This newsletter is co-edited by Peter Reed (01904 492494) and Chris Lloyd. Views expressed or advertisements

contained in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the RSPB or the York Group Committee. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/york

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SCO37654

Group Leader: Barry Bishop

AUTUMN 2019 NEWSLETTER

In this issue

Roseate terns

Garden tasks

Message from Editor

Membership

Mull and Iona 2020

Leader’s notes

Brian Purkiss

Owl pellet request

Isle of Arran Report

Local walk and trip

reports

Long Service Awards

Autumn programme

Conservation News

Hartlepool and RSPB

Saltholme Reserve

coach booking form

ROSEATE TERNS Members may recall we have a sponsored nestbox at Coquet Island, so will be interested to hear the reserve has exceeded 122 pairs nesting on the island (four more than last year). Some 160 chicks successfully fledged – the second highest total recorded. GARDEN TASKS FOR AUTUMN With autumn approaching, now is the time to clean up your bird feeders and stock up with bird food for the coming months. To protect our birds from succumbing to disease please don’t forget to clean all the equipment they use for example feeders, bird baths and change the drinking water regularly. Wash with hot water and allow to air dry. Moving the feeders to different locations occasionally is also recommended. We can’t supply bird food at the indoor meetings at the moment but if you would like to take on this valuable role please get in touch with Barry or any Committee member.

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR As usual we are still hoping further members will sign up to receive our newsletter by email as a colour pdf, to save on printing, postage and packing costs. About one-third of our membership now receives it in this way. Please contact myself and Barbara Cromack by email if interested or if you have any questions about it. If you want to print all or certain pages, this can be done by using your printer set-up, in either colour or black and white if needed. If you no longer wish, or are unable, to receive the newsletter by email in future, please notify Barbara and myself asap. Many grateful thanks to all contributors of this edition, especially Tracy and Ken for their Isle of Arran and day trip reports respectively. Short birding stories, sightings or photographs from members are always welcome.

Peter Reed peter.pj.reed@talk21.com

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RSPB YORK LOCAL GROUP

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Membership Renewal

The annual subscription for your continuing membership of the York RSPB Local Group is due for

renewal on 1st November 2019. I am sure you will be pleased to learn that we are able to maintain

the annual subscription at £4.00 per household for the coming year.

A membership renewal form has been included with this newsletter. You can pay your membership

in the same way as in previous years:

• For those who pay by standing order £4 will be debited from your account in

November. If you would like to switch to this method of payment simply complete the

relevant section of the renewal form and take it to your bank. Please let me know that you

have done this so that your record can be amended to reflect it

• Cheques, made payable to 'RSPB York Local Group' can be sent to me, Barbara

Cromack, at 17 Usher Park Road, Haxby, York YO32 3RX, again with the relevant section

of the renewal form completed

• You can also pay by cash or cheque at indoor meetings between now and the end

of the year

Membership of our local group remains healthy.

On behalf of the Committee can I end by saying how much we hope you continue to enjoy being a

member of the RSPB Local Group. Your support is much appreciated.

Barbara Cromack

Membership Secretary

2020 Group trip to Isle of Mull and Iona

My apologies for the fact that a flyer did not appear with the last newsletter. This was due to the hotel on Mull not providing me with a price in time for publication. There are a few rooms left if you are interested in joining us on the trip.

16 - 22 May 2020

3 nights in the Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa, Craignure 3 nights at the St. Columba Hotel, Iona

6 3-course dinners, 6 full Scottish breakfasts, 6 packed lunches

Ferry fare to Mull and Iona Travel by luxury coach from York. The coach has 48 reclining seats and a toilet and washroom.

Hot and cold drinks are available, payable to the driver. Leader – Barry Bishop

The cost per person, based upon two people sharing, is £1122.

If you wish to join the trip please send a deposit of £400 per person to

Barry Bishop, 18 Jennifer Grove, Holgate, York. YO24 4DZ.

Please make cheques payable to Deirdre Brown Travel Ltd. Please include an email address so that I can send confirmation of receipt.

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From the RSPB York Group Leader

It is August 12th as I write these comments and there is a

discussion about driven grouse shoots and the

benefits/problems that surround the way that they are

operated. Proud as I am to be from Yorkshire, it is

embarrassing to live in an area of the country where birds

of prey are shot on a regular basis.

As Brexit is also in the news and reports that landowners and farmers will be rewarded for

managing the land for the benefit of wildlife and people, future governments have the opportunity

to make a huge difference to the countryside that we all love to visit.

In this newsletter you will be able to read about the sterling work that Val and Larry Gray have

done over the past five years, when they have organised a supply of good quality bird food for

people to buy at indoor meetings. Val and Larry have now retired, and we are looking for someone

else to take over the role. If you are interested in doing this worthwhile position, please speak to

myself or Val and Larry.

There is also another vacancy within the group for someone to co-ordinate and organise our

fundraising activities, once again please see me.

I hope that you enjoy the indoor meetings that Sue and Michael have organised for us for the rest

of this year.

Thank you for your support.

Barry

Brian Purkiss

Brian Purkiss a long-standing member of the RSPB York Local Group died recently.

Brian along with his wife Marilyn played an active part in the group for many years: Brian edited the

group newsletter and for a long time he and Marilyn looked after the sales goods for the group.

They also helped at many Members Weekends when they were held in York, and I remember one

year Brian led the afternoon coach trip to Bempton Cliffs. The weather was not good, in fact it was

so misty it was not possible to see the birds on the cliffs!

Our thoughts are with Marilyn and the family at this difficult time.

Barry

Request for Owl pellets

We received the following message recently, so if you are able to help please get in touch with the newsletter editor at peter.pj.reed@talk21.com and he will provide a contact email. I am an archaeologist working in the York area, specialising in the identification of animal bones from archaeological sites. I was wondering if your members ever come across any owl pellets? I am looking for some as they are helpful for teaching people how to identify rodent and amphibian bones - but they're an unusual thing to try to source! I'd be very grateful for any help or pointers. Many thanks, Clare Rainsford.

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The York RSPB Local Group Library

As you may know I look after our LG library which has a wide range of books available to members

to borrow for a £1 suggested donation plus a £1 returnable deposit.

Due to the size and weight of the library it is not possible to bring it all to the indoor meetings each

month, so if you think you are interested in borrowing any of the following, please let me know and

I will bring it along to the next indoor meeting:

Complete Birds of Britain and Europe by Rob Hume 2007, plus CD of 99 species with bird

songs/calls

New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain & Ireland 1988-91

Rare Data Birds in Britain, 1990 Eds. LA Batten et. Al., NCC/RSPB

Garden Bird Songs and Calls (CD) 60 mins

CD Listening for Life, with K Mullarney & The Sound Approach 2014 (48 European species)

Philip’s Guide to Birds of Britain & Europe by Delin and Svensson

RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Holden and Cleeves 2nd Ed.

The following are ‘my own’ but can be borrowed on the same terms:

Helm ID Guides: Seabirds; Shorebirds; Wildfowl; Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse.

A Birder’s Guide to Florida by Bill Pranty and a CD of Bird Sounds by G A Keller.

Guide to Birds of Thailand by Lekagul and Round.

Collins Illustrated Checklist of Birds of Western & Central Africa, by Ber Van Perlo 2002.

Philip’s Guide of Wetlands [of the World – ecology and conservation] Ed. Patrick Dugan

We also have a full set of the nine volumes of the ‘Handbook of

Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa’ (example right).

(Otherwise known as ‘The Birds of Western Palearctic’ or ‘BWP’ by

Cramp et al.). These classic volumes give almost everything you

would need to know about any species, with detailed colour plates.

If you do not know which volume you need a simple internet search

should find this out or let me know which species/genus/family you

require and send me an e-mail. For their size and value, these

volumes have a suggested £2 donation and £5 returnable deposit

each.

Please take advantage of our Library as this resource as it is greatly underused. We will have to

consider disposing of it, if usage is not increased.

Please contact me for further information or to arrange borrowing at an indoor meeting, or as

otherwise arranged.

Peter Reed 20 August 2019

peter.pj.reed@talk21.com or 01904 492494

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York Group Trip to the Isle of Arran 3 – 8 April 2019

Tracy Peacock writes about the local group’s exploits on the Isle of Arran in April

On a dull, cold Wednesday morning in early April we met at Union Street coach park to start our Arran adventure. We set off 10 minutes early, much to the pleasure of our coach driver, John. We did wonder what had hit us as the snow started falling quite thickly as we drove over the A66 but this did clear as we went further north. We stopped in Moffatt for lunch before continuing on to Ardrossan for the ferry to Brodick. I got quite excited to see my first black guillemot of the trip in the harbour as we were waiting for the ferry, but I was quickly told that I could not count it as the ‘numbers count’ did not start until the ferry had cast off! Needless to say, they had disappeared by the time we set sail!

Landing in Brodick we took the road that splits the island in half which is locally known as the String Road. This led us to Blackwaterfoot where we were staying at the Kinloch Hotel next to the beach (right) which was ideal for pre-breakfast birding and looking for the ‘elusive resident otter’!

Thursday 4 April

We were on foot today as John the driver had the day off. So, while he took his bike off over the back roads, we set off on a walk around the bay. We started off watching a pair of white wagtails, which liked the lawn in front of the hotel, and seemed to be there most days. Whilst walking around to the point we saw our first great northern diver, as well as gannets fishing out at sea. On the

return journey back to the hotel a few of us stopped to watch a LBJ that was determined to keep us guessing as it kept bobbing up and down in a field. Whilst trying to determine what we were looking at we heard that unmistakable ‘koor’ and a pair of ravens flew into the field and perched on the tree.

After a packed lunch back at the hotel, most of us walked to the King’s Caves (left). These are, where legend has it, Robert the Bruce sheltered and had his encounter with a spider. In actual fact they have some fabulous Christian and pre-Christian carvings within them.

Friday 5 April

Back on the coach this morning we took the road to Lochranza and diverted off the coast road to a forestry/moorland area to look for hen harriers. Almost as soon as we got out of the coach a male was seen flying over the trees, and some people saw a female flying also. Continuing our journey and stopping on the way and looking out at sea we saw several great northern divers as well as red-breasted mergansers. Once we arrived in Lochranza some of us got out at the beginning of the village whilst others stayed on the coach and went to the Arran Distillery. During the walk through the village we encountered a herd of red deer, which are locally known to walk down the main road and sit on the golf course! (Photo next page).

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Whilst looking at the bird feeder in a cottage garden we also spotted two red squirrels, merrily helping themselves to the peanuts (below). Arriving at the distillery we looked towards the mountains behind to see a golden eagle flying in the clouds. After a break for lunch we headed down Glen Sannox - a very scenic drive - where we pulled off by a burn and

scanned the mountain tops. After a while our patience was rewarded by a couple of golden eagles flying over the tops. Saturday 6 April

Lamlash and Whiting Bay were the destinations for the day. A cold day with great views over the bay to Holy Island. The bay is well-known for its fight to become Scotland’s first ‘No Take Zone’ (right) a protected area of sea and seabed where no sea fish or shellfish can be removed by any method. In the bay a red throated diver was seen as well as eider, turnstones, ringed plover, curlew and a whimbrel and there were many spring flowers emerging.

On the way back to the hotel we took the String Road. Halfway along John stopped the coach for us to look over the hills and the moors. Whilst we were there, we observed the sight of a peregrine chasing a buzzard chasing a hen harrier whilst a golden eagle looked on (or something like that!). After all that fun we then stopped off in Shiskine where a young whooper swan had made its home.

Sunday 7 April

On our last full day on Arran we returned to Lochranza, so those that had not seen the red squirrel could try again. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, but we had a better day weather-wise to enjoy the pretty village. Along the coast we saw plenty of great northern divers, black guillemots and as a first sign of summer, a few sandwich terns. Those who had not yet caught up with the elusive otter outside the hotel (right) were finally able to see another one here, resting on some rocks!

The whole trip was fantastic, with a final bird count of 79 species. Thank you to Barry for organising and leading it and to everyone for making it such a great break.

Tracy Peacock (Photos by Peter Reed)

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Local Walks and Day trip reports: April - August 2019

16 March 2019 Harewood House This scheduled walk was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. 30 April 2019 RSPB Adwick and Old Moor A longer journey than usual brought 16 members to RSPB Adwick Washlands reserve, one of the RSPB’s newer reserves in the Barnsley area. Walking through a wooded area we recorded several warblers, mainly by sound, and then a quail was heard, though only by a couple of the group. Geese, ducks and common water birds could be seen from one side of the path and both species of partridge from the other, plus a little owl on his “apparently regular” perch. On the way to the site’s unusual viewing area (like a large shooting butt), we had good views of singing willow warbler and a common gull in an adjacent field. At the viewing area, avocet featured well again, and better views of the various ducks seen earlier were enjoyed. New birds featured wheatear, yellow wagtail and ringed plover. Some of the group then completed a circuit of the reserve by returning to the car park along a river path. A redshank was seen again, this time calling as it flew down the river. We travelled to Old Moor reserve in time for lunch and then the group split up to visit the various hides. New birds recorded here were teal, shoveler, kestrel, bar-tailed godwit and Mediterranean gull bringing our total for the day to 62 species. Ken Searstone 11 May 2019 RSPB Leighton Moss On a pleasant spring morning, 26 of us set out by coach to RSPB Leighton Moss, which boasts the largest reed bed in NW England (right) and is famous for its nesting waders, e.g. avocets and lapwing (below), bearded tits, bitterns, marsh harriers, otters, egrets and red deer. On arrival one of the wardens gave us an introductory talk, offering enticing prospects of an otter with 3 kits and regular bittern flypasts. Unfortunately, only a few of us were rewarded with such treats - some seeing both but the majority

neither! I suppose as is so often with wildlife it’s being in the right place at the right time. As far as the bittern was concerned the recommended viewing spot in Lower Hide was occupied with two hefty figures with even larger lenses, who had set in for the day! We all know about that too. Leighton Moss is a large and varied reserve and between us we managed to cover the whole impressive site, dividing up into smaller groups. Some of us walked down to try to see the reported spoonbill visible from

the Eric Morecambe Hide, on the shores of Morecombe Bay. There was a brief sighting of a large white bird in the distant heat haze, but it settled out of sight, so a positive ID wasn’t possible. For Robin and me the highlight was climbing up the Sky Tower. We had fantastic views across the reed beds, looking down on marsh harriers gliding gracefully back and forth (right) and red deer coming in and out of view amongst the reeds. Everywhere we wandered, we were accompanied by birdsong from both resident and newly arrived migrants such as whitethroats and sedge and reed warblers marking out their territories. It really was a fantastic day. Text and photos by Sue and Robin Ball

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23 May 2019 RSPB Blacktoft Sands and Oakhill Nature Reserve This walk started at Blacktoft Sands reserve with 13 members attending including two newcomers, Sue and Dianne. On arrival at the Visitor Centre we viewed the sightings board to determine a suitable plan for using the various hides. We then separated into two groups in order to avoid crowding the hides, with the largest group heading for “Singleton” hide. Here there were good views of several Marsh Harriers with a food pass as evidence of breeding. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the reported Montagu’s Harrier. Checking most of the remaining hides produced mainly ducks and water birds as the usual waders were absent, presumably away breeding inland. After lunch, a picnic in the car park, we drove to Oakhill Nature Reserve, which was unknown to most of the group. A leisurely walk round most of the reserve, managed by “Friends of Oakhill” found several woodland species but nothing exceptional. Turtle dove and cuckoo, much in evidence during an earlier recce. visit were unfortunately not seen at all, although a couple of the group heard a distant turtle dove calling. Although somewhat disappointed at the missing turtle dove and cuckoo, the introduction to this new, interesting reserve was enjoyed by most of the group and 62 species were seen or heard.

Ken Searstone 15 June 2019 World’s End and Strensall Common Seven of us came from York on the bus and arrived on the A64 on a sunny morning for this 5-mile walk to Strensall. A singing yellowhammer and mistle thrush greeted us by the road, before we

walked into King’s Moors Plantation (a mixture of pine and spruce woodland) where four species of warblers were singing, accompanied by song thrush, goldcrests and an elusive Marsh Tit. We then entered ‘World’s End Plantation’ which until about 2004 was dense pine but was cleared with the aim to restore it back into lowland heathland and merge with Strensall Common. Here we saw a number of wild flowers, a cinnabar and a large skipper butterfly (left), and had good views of a kestrel and tree pipit. Some lovely large ponds have also been created here, with abundant sundews now

growing along the edges, various dragonflies and a common lizard basked on a corrugated roofing tile (right). Further on we found a green tiger beetle, put up three woodlarks from the track and heard a green woodpecker and more warblers. After lunch, we emerged onto Strensall Common and picked up another woodlark, a male stonechat, reed buntings and an early painted lady butterfly flew past. Carrying on past the YWT reserve and over the railway we reached the edge of Strensall for the bus back to York. A good day, with also many natural history items of non-birding interest found by all the experts in the group! Peter Reed 3 July 2019 Allerthorpe Common A lovely summer evening brought us and 14 members to Allerthorpe Common in the hope of seeing our target bird, Woodcock. We started by scanning the field adjacent to the car park and saw a few hirundines, mistle thrush, linnets, a couple of hares and a nice pair of bullfinches on nearby fencing. A diversion from the main path had us negotiating a few fallen trees and although not a lot was to be seen, we did hear willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, wren and robin. Emerging from the thick wood, the reserve itself, fenced off from the Common, is home to the rare May Lily. Only the seed heads were showing at this time of year. The two main paths then join at a crossroads with large overhead pylons and here we had good views of whitethroat and another flock of linnet. At 9 pm with still bright clear skies and chance of woodcock unlikely, most of the group decided to go home. Five of us remained until dusk before we too set off for the car park but just before reaching it we had lovely views of a single woodcock flying away from us and then a pair flying across the field and right over our heads! Helen Searstone

Nigel Wildsmith

Peter Reed Wildsmith

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Recent presentations for Long Service Awards

Surprises for all recipients at the last indoor meeting!

Before the last May indoor evening meeting plenty of intrigue went on to keep secret the surprises for people who were to be presented with long-term awards. Even those doing the organising were themselves surprised to find they were also on the receiving end! Somehow, it all worked out in the end!

Firstly, Prof. Sir John Lawton presented a five-year RSPB volunteer award to Val and Larry Gray who took over bird food sales five years ago. This is not a menial task: planning for and anticipating sales to enable ordering, bagging up, carrying back and forth to meetings etc. Also most importantly providing group members with good quality bird food at sensible prices, and always on the lookout for other products with which we can attract and feed the birds in our gardens. Many thanks to them both for all their help and hard work.

Then Sue Ball, who had been secretly organising the previous (and following) presentation, was surprised to find she was next! John presented her with a five-year RSPB volunteer award for

work with the York Local Group! Sue joined the committee five years ago to arrange our speakers programme and during that time the group has seen many changes to what had been for many years “the norm” for our indoor meetings, in particular the change of venue to Clements Hall. Sue took on these changes, together with the inevitable day to day organising and sometimes last-minute reorganising of speakers (with much support from Robin) and we are sure you’ll agree that we have a varied and exciting range of speakers and talks. Sue is always willing to get involved with other aspects of group volunteering and one thing about Sue is she is always smiling

whatever the issue – well done Sue.

So then, just as Barry thought the presentations were over, John called him back, for Barry’s own 40-year volunteer award.

Barry Bishop – 40 Years an RSPB volunteer

John explained that during the past 40 years, Barry has undertaken many roles within the RSPB York Local Group, especially with schools, and over many years. During the past year for example; he spoke to over 550 children and organised “Connecting with Nature” for another 300, (also raising a donation of nearly £600 from a sponsorship event by the pupils of Millthorpe School). He also gave many community talks (probably averaging 20 or more per year) to other societies, clubs, scouting and guiding groups etc. and in doing so raising awareness and funds for the RSPB, for example, he raised £515 doing this last year.

Barry has also spent many days volunteering (often weekly) at the RSPB Blacktoft reserve and at local events such as West Bank Park and Rowntree Park summer events and more recently showing the public the peregrines at York Minster. Not to mention assisting with regional work, such as their newsletters and admin, and helping at RSPB Members Weekends in York. For our local group Barry has been arranging and leading trips and holidays and he is also one of our IT experts and for many years our group newsletter editor. And most recently of course - our York Group Leader. I’m sure there are many other tasks Barry has undertaken and are not mentioned above, but all in all Barry has given his time to the RSPB in no uncertain terms – many thanks Barry; a most well deserved 40-year award.

Biographies by Chris Lloyd and photos by Robin Ball

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Autumn programme of events – September to December 2019

Please bring your LG membership cards to all indoor meetings

SEPTEMBER

Sun 15 at 10am MORNING WALK at Kirkham. Meet roadside Onhams Lane to Crambe.

OS Ref. 732654 N 54.079329 W -0.88266392

Wed 18 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: “North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project” by

Richard Baines. The new North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project funded by Heritage Lottery, North York Moors National Park, Forestry Commission and Howardian Hills AONB in partnership with RSPB, Scarborough Borough Council, and North and East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre aims to help these rare birds. Some local group members have been involved in the project and Richard will explain the aims and results of the work to date. (For further information, please see the article he wrote for us about the project in our April 2018 Newsletter.)

OCTOBER

Tue 1 at 2.30pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING: “Plovers” by Rick and Elis Simpson from

“Waderquest”. Waderquest, their charity, is directly involved in wader conservation. Their mission is to raise the level of awareness about the crisis facing waders the world over by promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of waders by engaging people in birding, education, and conservation, with a view to reversing negative trends in wader populations.

Tues 8 at 10am MORNING WALK at Studley Royal. Meet car park by lake.

OS Ref.280693 N 54.118810 W -1.5371216

Sat 12 at 8am ALL DAY OUTING BY COACH to Hartlepool & RSPB Saltholme.

Hartlepool Headland and RSPB Saltholme are excellent places for bird watching and during autumn migration birds such as wrynecks, thrush nightingale and yellow browed warblers are sometimes seen, so we hope our trip proves equally rewarding. Depending upon weather and tide conditions we may have the opportunity to spend some time looking for passing gulls, skuas and shearwaters and to stroll around part of the Headland looking for waders and terns. Glaucous and Iceland gulls frequent the harbour and fish quay in winter. There are toilets nearby and some food outlets. We will then visit RSPB Saltholme, where you will need to show your RSPB membership card. This reserve has several hides from which we can look for waders and any early winter visitors. Water rails are sometimes seen, and long-eared owls often roost on the reserve. There is a café in the visitor centre. Booking essential to Barry at : leaderyorkrspb@outlook.com or via the booking form on page 12.

Thurs 31 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: “Iberian Birding" by John Gardner.

John Gardner is a professional photographer based in Wakefield. His photography career was born from a passion for wildlife and in particular, birds. Outside of Yorkshire, Spain is one of his favourite places for nature photography," it's just such a huge unspoilt country with a great diversity of birds".

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NOVEMBER

Sun 17 at 10am MORNING WALK at Yearsley Woods. Meet car park.

OS Ref. 583752 N 54.169294 W -1.1084811

Tue 19 at 2.30pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING: “Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital” by

Dan Sidley. Dan Sidley founded the Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital in 2005. Sited on a nature reserve adjacent to Drax power station, it is the only dedicated full-time swan sanctuary based in northern England, responding to many thousands of calls each and every year to injured animals.

Mon 25 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: “The Champions of the Flyways” by Mark

Pearson. For his return visit to the group Mark will be telling us how he and his team of Yorkshire Terriers won the World's Greatest Bird Race.

DECEMBER

Tues 17 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: “Further Travels in China” by Tom

Lawson. Tom Lawson will be giving us another of his regular illustrated talks, this year he will taking us back to China where he has visited a number of times.

Conservation News

Work starts on exciting new wetland projects at RSPB Saltholme Work to create two exciting new wetland areas at RSPB Saltholme, the popular nature reserve in Teesside, will start on Tuesday 27 August 2019. This is the third phase of a programme of improvements to enhance the experience for wildlife and visitors by refurbishing visitor infrastructure and creating new habitat. The package of work that will start this month involves re-landscaping the main lake to create more islands for nesting spring migrants, such as common tern, and installing a new sluice. Chris Francis, RSPB Saltholme’s Senior Site Manager, said: “This will allow staff to lower the water levels in the late summer to create a fantastic muddy area for wading birds, such as black-tailed godwit, who pass through the UK on their autumn migration. In the spring, we will raise the water level to create the islands on which the common terns will breed when they return from Africa.” The second part of this major project is to create thirty new ponds designed to benefit dragonflies and damselflies. In addition to the pools there will also be the creation of new footpaths, installation of interpretation panels and brass rubbing points, and a magnificent new dragonfly life cycle sculpture. Teesside Environmental Trust have funded this work as part of their long-term commitment to creating an internationally important nature reserve on Teesside. The work will last for about six weeks and the site will remain open throughout the works. From https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/work-starts-on-exciting-new-wetland-projects-at-rspb-saltholme/

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Outing by coach to RSPB Saltholme and Hartlepool Headland

Saturday 12 October 2019

After our last successful visit to the area, we will hope to be able to see a good mix of birds. Last autumn

the water rail at Saltholme showed itself well for everyone and perhaps we can see a lot of waders and

seabirds around the headland.

Further information on this venue is given at

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/saltholme/

Coach pick up is at Scarcroft Road (at the Zebra crossing near Nunthorpe Avenue), at 8.00am.

Unfortunately, parking is unavailable at Millthorpe School or Acomb Bowls Club. Some public roadside

parking may be available along Albemarle Road but cannot be guaranteed. Alternatively use local buses or

Park and Ride.

Please make cheques payable to RSPB York Local Group.

NAME

ADDRESS

Telephone number

I wish to book …. places at £20 each for RSPB Saltholme and Hartlepool Headland on Saturday 12 October 2019

Email address for confirmation of a place

Please return the form and your cheque to Barry Bishop, 18 Jennifer Grove Holgate, York. YO24 4DZ.

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to

give nature a home