BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

JANUARY 2013 NEWSLETTER

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

Contents:

 From The Group Leader

 “Cheers” To A Beer Garden Birdwatch

 Notices

 Can Birds Make Us Happy?

 What’s Happening?

 From The Falklands

 January’s Outdoor Meeting

 February’s Outdoor Meeting

 December’s Outdoor Meeting

 Local Wildlife News

 Quiz Page

A million voices for nature Charity registered in England and Wales no. 207076 From The Group Leader

Welcome to 2013 and a very Happy New Year to you all!

Firstly, apologies for once again not being present – leave ‘given’ to me by work having to be taken and therefore taking me away from the Group once again 

I’m sure I’ll not be missed and can only pass on my best wishes to you all, once again, for this and the forthcoming Outdoor Meeting, and the New Year.

Many start so many things as the New Year progresses – Year Lists and Resolutions to name but two. How about you, have you made any plans / resolutions for 2013 that will take you deeper in to the conservation or management of wildlife, or just take you deeper in to the interest that grips us all – birds? If yes, why not let us know about how things progress. I’m aware of one ‘local’ that due to being made redundant is now spending time ‘working’ in his ‘spare time’ at such sites as Titchfield Haven and Pagham Harbour. This has brought about a deeper appreciation as to what has to be done behind the scenes to ensure that such sites, and the wildlife they’re there to encourage in and protect, continue to work as smoothly as possible – I hope that in the near future we hear more of this, and perhaps of your dabblings in such things.

Even though we’re only just tip-toeing in to the New Year we already need to make robust plans for the future, this including such things as the Evening Walks Programme, through May and June, the 2013 – 2014 Indoor and Outdoor Meetings Programme, and so on. As always we, the Committee, look forward to hearing from you on these matters, especially as these are formatted for your enjoyment and to try and make the most of that whish we’re lucky enough to live not too distant from. As always, again, the greater the input from yourselves, the more likely that the Programmes continue to reflect what you wish to happen, where you wish to go and what you wish to see, or at least try and see!

Finally, please don’t forget that it’s the Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of th th 26 / 27 . Please do get involved with this, both on a national scale and, if you can, on a more local scale by submitting your records to the Local Group for inclusion in the annual summary of what was seen and what happened locally.

Once again, Happy New Year and I’ll see you all soon.

Peter E. Hutchins

“Cheers” to a Beer Garden Birdwatch

This year the RSPB in the south east are adding a new twist to their annual Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place over the weekend of 26 and 27 January, by encouraging pubs with beer gardens to get involved too.

The conservation charity are still asking people to take part in their own gardens, but for those without a green space of their own, or those who want to do a second survey – a beer garden would be a fun and sociable alternative.

Nichola Willett, Senior Community Fundraiser for the RSPB in the south east, said: “We thought pubs would be a great place for people to sit and complete their survey.

“By the end of January, we’re often feeling a little fed up and a trip to the pub with friends may be hovering on the agenda. So the opportunity to settle down by a window, or in a conservatory, with a glass of something chilled to watch and count the birds, could be just the excuse we need.”

The RSPB are looking for volunteers to help organise a ‘Big Pub Garden Birdwatch’ event in their local pub, or similar venue.

As well as approaching the landlord of the pub, it may be necessary to put up a few feeders and ensure they are topped up regularly over the coming weeks, to attract as many birds as possible. There are also posters available to help you promote your event.

For venues who would like to make an evening of the event, volunteers can also request a ‘Quiz in a Box’ fundraising pack. This family friendly activity would be the perfect way to round off the weekend, or could be used on an alternative evening.

Miss Willett added: “We'd send you all the resources you'll need - survey forms, posters etc, and of course give you ongoing support and advice all the way!

“And if your local pub doesn’t have a view out on to a garden, park, village green, field or even a tree in a paved area, they can still get involved through our ‘Quiz in a Box’ complete with everything needed to hold a family fundraising quiz.”

If you know a local pub that you could approach, or are a landlord and would like to get involved, please contact Nichola Willett on 01273 763614 or [email protected]

Further details on the Big Garden Birdwatch can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Now in its 34th year, the survey provides the RSPB with an important snapshot of garden bird populations in winter and has helped to highlight some dramatic declines in UK garden birds.

To take part in the survey, people are asked to spend just one hour at any time over Big Garden Birdwatch weekend noting the highest number of each bird species seen in their chosen garden or Local Park at any one time. They then have three weeks to submit their results to the RSPB, either online at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or in the post.

Notices

Newsletter Mailings

Thank you to those that continue to forward their mailing addresses – more tree use prevented and more time to do other things now, and if you believe the latter you’ll believe anything!!! Keep them coming, as they say, “The more the merrier!” Wouldn’t it be good to make the Group paper-less / free? We’re getting there with now no more than 20 or so needing to be printed off on a monthly basis, this a figure that will hopefully continue to shrink, having been up to 50+ at one time! 

Bird Food

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

Bird Food Pricelist:

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

Wild bird Mix 40p/lb. or 88p/kg Sunflower Hearts £1.10/lb or £2.42/kg Peanuts £1/lb. or £2.20/kg Niger £1/lb or £2.20/kg Black Sunflowers £1/lb or £2.20/kg Fat Squares £1 each

Fat Pecker Balls 25p each

Also available are a range of birdboxes and feeders.

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

Peter & Alison

Can Birds Make Us Happy?

Dec. 17, 2012 — As millions of us post our Christmas cards -- many of which star a robin red breast -- ecologists are investigating whether birds make us happy. Speaking at this week's British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, researchers will reveal how they are investigating the links between birds and our well-being, and explain how their results -- due out next year -- could have a major impact on UK bird conservation.

There has been an increasing amount of research on the health benefits of green spaces such as parks and nature reserves, but we know far less about how the wildlife within these habitats contributes towards well-being benefits.

Take wild birds for example says PhD student Natalie Clark from the University of Reading, who is leading the study: "Most of us say we enjoy seeing wild birds in our local environments every day, be that the friendly robin visiting our garden each Christmas or ducks swimming in the local pond. But we have little idea of how much we value their presence and how they're contributing to our overall well-being."

Given the declining numbers of many bird species the study -- which also involves the University of East Anglia, the RSPB and the University of Chicago -- is timely. "Any well-being benefit we may be receiving could soon be in jeopardy as numbers of many wild bird species have declined across the UK since the 1970s," says Clark.

"We know that wild birds are very important to a significant proportion of people living in the UK, with more than 60% of people with a garden providing supplementary food to birds. What we need to understand next is how and to what degree wild birds are benefiting people in the UK, so that we can work to conserve these birds and the well-being benefits they provide for future generations. This is particularly important at a time when many of us are feeling the 'economic pinch' and will appreciate benefits from increased well-being to an even greater degree."

Participants from across the UK have been filling in questionnaires designed to find out how often they visit green spaces and why, and to measure how differing levels of bird activity near people's homes may be affecting their well-being.

According to Clark: "We're really interested in the reasons why people visit green spaces and how important different aspects of wildlife, particularly birds, are to their outdoor experiences. That friendly robin hopping across your lawn might be more important than you could imagine."

Results from the study are expected in the spring, and the three and a half year project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, with additional support from the RSPB.

Natalie Clark will outline the study on Tuesday 18 December 2012 to the British Ecological Society's Annual Meeting at the University of Birmingham.

What’s Happening?

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

Chineham Conservation Group [email protected]

Forthcoming work parties:

Saturday 26th January – Coppicing – Great Sorrell’s Copse

6

Sunday 10th February – Coppicing – Great Sorrell’s Copse Saturday 23rd March – Coppicing – Tollhouse Copse Sunday 21st April – Path laying – Great Sorrell’s Copse Saturday 18th May – Variegated Yellow Archangel removal – Guinea Copse

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

HAMPSHIRE POTATO WEEKEND 10am – 3pm SATURDAY / SUNDAY 26th / 27th JANUARY At the Testbourne Community School Micheldever Road, Whitchurch, Hants RG28 7JF Admission £2 per adult, children free A good day out and an event not to be missed by anyone interested in growing good flavoured, quality potatoes. 150 different varieties available and 30 of these are also available as organic seed potatoes. These can be purchased in 2.5 gm nets or, more interestingly, as individual tubers, so people can enjoy experimenting by growing a few plants of varieties that are new to them. The potatoes on offer range from ‘heritage’ varieties dating back to the 19th century, right through to the most recent introductions. To assist choice, an informative and very comprehensive catalogue is available (price 50p), and it is recommended that a copy of this is bought on arrival and quietly browsed through over a cup of coffee before deciding what to buy. Chris Bird, from the Horticultural Department of Sparsholt College gives a talk each morning on growing potatoes and practical advice is on hand throughout both days from potato experts Dave Chapell and from Richard Stevens (who supplies the tubers) and his team. Pea and bean seeds, also onion and shallot sets are available. There are activities for children and refreshments. A number of trade stands selling seeds, plants, preserves, and organic vegetables are in the main hall. A seed swap stall is a popular feature.

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

7

Pamber Forest History Walk

Join assistant reserves officer, David Jewsbury, for an amble around Pamber Forest. Hear about the story of the forest revealed by old documents and see evidence left by people working in the woods long ago. Meet at Pamber Forest, Impstone Road parking area (Map ref. SU 616 621). Contact David on 07836 493677 or e-mail [email protected]. The walk is 3 miles long and will last around two hours. Pre-booking is required. Sorry, no dogs.

Event details Date 27 January 2013 Time 10am Event type General Events, Walk Nature Reserve Pamber Forest, Impstone Road Suggested Donation £2.

Skittles Evening

An evening of traditional skittles with a basket supper included. To be held at The Frog and Wicket, Eversley Cross, Hook RG27 0NS (Map ref. SU 796 616). Contact Lyn Deavin 01252 879255 or [email protected], or Jane Vaughan on 01256 764225. Booking and ticket purchase essential in advance. Admission £12.50 including basket supper.

Event details Date 07 February 2013

8

Time 7.30pm Event type General Events Nature Reserve The Frog and Wicket, Eversley Cross, Hook (Map ref. SU 796 616). Admission £12.50 including basket supper Booking Essential? Yes

Canal and River Walk

A walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Kennet and around the lake to see winter birds. Meet at Aldermaston Wharf Visitor Centre, at Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth RG7 4JS (Map ref. SU 603 672). Contact Gerry Gardner on 01189 700859 or mobile 07779 026915. Refreshments are available at the Visitor Centre. Suggested donation £2. Please wear warm clothing, suitable footwear and bring binoculars.

Event details Date 17 February 2013 Time 10.30am-12.30pm Event type General Events, Walk, Bird watch Nature Reserve Aldermaston Wharf Visitor Centre (Map ref. SU 603 672) Suggested Donation £2 Booking Essential? No

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

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

9

17th January 2013 Wildlife Film Evening RSPB films - titles TBC. St Mary's Hall from 7:30pm For further information please contact Ken. or Jane MacKenzie on 771121.

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

From The Falklands

We arrived safely on Monday 3rd December to 8C in the Falklands, but with very strong winds so it felt cold. However, it was bright and sunny so we had a lovely drive into Stanley with views of the chain of hills to our left, soft greens and greys, including Mt Harriet, Mt William and Sapper Hill. The house where we are staying is modern and above Stanley with great views across the sound to Mount Low. This can look lovely especially in the evening light. Southern giant petrels, kelp gulls, Antarctic terns, Turkey vultures fly past.

Having spent the first few days getting ready we woke early on 9th December and set off in the laden land rover driving right across East Falkland. Whilst the road to the military base at Mt Pleasant (MPA) is fairly well maintained a lot of it has a gravel surface. With all the recent rain our nice clean rover was soon plastered in mud. We drove past Mt Usborne, the Falklands’ highest mountain and where in 2008 I had spent a lovely day on the grassy slopes recording Silvery Buttercup. By now the road was narrower and unremitting gravel, but less muddy. We drove on past Darwin, eventually passing the ruins of Tranquillidad House, where I went searching unsuccessfully for Adder’s Tongue in 2011. It appears that the Variable Hawk is nesting once again on the chimney. Eventually we arrived at New

10

Haven. There we saw the first penguins of our trip. A colony of Gentoo is nesting right by the entrance to the harbour.

The Concordia Bay is a small roll on-roll off ferry. Although the sailing was scheduled for 12 noon, but 11.30 all the booked vehicles had loaded, so we set sail. We had a lovely calm crossing with clear views which was lovely. Several birds followed us, mostly the rather elegant Imperial Shags. I was thrilled when about half way across a Cape Petrel (Pintardo) joined us. I hadn’t seen one before, as they are difficult to see from land, and they have migrated south to breed, by February, the month of my only other boat trip. Tim had seen lots whilst on his cruise. They have the most beautiful black and white markings on their upper wings and from below, look very smart too. As we neared West Falkland we started to get views of the Hornby Mountains that we would be camping amongst. Suddenly two Commersons Dolphins porpoised towards us over the waves! Later once we were through the Narrows and in Port Howard Sound a whole pod gambolled in the sea alongside the ferry whilst Antarctic Terns and Southern Giant Petrels flew above our heads.

Arriving in Port Howard we drove gingerly off the ferry as there was quite a big height discrepancy between the ferry and the quay. We found a hose and washed off all the salt that had been sprayed onto the rover. To reach the settlement we drove through the gap between enormous sheering sheds. The sheering had only finished that morning, so everyone apologised for smelling of sheep. We were given a lovely warm welcome in the farmhouse kitchen – coffee and freshly baked mince pies. Later in the evening as the sun was going down a beautiful light illuminated the settlement and surrounding hills.

Next morning walking up into the hills a Grass Wren caught our attention and we watched it for ages as it foraged for insects amongst an especially large fern only a few feet from us. On up, and up we went, eventually reaching the top and the feldmark area we were aiming for. This habitat it windswept, comprises of stones with gravel, clay or sand in between and occasional cushion plants, so can appear rather bleak! In wet weather and rain it IS rather bleak!! We carried out our survey work on the summit of Mt Maria (2158’) but failed to find any Nassauvia falklandica so moved onto our second target area, again finding none. Walking back to the settlement we stopped for refreshment and watched Dotterels amongst the Diddledee heath as we munched chocolate bars. Far below we noted the line of Freezer Rocks which had been high above as when we started from Port Howard that morning. Way below them a tiny dot entered Port Howard Sound, the Concordia Bay, on her way in. On and on down we trudged until finally we home and the comforts of soft chairs, showers, tea and then supper.

The cloud was low on Mt Maria the next morning so we went for a gentler walk along the sound further improving our plant id knowledge and enjoying the melodious song of the Long-Tailed Meadow Larks.

The next morning we were ready for our 7.30 start. It was a beautiful still sunny morning. Neil Clarke then led us up into the hills. He was driving a truck with “tractor” tyres which

11

were very knobbly when compared with our rover’s camp (i.e. off road) tyres. We drove up onto Mt Maria without problems, seeing a Southern Caracara perched on a rock on the way. This only took about an hour, not all morning as it had two days earlier. We then followed the ridge track in a southerly direction, through some quite boggy areas, but there was only one place where Neil towed us through and he was confident that on the return we would be ok if we kept as high as possible. We had both a satellite phone and a 2m radio with us. From where we were it was most likely that the 2m radio would be heard on Saunders Island, but they would pass on any messages. Neil took us as far as the wet ground allowed and left us on a hillside just below Clay Mountain. From there we packed in our first load. This took us about 1.5hrs downhill. Unloaded the return walk took about an hour. We found the tarn we were looking for, found a lovely sheltered, flat, dry spot, erected our sleeping tent and left the contents of our rucksacks inside. With empty rucksacks we climbed back up the hill, there were families of White Bridled Finches amongst the grass. We returned to the rover, had lunch and then walked down with the remainder of the kit, the kettle tied onto the outside of my rucksack, ringing as I walked. We were so lucky to have a dry, settled and calm day for all of this. We quickly developed a camp routine. Due to the cold and wind, most meals were taken inside, but we did have a few where we could sit outside on rocks and enjoy the setting. The Falkland Thrushes joined us when we were outside and the Dark Faced Ground Tyrants spent hours flying low over the tents catching the many small non-biting insects. Each day we walked out to our allotted site and surveyed it for the presence or not of our rare plant. We began to wonder after several days whether we would be successful or not and doubts set in. Would we really recognise it, if we saw it? Yes, we did!

We flew out to Bleaker Island early on Christmas Eve morning for 3 nights R&R and had a lovely time. Wonderful food, warm accommodation and lots of wildlife, but did have a snow storm on Christmas afternoon! The island lies off the south-east coat of East Falkland. It is long and narrow so the sea is always close by. We had chosen it as a contrast to the mountains where we will be spending most of our time and also to have an opportunity to sit and watch penguins. The outer islands are generally drier than East and West Falkland and we certainly had less rain than Stanley did. They had a rather wet Christmas and had to cancel the horse racing due to waterlogged going which is a shame as the event is the holiday highlight here. The rain must have followed us from UK as it is the first time in 10 years they have had to cancel. On arrival in Bleaker we picnicked sitting on a cliff and watching sealions on the rocks below us. There were 3 massive bulls, each with a group of girls. There was a great rumpus as a young bull came ashore and tried to woo a female away! The top bulls were not going to allow that! Later we had a lovely walk along the shore, watching Antarctic terns, Magellanic oystercatchers and other birds until we found a sheltered spot from which to watch a nesting colony of Rockhopper penguins. It being late afternoon there was lots of activity to watch, adults were coming ashore, greeting the sitting bird who after a while would depart to the sea and then feeding the chick. Rockhoppers are quite feisty birds so there was a lot of noise.

12

On Christmas morning we had another long walk, this time to the northern section of the island to see the Gentoo penguin nesting colonies. These are on an exposed ridge so in the unseasonably cool weather we got rather cold, so retreated to Sandy Beach, aptly named with its pale sands, for a more sheltered picnic spot. We had heard that snow had been forecast for the evening, but it still came as a surprise when during the afternoon while we were sitting in the lodge’s warm conservatory flakes started to fall! We had a lovely traditional Falkland Islands’ Christmas dinner. Mushroom soup, roast lamb with new potatoes and all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding and cream.

Overnight the wind got up and by Boxing Day morning gusts up to Storm Force 10 were battering the island. Tim and I went for a brisk walk. The seas were magnificent, but it was not the weather to sit around! There is a large colony of Imperial Shags nesting about 200 yards from the cliff top. Usually there is a distinct gap between the colony and the cliff edge. That morning there was a line of birds facing into the wind, towards the sea about 12 abreast, as if waiting for the winds to subside before going fishing. The winds eased later. We returned to the Rockhopper colony to see how they had fared in the teeth of the gale. The crèche of young chicks was protected right in the centre of the rookery. The adults looked ok, but a bit battered and it appeared that those at sea had stayed there rather than attempt to climb ashore onto the rocks as none of the birds were sparkling clean as they are when they first come ashore. One good bit of news was sighting “Captain Bleaky” a Rockhopper Penguin that had been found oiled earlier in the spring. It had been sent to Stanley and de-oiled by Falklands Conservation and then released (with a yellow wing tag) and swum back to Bleaker Island. Although it had a mate, they would not nest this year, but the penguin looked healthy and nice and plump so was doing well.

We returned to Stanley to get ready for our next camping trip. For the first few days the rain was unrelenting. Rumour has it that the December rainfall here has been 10x normal!! Eventually it eased and we were able to take advantage of the better weather to put up our tents on Jubilee Villas’ front lawn, check them over and repair the broken poles and canvas. The final piece of the jigsaw was accomplished today when we had some bigger tyres with deeper tread fitted to our land rover – much needed as the “camp” (land outside Stanley and the settlements) is so much wetter than normal at the moment. We leave on Sunday 6th for West Falkland and Mt Adam.

This evening the sun is shining and the forecast is good for tomorrow, so perhaps the weather is returning to normal. We hope so.

Margaret & Tim

January’s Outdoor Meeting

13

Normandy Marsh: 20th.

 For this outing please meet at The Royal Lymington Yacht Club car park for a 10.00am start (SZ 333 950; OS Landranger map 196); this being on Bath Road at SO41 3SE.

 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 50.31 miles between Basingstoke and the car parking area, close to the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, the AA site 50.2; a travelling time of 66 and 70 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

 The area to be visited this month is certainly not as well known or as often visited as the adjacent Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes but remains one of the most productive areas on the Hampshire coast, a winter visit being especially worthwhile.

14

It’s not usually this empty!

Birds of the coast flock in here in great numbers and variety, the diversity of wetter habitats ensuring a good mix as the Group heads away from the marinas on the Lymington River and south-west out on to the seawall flanking The Solent, the former however worthy of looking over as the calmer waters encourage grebes to hunt close to the paths and pontoons edging the boat-filled waters.

The rough grassland and pasture about Normandy Farm provides feeding areas for larks, pipits, finches and buntings, perhaps even some of the wintering Stonechat putting in an appearance or an early Barn Owl. Curlew and Black-tailed godwit The more heavily vegetated areas attract birds less likely to be found in the open, thrushes, Dunnock, Bullfinch and wintering Blackcap and Chiffchaff again perhaps being among those to be found.

15

The offshore waters hold Slavonian among the more expected grebes while the tidal muds hold the most notable wintering population of Spotted Redshank in the county; many other waders also taking advantage of these food rich feeding grounds.

Inland, Normandy Lagoon and Eight Acre Pond provide both feeding and resting sites for water birds, egrets and herons, wildfowl and waders, including hopefully Avocet, making the most of these as the tide ebbs and flows.

 Please be mindful that it’s now the winter! We will be walking in areas that are not necessarily sheltered from the vagaries of the early year weather – be aware, and prepare.

16

 The walk will take us in to the early / mid-afternoon, this, as always, very much dependant on the weather, those attending, the birds and other wildlife that is good enough to appear and the speed with which we wish to progress.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as the Keyhaven / Pennington Marshes, The Hurst Spit, Blackwater Arboretum, Ironswell Pond, Lower Test Marshes and Winnall Moors 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.

February’s Outdoor Meeting

Titchfield Haven: 24th.

 For this outing please meet in the car park by The Hill Head Sailing Club for a 10.00am start (SU 535 023; OS Landranger map 196); this being on Cliff Road at PO14 3JT.

 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.

17

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 43.36 miles between Basingstoke and the car parking area, adjacent to the Hill Head Sailing Club, the AA site 43.7; a travelling time of 49 and 56 minutes being quoted by these sites. As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

 The reserve is one of the most visited by both the Local Group and its’ Members, to find out why, ensure that you come along!

Key  A - South Scrapes  B - North Scrapes  C - Darter's Pond  D - Eleven Acre Mere  E - Duck Bay  F - Walkway Pond  G - East Meadows  H - The Frying Pan  I - Water Meadows  J - West Meadow  K - Upper Haven  L - Posbrook Meadows  M - River Meon  N - Canal  O - County Farm

The late winter period on the reserve sees numbers of wildfowl fluctuating, the diving duck waiting for the warden to feed them, our local equivalent of Slimbridge, massing close in to the edge of The Meon while less confiding species remain out upon the open waters, a look out over The Solent sure to add a few sea duck, perhaps even divers and auks with this less clement weather on the way. Great Crested Grebe mass offshore while Little Grebe prefer the sheltered waters of the reserve.

The flanking reedbeds play host to wintering Bittern, at least one being present at the time of writing, while Bearded Tit and Cetti’s Warbler are two more of the specialised species likely to be seen, though more often heard, in these.

Scrub nearby will attract mixed parties of insectivores, perhaps Chiffchaff, Blackcap and even Firecrest to be found among the more predictable tits and crests. Finches and buntings also linger here, particularly near the feeders, both on the reserve and in the wardens’

18

garden. Closer to the coast Dartford Warbler and Stonechat may be wintering while further north in the reserve the bushes may have raptors atop them, Marsh Harrier, four at least, currently the highlight of the latter.

More open areas encourage both the Marsh Harrier and Barn Owl to hunt low over them, crows and the occasional wader also trespassing here, as do Fox and Roe Deer. These provide a margin to shallower areas of water which can hold good numbers of both roosting and feeding waders. However, the scrapes and islands that will be viewed from the relative comfort of the hides will ensure that many more of these are seen, as may be Mediterranean Gull, Water Rail, Kingfisher and, as already noted, a Bittern or two – the Group having seen these on previous visits!

So, both salt and freshwater habitats, deep and shallow waters, reeds and scrub for birds to hide in, meadow and pasture for waders to feed in, riverside woodland and even the gardens of the properties flanking the reserve to be looked over. We can expect these habitats to provide both a good range of species and what is sure to be one for the busiest bird-days the Group will have during this Programme!

The Harbour, Visitor Centre and, possibly most important of all, café!

 Please be mindful that it’s now the winter! We will be at times walking in areas that are not sheltered from the vagaries of the early year weather – be aware, and prepare.

 The walk will take us in to the early / mid-afternoon which will then allow you to make the most of the tea room and other facilities on site, perhaps before venturing out again to make the most of The Solent, shore and reserve once more.

19

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey home, such as Stokes Bay, Fort Brockhurst, Lakeside Country Park and Winnall Moors 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.

Local Wildlife News

The following ‘highlights’ reports received over the late / early year period. 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, especially as we head in to the autumn proper!

Barn Owl – several remained at roadside sites, the less clement weather however cutting down the number of sightings being reported. Blackcap – very few garden visitors were reported and almost all heard of only having been seen very recently; this also the case for Chiffchaff. Buzzard – exceptional late afternoon gatherings near Dorrel Wood saw 40+ on stubble- filled fields on two occasions. Common Frog – at least one local garden still had active individuals being seen on a regular, albeit nightly, basis.

Common Frog Rana temporia Doug. Kelson

20

Hawfinch – remaining more than elusive, a flock of nine put in brief pre-roost appearance at The Millfield LNR / Cowdery’s Down on evening. Kingfisher – several were seen about local waters, the streams and ponds at both Black Dam and near the Basing House car park being most likely to add these to a ‘list’. Little Egret – singles were noted in Laverstoke, Southington and Overton while belated news was of nine on The Loddon near Longbridge Mill. The roost at The Millfield LNR may have peaked as high as 15, perhaps even more as viewing conditions there don’t help the counting process. Long-eared Owl – one put in an all too brief appearance pre-dawn, again over a rather busy road where two were known to have become casualties! This was followed up by another appearance in a hedgerow by the same road on 31st; this time the bird allowing an approach, in the car ‘hide’, to be made to just a few meters – a fairly spectacular finish to the year! Peregrine – one was seen lingering about the Mercantile Plaza on 8th, hopefully the start of many more Town Centre sightings. Red Kite – as previously roost numbers remained low, c.35 being the largest count reported and these perhaps now using a new site. Umbrella Cockatoo – this unexpected, and very expensive, garden visitor lingered about Odiham for several weeks, as I’m sure you remember, late in 2012; the following having been received recently.

Umbrella Cockatoo Cacatua alba Maureen Brailey Also known as the White Cockatoo

21

Waxwing – these remained, as last month, elusive, three observers reporting several on a number of occasions, the largest ‘flock’ being of just four.

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

Quiz ‘Page’

Ok! So we’ve all been vegetating over Christmas and the New Year so I thought it time we got the old grey matter working. Here’s a little picture quiz to get you (hopefully) thinking a bit. Nothing to difficult so no prizes I’m afraid.

22

23

24

And from the Christmas Newsletter! 1. Sandra and Carol, played by Nerys Hughes and Elizabeth Estensen, were the main characters in which TV series? Liver Birds 2. What was the name of the bird with the voice of Bernard Cribbins used to advertise BT? Busby

25

3. What name did Sir Malcolm Campbell christen the car in which he broke the world land speed record in 1928 and 1931? Bluebird 4. Which bird gave Fleetwood Mac a no.1 instrumental hit? Albatross 5. What familiar seabird do sailors call Mother Cary's Chicken? The Storm Petrel 6. In which town do the characters in birds of a feather live? Chigwell 7. What is the smallest flightless bird? The Kiwi (Little Spotted to be exact!) 8. What is the study of birds' eggs called? Oology 9. What is the collective term for a group of Ravens? An unkindness 10. Who is Donald duck’s girlfriend? Daisy Duck 11. Who plays the role of Maximus in the 2000 film Gladiator? Russell Crowe 12. Who was the English player to win the Embassy snooker world championship in 1991? John Parrot 13. In 1970 what was the first top ten hit for T. Rex? Ride A White Swan 14. What is the nickname of Norwich City F.C.? The Canaries 15. Who designed St. Paul’s cathedral? Christopher Wren 16. Which actress played the part of Nurse Tina Seabrook in casualty? Claire Goose 17. Played by Steve Coogan, who is the star of ‘Knowing me, knowing you’? Alan Partridge 18. In Magnum, Orson Welles provides the voice of which character who is never seen, the owner of the estate Magnum protects? Robin Masters 19. Who was the first ever Substitute to take the field in the history of the football league? Keith Peacock (Charlton 1965) 20. What is the nickname of the New Zealand rugby league side? The Kiwi’s

And finally, just a little space for you to add any thoughts, comments, ideas, issues etc. for the Committee. We look forward to your input!

------

------

------

------

------

------

26