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NORWICH LOCAL GROUP
IN THIS ISSUE Autumn 2018
Group Leader’s page 2 Lakenheath Fen 2-3 Strumpin’ round the fen 4-5 Quiz 6 Outdoor Meetings Reports 7-9 Sarah’s Blogg 9 Quiz Answers 10 Notice Board 11 Committee 11 Programme 12
Photos courtesy of RSPB-Images unless otherwise stated
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a
registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SC037654
www.rspb.org.uk/groups/norwich/
RSPBNorwich
RSPB-Images
RSPB-Images
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Group Leader’s page
Programmes & Business Cards. As part of our efforts to gain new members we had extra programmes and business cards printed. Many of these have been distributed to local venues, such as hairdressers, libraries, community centres, bird reserves etc. If you have a suitable venue near your home or place of work where you could locate some of these please contact me. I always have a supply at monthly meetings.
David Porter
This year’s glorious summer is about to come to an end and the autumn bird changeover is well under way. It has been a very strange year with our weather. We had the ‘Beast from the East’ with its very cold and snowy conditions which gave us a late spring. Then one of the hottest, most prolonged summers since 1976, with temperatures in excess of 30 degrees C. With fires breaking out in the tinder dry conditions, destroying crops, woodland and heathland, let’s hope not too much wildlife has suffered. Our wildlife must have been very confused; with the summer migration later than usual, we saw notably fewer swifts, swallows and martins. On our walks we have noticed the numbers of woodland species down on previous years. The numbers of birds coming to our feeders in the garden has also changed. We have noticed a considerable increase in goldfinches and after a long absence, the re-appearance of greenfinches on our feeders. It looks as if they are finally making a recovery after the devastating disease Trichomonosis. Global warming is likely to see a transition for our birds, with our winters becoming too warm for some of our usual winter migrants and the arrival of more unusual birds from the continent, such as the little egret, which until a few years ago was quite rare, that may decide our climate is right for them. Happy Birding David Porter
News from Lakenheath Fen
Hello and welcome to the latest news from a very hot, dry and sunny Lakenheath Fen! We are really feeling the effects of a hot dry summer. It must be at least eight weeks since we’ve had any meaningful rainfall, and water levels across the reserve are dropping quite drastically. The reserve is currently full of fish, and it’s hard not to notice all the tiny fry around the sluices – no wonder grebes and bitterns are doing well (see breeding birds)! Hopefully the low water levels won’t affect them, but if this dry weather keeps up for much longer, we could end up losing a lot of fish. We need some rain!!! Reserve management As always, it’s a constant battle with vegetation at this time of year. Even with it being so dry, the grass keeps growing, paths still need mowing and viewpoints need strimming. We’ve kept on top of it much better this year though, particularly as we have several very keen volunteers who love nothing better than heading out either with a brushcutter or the quad and mower and doing a bit of vegetation bashing! It all looks good now, though if we do get some much needed rain, everything will take off again!! It’s not just the visitor trails that need attention though. We’ve also started the annual battle with ragwort, some of which, despite our best efforts, is still quite dense! We are using a combination of spot spraying rosettes in early spring and pulling mature flowering plants now. Hopefully we’ll see a reduction in the yellow menace next year! Our dedicated photography station, mentioned in the last newsletter, is finally finished! It is being well used by keen photographers, but still causes a bit of confusion for some non-photographers who wonder why the seats are so low and un-movable! Other tasks have involved replacing and installing some new benches, improving kids activities around Brandon Fen, and lots of fencing. Breeding birds Cranes – It has been a bit of a mixed year for cranes. One pair have nested and have fledged one chick. However, they also have a second chick, which is quite a bit smaller than its sibling and still not on the wing. We’re not quite sure why this has happened or what the outcome will
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News from Lakenheath Fen cont’d
be, but currently the family is still sticking together, so watch this space!! Bitterns – It has definitely been a bumper year for bitterns here, with ten boomers and at least six nests, most of which have now fledged. One nest was conveniently quite close to Mere hide, and the two youngsters have been entertaining visitors to the hide for the last few weeks (see photo!)!
Marsh harriers—don’t seem to be having a great year, with only six or seven successful nests. Those that have nested though have had good productivity, with three or four juveniles fledging per nest so far. Final fledging tally is yet to be reported! Grebes—are having a really good year, with at least four pairs of little grebe and eleven pairs of great crested grebes. Other good birds! – The reed cut area in New Fen North attracted a nice flurry of waders in May, including up to nine black-tailed godwits, five avocets, several pairs of redshank, greenshank, wood sandpiper, oystercatcher, two dunlin, turnstone, and common sandpiper. With water levels on the river dropping and a nice muddy edge developing on the washland, most of the wader activity was to be seen up there during June and July. Up to 65 black-tailed godwits, 32 little egrets, 7 green sandpipers, 1 wood sandpiper, 2 whimbrel, and 5 avocets were recorded towards the end of July. Eight back terns passed through on 24 May. Peak hobby count in mid May was 62. Red Kite, honey buzzard, peregrine and osprey were all recorded on various dates in May/June.
Photo by Karen Roe
Other wildlife – a Norfolk hawker was recorded on the reserve in June, only the second record for the reserve. A mole caused great excitement one Sunday as it had found its way into the disabled toilet. A Daubenton’s bat has been seen a few times in June over the visitor centre
pool. Two wasp spiders were found on grazing marsh at the western end of the site towards the end of July. We’ve been getting a handful of records of these stunning spiders for the past few years, so hopefully they’ll continue to increase and spread.
Events Bat night Sat 1 Sept . 7pm – 9.15pm Adults £10, Children £5 (non-members), Adults £8, Children £4 (members) Autumn star-gazing Wed 10 Oct . 6pm - late Adults £10, Children £5 (non-members), Adults £8, Children £4 (members) (Suitable for children aged 8 and above.)
Race for Wildlife Sun 14 Oct . 11am Adults £12, Children under 16 £6. Please register in advance via www.wegottickets.com/lakenheath
For more information about these events and other events at Lakenheath Fen, please look on the website at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/lakenheath-fen/ , email us at [email protected] or phone the office on 01842 863400.
Hope to see you on the reserve soon! Cheers, Katherine (Warden)
Wasp spider by Tim James
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Summer at Strumpshaw Fen Well it’s been a very hot and dry summer so far at Strumpshaw Fen and clearly the weather has had quite a large impact on our breeding bird species as well as the large numbers of invertebrates that we have on site…with mixed fortunes. First of all a look at the breeding bird figures for this spring. The majority of breeding birds were down on previous years, partially due to the cold snap in March for the resident species, but the migrants were also down for other reasons, perhaps invertebrate numbers lower at the start of the year also due to the cold snap? Bittern- 2 booming males again this year, but no obvious nests unfortunately. Marsh harrier- 21 nests again this year, although subtle changes in their location, they appear to be spreading out from the fen. Red kite- a pair successfully raised two juveniles within 300m of the reserve boundary, the first record of successful breeding in the Yare Valley in modern times. The family are still hanging around currently so maybe we will get used to seeing this magnificent bird in years to come. Bearded tit- 0 nests, after 48 first brood nests in 2017 I was hoping that we would break the 60 barrier this year, but unfortunately the ‘beast from the east’ decimated the local population and no nests were located on our standard surveys. A glimmer of hope came in mid-July when a family party were seen in front of Reception Hide…maybe we had 1 nest after all. This species is well known for crashing in poor weather, but it is also well known for getting back up to good numbers again relatively quickly so there is still hope for this special bird at Strumpshaw Fen.
Barn owl- 2 nests located on the reserve, same as in 2017, which is encouraging as this species is often hit by harsh weather, particularly cold winters and wet springs.
Strumpin’ round the fen
Wildfowl—pairs fluctuated slightly this year, with some increasing and some decreasing (2017 numbers in brackets). Mallard 113 (174), shelduck 23 (24), gadwall 44 (54), Garganey 2 (2), shoveler 40 (52), pochard 13 (8) and tufted duck 12 (9). The waders on the wet grassland at Buckenham and Cantley had a very tough year. Egg laying was far later than usual due to the cold March, they were then hit with cold weather in late May and to add to their issues it was a very good year for mustelids. This may have been a factor in why 41 of the 68 monitored lapwing nests showed signs of predation. Oystercatcher 6 pairs (7), lapwing 49 (80), avocet 15 (11), snipe 9 drummers (18), and redshank 53 (94). Our standard survey of passerines that is repeated each year takes place at five
locations from Cantley to Strumpshaw; cuckoo 3 (2), skylark 27 (22), meadow pipit 4 (8) Cetti’s warbler 17 (34), grasshopper warbler officially 1 territory (6), but evening surveys produced a very impressive 14 territories! Sedge warbler 115 (166), reed warbler 83 (105), willow warbler 22 (35), linnet 6 (6) and reed bunting 46 (70).
Cetti’s Warble Ben Lewis
Strumpin’ round the fen cont’d
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On to reserve scarcities; We have seen a number of notable species throughout spring and summer starting with a spoonbill which was seen fairly regularly at Buckenham in mid April, a Temminck’s stint was at Buckenham on 10th and 11th May too. At Strumpshaw Fen a Savi’s warbler was singing well from 5 May to 8 June at least, this was audible from Fen Hide along with at least four grasshopper warblers for comparison. A pair of black-winged stilts dropped down briefly on the evening of 10 May,
but were unfortunately not seen again. Great white egrets have been increasing in regularity on the reserve in the past few years and with our current low water levels a perfect heron feeding zone has been created with up to five great white egrets, 18 grey herons and seven little egrets all feeding together at Tower Hide. A view
of the future? On 12 July Buckenham struck gold again with an American lesser yellowlegs; this bird was seen well late afternoon on 12 July, this bird relocated to Titchwell the following day. The final rarity of this roundup period was a fine honey buzzard that flew low over the pump house track on 25 July offering fantastic, but brief views.
Insects have responded fairly well to the hot conditions with good numbers of dragonflies present across the reserve. Butterflies were very slow to begin emerging in numbers, but I believe numbers eventually got somewhere near a normal year in the end. Swallowtails had a very protracted season with individuals being seen from mid-May right through to at least early August (time of writing). Our swallowtail larval survey, which is a one visit survey produced 162 caterpillars which is
almost exactly half the number from 2017, although I am sure that the weather will have played its part in skewing the data for this year’s survey date. Other butterfly specialities this year have included silver-washed fritillaries, which
appear to now be from a resident population for the first time in the reserves history. A small population of white-letter hairstreaks have also been found in the woodland, taking advantage of suckering elms. This hot dry summer following a very cold late winter period will clearly have far reaching effects on all levels of the wildlife and habitats on the reserve. Hopefully a normal winter and summer will reset the balance for next year’s breeding season. Over the next few months the wardens will be busy cutting reed and fen, topping the wet grassland, working on the reserves infrastructure and ensuring the reserves are ready for another busy winter full of wildlife. Ben Lewis Warden
RSPB-Images
Great White Egret, Ben Lewis
Swallowtail Butterfly, Ben Lewis
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QUIZ TIME This quiz is just for fun, no prizes, just the satisfaction of completing it!
ARE YOU WEATHER WISE?
Since we all talk about the weather, we might at least talk intelligently. Here are twenty-five common beliefs about the weather – many of them wrong. If you answer 17 of these questions correctly, you are doing pretty good. If you get as many as 23 right, your achievement is cyclonic.
TRUE FALSE
1. Snow is merely frozen rain.
2. A ring around the moon is a sign of coming rain or snow.
3. A high barometer is always a sign of fair weather ahead.
4. The coldest winter weather usually comes when the days are shortest.
5. Gardens in valleys and hollows generally receive autumn frosts before gardens on hilltops.
6. Open windows attract lightning.
7. ‘It isn’t the heat, it’s the humidity’ that makes certain days uncomfortable.
8. Hail rarely falls during the winter.
9. A change in the phase of the moon brings a change in the weather.
10. Tornadoes are restricted to the Middle West and the South.
11. The average number of thunderstorms in progress throughout the world at any instant is nearer 2000 than 200.
12. Summer is warmer than winter because the earth is then nearer the sun
13. Thunderstorms sometimes cause milk to sour.
14. Radio static is more pronounced in summer than at any other time.
15. Rainbows may be seen at night.
16. A heavy dew is a portent of clear weather.
17. It is especially dangerous to seek shelter from a thunderstorm under a solitary tree.
18. Weather generally travels in the U.S from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific, that is, the storms, heat waves, etc. that the east has today will probably reach the west later.
19. A red sunset usually means stormy weather the next day.
20. A monsoon is a tropical calm.
21. When autumn finds animals covered with thick fur and birds cov-ered with thick plumage, the coming winter is highly likely to be a severe one.
22. Mississippi floods can usually be predicted six months in ad-vance.
23. Moonlight nights have the heaviest frost.
24. It is correct to say the ‘dew falls at night’.
25. It is sometimes too cold to snow.
Answers can be found on Page 10
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Outdoor meetings reports
LAKENHEATH FEN AND WEETING HEATH, 12 May Our visit to Lakenheath started with a pleasing 8 members joining me to see how much the reserve has progressed over the years. Our group was swamped by the members of a coach trip, who decided to reach the reception desk at exactly the same time, and I wondered if we would be following this group all day. However, by the time we left the Centre the large group seemed to have disappeared. After watching reed buntings, goldfinches and a kingfisher around the Centre pond, we progressed into the reserve and along East Wood, attempting to identify the dragonflies and butterflies that appeared to be all around us. By this time we could hear cuckoos calling from the trees, but were never lucky enough o see one. However, upon reaching the New Fen viewpoint we were all entranced by the activities of the hobbies as they swooped across the reeds catching and then eating those dragonflies that has earlier caught our attention. It is interesting to remember talking to wardens who had spent all winter planting the first reeds into this fen, and then to find this year that areas of reed had been cut to allow you to observe the activity of the birds as the now established reeds regrows, especially when a bittern flies across in front of you. When we progressed on to |Mere Hide, we discovered where the coach party had disappeared to! Eighteen people decided to eave to allow us entry, but the sought after bittern waited until we had moved on before deciding to boom. From the Joist Fen view point we realised how many hobbies had arrived in the area, although most were distant, there appeared to be 30+ zooming across the fen. The walk back along the riverside seemed calm after the mixture of birds we had observed previously, so the herons, greylags with goslings, shovelers and shelducks failed to create the excitement expected. However, the sudden grunt of water rail was identified from the barking of the muntjac.
And so on to Weeting Heath. After the earlier ease in which we had watched the hobbies, I was worried about what we might or might not see at this reserve. But there was no need for an doubt. Immediately we opened the screens in the West Hide 5 stone curlew were visible, plus for a short time a common curlew. It was a long day visiting the 2 reserves but we produced a list of 34 species seen and 3 heard only.
John Mather
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River Tud & Marriot’s Way Costessey May 16 One member joined Greta and myself on John Butchers annual walk. The evening was cool and overcast for this delightful genteel walk. We met Sue in the car park on Gunton Lane and the walk towards the river produced blackbird, robin and blue tit. On the river a male and female mallard joined us for part of our walk, hoping for food. We crossed Black Bridge and walked towards Hellesdon Mill, encountering numerous dog walkers, who were inquisitive as to what we were looking for. We heard Cetti’s warbler and blackcap, good numbers of magpie and lesser black back gulls, whilst little egret and greylags flew overhead. The walk along Marriot’s Way was very quiet, long-tailed tits were the only species seen or heard. As we headed back to Red Bridge Sue spotted a buzzard perched in trees quite close to some houses. A kestrel hovered nearby. A nice walk on our local patch. 14 species seen, 2 heard. David & Greta Porter
Four spotted chaser, Carol Hunt
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Outdoor meetings reports cont’d
KELLING HEATH, 10 June Ten of us met in the car park, with a garden warbler singing in the scrub on the east side, and 6 swifts passed over the meadow. We made our way across to the road and along the track to the railway crossing, with many linnets and goldfinches visible. In all five male yellowhammers and four male stonechats were seen. A group of six coal tits were feeding in a tree along the lane. A family of three buzzards circled over us and two kestrels were spotted. A single skylark, two chiffchaffs and a willow warbler were also observed. On our earlier ‘recce’ two nightjars were heard churring in the middle of the day in this area. Crossing back over the railway, a few minutes before a passing steam train, we continued to search for our main targets: turtle dove, Dartford warbler and woodlark, but sadly on the day they evaded us, but all were seen by others we spoke to. On return to the car park 26 species had been recorded and the garden warbler continued to sing and showed well on the hawthorn. After a lunch break seven of us continued down to Kelling village and set off down the track towards the coast. On the pool 6 gadwalls, 8 shelducks, 2 mute swans and a couple of mallards were on the water and 2 lapwings with a young were feeding on the edge. Many linnets and goldfinches were around us, as were 2 male reed buntings, 3 male Stonechats, 1 blackcap, 1 sedge warbler, 2 white-throats, 2 skylarks and a pair of meadow pipits display flying.
Sand martins and swallows swooped over the water and down on the shingle ridge a couple of common terns feeding and a grey seal bottling (after some discussion!) were the highlights. The yellow horned-poppy on the shingle was all in flower.
Other items of interest seen on the day were a common frog, red admiral, common blue, painted lady and many speckled wood butterflies.
Barry & Sue Jones ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yellow horned-poppy, Maureen Haycock
Photo: Maureen Haycock
RSPB-Images
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Outdoor meetings reports cont’d
BUCKENHAM MARSHES AND RSPB STRUMPSHAW FEN, 8 July. Fried, dried and fully basted!! Apart from days bird watching in Barbados, I do not thin I have ever had a session s warm as this morning! At 9.30 am when I arrived at the station there was a shimmer over the marshes, and apart from a buzzard gliding overhead, bird life was non-existent. The train appeared and stopped at the station to unload one bird watcher, who was not joining the group! However, three members joined me in the car park and we started the slow, hot walk down to the river. Apart from a pair of mute swans, all the dykes appeared lifeless, then in one thorn bush we found a blue tit and a white throat, and suddenly bird life began. The pond in front of the hide was full of geese, mallards, shelducks (with chicks), avocet and a beautiful chestnut coloured bar-tailed godwit. A singe grey wagtail made a brief visit, but was out-done by the roe and water deer. The appearance of a marsh harrier produced an aerial attack by protesting lapwings, and we were glad to reach the hide to gain shelter from the sun. All along the path to the wind pump we were watched and chirruped to by reed buntings, but the reed and sedge warblers called constantly but never emerged from the depths of the reeds. The pond at the wind pump, however, produced another group of waders. A few more godwits, lots of lapwings, redshanks and a greenshank, with a few ruffs to finish off our list. We went back to our cars and drove to Strumpshaw for a refreshing drink and ice cream. The main hide produced our first swallows for the day as well as a very elegant black swan amongst the ducks. As we were all somewhat roasted from the Morning’s ‘cooking’, we decided to call our list of over 35 birds enough for the day, and did not therefore venture off into the woodland.
John Mather
SWT Carlton Marshes Brought to my attention via social media when the American bittern made a visit to this reserve, we finally decided to pay it a visit ourselves. On a day with weather that has become commonplace this summer, with glaring sunshine and a temperature of around 30°, we walked the full trail around Carlton Marshes. A stunning landscape, somehow even flatter and with even more views of the horizon than similar reserves in Norfolk. We primarily visited for dragonflies, with plenty of brown hawkers on the wing and a few emerald damselflies, and I was pleased to find my first red-eyed damselflies, their eyes almost glowing demonically from their turquoise and metallic brown bodies. Males mate-guarded, clasped fast to the females as they oviposited and a female brown hawker joined in, submersing most of her long abdomen to lay her large eggs into underwater plant material. Plenty of butterflies were enjoying the sun too, with bright and fresh red admirals accompanied by other slightly more worn individuals. Gatekeepers and meadow browns fluttered along the waterside vegetation, accompanied by plenty of whites. A peacock butterfly, having seen better days, rested for a while and I had to avoid treading on a skipper. Any small birds remained quiet, but a number of raptors obliged. A common buzzard soared on thermals, whilst a daring kestrel held its ground on a post until the last second as we approached. As we watched the kestrel, a marsh harrier glided low overhead, showing off its blackened wing tips and pale head as it turned.
Sarah Hookway
Photo: Sarah Hookway
Sarah’s Blogg
ARE YOU WEATHER WISE? The Answers
1. FALSE. It’s sleet that is frozen rain. Snow falls directly as snow from snow clouds, the flakes being formed by the condensation of moisture at temperature below freezing. 2. TRUE. The halo around the moon results from the presence of high cirrus clouds, composed of minute snow crystals, in the path of the moonlight. These clouds generally presage unsettled weather. 3. FALSE. The significant thing is not whether the barometer is high or low, but whether it is rising or falling. A steadily falling barometer – even though it shows high pressure – almost invariably means bad weather approaching. 4. FALSE. The shortest days are December 21, 22, and 23. Until late January the earth continues to give out more heat than it receives from the sun, thus warming the atmosphere. The coldest weather is usually experienced after the balance has been struck. 5. TRUE. The heavier cold air creeps into the lowlands, frequently bringing temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below those on hilltops. 6. FALSE. There is no basis in fact for this belief. 7. TRUE. When the humidity is high, the air, already saturated with water, cannot absorb body perspiration. 8. TRUE. Hail never forms unless a thunderstorm is going on; and the conditions producing such a storm are rare in winter. 9. FALSE. This one of the commonest of mistaken weather beliefs. All records show that changes in the weather go on regardless of the moon. 10. FALSE. Although most tornadoes occur in the Middle West and the South, they have blown in almost every state of the Union. 11. TRUE. Statistics indicate that during every instant an average of 1800 thunderstorms are bellowing over the earth. 12. FALSE. We are nearest the sun on January 2. We fail to get full benefit of it’s heat, however, because the winter days are shorter, the sun’s rays slanting, and as much as 80 percent of the heat may be reflected into space by snow lying on the ground. 13. FALSE. Hot, humid weather- a condition favouring thunderstorms – likewise favours bacterial growth, which causes milk to sour. 14. TRUE. Static is caused by weather disturbances. Because thunderstorms are so frequent in summer, the annoying type of static caused by lightning is heard more often then.
15. TRUE. The lunar rainbow was observed as far back as Aristotle. Generally speaking, rainbows are formed by the passage of light rays through water drops. Moonlight, which is only reflected sunlight, will serve the purpose. 16. TRUE. On cloudless nights the earth loses its heat more rapidly, and a heavier dew results. Such clear skies, which make for a heavy dew, likewise mean no immediate rain. Similarly, heavy frosts are generally followed by fine, clear weather. 17. TRUE. Solitary trees are struck by lightening more often than trees in a group. 18. FALSE. Quite the opposite is true. Weather in this country generally proceeds from west to east, travelling faster in winter than in summer. When the Ohio Valley is in the throes of the heat wave, New Jersey can expect to sizzle the next day. 19. FALSE. A red sunset presages clear, dry weather. The dry, dusty atmosphere which is almost always associated with good weather in the U.S transmits the red rays of the sun in greater measure than the blue. 20. FALSE. A monsoon is a tropical wind. 21. FALSE. There is no scientific basis for this popular notion. Certain animals of a species grow exceptionally heavy coats because they’ve had plenty to eat and because other conditions for hair growth were likewise favourable. The very same fall, some less fortunate or less enterprising creatures of the same species, may appear meagrely clad. 22. TRUE. Floods are mainly caused by the inability of the soil to absorb more moisture. Since this absorptive capacity of soil can be measured and since the amount of coming rains, reckoned by normal averages, can be approximately predicted, coming floods can be forecast with high accuracy. The great Mississippi flood of 1927 was predicted months in advance. All that was unknown was how great the damage would be. 23. TRUE. On the clearest nights the cooling of the earth’s surface by radiation is greatest and therefore most likely to cause, through low temperature, condensation in the form of dew or frost. 24. FALSE. Dew never falls, but forms where it is found. When moisture from warm air is deposited on something cold enough to condense it, dew is formed. 25. FALSE. The extreme dryness of very cold air renders the likelihood of a heavy fall rather remote because of the lack of moisture to form thick snow clouds. But that’s all there is to support this belief. A 2-inch fall has been recorded while the thermometer registered 24 degrees below zero.
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Deadline for copy for the next newsletter is Friday 2 November. Articles for the newsletter to be emailed to [email protected].
Your Committee
To contact committee members, please email [email protected] or visit our website at www.rspb.org.uk/groups/norwich/
GROUP LEADER & WEBSITE EDITOR DAVID PORTER SECRETARY MEMBERSHIP ELLA HOPPER TREASURER CAROL ARTIS
OUTDOOR SECRETARY JOHN MATHER INDOOR PROGRAMME DAVID PORTER NEWSLETTER EDITOR PAT MARDON SOCIAL MEDIA SARAH HOOKWAY [email protected] CAN COLLECTIONS WEBSITE MODERATOR CHRIS DURDIN ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE LYNDA QUANTRELL MEMBERS ROY QUANTRELL
Refreshment Rota
An important part of our monthly meetings are the refreshments, prepared before the meeting and served during the short break. Can you help prepare and serve the drinks? If you would like to help out please speak to Lynda Quantrell or David Porter.
Honeycrunch, Dan Powell
RAFFLE
A big part of our fund-raising at our monthly meetings is through the raffle. To enable this to succeed we would ask for donations of good quality prizes. Please bring your donation along to the next meeting. Thank you.
Honeycrunch, Dan Powell
NOTICE BOARD
PROGRAMME October to December 2018
Indoor meetings
Start at 7.30 pm and are held at Hellesdon Community Centre, Middletons Lane, Hellesdon,
Norwich. Entrance off Woodview Road.
Admission: members £2.00, non-members £3.00 Please remember to bring your local group
membership card. David Porter
Monday 8 October
CARLTON MARSHES—Matt Gooch Matt is the Broads Warden for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Carlton Marshes has been described as a “wildlife oasis on the edge of Lowestoft.” The reserve is on a major flyway. “If we create a rich landscape of water, marsh and mud, birds passing over on their global journeys will find it.” Tonight we learn more about this reserve and the plan to purchase an additional 384 acres for wildlife.
Monday 12 November BIRDING IN COLUMBIA—Sue Bryan Sue is a member of staff at RSPB Titchwell after a 30 year teaching career. Her love of birds started at age 7 when a waxwing landed in her garden. Her talk on Columbia is about a 3 week trip taken in July 2015. This is one of the richest areas for birds, 1870 species with at least 73 endemics. She visited all 3 ‘strands’ of the Andes and her talk includes some of the birds and wildlife seen and shares some of the experiences undertaken.
Monday 10 December EXPLORING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Sarah Hookway Sarah studied Ecology at the UEA before becoming a science teacher at a Norfolk High School and Sixth Form College. She is a local group member, a naturalist and wildlife blogger, winning the BBC Wildlife Blogger Awards Senior Category 2015. Sarah mainly writes about wildlife in East Anglia, but seeks out other wildlife destinations when she can. Visiting the famous Galapagos islands to see and experience the archipelago’s wildlife was a once in a lifetime trip that she is going to share with us. This will be followed by our annual Christmas Social, please bring a small plate of food to share.
Outdoor meetings
If you are intending to go on an outing please contact John Mather on:
01603 663004, 07931 038446 or by email [email protected].
All meetings start at 10am, unless otherwise
specified.
Sunday 14 October RSPB TITCHWELL—TF750437, PR31 8BP. Normally plenty to see at this top site. There is a charge for non-RSPB members. Facilities on site. Bring a packed lunch as we may extend into the afternoon. Leaders: Barry & Sue Jones
Saturday 10 November CARLTON MARSHES—TM508920, NR33 8HU. A visit to this Suffolk Wildlife reserve to look for winter migrants. There will be a charge for non-NWT members. Facilities on site. Leader: John Mather
Sunday 9 December NWT HICKING BROAD AND STUBBS MILL—TG428222, NR12 0BW. Meet at 1 pm. An afternoon visit to this NWT reserve, ending the visit with a visit to the raptor roost at Stubbs Mill. There will be a charge for non-NT members. Facilities available.
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RSPB-Images
