BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

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

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 Notices

 The Local Big Garden Birdwatch

 What’s Happening?

 Henri Pittier National Park: The Road To Ocumare

 February’s Outdoor Meeting

 March’s Outdoor Meeting

 January’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 February.

As the winter continues, the weather certainly having been wintry lately, some of you have raised, once again, the issue of birds being, or not being, about your gardens. What have you noticed happening over these last few months? Are ‘your’ birds still with you, have they all disappeared to pastures, or at least bird feeders, new and have any being acting in a manner that you wouldn’t expect? Several reports behavioural peculiarities have been received including birds harassing windows, as well as each other. Has your bossy Blackcap returned for a winter of defending the easy pickings you so readily provide, or have Mistle Thrush taken over the local Mountain Ash again? Birds with aberrant plumage have also been headlining recently, have you seen the BTO website relating to this? If not, it’s worth a look, if only to see just how many ‘dodgy’ birds there are out there!

We can but hope that the wintry climate soon changes and that warmer winds from the south bring both pleasanter conditions and many migrants – by the time of the Indoor Meeting it will be but a fortnight, if that, before the first Wheatear and Sand Martin appear again on our shores; definitely something to look forward to! The Groups’ Outdoor Meeting at West Wittering / East Head towards the end of March should provide the first migrants for the Group, though I’m sure that many of you will have these on your ‘year list’ prior to this; please do let us know when you receive your first summer visitors, especially if they seem particularly early for you area. Also, don’t forget to make a note of these and add them to BirdTrack. If you’ve not heard of this, try the website, http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack, and go on from there.

As well as keeping track of your returning favourites, why not take a closer look at some of those birds that will be lingering to breed locally in the coming months? How will your House Martin and Swift do this year? Will they continue in their decline, or, for whatever reason, will there be some recovery this year; again, do let us know how things look as the spring develops in to the summer.

Remember, your input in everything both the Local Group and Society does is critical to the continued success of both, and therefore the wildlife and habitats that we at least so appreciate.

Peter E. Hutchins

Notices

Newsletter Mailings

Thank you to those that have now forwarded their mailing addresses for Newsletter distribution etc., and apologies for continuing to highlight this, but I’ll keep on pushing! Ever more trees saved and more time to do other things now! Keep them coming, as they say, “The more the merrier!” Wouldn’t it be good to make the Group paper-less / free 

Local Group Website

The following area of the Local Group website is currently very much under populated and it would be appreciated if you could help out with respect to this: Places to see birds.

If you could pen a few words about a local site that you enjoy visiting we could then gradually add these to the website so as to give other locals an idea of where to go to see birds about the Borough, or even that little bit further afield.

Nothing huge, dramatic or specific, just a quick summary of where, what you might see, when to go and what you particularly enjoy about visiting there would be more than appreciated.

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?

Wild bird Mix 30p/lb or 66p/kg Niger £1/lb or £2.20/kg Peanuts 65p/lb or £1.43/kg Fat Squares £1 each Black Sunflowers £1/lb or £2.20/kg Fat Pecker Balls 25p each Sunflower Hearts £1.10/lb or £2.42/kg

Also available are a range of bird boxes 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 Local Big Garden Birdwatch

The results, from five gardens, so far received are as follows:

Garden Species Basing Harroway Total Rise Blackbird 1 2 2 3 2 10 Blackcap 0 0 1 0 0 1 Blue Tit 2 4 2 1 6 15 Chaffinch 1 2 4 3 7 17 Coal Tit 0 0 1 0 2 3 Collared 1 1 3 2 2 9 Dove Dunnock 0 1 0 0 1 2 ‘Feral’ 0 0 3 0 0 3 Pigeon Goldfinch 1 0 1 2 2 6 Great Tit 1 3 1 0 2 7 Greenfinch 0 0 2 0 9 11 House 3 0 12 17 0 32

Sparrow Jackdaw 0 0 2 0 0 2 Long-tailed 0 1 0 0 0 1 Tit Magpie 0 1 0 1 2 4 Nuthatch 0 1 0 0 0 1 Robin 1 1 1 1 1 5 Starling 0 0 5 0 0 5 Woodpigeon 1 4 3 5 1 14 Wren 0 0 1 0 1 2

Total 12 21 44 35 38 150

Red highlighted figures i.e. 5 are the peak counts noted in any of the five gardens.

The top five: House Sparrow (32), Chaffinch (17), Blue Tit (15), Woodpigeon (14) and Greenfinch (11). It’s good to see the sparrow at the top, particularly as it’s eclipsed the more expected visitants.

Factors affecting the counts included the late afternoon counting of one garden and the recent removal of the main feeders due to a Brown Rat ‘problem’ at another!

From the above we can certainly see where we need to go to see House Sparrow, but look at the very low numbers otherwise recorded. Is this a trend that you’re seeing about your garden / locally?

I know Dunnock are skulking, but where were they all, and what of the Wren, another skulker, but surely more frequently noted than this? Starling being noted in just one garden! Is this because of a lack of suitable feeding arrangements, or something more insidious? What do you think? Let us know!

The results from further afield / nationally will be available in the near future and it will be interesting to see how the above gardens compare with these. These results will be published in a future Newsletter.

Thank you to Doug., Jean, Margaret, Richard and Tim. for forwarding results.

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What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained when the Local Group is not getting together:

Basingstoke Field Society http://basingstokefieldsociety.org.uk/

Water Voles

A talk by Chris. Matcham: 13th March. Taking place in the United Reformed Church, Street, Basingstoke and commencing at 20:00.

For further information on the above and the Society please contact:

Patricia & Colin Stubbs: 01256 – 323324, Diane Rampton: 01256 – 467533 or Nicola Williams: 01256 – 353194.

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

Clematis Monday, 19th March 2012 Commencing at 19:45 Testbourne Community Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch

Marcus from Marcus Dancer Plants will be talking about clematis, how to grow them successfully, including pruning

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

Early Spring Walk

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A 3 mile walk, led by Mike Sharman, between and over wet and dry fields through old and new woods for signs of early spring. Meet on the minor lane at Wheat Hold (Map ref SU 557 608). For further details please contact Mike Sharman on 01189 816104. Suggested donation £2. Boots or wellies will be needed.

Event details:

Date 22 March 2012

Time 2–4.30pm

Event type General Events, Walk

Nature Reserve Wheat Hold (Map ref SU 557 608).

Suggested Donation £2

Booking Essential? No

Contact details:

Name Mike Sharman

Telephone 01189 816104

Walk the River Anton Way Join Wildlife Trust staff for a 3½ mile guided walk along the River Anton Way. Find out about the restoration works that have been carried out through the River Anton Enhancement Strategy and the wildlife that has benefitted. Meet at Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve car park, off of Barlows Lane (Map ref. SU

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357 443). For further details please contact Sarah Lynes on 01256 381103. Booking essential. Sorry no dogs. Suggested donation £2 per person.

Event details:

Date 24 March 2012

Time 10am

Event type General Events, Walk

Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve car park (Map ref. SU Nature Reserve 357 443)

Suggested £2 per person. Donation

Booking Yes Essential?

Contact details:

Name Sarah Lynes

Telephone 01256 381103.

The Red Kite in Hampshire

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Keith Betton, County Recorder for Hampshire Ornithological Society, will talk about his work on the distribution of these large birds of prey that have been observed over our chalk uplands. To be held at Kingsclere Methodist Church Hall, George Street (Map ref. SU 525 586). Public parking is available behind the Crown Inn nearby. For further details, please contact Mervyn Grist on 01264 358737. Suggested donation £2.50.

Event details:

Date 28 March 2012

Time 7.30pm

Event type General Events, Talk

Nature Reserve Kingsclere Methodist Church Hall, (Map ref. SU 525 586)

Suggested Donation £2.50

Booking Essential? No

Contact details:

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Name Mervyn Grist

Telephone 01264 358737

Signs of Spring in the Woods Signs of Spring in the Woods, near Overton. An event for Basingstoke Wildlife Watch members.

Event details:

Date 31 March 2012

Event type General Events, Children's activities, Family Event

Nature Reserve near Overton

Booking Essential? No

Contact details:

Name Peter and Alison Hutchins

Telephone 01256 770831

Odiham Biodiversity Group http://www.obg.org.uk/

Hidden Jewels - the Moths of Odiham and North Hampshire

Odiham's wide variety of habitats – from chalk stream banks to oak woodland – encourages a wide variety of resident moths. Our regionally important speciality is the beautiful emerald green Forester Moth which inhabits the more open areas of Odiham Common.

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The Odiham Biodiversity Group invite you to a talk by local moth expert and County Recorder, Mike Wall, at the Cross Barn on Thursday 29th March. Mike will tell us why Odiham is such an important place for the day-flying Foresters and also introduce us to many more of the colourful insects that inhabit our gardens at night.

The talk will begin at 7.30 and entry is £2.50 for adults with children free.

Local Opportunities for Conservation Volunteering

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 Chineham Oakley Old Down, Kempshott Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King Overton George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale) Popley Kempshott South View

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HENRI PITTIER NATIONAL PARK: THE ROAD TO OCUMARE

Our tour group had just enjoyed an exciting and fascinating exploration of the seasonally-flooded pastures and woodlands of the Venezuelan Llanos. After a lengthy drive, we had arrived in the Maracay region to sample the delights of the Henri Pittier National Park. In contrast to the Llanos, here the roads were metalled and swung in tight hairpin-bends up steep, thickly-forested mountains. Our first excursion took us up one of the two roads that writhe through the national park; the Ocumare Road. Here, much of our birding was done close to various wide lay- bys or during strolls along the quiet roads. Off-road exploration was limited because there were few trails and leaving the road meant climbing near vertical, rocky and riotously vegetated slopes on one side of the road or skidding down precipitous forested mountain-sides on the other. Wider views of the dramatic scenery were often obscured by tall forest and clouds but wonderful whenever a gap or clear vista was found. This was rain-forest birding and the conditions were only to be expected; at least, it was the dry season so, though often overcast, rain was not much of a problem.

A view in Henri Pittier National Park

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Unidentified roadside flower Cracker sp. probably Hamadryas fornax

Our first stop introduced us to the neck-straining task of scanning tree-tops for birds in a tropical mountain forest. The job was made a little less arduous because many of the tree-tops were, of course, at eye-level or below us on the mountain- side. The cloud often dulled colours and made photography a little difficult and many birds were seen in deep shade under the canopy or silhouetted against the sky but this gave even more impact to the moments when some of the often astonishingly colourful birds and some spectacular butterflies and flowers were lit by sunlight.

Our views of the flock of White-collared Swifts garnering aerial prey from far above the canopy were unimpeded, though, except when they flew around the other side of the peak. Further up still, a pair of Common Black Hawks soared while, back at eye-level, tiny, bright Golden-crowned Warblers searched leaves lacy from the nibbling’s of caterpillars. A Black-striped Sparrow, closely related and very similar to the various North American Sparrows, popped up in rank vegetation amongst roadside grasses.

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Honestly, not a Blackbird in my Basingstoke garden but a male Glossy-black Thrush. Astonishingly familiar until one notices the yellow legs and feet and remembers that it is high in the canopy of a Venezuelan rain-forest

Sparingly used, play-back of bird-calls was a useful tool when trying to find specific species and necessary, to maximise our chances in the limited time we had to spare. This method was used to lure a pair of dumpy-looking Moustached Puffbirds from thick cover. In the same area we also found (not by luring to recordings) an attractive Hamadryas butterfly basking on a tree. Often called “Cracker” Butterflies because of the sound made when the males snap their wings together over their backs in display or, perhaps a startling defensive tactic. It didn't snap for us, though, just vanished when it closed its wings.

During the same stop we discovered a small colony of Russet-backed Oropendulas busily weaving their pendulous nests swinging from branches overhanging the road. A Forest Elaenia chased flies below them.

A search of orange-flowering Erythrina trees below us, on the other side of the road, where the mountain sloped steeply down from us revealed an equally busy scene as various birds exploited the flowers in their own ways At least three kinds of hummingbird probed for nectar and chased each other through the flowers, a pair of Masked Tityras, looking a little like shorter-tailed Great Grey Shrikes bullied their way around the large trees, looking mostly for large insects and small reptiles and any fruit they could find on Mistletoe plants there, a pair of Red-billed Parrots worked at cleaning out a nest-hole in a bough, sometimes visiting the flowers and eating a few; amongst the flowers clung a couple of gorgeous Blue-necked Tanagers with turquoise heads, black bodies and burnished gold “shoulders”; a Buff-necked Saltator was the third species from this family ( finch-like relatives of the North American cardinals) we'd found in

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Venezuela and, nearer, a Golden-olive Woodpecker clung in the shade of a tree- trunk, excavating a nest-hole. Sparingly-used play-back of bird calls was a useful tool when trying to find specific species in the dense, multi-tiered forest and necessary to maximise our chances in the limited time we had available. This method was used to lure a pair of dumpy Moustached Puffbirds (relatives of the Russet-throated Puffbird described in my last account) from thick cover. In the same area we also found an attractive Hamadryas Butterfly in the head-down pose characteristic of the family. They are often called “Cracker” Butterflies because of the sound made by displaying males when they snap their wings shut. It didn't snap for us, though, just vanished when it closed its wings and became just a bump on the bark.

Also, from this productive site, on a steep bend in the Ocumare Road, we found a small colony of Russet-Backed Oropendolas busily building their pendulous nests, swinging from branches overhanging the road. A forest Elaenia chased flies nearby. This bird is one of the many rather non-descript greeny-brown-with-a hint- of-“mossy” flycatchers which abound in the Americas and provide the kind of identification challenge enjoyed by fans of the Old World warblers. A search of the orange-flowering Erythrina trees below our position discovered a busy scene as various birds visited the blooms for nectar, to catch insects or eat the flowers themselves. Amongst them were at least three kinds of hummingbirds. A robust pair of Masked Tityras, looking a little like short-tailed Great Grey Shrikes, bullied their way around the branches. Largely fructivorous, these were after insects amongst the flowers. A pair of Red-billed Parrots seemed to be cleaning out a nest-hole; amongst the flowers clung a couple of gorgeous Blue-necked Tanagers: turquoise heads, black bodies and burnished gold “shoulders”; a Buff- necked Saltator was the third species from this family (finch-like relatives of the North American cardinals) we'd found in Venezuela and, nearer, a Golden-olive Woodpecker clung in the shade of a tree-trunk, excavating a nest-hole.

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Russet-backed Oropendola Golden-olive Woodpecker nest-building

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Female White-line Tanager, male Green Honeycreeper and Orange-crowned Oriole; just a few of the species found feeding from Erythrina flowers

The light was beginning to fade by this time, so it was time to return to our comfortable lodgings. We were due for an early start, the next day.

In the grey pre-dawn we found ourselves at around 1600 metres on the Choroni Road, the second road transecting the park. In a wide, grassy lay-by, trestle tables had been set-out and we were breakfasting al fresco, or trying to. It's difficult to concentrate on food and drink, no matter how tempting, when people keep calling- out directions to yet another new arrival in the surrounding trees. A body must keep leaping up to focus optics because, although one can be reasonably sure the food and drink will be there on the return to the table; the birds won't wait.

When we'd tumbled from the mini-buses, we'd spotted a Great Potoo slipping off into the forest and a Band-tailed Nightjar wafted over us while feeding in the half- light. The sausage-shaped fruits of the Cecropia Trees were already attracting birds for an early breakfast, displacing fruit bats as the day brightened. We had to wait, impatiently, for better light in which to appreciate the colours of the birds, though. The range of colours and patterns in the diverse family of tanagers is amazing; they just kept coming. The names alone give a clue to their appearance: Blue-capped, Speckled, Bay-headed, Beryl-spangled, Golden, Black-headed, Blue-grey, Blue-winged Mountain and the endemic, often-elusive Rufous-cheeked Tanagers but the names don't do justice to the reality. An unexpected black and yellow Yellow-Bellied Siskin turned up and another stunningly beautiful bird, announced by far-carrying toots, trailed twin tail-streamers through the twigs. Lower in the foliage we found the retiring Ochre-bellied Brush Finch and, after a wait, while it followed-in the play-back; a Golden-breasted Fruiteater. Amongst several species of hummingbird, which seemed to be catching fruit-flies attracted to some over-ripe fruit, were Long-tailed Sylphs, trailing their twin streamers through the twigs. Announced, initially, by far-carrying toots, increasing in volume as it approached through the forest was a splendidly sumptuous Collared Trogon which posed perfectly for us.

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Collared Trogon Golden-breasted Fruiteater

Golden Tanager with Cercropia fruits Blue-capped Tanager

A little lower, down the mountain we found an attractive Handsome Fruiteater and another mix of species flitted through the leaves, including another flycatcher; Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant (with a name longer than the bird). Close-by a foxy- red Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner gleaned invertebrates from the leaves and a little gem of a bird, the tit-sized, green, yellow and blue Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

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However, we were deprived of even more pleasure when, after crawling on knees and bellies to peer amongst the stems of seedling trees and playing its call for enticement, we failed to see the ultra-secretive Schwartz's Antthrush. My book, I have decided, is a very authoritative source of information. It describes this species as “perversely ingenious at remaining out of sight”. Very true. If we had seen it we would have gazed upon a short-tailed, upright, brown, thrush-like bird, “threading its way among clutter and debris”. Apparently, it sometimes sings from a log or perch up to four metres above ground. Yeah, right. Well, at least, we heard this expert skulker calling, many times, but always invisibly.

After lunch we were to visit the seaside.

Doug. Kelson

February’s Outdoor Meeting

Blashford Lakes HWT Reserve: 19th.

 For this outing please meet in the car park to the north of Ellingham Drive for a 10:00 start (SU 151 079 – O.S Landranger Map 195). This is accessed off the A338 to the north of Ringwood / the A27.

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 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 49.98 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 49.9; a travelling time of 45 and 57 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.

 A series of hides and blinds allow easy access to many of the birds on this well- known and increasingly popular Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust reserve. The varied habitats, from open water to thick woodland, ensure a continuous presence of many individuals / species, especially during the winter months when increased numbers of wildfowl, gulls and ‘herons’ are to be found about the former gravel pits

 It’s still winter, so please be prepared for any inclement weather we might just encounter.

 The walk about this reserve will start with the hides overlooking Ibsley Water, these adjacent / close to the car park and sure to keep those attending busy for some time as they sift through the masses of ducks, geese, gulls, the occasional

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wader, Smew, Black-necked Grebe, Black-tailed Godwit, Whooper and Bewick’s Swan and good numbers of Goosander among the birds noted here recently.

Smew, Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander Alan Lewis Though the image taker was not happy with the shot, it’s not often you get all of the commoner sawbills together

The larophiles among you, few and far between I expect, will have ample opportunities to look over the pallid flotillas of gulls for the Iceland, Caspian, Yellow-legged and Mediterranean that have again been present over the winter months.

Moving southwards back over Ellingham Drive and towards the Visitor Centre will bring woodland birds to the Groups’ attention, woodpeckers, tits, finches and buntings among those to be found in the footpath flanking vegetation, perhaps Green of the former to be seen on the open grassland by the smaller car park to be walked by. The stream running alongside the path encourages Grey Wagtail to feed, as is also the case for other smaller insectivorous species, such as Wren, Dunnock and Robin. The woodland here can also harbour the first flowing plants to be seen this year, Snowdrop, Primrose and even Wild Daffodil all possibly being in bloom.

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Moving through towards Ivy Lake, a call sure to be made at the Visitor Centre for a ‘comfort stop’ and to allow all to make the most of the other facilities on site. Recent sightings, on-going management work, static displays and nearby feeders all there to make the visit that little more enjoyable, and even educational!

The woodland south of the centre has yet a further hide, this overlooking the feeders in an open area of woodland. Time spent here should ensure further tits, finches and buntings are seen, perhaps Lesser Redpoll, Brambling and Marsh Tit joining the more expected visitants. Grey Squirrel, no real surprise there, may well be making the most of the easy pickings, but look down to the woodland floor and you may catch sight of the smaller woodland denizens, Short-tailed Vole often being particularly active and providing a ‘cute’ distraction from the avians others are focussing upon.

Finally, the hides overlooking Ivy Lake are to be visited in the hope of seeing the wintering Bittern, three currently, though other birds will be out on the lake; if anybody can take their eyes and cameras off the target bird.

Bittern Alan Lewis This taken from the hide very recently!

Smew and Green Sandpiper are among the other wintering species here, but will anybody even notice them?

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A return trip, eventually, towards Ellingham Drive can lead to further pits being visited on both the southern and northern sides of the road. Here additional wildfowl may be found as these pits are less disturbed, the returning Great White Egret often favouring these quieter waters. Pintail, Shoveler and Teal may be in larger numbers here and even Ruddy Duck could, in theory, be found under the overhanging island vegetation – don’t tell anybody though ;-) these pits are flanked by more mature woodland ate the edge of The New Forest NP proper and so species that, again, prefer less disturbance may be found. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk are more likely to be found out over these areas and wintering thrushes often mix with the stock in the well-used paddocks.

The Outdoor Meeting to this reserve should provide another excellent day out, plenty of birds and a few notable species – let’s just hope that the Bitterns have been properly trained for the Groups’ visit!

More updated information on the site*, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as The New Forest NP, Fishlake Meadows, Timsbury GP’s and Stockbridge Marsh and Common 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.

* The Blashford Blog: http://blashfordlakes.wordpress.com/

March’s Outdoor Meeting

West Wittering: 25th.

 For this outing please meet in the car park adjacent to East Head for a 10:00 start (SZ 765 984 – O.S Landranger Map 197). This is accessed off West Strand, this off Coastguard Lane and, initially, the B2179 on the western side of West Wittering.

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 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 53.72 miles between Basingstoke and the car park, the AA site 68.2; a travelling time of 69 and 88 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.

 A coastal site in late March is sure to produce lingering winter and arriving summer visitors, grebes, divers, auks and buntings among the former, Sand Martin, Wheatear and perhaps even something more special among the latter; I’ll race you to the Hoopoe!

 For part of the outing we will be walking on beaches and sand dunes, as well as sometimes looking out over Chichester Harbour. So, please be prepared for the possibly less stable conditions underfoot and the possibility of colder ‘weather’ coming in off the open water.

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East Head

 The walk about this National Trust site will initially take in the pasture inland of the harbour boundary where Dark-bellied Brent may still be feeding in small numbers, many though having already departed for their northerly breeding grounds. Skylark and Meadow Pipit are attracted to the short turf, as are finches such as Linnet and the occasional bunting, particularly if they’ve been pushed off the more exposed areas of beach in the earlier part of the morning. Wheatear could be amongst them and provide the first summer visitor for the Group, if overflying Sand Martin has not already done so.

The flanking scrub between the pasture and saltmarsh allows many of the resident species to find both shelter and food and as we head northwards to the Head proper time will be spent looking here to add common species not likely to be seen away from the more sheltered vegetation. Songsters should be obvious by now, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Wren among those expected to be competing for vocal supremacy.

The saltmarsh and adjoining saline waters will provide the Group with a variety of gulls, wildfowl and waders; colourful Shelduck and Wigeon, the less spectacular Dark-bellied Brent and Curlew being among the hordes to be seen loafing, flying, feeding and even courting as the tide rises and falls. The variety and number of birds attracted to these rich feeding grounds will undoubtedly attract raptors, perhaps even the pair of Peregrine that regularly breed on Chichester Cathedral.

Out on the open harbour waters, looking towards Pilsey, Thorney and Hayling Islands, searching could find further wintering visitors still being about. Currently Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe are among the birds being reported there, though the weeks between penning this and the

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Meeting will certainly change this. Among the feeding and roosting waders and wildfowl Sandwich Tern, several currently once again overwintering, Sanderling, Knot, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and grebes will however certainly be worth looking out for. Gulls, egrets, herons and both outgoing and incoming migrants use the harbour waters as an entrance / exit way to and from the more open waters of The Solent and so an eye needs to be kept southbound, to ensure that nothing moving in or out slips by.

East Head Sand Dunes

The beach areas of the Head are well used by visitors, both avian and human, and so we may well find a few further additions to the day feeding up before moving on, again both avian and human! With a telescope it is often possible to see what’s going on at Sandy and Black Points, both on Hayling Island and in Hampshire! There is often less disturbance on the Hampshire side of the waters as access is far less readily available for birders etc., so be prepared for perhaps identifying some of the smaller shorebirds at distance. The beaches have provided the Group with Snow Bunting in the past and there are currently four at Sandy Point, so just a short flight from where we will be.

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Sea Knotgrass A nationally rare plant, so, it might not be all birds today!

We will return to the meeting place for early afternoon, where lunch can either be taken or you can move on to eat or bird elsewhere; there’s sure to be more to see as the afternoon progresses and so it’s worth planning for more than just the Group Outing.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Pagham Harbour, Chichester GP’s, Nutbourne Marshes and Kingley Vale 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.

January’s Outdoor Meeting

Poole Harbour & Brownsea Island: 15th.

A total of 17 members assembled on Poole Quay on a bright, breezy, but cool morning. Those that arrived with time to spare had views of a Guillemot (not Margaret and I, cutting things fine as usual).

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Once on board we were told that in view of the tidal conditions we would be reversing the normal plan and be heading up the Wareham Channel towards Arne and round the harbour before landing on Brownsea Island.

As we headed away from the quay those of us outside on the top deck were swept with a face-full of cold seawater. We wondered how rough it would get! Thankfully the conditions soon settled and that was the only time that we got wet. Several members of Poole RSPB were on board with one providing a commentary on the public address system and the others spotting and helping people get onto the various birds. Once we were in the shelter of the Brownsea Island we soon had good views of good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers, and a few sunlit Goldeneye though because of the mild weather there were not large numbers of birds sheltering in the harbour from the rough seas outside.

As we headed west up the Wareham channel a Sandwich Tern made the first of its fly-bys coming close enough for us to get good views of the yellow tip of its bill. Nearing Arne there were large roosts of Oystercatchers, Shelduck and a small roost of Spoonbills that then lifted off and flew over the boat towards Brownsea. We made our way east past the edge of the Arne RSPB reserve observing a group of land based birders observing a group of water based birders ......

We landed on Brownsea Island just after midday and made our way up to the Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve and their hides overlooking the Lagoon. The views and the light were stunning, with close views of Black-tailed Godwit and spectacular views of Spoonbills feeding, not doing their usual thing of sitting out by the seawall.

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Spoonbill, Avocet & Black tailed Godwit Plus, at least, Shoveler and Teal

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The new MacDonald Hide opened in 2010 attracted may favourable comments. Moving on towards the Villa there were good views of Redpoll feeding in the top of Alders.

At the Villa there were good views of Red Squirrels both on the feeding table on the side of the Villa and on the bird feeders on the opposite side of the track from the Villa. After 2 hours on the Island we re-joined our boat where the majority headed for the lower (warm) saloon with its promise of hot drinks for the return to Poole. Those who braved the upper deck had brief views of a Great Northern Diver (if they looked in the right place! I didn’t).

We landed back at Poole Quay at 2.45pm. A good day was had by all.

Tim Carr

The species recorded:

Avocet Goldfinch Redshank Bar-tailed Godwit Great Crested Grebe Robin Black-tailed Godwit Great Northern Diver Rook Black-headed Gull Great Tit Sandwich Tern Black-necked Grebe Great Black-backed Shag Blue Tit Gull Shelduck Canada Goose Guillemot Shoveler Carrion Crow Herring Gull Spoonbill Chaffinch Lesser Redpoll Spotted Redshank Chiffchaff Little Egret Teal Cormorant Oystercatcher Turnstone Dunlin Pintail Wigeon Gadwall Raven Woodpigeon Grey Plover Red-breasted Goldeneye Merganser

Local Wildlife News

As always the following ‘highlights’ reports received over the last month. If you’ve anything further to add, please feel free to let us know at any time. Also, as they say, this is “Just the tip of the iceberg” – there’s a great deal more out there to be found, even as we head further in to the winter!

Blackcap – a minimum of four birds were seen to be visiting local gardens.

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Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Meadow Road Doug. Kelson

Egyptian Goose – a count of five at Ewhurst Lake was possibly the highest Borough count ever. Golden Plover – birds remained ever rarer locally with a flock of 12 over all that was reported. Goshawk – one was reported over the southern edge of the town / M3. Great Grey Shrike – this local celebrity remained in situ to at least mid-month.

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Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Doug. Kelson

Hen Harrier – a ringtail was seen at while Alresford Pond continued to attract roosting birds. Long-eared Owl – several were seen, still keeping to the farmland to the north of Overton. Pintail – a drake in Eastrop Park pulled in a good number of locals to appreciate it and remained on site to at least the Indoor Meeting; this being one of an unusual number found in the Hants. / Berks. border area over recent days.

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Pintail Anas acuta Eastrop Park Barry Stalker

Raven – several were reported, though were over the town itself. Redwing – 70+ at The Millfield LNR on 6th were part of a continued increase in numbers locally.

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Redwing Turdus iliacus The Harroway Estate Doug. Kelson

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Smew Mergellus albellus The Vyne NT Barry Stalker

Smew – two redhead that lingered at The Vyne NT were only the 4th record known of for the Borough; like Pintail, a species that had an obvious influx to local waters over recent weeks.

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Smew Mergellus albellus The Vyne NT Malcolm Dixon

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 autumn. 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’

This month, a few easy raptors for you to unscramble, leading you towards the spring, the last of the winter warmers!

1) VAULT BUCKLER 2) LEAD BAGEL 3) HOW ARK WARP 4) LET GARRETS REEK

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5) CARTERS RIDE BY 6) GO DANGLE EEL 7) UP TEEN VULGARITY 8) FREELANCE ROPING 9) WOOL-THREADERS 10) LEGATE PEEPS

And from January, the images; how did you do?

1. Harebell 2. The Deceiver 3. Grey Seal Pup 4. Adder 5. Avocet 6. Barn Owl 7. Blue Tit 8. Goldfinch 9. Great Spotted Woodpecker 10. House Sparrow 11. Jackdaw 12. Little Egret 13. Little Grebe 14. Reed Bunting 15. Scaup 16. Sparrowhawk 17. Speckled Wood 18. Starling 19. Purple Heron 20. Oriental Short Clawed Otter. I’ll let you off with Otter!

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