ProgrammeProgramme 2018 - 2019 Season THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE RSPB MACCLESFIELD LOCAL GROUP www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk SǕǠǤǕǝǒǕǢ 2018 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: A Walk in the Woods by Kevin Briggs 11 A comparison of limestone and gritstone woodland ecology in the Lune Valley, N.W. England. Based on an earlier talk to the Group be prepared for some unusual methodology. Introduced by: Ian Taylor 01260 275248 Friday 28 Winter Weekend Away in 2018: North Lancashire Coast to Bookings are now closed for our three night birdwatching weekend but please Sunday 30 contact Graham as he may be able to fit you in if there is still room at The Clarendon Hotel, where we are staying. The Morecambe Bay area includes pools, marshes, mudflats and coastal areas with a good range of resident, late autumn migrants and birds preparing for winter. Wildfowl and waders should be plentiful and the whole area has a reputation for rarities popping up. As well as Morecambe itself, places we are likely to visit are RSPB Leighton Moss, Warton Crag, Hest Bank, Heysham, Conder Green, Glasson Dock and perhaps Pilling Lane Ends. Organiser: Graham Palmer 01625 420179 Walk Leaders: Ian and Lydia Taylor 01260 275248 OǓǤǟǒǕǢ 2018 Monday Garden Bird Survey: First recording day – Please support the survey. Forms 1 available from the website (www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk) or at indoor meetings. Contact: Ian Taylor 01260 275248 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: Discovering Doñana by Paul Kenyon 9 The Doñana National Park in Andalusia, Southern Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage site containing a variety of ecosystems that shelter a wide range of wildlife including many endangered species. Introduced by: Ray Evans 01625 432635 Thursday Special Event: RSPB Coffee Morning 11 Take an opportunity to see this year’s range of RSPB Christmas cards while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits. A selection of homemade cakes and preserves will be available to purchase as well as winter food for the birds. Gawsworth Methodist Community Hall, Congleton Road, Gawsworth, Macclesfield, SK11 9QZ. 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Contact: Chris Revett 01625 617384 Saturday Special Event: Nature Needs You - Welly Walk 13 Join RSPB Macclesfield Wildlife Explorers ‘Nature Needs You’ event at West Park. Welly Walk is bigger and better this year as the Wildlife Explorers join forces with Macclesfield Town Council for a day of family nature and outdoor activities. Meet at West Park, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BJ 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Contact: Tina Hanak 07870 804413 or visit the Wildlife Explorers website Sunday WGBG Coach Trip: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Spurn 21 Depart at 7:30 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652 Saturday Wilmslow Library Charity Card Shop is OPEN 27 If you live close to Wilmslow come and buy your Christmas cards at Wilmslow Library. A great choice of charities to support including the RSPB. Cash and/or Debit cards accepted. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS . Contact Jen Tolliday (01625 432105) if you are interested and can help. Save postage by purchasing your RSPB Christmas goods at our events, order directly at an Indoor Meeting or contact Chris Revett on 01625 617384 2 NǟǦǕǝǒǕǢ 2018 Saturday Macclesfield Library Charity Card Shop is OPEN 3 Come and buy your Christmas cards at Macclesfield Library. A great choice of charities to support including the RSPB. Cash and/or Debit cards accepted. If you can spare some time to help please contact Chris Revett 01625 617384 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: The City by Paul Hobson 13 An exploration of the many micro habitats and the species of British wildlife that have colonised our urban sprawl. Introduced by: Alan Brereton 01625 615628 Sunday WGBG Coach Trip: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Attenborough 25 Depart at 8:00 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652 DǕǓǕǝǒǕǢ 2018 Sunday Outdoor Meeting: Northwich Woodlands & Flashes followed by a festive lunch 2 The woodlands and flashes attract some interesting birds in the winter months. The absence of leaves may make the elusive lesser spotted woodpecker easier to find and the flashes may hold good numbers of wildfowl. Come and join us for some birdwatching followed by a festive 12:30 pm lunch at the Salt Barge, Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Northwich, CW9 6ES LR Grid Reference: SJ670755, WGS84 N 53.275075, W 2.495917. Book with Lydia by the November indoor meeting to secure your place. Meet 9:30 am at Witton Mill car park, off Old Warrington Road, Northwich, follow signs for ‘Household Waste Site’, then pass the waste site entrance to access the car park, over the bridge on your left. LR Grid Reference: SJ663747, WGS84 N 53.26864 W 2.50630 Leader: Lydia Taylor 01260 275248 Saturday Last Day before the Macclesfield and Wilmslow Library Charity Card Shops 8 CLOSE Tuesday Indoor Meeting: Belarus and Estonia: Europe’s secret wildlife hotspots 11 by Barrie Cooper A close look at two former Soviet states – Belarus with its wildlife rich ancient forests, meadows, bogs and wetlands and Estonia positioned on a major migration fly-way. Introduced by: Ian Taylor 01260 275248 JǑǞǥǑǢǩ 2019 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: The Great Texas Birding Trail by Dennis Atherton 8 An exploration at peak migration time of a designated system of trails, bird sanctuaries and nature reserves that run along the entire Texas Gulf Coast. Introduced by: Ray Evans 01625 432635 Saturday National RSPB Event: ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ at West Park, Macclesfield 26 Contribute to the state of bird populations across the country by taking part in The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch with help from birdwatchers from The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group and Wildlife Explorers. There will be advice on using binoculars and telescopes and help with identifying common garden birds, as well as lots of helpful hints on completing your own survey at home. Meet outside the café at West Park, Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BJ 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Contact: Tina Hanak 07870 804413 or visit the Wildlife Explorers website Sunday WGBG Coach Trip: North Lancashire Coast 27 Depart at 8:00 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652 3 FǕǒǢǥǑǢǩ 2019 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: ‘ The Long Spring’ by Laurence Rose 12 Based on his book of the same title, this talk takes us on a four month journey following Spring and its birds through Europe from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Arctic Norway. Introduced by: David Tolliday 01625 432105 MǑǢǓǘ 2019 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: Our Disappearing Swifts - What Can We Do? 12 by Tanya and Edmund Hoare Swift numbers are falling dramatically. A look at their behaviour, aerial lifestyle and research into migration as well as considering what can be done to help these iconic birds. Introduced by: Tina Hanak 07870 804413 Thursday Special Event: RSPB Coffee Morning 28 Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits at Gawsworth Community Hall. A selection of homemade cakes and preserves will be available to purchase. Gawsworth Methodist Community Hall, Congleton Road, Gawsworth, Macclesfield, SK11 9QZ, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Contact: Chris Revett 01625 617384 Sunday WGBG Coach Trip: RSPB Saltholme reserve 31 Depart at 7:30 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652 AǠǢǙǜ 2019 Tuesday Indoor Meeting: Birds: Their Hidden World by Peter Holden 9 Author and originator of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch looks at British birds and their amazing lives with the sort of information that most bird books leave out Introduced by: Lydia Taylor 01260 275248 Tuesday Walk with Nature: Danes Moss Cheshire Wildlife Trust Reserve 16 Join us on the boardwalk of Macclesfield’s closest nature reserve. We will be looking for woodland birds and early summer migrants. Meet at Lyme Green (Homebase car park) SK11 0TA LR Grid Reference: SJ913712, WGS84 N 53.23756, W 2.13152 8:00 am to 10:30 am. Leaders: Alan Brereton 01625 615628 and Ian Taylor 01260 275248 Thursday Walk with Nature: Northwich Flashes 18 Join us for a morning walk around Neumann’s and Ashton’s Flashes searching for early spring migrants Meet at Witton Mill car park, off Old Warrington Road, Northwich, follow signs for ‘Household Waste Site’, then pass the waste site entrance to access the car park, over the bridge on your left. LR Grid Reference: SJ663747, WGS84 N 53.26864, W 2.50630 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Leader: Ian Taylor 01260 275248 and Ray Evans 01625 432635 Thursday Walk with Nature: Three Shire Heads 25 Join us to search for ring ouzel and summer plumaged golden plover where the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire meet. Meet at Sparbent layby on the A54 Congleton to Buxton road. LR Grid Reference: SK001692, WGS84 N 53.21966 W 1.99952. 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Leaders: Ray Evans 01625 432635 and Alan Brereton 01625 615628 4 AǠǢǙǜ 2019 Friday 26 Weekend Away: Spring in the Elan Valley to We will be based at Elan Valley Lodge, where double and twin rooms have ensuite Sunday 28 facilities and singles have a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom arrangement. There is no single room supplement at this Lodge and the cost will include bed, breakfast, evening meal and a packed lunch. We will be in the hands of a local guide and we hope to see raptors and warblers, in particular the scarce wood warbler. Please contact Graham if you are interested or send him a booking form. Further details can be obtained at indoor meetings.