SEVENOAKS LOCAL GROUP
JANUARY 2014 NEWSLETTER
Happy New Year to all our MEMBERS
I’m sure you’ve all seen the RSPB’s ‘Giving Nature a Home’ advert on TV. Well it has recently won Gold in two categories – Best use of Film and Best Brand Building Campaign at the Direct Marketing Association Awards Ceremony – with the Chair of the judging panel being none other than Stephen Poliakoff, who knows a thing or two about film.
We start the new year with a full programme of talks, including one in May, which will feature a film following the AGM. Our annual “media” sale of books, CDs, and DVDs will be held during the April meeting, by which time you will probably have finished with those from Christmas.
Our intrepid duo of field leaders, Nick Barlow and John Waterman, have organised an excellent range of field trips. We also have two more of the popular minibus trips, organised by Mike Love, one to Rutland Water, and one to Titchfield Haven (see page 6 for details and application form), and if you fancy a holiday in France why not take advantage of Anne and Dave Chapman’s gites in southern Brittany (see page 8 for details).
John Eastwood describes the Group’s visit to The Wash in October, which was timely because on page 2 is a review of just some of the damage caused by the storm surge on 5th December 2013.
Jacquie Martin, as well as writing about her African safari has kindly produced a seasonal crossword to exercise the ‘little grey cells’. Jacquie is our Campaign Champion and sends the following message: As the Group's nominated 'campaign champion' several of you gave me your email addresses some two years ago so that I could send on information from the RSBP to you. In particular the RSPB use this method to let members know of campaigns to save or protect birds. I recently changed my email provider. Unfortunately, I have discovered that when my address book was copied over, the group addresses were not. So if you want to have RSPB info sent to you please will you email me your address. My new email address is [email protected] Jacquie Martin
Finally, it has been brought to the Committee’s attention that someone has been leaving RSPB literature, magazines and newsletters around the hides and elsewhere at the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, which is of course run by the Kent Wildlife Trust. This may have been done with good intentions, but this is inappropriate and creates a litter problem. If you wish to pass on your issues of “Natures Home”, etcetera after you have read them, see if your local GP surgery, dentist or hairdresser would be interested in taking them – but do ask first and don’t just dump them.
Brian Nobbs, Editor. [email protected]. 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP. Don’t forget our website, www.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks
The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076; Scotland no. SC037654 1 The Wash – awash! Photos from the RSPB
John Eastwood’s report on the Group’s visit to the Wash last October is a timely description of some of the RSPB’s east coast reserves as they were. The highest storm surge to hit the east coast since the Great Flood of 1953 caused considerable damage to coastal reserves, but it could have been far worse. At Snettisham the shingle banks were breached and two hides washed away or severely damaged. The shingle banks were stripped away and the two gravel pits combined into one massive lake. At Titchwell the west bank path was overtopped, and there was GettingGetting a newa new an anglegle at at SnettishamSnettisham severe damage to the paths and
sand dunes. The boardwalks were smashed and the 30 foot sand dunes flattened. However, the ‘managed re-alignment’ of the sea defences completed in 2011 has prevented catastrophic damage. Managed re-alignment involves moving hard sea defences further inland and then breaching the original sea Titchwell walls to allow high tide flooding. The salt marsh created then acts as a buffer, absorbing much of the energy of the waves. As a result major damage to the freshwater reedbeds has been largely avoided. Further along the coast at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Cley there was major flooding and it remains to be seen how the marshes will recuperate. At one stage a seal was photographed swimming up the A149! The secondary defences at Minsmere also held, though there was some over topping into North Marsh and extensive erosion of the dunes. Just to the north, RSPB Dingle Marshes were not so lucky, with a large section of the shingle ridge breached leaving most of the marshes under salt water. Fortunately the grazing livestock had been moved to higher ground as a precaution. Also in Suffolk, at RSPB Snape the new wetland areas were flooded as water levels rose up the Alde estuary and river valley. Again all livestock and machinery had been moved, but it will be some time before the full impact can be assessed. Havergate Island, also recently visited by Sevenoaks Group, in the middle of the Ore estuary bore the full force of the surge tide, which completely covered the island, moved two hides and left the toilet shed perched in a tree! The island’s Brown Hares are known to be strong swimmers, so it is hoped they will have found high ground. Note that this may affect the minibus trip on April 13th. If you have booked for this trip, please check with Mick Love at the end of March.
Elsewhere in the east water rushed over the river wall at RSPB Blacktoft Sands (East Yorkshire) causing major damage to the reception centre and sluices, whilst at RSPB Saltholme (Cleveland) the banks protecting the reedbeds have been weakened.
The structural damage to the RSPB reserves mentioned and others will be expensive to repair and it will be some time before the ecological consequences can be assessed. The RSPB has launched an emergency appeal to raise funding. Please see the RSPB website for more details.
Closer to home, Rye Harbour suffered substantial damage to the sea wall and road between Kiln Cottage and the first hide. 2 Birding round the Wash 19th and 20th October. A report on the Sevenoaks RSPB Group weekend trip, by John Eastwood
Starting in the middle of the trip, take a 6 am start, drive through dark Norfolk villages and out into the wild edge of the Wash and end up standing quietly on a flat grassy area, in bright moonlight (a clear sky) with the sea a few feet away. Listen and look. For the next 30 minutes or so, that’s all you need to do. In that 30 minutes I saw more birds than I would normally see in a year. The appearance of a swirling mass, like a sandstorm perhaps, but in this case birds. Knot, small wading birds that gather on migration on the Wash in their thousands; they have to get off the water as it deepens and come inland to rest. How they make up their minds is a mystery, but these clouds of Knot , sometimes very close overhead, seemingly changing direction on a whim, swoosh and whoosh around; they don’t seem to call in flight (not like the geese), but you can feel them going through the air. Skeins of mainly Brent Geese are on the move, lotsof Oystercatchers and much higher up Golden Plover. Going to one of the hides which overlooks one of the resting areas, sloping sandy banks into shallow water with islands, but is that an island with those Oystercatchers walking through it? No, it is in fact a sea of Knot all huddled together, with the taller birds striding through them.
After sunrise, parties of migrating Chaffinch and Linnet came bouncing along; very few separate species but in huge numbers. On the way back we stopped for a field full of Curlew (well about 20 actually, but they are big birds). Quite a morning – and that was the day before breakfast ! This was all part of the weekend birding in Norfolk organized by Mick Love – who had put a lot of work into preparing the ground – not least finding an excellent hotel for the night, and letting all the sites know that “Sevenoaks” were around. One warden did not seem impressed, maybe it was too early in the day!
We started on the Saturday at the Ouse washes, north of Ely, right in the middle of the huge drained fens. Two parallel waterways with wetland between, stretching for several miles, with hides and good visibility. The warden gave us a good introduction to his site, which Mick had booked. Lots of ducks and geese but the undoubted highlight here was a ring-tailed harrier [subsequently identified as a Northern Harrier, a very rare vagrant American bird now generally considered as a separate species from our Hen Harrier] which made repeated passes over the scrapes and put all the other birds up. It just seemed to like doing it!
A different type of site in the afternoon was at Frampton Marsh in South Lincolnshire (the Boston ”Stump” in clear view in the distance). Again a most hospitable warden and his team at their centre. Another wetland site: pools and scrapes with a huge area of adjacent sea marsh leading over to the Wash. Lots of Teal and Pintail with great fly-ins of Brent Geese. Another site buried deep in the rich fen farm lands, some with that fabulous black earth. It did make you realize how many cabbages we must eat in a year – fields of them!
3 We finished our trip on Sunday at Titchwell RSPB reserve – where I was amazed how the pathways have been extended since last there. It’s a very popular site, masses of people, dogs (and even a pet rabbit!); somehow it all works really well. Plenty to see in the main pools (less so in the reedy areas at this time of year of course).
Several sightings of the incredibly mobile Peregrine Falcon hurtling through the air, and some very elegant Grey Plover. Lots more ducks, geese and other plovers coming and going. Its popular with the birds too !
Sevenoaks RSPB Group at Titchwell
How many birds seen ? Tens of thousands. Who knows - maybe in the hundreds of thousands. Species totted up ? Around 80, depending on who you spoke to ! My count was MUCH lower ! Customer satisfaction ? Excellent – thanks to Mick and Jane and our drivers Dave C, Chris and John W. John N Eastwood
CROSSWORD – compiled by Jacquie Martin
1 2 3 4 Clues Across: 5 1 Pastime (5) 2 Fire at (5) 6 7 6 Berkeley Square bird (11) 8 RSPB symbol (6) 9 Joke (5)
12 Warm covers come from it (5) 8 13 Bringer of peace (4) 14 Christmas bird (5)
Clues Down: 1 Female pesterer (3,7) 3 I churr (8) 9 10 11 4 ICE PLAN (anagram) (7) 5 Fix back end (7) 12 7 AROSE DONG (anagram) (9) 10 Did a scout tie it? (4) 13 11 St Paul’s designer (4)
14 Answers (all answers are birds) on page 8
4 African Safari by Jacqueline Martin
In October 2013 I went on a safari holiday to Zambia and Botswana. It wasn’t meant as a birding holiday, but I thought that I would see some birds and so bought a book on Southern African birds to take with me.
Guess what. I did see Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Jackal, Buffalo, Wildebeest, Hippo, Crocodiles and a number of different antelope species, but I also saw over a 120 bird species. The bird book was invaluable.
It started when I arrived at the hotel. Just outside My room there were Red-winged Starlings. The next morning a short early morning walk produced a Pied Kingfisher, an Openbill Stork, a Glossy Ibis and a colony of Village Weaver birds. Later I found that the hotel grounds had a bird hide and there I saw a Giant Kingfisher, Natal Spurfowl and a Hammerkop.
When we transferred to the Chobe national game Park in Botswana there were even more birds. Fortunately 7 of the rest of the group were also keen birders and it was arranged that we should PiedPied Kingfish Kingfisherer © Brian© Brian Nobbs Nobbs have a game guide who was an expert on birds.
Our first 3 hour game drive produced a very good view of a juvenile White-backed Vulture trying out his wings on the nest. It looked as though he would take off but eventually he decided that he was not yet ready for this flying lark! Other highlights were several sightings of both Yellow and Red-billed Hornbills, Fish Eagles, Marabou Stork, Red-billed Ox-peckers (on Buffalo), Helmeted Guineafowl, White- bellied Sunbirds and the colourful Carmine Bee- eaters and Lilac-breasted Rollers.
Later that afternoon we had a three hour trip in a small boat, again with a guide who really knew his birds. We saw 7 varieties of heron, the Grey, Purple, Black-headed, Black-Crowned Night, White- backed Night, Squacco and the Goliath, African Fish Eagle who was spectacular, being almost twice the © Brian Nobbs size of the Grey. Other water birds included the Reed Cormorant, African Skimmers, the tiny Malachite Kingfisher, Jacanas and 5 varieties of lapwing, African Wattled, Blacksmith, Crowned, Long-toed and White- crowned. There were also birds common to the UK, Barn Swallows, Sand Martin and Greenshank. A total of 70 species on day one of the safari.
Later in the week we saw other unusual (for us) birds, the most remarkable being the Secretary Bird, the Kori Bustard, a Red-crested Korhaan, Wood Hoopoe, Scimitar Bird and Red-faced Mousebirds.
It was all so great that I want to go back.
Jacqueline Martin
5 Minibus Trips – Summer / Autumn 2014
Sunday 13th July Rutland Water Ospreys Day Trip
We plan to spend the day in two different locations at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. Providing the birds co-operate and stick to the routine that they have established in recent years, we will spend the morning at Manton Bay, where, after a video presentation by the warden, we should be able to watch a pair of Ospreys, hopefully with their young. We will be in one of two hides that overlook the nest site, giving us good views of the birds feeding, bathing and stretching their wings. For the photographers among us that have long lenses, some good shots should be possible. The afternoon will be spent at Egleton where the Anglian Water Bird Watching Center is located. From here we have access to 28 more hides. We would not expect to visit all the hides but would be guided by the staff at the centre as to the best locations on the day. Grade C – up to 4 miles walking. As this trip is dependent on bird behaviour, changes could be made at a later date. The reserve is run by the local Wildlife Trust who make a charge for entry, this is included in the cost of £22.50 per head. Booking form below. Minibus will leave Mavala car park at 6.45am, returning at about 7.00pm.
------Sunday 5th October Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve Day Trip
Hopefully a different reserve for most of you, Titchfield is a coastal reserve run by Hampshire Council. There are a good number of hides giving some close-up views of the birds on a variety of scrapes and other habitats. We should also be able to spot other species in Hill Head Harbour, which is off of the Solent. It would normally take about 3 to 4 hours to go round the reserve, with a reasonable time spent in each hide but our departure time would be dependent on how much there is to see on the day. With this in mind on our return journey we would visit Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve where we could have a walk to some of the hides if there is enough time, or at least have our afternoon tea break if there is not. Grade B – up to 2 miles walking. As the council make a charge for entry the cost would also be £22.50 per head. Booking form below. Minibus will leave Mavala car park at 6.45am, returning at about 6.30pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN TO MICHAEL LOVE, 14 THE LANDWAY, KEMSING, SEVENOAKS, KENT, TN15 6TG.
Please reserve ………….... place/s for Rutland Water on 13th July 2014 A cheque for £22.50 each is enclosed payable to ‘Sevenoaks RSPB Local Group’.
Please reserve ………….... place/s for Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve on 5th October 2014 A cheque for £22.50 each is enclosed payable to ‘Sevenoaks RSPB Local Group’.
NAME: ……………………………………………….. DATE: …………………
ADDRESS:……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
TEL.NO: ………………………………………………
E-MAIL: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6 Recycle your Printer Cartridges and Mobile Phones
We now have collection boxes for used printer cartridges and old mobile telephones which we will bring to indoor meetings. Not only will this help the environment, but at the same time will bring in a small amount of money for the group.
The RSPB can also raise money from used postage stamps, so if You would like to bring any to an indoor meeting, Brian or Jean will take them off your hands.
The Society can also find good homes for used binoculars & telescopes. They can be refurbished and used by wardens and students overseas where such equipment is difficult and expensive to obtain, so particularly valued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TUDELEY WOODS WORK PARTIES
The volunteer group have been tirelessly working through the grey days to coppice the track edges through the woodland. Wide rides are great for letting wildflowers bloom, attracting many butterflies and providing food-filled corridors for them to glide through. The trees will grow back in the next few years, creating dappled light and shelter for shade loving species of plant and insect, and a scrubby shelter for birds. While these grow back, other rides will be cleared, to keep a continuous flow of habitats and corridors for wildlife.
Siskins, Redpoll and Crossbills can be seen in small flocks flitting between tall birches and conifers in the valley, large numbers of Fieldfare passing overhead on the heath and even one or two Song thrushes singing from the scrub on milder afternoons.
If you’ve ever fancied getting involved with some practical conservation, why not come out to one of our work parties? Try felling a tree, making a dead hedge or starting a bonfire; get some fresh air and make a difference. Send an email to Claire Derbyshire, the Work Party Leader, or Tom Pinches, the Warden at [email protected] if you’d like more information.
Meet at the Reserve car park at 10:00 am. All work is conducted under the supervision of the warden, and tools can be provided, though you may prefer to bring your own (saw, loppers, etc.). Don’t forget to bring some lunch and a drink! The reserve is off the A21. From the Sevenoaks direction, pass the turning for Tunbridge Wells, and just before the Shell petrol station turn left into Half Moon Lane (signposted “Capel 2”). The reserve car park is approximately 0.3 miles down the lane on the left (look out for brown RSPB sign).
2014 Work Parties
2014 Sunday Wednesday
January 19th 8th, 15th, 29th February 16th 12th, 26th March 16th 12th, 26th
7
GITES IN SOUTHERN BRITTANY
Beautifully restored 18th century stone barn, converted into three spacious, comfortable gites, which may be rented separately or altogether for a larger group. Sleeps 2 - 16 Set in 4 acres of tranquil grounds and approached by a long drive, each gite sleeps 4 – 6 , has a large open-plan lounge/kitchen/dining room with traditional exposed beams and well-equipped bathroom/shower/separate WC. Heating, electricity and gas included + cots, high chairs and linen on request. Laundry room, games room, bikes, garden furniture and barbecues. Situated on the Brittany/Pays de la Loire border, ideal for exploring Brittany’s coastline or Loire Valley. Five minutes from the Vilaine River Valley: Excellent rambling, cycling, birdwatching, boating, golf + nearby lake for swimming.
Gite MID SEASON HIGH SEASON LOW SEASON May, June, Sept July & August Mar,Apr,Oct Poppy & £305 per week £385 per week £270 per week Sunflower Primrose £290 per week £360 per week £260 per week
Exclusive use of all 3 gites £810 per week £980 per week £700 per week
Contact: Anne & Dave Chapman Tel: 01732-456459 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.la-salle.co.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUIZ NIGHT Thank you to everyone who helped make our Quiz Night such a success once again. Nine teams battled it out for the fourth year running and we made a magnificent £437 for RSPB. A special thank you to Jack & Doris Wheeler for hosting the event, compiling the questions and making it such a thoroughly enjoyable evening. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crossword Answers: Across: 1 Hobby, 2 Snipe, 6 Nightingale, 8 Avocet, 9 Lark, 12 Eider, 13 Dove, 14 Robin Down: 1 Hen Harrier, 3 Nightjar, 4 Pelican, 5 Pintail, 7 Goosander, 10 Knot, 11 Wren
8
INDOOR MEETINGS
We meet on the first Thursday of the month, at OTFORD VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL, Otford, TN14 5PQ. The car park is adjacent to the hall, and is free. Entrance fee = Group Members £2.50, non-members £3.50. Please note that meetings will START promptly at 7.45 pm, doors are open from 7.15 pm.
DONATIONS OF RAFFLE PRIZES ALWAYS APPRECIATED!
Brian Nobbs - To Iceland and back 7.45 p.m. Thursday 2nd Birds and landscape of Iceland, with particular reference to those species JANUARY which winter in the UK and migrate north in summer to Iceland or stop over 2014 there en route to Greenland.
Dr Timothy Seller - Origin and evolution of birds 7.45 p.m. Thursday 6th A welcome return visit by Tim whose presentation “Senses and non - senses FEBRUARY of birds” was so well received last season. An informed talk presented in an 2014 entertaining way.
Peter Holden (RSPB) - The RSPB’s Natural Secrets
7.45 p.m. It’s not only birds that benefit from the RSPB’s works. In this illustrated talk Thursday 6th we will look at many of the other forms of wildlife that can be found on and MARCH around our reserves – from rare hoverflies to magnificent Red Deer and from 2014 the Angel-wings Fungus to the Scottish Primrose. Some are common if you know where to look, but others are rare and depend on the RSPB for their future in the UK. With over 13,000 species of wildlife found on our reserves no visit should ever be dull – even when the birds don’t show!
See also further details in box on page 10
Edward Mayer - Swift conservation – keeping the skies alive
7.45 p.m. The life cycle of the Swift from egg to first flight, and how we can help them Thursday 3rd in the UK. Edward will also illustrate the differences between swift, martins APRIL and swallows. 2014 Plus sale of books, DVDs, CDs etc. Please bring and buy
AGM plus a new RSPB film “Born to fly” (Cranes)
7.45 p.m. The story of the common crane includes work being carried out in the UK to Thursday 1st re-introduce the species, and amazing views of the long and arduous MAY migration from its summer habitats to its wintering grounds in Spain. 2014 Plus wine and cheese
9
Thursday 6th March 2014
“The RSPB’s Natural Secrets” by Peter Holden MBE
This is a special indoor meeting which will illustrate the RSPB’s commitment to conservation of
all forms of wildlife. Peter has been passionate about birds and wildlife for as long as he can remember, joining the RSPB staff in 1969, and devising the popular Big Garden Birdwatch. Peter’s activities are dedicated to taking the magic of wildlife to new audiences. Over the years he ran the RSPB’s junior membership, advised Blue Peter, worked with Bill Oddie, contributed to Springwatch and has written more than a dozen natural history books. In “The RSPB’s Natural Secrets”, Peter Holden illustrates that it is not only birds that benefit from the RSPB’s works. Peter looks at many other forms of wildlife that can be found on and around our reserves – from rare hoverflies to magnificent Red Deer and from the Angels’ Wings Fungus to the Scottish Primrose. Some are common if you know where to look, but others are rare and dependent upon the RSPB for their future in the UK. With over 13.000
species of wildlife found on our reserves no visit should ever be dull – even when the birds don’t show! The RSPB is dedicated to giving nature a home. Why not bring friends and family to this presentation – they will not be disappointed!
Our field meetings are a great opportunity to see a wide variety of birds and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. We will see over thirty different species on most walks and sometimes fifty plus. The walks are for people of all abilities and for the most part cover easy terrain at a leisurely pace, providing a chance to enjoy birds and learn more about them and their habitats, and share a common interest with others. On most walks we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear are advised on all trips. All walks are undertaken at your own risk. It does have to be pretty bad before we give up on a walk, but if the weather is dodgy please check with us that the walk is still on. Contact numbers are: John Waterman on 01959 532364 (weekends) or, if you are late, ring John on 07935 206618, or Nick Barlow on 01732 762816 (weekdays), before setting out. For Minibus trips, the contact is Mick Love on 01732 761370.
Remember to take your RSPB membership card to all meetings at RSPB reserves. Length of walk: “A” = 1 mile: “B” = 2 miles: “C” = up to 4 miles
For those with satellite navigation, we have included the nearest Post Code, but please note this only gives an approximation of the meeting point, but usually to within a few hundred metres. L = Left, R = Right, O = roundabout.
F or car sharing, weekend meetings will start from the car park of Mavala UK Ltd., Unit 4, Morewood Close, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2HU. Turn off London Road into Morewood Close (by Fire Station), follow road round sharp right hand bend. Mavala is on right before Station Car park. Those wishing to car share should arrive at 8:30 for an 8:45 departure. Participants are of course free to travel directly to the meeting location if they prefer, but if you are goin g straight to the destination please let John know by phone or text [07935 206618].
10 FIELD TRIPS January - June 2014
January 2014
Bough Beech (TQ495492) TN14 6LD st Wed 1 followed at 01.00pm by Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (TQ520566) TN13 3DH 10 am For Bough Beech, meet on the causeway road overlooking the reservoir near the And/or reserve centre at Winkhurst Green. Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve is signposted N of 1pm A25 (Bradbourne Vale Road), Riverhead. “B” Note: This meeting will NOT start from Mavala Few hours Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN Sun 12th Waders & wildfowl 10.30 am From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile turn R “C” at Boulderwall Farm onto gravel track leading to reserve centre. All day Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
Thurs 16th Elmley Nature Reserve (TQ939679) ME12 3RW 10.30 am Waders, wildfowl, raptors. “C” Please note that this is a change from the venue in the previous Newsletter All day Take A249 from M20 J7. One mile after Kingsferry Bridge turn R on signposted rough track for 2 miles to reserve car park. Bring lunch. NB. Long walk to hides.
February 2014
Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN Mon 10th Waders & wildfowl 11.00 am From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile turn R “C” at Boulderwall Farm onto gravel track leading to reserve centre. All day Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
Sun 16th Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve (TQ722757) ME3 7SU 10.00 am Waders & wildfowl “C” Take the A289 off the A2 near Strood. From the A289 follow the B2000. For Salt All day Lane turn 2nd L after the round stone “Cliffe” village sign (into Rectory Road). Turn R Meet at at the next T junction and Salt Lane is next L. Continue along Salt Lane until the Mavala at road bends sharply to the right - the car park is situated on the left hand side just 8 am for past the bend. an 8.15 Bring lunch and remember to bring your RSPB Membership card start. March 2014
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (TQ942188) TN31 7TY Sun 16th Spring migrants 10.30 am From A259 towards Hastings, turn L, after Rye Town on minor road to Rye Harbour. “C” Meet in car park. Bring lunch. All day April 2014
Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD Wed 2nd Waders, raptors, migrants 10.30 am “C” Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car All day park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village. Bring lunch. NB. No toilets on site but Sainsbury’s store just off B2045 has food and toilets.
11 April 2014 - continued
Sun 13th Minibus trip to Havergate Island, Suffolk meet at Spring Migrants, Brown Hares Mavala The trip will start from the Mavala car park (directions at beginning of Field Trips 6.30 am section) at 6.45 am, returning about 6.30pm. “B” For further details see the September 2013 Newsletter, or contact Mick Love. All day See also reference to Havergate on page 2 of this issue.
Thurs 17th Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve (TQ059164) RH20 2EQ 11.00 Wildfowl and Warblers. “C” On the L on A283 – 3 miles before Pulborough, after turning off A24 at Washington. All day Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
Blean Woods(Church Wood RSPB Reserve) (TR122594) CT2 9DB / Stodmarsh th Sun 27 (TR235631) CT3 4BP 10.30 am Spring migrants “C” Come off the A2 for Canterbury and turn L at Rough Common where a track leads All day off to the L. The reserve car park is a quarter mile along this track. Bring lunch if you want to go to Stodmarsh afterwards.
May 2014
Fri 2nd Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (TQ942188) TN31 7TY 11.00 am Terns & Gulls “C” From A259 towards Hastings, turn L, after Rye Town on minor road to Rye Harbour. All day Meet in car park. Bring lunch.
Sun 4th Seaford Head (TV487 982) BN25 1BW 10.30 am Spring migrants “C” From the A259 in Seaford, turn south into Dane Road, then L along the Esplanade. All day Meet in car park at left end of beach, near the café and tower, at base of Seaford Head. Bring lunch.
10th – 17th Lesbos MAY The group trip to the Greek Island of Lesbos, famous as a birdwatching haunt, 2014 organised via Naturetrek.
Fri 23rd Northward Hill RSPB Reserve (TQ768765) ME3 8SR 10.30 am Wetland & Woodland birds “C” Adjacent to High Halstow, off A228. The visitor centre is at Bromhey Farm, All day signposted R off High Halstow to Cooling road. Bring lunch.
June 2014
Sun 22nd Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve (TQ554372) TN3 9JP 5.00 pm Nightjars, Woodcock “B” From A26 1 mile south of Tunbridge Wells, turn R into Broadwater Forest Lane (SP Evening High Rocks, Groombridge). The car park is on the left after approx. a mile. NO pre- meet at Bring a torch and insect repellent. Mavala Tues 24th Thursley Common (SU900417) GU8 6LN 11.00 am Heathland birds, Hobby, dragonflies “C” Meet at Moat Pond car park half way between Elstead and Thursley. All day Allow 1½ hours travel time. Nearest toilets are at service station just before turn off to Elstead. Bring lunch.
12