children enjoyed outdoor experiences that day.

Back in March, I was at the launch of the RSPB’s latest and most ambitious campaign yet, called ‘Stepping Up for Nature.’ The nine year campaign hopes to end the continuing threat to wildlife in the UK and across the world and to get UK Governments to meet their 2020 target of halting biodiversity loss and begin to restore it.

The idea is for everyone to take small steps for nature and make a big difference. Volunteering, building a home for wildlife or participating in a garden wildlife survey counts as a step for nature.

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OUTDOOR VISITS PROGRAMME FOR 2011/2012

All field trips start at the advertised time and are all day unless otherwise stated. Please bring food and drink if you require refreshment. Please make sure to wear/bring suitable clothing and footwear. In the event of adverse weather conditions please check before setting out that the meeting is going ahead, to avoid unnecessary travel. We aim to advise cancellations on the web site http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southdorset

Phil Standfield can be contacted on 078406 10098 about weekend trips (evenings only) Mary Robins can be contacted on 01305 871408 about mid week trips (evenings preferred)

Saturday 7 January Christmas walk and lunch – Details to follow

Saturday 21 January Langton Herring . Meet at the Elm Tree Inn Car Park (upper field) SY616825 at 10am(morning only) Leader Cliff Rogers

Wednesday 8 February Middlebere and Arne Meet at lane leading to NT cottages SY963854 at 10am. Leader Mary Robins

Saturday 18 February Blashford Lakes . Meet in Tern Hide car park SU151079 (across road from Centre) at 10am Leader Phil Standfield

Wednesday 7 March Chard Reservoir . Meet in the car park at Oaklands Drive ST335095 at 10am (morning only) Leader: Malcolm Dowty

Saturday 17 March Dawlish . Meet in car park under rail bridge SX980786 at 10am. Leader: TBA

Sunday 15 April Throop Mill . Meet at Mill car park by River Stour SZ110960 at 10am Leader: tba

Wednesday 25 April Cogden Beach (near ). Meet in NT Car Park (charge for non-members) SY502886 at 10am. (morning only) Leader: Mary Robins

Sunday 6 May Somerset Levels . Meet at Ashcott Corner car park ST450398 (off B3151) at 9.30am Leader: Phil Standfield

Thursday 17 May Wareham Forest and Morden Bog . Meet at Cold Harbour car park SY906892 at 10am Leader Malcolm Dowty

Wednesday 13 June Oakers Wood Meet off B3390 with torch for nightjars SY811912 at 9.15pm

Sunday 23 September 2012 Bowling Green . Meet at Holman Way car park by Topsham Stn SX968882 at 10am

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SOUTH DORSET NEST BOXES SPONSORSHIP PROJECT

This project commenced in 2003 with 10 sponsors with boxes located at Wareham Sika Trail, Woodland Trust and Weycroft Hall Wood, Axminster 9 boxes were used by blue tits and in 7 of them young birds fledged; 3 at Chickerel, 3 at Weycroft and 1 at Wareham

2004 Great tits nested for the first time at all locations and by June 1st young birds fledged at all 9 boxes

2005 Problems occurred at Chickerell as boxes were stolen and in general it was a poor breeding season and many dead birds and unhatched eggs were found. However 4 great tits and 6 blue tits fledged some young birds.

2006 it was decided to use Wareham only due to problems elsewhere and 2 new boxes were added to the existing 5. 5 were occupied by great tits and one of them had also blue tits using the same box.

2007 Forest Enterprise carried out major tree clearance and one box was destroyed but 4 great tits and 2 blue tits occupied 6 boxes and on 19/5 group members visited the area and saw birds feeding young for the first time.

2008 The area was again subject to tree clearance and in the February 2 new boxes were installed but not used. 4 boxes had 3 blue tits and 1 great tit successfully fledge young birds despite attacks by great spotted wood- peckers pecking at the boxes.

2009 4 boxes were brought over from Weycroft and we now had 11 boxes with more members offering to act as sponsors and on 6/5 members were able to inspect the boxes and see birds being fed. This year 7 out of 11 boxes were used by 4 blue and 3 great tits to fledge young birds

2010 Another visit by members found 8 boxes used by 5 great and 3 blue tits with 51 eggs fledged and 9 dead eggs recorded.

2011 This year 7 boxes were used but due to a poor breeding season of hot and dry weather a number of un- hatched eggs and dead birds were found.

Thanks_ I would like to thank Chris when we started at Chickerel and Jim when we started Wareham, and also for Jim’s help in the surveys and repair of boxes which was invaluable for the survey. Also I must thank all the sponsors who helped to cover the costs of the survey. I will now be standing down from the surveys but would hope that the committee will be able to find members to carry on this worthwhile project in 2012.

Don Cotton November 2011

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EVENING INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME 2011/12

All evening meetings will take place on the third Thursday of the month in St Georges Church Hall Fordington Dorchester DT1 1LB.

Doors open soon after 7.00 pm for a start at 7.30 pm

19 th January 2012 A welcome return for Photographer and Tour Leader Mike Read. His subject this time is: ‘Corsica- Mountains of the Mediterranean’

16 th February 2012 A new speaker to the group Wildlife Photographer David Kjaer Wildlife of the Highlands and Islands

15 th March 2012 To be announced—please see website.

19 th April 2012 AGM followed by a talk to be announced later—please see website

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COMMITTEE

Group Leader: Andrew Parsons, 15 Kellaway Terrace, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0HW Tel: 01305 772678

Treasurer: John York

Press and Publicity Officer: Sue Hampson, 22, Vespasian Way, Castle Park, Dorchester, Dorset. DT1 2RD Tel: 01305 265882

Membership Secretary: Chris Wyeth, 25 Westhill Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Dorset. DT4 9NB Tel: 01305 771197

Field Trip Leader: Phil Standfield, 16 Middlemarsh Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3GD Tel: 07840610098

Assistant Field Trip Leader: Mary Robins, 8 New Road, Portesham, DT3 4HD

Newsletter Editor: Chris Wyeth

Indoor Meetings Secretary: Vacant

Events Coordinator: Charmian Jones, 13 Lynmoor Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 7TW Tel: 01305 839649

Minutes Secretary: Mary Robins, 8 New Road, Portesham, DT3 4HD

Committee Members:

Sue Gannaway, 51 Coburg Road, Dorchster, DT1 2HN

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ANSWERS to QUIZZ ON PAGE 7

DUMFRIES OBAN WORMIT BANAVIE GLASGOW PORTPATRICK WICK KIRKWALL WIGTOWN BOWMORE DERVAIG STONEHAVEN HELMS DALE STIRLING GRETNA ROGART FORFAR EMBO APPLE CROSS PITLOCHRY PERTH TONGUE CARRBRIDGE EL GIN

LANGBANK GIRVAN PETERHEAD BROADFORD ABOYNE COLDSTREAM

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New look for RSPB Weymouth Wetlands visitor centre

The RSPB Weymouth Wetlands visitor centre at Radipole Lake is to under go major im- provements in the New Year.

The Visitor centre will be closed from January 16 th . When it re-opens, it will be an exciting new visitor centre, showcasing the wonderful wildlife of the reserve and of Weymouth and Portland

Among the fantastic new features will be a media wall with live nest cams and footage from underwater cameras and remote night cameras; a newly thatched roof using reserve reed; indoor seating ; visitor toilets and catering for hot and cold drinks, food and a facilities for visitors to order RSPB goods online.

Centre manager Michelle Williams said: “We’re really looking forward to the new look visitor centre and we can’t wait to welcome visitors in spring.

“Our last day of trading in the shop itself will be Sunday, January 15 and there are lots of bargains to be had on selected items.”

Along with major improvements to the centre, work will also be carried out on the reserve to upgrade visitor facilities. These will include new boardwalk trails, , viewing platforms, some of them raised and giving bird’s eye views into otherwise hidden areas of reedbeds, ditches and open water. There will also be a new storytelling and general recreation/picnic area.

RSPB Weymouth Wetlands information officer Luke Phillips explained: “The reserve will still be open while the work is going on and we’ll be able to meet and greet visitors from temporary premises as well as continuing with our range of hands on events, pond dipping and guided walks. When it’s all finished, people will be able to get much better views of wildlife such as the beautiful kingfisher and maybe even the Radipole otters. “We’ll also be able to hold more in-depth events including educational sessions for schools and community groups, where people can learn about the habitats and wildlife of the re- serve and other parts of Weymouth and Portland.”

These new improvements will work alongside previously completed projects including, duck feeding and pond dipping platforms and a new wheelchair accessible gate from the footpath alongside Weymouth Way to create a brand new, exciting wildlife experience in the heart of town.

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Reedbeds by Andy Hay

Marsh Harrier by Allan Neilson

Otter by Danny Green

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