Annual Report 2004
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The BIRDS of EREFORDS H IRE H 2004 HEREFORDS H IRE ORNIT H OLOGICAL CLUB 1 HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB Founded 1950 Registered Charity No 1068608 www.herefordshirebirds.org Officers and Committee 2006 President I B Evans Vice-President K A Mason Chairman N A Smith Vice-Chairman J R Pullen Hon Secretary T M Weale Hon Treasurer and Membership Secretary R G D Morgan Recorder and Conservation Liaison Officer S P Coney Annual Report Editor W J Marler Education Officer B C Willder ‘HOC News’ Editor P Gardner Meetings Secretary J R Pullen assisted by K A Mason Strategy Officer P Williams Committee P H Downes Miss N J Perry Mrs S Taylor 2 BTO Representative – S P Coney RSPB Representative – I B Evans THE BIRDS OF HEREFORDSHIRE 2004 The 54th Annual Report of Herefordshire Ornithological Club ( Founded 1950 ) ISBN 0 9554157 0 5 Volume 6 Number 4 Edited by WJM Published 2006 ( revised 30 May 2010 ) Price £10.00 ( U.K. Post Free ) Published by Herefordshire Ornithological Club 2006 © 2006 - 2010 Herefordshire Ornithological Club ISBN 0 9554157 0 5 ( ISBN 978 0 9554157 0 8 - 13 digits from 1 January 2007 ) All rights strictly reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Committee of Herefordshire Ornithological Club Herefordshire Ornithological Club is a Registered Charity No 1068608 www.herefordshirebirds.org Front Cover Illustration : Barn Owl in North Herefordshire © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Back Cover Illustration : A Herefordshire Cider Orchard at Knapton © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Cock Redstart at Croft Ambrey, Herefordshire © 2006 George Ewart ( HOC ) Inside Front Cover Illustration : The Herefordshire Teme at Criftin Ford Bridge © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Frontispiece Illustration : A Little Egret on the Herefordshire Teme at Buckton © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Printed by : The Orphan’s Press, Hereford Road, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8JT CONTENTS 2004 i.f.c. HOC OFFICERS & COMMITTEE 2006 28 HEREFORDSHIRE COUNTY RARITIES 4 OBITUARY - Ray Mellish 1930 - 2004 29 HEREFORDSHIRE COUNTY BIRD LIST 2004 5 HOC OFFICERS & COMMITTEE 2004 30 WINTER MIGRANTS 2004 - LAST & FIRST DATES 6 WEATHER REPORT 2004 - by John Pullen 31 SUMMER MIGRANTS 2004 - FIRST & LAST DATES 8 HNT NESTBOX SCHEME 2004 33 THE BIRDS OF GARWAY HILL - by John Pullen 10 HOC FIELD MEETINGS 2004 37 HOC GARDEN BIRDWATCH 2004 11 HOC EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT 2004 38 GREEN SANDPIPERS ON THE RIVER TEME 11 HOC INDOOR MEETINGS 2004 41 ADDENDA 2003 12 HOC ATLAS STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT 42 INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC LIST 2004 16 INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 2004 43 SYSTEMATIC LIST 2004 17 ACCUMULATED FUNDS 2004 & AUDITOR’S REPORT 193 RINGING RECOVERIES 2004 18 2004 praecidium ( in brief ) 194 EXOTICA & ESCAPEES 2004 19 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2004 199 CONTRIBUTORS TO HOC SYSTEMATIC LIST 2004 21 HOC STRATEGY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT 2004 201 INDEX OF SPECIES 2004 26 EDITORIAL 208 HOC GAZETTEER OF SIXTY SITES 27 HOC RARITIES COMMITTEE - Accepted Rarities 2004 i.b.c. MAP OF SITES IN HEREFORDSHIRE Illustrations within the Text : Page 5 : Grey Heron on the River Teme at Buckton © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 18 : Chiffchaff at Walford, Leintwardine © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 21 : Long-tailed Tit at Criftin Ford Bridge © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 22 : Kingfisher at Criftin Ford Bridge © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 23 : Common Sandpiper bathing at Criftin Ford Bridge © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 24 : Blue Tit preening at Walford © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 25 : Grey Wagtail at Stocken Farm Pond © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 26 : Kingfisher at Burrington Bridge © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 28 : Little Egret on the River Teme at Buckton © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 83 : Moorhen Family at Stocken Farm Pond © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) Page 165 : Long-tailed Tit on the River Clun at Marlow © 2006 WJM ( HOC ) OBITU ARY Ray Mellish 1930 – 2004 It was with great sadness that we heard that the Club’s Hon Treasurer, Ray Mellish, had died on the 20th January. Ray was a professional soldier who had served in Malaya and Germany. On his retirement he and his wife June came to live in Hereford to manage an Esso garage at Belmont. They bought a bungalow overlooking the River Wye at Putson, an ideal situation for watching birds. In 1992 Ray and June became members of the HOC. Ray was a very cheerful and friendly person who was also most helpful and generous. He introduced me to computers and taught me how to use them. He and June loved to travel and visited many far-away places such as the Galapagos Islands and Borneo. At the Club’s AGM on the 2nd March 1995 Ray was elected as the Club’s Hon Treasurer, and he proved to be an extremely efficient, hard working and popular Treasurer. In October 1997 he was asked to look into the possibility of the Club seeking Charity Status. At the AGM of March 1998 Ray announced that the HOC’s application for Charity Status had been granted by the Charity Commissioners. His efforts on behalf of the Club continued to be productive and in the Autumn of 1999, on his own initiative, he devised and organised the setting up of the Club’s Garden Bird Watch Scheme, and published a quarterly newsletter which he named ‘The Birdfeeder’. This proved very popular - with over 50 members joining the scheme. Another considerable achievement was the creation of the Club’s first Website. At a Committee meeting in October 1999 he showed members his plans for the Website. By December the site was operational. With the passing of Ray the Club has lost a valuable and outstanding Treasurer and friend. He is sadly missed. Our sympathy goes to June and to his sons and daughter. I B Evans 16 December 2005 � 4 HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB Founded 1950 Registered Charity No 1068608 www.herefordshirebirds.org Officers and Committee 2004 President I B Evans Vice-President K A Mason Chairman G R Parker Vice-Chairman & Strategy Officer N A Smith Hon Secretary T M Weale Hon Treasurer and Membership Secretary R G D Morgan Recorder S P Coney Annual Report Editor I B Evans Education Liaison Officer Mrs V Jermy Meetings Secretary J R Pullen assisted by K A Mason ‘HOC News’ Editor P Gardner Conservation Liaison Officer T W Downes Committee W J Marler Miss N J Perry P Williams B C Willder ( co-opted ) BTO Representative – S P Coney 5 RSPB Representative – I B Evans Weather Report 2004 by John Pullen JANUARY MARCH MAY This was a wet month - with 84mm of The first two days had severe overnight The month began with storms, followed rainfall, 17% above the long-term average. frosts, with -6°C on the 2nd making the by a very hot, dry spell from the 12th to Snow was recorded on the 3rd - with 3cms ground hard and even freezing over the 26th - the temperature reaching 23°C falling. Frost was recorded on seven nights the larger ponds. The total rainfall of on the 17th, 18th and 20th. The rainfall towards the end of the month - the coldest 41mm was well below the long-term recorded was 34mm - being 50% of the of which was the 29th at -4°C. Large average. The end of the month saw long-term average. Frosts were recorded numbers of Brambling remained in the warm, sunny days - with 16°C recorded on the 7th, 22nd and 23rd. Above average County - along with flocks of Redpoll. Up on the 31st. Tortoiseshell butterflies broods of Tits and Flycatchers were to 30 were noted at Garway on the 3rd. By were seen flying. Waders returned to hatched, taking advantage of the drier the 17th, Goldcrest, Great Tit and Song the County, Little Ringed Plover on weather. Turtle Doves were heard calling Thrush were singing, and Rooks were the 17th and Redshank on the 28th. on the 3rd on Ewyas Harold Common. noted at their nests at St. Weonard’s on the 27th. Large groups of gulls were recorded in the South of the County - including 300 Black-headed Gulls at Garway on the JUNE 15th and 200 Common Gulls on the Lugg APRIL Meadows on the 18th. A long, dry spell from the 5th to the 18th Although 76mm ( an above average was noted. Rainfall for the month was rainfall ) was recorded, there were spells of only 34mm - well below the average. Hot FEBRUARY dry weather from the 8th to the 15th and days were recorded from the 13th to the from the 23rd to the 26th. One night of 17th with a maximum temperature of 25°C. An interesting sighting came from This was a drier month than usual with frost with -2°C was recorded on the 9th, Lyonshall where 13 Mistle Thrushes were 33mm of rainfall - around 50% of the long- while on the 24th and 25th temperatures seen feeding on cherries on the 19th. term average. Warm days were recorded of 17°C were recorded. The rain of the during the first week - especially on the 14th brought migrants into the County - 5th, with a temperature of 15°C - one of with Dunlin, Whimbrel and Black-necked the warmest February days on record. A Grebe noted at Wellington Gravel Pits. mainly dry period with overnight frosts Swallows and Martins were seen early in was experienced from the 19th to the 25th. the month by the 4th. This was followed on the 26th by strong Easterly winds bringing 75mm of snow which remained until the end of the month. 150 Lapwings were seen at Lyonshall on the 5th and 200 in Hereford on the 15th.