Newsletter No. 47 March 2014May 28th Chris Goodie – The Jewel Hunters June 25th Bob Edgar – Bird...
Transcript of Newsletter No. 47 March 2014May 28th Chris Goodie – The Jewel Hunters June 25th Bob Edgar – Bird...
Newsletter No. 47 March 2014
Welcome to the first newsletter of 2014 , and for those not at our January indoor or outdoor meetings a very Happy New Year. At the time of writing we have suffered an unprecedented prolonged period of rainfall combined with strong wind and gales. Not conducive to good birdwatching at all. When will it all end! Just think that early March sees the return of our first migrants in the form of Sand Martins, Wheatears, and Swallows. I can'ʹt see them putting in an appearance for many weeks to come, although if the SOS website is to be believed there is a lone Swallow at Newick Sewage Works which has overwintered. The only compensation is that the winter has been very mild. A new year is always a good time to take stock of our 2013/2014 programme to date. We had a successful AGM in September followed by an unusual evening of song about birds from Ronnie Haar and accompanying vocalist Louise, a magical evening and I think we will be inviting them back for a full evening in the future. I was unable to attend the October and November evenings but understand Jonathan Forgham gave a great talk on the Birds of the North Norfolk Coast, badly affected by the storms and sea wall breaches over Christmas/New Year, and David Tipling with Birds and People, our highlight speaker for the season. However, one area where we haven'ʹt had great success is in Group Membership renewals, so much so that numbers have fallen alarmingly below 50. This will be discussed at a Committee meeting on the evening prior to publication of this newsletter. As the membership grows older we would expect to lose a few members but we must do something to arrest the dramatic fall. I would urge all of you to talk to friends, neighbours, and birdwatching friends to try and encourage them to attend an indoor meeting so that they can see for themselves what we have to offer. We have one place left on the Group holiday to Scotland in May, a great opportunity to travel with friends from the Group with Mark Finn of Birdwatching Breaks between 10/17 May staying in Mark'ʹs home on the Black Isle above Inverness, with one night away in Durness for the Corncrakes and all Diver species on the Lochs of North Western Scotland. Please speak to me at our next indoor meeting for further details. Shaun Taylor is in discussion with East Surrey Group over the date for our joint coach trip to Minsmere. At the time of going to press the date had not been confirmed, so please have a word with Shaun to reserve your place on the coach. We hope to have agreed a date by the time you read your newsletter. It will be either 11th or 18th May. The other standout outing for the Spring is our trip to RSPB Lakenheath Fen in June. It is to be hoped the Golden Orioles return after an abortive breeding season last year. We have much to look forward to. We hope and pray that the rain will stop soon and that we get a good start to the Spring and that the breeding season is successful for all our birds.
Group Leader
GETTING ‘EGRET’ TO OUR MEMBERS As most of you will know, your thrice-yearly Newsletter is usually available at two of our monthly indoor meetings – February and April, the third being posted to all members in August to give notice of our AGM in September.
Members attending either or both of the meetings mentioned are asked to take their copy from the box at the entrance, but what may be less well-known is that some members are able to hand-deliver some extra copies to their non-attending near-neighbours. If you are able to do this, it does save a substantial amount of postage, especially with the new postal rates, and thus allows us to offer enhanced support to the many RSPB projects in process. See if you can help, even if it is only one or two copies in addition to your own. If the envelope is still ‘in the box’ at the end of the meeting then that member was not there and you can be a ‘Good Samaritan’! We also offer a paperless newsletter for those who do not want a paper copy. Please contact me on my new email address if you would like to be added to the list for emailed newsletters.
New email address: [email protected] ‘Egret’ – articles and suggestions can also be sent to my email address, or traditional pen and paper to: Christine Hunt 1 Holly Cottages Selsfield Road Turners Hill West Sussex RH10 4PP
Committee: Roger Tremethick (Hon. President) Nick Walker (Group Leader - 01342 315825) Stephen Whittaker (Treasurer - 01444 831310) Fundraising & Sales – TBA Lesley Berry (Indoor Meetings – 01342 324955) Maureen Caulkett: (Membership - 01293 785457) Barry Venn (Minutes Secretary – 01342 311794) Chris Griffin (Website ) Terris Bacon (Pin Badges and Refreshments - Christine Hunt (Newsletter Editor - 01342 715406) 01342 315051) Hilary Rowberry (Wildlife Explorers – 01892 770478) (Outdoor Meetings – Shaun Taylor – 07887568331)
The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment.
VACANCY
We are urgently seeking a
SALES & FUNDRAISING OFFICER
JOB-SHARE WELCOME!
If tempted, please contact Nick to find out what is
involved
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
INDOOR MEETINGS
The Indoor meetings are to be held at East Court Mansion. The talks start at 8 pm, so could we kindly request that you arrive approx 10 minutes earlier, so that we are all settled before the talk begins. February 26th Simon Ginnaw – A Year on My Local Patch
Simon, a Country Park Ranger with Medway Council, has been recording the wildlife in Mote Park since he was a teenager. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Mote Park through the seasons, and find out about the park'ʹs fantastic wildlife and history
March 26th Dr Timothy Sellar – Feathers & Flight April 30th Chris Ward – Owls, owls, owls May 28th Chris Goodie – The Jewel Hunters June 25th Bob Edgar – Bird Ringing at Beachy Head OUTDOOR MEETINGS Full details of these outdoor visits are to be found on the back pages of this Newsletter. March 16th (Sunday) Burton Mill Pond & Pulborough Brooks April 19th (Saturday) Thurrock Thameside Nature Park May 11/18 (Sunday) Coach Outing to RSPB Minsmere May 25th (Sunday) Stodmarsh English Nature NNR June 21st (Saturday) Lakenheath Fen RSPB Reserve July 20th (Sunday) Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve August 16th (Saturday) Oare Marsh & South Swale Kent WT September 21st (Sunday) Samphire Hoe between Dover & Folkestone WILDLIFE EXPLORERS Further details of these activities are to be found on the website. 8th February Briars Centre Owls & Dissecting Pellets 8th March Visit to Pulborough Brooks 10th May Briars Centre Wild Food Foraging 14th June Briars Centre Give a Bee a Home
Introducing the RSPB's new President RSPB members elected Miranda Krestovnikoff, well-‐‑known TV and radio presenter, as their new President at their AGM in London on Saturday 12th October.
It is hoped that Miranda'ʹs enthusiasm and expertise will inspire more people to become interested in wildlife and do their bit to give nature a home.
Miranda'ʹs interest in nature stems from a childhood spent outdoors in her family garden in Buckinghamshire and roaming around nearby Burnham Beeches, which led her to study a Zoology degree at Bristol University and volunteer with various wildlife organisations. A trained diver, Miranda is interested in wildlife both above and below the waves.
Reports of Recent Indoor Group Meetings
September 25th AGM followed by : Ronnie Haar – Songs about Birds, a celebration in song of British Birds I have to admit, I was a little hesitant about this, but what a delightful evening it turned out to be! We were all enraptured by the songs and lyrics which expressed Ronnie’s passion for birds and nature and he was accompanied by the beautiful vocals of Louise. Really enjoyable and I wish I had bought a CD! For those of you who love the music of the late 60’s, Ronnie has another album, called ‘Giants’, with such titles as “Attracted to the Water” and “Fairy Tales”, the songs are said to have a beauty reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash or the Byrds. Might be worth checking out! October 30th Johnathan Forsham – Birds of the North Norfolk Coastal Path Jonathan Forgham took us for an enjoyable visual visit of the North Norfolk coast.
November 26th David Tipling – Birds and People A nice large, lively audience welcomed David Tipling, popular and internationally renowned wildlife photographer, to The Meridian Hall. The audience was treated to his highly distinctive images and a very enjoyable evening.
DON’T FORGET YOU CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR WEBSITE!
www.rspb.org.uk/groups/egrinstead
Log on to the website for the RSPB East Grinstead Group to keep up to date with news and events and further details of outings.
If you have an item that you would like included, go to the Contact Us tab and there is a window in which you can enter your email correspondence.
There are also some useful links to other local websites e.g. Friends of Weir Wood, the Ashdown Forest Bird Group and Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) where you can keep up to date on events and recent local bird sightings. After the recent storms and flooding, these websites will be able to inform us as to how this has affected our birds, their habitat and the Spring migration.
RSPB MINSMERE COACH TRIP WITH THE EAST SURREY GROUP
SUNDAY 11TH MAY 2014 Meet in carpark on the High Street, Godstone by the Pond
(opposite The White Hart) at 7.15 am
Contact Sean Taylor to reserve ticket(s) and for further information
Mob: 07887568331
Reports of Recent Outdoor Group Meetings
September 15th -‐‑ Pagham Harbour Seven members braved a not very good weather forecast for our first outing of the season to Pagham Harbour. We met at the RSPB Sidlesham Visitor Centre, expectant of a great day’s birding ahead. First stop was the viewpoint overlooking Ferry Pool where Dunlin, Bar Tailed Godwit, Ruff and a party of 10 Curlew Sandpiper were observed. A walk around the trail viewing the harbour amid a falling tide revealed Grey Plover, one lovely bird still in summer plumage. Warblers and migrants were very hard to find even though the bushes were laden with fruit, only a single Chiffchaff showed itself. No Whitethroat or Blackcaps. It was felt a moonlit sky had encouraged birds to cross the Channel heading South. A visit to Church Norton added Ringed Plover, and some time was spent scanning the Severals for an elusive Wryneck which remained so!! As the weather was closing in, it was decided to head East back to Pulborough Brooks, also escaping the traffic leaving The Goodwood Revival meeting which had held some members up first thing in the morning. A Red Kite was observed between Amberley and the road to Rackham. Highlights at Pulborough were a Spotted Flycatcher, Green Sandpiper, and an adult female Marsh Harrier sitting out on the grassland of the North Brooks. 44 species at Pagham was the lowest total recorded ever on a Group outing there in 15 years, and a further 9 added at Pulborough made 53 species for the day. The rains finally came on the walk back up from Fattengates to the Visitor Centre but as usual a good day was had by all.
N. Walker 19th October 2013 – Cliffe Pools 14 hardy souls met in the car park at 9:30 (ish!) at the Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve. The forecast was not great but the morning was pleasant enough and we had high hopes of seeing a couple of rarities, including a reported Yellow Browed Warbler and Little Stint. We set off in good spirits despite the darkening of the skies and were rewarded by seeing our first Kingfisher of the day. Many members also took good advantage of the bountiful crop of Blackberries on the walk round, as did a nearby Stonechat. The pools themselves had a good number of birds including Avocet, Redshank, Shelduck and Lapwing. We were reminded of the changing seasons by the presence of a huge number of Teal and Wigeon with a passing flock of Brent Geese. We also saw a magnificent Marsh Harrier in the skies above -‐‑ which caused major disruption to the peace and calm on the pools below. The weather took a turn for the worse just as we arrived on the bank of the River Thames. We decided to retrace our steps having seen a total of over 40 species despite the ever present irritation of a group of under age motor bikers using parts of the reserve to practice their scrambling skills! Despite the worsening weather many of us moved on to continue our day by visiting the nearby Northward Hill RSPB reserve and despite not seeing either of our two target species for the day, our total species count rose to over 50 and one member had the added bonus of a collecting good harvest of fresh field mushrooms. All in all a most enjoyable day'ʹs birding in good company and nice surroundings -‐‑ despite the weather!
17th November 2013 – Shell Ness Five members plus Hannah met on a dry but overcast day. Our first sightings looking landwards from the sea wall were hundreds of Brent Geese in a field, also on a wet area were Curlews, Golden Plover, Dunlins and Lapwings, our first Marsh Harrier was also spotted. Suddenly, all the birds took flight as a Merlin flashed low across the area, to return a while later to do the same. We had parked just before the rough track leading to Shell Ness Point, to walk and be able to see inland and out to sea. At the end of the sea wall we moved onto the beach for our first view of the Swale. The tide was in and only about a dozen Mallards were seen. Scanning along the beach, A.L. found a Peregrine not far away on the sand giving good views until it flew out to sea. Continuing along the beach we found numbers of Turnstone at the waters edge plus a few Sanderling and a couple of Ring Plovers, we took the seaward side of the Hamlet round the Point finding more Turnstones and Grey Plovers. From the WW11 emplacement we looked West towards the roosting area, it was a mass of black where hundreds of Oystercatchers were gathered and in front of these was an even greater area of grey with thousands of waders, and through our scopes we could see it consisted of mainly Grey Plovers also Godwits and Dunlins in huge numbers. Occasionally large groups would take off, swirl round and return, a really marvellous sight. Further around the point were more than a hundred Shellduck plus Teal and a couple of Widgeon. We retraced our steps hoping to see Snow Buntings which had been seen in the area but no luck. After lunch back at the cars we drove to the Harty Ferry Inn for a view across the Swale. On the way there we had a flock of Corn Buntings in the usual place on the wires, further along a small party of Red Legged Partridge close to the road. At the Harty Inn we found a Clay Pigeon Shoot in progress. We left and went to the Raptor Mound meeting some members of the Surrey Group. Marsh Harriers were all around, both male and female, also a couple of Buzzards. As the afternoon progressed the light began to fade but suddenly a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier appeared giving good views. Soon after we called it quits. With a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk seen earlier, seven raptors in total plus the huge roost of Waders made for a good outing.
Alan Caulkett 7th December – Dungeness and Walland Marsh Weather overcast, chilly but dry and a light breeze, 11 members assembled suitably rugged up for the cold at 9.30-‐‑ish. Always the late arrival, I got there at 9.15 to the astonishment of Mervyn, Chris and Jen, before Shaun and the others! Just to prove that I can do it sometimes!! We started in Dennis'ʹs hide whilst waiting for the Centre to open, and straight away picked up 16 species, (with first for me in the UK), a Great White Egret and later on 4 Chiffchaffs foraging around in nearby bushes; were they passing through late or would they now overwinter here, we wondered. Moving on, after a brief foray into the Centre to collect our tickets, we missed out the next 2 hides (Firth and Makepeace) and settled in the next one where we observed lots of ducks including a huge number of Shovelers (more than I have seen ever), some elegant Pintails and first winter adult Smews, the males of which not yet attired in their gorgeous black and white plumage. Proceeding to Denge Marsh hide, (and the inevitable scan for Bittern), Cormorant, Lapwing and Mute Swan were added to the growing list whilst Alan Loweth spotted a low flying Bittern, confirmed by Mervyn who got a nanosecond glimpse. More intent scanning of the reedbed edges nearby revealed another individual picking its way along, and try as I might I couldn'ʹt find it, but I think all the others did. (My ineptitude could have been down to the balancing act of eating a Mars bar with one hand and trying to use the binz with the other,! hey ho.) After that triumph we returned to the cars and lunch, but not before watching many hundreds of Lapwing heading towards the reserve area from the lookout vantage point near the hide, good to see and quite a rare sight these days. After lunch we drove to the ARC pit over the road from the farmhouse by the reserve entrance, pausing briefly to look for the Tree Sparrows which are regulars here. Only 3 around the bushes but we enjoyed watching one bird who obligingly lingered under the feeders for ages, and added Chaffinch and Reed Bunting to our list. Not many extras at the pit except Golden Eye and Little Egret, then on to the beach by the Power station for a spot of sea watching.
Sea a bit choppy but we found a raft of Common Scoter, with Gannets amongst the many gulls following a fishing boat, and Turnstone on the tide line near some sea anglers. With the afternoon drawing in, we took ourselves off to the Walland Marsh area, to look for Bewick Swans reported to be present, en route to the dusk gatherings opposite the Woolpack pub. After a slow drive through the lanes, we found not a swan of any description, Sarah and I elected to call it a day, while the others went on. Shaun reported that there were lots of Marsh Harriers, a cracking male Hen Harrier showing well as he flew by very close to them and when resting in the field, Fieldfares and another bonus bird -‐‑ Short Eared Owl, which was a good finish to a successful day. On the A2070 to Rye, Sarah and I did spot some Swans but the road was too busy and no opportunity to pull up and have a better look. We drove home the pretty way, via Peasemarsh, Hawkhurst etc which was a treat as all the villages were decorated with their Christmas lights, all twinkly and colourful, with Hawkhurst'ʹs Christmas Fair in full swing with music and all things festive. Around 45 + species today, good company as ever and a smashing area we all like to visit, which rarely fails to deliver.
Lyn Maggs
19 January 2014 – Rye Harbour A final total of thirteen members met at Rye Harbour on Sunday 19 January, a fresh, dry day, with the bleak marshes brooding under an overcast sky. Despite the dry prognosis, several members donned waterproof trousers to ward of not just any renegade rain but a playful coastal breeze that cut the knees not a little. A feast of wonders was in store, not least several dozen Curlew standing quietly in the mud on the reserve side as we ambled towards the end of the channel: those numerate members present informed us that at least 100 birds were standing there, all facing into the wind. Further scrutiny brought a huge flock of Golden Plover into view on the ground, again all facing the same direction. The sun began to glow in the clouds above and finally burst through the gloom, showering light everywhere and totally changing the picture, now enhanced further by a clear blue sky. Birds began to rise into the air in large flocks; clouds and clouds of different birds rose in turn, circling and wheeling above us in the sunshine, all the flocks flying and turning in unison, colours winking from yellow to white, black to white and back again. Lapwing had a huge contingent that repeatedly came on stage, Knot and Dunlin too. Other suspects caught lurking in the sparse undergrowth and at the edges of pools were Ruff, Starling, Rook, Pied Wagtail, and also Redshank paddling about. Much polite and scholarly discussion about identification took place until it was time to move on. After a short stop at Lime Tree Cottage and a chat with the Volunteer Warden we set our binoculars over the channel to check out Camber Sands for the Sanderling which were duly spotted to our Group Leader'ʹs satisfaction -‐‑ they were very bold, tolerating Sunday morning walkers striding past them (complete with dogs); all the tiny birds were busy bustling in and out with the tide in the search for food. Those in the counting mood told of at least seventy birds tootling up and down the waterline. As usual at Rye the noisy presence of gulls was made plain -‐‑ Herring, Black Headed, Greater and Lesser Black Backed, whilst Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard, Teal and Widgeon came forth for the ducks and dabblers. A lone Sparrowhawk was spotted sitting quietly on a low bush on the edge of the Ternery Pool but there was no sign of the marsh harrier mentioned by the Warden. However Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Brent Geese, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Turnstone and Tufted Duck were all there to compensate us. Four Little Grebe, seemingly practising synchronised diving, were a pleasure to see too, along with a Great Crested Grebe sailing by. Our amazement that the sun had continued to sparkle in a clear blue sky all the while was matched by sheer numbers of birds and the spectacles that they continued to provide. Coot, Robin, Kestrel, Cormorant, Great Tit all played their parts well too. Co-‐‑stars of the show were the Long Tailed Duck and Goldeneye spotted by the Long Lake. Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove finished off our list for the outing, a good catch on a great day out.
Sue Shropshire
NEWS FROM BROADWATER WARREN RESERVE – FEBRUARY 2014
Broadwater Warren
• Work planned for this month is quite varied and will be happening all over the site. If it ever stops raining, we will be resurfacing some of the muddier paths where the overflowing ditches and streams have over topped from the extreme high water levels. Be careful – I lost my welly in an exceptionally muddy patch the other day!
• The last of the brash from this year’s conifer harvest will be chipped and taken as wood-fuel.
• Another 500 trees are going to be planted in selected areas around the site, as we progress with making our woodland areas more diverse, both in structure and mix of species. Before the site was planted with conifers in the mid-1900s, it was a rich blend of open heath and native woodland. After the Second World War, not only was the heathland planted on, but parts of the woodland were cut down to make way for plantations too. We are gradually taking away the non-native, closely planted pine from the ancient woodland areas, and re-planting with species like oak, rowan, hazel and spindle. Did you know that one mature oak tree can give a home to over 200 species of insect? So while we are cutting down trees, we’re planting more of the right species, in the right places. The RSPB as a whole actually plants 2 trees for each one it cuts down; possibly not at the same reserve, but instead where it most benefits wildlife anywhere in the country. They may be planted to help reinstate hedgerows, restore former natural forest or to join back together fragmented pieces of woodland. The Forestry Commission (the UK government body concerned with woodland) and The Woodland Trust (a charity championing the UK’s woodlands) both have websites with great information about tree planting.
• Wildlife is returning to the site, with bird song filling the air on the drier days as robins, thrushes and mixed tit flocks start warming up their vocal chords. Already in the first week in January, male woodlark were heard singing out on the eastern heath areas. They are now making their appearance in earnest as they set up territories. Seven snipe were seen near the new wetland area on the main heath, three buzzards were circling overhead last week and a sparrowhawk was seen manoeuvring silently through the larches. Spring is in the air, honest! Keep your eyes peeled and ears pinned and please tell me about any sightings in the weeks to come. We’re still waiting for the first butterfly record of the year on the reserves!
• The volunteers, active every Tuesday fortnight and monthly Saturdays, have been expertly cracking on with tasks all through winter. More of the lovely oak benches have been installed; tons of non-native species have been cut and burned and miles of paths checked and cleared. This month we’ll be doing more coppicing, clearing up the storm damage and getting the site ready for the sunny season. If you fancy helping us, email me for more details.
• We’ve been putting up quite a few new information signs recently. I’m trying to provide answers to some of the questions I get asked most frequently when I’m out on the reserves, and explain the work we are doing. If you have a question about anything at Broadwater or Tudeley or can think of a place that needs some information then please let me know, because chances are you’re not the only one thinking it!
• The other signs that have gone up are the ones for our “dogs on leads” policy. From 1st February, anyone visiting the nature reserve with their dog must have them on a lead at all times, to keep disturbance to wildlife at a minimum. Creatures all over the reserve are beginning to stake their territories and soon the breeding season will be in full swing – the time when they’re at their most vulnerable.
The response that we’ve encountered so far has been overwhelmingly positive. When I was putting in the very first sign, two separate gentlemen walking with their dogs were both fully supportive of the seasonal approach. Surveys on the site over this first weekend have been very positive too, with a whole mixture of visitors adhering to the rule without complaint. Many thanks to those people who have taken the time to send kind words to me about the issue, and for the responsible dog owners who are supporting us. Tudeley Woods • The volunteer team at Tudeley have been busy checking the kilometres of footpaths that criss-cross the reserve for fallen trees after all the extreme weather. It’s a laborious task and certainly gets the heart rate up with the tracks being so muddy, so we are very grateful to them for lessening the amount of time we have to trudge around carrying heavy equipment to deal with blocked paths! The work parties are carrying on with ride side coppicing (even through the rain) so if you’d like to give it a try, please let me know.
• February is the best time to spot one of our rarest resident woodland birds – the lesser spotted woodpecker. These beautiful little drummers are only sparrow sized – tiny compared to the more common great spotted woodpecker. The two are very similar, not only in colouring, but in call and drumming sounds. Lesser spots usually use the higher, smaller branches of trees, so when the canopy comes back into leaf it’s very difficult to see them, and to tell their sounds apart from the great spots takes a keen ear. With that said, we are looking for people to help out with the monitoring of these lovely little birds, especially through the next few weeks. If you are interested, please let me know. Find out more about them at rspb.org.uk/lesserspottedwoodpecker • Another opportunity is on the horizon for any keen naturalists to lend a hand at Tudeley – adder surveys. In the summer months, reptiles will be making appearances all over the heathland areas, and we want to know exactly what the populations are. We already know that there are healthy numbers of grass snake, common lizard and slow worm, but adders have been surprisingly elusive so far. If you would like to be involved in our surveys, just reply to this email. As the warmer months approach, please keep an eye on our website and notice boards as we start to put on more events. We have bird walks, butterfly searches, flower ID days and more coming up. If you have any ideas for events that you’d like to see happening at the reserves, please let me know as we may well be able to make it so! Finally, a big thank you! To the visitor at Broadwater on Sunday, who collected and bagged up litter. We really appreciate this as it makes the reserve more pleasant for everyone. There are 5 miles of trails at Broadwater and, while we try to keep them litter free, this extra help was an unexpected and very welcome surprise. Thanks for taking an interest and as ever, feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions, stories or comments to share. Cheerio, Chloe Chloe Ryder Assistant Warden, South East Woods and Heaths
Tel: 01892 752430
Website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/eastgrinstead
Led by Hilary and Dick Rowberry. Meetings are held at the Briars Field Centre, Cotchford Lane, Hartfield, from 2 pm but with occasional visits further afield. Further information is available on the Schedule of Events or contact Hilary on 01892 770478.
In the New Year, because of fluctuating numbers, we decided to amalgamate The British Wildlife Group with the East Grinstead Group based at The Briars Field Centre. Alongside these groups we have been working with two groups at St Marys Junior School, Hartfield; a whole class (Cherry Class) and a Wildlife and Science Club. These achieved the RSPB Wildlife Explorers Bronze Award in July by undertaking the following activities; growing plants, studying minibeasts, clearing litter, travel survey, bike, bus or walk, bird observations and feeding, putting on an assembly presentation. The high points were feeding the whole school on the potatoes they grew and getting ready to present their travel survey findings to the school governors. The new groups are presently halfway through the Silver Award. Wildlife Explorers Big Garden Birdwatch. We met at the Briars Field Centre on Saturday January 25th. First we checked our binoculars, making sure we could focus them to get a clear view. Then we looked at bird pictures so we could remember which bird was which. Then we had an hour to record what we saw. There were quite a lot of Great tits, Blue tits and other birds because the bird feeders were filled. Once we decided what was the biggest number of each type of bird we saw all in one place, we wrote it down. Then putting together all our results we put them on the Big Garden Bird Watch website record. J. Mayne-Clark
• Blackbird 3 • Great tit 6
• Blue tit 6 • Magpie 4
• Carrion crow 3 • Robin 2
• Chaffinch 2 • Song thrush 2
• Coal tit 4 • Woodpigeon 8
• Nuthatch 2
• Willow tit 2