The Harrier The Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society Newsletter: October 2011 No5 SOUTH HUISH RESERVE – IMPORTANT NOTICE The main news concerning this currently DBWPS managed site is that the landowner has now ceded ownership of this reserve over to the National Trust (NT). For the time being the DBWPS will continue to manage the reserve as previously agreed. Discussions are due to take place with the NT over future management strategies. Also decisions affecting division of payments, i.e. who pays for what and how much, management decision making and day to day responsibilities etc are still to be made. Hopefully the DBWPS will continue to be involved in running the reserve, with birds and the existing management plan (or similar) as the priority. This is NOT a foregone conclusion and will depend on the outcome of detailed negotiations and guarantees affecting both organisations and their respective aims and objectives to mutual satisfaction and benefit. The final outcome of these, as yet unscheduled, talks will of course be reported to the DBWPS membership soonest. A flock of ten short staying Green Sandpipers were present at the end of July and a Wood Sandpiper at the beginning of August. Vic Tucker VACANCY – CAN YOU HELP ? Having now been the Hon. Secretary for the Society for some 13 years it is time to step down and for someone else to take over the role. A replacement must be found and I must make it clear I will not be seeking re-election at the AGM 2012. The position is not as arduous as it used to be with most correspondence and other matters being dealt with by e-mail and/or telephone. There are 4 Council meetings per year as well as the AGM when Minutes have to be recorded. There are also 4/5 meetings of the Executive Committee which are held between Council meetings and again a record is kept of the matters discussed This is an essential job within the Society and if you are interested please get in touch, and if necessary discuss what is involved. Please contact – Mike Tyler (Chairman) Tel: 01297 34958 [email protected] OR Joy Vaughan (Hon. Sec.) Tel: 01837 53360 [email protected] 1 DEVON BIRDS RECORDS COMMITTEE After serving as a member of the Committee Perry Sanders will be standing down at the end of December 2011. Perry, from West Charleton, Kingsbridge, has been an active member of the Committee and will be missed for his expertise in bird identification, his knowledge of birds and birders in the South Hams, and last but no means least - his good humour! The Society would like to thank him for his contribution over the past five years and wish him well in the future. A formal application to fill the vacancy has been received from Alan Doidge, from Salcombe, which is supported by members of the Committee. Alan has been an active birdwatcher in Devon for 26 years and has supplied the DBWPS with records for at least 20 years. He has a wide interest in birds, and spends many hours a week in the field mostly around the South Hams. He has found many scarce and rare birds, with the ’91 Bobolink at Soar being his best find – the first British mainland record. Alan’s knowledge of the South Hams makes him an ideal replacement for Perry. Unless the County Recorder receives any other applications before 20 th October 2011, Alan will be formally elected to fill the vacancy for a five-year period. For more information and/or an application form please contact: Steve Waite, County Recorder, 38 Durley Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2HW Tel: 01297 20326 E-mail: [email protected] CONSERVATION OFFICER (SOUTH) Council have agreed that Nick Townsend should be appointed the Conservation Officer for the South of the County to replace Jim who did sterling work for many years at the South Milton Reserve and other areas. Nick’s contact details are – N.R. Townsend, Collacott Barn, South Milton, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 3JG. Tel: 01548 560243. E-mail: [email protected] If you have any queries please contact Nick and I am sure that he will endeavour to deal with these as necessary. Joy Vaughan (Hon. Secretary) ANNUAL DRAW - REMINDER The draw will take place on Tuesday 8 th November 2011 at the Taw & Torridge Branch Indoor Meeting in Barnstaple. 1st Prize £200 2nd Prize Book donated by a member – Birds & Animals 3rd Prize Framed Hand-embroidered Redwing 4th Prize Framed Hand-embroidered Dartford Warbler 5th Prize Framed Hand-embroidered Greenfinch 6th Prize 2 Tickets for Lundy Trip 2012 Please ensure that all counterfoils and cheques are returned by 31 st October 2011 to – Hon. Secretary – Joy Vaughan, 28 Fern Meadow, Okehampton, EX20 1PB 2 SOUTH MILTON LEY _ SPRING AND SUMMER NEWS Two new breeding species were added to the reserve list this year! Shelduck and Kestrel (in a nestbox). Unfortunately both ended in failure. The Kestrels eggs were predated, possibly by grey squirrel and the four ducklings probably succumbed to Mink – strongly suspected of being present. Both predators are classed as feral vermin. Notoriously difficult to prove breeding as all nesting finches are, it is however highly likely that Bullfinch bred; this would also be a first for the reserve. Only a few years ago suitable breeding habitat didn’t exist. Last year Whitethroat bred for the first time at the Ley, though usually present in adjacent farmland. This year three pairs bred; the above habitat comment applies. A Tawny Owl using an old crows nest reared a chick. Excellent March and April weather encouraged early breeding for Redstarts and migrants alike. Resident Cetti’s Warblers fledged young at least three weeks earlier than normal – likewise migrant Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Sedge and Reed Warbler successfully fledged early broods, allowing plenty of time for another brood to be raised. Another bumper breeding season is hopefully in prospect for most species as long as the weather is clement at critical periods. ‘Our’ Songthrushes are finding plenty of snails, as shown by their anvils, they should be OK during this driest of springs for over 20 years and warmest ever recorded April. Not so for Blackbirds so heavily dependent on earthworms, their initial breeding attempts produced drastically reduced success rates. There are always winners and losers. Overall virtually every other breeding species at the reserve have done well – including scarcer Stonechats. Several sightings of Hares could mean they too are breeding within grassland areas. Yet another welcome addition to the expanding reserve list. Ringing began in earnest in July with a much higher than normally expected passage warbler presence. This must be due to their markedly early first brood fledging, thence commencing their (yearlings) first ever south-bound journey via your reserve. A large (A0 sized) eye-catching screen printed information board with artwork by the Society’s own Mike Langman set in a specially built stone plinth is located beside the seaward public footpath, illustrating some typical birds and animals of the reserve, and was unveiled, in good weather, in front of invited guests on 6 th August. Hopefully generating interest for the general public and offer welcome publicity for the society in general and highlighting important conservation work undertaken at the Ley in particular. Now that the reed dwelling warblers breeding season has ended major ditching works has taken place, partly as demanded by our riperion ownership and responsibility. Over a 350metre length it links into last years ditching operation. For sound environmental reasons no major disruption over too great an area is ever undertaken at once. An area of invasive weeds has also been cleared to allow 70 Alder and Birch trees to be planted in the dormant season. Both operations require the use of heavy 3 excavators. Our new maturing hedges are for the first time full of fruit: hawthorn, wild rose and crab apples – our best year to date. Further plantings of Elderberry, Blackthorn and large areas of Blackberry bushes also form a huge food resource, not only for large numbers of birds, but also a diverse range of wildlife, including rare Harvest Mice. Funding approval for an exciting and ambitious new project – a reinforced, recycled plastic boardwalk was recently given the go-ahead by DBWPS council members. It will run through the main reed bed approximately half way up the length of the Ley, where currently no access exists. Among several important uses it will form an interesting circular walk. A life of at least 50 years is envisaged and should be virtually maintenance free. Quality and strength also exceeds any wood and is now the preferred material for organisations like RSPB undertaking similar works. Further information will of course be given via ‘The Harrier’ when there is more to report. Approximate ringing totals (to mid September) of the migratory species passing through SML are given below. Many resident birds were also ringed, Grasshopper Warbler 22 This is a record county ringing total. Cetti’s Warbler 19 SML record total Whitethroat 79 SML record total Garden Warbler 21 SML record total Blackcap 180 SML record total Sedge Warbler 930 SML record total There were also two French ringed controls and three UK ringed controls Reed Warbler 385 SML record total Also four controls from Slapton Chiffchaff 360 Willow Warbler 470 Although half of last years exceptional total this is still the second highest total for SML Yellow Wagtail 21 Swallow 200+ Reed Bunting 100. Lesser Whitethroat 1 Redstart 1 Pied Flycatcher 1 Whinchat 1 Aquatic Warbler 1 Keeping the SML flag flying for this globally rare species.