SPARROW HAWK AI NISI COCK RING OUSEL AT NEST (Photograph by H. McSwecne~ t HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB No. 2. Vo!. 3 OFFICERS AND COMMfITEE. 1972 President: - DR. C. W. WALKER, M.C. Vice-Presidents: - BRIGADIER SIR MICHAEL VENABLES-LLEWELYN, BART., M.V.O. P. W. HINDE, M.B.O.V. MRS. M. V. GILBERT, M.B.O.V. Chairman: ­ T. R. AMMONDS llon. jrreasurer:­ B. C. ALLAN llon. Editor:- T. R. H. OWEN, C.B.E. llon. Secretary:­ R. H. BAILLIE Recorder: ­ A. J. SMITH Committee: - O. S. BENNETT B. F. GILBERT MRS. J. M. BROMLEY B. M. KIDDLE J. L. Fox K. A. MAsON P. GARDNER W. H. MEADHAM MISS W. M. GIBSON MISS M. A. RIGBY Co-opted: ­ A. G. FYSHE J. H. WATKINS HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB RULES 1. NAME. The Club shall be called the Herefordshire Ornithological Club. 2. OBJECTS. The objects of the Club shall be (a) to further the study of birds in the field, and (b) to assist in their preservation. 3. MEMBERSHIP. The Club shall consist of a President, a Chairman. a Secretary, a Field Secretary, a Treasurer, an Editor, a Recorder, and Ten Committee Members and Ordinary Members. The President and the Chairman to retire after serving a term of three years. The Secretaries, the Treasurer, the Recorder and the Editor shall be elected annually. The three senior of the ten Ordinary Members of the Com­ mittee shall retire annually and they shall not be eligible for re-election for a period of 12 months. The Officers and Ordinary Members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and the Officers shall be eligible for re-election. Nominations for the Commit­ tee must be received in writing by the Hon. Secretary by March 31st. 4. CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP. Members shall be required to support and keep the provisions of the Protection of Birds Act, 1954. Any members failing to support and keep this law shall be required to resign. Members may not divulge to unauthorised persons (e.g. known collectors of skins and/or eggs) information in a manner likely to be detrimental to the objects of the Club. 5. SUBSCRIPTIONS. Ca) Ordinary Members: 18 years of age or over 75 pence, payable on January 1st or on election to membership. Any additional members of a household after the first, 50 pence; such members receiving all privileges of full membership. Junior :Members (under 18 but over 12 years of age), 37 pence per annum, payable as above. Corporate Members: Kindred bodies, Schools, etc.: Subscription one pound and 5 pence per annum. Honorary Members: As approved by the majority present at the Annual General Meeting. (b) All subscriptions subsequent to those paid on admission, shall be due on Jan. 1st each year. Where a member has been elected on or after Ist September in any year, there will be no further liability to subscribe in the year immediately following that of his or her election. Any Member whose subscription is six months in arrears shall cease to receive the Club's publications and, should the subscription not be paid by December 31st, his or her name shall be deleted from the list of Members. 6. MANAGEMENT. The Secretary shall keep Minutes of the meetings and prepare such literature as shall keep Members informed of the Club's activities. 7. MEETINGS shall be held as often as deemed desirable at the discretion of the Officers. 8. REPORT. There shall be an Editorial Committee of at least three Members including the Secretary, appointed at an ordinary Committee Meeting. These shall prepare and present an Annual Report and such special reports as may be decided upon. 9. ALTERATION OF RULES. An alteration of the Rules may be made only if proposed at one meeting, printed on the agenda for the following meeting, and passed by a two-thirds majority of those present. HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT, 1972 59 EDITORIAL NOTE We have to begin on a sad note, as we have lost one of our Vice­ Presidents, Mrs. M. V. Gilbert, M.RO.U. She was a founder-member of the Club, her husband was its first President, and she was one of our most valued members. We also have to record the serious illness of our Secretary, Mr. R. H. Baillie, and the whole Club wishes him a speedy and complete recovery, knowing the years of patient and self-sacrificing service that he has given to the Club and how much it owes to his initiative and wisdom. On a happier note we can congratulate Mr. P. MacDougall (now, alas, reft from us to the far north) on the notable feat of obtaining the degree of Master of Science at Aberdeen University. The Club itself is most flourishing, with membership once more risen by some 30, to 476. As to 1972, it must rank as a year when the debits outweigh the credits. The winter was mild and non-lethal. But a miserably wet and cold late-spring and early summer, for the second year in suc­ cession, must have affected many species, mainly the insectivorae; while the pressure of modern farming bears hard on many others. The latter category includes Lapwing, Curlew, and species which need plen­ tiful cover. The climatic factor may account, at least partially, for the recession of Partridge, Redstart, the Swallows, Wheatear, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers. But if so, why are Willow and Wood Warb­ lers and Chiffchaff normal? Why is the Lesser Whitethroat fairly stable while the Whitethroat is diminished? Why have Swifts remained moderately constant? Why should the Kingfisher have receded, des­ pite mild winters which have allowed the Tits (especially the Long Tailed) and the Goldcrest to flourish? Any theories and any evidence are welcome; and causes of decline or increase may in some cases lie outside these islands of ours. The Sparrow Hawk seems to have recovered well and other predators to hold their own, and a further increase in Heron popula­ tion is most welcome. Rarities and records are few, but Harriers, Hobby, Goshawk (a Falconry addition?), Spotted Redshank and Gadwall are on the list; while Quail, Corncrake and Nightjar just keep themselves on the books, and our recent colony of Corn Buntings continues. 60 HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT, 1972 FIELD MEETINGS in 1972 were held at Dinham Bridge, Lud­ Iow; PainscastIe; Red Lion, Bredwardine; Dinmore Hill; Haugh Wood (thrice); Moccas Deer Park; Huntington Court, Hereford; Erwood Bridge; Shobdon Airfield; Blue Lins (Rads.); Aymestrey Bridge; Blag­ don and Chew Reservoirs; Moelienydd (Rads.); VeIindre (Rads.); Lyonshall Park and Wigmore Rolls. INDOOR MEETINGS, apart from the Annual General Meeting on May 12th, comprised a Members' Meeting; a colour film of the Sey­ chelles by G. N. Smith; the R.S.P.B. films "Lonely Levels" and "Kites are Flying"; a talk on Bird Flight by Air Commodore L. P. Moore; an illustrated talk on Welsh Wild Life by H. McSweeney; recording of Bird Calls by Squadron Leader V. C. Lewis; and a BT.O. lecture by Leo Batten. The R.S.P.B. films were also shown in the Town Hall to a packed audience. PUBLICATiIONS. Copies of "Herefordshire Birds" (1954) by Captain H. A. Gilbert and Dr. C. W. Walker; "Birds of Radnorshire" (1955) by G. C. S. Ingram and Colonel H. Morrey Salmon; and the majority of the Club's previous Annual Reports may be obtained from the Secretary at 25 pence a copy, which includes postage. THE FINANCIAL POSITION of the Club continues sound, and a summary will be found at the end of this Report. THANKS are due to many; primarily to Mrs. J. M. Bromley who during Mr. Baillie's illness has undertaken the duties of Secretary with such devotion and efficiency; to the leaders of all Club Outings; to all who have sent in the records which make this Report possible; and to the Editorial Committee-Dr. Walkner, Mr. A. J. Smith, Mr. P. W. Hinde and the Secretary. Our special thanks (and admiration) must also be expressed to Mr. H. McSweeney for providing us with two very fine illustrations, the Sparrow Hawk which has made such a palpable come-back after being at a Iow ebb; and the Ring Ousel which is one of our most typical Radnorshire birds. T.R.H.O. HEREFORDSHIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT, 1972 61 WOODLAND NESTBOX SCHEME-1972 This scheme is financed and organised by our county Naturalists' Trust, and is probably the largest scheme of its kind in Britain. A little non-eo-operation from a very few site-workers has reduced the number of boxes being recorded from 1,100 to 950. The writer is extremely grateful to the many who help him loyally and to all wood­ land owners concerned. We are probably all aware of the havoc caused by the inclement spring. To the insectivorous birds, a nice, snug nestingbox was no insurance, insects just were not there, or were uncatchable in the strong, cold winds. "Young dead in nest"-"Eggs deserted"-"Birds deserted after laying 2 eggs"-these were remarks common to many nestbox returns. With low temperatures, I feel that many female Pied Flycatchers never became properly broody, they would often fly out of the nestbox when one was yards away, whereas normally they would sit tight. Pied Flycatchers had 123 nests, 10 less than in 1971; all Pied Flycatcher sites were adequately recorded. The "Pied Flycatcher Stakes" (based on the number of Pied Flycatcher nests) for the last two years were as follows:- 1971 1972 1st Mrs. John 1st Mr. McGrath Mr. Meadham Mr. Marchant (for A. J.