EXETER AND DISTRICT LOCAL GROUP Editorial Hello everyone - here we go again. This newsletter is somewhat different to our usual publication, as we have not been able to hold any events since the 'lockdown' we do not therefore have the usual reports to bring you. I have asked some of our members to let me have some notes of their recent wildlife experiences, and I do hope you will find these interesting. As we are likely to be in the same position of being a little short of news when the next newsletter is due, I would be delighted to receive some further reports of your wildlife encounters. I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying our fairly decent summer weather! Liz Saunders Please send copy for the next issue by 31st October to me by email to: [email protected] or by post to: 20 Crockwells Close, Exminster, EX6 8DL Group Leader’s Report At the time of the previous newsletter, we had been optimistic that the local group meetings would be resuming in September. However, as most of you will have heard by now, the RSPB has asked us to continue to suspend our “face to face” activities until the start of 2021. While the news is disappointing, I am sure you will understand the need to ensure that all our local group activities are conducted safely. The continuing suspension of activities means that we will not be able to hold any indoor meetings. We are planning to hold some “virtual meetings” during the autumn, which should at least be a partial substitute for the indoor talks programme. Helen has written an article about our plans for those online talks. We will be sending out further details by email, so do please ensure that Andy has your current email address on the membership database. We also need to make special arrangements for our AGM, which is normally held in October. Please see the article that I have written on the subject. As a result of the pandemic, we have now had to cancel both the Spring and Autumn Fayres, which are our main regular fundraising events. In the meantime, the RSPB is continuing to carry on important conservation work, so there is a particular need to help fill the funding gap. If you have any suggestions for alternative ways in which we can continue to raise funds for the RSPB, please let me (or other committee members) know. We also raise funds through selling RSPB sales goods (including Christmas cards and calendars) at the indoor meetings; if you would like to order anything from Marilyn, and collect them from her, please let her know. (See Marilyn's message below). The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. The RSPB is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076; in Scotland no.SC037654 Exeter and District Local Group Newsletter No. 181 Autumn 2020 Page 2 of 14 In the normal course of events, we would have sent out the new programme card, covering September 2020 to August 2021, with this newsletter. Although we had planned a provisional programme to cover that period, we will now be revising those plans. We should learn in October whether we will be able to resume activities in the New Year. Following that, we hope to send out details of the programme (from January 2021 onwards) with the next issue of the newsletter. Richard Swinbank NEWS AND INFORMATION RSPB Autumn/Winter Gift Catalogue 2020 In this newsletter, I would normally be giving early notice that items from the RSPB catalogue would be available at the forthcoming indoor meetings and at the Autumn Fayre. However, due to the current situation, those events will not be happening this year. All is not lost though as you can still order, through me, anything from the catalogue ….if you haven’t received a copy through the post yet, I can probably let you have one or, if you have a computer, you can view it there (obviously you can order directly if you so choose). One of the advantages of ordering through me is that you don’t have to pay postage and packing charges. So…if you would like to place an order through me you can do so by post, email or phone. You would then need to be able to collect from me (or in some cases we may be able to deliver) and make your payment by cash or cheque. I will probably also carry a small amount of stock at home eg diaries, calendars and some cards. Phone: 01392 258786 email: [email protected] post: 12 St Loyes Rd, Exeter, EX2 5HL Marilyn Steel (sales organiser) RSPB “Ultimate Easy-clean” bird feeder I hadn’t bought a bird feeder for over 10 years, but the current “Ultimate” models were a revelation to me. No more fiddly nuts and bolts to undo to give them a thorough clean. These were a bit of a pain to deal with, so I’m sorry to say that my feeders have tended to get neglected in the past. The new design (well, new to me anyway) has a base that is easily removed with a simple clockwise twist. This enables access to the skewer-like black plastic pull rod that can be withdrawn completely, freeing the feeding ports for cleaning. All done in a few seconds! The top of the feeder can be removed in exactly the same way as with earlier designs. Bird feeders of various designs are available from the sales table at our indoor meetings, when we re- The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. The RSPB is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076; in Scotland no.SC037654 Exeter and District Local Group Newsletter No. 181 Autumn 2020 Page 3 of 14 convene, or direct from Marilyn (see above). Can also be ordered from the RSPB online shop. Withdraw rod Twist to remove base Components dissembled for cleaning Richard Farr FORTHCOMING EVENTS Outdoor Meeting Programme from January 2021 With the continuing suspension of our outdoor meetings, we have had to revise the tentative plans that I outlined in the Summer newsletter. I am currently planning to restart our events in January, probably with walks at local sites, including Seaton Wetlands and the RSPB Exe Estuary reserves. In Spring and Summer 2021, we hope to run many of the events that we had originally planned for 2020. We are planning an extended trip to Poole Harbour in March 2021, probably including a visit to the new RSPB reserve at Franchises Lodge that Richard Snelling gave us a talk about in February. We are also planning a boat trip to Lundy Island, which is a really good place to see both seabirds and spring migrants. In the meantime, I hope that you are able to get out to do some birding, either on your own or with friends and family (while observing social distancing guidelines). The trails at most RSPB reserves are now open, as is the RSPB shop at Darts Farm. Bowling Green Marsh hide is at present open on some days only on a part time basis. However, some visitor facilities, other visitor centres, hides and toilets may not yet be open; please check the RSPB website for the latest information. Richard Swinbank Indoor Meetings update We have now heard from RSPB HQ that indoor meetings are to be cancelled for the rest of 2020. We do not know whether we will be able to resume in the New Year. We are however planning a series of short talks to be given on Zoom. Richard Swinbank will give a virtual talk on his trip to Costa Rica The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. The RSPB is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076; in Scotland no.SC037654 Exeter and District Local Group Newsletter No. 181 Autumn 2020 Page 4 of 14 earlier this year on Tuesday 8th September, in place of the previously advertised physical talk by Richard Fox. Then on Tuesday 13th October we will have a virtual talk by Natalie Holt, the Exe Estuary Site Manager. There are one or two more possibilities which I am currently investigating and if any of you would like to volunteer to give a Zoom presentation, please let me know. As Richard has explained, we will hold a postal AGM. We will be sending more information about the talks, including time, title and abstract, instructions for joining in and the links by e-mail in due course. If you don’t normally receive e-mails from us and would like to join in please make sure that Andy Rook has your up-to-date e-mail address and that you have indicated that you are happy to receive e- mails from us. I am sorry that members without internet will not be able to take part. Some of you may be able to arrange to go to another member’s house provided you can be sociably distanced. I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying your local birdlife if you can’t get further afield. Helen Baker Indoor meetings organizer [email protected] BIRD NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS PAT’S LOCKDOWN LOG I live within walking distance of Dartmoor, so my ‘exercise’ has consisted of walking either along the road to gain access to the moor, or around the quiet lanes.