SEVENOAKS

LOCAL GROUP

MAY 2014 NEWSLETTER

Diclofenac is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug used by many of us of a certain age. Not only is it useful for humans, but it is also used widely in the veterinary field. However, for Old World vultures it is deadly. Before the cause was recognised, it caused the loss of 99% of vultures in India, Pakistan and Nepal. The birds fed on the carcases of animals which had been treated with the drug, but by an unkind quirk of metabolism it causes them almost immediate renal failure. Safer alternatives are readily available and the ban on the drug in the sub-continent, together with captive breeding programmes may have begun to halt the decline. In the absence of the avian waste disposal units, the numbers of stray dogs have increased, predictably bringing a rise in the occurrence of rabies and other diseases. It therefore seems incomprehensible that diclofenac has now been authorised for use in domestic animals in Italy and in Spain, where 80% of European vultures live!

This shows clearly that we need to maintain the pressure on governments and authorities to consider environmental issues. An example of this working comes, perhaps surprisingly from the Sudan and again features vultures. A power line from Port Sudan to the Red Sea has electrocuted thousands of birds, including hundreds of endangered Egyptian Vultures over the years. However, following research and pressure from BirdLife International, the Sudanese Wildlife Society and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, a new, fully insulated power line has been constructed and the old “killer” line decommissioned.

This action has removed one of the hazards facing birds migrating through this region. To get another angle on migration, the recent peregrinations of Chris the Cuckoo are described on page 4, whilst if you are thinking of a journey of your own to a warm winter resort, you can get a flavour of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia on page 2.

An outline of next season’s indoor meetings, organised by Jean (Nobbs) is included – full details in the next Newsletter – and John (Waterman) and Nick (Barlow) have produced another excellent programme of field meetings for the autumn, and to get a flavour, Nick’s reports on two of them are reproduced on page 5.

Once again we will be having a photographic competition (details on page 9), this time with four categories instead of three. The flora and landscape categories will stay the same, but we are splitting “fauna” into birds and non-birds (mammals, reptiles, insects, etc., etc.), so there will be even more opportunities for you to get those shutters whirring.

Brian Nobbs, Editor. [email protected]. 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP. Don’t forget our website, www.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks. A colour version of this newsletter will appear in the “News” section on the website.

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076; Scotland no. SC037654 1 Great Birds in the Lesser Antilles – January in St Lucia Text and photographs by Brian Nobbs

St. Lucia lies at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles chain in the Caribbean. A volcanic island 43 km (27 miles) long by 22km (14 miles) wide it feels much bigger, probably because few stretches of road are either straight or level. The centre is mountainous (the highest peak 950 m (3,118 ft)) and covered in lush rainforest, whilst lower down undulating hills are covered with native trees and plantations of bananas and cocoa, with some agricultural land. Fortunately the forests are respected, not only for their wildlife but to protect the water sources. On Boxing Day 2013 torrential rainstorms battered the island, sweeping away bridges and causing extensive flooding, and it was easy to see a month later that without the forest cover the erosion caused would have been catastrophic.

The capital, Castries, is in the north-west, but the airport is at the southern tip, within (relatively) easy reach of our hotel complex at Anse Chastenet, near Soufrière on the west coast. Despite the apparent small size, the island holds at least six endemic (i.e. found nowhere else) species - St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia Black Finch, St. Lucia Wren, (a seventh, Semper’s Warbler, is probably extinct), and a further 14 that are endemic to the Lesser Antilles.

Outside Soufrière the excellent Botanic Gardens gave A good introduction not only to the native flora, but also to a number of the birds, which being used to people, modelled beautifully. The Purple-throated Carib flashed its iridescent gorget of throat feathers in the sun, and the Grey Trembler demonstrated the weird vibrato for which it is named.

Also nearby were the Sulphur Springs, an area of bubbling mud pools indicating the centre of volcanic activity with the remains of the caldera (rim of the volcano) all around us. Indeed the aroma of hydrogen sulphide (think rotten eggs) gave the town of Soufrière its name (“air of sulphur” in French). A further feature of the area are two sharply pointed hills, Gros Piton (798m) and Petit Piton (743m) sticking up like a pair of canine teeth.

Purple-throated Carib

The hotel Anse Chastanet is spread over the side of a hill, overlooking the Caribbean, so although a fair amount of climbing was involved to move around the site, the views were spectacular. Our room had a large balcony, and we soon found that placing some of the brown sugar supplied for our coffee along the handrail attracted a number of birds, Bananaquit particularly Bananaquit and the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch.

A stroll around the grounds, passing Zenaida Dove and Carib Grackle on the ground and Antillean Crested Hummingbirds, including one on its nest, feeding from flowers, with an American Kestrel perched overhead, led us to a small stream, flowing through the woodland and into the sea. It may

2 have been small, but it contained fishing Little Blue, Green and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and a Spotted Sandpiper. A wide variety of tropical trees and bushes grow naturally or have been planted, including African Tulip Tree, Breadfruit, Castor Oil, Banana and West Indian Mahogany. Emerging from the vegetation were the ruins of the buildings and machinery from the days when there was a sugar plantation here, one of the crumbling walls acting as a base for a St. Lucia Pewee doing some fly catching.

A morning boat trip from the hotel’s beach gave good views of Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, and Royal Tern, doubtless hunting the numerous Flying Fish which erupted from the water around our boat. I hadn’t realised how easily these fish can change direction in mid-air, so they are no easy target.

Early morning excursions into the interior with some excellent local bird guides produced more spectacular birds, including the handsome blue and yellow St. Lucia Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, with its long spotted tail, the elegant Gray Kingbird, subdued but charming St. Lucia Pewee, and all the other island endemics, including the spectacular, but rarely well seen St. Lucia Parrot.

Near the Atlantic coast to the east, a small area of wetland held Wilson’s Snipe, Cattle, Snowy and Great Egrets, whilst on the beach were more familiar Sanderling and Grey Plover. One of the plovers had a sequence of coloured rings on its legs, subsequently Gray Kingbird found to have been put on at its breeding grounds in Canada.

In addition to the birds, Jean managed to go snorkelling from the hotel’s beach most afternoons among myriad colourful fish, corals and other sealife, whilst I wandered around the grounds with my camera, or chilled out on the balcony baiting Bananaquits and Bullfinches!

With spectacular scenery and wildlife, very comfortable accommodation, good food, and friendly locals, this Ornitholidays organised trip provided an excellent holiday.

Anse Chastanet resort 3 Diary of a Cuckoo

On June 1st 2011 a male Cuckoo in Norfolk was fitted with a 5 gram transmitter (for the technically minded, a Platform Transmitter Terminal) which transmits basic data to a satellite, giving the position accurate to within 500 metres. The PTT transmits for 10 hours at a time before going into ‘sleep’ mode for 48 hours to allow the solar panel to re-charge the battery. The Cuckoo was named ‘Chris’ (after the broadcaster Chris Packham) and he has successfully migrated to and from central Africa every year since, giving some intriguing information about his travels.

Having just completed (on 26th April) his latest return to Norfolk or the summer, it is interesting to see not only the route he has taken, but also how this differs from previous years. Chris has his own Blog, and the information given below is adapted from the British Trust for Ornithology website, where you can get much more information about Chris and the other tagged Cuckoos - (http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking/).

We pick up the story in Angola, where he spent Chris’s Journey most of December 2013. This in itself was a surprise, since in previous years he used the 26 Apr swamp forests of the Congo. In mid-January this 24 Apr year he started heading NNE to the Central African Republic, at one stage covering 930km 17 Apr In under 5 days, arriving in the CAR on 25th February and staying for several weeks before moving on to first Ghana and then the Ivory 14 Apr Coast, arriving by March 21st and again taking a rest until at least April 6th. th However, by April 11 he was flying over the 11 Apr western edge of the Sahara in Mauritania, having already covered 1525km from his previous location, and using a more westerly route than in previous years. A course change mid-way took him to northern Morocco in the early hours of th 21 Mar April 14 . to 6 Apr 25 Feb In previous years, Chris has travelled to and from Africa via Italy and France, but once again he seems to have decided on a change of scenery and this time headed through central 15 Jan Spain, crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains and arriving in northern Spain by 17th April.

By the 24th April he was in Normandy, France, inspecting the area of the D-Day Omaha Beach, but he was soon off again, touching down back th in Norfolk on the 26 . It is tempting to think that along with his fellow Cuckoos, Chris has ‘come home’, but where is his home? On average, only 15% of his time has been spent in the UK, compared with 47% in the Congo and 38% travelling.

It is interesting to see that birds such as Chris can modify their migration routes and stopping off sites if necessary, which makes the whole process of migration even more intriguing. To me Cuckoos are particularly interesting since they are raised by a completely different species, perhaps a Dunnock or a Reed Warbler, and from their first migration have to make their own way without any guidance from an adult. They all tend to winter in the same general area of central Africa, but take different routes to get there, and may well use an alternative for the return. There is still so much to discover!

Brian Nobbs

4 Field Trip reports

If you haven’t been able to join any of the mid-week field meetings, led by Nick Barlow, these reports by Nick will give you a flavour of what you’ve been missing.

2/4/14: KWT Reserve. On our last trip here, in October 2013, we were lucky enough to have excellent views of the Spotted Crake and rather less good views of a Red-necked Grebe: today was less exciting; however we had a total of 47 species. On this day of major pollution warnings, with our own pollution being increased by that coming from the Continent, together with dust from the Sahara, there was a smog-like haze visible even here at Oare. The prevailing gentle breeze from the SE gave way to a very uncomfortable E wind as the tide came in: chilly, despite the sunshine. As we arrived at the car park we were greeted by a Chiffchaff, a Cetti’s Warbler (which called all day), and by a Bearded Tit flitting over the reeds; later, near the sluice, we saw 3 Bearded Tits and briefly had good views of a male bird.

We walked back along the road: great views of Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, and Skylark, and a nice view of one of a few calling Mediterranean Gulls which passed above us; also one Sedge Warbler. The Highland cattle attracted a good deal of attention; and we saw several Small Tortoiseshell and a few Peacock butterflies. From the East Flood hide we had better views of a pair of Pintail, and of around 90 roosting Black- tailed Godwits coming into breeding plumage. Other sightings included Linnets, Kestrels, a good view of a juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting along this side of the West Flood and which disturbed Lapwing, Redshank, Wigeon, Pochard, and Grey Heron amongst others; several Reed Bunting including 3 very bright males in one bush; a few Curlew by ; and a number of Avocet. Later by the road we had a great view of a male Marsh Harrier which landed by the East Flood; and a brief view of a Green Woodpecker.

17/4/14: Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve. A very lovely day; full of birds and birdsong, leaves just starting to green the trees, spring flowers and butterflies, blue skies and warm sunshine. At the Visitor Centre we were welcomed by Anna, who kindly briefed us on recent developments and current bird sightings. Our visit was timely, with the first Nightingale of the year arriving just the week before. We spent most of the time on the eastern side of the Reserve, sheltered from a chilly breeze. Apart from the birdsong some highlights included a good deal of Green Woodpecker activity and, as we got closer to Fattengates Courtyard, super views of a pair of Nuthatch very low down, then a pair of noisy Wrens in the brambly undergrowth, while above them a singing Willow Warbler showed well; then for some the best view of a singing Nightingale close and posing by the edge of the water. On the trees by the T-junction a pair of Treecreepers displayed their climbing skills moving effortlessly along the underside of overhanging branches (we had even better views on our return journey). Male Blackcaps seemed to be round every corner, and there were several Chiffchaffs; but just a few Crows in the field with the longhorn cattle.

We went on to Hanger View (with views of the deer)and then had lunch at the picnic area above Nettley’s hide: 3 Bullfinches flitted past, and nesting Long-tailed Tits were very busy. Butterflies included several sulphur-yellow male Brimstones and one female in a courtship flight, a few Peacocks, and some Orange Tips. Flowers included Greater Stitchwort, Celandine, Violets, and Primroses. At Jupp’s View we had good views of 3 Avocet: one guarding a scrape, seemingly intending to breed (which I’m told would be a first for Sussex) and loudly seeing off a bewildered Canada Goose. Only one Swallow was seen.

We returned along the public footpath by the church passing a rookery, a Goldcrest was busy in a large Yew tree, and a flock of Jackdaws called from the trees. Back at the car park a Raven called and flew west; I was surprised to learn that there are a couple of pairs on the downs. We ended the day going along the edge of the ‘heathland restoration project’ area , a Great Spotted Woodpecker ahead of us, then past the ‘dragonfly’ pond and lovely banks of Bluebells, and through Black Wood to Hail’s View; where, facing into an uncomfortable breeze, there were several more geese, ducks and waders (more Redshank and Lapwing, and a Curlew) and finally two odd-looking birds in the distance which we found to be a pair of Mandarin ducks. 5 Annual General Meeting

The 20th Annual General Meeting of the current Sevenoaks Group was held on 1st May. Anne Chapman, our Group Leader, and Jane Love, our Treasurer, reviewed another very successful year, during which we were able to donate £4,000 to the RSPB. The members present voted to direct the money evenly between heathland and woodland habitat projects. In addition, the amount raised for the RSPB from pin badges rose from £1,674 in 2012/13 to £5,815 in 2013/14, largely due to the efforts of Mick Love in placing and servicing pin badge boxes around our “patch”.

It was agreed that from 2015, the Group’s year, formerly starting in September, should be realigned to match the financial year, making 2015 subscriptions due in May 2015.

The Committee for 2014/2015 will be:

 Leader Anne Chapman  Treasurer Jane Love  Secretary & Membership Secretary Gill Saunders  Field Meetings (weekday) Nick Barlow  Field Meetings (weekend) John Waterman  Special Field Trip Co-Ordinator Mick Love  Indoor Meetings Jean Nobbs  Newsletter & Web site Editor Brian Nobbs  Sales Co-ordinator Ann Breame  Campaigns Champion Jacquie Martin  Press Officer Vacant

Unfortunately Julie Childs has had to relinquish the role of Press Officer, so if anyone is interested in taking on this post, or perhaps in helping out at one of our sales events during the summer, please contact Anne Chapman at: [email protected]. Even a couple of hours help at these event would be gratefully received.

The events at which we plan to have a presence and items for sale are:

August 16th & 17th – Wildlife Trust’s Festival of Wildlife, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.

September 7th – Heavy Horse Show, Shoreham.

September 13th & 14th – Hever Country Fayre, Hever Castle.

******************************************************************************************************** Bird Names

Some birds are such a feature of the local scene that they have acquired a whole range of regional or dialect names over the years. Here are just a few, from Francesca Greenoak’s British Birds their Folklore, Names and Literature.

Great Crested Grebe: Greater Copped Doucker, Greater Dabchick, Greater Loon, Ash Coloured Swan, Arsefoot, Car Goose, Tippet Grebe, Satin Grebe.

Bittern: Bittour, Buttal, Butter Bump, Bumpy Coss, Bumble, Bog Blutter, Bog Jumper, Bog Drum, Bull of the Mire, Boom Bird, Miredrum, Clabitter, Heather Blutter.

Dunnock: Blue Isaac, Blue Jig, Blue Dickie, Doney, Smokey, Bush Sparrow, Dykesmowler, Hedge Betty, Hedge Mike, Segge, Hedge Scrubber.

Yellow Wagtail: Barley Bird, Cow-klit, Cow-bird, Golden Dishwasher, Ladybird, Potato Setter, Maw- daw, Oat-ear, Sunshine Bird, Yellow Molly.

6 Goldfinch: Gold Spink, Gool French, King Harry Redcap, Seven-coloured Linnet, Spotted Dick, Lady with the Twelve Flounces, Sherriff’s Man, Foolscoat, Sweet William, Proud Tailor, Jack Nicker, Draw Water, Moleneck.

Long-tailed Tit: Long-pod, Long-tailedPie, Dog-tail, Long-tailed Capon, Long-tailed Chittering, Hedge Mumruffin, Ragamuffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-bottle, Bottle Tit, Poke Pudding, Pudding Bag, Puddney Poke, Oven Builder, Bum Barrel, Can Bottle, Hedge Jug, Bum Towel, Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, Prinpriddle.

Mistle Thrush: Hollin Cock, Holm Screech, Mizzly Dick, Screech, Skirlock, Squawking Thrush, Jay Pie, Jercock, Chercock, Stormcock, Jeremy Joy, Big Mavis, Horse Thrush, Felfit, Fulfer, Fen Thrush, Norman Thrush, Stone Thrush.

Minibus Trips – Summer / Autumn 2014

Sunday 13th July Rutland Water Ospreys Day Trip

We plan to spend the day in two different locations at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. Providing the birds co-operate and stick to the routine that they have established in recent years, we will spend the morning at Manton Bay, where, after a video presentation by the warden, we should be able to watch a pair of Ospreys, hopefully with their young. We will be in one of two hides that overlook the nest site, giving us good views of the birds feeding, bathing and stretching their wings. For the photographers among us that have long lenses, some good shots should be possible. The afternoon will be spent at Egleton where the Anglian Water Bird Watching Center is located. From here we have access to 28 more hides. We would not expect to visit all the hides but would be guided by the staff at the centre as to the best locations on the day. Grade C – up to 4 miles walking. As this trip is dependent on bird behaviour, changes could be made at a later date. The reserve is run by the local Wildlife Trust who make a charge for entry, this is included in the cost of £22.50 per head. Booking form below. Minibus will leave Mavala car park at 6.45am, returning at about 7.00pm.

------Sunday 5th October Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve Day Trip

NOW FULLY BOOKED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN TO MICHAEL LOVE, 14 THE LANDWAY, KEMSING, SEVENOAKS, KENT, TN15 6TG.

 Please reserve ………….... place/s for Rutland Water on 13th July 2014 A cheque for £22.50 each is enclosed payable to ‘Sevenoaks RSPB Local Group’.

NAME: ……………………………………………….. DATE: …………………

ADDRESS:…………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

TEL.NO: ………………………………………………………………………………………………

E-MAIL:………………………………………………………………………………………………...

7

BROADWATER WARREN &TUDELEY WOODS

From the blog of Alan Loweth, RSPB Wealden Office Manager & Volunteer Co-ordinator:

Spent an hour walking round the reserve this morning [15th April] in beautiful weather and was treated to singing and displaying Tree Pipits, singing Woodlark, Linnet , two pairs of Marsh Tit, a Grey Wagtail at the Decoy Pond, Siskins in the larches and a number of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in full voice. Then it was time to start this month's check of our 200 Dormouse nestboxes to see if the recent warm weather had encouraged the dormice to emerge from hibernation. We weren't disappointed. We checked half of the boxes and found 4 animals, including a male and female tucked up together. Alan Loweth

A great wildlife sighting to round off 2013 was when a Dartford Warbler was spotted on the heath at Tudeley Dormouse © Alan Loweth Woods in mid-December. It’s the first Dartford Warbler to be seen at Tudeley since 2007 and the only known sighting in Kent in 2013! This traditional heathland bird has lots of character, singing from a perch on top of gorse bushes before darting back into the scrub. They went down to just 11 pairs of birds in the UK in the 1960s. Things have improved for them, but there’s still a long way to go. They are another species that rely on well managed heathland and we hope they will return to breed both at Tudeley and at Broadwater as the landscapes become more and more tailored to their needs.

From Steve Wheatley, Weald Sites Manager, RSPB South East England, reporting on 1st May:

Tree Pipits have been very vocal at Broadwater Warren. This charismatic bird has a very distinctive parachuting flight from up high to the ground. It’s fluting song can currently be heard every day at Broadwater and numbers are the highest since the RSPB acquired the site. This is especially important because Tree Pipits are Red Listed as a species of highest conservation concern.

The Decoy Pond at Broadwater is now teeming with tadpoles, and a Grey Wagtail seems to be nesting on the island. The trees on the island were coppiced during the winter, so it’s great that wildlife is already responding to the extra sunlight. Contrary to its name, most of the body of the Grey Wagtail is actually a lovely yellow. Woodlarks are still singing, announcing their territories. Dunnocks have got off to an excellent start this year and are doing well at both Broadwater and Tudeley. Linnets are singing their scratchy, chattery song and Chiffchaffs are announcing their name from the scrub – “chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff- chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff”. Willow warbler, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler have also been heard in the last couple of days. Meanwhile, in the shady, undisturbed woodlands the Bluebells are flowering and look amazing. It’s easy to take bluebells for granted in this area, but the woodlands of this region really are the global centre. Brimstone butterflies are having a great spring at both reserves. Our recorder at Broadwater counted 68 Brimstones on her survey last week, beating a count of 67 the week before. Plus, there are now butterflies being consistently seen in areas they’ve never been seen before. Look out for the ‘whites’ emerging now – Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. A dense barrier of Rhododendron has been removed from one part of the woodland by our wardens and volunteers this past winter. A massive quarry close to the A26 has been uncovered. The exposed, sunny sandy quarry face can now be used by mining bees. Over time a rich woodland ground flora will develop above and below the quarry. Returning Nightjars should now have crossed from Africa into Europe and will be arriving here late in May. They will have started their amazing journey from central Africa back in February or early March, and will be looking for food and territories as soon as they reach us.

8 TUDELEY WOODS WORK PARTIES

If you’ve ever fancied getting involved with some practical conservation, why not come out to one of our work parties? Try felling a tree, making a dead hedge or starting a bonfire; get some fresh air and make a difference. Send an email to Claire Derbyshire, the Wednesday Work Party Leader, or Tom Pinches, the Warden at [email protected] if you’d like more information.

Meet at the Reserve car park at 10:00 am. All work is conducted under the supervision of the warden, and tools can be provided, though you may prefer to bring your own (saw, loppers, etc.). Don’t forget to bring some lunch and a drink! The reserve is off the A21. From the Sevenoaks direction, pass the turning for Tunbridge Wells, and just before the Shell petrol station turn left into Half Moon Lane (signposted “Capel 2”). The reserve car park is approximately 0.3 miles down the lane on the left (look out for brown RSPB sign).

2014 Work Parties

2014 Sunday Wednesday

May - 7th June - 4th July - 2nd August - 13th September 28th 10th, 24th

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Photographic Competition

Our next photographic competition, only open to paid up Group Members, is approaching, so now is the time to get out and about with your cameras.

This time, there will be four categories – Birds, Other Fauna, Flora, and Landscape, and up to two entries per category are invited. They should be prints of no larger than 15cm X 21cm (A5), printed from film negatives, slides or digital. We are looking for exciting images, so there are no rules regarding how or where the photographs were taken.

The entries will be displayed anonymously (but coded), at the January 2015 meeting, when all the members attending will be invited to vote for their choice by ballot. They will then be displayed again at the February meeting, this time with the photographers named, and the winners in each category will be announced. This allows everyone to participate, and avoids the subjectivity of a single judge.

Please send your entries, clearly identified with your name, address, title of the picture and the category, to me at the address below, or hand them to me at the October, November or December 2014 indoor meetings.

Entries must be received by 21st December 2014. There is no entry fee (or prize), but if you wish your photographs to be returned by post, please enclose a suitable stamped addressed envelope.

Please send entries to me, Brian Nobbs, at 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP.

9 INDOOR MEETINGS

We meet on the first Thursday of the month, at OTFORD VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL, Otford, TN14 5PQ. The car park is adjacent to the hall, and is free. Entrance fee = Group Members £2.50, non-members £3.50. Please note that meetings will START promptly at 7.45 pm, doors are open from 7.15 pm.

DONATIONS OF RAFFLE PRIZES ALWAYS APPRECIATED!

Notes for your diary – further details will be in the September Newsletter:

September 4th 2014 Cuba – and the World’s Smallest Bird – by Ann & Phil Ferrar

October 2nd 2014 Falkland Islands – Birds and Wildlife in close up – by John Buckingham

November 6th 2014 Our Local Raptors – or are they? – by Ed Drewitt

December 4th 2014 Bob’s Best of the Year – his best wildlife images over the last 12 months – by Robert Canis

January 8th 2015 Once More unto the Breach – by Adrian Thomas

February 5th 2015 Trinidad, Tobago and St. Lucia – by Brian Nobbs

March 5th 2015 The Walk to Hel: a 50 mile walk to Hel on the Baltic Coast of Poland - By Jonathan Forgham

April 9th 2015 The Plight of the Bumble Bee, plus film of the Short-haired Bumblebee project at Dungeness – by Nikki Gammans

May 7th 2015 AGM + feature to be announced

Recycle your Printer Cartridges and Mobile Phones

We now have collection boxes for used printer cartridges and old mobile telephones which we will bring to indoor meetings. Not only will this help the environment, but at the same time will bring in a small amount of money for the group.

The RSPB can also raise money from used postage stamps, so if you would like to bring any to an indoor meeting, Brian or Jean will take them off your hands.

The Society can also find good homes for used binoculars & telescopes. They can be refurbished and used by wardens and students overseas where such equipment is difficult and expensive to obtain, so particularly valued. 10

Our field meetings are a great opportunity to see a wide variety of birds and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. We will see over thirty different species on most walks and sometimes fifty plus. The walks are for people of all abilities and for the most part cover easy terrain at a leisurely pace, providing a chance to enjoy birds and learn more about them and their habitats, and share a common interest with others. On most walks we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear are advised on all trips. All walks are undertaken at your own risk. It does have to be pretty bad before we give up on a walk, but if the weather is dodgy please check with us that the walk is still on. Contact numbers are: John Waterman on 01959 532364 (weekends – see also box below) or, if you are late, ring John on 07935 206618, or Nick Barlow on 01732 762816 (weekdays), before setting out. For Minibus trips, the contact is Mick Love on 01732 384573. Remember to take your RSPB membership card to all meetings at RSPB reserves. Length of walk: “A” = 1 mile: “B” = 2 miles: “C” = up to 4 miles For those with satellite navigation, we have included the nearest Post Code, but please note this only gives an approximation of the meeting point, but usually to within a few hundred metres.

F or car sharing, weekend meetings will start from the car park of Mavala UK Ltd., Unit 4, Morewood Close, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2HU. Turn off London Road into Morewood Close (by Fire Station), follow road round sharp right hand bend. Mavala is on right before Station Car park. Those wishing to car share should arrive at 8:30 for an 8:45 departure. Participants are of course free to travel directly to the meeting location if they prefer. I f you coming to a weekend field meeting, please let John Waterman know by phone or text [07935 206618], whether you are meeting at Mavala or travelling direct.

FIELD TRIPS May - December 2014

May 2014

Fri 23rd RSPB Reserve (TQ768765) ME3 8SR 10.30 am Wetland & Woodland birds “C” Adjacent to High Halstow, off A228. The visitor centre is at Bromhey Farm, All day signposted R off High Halstow to Cooling road. Bring lunch.

June 2014

Sun 22nd Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve (TQ554372) TN3 9JP 5.00 pm Nightjars, Woodcock “B” Eve. From A26 1 mile south of Tunbridge Wells, turn R into Broadwater Forest Lane (SP NO pre- , Groombridge). The car park is on the left after approx. a mile. meet at Bring a torch and insect repellent. Mavala Tues 24th Thursley Common (SU900417) GU8 6LN 11.00 am Heathland birds, Hobby, dragonflies “C” Meet at Moat Pond car park half way between Elstead and Thursley. All day Allow 1½ hours travel time. Nearest toilets are at service station just before turn off to Elstead. Bring lunch. August 2014

Wed 13th Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN 11.00 am Waders, wildfowl & migrants “C” From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile turn R All day at Boulderwall Farm onto gravel track leading to reserve centre. Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card. 11 September 2014

Thurs 11th Cuckmere Haven Head (TV518995) BN25 4AD 11.00 am Autumn migrants. “C” On A259 between Eastbourne and Seaford. Meet at Country Park car park. All day Bring lunch.

Sun 14th Dungeness (not RSPB) (TR089168) TN29 9NB 10.30 am Seawatch “C” From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 2 mile meet at All day Old Lighthouse Car Park. Followed by visit to RSPB Reserve? Bring lunch& RSPB Membership card..

October 2014

Thurs 9th Shellness Nature Reserve (TR040703) ME12 4QL 11.00 am Migrants, geese, waders, birds of prey. “C” On the . Meet at Leysdown on Sea seafront on B2231. All day Bring lunch.

Sun 26th Reculver (TQ226693) CT6 6SU 10.00 am Waders, migrants, seabirds. “C” M2 then A299 towards Thanet. Meet at the car park by Reculver Towers. Seawall All day and footpath walks. Bring lunch.

November 2014

Fri 7th Nature Reserve (TQ939679) ME12 3RW 10.30 am Waders, wildfowl, raptors. “C” Take A249 from M20 J7. One mile after Kingsferry Bridge turn R on signposted All day rough track for 2 miles to reserve car park. Bring lunch. NB. Long walk to hides. Sun 23rd Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve (TQ552792) RM19 1SX 10.00 am Wetland birds “C” Exit M25 at J30. Follow signs to Dagenham, London, on west bound A13. Exit A13 All day at the A1306 (first junction signposted Wennington, Aveley and Purfleet). From junction follow signs to Purfleet along A1306 for half mile. At traffic lights, take R, signposted A1090 to Purfleet onto New Tank Hill Road flyover. The entrance is 300m along this road, on R just after bottom of the flyover. Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card. Note: From October 2014 there will be changes to how you pay to use the Dartford crossing . You will no longer pay at the barriers, instead you’ll be able to pay in advance, or up to midnight the day after crossing. For details see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dart-charge-dartford-crossing-remote-payment

Tues 25th Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD 10.30 am Waders, raptors, migrants “C” Off A2 before . Continue on from B2045 along Ferry Road to car All day park by information centre. Signposted from Oare Village. Bring lunch. NB. No toilets on site but Sainsbury’s store just off B2045 has food and toilets. December 2014

Sun 14th Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve (TQ059164) RH20 2EQ 10.00 am Wildfowl and winter visitors. “C” On the L on A283 – 3 miles before Pulborough, after turning off A24 at Washington. All day Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.

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