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The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group

The

HeronHeron Newsletter - April 2019

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

Scotland no. SC037654

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Tuesday 16

Walk with Nature: Danes Moss Cheshire Wildlife Trust Reserve Join us on the boardwalk of Macclesfield’s closest nature reserve. We will be looking for woodland birds and early summer migrants. Meet at Lyme Green car park (by the recently closed Homebase store) SK11 0TA LR Grid Reference: SJ913712, WGS84 N 53.23756, W 2.13152 8:00 am to 10:30 am. Leaders: Alan Brereton 01625 615628 and Ian Taylor 01260 275248

Thursday 18

Walk with Nature: Northwich Flashes Join us for a morning walk around Neumann’s and Ashton’s Flashes searching for early spring migrants Meet at Witton Mill car park, off Old Warrington Road, Northwich, follow signs for ‘Household Waste Site’, then pass the waste site entrance to access the car park, over the bridge on your left. LR Grid Reference: SJ663747, WGS84 N 53.26864, W 2.50630 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Leader: Ray Evans 01625 432635 and Alan Brereton 01625 615628

Thursday 25

Walk with Nature: Three Shire Heads Join us to search for ring ouzel and summer plumaged golden plover where the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire meet. Meet at Sparbent layby on the A54 Congleton to Buxton road. LR Grid Reference: SK001692, WGS84 N 53.21966 W 1.99952. 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Leaders: Ray Evans 01625 432635 and Alan Brereton 01625 615628

Peter was on the RSPB staff for more than 40 years. Initially he ran the RSPB’s junior membership, during which time he devised the Big Garden Birdwatch. Later he headed the RSPB’s volunteer programme. He has co-authored more than a dozen books, including the RSPB Handbook of British Birds. In the 2009 New Year’s Honours List he was awarded an MBE for services to Nature Conservation.

His talk ‘Birds: Their Hidden World’, based on aspects of his book of the same title looks at British birds and their amazing lives telling us the sort of information that most bird books leave out. He looks at their adaption and aspects of reproduction: from the secretive time of acquiring a territory and building a nest to their highly developed social behaviour and the roles of the different sexes. He will also consider the purpose of bird song, by listening to common examples and will explore the mystery of mechanical sound used by a few familiar species. Finally, he will consider, if left to their own devices, how long can these birds survive in the wild.

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Andy Astbury/Fotolia

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Friday 26 to

Sunday 28

Weekend Away: Spring in the Elan Valley We will be based at Elan Valley Lodge and the trip is full. Organiser: Graham Palmer 01625 420179 Assistant Walk Leaders: Ian and Lydia Taylor 01260 275248

Sunday 28

WGBG Coach Trip: Tophill Low Depart at 7:30 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652

Tuesday 30

Walk with Nature: Dawn Chorus at the Brickworks Join us for a Dawn Chorus walk around Jackson’s Brickworks on the Middlewood Way. We will listen and look for the area’s resident song birds as well as early spring migrants including chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap and garden warbler. Meet at Jackson’s Brickworks car park, Pool House Road, Higher Poynton. LR Grid Reference: SJ947844; WGS84 N 53.35616, W 2.08068 6:00 am to 8:00 am. Leaders: Ray Evans 01625 432635, Ian Taylor 01260 275248 with Cheshire East Ranger, Peter Dowse.

Thursday 2

Morning

Walk with Nature: Birds of the Goyt Valley An early morning walk in the Goyt Valley looking for our less frequently seen spring migrants. We will be searching for pied and spotted flycatcher, common redstart, tree pipit and listening for cuckoo. Meet at Errwood Hall car park, Goyt Valley LR Grid Reference SK012748, WGS84 N 53.27053, W 1.98317 NB; Access to Goyt Valley from Errwood Dam end only. 7:00 am to 10:00 am. Leaders: Alan Brereton 01625 615628 and Ray Evans 01625 432635 with Cheshire East Ranger, Paul Hughes.

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Thursday 2

Afternoon

Walk with Nature: Trentabank Reservoir Come and join us along with members of the Macclesfield Lifestyle Group and Rossendale Trust to see the herons, cormorants and possibly mandarin ducks at Trentabank Reservoir. This session will only require walking from the car park to the reservoir viewing point. Any ability or mobility welcome. Telescopes will be available to assist viewing of the birds. Meet at Trentabank Visitor Centre car park, Macclesfield Forest, SK11 0NE LR Grid Reference SJ962713, WGS84 N 53.23738, W 2.05907 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Leaders: Abercrombie 07775 904683 and Lydia Taylor 01260 275248

Sunday 12

WGBG Coach Trip: RSPB Ynys Hir reserve Depart at 7:30 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652

Tuesday 14

Indoor Meeting: AGM followed by members’ digital images and videos Each year our members produce some fine images depicting wildlife from both home and abroad, so do come along and support the evening. Contact: David Tolliday (01625 432105 or david@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk) TONIGHT - you may bring up to 25 of your own digital images or up to a 10 minute short video

Sunday 19

Garden Bird Survey: please return your completed survey to: Ian Taylor, 39 Leamington Road, Congleton, CW12 4PE

or to avoid postage: scan and e-mail to newsletter@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk

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Wednesday 29

Walk with Nature: Trentabank Reservoir We are pleased to offer a second opportunity to join us along with members of the Macclesfield Lifestyle Group and Rossendale Trust to see the herons, cormorants and possibly mandarin ducks at Trentabank Reservoir. This session will only require walking from the car park to the reservoir viewing point. Any ability or mobility welcome. Telescopes will be available to assist viewing of the birds. Meet at Trentabank Visitor Centre car park, Macclesfield Forest, SK11 0NE LR Grid Reference SJ962713, WGS84 N 53.23738, W 2.05907 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Leaders: Abercrombie 07775 904683 and Lydia Taylor 01260 275248

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Thursday 6

Evening

Walk with Nature: Tegg’s Nose Country Park An evening walk in the woodland and scrub around Tegg’s Nose looking for the area’s spring migrants especially pied flycatcher and common redstart. Meet at Tegg’s Nose Reservoir car park, Holehouse Lane, Langley. LR Grid Reference SJ945718; WGS84 N 53.24349, W 2.08290 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Leaders: Ian Taylor 01260 275248 and Alan Brereton 01625 615628 with Cheshire East Ranger, Martin James

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Conservation Work Party at Macclesfield Forest

T he latest outdoor meeting for our Wildlife Explorer Group took place at Macclesfield Forest. After a quick welcome from Ranger Martin Winder, a safety talk and instructions on how to safely complete the tasks for the day a large group of Wildlife Explorers headed to the Education Area. We were also delighted to welcome Jenny Hackland from

the RSPB regional office who joined us for the session. Armed with gardening gloves, a selection of tools and lots of enthusiasm, families headed to the education area. As well as tidying up the tree shelters in the hedgerow and removing dead plants, saplings from the tree nursery were transplanted to the hedge, filling in spaces and extending the hedgerow. There was also plenty of bramble to clear and fallen branches were collected into piles for invertebrates.

Photograph Emelia Podmore

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Conservation Work Party at Macclesfield Forest continued A huge amount was achieved and it was fantastic to see Explorers of all ages making a real contribution. The session finished with well-earned refreshments back at the picnic tables. As well as improving the site and making it more accessible for visiting schools and groups the work completed by Wildlife Explorers also improves the habitats for wildlife. Several of the children working on the site for this session have visited the site (or will be visiting later this term) with their school classes. Leaders would like to thank all of the families that joined us for their hard work and Martin Winder from the Peak District National Park for hosting a fabulous morning

Tina Hanak Wildlife Explorers Leader

Indoor Meeting - Secrets of the Rainforest

T he most recent indoor meeting for Wildlife Explorers focussed on Rainforests and the incredible variety of life these habitats support. The group learned about the work the RSPB

does managing the Harapan Rainforest in Sumatra. We are losing rainforests across the world at an alarming rate and yet the Harapan Rainforest sees local communities coming together to restore and protect the area. The forest is home to incredible creatures from Sun Bears to Sumatran Tigers and Tapirs.

After measuring and comparing their height against the height of various rainforest birds and animals Explorers got crafty and coloured cards depicting rainforest animals and then created paper models of gibbons with bouncy arms and legs.

The meeting’s ‘Mortimer Moment’ (a special thank you with the group mascot Mortimer the Water Bear) was reserved for the WEx Water Bear swimming team who took part in the annual Swimathon raising over £400 pounds to be shared between the group and various Rotary Charities. Well done to our swimmers Martin, Abi, Natasha, Hope and Janneke.

Every meeting ends with fun and games – this time the children played an animal sounds game ‘Find My Friends ‘ and a rainforest story run around. Teenage Phoenix members had fun playing Rainforest Playdough charades - there were excellent modelling (and even better guessing) skills in evidence!

Tina Hanak Wildlife Explorers Leader

Photograph Emelia Podmore

Photograph D. Mayer Photograph Darren Mayer

Photograph Susan Wilson

Photograph Susan Wilson

Photograph Susan Wilson

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D������ I���� ��� V���� C�����+����� #�� ��� M�� 2019 AGM

Please consider showing up to 25 digital images or up to a 10 minute short video at the AGM David Tolliday needs your material by TONIGHT, Tuesday 9 April 2019, so he can prepare

all contributions to ensure everything runs smoothly at the AGM. A USB memory stick or CD ROM to provide your material is fine, they will be returned at the AGM. If you have forgotten to

bring your material tonight, please speak to David to arrange handover at a mutually convenient time. David can be contacted for questions on 01625 432105 or

david@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk. Ian Taylor

The Annual General Meeting of The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group

Tuesday 14 May 2019 at 7:45 pm

United Reformed Church, Park Green, Macclesfield, SK11 7NA

Nominations are invited for Committee Membership

Daryll Bailey has completed her 5 year term as a committee member and is seeking re-election

for 1 year, Ray Evans and David Beer are seeking re-election for a 5 year term.

Derek Bailey our Treasurer, has informed the Committee that he will not be seeking re-election

when his 5 year term of office ends in May 2020.

Next year we will need to fill both of these positions and possibly more, if you are interested in

these roles we urge you to join the Committee now to ensure a smooth transition and handover.

Please consider joining the Committee to help the Group.

The closing date for nominations for Committee is Tuesday 7 May 2019.

For details of submission rules and procedures please contact any member of the Committee.

Nominations should be submitted by signed letter or e-mail to the Secretary, Daryll Bailey

(secretary@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk) from those proposing and seconding the nominee.

Please speak to any Committee Member if your are interested in volunteering, training and

support is available. We hold just four Committee Meetings per year.

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• Venue Change: From September 2019 Indoor meetings will be held at the Senior Citizens Hall in Duke Street, Car Park, SK11 6UR.

• Standing Order mandates: Following the RSPB change from the Cooperative Bank to Lloyds Bank and the increase in Membership Subscription from £10 to £15 next season (see March Newsletter), if you pay your membership by Standing Order please remember to CANCEL your existing mandate and if you would like to continue or start to pay your £15 membership fee by Standing Order the new banking details are as follows: Lloyds Bank plc, Biggleswade Branch, Sort Code 30-90-79, Account Number 34016760 for the credit of RSPB Macclesfield Local Group, on the 20th July 2019 and annually thereafter. Please put your name as the reference to identify your payment. The membership secretary (Lydia) will have Standing Order mandate forms available tonight. If you bank online please inform Lydia (01260 275248 or membership@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk) when you have made the change.

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Health and Safety

In the event of fire or other emergency necessitating evacuation of the building, please leave in an orderly manner

via the nearest available Emergency Exit or as instructed by a designated Committee member. Emergency Exits are

indicated by the internationally recognised symbol of a ‘running man’ on a green background.

If required, there is a first aid kit in the kitchen. (If you do have an accident, however minor, while here tonight please

report it directly to a Committee member who, amongst other things, will ensure that details are logged in the

Accident Report Book.)

Arthur and Doreen Tomlinson, longstanding members of the Local Group, have given us a tripod and a Scopac tripod carrier (looks new and retails at £54 on Amazon) to raise funds for the Group. Unfortunately Arthur and Doreen are no longer active enough to make use of these items birdwatching but they still enjoy watching the garden birds from their kitchen window. If anybody is interested in these items we are open to offers, please see or contact either Ian or Lydia Taylor (01260 275248 or membership@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk).

Ian Taylor

Joan Wilson would like to thank all the friends who attended Chris Revett’s funeral and/or sent letters, cards, flowers etc. It was a great comfort to share the celebration of her life with so many people. Donations to the two charities: Fair Isle Bird Observatory and East Cheshire Hospice at Home in memory of Chris amounted to over £2,000.

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Thank you to everybody who joined us at the Gawsworth Coffee morning, especially to those who donated cakes, tea breads and scones.

The morning was a great success, the cakes, raffle, preserves and coffee monies raising £177 for the RSPB.

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Pond Dipping @ Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve

An opportunity to pond dip at Coombes

Valley as you need a license to handle the rare great crested newt. Find out more

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/

Dates for pond dipping are:

6 & 27 May, 14 July and 26 August

Time: 10:30 to 15:30

Drop in event, families welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult,

sorry no dogs

Cost £3 each (20% off for RSPB members).