EDITORIAL This is the last time I shall edit this publication whilst wearing a military uniform. Next year I shall retire as my time is up. I have been responsible for the Bulletin and the resurrected Adjutant for quite a few years and I will continue this pleasure during my retirement. Whilst I have travelled “over the pond” quite a few times this year, which is reflected in a 2 page photograph spread, however our members have been further afield. It does not matter whether you are serving or not as opportunities always present themselves. Members do not have to travel the world either as the Society organises day trips and weekends where the range of species is always good, as can seen on articles from Norfolk, Rye and Portland as well as a Pelagic. As a military Society we are all encouraged to become involved with our nearest estate and hopefully members will submit articles on their local conservation efforts on the Defence Estate. We know that the Defence Estate will have reduced manning and funding in the future so the efforts of volunteers will be increasingly important in the maintenance of the estate. I have started the ball rolling with an article on a winter bird survey on Salisbury Plain West. It is just not the MoD Estate that concerns us as the article from Peter Hubert looks at raptor migration in the eastern Pyrenees. Localised reports can lead to proper investigations and full blown studies into issues that bodies may not be aware of. In fact all reports are of use no matter how small as they build up a picture. This current publication builds a picture of places to visit. Whether it is a trip to Namibia or Kazakhstan there are always lots of birds to see. The Far East is a very popular destination with articles on Borneo and Thailand. It is not just leisure that provides opportunities as there is always a chance to go birding when on business such as trip to Libya. Contents Page Foreward 2 Imber Winter Bird Survey 3 Raptor Migration in the Eastern Pyrenees 11 Birds of Florida 22 AOS Trip to Norfolk 24 AOS Trip to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve 26 AOS Visit to Portland 28 Naval Party AOS – 2010 Pelagic Portsmouth to Bilbao 35 Another Trip to Tripoli 37 Trip to Namibia 39 Bird watching on the Silk Road, a trip to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan 52 Bornean Rainforest Adventure 77 Thailand 83 FOREWORD It is really quite commendable that as institutions crumble, establishments downsize, and the general quality of life comes under increasing pressure from a paucity of resources, that this Society of ours stands firm in our pursuit of bird watching and all that that activity entails. Furthermore, it has the audacity to publish this annual account of our endeavours when other publications are consigned to the internet or fall by the wayside. As I take over the responsibility of Chairman, I am very conscious that it has been the leadership and support given to us all by Rodney Walker, throughout his tenure, which has left the AOS in such good stead. On behalf of the Society, I give you, Rodney, our warmest thanks. But it will not have escaped our membership that we have just been subjected to a Comprehensive Spending Review and a Strategic Defence and Security Review, the combined effects of which will make fundamental changes to Defence and the Army, and I thought that it may be useful to give you an idea of how I see, albeit indirectly, these changes potentially affecting our Society. In particular and over the next couple of years, I consider there to be 2 significant and one implied threat – a general withdrawal of funding, a reduction in the priority given to conservation across the Defence estate and possibly wider, and a resultant inability to excite new members from within the hard-pressed Services and the MOD. From my new perch in Headquarters Field Army it is very clear that there is little that we currently do that is not under a very strong spotlight and must meet the dual requirements of contributing to the main effort of winning in Afghanistan, and affordability. While this is commendable stuff to us tax payers, it threatens us as a Society in areas of postage, accommodation, access, printing, grants and other concessions. Secondly, the potential reduction in support to Conservation driven by the same budgetary constraints will inhibit our ability to influence and publicise and grow by reputation. The knock-on effect on our ability to attract new members becomes obvious. So, if this is the environment in which the Society sits, what are we to do to ensure that we give you, our current members, what you want and provide you with a ‘special’ birding society that future members will also want to join? The Committee have already started! The current committee is a blend of enthusiastic people with experience and new ideas. We received a good steer from our President at the AGM where he suggested that to survive, we must sell ourselves better. Our unifying theme is therefore going to be ‘Raising our Profile’ and will, I hope, involve everyone in the Society and also provide a focus for some of our events. The committee has already looked at ways of saving money - and spending it - in order to encourage further activities. From both Committee and membership we will need to include ideas that encourage new members to join, promote our publications, exploit our web-site in terms of the message it conveys to people about us, and decide how we are to organise and promote our field days and expeditions. And at last...to birds. The articles in this Journal bear testimony to the diversity of interest shown by members through bird watching, surveying, ringing and expeditions. Through all these activities, the Army Ornithological Society punches well above its weight and, with our sister Service Societies, makes a significant contribution to conservation in the round. So, pour yourself a drink, put your feet up, and enjoy the read. Roger Dickey Chairman Army Ornithological Society 2 WINTER SURVEY OF SPECIES ON IMBER TRAINING AREA (Andrew Bray) There is increasing evidence to suggest that a large number of farmland species are already in serious decline (Gregory et al. 2004). A critical factor in this decline is the availability of food in winter (Siriwardena et al. 2008). Despite schemes such as Environmental Stewardship in UK to enhance food resources, farming practices are unlikely to provide enough food in late winter for species that depend on seed in farmland. Areas of natural habitat within the arable landscape are likely to have an increasing role in supporting populations. A major island of undisturbed land surrounded by agriculture is Salisbury Plain. Salisbury Plain supports the largest known expanse of unimproved chalk grassland in north-west Europe. It also represents 41% of Britain’s remaining chalk grassland area which is a rich wildlife habitat. The site covering 19,690 ha was designated a SSSI under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (see Figure 1). The site has not been subject to intensive farming methods. Figure 1. Map of SPTA. Red boundary is MOD land and the yellow boundary shows SSSI areas. The purple eclipse indicates the area of the Imber winter survey. The area is an important site both nationally and internationally for breeding and wintering birds. It supports 7 species listed on Annex 1 of the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. In addition it has species listed within the red data Book. Important breeding species include Buzzard, Stonechat, and Corn Bunting. In winter the Plain is an important area for foraging flocks of thrushes, finches and buntings. These with the abundance of small mammals provide the prey for wintering Hen Harrier, Short-eared owls and Merlin. The area is an important winter roost for Hen Harrier in southern England. A breeding bird survey (BBS) carried out by Defence Estates (DE) and the RSPB in 2000 (Stanbury et al. 2000) found nationally important species including Skylark, and Grey Partridge. The Imber area is the largest of the 3 character areas of the High Chalk Plain landscape. The area owned by the MOD is characterised by the calcareous grassland. The boundary between the training area and farmland is distinct. METHODS Selection of Grid squares The selection of grid squares was based on the RSPB Breeding Bird Survey of 2005 (Stanbury et al. 2005). This replicated their survey of 2000 (Stanbury et al. 2000). Within the selected Imber area the RSPB surveyed 48 squares. The number of volunteers for this project was not enough to cover this quantity. Using local knowledge a map survey was carried out to ensure that a proportion of the various types of habitat were taken into consideration. The grid squares were marked out on a spreadsheet and those surveyed by the RSPB were highlighted. For each northing a selection of 4 squares was chosen less northing’s 51 and 52 where 2 squares were selected. The selection was made by using United Kingdom Training Areas 1:25,000 map, Salisbury Plain (West), Series GSGS 5294, Edition 7-GSGS to select different types of cover and size. An extract is at Figure 2. Figure 2. Imber area map extract showing danger areas WDA, 1, 2, 3 and 4. This ensured that squares with over 90% grassland were included as well as those with a major plantation of trees and those with scrub and small copses of young and mature trees.