BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

APRIL 2013 NEWSLETTER

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 Annual General Meeting

 Notices

 Media Releases – The Latest News!

 What’s Happening?

 Evening Walks Programme

 April’s Outdoor Meeting

 May’s Outdoor Meeting

 March’s Outdoor Meeting

 Local Wildlife News

 Quiz Page

A million voices for nature Charity registered in and Wales no. 207076

From The Group Leader

Welcome to April.

The April Showers have certainly been noticeable in the past few days, as has frost, wind, grey clouding, cooler temperatures and a general hint of autumn! However, the last weekend really did have a trace of spring being present, the almost unprecedented presence of the sun, temperatures up in to the mid-teens and migrants being noted in numbers far exceeding those already recorded hopefully encouraging you and yours outside, if only briefly!

The March Outdoor Meeting, as was hoped, had the Group recording their first real migrants of the year, though many wintering birds were still to be found in situ. A Ring Ouzel was unexpected, but definitely appreciated, whereas both Wheatear and Chiffchaff were more run of the mill though no hirundines were located; Sand Martin seemingly being very late in this year and in relatively small numbers, one even already having been found dead in a local man-made colony! Whether it was the cold, lack of food or something else that curtailed this little migrants’ life is unknown it’s not the only one that suffered the consequences of returning northwards. At least three Stone-curlew have been found dead relatively locally with another being seen sat on a roundabout on the A31, hardly prime habitat for such species! As well as this gloomy news just days before this Indoor Meeting news was received of a Buzzard on Beacon Hill that appeared to have been shot! Though such illegalities are, as I’m sure we’re all aware, still taking place it’s disconcerting to hear that such practices may still be in place all too locally. If you, during your spring wanderings, come across any further sightings of this nature please do ensure that we’re made aware of them, the ‘news’ then being passed on to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.

On a somewhat, hopefully, brighter note we, the Group, have much to look forward to over the coming months, this even including the A.G.M.! Even if unable to attend this please do pass on your thoughts on how and what the Group is doing to a Committee Member in advance – as we’re forever being told “Every little helps!”

Peter E. Hutchins

Nightingale

One of the most iconic of spring arrivals, their strident song already heard to be piercing the almost leaf-less woodlands and creating a ‘feeling’ of better things to come.

Annual General Meeting

THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS LOCAL GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The thirty-fourth Annual General Meeting of the Basingstoke Local Group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will take place on Wednesday 15th May 2013 at The Barn, Church Cottage, Church Street, Basingstoke at 7.45pm.

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Introduction 2. Apologies for Absence 3. Minutes of the thirty-third Annual General Meeting 4. Matters Arising 5. Chairman’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Appropriation of Surplus 8. Elections 9. Any Other Business

Nominations for the Committee, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, should be given to the Secretary by Monday 29th April 2013.

Geoff Sharp Secretary

Notices

Are We Changing Our Name?

Many staff and volunteers having been asking if the Society was to change its’ name as part of the Brand and Communications Development Programme. There were many opinions on the merits of this, but after thorough research and a review of other evidence, it’s been concluded that there’s no case for a change of name and the Society will continue, proudly, as the RSPB

A New Nature Reserve

Hazeley Heath in north .

Thanks to £859,000 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund the RSPB has secured 110ha to the north of Hartley Wintney, this purchase helping to meet the society’s long standing ambition to acquire a land holding in the important Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.

As further news is available on the on-going development and protection of this site it will be posted here.

Local Group Website

The Local Group website has currently undergone a bit of a spring-clean, so if you haven't been to the site for a while, why not have a look and tell us what you think. Any thoughts on what we should include within the site will always be appreciated, - helping to make the site more relevant to current group members, and helping to get across the right message to potential members.

Link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke/

Thanks must go out to both Brian Williams for his recent work on the site and to Tim. Carr for his previous and continued editing of this.

Local Group Donation

On an annual basis the Local Group gives a donation to one or more projects that are highlighted as needing extra funding by the National and Regional Offices. This year the Committee anticipates that this will again happen and we’d appreciate your thoughts on the projects that have been nominated for this, these being as follows:

Blanket bogs Reedbed Caledonian pine forest International campaigns Intertidal habitats (saltmarsh and Children & Education – Living mudflats) Classrooms Lowland calcareous grassland People Engagement events Lowland heathland Farming and agriculture Woodland Coast and marine Lowland wet grassland

If you’d like any further information about the above please do let us know. As always your thoughts on the direction that the donation should go are more than appreciated, this, like all other aspects of the Local Group, being in your hands!

Mid-week Walks Programme

It’s been proposed that a series of mid-week walks are again added to the Local Group Programme, there now being more Members available to lead walks at this time.

Would you be interested or available to come along to such a thing, or perhaps even lead a walk? If yes, please do let us know and further information and plans will then be forthcoming.

Newsletter Mailings

Do we have your email address? If not, please do pass it on so that the Group can communicate with you in a more environmentally manner! The monthly Newsletter being an example of this, saving resources, money and time by being mailed to you, rather than hard copies being created and perhaps only sitting partially read until the next one appears.

Bird Food

We are happy to supply any bird food to you at any time, just call on 01256 – 770831, 07895 – 388378 or mail us on [email protected] and we will arrange delivery to you. If you have any requirements that are not listed, please do let us know and we will ensure that they are available when you, or your birds, need them.

Bird Food Pricelist:

The below are examples of just a few of the items that we can supply. Please do enquire after anything else and we will provide you with a cost, time of delivery etc. As both of us are currently working in / about Basingstoke delivery can be expected to be completed within a day of an order being received – can you get that service anywhere else? Prices vary according to the seasonality of the foods, where we are able to source them from, and so on, but a few for reference are:

Wild bird Mix 40p/lb. or 88p/kg

Peanuts £1/lb. or £2.20/kg

Black Sunflowers £1/lb or £2.20/kg

Sunflower Hearts £1.10/lb or £2.42/kg

Niger £1/lb or £2.20/kg

Fat Squares £1 each

Fat Pecker Balls 25p each

Also available are a range of birdboxes and feeders.

A variety of items will be available at most Indoor Meetings but if there is something ‘missing’ that you want, please do let us know.

Peter & Alison

The World’s Rarest Birds

I hope you will not mind me mentioning one of the most important ornithological titles to be released concerning our most threatened species. Called The World's Rarest Birds, it unveils the circumstances surrounding 650 of our scarcest species and the reasons they are faced with potential extinction.

Following an international competition, no fewer than 576 of these are featured with stunning photography whilst the remaining 76 are illustrated through the incredible artistic skill of Tomasz Cofta.

With tremendous support from Birdlife International, each of the main areas of the globe are summarised in 'Regional Directories' indicating the various threats to wildlife in each, these sections too beautifully illustrated.

The importance of the book arises from its call to all who love wildlife to do all they can to influence decision-making and land usage around the globe that continue to threaten these critically endangered creatures. A free copy is being sent to key personnel in each of the nations involved with an appeal for more sensitive habitat management.

The reason I am advising you of this major contribution to ornithological conservation is that we would like to make a special offer available to your members, in the form of a 25% discount for a limited period of time. The book is due this month so orders may be placed straight away.

In the hope that you can help us ensure every birdwatcher in the UK can participate in understanding, and potentially becoming involved in, the plight of some of our most spectacular birds.

Brian Clews

WildGuides & COS

WRB prepub flyer.pdf

Media Releases – The Latest News!

Gardens in Basingstoke ‘vital’ for some of our most threatened birds

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results 2013

Some of the UK’s most threatened and best-loved bird species are continuing to decline, according to results from the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch survey 2013.

Starlings, a UK ‘red-listed’ species meaning it is of the highest conservation concern, hit an all-time low in the Birdwatch last year and their numbers sunk by a further 16 per cent in gardens this year.

Numbers of House Sparrows, also on the red-list, dropped by 17 per cent in gardens compared to 2012, whilst Bullfinches and Dunnocks, both amber-listed, fell by 20 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

These trends continued in Basingstoke and across Hampshire. House Sparrows dropped from the top spot in Basingstoke’s gardens this year to second place. While Starlings have fallen out of the top 10 to number 11, down from eighth place in 2012.

Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said; ”We know from the many people who take part in Big Garden Birdwatch every year that garden birds are incredibly precious to us and connect us to nature every day.

“I had the joy of doing the Birdwatch with my children again this year and, fidgeting aside, it was one of those memorable mornings when the family is

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captivated by nature. But, several of our familiar and best-loved species have been declining at alarming rates over the 34 years that the RSPB has been running the Birdwatch and this year’s results show a continuing decline.

“We go to great lengths to ensure that special UK habitats are given the right levels of designation and legal protection because of their role in supporting threatened wildlife, but what’s very clear is that every one of our gardens, the places literally on our doorsteps, are important too.”

Over 2,000 people in Basingstoke & Deane sent in details of their garden birds, joining almost 590,000 people across the UK who took part in the Birdwatch in January.

Whilst the decline of some species continued, others fared better with garden sightings of Siskins, Fieldfares and Jays up by as much as 85 per cent. The cold, harsh conditions in the wider countryside back in January is likely to have driven more of these birds into gardens on their search for food. Last year saw a particularly bad crop of acorns, a favourite among Jays, meaning these birds are likely to have visited gardens more than normal during the winter to find alternative food sources.

And with the cold weather seemingly set to continue, our wildlife may be relying on these alternative food sources for a while longer. The RSPB suggests calorie- rich foods like mixed seed, nyjer seed, fatballs, suet sprinkles, sunflower seed and peanuts as well as kitchen scraps, like mild grated cheese, rice and porridge oats.

A supply of water is also essential for bathing and preening. In freezing conditions birds will become more dependent on water provided in gardens, since many natural sources of water are frozen over.

Martin added; “Gardens make up around 4 per cent of land area in the UK and their role as habitats for our wildlife is clear. They are the places that birds come to for food and shelter when conditions in the countryside are especially tough and together, we can all play a part in making them more welcoming and supportive for wildlife, whether we have a garden full of greenery, a yard or a window box.”

Do something now to help the wildlife in your garden, find out how at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch and www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch to find out more about Big Garden Birdwatch.

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The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s biggest wildlife survey with half a million people taking part each year. Running for 34 years the survey has made a major contribution to tracking garden bird numbers over the winter www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Basingstoke and Deane Big Garden Birdwatch results 2013

Rank species Mean 1 Blue Tit 3.29 Basingstoke and Deane 2 House Sparrow 3.28 Basingstoke and Deane 3 Woodpigeon 2.82 Basingstoke and Deane 4 Blackbird 2.72 Basingstoke and Deane 5 Chaffinch 1.73 Basingstoke and Deane 6 Great Tit 1.59 Basingstoke and Deane 7 Long tailed tit 1.50 Basingstoke and Deane 8 Collared Dove 1.42 Basingstoke and Deane 9 Goldfinch 1.40 Basingstoke and Deane 10 Robin 1.37

Hampshire Big Garden Birdwatch results 2013

county Rank species Mean Hampshire 1 Blue Tit 2.90 Hampshire 2 House Sparrow 2.86 Hampshire 3 Woodpigeon 2.63 Hampshire 4 Blackbird 2.44 Hampshire 5 Starling 1.65 Hampshire 6 Great Tit 1.36 Hampshire 7 Robin 1.33 Hampshire 8 Goldfinch 1.33 Hampshire 9 Long tailed tit 1.30 Hampshire 10 Chaffinch 1.24

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Samantha Stokes Media Officer RSPB South East Regional Office

Last chance for Hampshire’s farmers to enter this year’s RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Award

Farmers across Hampshire have been entering 2013’s competition since it launched earlier this year, but today the RSPB South East is reminding those who’ve yet to throw their hat into the ring to do so before it’s too late.

With applications only being accepted until Thursday 18 April, the race is on to find the UK’s top wildlife friendly farmer.

The award aims to find farming’s Wildlife Heroes who put in the most work on their land to help countryside species and is run by the RSPB, supported by Butterfly Conservation and Plantlife, and sponsored by The Telegraph.

Bruce Fowkes, RSPB farmland advisor in the South East, said: “Past winners in the south east have included dairy, arable and livestock farms, so it’s worth applying no matter what kind of farm you have.

“The judges will be looking for efforts to promote wildlife on farmland, for example by providing nesting habitat, and summer and winter food for birds.”

A large proportion of land in the south east is farmland, which supports a wide range of animals and plants.

Unfortunately, some of these species such as lapwing, brown hare and cornflower are struggling, and farmers hold the key to their future.

Mr Fowkes added: “We fully recognise the challenges involved in trying to protect wildlife while producing vast amounts of food. Your farm doesn’t have to resemble

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a nature reserve to qualify – even small efforts here and there can make an important difference to species in trouble.

“There’s a growing swell of farmers who have proved nature can go hand in hand with a healthy farm business and we know there are more out there. If you’re one of them, then enter the competition now while there’s still time.”

After the closing date, entries will be shortlisted to eight regional winners then a panel of experts will decide which four should go through to the national finals. The UK public will then decide the winner by casting their votes online, via The Telegraph or at country shows throughout the summer. There is also a highly commended category to recognise the efforts of farmers who have excelled in their support of farmland wildlife.

The deadline for entries is 18 April. All the details on how to enter can be found on the RSPB website at www.rspb.org.uk/natureoffarming

Farmland bird populations have fallen by 50 per cent since 1970 and it is only by protecting wildlife-rich farming systems and encouraging more uptake of science- backed conservation measures on farmland that species like lapwings, skylarks and grey partridges will bounce back.

The EU LIFE+ Programme funds RSPB work which supports wildlife-friendly farming that furthers sustainable development in the European Union.

This year’s judging panel: Nick Droy - RSPB Head of Conservation Management Advice Martin Warren – Butterfly Conservation Chief Executive Victoria Chester – Plantlife Chief Executive Fergus Collins – Countryfile Magazine

Samantha Stokes Media Officer RSPB South East Regional Office

What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained as the days now grow ever longer:

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Basingstoke Field Society [email protected]

Old Lime Quarry

May 8th. 19:00.

Further details of the event and Society are available from: Patricia & Colin Stubbs - 01256 323324; Diane Rampton - 01256 467533; Nicola Williams - 01256 353194

Chineham Conservation Group [email protected]

Forthcoming work parties:

Sunday 21st April – Path laying – Great Sorrell’s Copse Saturday 18th May – Variegated Yellow Archangel removal – Guinea Copse

Hampshire Organic Gardening Group http://hampshire-organic-gardening.org/

Plant Swap

This is from 19:45 on 20th May, taking place at Testbourne Community Centre.

Bring along plants – both flower and vegetable – which you think others would like and swap them for something you would want. Donation required if you choose a plant without swapping.

Hampshire Wildlife Trust http://www.hwt.org.uk/

Stockbridge Down in Spring

A walk with John Clark to see spring birds and other wildlife on Stockbridge Down. Park in the lower car park on the north side of the road, at the bottom of the hill, west of the Sandy Down cross roads on the B3049 road from Winchester to Stockbridge (Map ref. SU 387 345). For further details please contact Mary on

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01962 864440. Bring a packed lunch if you would like to join an optional extension to Stockbridge Marsh in the afternoon. Suggested donation £2.50. Sorry, no dogs.

Date 21 April 2013 Time 10am-1pm (and possibly later)

Field and Woodland Spring Flowers Walk

Join us for a walk through the Vyne wetlands to Morgaston Wood to see spring flowers. Meet and park at Sherborne St. John Village Hall, Kiln Lane, Sherborne St. John RG24 9HR (Map ref. SU 624 553). Contact Ruth Cairns on 01256 326364 or e-mail [email protected]. Please wear suitable footwear and bring binoculars. Suggested donation £2. Dogs on leads welcome.

Date 26 April 2013 Time 10am-12noon

Spring Walk in Forest

Join Reserves Officer Graham Dennis on a spring walk through this fine ancient woodland looking for butterflies, day flying moths and any other wildlife that we find. For further details please contact Graham on 07770 891126 or email [email protected]. Meet at parking area in Impstone Road, (Map ref. SU617621). Suggested donation £2. Sorry, no dogs.

Date 11 May 2013 Time 10am

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Please note that all the events noted above may be filmed and photographed for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's fundraising and publicity purposes. If you have any concerns, please speak to a member of staff.

Overton Biodiversity Society http://www.overton-biodiversity.org/

Dawn Chorus Walk

21st April 06:00am

Overton Community Centre

Guided walk around Flashetts area to listen to early morning birdsong; followed by breakfast at the Community Centre.

For further details or if you intend to attend please contact Ken or Jane on 01256 – 771121 or email [email protected]; the latter for catering purposes. - Admission: Members £2.50, non-members £3.00

Family Picnic & May Fun Day

28th April noon

Little Meadow

Annual picnic in Little Meadow, Road, with children's wildlife activities, music and maypole dancing. Bring your own picnic!

For further details please contact Ken or Jane on 01256 – 771121 or email [email protected].

Historic Overton Walk

5th May 14:00pm

Overton Community Centre

For further details please contact Ken or Jane on 01256 – 771121 or email [email protected].

Local Opportunities for Conservation Volunteering

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Are you interested in your local environment? Do you have a passion for conservation and wildlife? If yes, try the following the site to check on what’s happening locally that you could become involved in.

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/leisure/conservation/conservation.htm

There are opportunities for you as an individual, a family or a social group to join the groups of volunteers already working in the following areas:

Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Plantation Mill Field Local Nature Reserve Oakley Old Down, Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King Overton George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale) Popley Kempshott South View

Evening Walks Programme

The details for this Programme are as follows, we look forward to seeing you out on balmy spring evenings later this month and as the spring / summer progress:

START MAP CONTACT DATE DAY TIME SITE MEETING PLACE REFERENCE LEADER DETAILS 30th Kennet & Avon Canal Gerry 01189 - 700859 / April Tuesday 19:00 / The River Kennet1 Aldermaston Wharf SU 602 672 Gardner 07779 - 026915 In the main car park on the northern side 8th of the High Street, Geoff. May Wednesday 18:30 Hazeley Heath Hartley Wintney SU 766 569 Sharp 01256 - 470286 The large lay-by on 14th Woodgarston Farm the northern side of Doug. 01256 - 320795 / May Tuesday 18:30 area the A339 SU 588 548 Kelson 07786 - 647784 22nd Overton Community Peter E. 01256 - 770831 / May Wednesday 18:30 Overton Centre SU 515 496 Hutchins 07895 - 388378 29th Carpenter's Down Popley Fields Simon May Wednesday 18:30 Wood Community Centre SU 642 547 Yates 01256 - 781964 In the reserve car 5th Bowdon Woods / park, off the track Peter E. 01256 - 770831 / June Wednesday 18:30 Lower Farm GP off Bury's Bank Road SU 501 655 Hutchins 07895 - 388378 12th Richard 01256 - 329603 / June Wednesday 18:30 Crookham Common Old Thornford Road SU 521 646 Gilham 07884 - 044544 Off the minor road 19th between Larkwhistle Geoff. June Wednesday 18:30 Longparish Farm and Mill house SU 445 448 Sharp 01256 - 470286 In the main car park, 26th by the north-eastern Maureen June Wednesday 18:30 Fleet Pond corner of the pond SU 824 552 Brailey 01256 - 702006

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1 - This to be followed up by, for those that wish to, a walk for crepuscular species on Common.

If you have any queries relating to any of the Evening Walks please do contact the assigned Leader to resolve these.

April’s Outdoor Meeting

Denny Wood: 21st.

 For this outing please meet at the Shatterford Bottom car park for a 10.00am start (SU 348 063; OS Landranger Map 196); this being on the western side of the B3056 immediately north of the railway bridge at Beaulieu Road Station, midway between Lyndhurst and Beaulieu.

 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 42.64 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 42.7; a travelling time of 52 and 59 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

 The area to be visited this month is one of heath, bog and mixed woodland towards the eastern extremities of The New Forest National Park.

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Beaulieu Road Station The bog south-east of the station and some of the ‘locals’

The walk will take the group westwards from the car parking area, where the conifers may hold Crossbill among the more expected finches, and out on to the heath. Here Dartford Warbler and Stonechat are likely, the former however just as likely to be heard as seen, though a decent spring day should have them in song, as well as ‘growling’ at trespassers in to their territories. Both reptiles and amphibians may well be on the move, having already been warmed by the morning sun, so watch your step! The wetter areas of the heath may hold waders and also attract in hirundines to feed low over the standing water where insects will also be on the wing.

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Shatterford Bottom Showing the bog, heath and parts of the adjacent woodlands

Denny Wood Hopefully as we shall see it!

Moving in to the mainly deciduous woodland on the western side of the heath, Denny Wood itself, we will start to encounter many of the residents and perhaps just a few of the migrants already returned to territories, the latter part of April being the prime time for such migrants to be on the move locally. Chaffinch, up to five species of tit, Wren, Robin and Dunnock will make up much of the smaller avifauna while less vocal but hopefully as showy will be Nuthatch and Treecreeper, all three woodpeckers also a possibility here. Migrants such as Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler should be in song and further searching may produce the less common but even more appreciated Redstart and Wood Warbler. As well as both the resident songsters and migrant additions the woodland will hold a great variety of both plant and insect life, butterflies perhaps vying with Bluebells as to what is most looked at and photographed.

 There are no facilities on site, excepting the railway station close to the car park.

 The walk will take us through to early afternoon, allowing then ample time to visit other nearby New Forest or coastal sites before heading back inlands and northwards to Basingstoke.

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More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as The Beaulieu Estuary, Matley Bog, Crockford Ridge / Bottom, Lower Test Marshes and Eling Great Marsh will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

May’s Outdoor Meeting

Cotswold Water Park: 19th.

 For this outing please meet at the Information Centre, the Gateway Centre, car park for a 10.00am start (SU 072 971; OS Landranger Map 163); this being just off the A419 / B4696 junction, east of South Cerney.

 For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 54.18 miles between Basingstoke and the Gateway Centre, the AA site 54.2; a travelling time of 69 and 78 minutes being quoted by these sites, both taking you via the M4. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

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 The area to be visited this month is one that the Local Group has not visited for some and so should hopefully be a new site for many of those, hopefully, attending. And so with this in mind, please find below a link to a map to the area, detailing what there is, where it is, how to get there etc.: http://www.waterpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/CWP-Leisure-Map.pdf

Not quite the view we’ll get of the park, but one that many of the birds we’ll be seeing will have had on their recent arrival

With all the returning summer visitors now, hopefully, safely back the waters and adjacent farm, wood and ‘waste’ lands about the Park should be busy with birds, both resident and these additions that will help to make a more varied and interesting day out at one of the largest man-made complexes of water anywhere in Britain; 150+ lakes being currently in use!

The wetter areas continue to attract wildfowl with the population of Red-crested Pochard perhaps most notable, as well as being amongst the gaudiest.

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Red-crested Pochard Though sometimes more obvious in winter gatherings, searching over the assorted lakes visited should provide us with this extravagant introduction to the British avifauna

Hobby hunt in good numbers over the lakes as the population of insects, including their favoured dragon and damsels, will by now be very much in evidence. In the past flocks of Hobby have been seen, and even the occasional vagrant Red-footed Falcon has been tempted in to linger, adding just a little Mediterranean feel to the, yet again hopefully, warmth on our visit. Also overhead the first Swift of the year on an Outdoor Meeting are likely to be seen, among the many Sand and House Martin and Swallow. Great Crested Grebe will already have bug-striped young and there are sure to be many other youngsters keeping their parents every busy about the lake edges.

The lakes are managed for many pastimes and this will be seen as we visit a number of them, the variety of uses and how the lakes have been developed for them increasing the diversity of species we’re likely to encounter. The open and deep waters hold the aforementioned wildfowl, attract Osprey in, amongst others, to fish whereas the shallower waters and those allowed to dry as the spring / summer progress ensure that waders are ever present, these perhaps being joined by herons and egrets as fish etc. are driven in to ever decreasing areas of water.

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If the birding becomes a little quiet I’ll see if I can arrange something else just that little bit more exciting for the more adventurous!

The hedgerows diving lakes provide suitable habitat for many of the sylvia and phylloscopus warblers while the reed-fringed edges of the lakes add ‘reed’ warblers, the latter in turn attracting Cuckoo in while the former habitat may also hold Nightingale and late migrants forging further northwards, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher included.

The more mature stands of trees and vegetation, now filled with food, both in the form of insects and fruiting bodies, may have tits, crests, thrushes, finches and buntings while birds now perceived as more unusual, such as Spotted Flycatcher and Turtle Dove, are worth looking, and listening, for.

Adjacent to the Park there are built-up areas and farmland, these again helping to increase the species likely to be encountered and acting as extra areas for many of the Park residents to feed, shelter and, especially at this time of year, territories and therefore families.

Though, as already noted, the Group has not visited for some year there are still memories from a number of previous visits that I’m sure linger with those present – the rescuing of a Great Crested Grebe from an adjacent building site, the mixed Hobby and Red-footed Falcon flocks, the bizarrely singing warbler that confused everybody, it was eventually identified as a Garden Warbler though not sounding at all like one, the flocks of Swift and hirundines mixing with the flocks of dragon and damselflies, though not in a particularly friendly manner, and the cellophane-covered body found in one of the lakes! Hopefully the visit this spring will also give those present the opportunity to garner more favorable memories, of the site, the birds and the day out.

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 The spring will have sprung, hopefully, by this time so do please be prepared for walking through / by areas of lusher vegetation, especially if rain’s fallen prior to the day. Although the Group will be out for a relatively short time do also prepare yourself for the vagaries of the weather i.e. if it’s hot be ready for it!

 The walk will take us through to the early afternoon when, on returning to the original starting point, lunch can be taken or further watching can be arranged. There are a number of facilities within the Gateway Centre which might be appreciated at this stage, including a café.

More updated information on the site, http://www.waterpark.org/, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Freemans and Hungerford Marshes, Snelsmore Common, the Kingsclere Downs, Ladle and Beacon Hills and the / area will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed as soon as is possible.

March’s Outdoor Meeting

Farlington Marshes: 24th.

Nine attended on a morning when low temperatures were just part of the unseasonal weather to be competed with! The greying skies, all too obvious breeze and, once again, seemingly autumnal conditions did not however have anybody turning back when forced to leave the warmth of their cars and southwards out on to the HIWWT reserve.

The initial birding from the car park / cars did however start with an unexpected bonus, a vagrant Black Brant being found among a small gaggle of Dark-bellied Brent feeding and floating close in to the northern shore of the harbour. This bird had been present for some months but was new for several of those present and the first seen by the Group since one at East Head some years previous.

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Black Brant & Dark-bellied Brent Geoff. Sharp Note the cleaner-looking flanks, the stronger neck collar and the less noticeable contrast between the neck ‘stocking’ and mantle of the Nearctic bird

Teal, Mallard and Shelduck were also about the decreasing waters in the harbour, both Black-headed and Herring Gull, as might be expected, moving overhead, many coming in off the fields north of the all too obvious M27.

The primarily Hawthorn vegetation and puddling on the paths ‘inland’ of the seawall attracted Goldfinch and Greenfinch while Oystercatcher and Common Gull, like these smaller passerines, were also picked up by their vocalisations.

The second bonus bird of the Meeting proved less easy to see than the brant, a Ring Ouzel in the scrub north of the main lagoon moving to and from the security of the bushes but eventually being seen by everybody as it perched out in the open, albeit all too briefly, on fence posts and more distant shrubbery. This was the first real migrant for most this year and one that many of the Group would probably not even encounter as the year progresses, so definitely a real bonus.

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The main lagoon held small numbers of wildfowl and waders, Pintail and Black-tailed Godwit the most noteworthy of these two ‘families’ while, on the grasslands of the Main Marsh, Curlew, Lapwing, further groups of Shelduck and the majority of the Dark-bellied Brent could be seen gathered to feed or roost. A Kestrel was hunting off towards The Point, a Skylark made its’ presence known with a burst of song and a Spotted Redshank was seen among its’ commoner tringa relatives as it flew low westwards over the seawall.

The continued work on the seawall at Farlington raised a few eyebrows! Do you remember the ‘good old days’ when walking about the reserve ensured that you finished up a couple inches taller due to the mud clinging to your boots?

Pushing further south the harbour produced yet more waders as the tide fell, Dunlin being most obvious as they, in small groups, moved rapidly from place to place. Rock Pipit were added to the already noted Meadow Pipit though a Water Pipit previous day appeared to

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have continued its’ northwards migration. Further migrants were soon to be found, in the form of Wheatear, a total of five male eventually being recorded about the more southerly part for the reserve. As is so often the case, once one was located others just seemed to follow along quite rapidly, showing well as they sat out on the more open and well-grazed areas of grass, as did many more brent and the occasional Rabbit. The fence line dividing the seawall from the reserve proved attractive to a pair of Stonechat while streamside vegetation held two vocal Chiffchaff. Out over the marshes a disturbance indicated something more predatory, a Sparrowhawk being picked up as it flew low over the assorted wildfowl and waders, none of which reacted to this bird, though the Linnet, Skylark and chats closer to hand might just have done if its’ trajectory had been different.

Out on the open waters south of The Point a single Great Crested Grebe floated, asleep and seemingly oblivious of the tide carrying it away from us. Shoveler were less expected on the harbour waters whereas Little Egret were birds now just ‘taken for granted’; how things have changed in the past few decades!

Looking back inland a search through the grazing Dark-bellied Brent delivered the third really notable bird of the outing, the over-wintering Red-breasted Goose that so many have twitched, both from near and far, since late October 2012.

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Red-breasted Goose & Dark-bellied Brent Geoff. Sharp Even though this bird differs noticeably from the carrier species it’s teamed up with this winter it could remain ‘hidden’ among the many thousand brent all too readily

This dainty goose showed to all as it fed not too distantly, even a brief period of flight didn’t have it disappearing, just watched on the wing and then even closer to hand as it dropped in once again. The watching of this also added further viewing of more distant birds, the Curlew, Shelduck and Starling flocks out on / over the marsh and further Dunlin out over the harbour.

The more heavily vegetated areas close by, we were by now near the most southerly point of the reserve, held a singing Cetti’s Warbler and the aforementioned Chiffchaff while the pair of Stonechat had ostensibly disappeared.

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Though the waters of the harbour had noticeably dropped good numbers of birds were still out on the RSPB-managed islands east of the marshes, Knot and Black-tailed Godwit huddled on the pebbly shores while a pair of Red-breasted Merganser fed close in to nearest island, though yet again no Goldeneye were to be located.

Moving along the eastern side of the marsh viewing out over The Deeps added a few closer Black-tailed Godwit among Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and Mallard on the pools and bordering raised areas of drier ground. An ‘egret’ dozing on a stream in the Main Marsh proved problematical, distant and inactive but apparently a hint of yellow in its’ plumage it had some believing it to be yet another relatively long-staying bird of note – a Spoonbill! Although the Group remained divided, all that I can add is that on leading an HOS walk about the same site later in the day there was a Spoonbill in exactly the same place!

Dark-bellied Brent Geoff. Sharp One of the expected sights at Farlington Marshes throughout the late autumn to early spring period, though none the less appreciated for that

Moving down off the eastern seawall the wind abated, though not enough to make anyone sure that spring was on the way, even if a few birds had managed to make it as far north as the reserve.

The walk back to the car park was broken up by a stop at the stream between the information centre and main lagoon, Black–tailed Godwit, just a few, being among the

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commoner wildfowl here. Though the wind had lessened it was still far too strong to allow the reeds to steady themselves and so no Bearded Tit were chanced upon, just a Coot or two, pair of Mute Swan and Teal frequenting these more sheltered areas. A brief spell of excitement was created by a female Marsh Harrier moving purposefully along the stream, Snipe coming up from this area though not disturbed by this finishing flurry of avian activity.

The scrub north of the main lagoon added a further unexpected raptor, a tree top-hopping Buzzard, but there was no further sign of the Ring Ouzel as the Group returned to the western seawall, though a pair of Dark-bellied Brent showed to yards in the longer grass just prior to this.

So, c.70 species was recorded that included several unexpected but very welcome visitors to the notebook as well as the first real migrants of the year for many. This all on a day when the weather could have been dramatically more spring-like for both the birds and birders present, but it could have been a great deal worse considering what was noted either side of the Outdoor Meeting.

Thanks are due to those that attended, looked for and found birds and to Geoff. for contributing images for this summary.

See you in the New Forest National Park later this month for even more birds, including all those woodland species not recorded, not surprisingly, at Farlington and yet more migrants and, hopefully, even better weather.

Local Wildlife News

The following ‘highlights’ reports received over the almost spring period. If you’ve anything further to add, please feel free to let us know at any time. All reports will be appreciated, whether they relate to birds or any other form of local wildlife. Also, as they say, this is “Just the tip of the iceberg” – there’s a great deal more out there to be found, especially as we head in to the spring, well, it’s not that far away!

Blackcap – the first migrant was reported late in March while two local gardens still held at least four wintering birds at this stage. Black-necked Grebe – three on Rowney Lake lingered for some time.

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Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Doug. Kelson

Brambling – a male visited a garden on 1st. Buzzard – one on Beacon Hill came to an untimely end, perhaps having been shot.

Buzzard Buteo buteo Doug. Kelson

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Not eveybody shares our appreciation of such birds!

Chiffchaff – singing birds were noted late in March, perhaps a week or more later than might have been expected – but just look at the weather! Fieldfare – small numbers, as well as Redwing, were still present just days before the Indoor Meeting. Grey Partridge – the only local birds reported were in fields off Pack Lane. Hawfinch – these continued to appear ever more sporadically at The Millfield LNR to at least 4th. Hirundines – all three of the expected swallows and martins were in prior to mid-April, though some reported birds arriving far later than they’d previously noted. Nightingale – the closest as yet to Basingstoke, reported by the weekend prior to the meeting, were on Greenham Common. Ring Ouzel – the first local bird, a male, was on Beacon Hill on 1st.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Combe Gibbet, Berkshire Gavin Farnell Not the bird noted above, but one not too far from this regualr stop-off point for this species

Starling – a murmuration of perhaps as many as 10,000 birds continued to gather over the area to early in April. Stonechat – a female in fields off Fuzzy Drove was the first migrant noted locally.

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Stone-curlew – none had returned to linger at well-known local sites by early April, just a single brief encounter with one bird being reported. Waxwing – birds were as close as Thatcham in early April. White-tailed Eagle – a possible was seen, pursued by a Buzzard, in the Razor’s Farm area. Willow Warbler – the first were heard in song from the first week of April.

“Get the de-icer ready. That tail-load might seriously affect balance” Doug. Kelson Just one of the many weather conditions we’ve ‘experienced’ so far in April!

As always, thank you to all those that have contributed to this report; if I have missed anything, please do let me know and be sure to keep me updated as we head towards the end of the year and in to yet another. If you find anything you consider particularly notable, or you would like an update on what is happening locally, please do feel free to contact me at any time. I can assure you that you will always get a favourable response! 07895 – 388378 is the hot line, well my mobile number anyway! 

Quiz ‘Page’

As spring has allegedly broken, all too seriously it might seem, here are just a few more spring-related questions for you to puzzle over as the days draw out even more.

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1: What does the name 'Irish Spring' refer to? A soap brand A holiday An uprising in Ireland An euphemism for bad breath

2: What is the nickname of musician Bruce Springsteen? The Boss The Devil The Soldier Chairman of the Board

3: In which U.S. state is the city of Palm Springs located? California All of these Texas Hawaii

4: What kind of animal is the Springbok? Antelope Wild cat Frog Insect

5: 'La primavera', or 'Spring', is Concerto No. 1, in E major which is part of 'The Four Seasons' violin concertos. Who composed "The Four Seasons"? Gioachino Rossini Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Salieri Giacomo Puccini

6: In what country did the European Revolution of 1848, also known as the Spring of Nations, begin? France Italy

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Russia England

7: 'Primavera', or 'Spring', is a famous painting by which celebrated artist? Sandro Botticelli Leonardo da Vinci Michelangelo Titian

8: What is the birth name of TV host and former politician Jerry Springer? Joseph Jeremiah Gerald George

9: What is the name or the Roman goddess of spring? Flora Primavera Venus Aphrodite

10: What breed is the dog in the picture?

French Springer Spaniel American Springer Spaniel English Springer Spaniel German Springer Spaniel

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Have a look at this image of a frog and see what else you can find!

And from last month:

1.The aptly named thrush? Stormcock (Mistle Thrush) 2.A forecaster of rain? Green Woodpecker 3.A falcon of motorway fame? Windhover (Kestrel) 4.Potter’s Hill Top plunger? Jemima Puddle-duck 5.Captain Sandy’s weather bird’s name? Wilbur 6.A Yu-Gi-Oh! card character! 7.The hurricane bird! Frigate Bird 8.One of the more spectacular of the tubenoses! Snow Petrel 9.The ‘Snowbird’. Dark-eyed Junco 10.An Angry Bird! Mighty Eagle 11.Another Angry Bird! Space Bomb Bird 12.What you might need to get above the floods! Black-winged Stilt

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