Canterbury RSPB
Local Group
Autumn 2015
Bearded tit - courtesy of Dave Smith
CONTENTS
Leader’s Letter
Noticeboard
Oare Creek (poem)
Grove Ferry River Trip
Upside Down
Diary Dates
Indoor Meetings
Field Trips
2
3-6
7
9-10
10
11-12
13
14
Monday Walks
One swallow does make a
summer
Photo Feature –
the pied flycatcher
Focus On…. The Partridge
Reserves Roundup
15
16
17-18
19-20
22-24
Advertisements appearing in this newsletter are not specifically endorsed by the Canterbury Group or the RSPB
1
Canterbury RSPB Group
Autumn 2015
Hello everyone,
Welcome to our autumn newsletter, and a good programme of events for the coming
months.
We’re a thriving group and I know that many of our members enjoy attending different
events, be it indoor meetings or walks and field trips. As this will be my last year as Leader,
we need someone to take up the reins as from next April, so that we can continue as a local
group. We have a fantastic committee with lots of skills and enthusiasm, so the role of leader
is essentially to co-ordinate all the goodwill from our committee and valued volunteers. If
you, or anyone you know, might relish the rewarding opportunities of this role, either solely
or sharing with an existing stalwart, then the committee and I would be delighted to hear
from you.
Best wishes to you all,
Liz
Annual Subscriptions to Canterbury Group
Single membership £6.00
Family membership £8.00
Unless otherwise stated, all bird photos in this newsletter are courtesy of group member Dave Smith
Registered Charity Nos. England and Wales 207076, Scotland SC037654
2
Noticeboard
Summer siskins
You may be familiar with siskins visiting your feeders in winter, especially in early spring as
they prepare to move north – to the West Country,
Wales, Scotland or further afield across the North Sea
to Scandinavia. In recent years, however, more birds
have been breeding in southern England, particularly in
the conifers of the New Forest and the huge
plantations in Suffolk and Norfolk. There have also
been a few scattered records of possible or definite
nesting in Kent, and I have on occasion recorded siskins
in Blean Woods during the summer, which would be
suggestive of breeding locally. This spring three of our
members – Hazel Bielby, Dave Smith and Chris Sproul –
who live near each other in Blean, all reported one or
two siskins coming to their bird feeders well into the
spring period, making us wonder if perhaps a pair was
nesting nearby. The birds’ appearances were sporadic,
and days would pass with none being seen, but then, in
late June, Dave was thrilled to see two adults with a
youngster in his garden, finally providing us with
almost conclusive proof that they had indeed nested
locally, perhaps in Clowes Wood, where there are some fairly large stands of conifers. It is
thought that the birds’ range expansion is linked to the maturation of conifer blocks that
were planted in the 1960s but hadn’t yet been felled; these trees would produce large
volumes of cones, the seeds of which constitute the main food for siskins for several months
of the year. The lovely photo above, taken by Dave in Hazel’s garden, is not of the breeding
birds, but was taken in spring when they would have been passing through: a trio of three
males, resplendent in their vivid yellow-green and black plumage, is very nicely set off by a
gorgeous male redpoll with bright red forehead and pink breast.
Big Garden Birdwatch
Nationally, 585,000 people counted 8.5 million birds over the weekend 24-25th January. The
commonest birds found in Kent are listed below, alongside the ratings for the two previous
years.
2013
2014
2015
1. House sparrow
House sparrow
House sparrow
2. Starling
Starling
Starling
3. Blackbird
Blue tit
Blue tit
4. Blue tit
Collared dove
Blackbird
5. Wood pigeon
Blackbird
Wood pigeon
6. Collared dove
Wood pigeon
Collared dove
7. Chaffinch
Chaffinch
Robin
8. Great tit
Great tit
Magpie
9. Robin
Robin
Great tit
10. Goldfinch
Magpie
Chaffinch
3
Interestingly, magpie is creeping up the table: not in the top ten in 2013, it made an
appearance at no. 10 last year, and moved up to no. 8 this year. This won’t please
everybody! While the much-loved sparrow may have topped the bill in recent years, it is by
no means the most ubiquitous species: that honour belongs to the blackbird, which was
recorded from 91% of gardens, with robin in second place at 83% of gardens. House
sparrow is a mere 6th, behind wood pigeon, collared dove and blue tit but, because in those
gardens where sparrows do occur they tend to be in flocks, it was overall the commonest
Kent bird. A sign of the times, buzzard came in at 45, only three points behind mistle thrush,
while bringing up the rear were little owl, black redstart, meadow pipit, red kite and
waxwing, in positions 69-73 respectively. In my garden that weekend blue and great tits
were joint commonest, followed by chaffinch and blackbird, then a further ten species for
which there was just one record. Nationally, the top ten is very similar to the Kent results,
but what is worrying is the continued decline of greenfinch from 15 th last year to 18th this
year (presumably largely due to the effects of the disease trichomonosis), and of song thrush
from 21st to 29th.
Spanish Supper
Next February’s ever-popular supper is being organised by Elaine Lewis. Held on Saturday
6th February at 7.30pm in Blean village hall, the price is being held at £15. As usual, it
promises to be a really enjoyable evening, with a three-course meal adopting Spanish
recipes, raffle and Spanish-themed quizzes. You must book to be sure of a place, so please
contact Elaine on [email protected] or fill in a form at one of the indoor meetings.
Quizzes
The format for the next two quizzes (28th November 2015 and 5th March 2016) is unchanged
– namely bring your own food and buy drinks at the bar. Your evening’s entertainment costs
just £5. Please fill in the form at an indoor meeting or contact Michael Walter on 462491 or
[email protected] if you can form a team of 6-8 or would like to join someone
else’s table. We need to start promptly at 7.30, so do please arrive beforehand.
New Kent Breeding Bird Atlas
The book you’ve all been waiting for is here! It treats all the species that bred in Kent during
the period 2006-13, with a page per species that includes a colour photo and a map that,
with the clever use of coloured symbols, shows how the species’ distribution has changed
since the previous survey in 1988-94. That earlier atlas was produced as an enlarged version
of the annual report of the Kent Ornithological Society (KOS), and you have to go back to
1981 to find the first dedicated book on the county’s birds’ distributions. That original
hardback covered the much longer period of 1952-76, during which time many species went
from being common to rare or extinct as a result of the indiscriminate use of persistent
pesticides. The new atlas charts many dramatic changes, such as the huge declines in
breeding populations of grey partridge, lapwing, willow warbler and tree sparrow, to name
but four, during a period when there were spectacular increases of rather fewer species,
most notably buzzard and little egret. The KOS, and the book’s chief compiler, Rob
Clements, are to be congratulated on the production of this timely work. There are now
plans to follow this up with the production on a winter atlas. If you would like a copy (and
who wouldn’t?) I shall have atlases for sale at the indoor meeting on 8th September, price
£22.50 (£15 to KOS members).
4
Canterbury RSPB’s 2016 calendar
Following the great success of the 2015 calendar (we sold 168 copies), we decided to
produce another one for 2016, again drawing on the fund of wonderful images provided by
our own members. The current year’s calendar is A4, but folds out to A3, which a number of
you commented was too big for your room, so for 2016 we’ve opted for an A4 version. This
does mean that the glorious images won’t be displayed in quite such fine detail, but the
overall effect will still be quite stunning. Because the smaller calendar is slightly cheaper to
print, we’ve also been able to reduce the price to an eminently affordable £5.95. Calendars
will be on sale at every indoor meeting from September to December, and will also be
obtainable from Wendy ([email protected] or 01227 477113) or Michael
([email protected] or 01227 462491). The beautiful front cover is shown below.
Canterbury RSPB Group
2016 CALENDAR
All images contributed by Group Members
5
Attendance at outside events
We’ve reorganised this aspect of our work. Barry remains as sales officer, responsible,
amongst other things, for ordering sales goods, but he is now assisted by Elaine, who attends
most of our events. Importantly, Glen, in addition to managing our finances as treasurer,
has agreed to become Events Officer, a post that has languished, untenanted, for years. He
is responsible for booking stands at events and recruiting volunteers to man them. This year
the new team and their helpers have attended the Moleshill Farm Open Farm Sunday and
the Blean fete. We were to have been present at a Dane John charity fair, but that was
cancelled. Our next event is at the August Bank Holiday fair at the Sandwich Bay Bird
Observatory. As this is being held over two days (30th and 31st) I’m sure Glen would
appreciate any further offers of help at this interesting venue. You can contact him on
01227 634571 or [email protected].
Regional fundraising
In 2014-15 £154,895 was generated through local groups, pin badges and bucket collections.
We’re extremely proud to tell you that Canterbury member, Peter Curd, single-handedly
raised the magnificent sum of £2161. This came from a number of sites that he manages for
pin badge boxes around Whitstable, and his dedication in waving a bucket outside various
supermarkets in east Kent. Well done, Peter.
Monarch of the lens
Former group leader, Chris Sproul, had the surprise of her life while on an outing to the
Royal Horticultural Society gardens at Hyde Hall in Essex on 31st July. Seeing what might be
a comma butterfly flit out of sight, she followed it to an Eryngium, and saw, to her
amazement, something altogether more exotic. Hurriedly photographing it, she still couldn’t
put a name to the unfamiliar insect until, on the coach home, the word “monarch” floated
into her head. This is an American butterfly, famous for its huge Mexican winter roosts, and
its great migrations each spring into north America. Occasionally these strong flyers get
caught up in trans-Atlantic winds and then dumped in Europe, with a few having been
recorded this year in Britain.
Photo Chris Sproul
Most UK records occur a
little later in the year, when
they have begun their
southward migration, and
there is always the
possibility that this was an
escaped individual from an
English butterfly fancier’s
collection. The ragged state
of its wings certainly suggest
that it has been around for a
while and flown quite a few
miles, so the Atlantic
crossing explanation is a
perfectly plausible one.
Toxins from the milkweed plants that the caterpillars feed on remain in the adults’ bodies
and their distinctive patterning therefore acts as a warning to potential predators.
6
Oare Creek
The channel is flat calm – not a ripple.
A still, late summer’s eve.
A tang of seaweed hangs on the air.
At the water’s edge, drifts of sea lavender in a soft haze.
A heron sits hunched up – appears asleep.
Only the glimmer in his eye betrays his vigil.
Across the marshy pool, godwits walk with dignity.
Dunlins, plovers and others probe the mud eagerly.
A revolution of sound.
The pool explodes with excitement and fear.
A great whirr of wings.
A scattering of birds.
Calls of alarm.
The sparrowhawk has launched from his vantage point.
He scythes through the air.
Almost too fast to see.
Half bird, half spirit.
He twists this way and that.
Dark forms hurtle from his path.
Then he has gone.
For a while the flocks continue to wheel about.
Gradually they settle.
All returns to as it was.
The light fails slowly.
A blood-red sun sinks behind the great cranes of Ridham Dock.
A sudden chorus of sad, rippling calls.
High above, whimbrel in a spear-straight line, fly with great purpose.
Their cries are joined by those of the swifts.
Invisible in the heavens they think of Africa and the hot south.
The darkness finally falls.
The sound of feeding and calling birds continues.
The creek never sleeps.
Brother Dunstan
7
Plastic breeding cages for canaries
and budgerigars also made to order
Wild Bird Food
Plowmans Choice Blend 20k
£11.53
Plowmans High Energy 5k
£7.00
Estd 1969
Free delivery through East Kent
Curlews, 36 Bournemouth Drive, Herne Bay CT6 8HH
Tel: 01227 372288 24hr answerphone
Mobile @ 07751 436 756
Email: [email protected]
8
Grove Ferry River Trip
On Friday June 26th, twelve of us went on a boat trip with Grove Ferry River Trips. Vic and I
had talked about going on one of the trips for some time but had never got round to it.
When I looked at their website I realised that if we got together with ten other people we
could have our own boat and choose where we wanted to go, either upstream towards
Fordwich or downstream towards Pluck’s Gutter. The website specifically mentions
birdwatching trips among the specialist groups they cater for, which seemed to confirm our
idea.
We decided to base the trip around the group of volunteers who work in Blean Woods,
plus partners, and we soon generated a lot of interest. We could easily have found more
than 12 people but, having chosen a day that most people could make, inevitably that date
wasn’t suitable for everyone.
On the
appointed day the
weather forecast
was good and at
2pm we all
assembled in the
car park at Grove
Ferry. We weren’t
quite sure what to
expect but the
‘Ellen Mary’ was a
smallish boat (12
people is the
maximum but there
was plenty of room)
and was a Regatta
23 electric launch, for those who know anything about boats. We had a roof above us and
the possibility of plastic sheets which could be rolled down over the sides should it rain.
It was a very relaxing trip which everyone enjoyed. We set off in the direction of Fordwich,
although we were told we were unlikely to get that far as it would take too long, and in the
event we had to turn back just before Westbere Lakes because the water was becoming too
shallow, a combination of a low tide and general low water levels after such a dry spring.
Much of the trip was along the side of Stodmarsh Reserve and, as we were allowed a
generous two hours (partly because the boat was slightly late arriving), we also went a short
way in the opposite direction towards Plucks Gutter in the last twenty minutes or so.
The serious birders in the prow recorded 32 different birds along the way. Most were what
we would have expected to see but the highlight for me was the sight of two different
kingfishers, the first of which we saw very clearly. When we got to Hersden Lake, which
opens out directly onto the north side of the river, we could see dozens of mute swans.
Dave Feast, the former warden at Stodmarsh, said that they were non-breeding birds and
he’d seen over 300 there one year.
9
On a non-birding
note, we were all
entranced by the sight
of dozens of banded
demoiselle damselflies
among the floating
plants at the side of the
boat. They were very
beautiful but
unfortunately much too
quick to take a photo
of.
All in all it was a very
successful trip and definitely to be recommended.
Sue Parker
Upside Down
It was a quiet summer’s evening, still and warm. My wife and I sat on the bench in the
garden having a drink of tea. We had intended to stay there till just after dark, watching our
resident pipistrelles and seeing the stars come out. Little did we know that the evening
would give us a new insight in to the behaviour of our garden wildlife and that our concept
of roosting was to be turned upside down. Or perhaps it was an example of bizarre
behaviour. Unless of course someone out there knows better.
As dusk approached we heard a tapping sound, then a shuffling, followed by a scratching.
This continued for some minutes but we could not find the origin of the noise. Eventually
we tracked it down to our small bat box hanging on the side of the house. Excitement ruled
- after some nine years we had a resident bat! We kept watch but nothing emerged.
However we were pleased and left it in peace.
We were away for the following few days but on our return we again sat in the garden in
the evening. Again we heard the scrabbling, scratching sound. Again we waited. Dusk came
and went, so the possibility that it was a pipistrelle faded. Perhaps it was a long-eared bat?
It became dark but nothing emerged. At last curiosity overcame the requirements of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 and we shone a torch up into the box. There, looking
back, was the face of a blue tit, wedged up into the top of the box.
Unbelievable but true! The bird had been roosting there for at least four days. How and
why? Ten feet away was a perfectly good nest box suitable for roosting in. Given the choice
of a comfy bed in a Premier Inn or spending the night wedged up a chimney which would
you prefer?
Next morning I saw the blue tit emerge head first from the box at about 7.30. Rather late
I thought but looking remarkably refreshed, all things considered. Since then I have seen it
checking its strange roosting place during the morning. Yet another example of the way that
bird behaviour can still surprise us, turning our preconceived ideas upside down.
Phil Earley
10
Diary Dates (including talks at other Members’ Groups)
All are welcome to
attend!
SEPT
Thur 17th The Swiss Alps by Gordon Small. Covering a region which rarely features in our
talks, this evening's presentation should be of interest to all, as Gordon shares his
experiences of life in an Alpine village and the variety of fauna and flora he
encountered there ∆ Maidstone RSPB
Tues 29th Kent Wildlife Trust Reserves by Victoria Golding  Thanet RSPB
OCT
Thur 15th Trinidad and Tobago – home of the hummingbird by Ashley Grove. In addition to
being home to some of the smallest birds in the world, Trinidad & Tobago has a
wide range of other colourful bird life, including Bell Bird, Oilbirds, Manikins and
Honeycreepers. The talk, from freelance photographer and tour guide Ashley, will
include film and birdsong of some species. ∆ Maidstone RSPB
Sun 25th Festival Walk This is our annual walk for the general public, publicised by the
Canterbury Festival, and our one chance to enthuse non-members with the
delights of birdwatching, making it also our best opportunity to recruit new
members.
Tues 27th Hares, an animal you thought you knew by Russell Miles  Thanet RSPB
NOV
Sat 14th
Blean Christmas Fair 10am-2pm. We’ll be having a stall in the Blean village hall,
so please come along and support us. A chance to buy RSPB Christmas cards and,
of course, the group’s 2016 calendar.
Thur 19th A Polar Odyssey by Ralph and Brenda Todd. A welcome return to the Maidstone
Group by Ralph and Brenda, who will be taking us to a variety of locations in both
poles, from the Falklands to Spitzbergen. Numerous penguin species and other
seabirds including albatross, as well as the mammalian inhabitants, will be seen in
these spectacular settings. ∆ Maidstone RSPB
Sat 28th
Quiz Night in the Chaucer Social Club, Canterbury, behind the Council offices.
Starts promptly at 7.30pm. Bring a table of 6-8 competitors, or join up with
another group. £5. Bring your own food; drinks at the bar. Phone Michael on
462491 or email [email protected] if interested.
DEC
Thur 10th Birds and Wildlife of Southern Sweden by Andrew Cleave MBE. Noted for its
amazing autumn bird migration, southern Sweden offers many exciting
opportunities for watching wildlife, from the spectacle of 10,000 cranes arriving in
spring to the delights of the unspoilt countryside and beautiful Baltic coastline.
The talk covers all four seasons and ranges around the coastline and inland; birds,
mammals, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians are included. ∆ Maidstone RSPB
11
JAN
Thur 21st Wildlife of the South East by Jodie Randall. Nature photography with an artistic
flair will be on show, as talented young photographer Jodie shares her unique take
on local wildlife. Her images have been featured in publications such as Outdoor
Photography, Bird Watching and BBC Wildlife Magazine, as well as magazines by
the wildlife trusts and the RSPB. Jodie has gained awards in various photographic
competitions, the most recent being the 2010 British Wildlife Photography
awards. ∆ Maidstone RSPB
Tues 26th Bockhill by Brendan Ryan  Thanet RSPB
30th-31st Big Garden Bird Watch Please do your bit for citizen science by counting the birds
in your garden for an hour this weekend. We also hope to run a stall in the High
Street a week or two beforehand. Contact Michael on
[email protected] if interested in helping to man the stall for a couple
of hours.
FEB
Sat 6th
Spanish Supper 7 for 7.30pm in Blean Village Hall. £15. This will be our eighth
themed supper, and they remain as popular as ever. See page 4 for details of how
to book.
Thur 18th Birds without Borders – the challenge of migration by Peter Holden. Although
focusing mainly on birds, the migration strategies of other animals and insects will
also be covered in the talk, giving a more complete picture of this fascinating
topic. There will also be a short film made for BirdLife International which will
demonstrate some of the current conservation issues. Peter is author of several
best-selling books, including the RSPB Handbook of British Birds. He has been an
RSPB staff member for over 40 years ∆ Maidstone RSPB
Tues 23rd Mad. Birding by the Vazhas Vovo! by Brian Summerfield  Thanet RSPB
MAR
Sat 5th
Quiz Night in the Chaucer Social Club, Canterbury, behind the Council offices.
Starts promptly at 7.30pm. Bring a table of 6-8 competitors, or join up with
another group. £5. Bring your own food; drinks at the bar. Phone Michael on
462491 or email [email protected] if interested.
Thur 17th Birds of Eastern Indonesia by Graham Ekins. Globe-trotting keen birdwatcher
Graham will share stunning photographs of the varied and exotic birdlife found in
this relatively unexplored region. ∆ Maidstone RSPB
 Thanet RSPB meets in The Portland Centre, Hopeville Ave, St Peter’s, Broadstairs CT10
2TR on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. £3.50 (£5.00 non-members)
∆
Maidstone RSPB meets in Grove Green Community Hall, Penhurst Close, Grove Green,
Bearsted, Maidstone ME14 5BT at 7.30pm. £3.50 (£4.50 non-members)
12
Indoor Meetings - Winter 2015-16
All meetings start at 8pm at the Chaucer Hall, behind the Canterbury Council offices (see
map on outer back cover) on the second Tuesday of the month. Admission £3
Sept 8th Crossing Boundaries – Rolf Williams. Rolf served in the Royal Navy. Join him in the
dangerous waters of the Gulf. When the flagship’s deck fills with migrating birds
Rolf is ‘ordered’ to an Iraqi oil platform ten miles out at sea to witness an avian
spectacle - thousands of birds are on the move.
Oct 13th Along the River – Pam and Melvin Smith. Wildlife and scenic moods of the
marshes along the Rother Levels, including award winning images of that jewel
among birds, the Kingfisher.
Nov 10th Food for the Birds – eat in or takeaway – Brian Nobbs. A look at how birds from
hummingbirds to vultures exploit available food sources, including aspects of
anatomy, physiology and behaviour.
Dec 8th
Film Show: “Forsinard Flows – the undiscovered country” capturing the beauty
of one of Europe’s last unspoilt wild places – the peatlands of Caithness and
Sutherland. To be followed by seasonal refreshments.
Jan 12th Jabirus and Jaguars – wildlife in the Brazilian Pantanal - Andrew Lapworth. It is
said the Pantanal is to the Americas what the Serengeti is to Africa. It is the
world’s largest seasonal wetland, and Andrew’s talk features many of the amazing
birds and animals seen there, including the apex predator – jaguar.
Feb 9th
Operation Turtle Dove – saving a bird on the brink – Les Edwins. A presentation
on the RSPB project aimed at saving the Turtle Dove from extinction.
March 8th The Birds of the North Norfolk Coastal Footpath – Jonathan Forgham. Jonathan is
a professional bird tour leader in Norfolk, so he knows what he’s talking about!
April 12th AGM followed by a Show and Tell, when several of our talented members will
entertain us with some of their best wildlife photos.
13
Field Trips - Winter 2015-16
SEPT
Sun 13th DUNGENESS (all day) Leader - Glynn Crocker (275186) Once again our summer
visitors will be gathering to fly away before the winter arrives.
OCT
Sun 25th CANTERBURY FESTIVAL WALK 11am at the Sportsman, Seasalter. Another chance
to promote the RSPB. Want to help? Contact Glynn Crocker on 275186.
NOV
Sun 8th
OARE MARSH (morning) Leader - Glynn Crocker (275186 ) With close views of
water birds this excellent nature reserve is always worth a visit.
Sun 29th PEGWELL BAY (morning) Leader - Glynn Crocker ( 275186) Another reserve where
winter visitors often feed and roost in good numbers.
DEC
Sun 13th CONYER (afternoon) Leader - Glynn Crocker (275186) Access to another aspect of
the Swale and the birds that depend on the tidal mudflats.
JAN
Sun 10th STODMARSH (afternoon) Leader- Glynn Crocker (275186) Our usual visit in hope
of seeing a hen harrier coming into roost; will we be lucky again this year?
Sun 31st DUNGENESS (all day) Leader- Glynn Crocker ( 275186) The sights and sounds will
be in complete contrast to our autumn visit.
FEB
Sun 14th RYE HARBOUR (all day) Leader - Peter Curd (793131) After a successful meeting
last year a return visit is a must to this excellent reserve.
MARCH
Sun 20th OARE MARSH (morning) Leader - Peter Curd (793131) This brilliant coastal reserve
often has the first sightings of returning migrants.
APRIL
Sun 24th STODMARSH (morning) Leader - Glynn Crocker (275186) A chance on a nice spring
morning to hear the songs of resident and migrant species.
Everyone is always welcome to all the outdoor meetings, beginner and expert alike. A
number of this season's trips have been planned especially for beginners.
The leaders are all volunteering their time and may, on occasion, have to alter venue or
date, so please BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!
Where possible, please arrange to share cars and petrol costs. In case of any difficulty with
transport, please contact Glynn Crocker on 01227 275186.
!!!!!!A donation to Group funds is requested – suggested rate £1 per person.!!!!!!
14
Monday Walks
Once again I would like to thank all those who have supported the walks. Numbers have
varied from nobody turning up on one to sixteen on the January Dungeness walk (was it the
fish and chip lunch??). Not quite so many in July.
So far this year we have had exactly one hundred species, and we are still averaging about
fifty species per month.
As can be seen from the schedule below, the format has changed slightly in that for locations
that involve some travelling I have requested that you inform me at least twenty-four hours
prior to the walk so that I do not have a wasted journey - thank you. The only exception is
the January Dungeness trip where there is never a shortage of attendees. However, in the
event of poor weather you should always contact me for confirmation that the trip is on.
Alan Prior 01227 361362
[email protected]
Date
Location/
meeting place
SEPTEMBER
19th October
16th Nov
21st Dec
18th Jan
15th Feb
21st March
18th April
MAY
NO WALK
Grove Ferry car park (charge)
Pegwell Bay country park (charge)
Oare Marshes car park
Dungeness RSPB reserve
Conyer
Nature reserve Shell Ness, Sheppey
Mote Park, Maidstone
To be confirmed
Map ref.
Time
TR236631
TR342637
TR013647
TR065186
TQ962650
TR052682
TQ771555
09.30
09.30
09.30
10.00
09.30
*
*
* Please let me know at least 24 hours before the walk that you are attending.
Contacting you by email
If you are on our email distribution list, you should already have received an enlarged pdf
version of this newsletter in glorious colour. The e-version of the newsletter has various
advantages over the printed edition as, in addition to the benefit of colour photographs,
some articles may be expanded or completely new ones included, so if you have access to
email it is well worth being on our mailing list. Also, on occasion it may be necessary to
cancel events e.g. due to adverse weather or a speaker cancelling at the last minute. In
those circumstances it would be an easy matter to contact everyone on our mailing list. If
you would like to be added to the mailing list, please send your email address to Wendy at
[email protected].
15
One swallow does make a
summer
The value of long-term recording of
such simple information as the first
swallow sighting of the year in
Shropshire is demonstrated vividly in
the graph below. On the Y-axis the
date is shown by numbers, where 1 =
1st March, so 30 is 30th March, 40 is
9th April, and so on. Until about 1986,
first arrival was usually later than 30th
March i.e. at or above the 30 line.
Since then, in all but one year (the
notoriously cold spring of 2013), the
first swallow seen in Shropshire has
been before 30th March. Another
way of looking at the change is to
note that in the 100 years from 1886
to 1985 there were just three years
when the first swallow arrived on or
before 20th March, compared to ten
out of 27 years from 1986-2014.
None of this can be taken as proof of
climate change, but it does indicate
that swallow behaviour has altered in
some way in recent years, and a
warmer environment in the birds’ winter quarters and migration route would certainly be a
possible mechanism for explaining these earlier dates.
Date of first swallow in Shropshire (1st March = 1)
60
50
40
30
20
10
1886
1889
1892
1895
1898
1901
1904
1907
1910
1913
1916
1919
1922
1925
1928
1931
1934
1937
1940
1943
1946
1949
1952
1955
1958
1961
1964
1967
1970
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
0
16
Photo Feature……. Pied Flycatcher
My holiday snaps are not the most conventional. Sure, there are a few castles and gardens
featuring my wife and me, in various unnatural poses, and maybe the odd beach or two
(taken from cliffs above). However, the majority of my pictures feature birds, birds and more
birds, interspersed with some scenery; rivers, mountains, lakes, forests and so on; this year,
even a bat featured.
Picking a holiday destination is not difficult. I simply look at where there are gaps in my
photographic collection and book a cottage near to the best habitat to fill in those gaps.
That was the case earlier this year. There were several birds that I wanted to ʻshootʼ, but top
of the list was pied flycatcher so, after spending a week in Pembrokeshire, making two visits
to Skomer Island for choughs, we headed to mid-Wales and discovered, to our delight, the
Elan Valley. Here, not only were pied flycatchers quite visible, but also spotted flycatcher,
wood warbler, redstart and many more. I took plenty of photographs and felt quite satisfied
with the results.
The holiday ended but we couldnʼt tear ourselves away, so decided to remain another day.
As I was reluctantly coming to the end of my last stroll along a favourite track through a
wooded hillside, I heard a pied flycatcher singing. He then landed within three metres of me
and continued his song. He appeared to be inquisitively watching me, but seemed quite
comfortable with my company and remained there for several minutes. I finally
remembered to breathe and that I had a camera in my hand. When he eventually flew off, I
thanked him out loud and wished him luck.
Iʼll not forget the image captured in that magical, intimate moment. I also noticed in the
picture that his toes were crossed - maybe for good luck?
Technical details:
Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm lens, ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec.
Photo on next page
Dave Smith
17
18
Focus On......The Partridge
Our native grey partridge is in serious
trouble. Kent atlas data show that in
1967-73 551 tetrads (squares 2km x 2km)
were occupied in the county. By the time
of the 1988-94 survey this figure had
dropped to 354, and in the latest 2008-11
atlas it was recorded in only 165 squares.
From being fairly widespread more or less
throughout the county it has, to all intents
and purposes, disappeared from inland
Kent, and most of the north Kent marshes
and Romney Marsh (both former
strongholds) and is now largely confined
to Thanet and the coastal area down to
Dover. During the same period, the
fortunes of the introduced red-legged
have gone in the opposite direction (see
bar chart below) from occupying 159
tetrads in the first survey, to 315 in the
second and 409 in the latest, although I
personally believe that they, too, are also
now disappearing. Back in 1967-73 it was
thinly scattered over most of the county,
but with one marked concentration
Grey partridge
centred on the North Kent Marshes. By
the second survey it had become more widespread generally, with some clusters around the
North Kent Marshes, Thanet and Romney Marsh. Interestingly, the 2008-11 atlas found that
these aggregations had largely dissolved, apart from on Romney Marsh, and, though
becoming more widespread inland, the red-leg was markedly less frequent to the south-west
of a line drawn from
600
Dartford-Maidstone-AshfordHythe.
500
The graph below shows the
startling national decline of
the grey partridge over the
past 30 years (the units are
on an arbitrary scale, based
on 100 in 2011). The decline
is believed to be due to
agricultural intensification
resulting in decreased
breeding success. During the
400
Grey partridge
300
red-legged partridge
200
100
0
1966-73
19
1988-94
2008-11
same period the population of red-legs has fluctuated, rather than showing a long-term
decline.
Grey partridge in UK
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
1976
1974
1972
1970
1968
1966
0
Graph showing the striking decline of the grey partridge over the past 30 years. The units are
on an arbitrary scale, based on 100 in 2011. Decline believed to be due to agricultural
intensification resulting in decreased breeding success. During the same period the
population of red-legs has fluctuated, rather than showing a long-term decline.
The grey partridge has the largest clutch of any British bird – usually 14-15 eggs – so the
potential for increase is enormous. The fact that this hasn’t happened demonstrates just
how severe the constraints of limiting factors are, whether it be predation, competition or
food shortage at key times of the year. It therefore only takes a small increase in any of
these pressures to have a depressing impact on the population.
Any analysis of data for the two partridge species is clouded by captive breeding and release
for sport. More farms are diversifying into shooting, and between 1990 and 2005 the
number shot in the UK quadrupled. In 2004 alone around 6.5 million partridges were
released, of which 2.6 million were shot. So, although the red-leg has been present in the UK
for nearly 250 years, it could almost be considered as a farm animal!
20
THE BIRD BOX
@ Macknade
Bring wildlife into
your garden
Provide food sources and
habitats for birds, bees,
butterflies and small
mammals
The Bird Box at Macknade offers a wide variety of bird and bat boxes, bird
feeders, owl and kestrel boxes, insect habitats and feeders, shelters for
hedgehogs, small mammals and amphibians. We supply many different wild
bird food mixes, from 100g to 25kg. If you fill your own containers from our
bulk bins you receive a 10% discount.
The nursery, Tasteful Plants, sells many plants that will attract wildlife and our
staff can offer advice on which varieties would be suitable for your garden.
TASTEFUL PLANTS LTD
Selling Rd, Faversham ME13 8XF
www.tastefulplants.co.uk
07528 067526
Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays 10am to 4pm
FREE CAR PARKING
21
Reserves Roundup
Dungeness
Visitor Experience Officer: Alan Kell
Work parties pulled 33 bags-worth of ragwort in preparation for the arrival of cattle. More
native plants have gone into the wildlife garden. As water levels dropped, the islands
emerged from Burrowes and ARC pits, enabling herring and common gulls to rear young.
Marsh harrier juveniles have also fledged and are regularly seen hunting. New to Burrowes
Pit this year is our large tern raft (below), aimed at providing an alternative nesting site to
the flooded islands.
Unfortunately, this is
devoid of common
terns but it is
offering close views
of a nesting common
gull. Inside the
predator fence
lapwing and
redshank chicks are
keeping a low
profile. Bitterns
nested in the reedPhoto by Steve Broyd
beds, tree sparrows
in the nest boxes (52 chicks ringed in 12 nests), swallows in some of our hides, and there are
goslings and cygnets all over the place. The short-haired bumblebee project is in its fourth
year, with the queens recently being released into the fields where surveys show that there
is an abundance of clovers and vetches, whose nectar will sustain the bee colonies. The
fields were given a high cut to remove grass seed-heads and thistles in order to lengthen the
legume flowering period, and disced fields had cut clover spread over them to assist with
reseeding. Discing tall vegetation in the rills will also
improve conditions for waders in time for the
autumn migration. The brown-banded jumping
spider, a species not seen here for ten years, was
found in May, along with a healthy population of
Pellenes tripunctatus, a spider endemic to Dungeness
and Rye Harbour. Wood, green and common
sandpipers, little stint, knot, golden plover, dunlin,
ringed plover and little ringed plover are all present
now. All eight common tern chicks fledged. A pair of
great white egrets have returned, hobbies are
regular, and a garganey can currently be seen at ARC.
Families of bearded tits and yellow wagtails can be
heard and seen. Dragonflies and damselflies are
abundant around the reserve, while painted ladies,
red admirals, common blue and brown argus
butterflies are common.
Wood sandpiper
22
Blean Woods
Warden: Amy Winchester
Our volunteers have been working hard, cutting back the rapidly growing vegetation along
paths and undertaking maintenance jobs that we just don’t have time for in winter. In the
coming months the rides and glades will also be mown. The woods have become much
quieter now the breeding season has
Heath fritillary – Hazel Bielby
come to an end. It has been a good
year for nightingale with 45 territories
across the reserve. Although woodland
l Bielby
bird decline is a problem, the RSPB is
working hard to fully understand and
reverse this and it is good to know that
Blean holds the highest number of
nightingale of any RSPB reserve. The
coppicing season will start again in
September, with the volunteers
undertaking essential ride widening
work, and a contractor will be
removing some of the oaks along the rides and in a few glades. We have carefully chosen
less robust trees that have been crowded out by other oaks, and had them checked for bats
by an expert. No one likes to see oaks felled, but there are several benefits to this; the
remaining oaks will be able to reach their full potential, spreading their canopies wide and
supporting a much greater biodiversity. Secondly, the extra sunlight will encourage the
growth of cow-wheat, the food plant of the heath fritillary.
Seasalter
Warden: Nick Covarr
Our work party has been busy surveying for damselflies and dragonflies. For the second year
running we have confirmation that the Norfolk hawker dragonfly is breeding in the ditches.
This rare insect is usually found in the marshes and fens of the Norfolk Broads, along ditches
where the aquatic plant, water soldier, grows, so we are very excited to have found it
breeding successfully at Seasalter. It needs unspoilt grazing marsh with non-saline water to
survive. Having spent up to two years in
the water, the mature nymphs climb on
to emerging vegetation at night, where
they moult into adult dragonflies.
Our breeding bird season has finished
and it has been a good year for lapwing
(right), with 18 pairs and 16 chicks
successfully fledged. The fields are now
being topped to prepare them for the
winter season.
We are also continuing our battle with
floating pennywort and will resume pulling the plant in September. A few hardy volunteers
work with us throughout the winter months to try and remove it from the ditches.
Pennywort is a non-native invasive species that can grow up to 20cm a day! So, sitting in a
23
small boat in the winter pulling the pennywort from the ditches is a worthwhile task and
although it will take many years to eradicate this plant we are successfully keeping on top of
its spread.
Our volunteers are the essential element in the work we achieve at Blean and Seasalter, so if
you are interested in becoming a volunteer please speak to myself or Nick Covarr (assistant
warden) by phoning 01227 464898 or emailing [email protected]
North Kent Marshes
Warden: Ben Newton
Northward Hill Our most famous breeders, the herons, have had a great year with 252
nests recorded (2014: 200) whilst numbers of little egret fell to 48 nests (2014: 83). Numbers
of these birds tend to fluctuate and there may well be a ceiling on how large the colonies can
get in our wood. On the grazing marsh the lapwing remained steady at 26 pairs whilst
avocet dropped from 17 to 11 and redshank had a terrific year with 46 pairs recorded (2014:
26). Nightingales had 22 territories, as in 2014. Four pairs of turtle doves were present - a
big increase on last year.
Cliffe Pools Highlight was a
record 172 pairs of avocets
(2014: 126), which is quite
likely the highest on any UK
reserve. Three pairs of blackwinged stilts were present for
two months – this was kept
quiet due to the species
being a very rare breeder in
the UK. Two pairs hatched
five chicks, but they were all predated by black-headed gulls.
Higham and Shorne Marshes
The last few years have seen
hydrological improvements and
an anti-predator fence at Shorne
and these factors paid dividends
this year, with 111 pairs of
lapwing and 188 fledged young
between the two reserves (2014:
62 pairs). Redshank also did
fantastically with 144 pairs and
an estimate of 146 young (2014:
60 pairs).
Lapwing chick at Shorne Marshes – Rob Budgeon
24
Avocet - RSPB