In-flight! Welcome to the Spring 2014 edition of the Airedale & Bradford Local Group Newsletter. This edition has been edited and produced by Judy Robinson, the next edition is due in the autumn. Any contributions to future editions of this newsletter would be gratefully received: either speak to Judy, Paul (Treasurer) or e-mail [email protected]. Views expressed in this Newsletter are those of individual contributors and not necessarily of the RSPB. Our Group website not only has a digital copy of this and earlier newsletters (with photographs in full colour), but provides most useful information of what is happening within the group plus tips and ideas of how increase your pleasure and enjoyment of the wildlife around you. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/airedaleandbradford/ Volunteering has its Benefits We would like volunteers to help run our Indoor Meetings and participate in other events that the group or- ganises or is invited to. Our current priority is to find an organiser for our Guided Walks. Birding expertise is not a requirement, just a love of the outdoors and a willingness to reconnoitre half a dozen short walks (of approximately 2 hours) every year. If you wish to volunteer or join our committee, contact us on the number below or make yourself known at one of our Indoor Meetings. To make it easier, anyone joining our committee can be 'without portfolio' for the first few months whilst they find their feet. In addition to the monthly public meetings, the committee also meets once a month to plan activities and discuss wider issues regarding the RSPB. The benefits? Five years ago, Carol and Paul joined the committee. Within 12 months a family of bullfinches started to visit their garden. Debbie joined the committee three years ago; the bullfinches have now arrived in her garden. The conclusion is obvious: if you want to attract bullfinches to your gar- den, volunteer for the RSPB! They are also many other ways in which you can help. See the Volunteering pages - http://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/ opportunities/groups.asp For more information contact Carol or Paul on 01274 582078 or [email protected] On Other Pages: Photo: Paul Barrett 2. Guided Walks Indoor Meetings Programme Big Garden Birdwatch Book Review It’s garden birdwatch time again, however do they know, The blackbird and the dunnock, the magpie and the crow, 3/5. Guided Walk Reports The blue tit and the great tit, the robin and the wren? Rodley Nature Reserve Just when I want to count them, they’ve gone AWOL again! Low Wood Our garden’s not palatial but there’s food and drink aplenty; Doe Park Reservoir-Denholme They often come to visit, but today the garden’s EMPTY. Falling Leaves Event The same thing happened last year, the reason is un- clear. Goitstock Woods, Harden But ever optimistic, we’ll try again next year! 6. Richard Crossley. Pamela Manktelow The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered1 charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SC037654 Guided Walks Book Review 2013/4 “Birdwatching with your eyes closed – an These will commence at 10.00am. introduction to birdsong”, by Simon Barnes. Provisional Programme (weather conditions - and birds! – permitting) Unlike me, you are probably very good at recognising bird Sunday 9 February songs and calls. In an attempt to improve, I went Raw Nook, Low Moor on a “birdsong recognition” walk. It was enjoyable and Sunday 9 March informative; previously I had Beckfoot and Myrtle Park, Bingley been blissfully ignorant of how many birds are good Saturday 5 April mimics of others! Baildon Moor If, like me, you could do with Directions to the sites will be given at some help in addition to your CDs and phone apps, this Indoor Meetings and on-line at: book is for you. Besides www.rspb.org.uk/groups/airedalebradford anything else, it will demonstrate that you know more than you think you do. Simon Barnes conveys lots of Details of other events and trips will be practical information in a light-hearted, readable way. given at He creates background and context for the songs which I found helpful. Whether you are a novice or an Indoor Meetings and On-line. expert, this book is a good read. 2013/4 Indoor Meetings A quotation from Bill Oddie on the front cover says: “Most of us can see, but not everyone looks. Most of Friday 7 February us can hear, but not everyone listens. This book will To The Tibetan Plateau help you do both. And above all, it will tell you how to Tom Lawson enjoy.” Friday 7 March Pamela Manktelow The white tailed eagle Terry Pickford RECYCLING Over the years, the RSPB has raised over £200,000 Friday 4 April through recycling your used mobile phones and AGM at 7.00pm, followed by printer cartridges whilst diverting thousands of tonnes The River from landfill. ♦ We collect used postage stamps which are Paul Hobson forwarded to the RSPB: it would be very helpful if stamps could be trimmed with about ¼” of Details will also be posted on our Web Site. surrounding paper and sorted into UK Definitive, UK Commemorative and Foreign RSPB Sales packets. ♦ We are also collecting, on behalf of the RSPB, We have a sales table at each indoor meeting and disused: Mobile telephones (remove SIM and at an increasing number of local events. Carol memory cards), Inkjet cartridges, Digital holds a range of the more popular goods but can Cameras*, Sat navs*, iPods, Game consoles* order other items for you – saving you the postage (Nintendo DS / Sony PSP), Binoculars, costs. Items can be found in the catalogue and Telescopes and Tripods. (*Please return with there is an even greater range of goods in the their charger.) RSPB's on-line shop. Make a note of the item, let ♦ Please bring any you no longer require to an Carol know and she'll have it for the next meeting. indoor meeting and we will send them to the She will also deliver locally. Regional Office. All the monies from sales we generate go to ♦ We have discontinued collecting aluminium etc. support the RSPB in its conservation work. - it is no longer worth the time and effort. 2 Guided Walk Reports Rodley Nature Reserve Low Wood - Riddlesden Saturday 14 September 2013 Sunday 13 October 2013 We started the new season of outdoor walks at The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust run a small nature Rodley Nature Reserve with guides, Peter and reserve at Low Wood, Riddlesden. On Sunday 13 Barbara Murphy. A small group of us made the October 2013, the Group undertook a walk along walk which was on a sunny but cool day, perfect for the canal to this quiet woodland area. spotting birds. A small group of us started our walk at Stockbridge The Rodley Nature Reserve site was previously a Wharf where we quickly sighted a heron. We sewage works and is now a man-made habitat for continued our walk in a westerly direction along the attracting wildlife to the Leeds area. We started out canal. Lots of mallard ducks were seen including at the lagoon which was dug on a flood plain. A some interesting hybrid ducks. kingfisher was spotted and he was obviously in the We also spotted a few different birds in the trees mood for showing off as he posed on a little perch along the canal and the fields to the South of it. Our before doing an aerial display and some diving for second heron of the day was seen swooping down us. low along the canal just before we reached Low The duck marsh hide was our next stop. A family of Wood where our party was joined by three more mute swans were in this area, however trouble was people. brewing, as a black swan turned up to disturb the Low Wood itself is a small wooded area tucked peace. Lots of squabbles and fighting ensued, away behind the Scout camp. We walked along the causing a lot more drama than watching the soaps. path and were able to add nuthatch and treecreeper Next, we received exclusive access to the fish pass, to our birds seen list. Walking up through the wood which we were told was the best place to spot grey we were able to see a badger sett but none of the wagtails and dippers. The fish pass has been built mammals were about when we were there. We for fish migrating upstream so that they can bypass were then distracted from bird spotting by all the the weir. Some of us spotted one of the dippers fungi, which was very apt as it was UK Fungus Day. and we also saw our second kingfisher of the day. There were fresh otter tracks in the sand banks, but the nocturnal mammals were not about when we were there. We were advised that they have only been seen on the cameras at night. No grey wagtails were seen in the fish pass area, although one of the elusive birds flew over as we made our way around Tim’s field. This was previously a sunken field, however is now level, as all the soil removed when digging the lagoon was Birch Bracket Fungi placed here. The field is now planted with flowers Photo: Paul Barrett to attract birds. We then moved on to the dragonfly ponds which After we explored the wood we were welcomed into was a tranquil area of ponds. As the name Riddlesden Golf Club for a lunch break.