Winter thrushes—a song thrush and fieldfare. These pictures were taken by member Alan Baldry in his garden.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales—No. 207076, Scotland No. SC037654
If you have not yet renewed your membership the form is on page….. GROUP LEADER’S COLUMN from Tim Kenny
utside the weak watery O sun on a short November day reminds me that the midwinter solstice is not far away. Migration is tailing off, and by the time you read this Christmas will have come and gone and it will be 2019. Already I’m looking forward to the warmer days of spring and the air being filled with birdsong.
But this particular period does have compensations in winter thrushes and wildfowl flocks that come to our relatively warmer Whooper swan. Picture—Tim Kenny climes. The two yellow- billed swans, whooper and Bewick’s, are the main harbingers of trip to the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust winter for me. Whilst the Bewick’s reserve at Welney is a must. After dark makes a journey from their Siberian the lake is floodlit and the birds are fed, breeding grounds that takes around six bringing them close to a warm heated weeks, the larger whooper flies non-stop hide. I don’t think birding ever gets as from Iceland in as little as 48 hours, only comfortable as that. ditching on the sea if grounded by bad weather. January sees the annual Big Garden Birdwatch, the largest citizen science As a young birder I was taught a couple exercise in the country, if not the world. of handy techniques to distinguish the All it needs is an hour sat by the window winter swans. The whooper is a during the last weekend in January noting whopper, because it is larger, and the what comes into your garden (or the yellow on the bill is more angular, airspace thereof). Having a bird free resembling half a letter W. The Bewick’s garden myself, I chose that of a close yellow patch is much more rounded and relative, and recorded a grand total of one resembles a half of a letter B. It also has bid – a long-tailed tit. Even if you see a shorter neck and when the two are seen nothing, it’s still vital data to be reported. together, the difference in size is obvious. To see these birds Minsmere is as good a We are fortunate to have many long- place as any locally, although they can serving members of our committee and it turn up anywhere with a large body of appears it is years ending in an eight water for them to swim and feed in. But which bring up significant anniversaries! I for sheer numbers and swan spectacle, a (Continued on page3 ) 2 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page2 ) Bewick’s swan. Picture—Tim Kenny myself was honoured with the silver puffin award for ten years of service to the group, but I am a mere whippersnapper in comparison to Mick and Judy Cook who have both received gold bittern pin badges for thirty years of volunteering for the RSPB. Finally Rosemary Milner has been honoured with the golden eagle pin badge for an amazing forty years of volunteering. My warmest thanks and congratulations go to Mick, Judy and Rosemary for the century of volunteering they have combined between them. organiser, and he is the man who actually invented the aforementioned Big Finally I am genuinely excited to Garden Birdwatch. Peter will be welcome Peter Holden MBE for our presenting Birds, their Hidden World and indoor meeting on the 14 March. As a it should be a great evening. YOC member in the 1980s his name was on all the communications as the Happy birding.
First call for pictures for Ipswich RSPB Local Group’s 2020 calendar! There are no prizes other than the pleasure of having your entry chosen. The closing date is 31 August so get your cameras out as we want pictures of birds to reflect each season of the year. There are just a few rules:-
The decision of the judging panel is final. Preferably submit pictures electronically or if a hard copy is the only means available to you then they should be of good enough quality to be scanned. Pictures must be taken in 2019. Only two pictures per entrant. Pictures must be taken in Suffolk which can include the Stour and Waveney Valleys. Please send your pictures to [email protected] or telephone 01473 328121 for those without Internet access. You will need to state the subject of your picture and where and when taken.
And finally, we can offer a small discount to those who place an order and pay for their calendars by the September indoor meeting.
3 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
MINSMERE DIARIES 3 August grey plovers, green, common and curlew sandpipers, ruffs, A brilliant week for pied flycatchers, with greenshanks, sanderlings and bar- many dropping in across the Suffolk tailed godwits. Up to 30 little gulls Coast, including at least three birds here continue to visit the Scrape as do one or this week in the Sluice and North Bushes. two yellow-legged gulls, little terns and It’s also been great for hummingbird an occasional juvenile black tern. East hawkmoths, with two showing well on and South Scrape are particularly the visitor centre buddleia but productive at the moment. Views from demanding a bit of patience as they only North Hide are more limited, but there’s a showed for a few minutes at a time. nest of hornets in the roof which is adding a bit of interest – and jeopardy. On the Scrape, a sandpiper bonanza with common, curlew, green and wood In the reedbed, sightings of bearded tits all in attendance around the East and have become a bit more frequent at South Scrapes. A trio of black terns Island Mere, while bitterns, otters, have spent some time on South Scrape hobbies and marsh harriers are still too, whilst avocet numbers have varied seen every day – with a bit of patience. between 200 and 300 birds. Ruff, spotted redshank, knot, turnstone, A turtle dove is regular in the North little ringed plover, ringed plover, Bushes, and has also been heard along dunlin, snipe, black-tailed godwit, little the Woodland Trail, while several stint, and grey plover have all been on whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, East Scrape. garden warblers, willow warblers, chiffchaffs and the first wheatears of the Bitterns, bearded tits and marsh autumn have also been seen. harriers have all been showing very well despite the hot weather, but many fewer Insects, however, have perhaps stolen hobbies reported this week. Two the show this week. At least two nuthatches around Whin Hill were a nice hummingbird hawkmoths have been addition to the list this week, and the visiting the buddleia along with painted Woodland Trail has continued to be lady and grayling butterflies and a few excellent for butterflies and dragonflies. silver y moths. Digger Alley had continued to attract the crowds too. 10 August Popular as these have been with visitors, the star attraction was undoubtedly a It’s been another great week for watching gorgeous Jersey tiger moth that fed on migrant wading birds on the Scrape. hemp agrimony near Wildlife Lookout for Numbers and locations have varied each most of Wednesday – this was not only a day, but some of the highlights have first for Minsmere but probably only the included impressive flocks of 200+ fourth for Suffolk! Wednesday proved to avocets, 100+ dunlins, 100+ black- be a very good day for insect watchers as tailed godwits and double-figure counts an adult antlion also showed well all day of spotted redshanks and snipe. Other in the sand martin photography area. species have included little ringed and (Continued on page5 )
4 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page4 )
17 August
A mixed week of weather has been welcome for helping to up the water levels, but has meant it hasn’t been as good for butterfly sightings this week, though a few worn silver washed fritillaries, peacocks and red admirals remain around the buddleias, along with the fleeting glimpse of a hummingbird hawkmoth. Lots of willow emerald damselflies have been seen in the ditches near the Wildlife Lookout.
The big rarity this week was a juvenile semipalmated sandpiper, which was found on East Scrape Common tern with chicks. Picture—Barry Hall. before moving to South Scrape. This species breeds in Canada and see more ducks, geese and swans Alaska and has overshot it’s wintering appearing. grounds in South America. The beewolves, pantaloons bees and The water vole family put in a great other digger wasps are nearing the end appearance in the pond, with a pair of of their season on the North Wall, with adults and a pair of young showing all just a few burrows remaining open, but together. Southern hawker dragonflies we still have wasp spiders showing well have been hunting and egg laying on the in the gorse in the dunes near East Hide pond boardwalk, while hornets have and towards the Sluice. been found nesting both at North Hide and using the old woodpecker nest at the The Konik ponies have been churning crossroads. More than 70 little gulls up the mud on the Konik Field, which has have been on the South Scrape this brought a little flock of yellow wagtails to week, with over 200 avocet, 50 black- feed around their hooves. A kingfisher tailed godwits, greenshanks, snipe, was also seen by one of our 4x4 safaris dunlin, spotted redshanks (losing their by the Sluice this week, along with summer plumage), knot, ruff, green and common whitethroats and stonechats. curlew sandpipers, whimbrel, grey and golden plovers. Around 90 common 26 August tern and several Sandwich terns also remain on South Scrape. A great white This week we have been mostly learning egret and a handful of wigeon have been what 'semipalmated' means, as it doesn't on East Scrape too, and as we head into normally come up in conversation, but the autumn migration shortly we expect to (Continued on page6 )
5 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
(Continued from page5 ) parents. Although difficult to spot in the pond, look for the tell-tale ripples and we've had a rare North American listen for the crunching of reeds as they semipalmated sandpiper visiting the feed. We've also seen a lot of dragonfly Scrape. Semipalmated refers to the activity around the pond and the visitor 'webbing' between the bird's toes, as centre buddleias: emperor and ruddy most waders don't have webbed feet. darter dragonflies in particular, and Normally semipalmated sandpipers willow emerald damselflies. breed in Alaska and Canada where the males incubate and raise the young, and Also on the insect front some hornets make a 4,000 mile migration to the have made a nest in the North Hide, and northern shores of South America, this whilst these large wasps are gentle juvenile bird has accidentally flown 4000 giants, they can have a nasty sting if miles in the wrong direction, just like the provoked, so we've cordoned off an area local American golden plover at to give them some peace and quiet. Our Hazelwood Marshes and an adult bee wolves, pantaloon bees and green- semipalmated sandpiper that has been eyed flower bees have now closed their seen around the north Norfolk coast. This burrows for another year and we hope to bird was last seen on Thursday and has see them all again next summer. There yet to be relocated. are still digger wasps active around the North Wall, including some white- Another much larger migrant to visit was spotted spider hunting wasps that have an osprey making it's long journey to been catching orb spiders. Africa, which was spotted this morning flying over the North Wall heading west, it On the Scrape more than 200 avocets could also be the same bird that has remain, with more than 50 black-tailed been spotted at Hen Reedbeds this godwits, snipe, spotted redshanks, afternoon. The Blyth estuary is a good redshanks, greenshanks, knot, dunlin, spot to watch for ospreys making rest ruff, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper, stops during late summer, and we've had common sandpiper, whimbrel, curlew them fishing at Island Mere in the past. and lapwing. Yellow wagtails, little gulls, common gulls, Sandwich terns Other birds visiting this week have been and common terns are also still around, three great white egrets enjoying the but most will start to leave the reserve as pools behind South Hide and Wildlife the autumn migration starts in earnest. Lookout, and the cut in the reeds along the North Hide. We also a brief visit by a 8 September black tern, a spotted flycatcher in the North Bushes and a wood warbler in the The first week of autumn heralded a bushes behind East Hide. movement of birds through the reserve, with redstarts, whinchats, chiffchaffs and willow warblers appearing in the At Island Mere on Friday some visitors North and Sluice Bushes, curlew were lucky enough to see a pair of otter sandpipers, ringed plovers and dunlins cubs swimming with their mother, whilst across the Scrape and overflying on the pond a pair of baby water voles ospreys. The sand martin tunnels now have been seen feeding with their (Continued on page7 )
6 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page6 ) Grasshopper warbler. Picture—Chris lie empty as their residents have begun Courtney their long journey south, but the 347 occupied burrows proved our intervention to scrape the cliff with a digger was well worthwhile!
Snipe and little stints are a more common sight on the Scrape this week, with viewing helped by the efforts of the work party this week to clear vegetation from the islands and edges. Increasing numbers of teal (200+), mallard, shoveler, gadwall, wigeon and shelduck are found across the Scrape and Island Mere, with a high count of 18 pintail on Thursday.
We may get a bit blasé about our resident one fox in particular along the entrance bitterns, bearded tits and marsh road near Scott’s Hall with an almost harriers, but this is the season for them black tail; it looks to be more successful to really put on a show. Island Mere’s at catching rats than pheasants! ramp has been one of the best spots for the bearded tits, whilst bitterns and the 14 September harriers have been doing some close flypasts at window-height at Bittern Hide. The coastline has proved to be one of the best places to be this week, with Wasp spiders can still be found along porpoise and seals showing close in to the grass edges of the beach footpath shore, great and Arctic skuas, sooty (we always recommend a day when one shearwaters, common scoter, red- of guides is around there to make them throated divers and several kestrels easier to spot!). We’re also still seeing and hobbies. We also had a noticeable great green bush-crickets, small white increase in goldcrest, goldfinch, robin, and red admiral butterflies. lesser whitethroat, garden warblers, chiffchaffs and willow warblers, Water voles are still busy on the pond, especially so in the North Bushes and the listen closely for nibbling and crunching newly opened trail between North Hide and look for ripples around the little reed and North Wall. rafts they’ve made as feeding platforms (I do keep promising to put a little motorboat in the pond for some Tales of On the Scrape ducks dominate in sheer the Riverbank nostalgia!) numbers, including a count of more than 650 teal. Pintail have also been seen on Foxes and badgers have been seen East Scrape with shelduck, gadwall, around the Canopy Hide in the early shoveler, mallard and wigeon. Around evenings in the last week. Look out for (Continued on page8 )
7 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
(Continued from page7 ) and Dartford warblers can also be seen perched on top of the heather as you six ruff have been on South Scrape, walk towards the viewpoint. Stone including a very pretty white ruff, and curlews are also still around but you we’ve also hosted dunlins, black and need a sharp eye to pick them out. bar-tailed godwits, snipe, little stint, green, curlew and common There was some excitement last week sandpipers, ringed plovers, common with the second ever record of a Clifden and spotted redshanks. nonpareil moth in the moth traps.
Bitterns have been showing very well, Sea watching has produced some good along with marsh harriers and bearded results this week, with both Manx and tits at Island Mere and Bittern Hide. A sooty shearwaters flying past, more very welcome sight this week (and than 30 gannets, several red-throated sound!) was of Cetti’s warblers around divers and a visible migration of Island Mere and the base of Whin Hill, spoonbill, curlew, wigeon and Brent having dropped from 95 singing males to geese. just five this year. It does look that the good summer weather has helped to A single avocet remains on the East boost their breeding success, though it Scrape, and there have been lower may be some years before they recover. counts of knot, black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank and ringed plovers Butterflies are still showing well, with big this week. Our intrepid and hardworking counts of small heath, small copper, work party were surrounded by dunlin and brown argus around Whin Hill and while clearing the vegetation on South the woodland. Great green bush- Scrape on Thursday! Much of the crickets are still being found along the scrape is now filled with hundreds of beach and North Bushes, and some large ducks: mallard, shoveler, shelduck, queen bumblebees are still visiting the gadwall, wigeon and teal, with the remaining buddleia flowers. occasional ‘knob’ of pintail and a rare juvenile ferruginous duck which has 28 September been enjoying diving in the pool behind South Hide. Marsh harrier, The rut has begun! It may still be sunny sparrowhawk and peregrine overhead but there’s a chill in the air in the early have made the ducks quite nervous this mornings, and red deer have been heard week, with regular mass ‘scrambles’ bellowing on the heath, as well as the resulting in a huge game of musical occasional clash of antlers. We’ve chairs. signposted people to the viewpoint on Westleton Heath from the Natural The woodland is filling with noise once England car park, and while setting up again as squirrels scamper to collect the signage I could just make out a small new bedding or cache nuts and seeds, herd with a single stag in the distance. while above your head large mixed tit and The heathland is still littered with purple finch flocks are gathering in a ‘big wing’ flowering bell heather and yellow gorse that makes it more efficient to find food. flowers attracting the last small copper and small heath butterflies; stonechats (Continued on page9 )
8 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page8 )
Bitterns and otters have been seen every day this week at Island Mere, and in a true sign of autumn the bearded tits have been a lot easier to find!
7 October
This week’s highlights include the ferruginous duck, a record four great white egrets, lots of bearded tits and a cattle egret.
A snow bunting hopped on to the Wryneck. Picture—Chris Courtney roof of East Hide, too close for many to get a photo of, but then spent the early part of the week around pacing around the newly cut area in front the dunes. Up at the red deer viewpoint of the hide. A cattle egret and four great on Westleton Heath 21 stone curlews white egrets have been lurking around have been spotted tucked into the the reserve each day this week, with the heather, with woodlark, stonechat and cattle egret favouring the island and Dartford warbler also around, as well as trees between Island Mere and several stags. Several flocks of Eastbridge. redwings, fieldfares and song thrushes have been seen coming in from offshore On the scrape avocets peaked at four and passing through the reserve. The birds this week, joined by ringed first brambling of autumn was also found plovers, dunlins, black-tailed godwits, near to the Sluice, and a yellow-browed green sandpiper, common redshank, warbler showed briefly in the Sluice sanderling and knot. Caspian and Bushes. yellow-legged gulls have joined the gull roost on the scrape, but the Also offshore this week have been great overwhelming species has been the northern and red-throated divers, large various ducks, including around 500 teal, rafts of wigeon, Arctic skuas and dark- a couple of pairs of pintail and growing bellied brent geese. numbers of gadwalls, wigeon, shovelers and mallards. A welcome sound this week has been the resurgence of Cetti’s warblers on the Starling numbers are now at around edges of the reedbeds, which although 1,000 birds coming in to the reedbeds fewer in number seem no less vocal! near South Hide at dusk, they aren’t Bearded tits are also calling and doing much of a display as yet but will showing well at the Konik Field, North update the moment a murmuration Wall and Island Mere. Bitterns are also begins. showing well at Bittern Hide and Island Mere, with at least three individuals (Continued on page10 )
9 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
(Continued from page9 ) including more than 1,000 teal. Avocets peaked at three this week, with long 14 October staying green sandpiper, several passing greenshank, lapwing, snipe This week’s highlights include yellow- and black-tailed godwits. browed warblers, increasing numbers of winter thrushes, red deer rutting and The cattle egret continues to roost near minotaur beetles. Island Mere, with a couple of great white egrets moving around the reserve too. Starling numbers are now at around Willow emerald damselflies continue to 5,000 birds coming in to the reedbeds be found around the pond and near South Hide at dusk, visitors reported crossroads, and one visitor found one of a bit of a ‘ufo’-type display for half an hour the amazing minotaur beetles at Whin earlier in the week. Hill.
A pretty little yellow-browed warbler has 21 October been heard calling from the car park entrance and one was caught by the Rarities this week include a Pallas’s Waveney Bird Club during their warbler behind East Hide and a yellow- Thursday demonstration. Flocks of song browed warbler at the car park entrance. thrushes have been seen making brief stops on the North Wall and passing over Accidentally arriving early at the reserve the woodland, with the odd fieldfare and (stupid alarm) meant I got to an redwing migrating through. opportunity to walk around the reserve before we opened. First bird at North A beautiful short-eared owl appeared in Hide was a peregrine falcon hurtling at the dunes from offshore on Saturday, and low level across the Scrape before lining great skuas (bonxies) continue to pass up on a group of mallards and gadwalls, offshore along with brent geese, knots, but failed to flush them into the air. The dunlins and wigeon. Scrape this week has been filled with over 1,400 teal, plus 80 or so each of Otters have been showing well in the shovelers, mallards and gadwalls, and early afternoons at Island Mere, and over 100 wigeon on South Scrape. A visitors have been enjoying watching up rare occurrence of a kestrel catching and to five individual bitterns around the eating a kingfisher happened on Sunday newly cut area in front of the hide, along near Wildlife Lookout. with occasional bearded tits and Cetti’s warblers. Bitterns and otters have been putting on Up at Westleton Heath we’ve had a pair a good show at Island Mere, feeding on of stags rutting right in front of the rudd and roach everyday this week. watchpoint, as well as around a dozen stone curlews, woodlark, Dartford The North Wall was ringing with bearded warbler and stonechat. tit calls, and a half-dozen took flight over the cut in the North Marsh. They’ve also The weekend bird survey hauled in an been showing very well at Island Mere impressive total of more than 1,700 birds (Continued on page11 )
10 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page10 ) and around 100 calling between Wildlife Lookout and the Konik Field. Further down the beach towards the Sluice a pair of Dartford warblers were showing and calling from the scrub bushes, with stonechats sitting along the Scrape fence wires. A whinchat was also seen by the Sluice this week, and a steady stream of redwings and fieldfares arriving from Snow buntings. Picture—Chris Courtney offshore. A short-eared owl also came in from the coast before disappearing into the reeds behind the fresh green growth of reeds. The last Wildlife Lookout. The long staying confirmed report was at dusk on ferruginous duck disappeared on Wednesday as it flew along the cut and Thursday afternoon. banked left deeper into the reedbed.
The deer have come to the end of the rut, Also on Wednesday John Grant and Paul with a few small herds spread around the Green identified a vagrant emperor main reserve and the heath. dragonfly at the Sluice. This large rare insect has been found at various sites 28 October around the Suffolk coast this week, but this male delighted visitors as it A brilliant week for bitterns this week, perched to show off its distinctive blue with some outstanding views of them marking. Vagrant emperors travel long feeding, strutting and posing at Island distances from sub-Saharan Africa and Mere at very close range, and a very rare the Middle East carried on warmer winds. diminutive cousin – a little bittern – suddenly appearing in the reedbed on Short-eared owls, redwings, fieldfares, Wednesday along the North Wall. siskins, redpolls and goldcrests Little bitterns are around the size of a continue to arrive from offshore, and with moorhen and breed across Europe and the first reports of waxwings appearing in Asia before wintering around the Norfolk we’re hopeful for a few arriving Mediterranean, they have also bred at here (get your apples ready on your bird RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset in 2010. feeders!). Minsmere hasn’t had a sighting since 1977. This bird is a juvenile who has The great white egrets and cattle been blown off course, but was enjoying egrets are still roosting around Island the pool close to the footpath as it Mere and spending time with the cattle at showed its prowess at snatching small Eastbridge. A barn owl has also been fish from the surface and dragonflies from (Continued on page12 )
11 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
(Continued from page11 ) are roosting on the Levels too, and Chinese water deer have been seen seen quartering the Levels around the there this week. Konik ponies at dusk. North Bushes has been filled with the The wintery weather has meant calls of redwing and fieldfare, and there seawatching has been profitable this has been a big increase in meadow week, as eider, red-throated divers, pipits, goldcrests, robins and redpolls little auks, great and Arctic skuas, this week. The only other bird of note is a gannets and common scoters all pass glossy ibis which was seen briefly on the along the coastline. scrape on Monday before flying north.
4 November 17 November
The poignant highlight this week has to There can be no doubt that Island Mere be the long-eared owl which appeared has been the place to be all week, where from offshore on Wednesday and settled it’s been a case of ‘Bitterns behaving in the hedgerow by South Hide. Sadly Badly.’ So badly, in fact, that they have the combination of the wet weather, a been on view for much longer than long migration and potentially the poor they’ve been out of sight, and they’ve health of the bird meant that it sadly died often be seen feeding just a few metres overnight. The owl will be sent off for from the hide – no need for the big lenses analysis. A short-eared owl has also as some people have managed excellent been seen over the North Wall this week photos on their mobile phones! It’s not but no further sign of the little bittern. just been the bitterns that have been seen at Island Mere, either, with On a happier note it's been another good regular sightings of otters, marsh week for bitterns, with several putting on harriers and a great white egret, plus a show at Island Mere and demonstrating occasional goosander or pochard, while their prowess at snatching roach and both bearded tit and Cetti’s warbler rudd from the channel before slinking have been heard. back into the reedbed. Marsh harriers, bearded tits and otters have also shown Elsewhere on the reserve, a late yellow- well in the sunshine, with the occasional browed warbler was found in the Sluice appearance of a goosander, great white Bushes today, with a snow bunting in egret and a ringtail hen harrier. the dunes nearby and a short-eared owl on the Levels. At least one Dartford Sooty shearwaters and little auks warbler remains in the dunes, too. There continue to pass offshore, along with was an impressive passage of waders skuas, red-throated divers, eider, and wildfowl in the murky weather on common scoter, velvet scoter and a Friday, while more than 2,000 ducks are Slavonian grebe. now present on the Scrape. Other highlights on the Scrape include Peregrines have been hunting over the Caspian, yellow-legged and South Levels and Scrape, targeting the Mediterranean gulls and up to five large flocks of gadwall, teal, wigeon and avocets. mallard. Around 500 barnacle geese (Continued on page13 )
12 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page12 )
27 November
Wetter weather in the last week may be the reason why the bitterns haven’t been quite as ‘showy’ in the last few days, as the water levels have increased at Island Mere, still one at least put in a good display over the weekend eventually. Paul Green found a fantastic sea mouse washed ashore at the weekend, and promptly put it back in the sea. These bristly worms move along the sea floor hunting crabs and other worms, and have iridescent green, gold and blue markings along their sides.
Other highlights this week have been a ringtail hen harrier seen sporadically over the Scrape or Island Mere, whooper and Bewick’s swans around the South Levels and in the pools behind Wildlife Lookout and South Hide, and a great northern diver which drifted past distantly offshore.
The North Bushes have seen a noticeable increase in blackbird, robin, redwing and fieldfare carried on the cold easterly winds at the end of last week. Goldcrest and siskin have also been showing well in the woodlands.
A large gull roost occurs most afternoons at South Hide, mostly of greater and lesser black backed gulls, herring gulls but with a few Caspian and occasional yellow- legged gulls. Eiders have joined the common scoter, velvet scoter and red-throated divers offshore. Drama queen bittern (above) and kingfisher (below). Adapted (with permission) from the Pictures—Barry Hall volunteers’ newsletter.
13 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
TRIP REPORTS from Stephen Marginson
Levington Creek—15.8.18 the second, the long-staying lesser yellowlegs. The black tern was quickly It was good to see several new faces spotted by our group leader Tim, the bird attending this field trip and we hope you hawking across the shallow pools in enjoyed it and we will see you again. The typical black tern fashion. It gave good tide was on its way out which meant less views to all of the members who came than ideal birding conditions, on what was along. The lesser yellowlegs, a wader a breezy but pleasant evening. Levington from North America, was much harder to Creek is a well known spot for waders find and positively identify. Chris throughout the autumn and winter periods Courtney was the first to pick it up and, and into spring. In the early autumn through a telescope, most got reasonable migrant waders are passing through and views when we moved along to where the species and the numbers can vary on Chris was standing. The bird is a slender a daily basis. We were able to watch wader with yellow legs and grey around 200 golden plovers, many still in undersides and a mottled back. It was their smart summer plumage, along with difficult to spot amongst the vegetation curlew, lapwing, redshank, ringed and other birds and kept appearing and plover, black-tailed godwit and snipe. then vanishing for short periods. These Pride of place went to the grey plovers two birds were supported by present in their summer plumage. This is greenshank, green sandpiper, one of the most stunning of wader redshank, curlew, dunlin, lapwing and plumages with a black bib and breast black-tailed godwits. The latter seemed contrasting with soft grey upperparts, to be on the move with several small making it a truly spectacular sight, groups arriving and departing. Numbers particularly when there are up to 20 of of wigeon and teal were also good. them. The waders were supported by Other birds seen included stonechat, large numbers of black-headed gulls, linnet, goldfinch, heron and a bittern most in moulting plumage along with little which flew over the reedbed. A common egret, shelduck, herring gull and lesser buzzard was spotted in a tree being black-backed gull. Migrant passerines mobbed by jackdaws. Three siskins included yellow wagtail and swallow. were noted flying over the car park by Other birds of interest were the bearded early arrivals. Those who left around tits in the reedbed heard pinging, but not noon spotted a female sparrowhawk by seen and a juvenile marsh harrier the roadside with a kill, in the form of a quartering the marsh. Altogether a great woodpigeon. Altogether a superb evening's birding in like-minded morning's birdwatching on a day that was company. forecast to be wet, but remained dry and warm with periods of sunshine.
Hollesley Marsh Reserve and River Ore—14.10.18 River Deben at Melton—17.10.18
This was the first time ever, where we The upper reaches of the Deben estuary have recorded two national rarities on a between Melton and Woodbridge have field trip, the first being a black tern and (Continued on page15 ) 14 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page14 ) Little grebe. Picture—Barry Hall been a popular haunt for the group for several years. The birdwatching is always good and the going fairly easy and this trip was no different on a pleasant November morning. The tide was out, so leaving large expanses of mudflat and saltmarsh across which to view the birds. However, they are all in good binocular range in this area of the Deben. Waders included curlew, black-tailed godwit, redshank, greenshank, around 150 dunlin and over 200 lapwing. Most were able to be viewed at close range with their plumages glistening in the winter sun. The greenshank regularly overwinters in this area so it was good to see them here again. A group of avocet was also noted and more unusually three grey plover. These birds tend to be found on the more maritime parts of the estuaries such as on the Stour at PIN BADGES Holbrook and Orwell at Levington. There were also good numbers of wigeon and Last year the Pin Badge box scheme teal present in the area. Two chiffchaffs raised over £118,000 in the Eastern calling along the river bank in the scrub Region and over £1,029,000 around the gave a clue that they may be UK. We are looking for more volunteers overwintering birds. to help raise even more money.
A good range of thrushes, tits, robin, If you would like to find out more about wren and dunnock were also present how you can help by managing one or along the bank. It was good to see a more boxes, please contact Judy or good number of house sparrows around Mick Cook on 01473 682239 or speak the Deben shipyard and marina. A café to either of them at an indoor meeting. has opened along here based in a restored Swedish minesweeper and seems to be very popular. The only raptor on the visit was a fleeting glimpse Would you like to see your of a sparrowhawk over the car park, it name here? being unusual not to see buzzard or To find out how to sponsor our kestrel in this area. An enjoyable newsletter or an indoor morning's birdwatching enjoyed by all meeting please e-mail; who came. [email protected]
15 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
NEWS FROM LAKENHEATH FEN - from Katherine Puttick
ello and welcome to the H autumn news from Lakenheath Fen.
Reserve Management Water levels are still really low across the reserve, but we are now able to abstract water from the river under the terms of our abstraction licence. We were allowed to start a couple of weeks earlier than the licence stated so have been slowly bringing in water since 21 October. We have to be a bit careful about where we put water though, as we still need access to some reedbeds to carry out habitat management! Under Starter’s Orders. Picture—Dave Rogers
The last couple of months with the Events volunteer work parties have focussed on Two of our biggest events took place in clearing reeds around the pools at both August and October. First we had the Big viewpoints, Mere Hide and the visitor Wild Sleepout, with over forty happy centre. We do this annually at this time of campers camping out in the sandy area in year to open up the views from the Brandon Fen. With lots of activities to viewpoints and also to hopefully give keep people amused and bacon butties more opportunities to see wildlife. The for breakfast, and despite the wind and newly strimmed areas have so far rain (typical after weeks of hot dry provided good views of bittern, otter, weather), everyone had a great time! green sandpiper and snipe. We’ve also The next big event was the annual ‘Race cut the vegetation on the fen pools near for Wildlife’, which also went very well, the visitor centre, and given the bays again despite the rain! One hundred and along the main visitor trail their late twenty-two runners took part in either the summer haircut. This will hopefully keep 5K or 10K races and just over £2,000 was the more dominant vegetation at bay, and raised. allow flowering plants a bit of space to grow. Other jobs have involved fencing Wildlife News repairs (I’m sure I said that last time too!), You may all have caught up with this repainting the viewpoint shelters, and already, but I just wanted to give you a painting Mere Hide and the photography quick update about our breeding cranes. station. I mentioned in the last newsletter that our cranes had fledged one chick but that (Continued on page17 )
16 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page16 ) great white egrets have been present in reserve reedbed since early September. there was another smaller chick that Up to 100 bearded tits were heard and/ seemed to have some sort of issue and or seen at various places in the reedbeds hadn’t yet fledged. I’m delighted to report at the start of October. that this smaller chick did eventually fledge (though we did think we’d lost it for A male hen harrier has been coming in a while), a grand eight weeks after the to roost occasionally with up to twenty- bigger chick. The family of four left the five marsh harriers. Merlin, peregrine reserve in September and have recently and red kite have all been seen regularly been seen as a family group with other in the last couple of weeks. Fens cranes over at RSPB Ouse Washes. It’s nice after eleven years of There were several records of emerald cranes nesting on site here that they can damselfly at the start of October, and by still keep on surprising us!! the end of the month, migrant hawkers and common and ruddy darters were Birds and Wildlife – still on the wing. Surprise reptile of the The Washland had a good sprinkling of month was a slow worm outside the waders in September, with a single ruff, visitor centre. It was reported by a visitor up to eight ringed plovers, little ringed but unfortunately had disappeared before plover, three black-tailed godwit, anyone else could see it. common, wood and green sandpipers, and dunlin all dropping in on various For more information about the reserve dates. Four spoonbills dropped in for a including up-to-date sightings and preen and a snooze on 22 September forthcoming events, please look on the and our avocets were present on 19 website at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and November. -events/reserves-a-z/lakenheath-fen/ , email us at [email protected] or Random bird of the month was a juvenile phone the office on 01842 863400. gannet, photographed by a visitor on 2 October, clearly very lost!! Up to five Hope to see you on the reserve soon!
Spoonbills. Picture—David Gowing
17 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
THE DAWN CHORUS from Richard Stewart his is an article looking forward to a This bird does of course sing in daytime T precise period of time, the last week as well but it is in the pre-dawn darkness of April and the first week of May, and it of a wood that its beautiful and varied asks a simple question - have you been outpouring of song can be fully savoured, on a dawn chorus walk? To fully especially those wonderful trills rising to a appreciate its unique beauty you need great bubbling crescendo of power that ideally to be in position about 3.30 a.m. no other British bird can, in my opinion, well before dawn. At such an early hour it rival. That initial song is often is tempting to roll over in a cosy bed, accompanied by other early risers such hastily turning off the alarm. You can of as the lark, tawny owl, woodpigeon, course stay up and catch up later in the carrion crow, pheasant and even a day but a degree of tiredness can detract barking muntjac. Hopefully someone will from this experience. I tried it just once, be present who can quietly identify the ending up literally asleep on my feet and increasing number of songsters, making only woken by nearby excited voices the experience more memorable for both announcing the latest species to be experts and beginners. Slowly the chorus identified. Be practical: take a torch, grows, with dunnock, blackbird and binoculars for when the light grows and song thrush, each new voice seeming possibly a hot drink and snack bar, like a part of an orchestra, waiting for the though such events often offer a pre- right moment to add its beauty to the booked breakfast afterwards. Gloves are swelling symphony of sound. Then there highly recommended plus many layers of are the shorter chimes of great, blue and clothes since it can be surprisingly cold at coal tit, separate melodies of migrant dawn and the essence of the event is warblers such as whitethroat, lesser waiting and listening, rather than whitethroat, blackcap, willow and continuous movement. Also make sure garden warblers, onomatopoeic your very personalised mobile ring tone chiffchaff and more distant jangling of doesn't spoil the atmosphere. jays, cries of green woodpeckers, softer crooning of woodpigeons and, if you are Now onto the birds - the normal extremely fortunate, purring turtle doves. assumption is that, given the right habitat, Then there can be unexpected duets, the further you go into the countryside the between birds like the blackbird and more species of birds there will be. Up to robin, or the diminutive wren's powerful forty could be identified in exceptional outburst compared to the soft delicacy of cases but for many years, while it was still the even smaller goldcrest. All is in existence, our local natural history individual yet harmonious with even a society held its dawn chorus near Ipswich domestic cockerel joining in or a Speedway Stadium, on the edge of the woodcock roding across an open glade. town. Earlier loud cheers, revving engines and glaring floodlights were On a fine morning the dawn itself is an forgotten in the stillness of the hour added joy, often coming as the bird before dawn. One memorable year, chorus reaches its climax, with rays of which included moving into nearby sunlight slowly penetrating the Brookhill Wood, produced sixteen undergrowth and bathing vegetation in different singing male nightingales. (Continued on page19 )
18 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page18 ) gold, while from the earth comes that sweet smell of dampness that seems to encapsulate its ancient and never-changing nature. Then slowly and at first almost imperceptibly the volume starts to decrease and probably within twenty minutes it is largely over.
Nowadays there are several dawn chorus events to choose from, usually advertised in the local Wildlife News. If travelling as well as getting up so early is a problem, consider attending the annual one in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. On 5 May 2018 twenty people attending heard or saw 24 different species of birds. That didn't include a nightingale but strange things can happen and also in 2018 my wife and I both heard a cuckoo calling from the woodland reserve, a species not recorded in the park for many years. It was almost certainly just passing through but does prove that unusual species of birds can be encountered even within urban areas.
Red-breasted flycatcher (above) and hoopoe (below). Two of the more unusual birds to have visited Suffolk. Both pictured by Chris Courtney. See Birdline report on pages 22-23
19 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
SWIFT STREETS from Chris Courtney
re you keeping nice and warm Common swift. Picture—Chris Courtney A during these chilly dark January days and nights? I hope so! But at least we’re now past the winter solstice and somewhere deep in the southern hemisphere the sun is in Capricorn renewing his energy for our summer yet to come!
Likewise, our swifts are busy renewing their energy, feeding over the Congo rainforests, preparing for their return to us around the 7 May. But the big question for many of them is; what they will find when they get here!
Imagine flying some 4,000 miles back With a small colony now established in from Africa to your favourite holiday home boxes on my house, a pair in a only to find that someone’s bricked over neighbour’s nest box, plus another couple your front door and you’ve got to find of pairs under roof tiles nearby, this somewhere else to stay! seems to have stirred up quite a bit of excitement among the local summering Of course no-one usually wants to swifts. deprive them of their homes, it’s simply our modern building methods and our Last summer, lots of birds were desire to refurbish and insulate our prospecting for new nest spaces in our houses. But the result for swifts, has street, but unfortunately, as explained been a huge decline in numbers over the above these are now in very short supply. past 20 or so years. Consequently, Amanda, my neighbour, But there is something we can do! Last and I have decided to try to do something summer my street in Ipswich, especially to help. We want to make Marlborough during July, was a delightful place to be Road a ‘Swift Street’ and have designed for both swifts and swift enthusiasts some leaflets to put through letterboxes. alike. We will be offering swift boxes at cost from £14 each and have secured the help Sometimes, as many as 20 birds were to of the local chimney sweep with his be seen screaming ecstatically, chasing ladders to put up the boxes. each other right down the middle of the street. So much so that lots of people And the great news for residents is; started to notice and remark on it. swifts are really clean and DON’T leave
(Continued on page21 )
20 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 (Continued from page20 ) any mess! And as you probably already know, swifts are amazing!
They’re the fastest creature on earth in powered flight, having been clocked at 69.3 mph (111.6km/h) horizontally and even upwards. They can also fly for up to 10 months without landing and can live for over 20 years. Flying over 4,000 miles from central Africa, they spend just 12 summer weeks with us to breed. And can fly 3,500 miles in just five days! Feeding on the aerial insect ‘plankton’, they drink, mate and even sleep on the wing.
Swifts really need our help and as an Common swift. Picture—Chris Courtney urban breeding species this is one red- listed bird YOU can personally and penthouse! They will literally scream practically help to conserve. And now with delight when they see what you’ve mid-winter is the perfect time to start prepared for them! planning for your swift’s luxury summer
For a variety of swift nest boxes and other products see:- https://www.swift-conservation.org/Shopping!.htm
For lots of swift info:- https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/swifts 01473 423213 MIND THE CRUSTACEAN [email protected] The best band you’ve never heard of!
Info: Tim Kenny 01394 809236
LOCAL GROUP AGM Sponsors of an indoor meeting
The Ipswich Local Group AGM will be held at Rushmere St Andrew Church Hall on Thurs 11 April 2019 at 7.30pm. Any group member who wishes to join A W Hart—Builders the committee must submit their name (accompanied by a seconder) to the Tel: 01473 680017 secretary, Judy Cook, no later than 28 February, 2019. Sponsors of an indoor meeting
21 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
SUFFOLK SIGHTINGS IN LATE SUMMER & AUTUMN FROM BIRDLINE EAST ANGLIA
Species Location (date and number in brackets) August Semipalmated sandpiper Minsmere RSPB (18-23) American golden plover Hazelwood Marshes SWT (13-16) Dotterel Shingle Street (13) Red-necked phalarope Havergate Island RSPB (28) Tawny pipit Landguard NR (30) Red-backed shrike Landguard NR (1) Ortolan bunting Hollesley (22) Barred warbler Covehithe (18), Benacre (31) Wryneck Minsmere RSPB (30-31), Kessingland (31) Wood warbler Stonham (5)(tr), Hollesley (5)(tr), Minsmere RSPB (24) Pied flycatcher Suffolk coast at 68 sites (3) Glossy ibis Botany Marshes (2), Barham (25) Spotted crake Lackford Lakes SWT (11-27) Western cattle egret Carlton Marshes SWT (15,23, 7 31), Leathes Ham (15-17) September Booted warbler Lowestoft (6-7) Arctic warbler Lowestoft (15) Red-rumped swallow Lowestoft (16) Barred warbler Kessingland sluice (1-3),Lowestoft (26) Blyth’s reed warbler Lowestoft (30) Pallid harrier ♂ Wherstead (3) Pacific golden plover Aldeburgh mashes (20) Glossy ibis Aldeburgh marshes (22-29) Continued on page 23
22 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 Continued from page 22
Buff-breasted sandpiper Havergate Island RSPB (6-8) Pectoral sandpiper Orfordness NT (16) Hoopoo Orfordness NT (29) Grey phalarope Cavenham (23-25) Wryneck Kessingland sluice (1 & 8-9), Landguard NR (6-19) (↑2), Southwold (13 & 15) Yellow-browed warbler Several locations at end of month Purple heron Minsmere RSPB (3) Ferruginous duck Minsmere RSPB (f25) Western cattle egret Carlton Marshes SWT throughout month Eurpean honey buzzard Thorpeness (30) October Little bittern Minsmere RSPB (24) Lesser yellowlegs Shingle Street (3-6), Hollesley RSPB (7-18) Little bunting Lowestoft (6) Red-breasted flycatcher Southwold (28-31) Hoopoe Landguard NR (19) Pallas’s warbler Southwold (20), Gunton (15), Minsmere RSPB (15) Shorelark Kessingland (f20) (n2), Landguard NR (21) Ferruginous duck Minsmere RSPB (u19) Glossy ibis Aldeburgh (u6), Minsmere RSPB (29) Key: ↑ = up to, n = number, f = from, u = until, pres. = presumed, tr = trapped
For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus telephone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia for enquiries please call 0330 3336946 or 07941333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robin.chittenden.7
23 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
What’s On—Dates for your diary for January & beyond For details of how to find out more about these events please see separate entry or contact organiser of event; details will also appear on website. (Walk leaders/organisers initials will appear after entry and their contact details appear at the end of the diary) …………..continued on next page
Date Event Time Meeting Place 10 Jan. Indoor Meeting—‘Wildlife in Dedham 7.30 p.m. Rushmere St. Vale & the Issues it Faces,’ Darren Andrew Church Tansley, Essex Wildlife Trust. Hall, The Street, Rushmere, IP5 1DH Sponsored by Bypass Nurseries, Capel St. Mary 15 Jan. Midweek Walk—Holywells Park 10.00 a.m. Stable block off (including Conservation Area). KR Cliff Lane, TM176432 20 Jan. Field Meeting—Manningtree & Mistley 10.00 a.m. Manningtree for waders and wildfowl on River Maltings.TM109319. Stour, 2-3hrs. 2-3miles. View from cars if weather adverse. Walking easy. SM 14 Feb. Indoor Meeting—‘Nature Our Way’ 7.30 p.m. Rushmere St. Jim & Fred Price PPE5*DPAGM Andrew Church Photographers. Hall, The Street, Rushmere, IP5 1DH Sponsored by Collins Waste Solutions 16 Feb. Field Meeting—Levington Creek & 9.00 a.m. Car park, River Orwell for waders, geese and TM237389 wildfowl. 2-3hrs. 2-3miles. Walking can be muddy and exposed. SM 19 Feb. Midweek Walk—Chantry Park. KR 10.00 a.m. Car park near toilet block, Hadleigh Road entrance, TM138443 14 Mar. Indoor Meeting—‘Birds, their Hidden 7.30 p.m. Rushmere St. World,’ Peter Holden MBE, ex RSPB Andrew Church staff, writer and lecturer. Hall, The Street, Rushmere, IP5 1DH Sponsored by The Oddfellows 16 Mar. Field Meeting—Alton Water for 9.30 a.m. Lemons Hill Bridge water and woodland birds, 2-3 hrs. 3- south car park, 4miles. Walking easy. SM TM136374
24 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 More dates for your diary
19 Mar. Midweek Walk—Bourne Bridge area 10.00 a.m. Bourne Park car and park. KR park, Bourne Bridge entrance,TM161419 11 April Indoor Meeting—AGM plus ‘The All 7.30 p.m.. Rushmere St. Year Garden Birdwatch Survey & its Andrew Church Importance,’ Claire Boothby BTO Hall, The Street, Garden Birdwatch Development Rushmere, IP5 1DH Manager.
Sponsored by Mid-Suffolk Fencing, Needham Market Sept./ Field Meeting—Orfordness National 9.30 a.m. Orford Quay Oct. tbc Trust Reserve for migrant birds. return NT members £8.50, non-members 4.00 p.m. £11.50. Spaces limited. Booking with payment from January Indoor Meeting. CC
Walk leader’s or event organiser’s contact details:- (SM) Stephen Marginson [email protected] 01473 258791 (CC) Chris Courtney [email protected] 01473 423213 (KR) Kathy Reynolds 01473 714839 (MC) Mick Cook 01473 682239 (TK) Tim Kenny 01394 809236
Bypass Nurseries Collins Waste Solutions
Tel: 01473 310604 Tel: 01473 327596
Sponsors of an indoor meeting Sponsors of an indoor meeting
Mid-Suffolk Fencing Alder Carr Farm
Tel: 01449 721025 Tel: 01449 720820
Sponsors of an indoor meeting Sponsors of an indoor meeting
25 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019
If you need to get in touch please Please:- contact: Submit articles via e-mail in MS Word RSPB HQ, or Publisher. Or if not using MS please The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, SG19 2DL submit files with a .doc, .docx Tel: 01767 680551. or .pub file ending. For those members without Internet RSPB connection please ring the editor or Eastern England Regional Office, speak to her at a meeting to arrange a Stalham House, 65 Thorpe Road, suitable way to submit your Norwich, NR1 1UD contribution. Tel: 01603 661662 Material will be added to this publication in the order in which it is RSPB Local Group, received. However, whilst all suitable Leader—Tim Kenny material will be included in the Tel: 01394 809236 electronic edition not all will be e-mail: included in the paper magazine, [email protected] particularly material that does not reproduce well in black and white or is For more news & information log on to received after the magazine is full. the group website on: Anything which is not completely your own work (including photographs) may www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ipswich be subject to copyright. It is therefore Or find us on Twitter: @IpswichRSPB your responsibility to obtain the and on Facebook: RSPB Ipswich Local necessary permission and Group acknowledge accordingly. Respect the deadline which is:- Orwell Observer Editor—Patricia Hall. 1 March Tel: 01473 328121 e-mail: [email protected] Thank you.
Magazine Printers & Ipswich Oddfellows Sponsors: A Friendly Society
Sharward Services Ltd, ‘Making Friends, Helping People’
PO Box 1053, Tel: 01473 251867 Ipswich IP1 9YL [email protected] Tel: 0147 212113 Website: sharward.co.uk Sponsors of an indoor meeting
26 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019 RSPB Ipswich Local Group
The subscriptions for 2019 are now due. If you have not already re-joined the local
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. group please cut out or print this page, complete the section below and send it with your remittance to the membership secretary.
Annual Membership Rates—you have a choice of two options. Please indicate your choice by ticking the appropriate box:-
Option 1—£4.00 which includes membership card, programme and three issues of the Orwell Observer magazine. Entry to indoor meetings is payable on the night.
Option 2—£19 (£17.50 for those 60 years of age and over) for a Saver Season Ticket, which includes membership card, programme, three issues of the Orwell Observer and free entry to all the indoor meetings.
(Please print clearly)
Name………………………………………………………………………
Address……………………………………………………………………
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Tel. No. …………………………………………………………………...
e-mail ……………………………………………………………………..
The full colour version Orwell Observer will be sent to you by e-mail before the January, April and September indoor meetings. For those without Internet access there will be a shortened printed version in black and white available at those meetings. Please let the membership secretary know if you want a paper copy. It would be appreciated if you could collect your magazine, or alternatively arrange for a friend to collect it on your behalf. Sometimes other members will hand deliver magazines and any remaining will be posted.
Please make your cheques payable to ‘RSPB’ and send with completed form to:-
The Membership Secretary, 8 Winston Avenue, Ipswich, IP4 3LS
Together with a SAE if you wish your membership card posted to you.
The RSPB Ipswich 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. If
you wish to receive this information electronically, please confirm your email address here______
27 ORWELL OBSERVER January 2019