QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

Newsletter No. 158 Summer 2017

Chorley and District Natural History Society is a Registered Charity: Registration Number 513466

EDITORIAL

By the time you receive the ‘Summer Newsletter’ summer will in fact be over, and a new season of Evening Talks will be under way. Amplified details of the talks are given on page 9, with the usual calendar on page 12.

We have also managed to organise the next three Field Trips, details of which are given on page 10, starting with a Fungal Foray in on Saturday September 30 th . We hope that as many of you as possible will come along.

On the administrative side of things, we still don’t have a secretary, which means that secretarial functions are being shared around the committee, which inevitably means that only absolute essentials are being dealt with. We would welcome any member who could help out with committee work to lighten the load of existing members. We are also looking for a flora recorder. Surely there is a botanist amongst us who could help us out with this important work? Please get in touch if you think you can help.

Finally, as editor, I would like to make my annual plea for articles for the newsletter, while at the same time thanking those who have contributed over the past 12 months. It is much appreciated.

Duxbury Woods Neil Southworth (Editor)

1 FUNGI REPORT

This year the spring months have been very poor for fungi, possibly due to weather conditions or more likely due to under recording. However the following fungi have been recorded in the CDNHS area:-

April

Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austrica) were seen in the Nature Reserve at Fold, which is a noted location for this attractive species. The Nature Reserve also provided a sighting of Velvet Shank (Flammulina veltupes).

Some small yellowish fungi were noted on the moors between and in April but a positive identification was not made.

A good-sized patch of St. Georges Mushroom (Calocybe gambosa) was noted in the woodland at Lower Burgh Meadow on 29 th April.

Egghead Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus)

A patch of Egghead Mottlegill (Panaeolus semiovatus) was seen on manure in a field off Holker Lane, on 13 th April and some King Alfred’s Cakes (Daldina concentrica) were noted on a tree in Nature Reserve on 19 th April.

2 May

There were only two species noted this month, the first was a Chicken of the Woods fungi (Laetiporus sulphurous) on two trees at the bottom of Stronstrey Bank in White Coppice and the second a number of Coral Spot fungi (Nectria cinnabarina) on a tree trunk off Eyes Lane in .

Chicken of the Woods

June

There were a couple of specimens of Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) in Cemetery and numerous Fairy Inkcap (Coprinellus disseminates) on an old stump at the same venue.

Len Poxon 3 INSECT REPORT

Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks were recorded fairly often from mid-March onwards, with as many as 12 of each seen on Moss on 8 th April. Commas were scarce with only a handful of sightings. The Brimstone was seen at 5 sites with the earliest being 24 th March at Adlington.

First Brimsone was on 24 th March

For the first time since 2014, we had early records for the Red Admiral. This suggests successful overwintering – if not in this area, then certainly close by. It was seen on 23rd March and 9 th April then frequently through June when numbers will have been boosted by migrants. Similarly, migrant Painted Ladies began to arrive by 3 rd June (Croston) and were seen on a few occasions including a count of 5 at Eyes Lane on 4th June.

Also welcome was the Wall butterfly seen at Eyes Lane on 4 th June. This was our first Spring sighting of the species since 2011.

4 After its complete absence in 2016 I was delighted to receive a record for the Ringlet. It was seen at Rawlinson Lane, Adlington on 24 th June. There is no reason why it should not become established locally, although if you look up its national distribution map there is a big hole the size and shape of ! At a casual glance it could be overlooked in flight as a Meadow Brown, but is much darker and, at least when fresh, has a distinct white border to the wings. It generally closes its wings when landed and is then unmistakeable with the series of rings on its underside. It should be in flight from late June until mid-August. All records would be greatly appreciated.

Common Blue butterflies had a dreadful year in 2016, so it was a relief to get several records for the species from various different sites. It is never a very numerous species locally, but 6 were counted at Hic Bibi on 28 th May. Holly Blues were also seen in ones and twos at 6 sites.

5 20 Northern Eggar Moths were found on Spittlers Edge on 17 th June and a Drinker Moth at White Coppice on 12 th May. Both these moorland species have hairy caterpillars much loved by Cuckoos.

Drinker Moth Larva

There were only two records for Banded Demoiselle by the end of June, which is unusual. Perhaps recorders have omitted to send in sightings? I hope so. Our three Blue Damselflies were frequently seen as was the large Red Damselfly. A count of 40 Azure Damselflies was made at Hic Bibi on 17 th June. Hic Bibi was the only site for Broad Bodied Chaser, but the Four Spotted was also seen at Great Knowley. In all, Odonata records were rather sparse.

Banded Demoiselle Phil Kirk

6 BIRD REPORT April

Waxwings were still in town at the beginning of the month with a flock of 30 seen in the Lower Burgh area on the 4 th , and the fast disappearance of cotoneaster berries from other areas was further evidence of their continued presence.

Waxwings still present at start of April

Surprisingly, however, there was no record of Brambling, Fieldfare or Redwing.

There were, however, still around 20 Teal at Withnell Fold flashes on the 8 th .

7 April sees summer visitors arriving in numbers with first dates indicated in the following table (March and May first arrivals are included for completeness – last year’s dates are shown in brackets):-

Garganey 15 th March (No record) Rufford canal, Bretherton Quail 9th July (29 th June) Bretherton Moss Osprey 2nd April (28 th March) Belmont Avocet 12 th March (No record) Belmont Reservoir Whimbrel 12 th April (18 th April) Common Sandpiper 1st April (9 th April) Belmont Reservoir Little Ringed Plover 30 th March (27 th March) Hall flash Hobby 5th May (13 th May) Eccleston Common Tern 19 th April (16 th April) Croston Twin Lakes Cuckoo 15 th April (19 th April) White Coppice Swift 1st May (30 th April) Swallow 30 th March (28 th March) House Martin 3rd April (3 rd April) Cuerden Valley Park Sand Martin 14 th March (24 th March) Croston Twin Lakes Wheatear 16 th March (25 th March) Bretherton Eyes Whinchat 26 th April (No record) Bretherton Eyes Ring Ouzel 2nd April (29 th March) Belmont White Wagtail 14 th March (4 th April) Bretherton Eyes Yellow Wagtail No record (No record) Chiffchaff 11 th March (17 th March) Hic Bibi Willow Warbler 31 st March (4 th April) Belmont Garden Warbler 7th April (17 th April) Cuerden Valley Park Blackcap 29 th March (6 th April) Tan House Valley Wood Warbler 30 th April (5 th May) Heatherlea Woods Sedge Warbler 14 th April (9 th April) Croston Reed Bed Reed Warbler 19 th April (1 st May) Ulnes Walton brick pits Grasshopper Warbler 6th April (15 th April) Lower Burgh Meadow Whitethroat 11 th April (13 th April) Lower Healey Lesser Whitethroat 10 th April (13 th April) Tincklers Lane fields Tree Pipit 22 nd April (20 th April) Cuerden Valley Park Redstart 22 nd April (9 th April) Anglezarke Pied Flycatcher 5th May (14 th April) Spotted Flycatcher 20 th May (7 th May) Anglezarke

Whimbrel passage started with 4 over the A49 at Charnock Richard on the 12 th and over the next few days single figure flocks were seen in the Bretherton / Euxton area, the exception being a flock of 37 feeding in fields on the edge of Bretherton Moss on the 19 th . Elsewhere a flock of 24 was in fields off Jolly Tar Lane, on the 30 th . Including Whimbrel, 13 species of wader were recorded during the month. Oystercatchers had started to disperse to breeding territories across the area, although there was still a gathering of 30 on fields off Holker Lane on the 15 th . Lapwings too were on territory with an impressive 60 birds in the Withnell Fold / Brindle area. Nesting birds were also seen at Whittle and birds with chicks were seen at Bretherton Eyes and Eccleston by the end of the month. Little Ringed Plover were noted at Withnell Fold (11 th ), Bretherton Eyes (12 th ) and Buckshaw (23 rd ). A party of 6 8 Ringed Plover was also at Bretherton Eyes on the 12th , and a Golden Plover was seen over Winter Hill on the 1 st . A gathering of 46 Curlew was by the Yarrow at Eccleston on the 8 th , but the species had also begun to disperse to breeding territories with birds seen at Bretherton Eyes (1 st ), Charnock Richard (1 st ), Hic Bibi (2 nd ), (3 rd ), Anglezarke Moor (4 th ) and Withnell Fold (8 th ). A Black-tailed Godwit was at Bretherton Eyes (7 th ) and a party of 4 was at Belmont from 18 th – 23 rd . A couple of Dunlin were also at Bretherton Eyes on the 12 th , as were 3 Redshank on the 5 th . 2 Redshank were at Withnell Fold (9 th ) and another was at Buckshaw on the 22 nd . The first Common Sandpiper was at Belmont on the 1 st , followed by one at Croston Twin Lakes (4 th ), a couple on the Douglas at Bretherton (13 th ) and one at (29 th ). The over-wintering Green Sandpiper was seen on several dates along Syd Brook during the month, and another was on Croston Moss (8 th ). Finally, Snipe were on Winter Hill (2 nd ) and Eccleston (12 th ).

Wildfowl records were sparse. Mandarin Duck were on territory on the Yarrow in Chorley and at Eccleston. A drake was also seen in Cuerden Valley Park (17 th ), where there was also a Shelduck on the 3 rd . Goosander were also on territory on the Yarrow at Croston and on the Douglas at Bretherton. 10 Tufted Duck were on (8 th ). A Little Grebe was heard at Wymott ponds (10th and 12 th ), and a Water Rail was at the E-shaped pond on the 7 th . A Grey Heron was at the nest in Cuerden Valley Park on the 29 th .

A Grey Heron was at the nest in Cuerden Valley Park on the 29 th .

9 Two sightings of Red Kite on the 23 rd probably related to the same bird, the first being over Stronstrey Bank at 15.45 and the second at Lower Healey at 16.20. Osprey on passage were noted at Belmont (2 nd ) and over Mawdesley Moss (18 th ). Buzzards were noted on territory at no less than 14 sites during the month, including 4 together at Ulnes Walton (2 nd ) and a similar number at Cuerden Valley Park (4 th ). In contrast, Kestrels were noted at just 7 sites and Sparrowhawk at 4. Away from breeding sites, the only Peregrine record came from Croston Moss on the 4 th . A Short-eared Owl was over Winter Hill on the 29 th , and Little Owls were seen regularly at White Coppice and on Croston Finney.

A couple of Mediterranean Gulls were at Brindle on the 17 th , feeding with Black- headed Gulls. An impressive 120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on a field by the A49 at Charnock Richard on the 13 th . I would have thought they should have been at Walney Island or at least on the Ribble Marshes. First Common Tern of the year was at Croston Twin Lakes on the 19 th , with the first at by the 27 th and 3 there on the 29 th .

Lesser Spotted was seen at Limbrick on the 29 th

For the first time for years, all three species of woodpecker were reported during the month. Lesser Spotted was seen at Limbrick on the 29 th by an experienced birder. This is now a description species so I hope the record has been sent to the county recorder. There was also just a single record of Green Woodpecker, from White Coppice on the 8 th . Great Spotted Woodpeckers were noted at Charnock Richard (2 nd ), White Coppice (3 rd ), (5 th ), and Withnell Fold (8 th ). It’s a sign of the times that we receive more records of Ring-necked Parakeets nowadays than of Green Woodpeckers, with pairs at Lower Burgh (2 nd ), Astley Park (2 nd ) and Hartwood (24 th ).

10 Cuckoo

The first Cuckoo was at White Coppice on the 15 th , followed by one near Pike (16 th ) and another in Lead Mines Clough (22 nd ). An intriguing record was of a Turtle Dove, heard but not seen by an experienced birder at Rivington on the 27 th . Last of the hirundines to arrive is usually House Martin with one at Cuerden Valley Park on the 3 rd – the same date, location and observer as last year! It was followed by 2 over the Gillibrands on the 7 th . A flock of 30 Sand Martin was at Croston Twin Lakes on the 1 st . White Wagtails were on Bretherton Eyes (1 st ) and Lodges (2 on 17 th ). A Tree Pipit was over Cuerden Valley Park on the 22 nd . Wheatears continued to arrive with the largest counts being 20 at White Coppice (23 rd ) and 28 on Croston Moss (24 th ). The first Redstart was at Anglezarke on the 22 nd , followed by one at White Coppice on the 27 th . The only Whinchat record was one at Bretherton Eyes on the 2 nd . Ring Ouzels were at Belmont on the 2 nd and at White Coppice on several dates between 7 th and 26 th .

Garden Warblers were well recorded with singing birds noted at Cuerden Valley Park (7 th ), Crosse Hall (11 th ), Lower Healey (15 th ) and Yarrow Valley Park (16 th ). First Lesser Whitethroat was singing in a Tincklers Fields hedgerow on the 10 th , followed by one at Wymott (12 th ) with 3 there on the 23 rd . The first Wood Warbler was at Heatherlea Woods on the 30 th . The first Grasshopper Warbler was at Lower Healey on the 11 th , followed by one at White Coppice (17 th ) and 2 on Lower Burgh Meadow (18 th ). First Sedge Warbler was at Croston Reed Bed on the 14 th , followed by 2 on Lower Burgh Meadow (22 nd ). First Reed Warbler was one at Wymott ponds on the 19 th . Other records of interest included a party of 3 Crossbills at Lead Mines Clough (2 nd ), Willow Tits at Hartwood (19 th ), Croston Reed Bed (19 th ) and Common Bank (25 th ), and a flock of 18 Corn Bunting on Mawdesley Moss.

11 May

Breeding success was to the fore in May. The pair of Mute Swan at Yarrow Valley Park had 7 young by the 19 th , soon reducing to 6. The pair in Astley Park had 2 young by the 25 th , a pair on the old Rufford canal at Bretherton had 7 young by the 28 th , and a pair on Heapey No.3 lodge had 2 young by the 31 st . A pair of Canada Geese at Eccleston had 8 young by the 6 th and a pair of Greylag Geese at Belmont had 8 young by the 21 st . Goosander at Eccleston had 10 young by the 6 th and a pair on the Darwen at had 3 by the 28 th . Mandarins were also producing including a pair on the Yarrow near Duxbury with 11 young (22 nd ) and a pair on the Yarrow at Eccleston with 3 young (22 nd ). Great Crested Grebe at Croston Twin Lakes had at least one young by the 31 st . Pairs of Moorhen on the tern rafts in Yarrow Valley Park had 4 and 3 young respectively by the 1 st and a pair at White Coppice had 3 young on the 2 nd . Other wildfowl records of interest included a Bar-headed Goose on Anglezarke Reservoir (26 th ) and Shelduck at Withnell Fold (1 st ).

Whimbrel passage continued until the 10 th , with the largest gathering being 50 birds in the fields off Jolly Tar Lane on the 1 st , reducing to 10 by the 10 th . Most other sightings were single figure parties from the Tincklers Lane fields area of Eccleston. Common Sandpipers were noted on Common Bank Lodge (1 st ), 2 on the Douglas at Bretherton (1 st ) and 3 at Belmont Reservoir (14 th ). 2 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin were also at Belmont from 12 th to 14 th . 3 Little Ringed Plover were there on the 29 th . Lapwing breeding success included pairs with 2 chicks on Mawdesley Moss (1 st ), 4 chicks by the Yarrow at Eccleston (4 th ) and 4 chicks at Belmont Reservoir on the 12 th . A Little Egret was on Croston Moss on the 13 th and another was at Eccleston on the 27 th .

Little Ringed Plover

12 The first Hobby was seen at Eccleston on the 5 th , followed by birds at Croston (26 th ) and Yarrow Valley Park (27 th ). Ospreys were seen over Yarrow Valley Park (6 th ) and White Coppice (8 th ). Buzzards were reported from 7 sites, including one with a juvenile in tow at Withnell Fold on the 27 th . Sparrowhawks were noted at 4 sites and Kestrel at 5. Chorley’s pair of Peregrines relocated from Morrison’s to St George’s this year where they successfully hatched 4 chicks. One of these perished but the remaining three survived and were ringed on the 22 nd . A Short-eared Owl was on Anglezarke Moor (18 th ), Barn Owls were recorded at a minimum of 7 sites and Tawny Owls at a similar number. Little Owls were again on Croston Moss and at White Coppice.

Three Common Terns were still at Yarrow Valley Park on the 1 st , but for reasons unknown, they left the site and didn’t return, which was obviously a great disappointment. A single bird was at Croston Twin Lakes on the 10 th . Cuckoos were seen in the White Coppice area throughout the month with other birds also recorded in Lead Mines Clough (3 rd ), Great Knowley on a few dates, Anglezarke Moor (12 th ) and Red Lea Reservoir (25 th ).

A pair of Ring-necked Parakeet at White Coppice on the 7 th was away from their normal locations.

Ring Necked Parakeet

13 Back to breeding and plenty of records were received of newly fledged Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Starlings and House Sparrows from members’ gardens during the first half of the month. Other breeding records included a pair of Dipper with 4 young in Yarrow Valley Park on the 19 th , Grey Wagtail with 2 young at Common Bank Lodge (9 th ) and Long-tailed Tit with 6 young on Croston Moss on the 13 th .

Long Tailed Tits seen with young

Amazingly, as we were waiting for the last of the summer visitors to arrive, a late Fieldfare was on the cricket pitch at White Coppice on the 1 st . The first Swift was at Mawdesley on the 1 st , followed by birds at Hoghton, Eccleston, Chorley, White Coppice, Coppull and Euxton. The first Pied Flycatcher record was from Roddlesworth on the 6 th , but the first Spotted Flycatcher didn’t turn up until the 20 th when a pair was noted at Anglezarke. Up to 3 Wood Warblers were singing in Heatherlea Woods throughout the month, and birds were also recorded at Anglezarke (5 th ), Roddlesworth (6 th ) and Withnell Quarry (10 th ).

14 June

The 6 cygnets at Yarrow Valley Park were thriving, but there was only a single survivor in Astley Park and the 3 on Heapey No. 3 lodge had disappeared completely. The 7 on the old canal at Bretherton were still at the site. Goosanders on the Yarrow and Douglas had 7 and 5 young respectively (4 th ). Mallard at Common Bank lodge had 7 young and Coot there had one or two young. Great Crested Grebe had one young at Belmont Reservoir (5 th ), 2 at Heapey Lodges (7 th ), one at Croston Twin Lakes (11 th ), 1 at Yarrow Valley Park (22 nd ) and one on Anglezarke Reservoir (25 th ).

Oystercatcher

Only 4 species of wader were recorded, being Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew and Common Sandpiper. The Lapwing were starting to form post-breeding flocks at Belmont Reservoir, Croston Moss and Withnell Fold.

15 Hobbies were seen at Eccleston (10 th ) and near Tesco (16 th ). Red Kites were seen over Chorley (1 st and 11 th ) and at Withnell Fold (13 th ). The 3 young Peregrines at St George’s fledged successfully during the month. A pair of Kestrels at Hic Bibi also successfully fledged 3 young and Buzzards reported from 11 sites undoubtedly had one or two juveniles with them. A pair of Barn Owl at Hoghton had 3 young, Little Owl on Croston Moss had at least one and Tawny Owl at Eccleston also bred successfully.

Last Cuckoo record came from Great Knowley on the relatively early date of the 4 th . 3 Ring-necked Parakeets were at the Gillibrands (5 th ) and 4 were at Hartwood (22 nd ). A juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was at Great Knowley (14 th ). Kingfishers had started to disperse with sightings from Common Bank (1 st ), Bretherton (4 th ), Yarrow Valley Park (20 th ), Syd Brook (23 rd ) and Croston Moss (24 th ). Grey Wagtail with young were at White Coppice (17 th ) and Yarrow Valley Park (22 nd ). A pair of Long-tailed Tits at Hic Bibi had 9 young (7 th ) and a pair of Goldcrest at Eccleston had 5 young (13 th ).

A pair of Spotted Flycatcher in Haddock Park Wood was a good record.

Spotted Flycatcher

Many thanks to the following for submitting records:-

I.Ball, D.Beattie, D.Beevers, J.Catt, J.Cobham, B.Derbyshire, D.Downing, T.Dunn, J.Edwards, S.Field, M.Fishwick, J.Frankland, M.Graham, M.Greenhalgh, L.Harrison, P.Hodson, J.Howlett, R.Hoyle, C&T.Johnson, P.King, P.Kirk, P.Krischkiw, E.Langrish, A.Leach, G.Lilley, J.Love, A.Makin, S.Martin, M.Nightingale, L.Poxon, C.Rae, J.Riley, N.Root, L.Rose, P.Ross, P.Rowlands, N.Southworth, R.Spencer, M.Stuart, J.Sutton, C.Thistlethwaite, N.&T.West, P.West, T.Westhead, P.Whittaker, I. Whittle, K.Woan.

Please continue to send your records to the forum or the editor. Neil Southworth

16 INDOOR MEETINGS

A full and varied programme has once again been organised by Lydia for the forthcoming season. Thanks to the generosity of members who have sponsored meetings, we have again been able to spend rather more than normal on speakers, which is reflected in the quality of talks in the programme. Our sincere thanks go to Joan Smith, John Howlett, and Carol Thistlethwaite.

Thursday 21 st September Wild Mersey

Bill Morton will give us a talk on "Wild Mersey". Bill writes a blog under the name "Frodsham Birder" and misses little of what happens on the Mersey Estuary. The talk is sure to be full of interest.

Thursday 28 th September Annual General Meeting – Members Only

The business of the evening will be followed by the results of the Colin Smith Memorial Photographic Competition. After the appeal for members to submit images, we are delighted to say that we had an entry of over 50 images and that the standard was better than ever this year.

If all that does not take too long, Phil will give a talk on "Orkney". So it will be a full programme, so don't be deterred by the AGM bit!

Thursday October 19 th Birding in Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway

A talk by John Miles on birding around the Solway Firth on both sides of the border.

Thursday 16th November Birds and other animals of the Brazilian Pantanal

A colourful video presentation by Ron Jackson covering over 60 species which can be found in the world’s largest tropical wetland area.

Thursday 14th December Red Squirrels

Member David Beattie talking about the trials and tribulations of the Red Squirrel.

Thursday 18th January Alpine Flowers

We welcome back botanist Dr. Irene Ridge with an illustrated talk about alpine plants of European & Turkish mountains and how they adapt in order to survive the conditions they encounter.

17 Thursday 15th February Bird Photography, Ringing and the Future

A wide-ranging presentation by Ben Tarvie covering several aspects of the joys of birding including future prospects for endangered species.

FIELD TRIPS

Fungal Foray to Duxbury Woods – Saturday 30 th September

Meet at the golf course car park at 9.30 am

Knott End – Sunday 29 th October

A repeat of a popular walk along the Lancashire Coastal Way towards Pilling, with hopefully waders, wildfowl and egrets on the shore side and plenty of geese inland

Meet at the main car park in Knott End near the ferry slipway - Grid Ref SD485346 - at 9.00 am.

Marton Mere, Blackpool – Saturday 25 th November

A walk around the mere to see what we can find including possibly Bittern, wildfowl, owls, Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler.

Meet in Lawson Drive, opposite the playing fields at 9.00 am.

DATA PROTECTION

Records of name, address, telephone numbers and type of membership of the Society's members are now stored on computer. If you object to this information about yourself being stored in this manner, please notify the Membership Secretary in writing of your objection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Many thanks to Joan Smith for kindly allowing us the continuing use of her late husband Colin’s photographs in our publications.

18 A.G.M. NOTIFICATION

The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Chorley & District Natural History Society will be held on Thursday, 28 th September 2017 at 7.30 pm. This will be held in the meeting room on the first floor at St Mary’s Parish Centre, and will be essentially for the business of the A.G.M.

Nominations are invited for all officers and Committee. Please note especially that the post of Secretary is currently vacant. Please ensure that the nominee is willing to stand for election and give written nominations, together with names of proposer and seconder to Mr. P. Kirk, Mill End, Dawbers Lane, Euxton, Chorley, on or before Thursday 21 st September 2017.

Nomination forms are available from Mr. Kirk (Tel 01257 266783) or Mr. K. Woan, Chairman (Tel 01257 278759).

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Will members please note that subscriptions were due for renewal on 1 st September. Subscription rates are to remain unchanged for the coming season a s follows:- Grade of Membership 2017 / 2018 Adult £10.00 Family £15.00 Seniors. £8.00 Senior Family £12.00 Junior (under 18) Free

Members who attend meetings are requested to make a donation at the door. A charge of £2.00 is made for non-members.

Members who are not able to attend meetings may send their subscription direct to:-

Mr Keith Woan, 80 Carleton Road, Chorley, PR6 8UB

Subscriptions may also be paid by Standing Order. This reduces administration, particularly in enabling the Society, which is a registered Charity, to claim back tax on the subscription of those members who have also signed Gift Aid Declarations, and at no extra cost to the member. For further details, contact the Membership Secretary or the Treasurer. Thanks to those members who have already arranged to pay by Standing Order. Thanks also to those who have signed Gift Aid Declarations. One advantage of this over the covenant scheme is that we can claim for all subscriptions - not just those paid by Standing Order - as long as you have signed a Declaration.

19 WINTER PROGRAMME 2017/2018

Sep 21 ‘Wild Mersey’ Bill Morton

Sep 28 Annual General Meeting Members Only

Oct 19 ‘Birding in Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway’ John Miles

Nov 16 ‘Birds & Other Animals of the Brazilian Ron Jackson Pantanal’’

Dec 14 ‘Red Squirrels’ David Beattie

Jan 18 ‘Alpine Flowers’ Irene Ridge

Feb 15 ‘Bird Photography, Ringing & the Future’ Ben Tarvie

Mar 15 ‘Britain’s Got Talons’ Peter Smith

Apr 19 ‘Wild Encounters’ Brian Rafferty

All the above meetings will be held at St Mary's Parish Centre, Devonshire Road, Chorley and commence at 7.30 p.m. Please note that all meetings are on a Thursday evening. Visitors are welcome at all the meetings.

For confirmation of the programme and further information about the Society, please contact:- Keith Woan on Chorley (01257) 278759.

Or visit our Website: www.chorleynats.org.uk . Or follow us on Facebook!

DEADLINES

The deadlines for receipt of articles, letters and book reviews for the forthcoming issues of the Newsletter are:-

No 159 Autumn 2017 21 st October 2017

No 160 Winter 2017 / 18 21 st January 2018

All contributions for Newsletters should be sent to the Editor – Neil Southworth, 9, Queensgate, Chorley, PR7 2PX (01257 276065).

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