I hope you all managed to have a good birding Easter weekend. There is lots to see at this time of the year. The first summer migrants have arrived in the shape of Chiffchaffs, Black Redstarts, Sand Martins, Swallows, Sedge Warblers, Wheatears and Ring Ouzels to name but a few. We still have plenty of winter Thrushes in the shape of Redwings and Fieldfares, and not all the over wintering Golden Plovers have departed. Now is the time to get out and connect that bird song to the bird. Since trees are not fully in leaf and since the birds are beginning to sing it is a good time to both listen and look.

 

THANKS once again to everyone who has been kind enough to help with both the indoor and outdoor meetings. A big thank you to those who give their time and effort to look after the catering at our indoor meetings and also to our raffle organisers for producing so much revenue for the Society.

FIELD MEETINGS

 

Our Society year started with our Bird Race on Sunday January 9^th. Once again this was a success. Since details have appeared in the Society ‘Bulletin’ I will not go into details here. Suffice to say that 30 members participated and a total of 84 species was recorded.

 

On Sunday 6^th February, Josh and Ray kindly organised and led a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Reserve at Welney. Again this event was well attended and enjoyed by all, particularly those who managed to find space in the heated ‘superhide’!

 

Sadly Alwyn’s trip that he had organised to the North West Norfolk coast had to be cancelled as a result of the inclement weather.

 

INDOOR MEETINGS

 

Professor Fred Cooke entertained those present on Thursday January 20^th to a talk about Harlequin Ducks and the Birds of the Canadian Artic. Again a wonderful talk by Fred with some excellent slides. Fred’s chatty style of presentation and the content of his talks is always entertaining.

 

On Thursday 17^th February the advertised speaker, Moss Taylor could not attend and instead Dr Rob Robinson gave an excellent presentation on ‘What is happening to Woodland Birds’

 

Our speaker on March 17^th was Steve Cale, local wildlife artist and tour leader, who gave an illustrated presentation entitled ‘Birds of the Mediterranean’. Steve highlighted one or two of the bird watching ‘hot-spots’ in the Mediterranean starting on the eastern coast of Spain and ending at the Greek island of Lesvos calling in a Majorca, Menorca and Crete along the way. I think Steve’s references to Lesvos and his photographs of the island and of some of the birds whetted the appetites of those present, particularly those who had spring trips to Lesvos organised..

 

HOLIDAYS

 

Sadly your Vice Chairman Ray has ‘not had the time’ to pen a few lines about his trip to Australia!!. I had considered including my ‘Ode to China’ but having reviewed the contents I felt it a little unsuitable for publication in such a widely read newsletter! I felt that perhaps it might make more impact and encourage members to send in short essays upon their birding holidays and/or exploits if I leave the following space!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(As David has asked me to pen a line, I’ve taken the opportunity to fill the gap with this message – “I’ll try and do better for the next editor !! But please don’t be shy and do send in reports of your holidays, an exciting visit locally or unusual sightings to the Newsletter editor”. – Ray)

MEMBERSHIP

 

The Committee have been absolutely delighted that membership has ‘held up’ so well. Membership currently stands at approximately 90. Do drag your friends along. We think if you can get them to the first meeting they will either join the Society or give up on bird watching completely!

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Don’t forget that on Sunday April 10^th Ray is leading a trip to East Norfolk. This will again be a joint trip with the Nar Valley Ornithological Society. It proved a great success last year with some stunning birds seen. Don’t forget, you can make this day out as long or as short as YOU wish. You don’t have to stay all day, nor do you have to do all the walking if you feel you would like to take a break. Meet at J Siansbury , Longwater, Costessey for an 8.30am departure. Bring wellies or walking boots and a packed lunch.

 

 

Our Annual General Meeting is on Thursday April 21^st. There will be several places to be filled on the Committee. Do please volunteer your services. If you feel there is a particular member of the Society who would be prepared to be a Committee Member please approach them and ask if they would be happy to be nominated and if so do please nominate them. Don’t forget nominations to me by no later than Saturday 16^th April.

 

Charles Neale is leading a trip to Cockthorpe Common and Stiffkey Fen on Saturday April 23^rd. Stiffkey Fen is becoming quite a ‘hotspot’ these days, and well worth a visit. Meet at Morrison’s car Park, Fakenham at 9.45am. Bring a packed lunch.

 

 

On Sunday May 8^th there will be a Dawn Chorus meeting at Sparham Pools Nature Reserve starting at 4.15 am. If previous dawn choruses have been anything to go by this will also be worth attending. Bacon Butties will be available, for a small fee, after the birding.

 

 

On May 19^th our indoor meeting speaker is *Mike Linley who will be giving and illustrated talk entitled ‘Birds From Around The Word’. It is also hoped that a short presentation about Nightjars can be organised by Committee Members.

*It is possible we may have to swap the programme due to another speaker’s unavailability. Watch out for announcements.

 

 

On Saturday 21^st May Charles Neale will again lead. This time to the Raptor watch point near Great Ryburgh. Turn up and get to grips with those Buzzards. . Meet at the Raptor Watch Point at 9am (TF971255)

 

 

On Saturday 4^th June/Sunday 5^th June there will be a ‘Bird Race’ starting any time after 7pm Saturday and finishing at 7pm on Sunday at a public house (further details to be arranged).

 

 

On Thursday June 16^th instead of our usual indoor meeting at Lenwade, the intention is to enjoy a barbeque at ‘The Feathers Hotel’ Dersingham followed by a visit to Dersingham Bog to look for Nightjars. This event will be lead by Ray.

 

WHAT’S ABOUT?

Those summer migrants should be pouring in. Blackcaps and Garden Warblers will provide a challenge if you enjoy birdsong. Listen for that pretty scratchy song of the Whitethroat, and challenge yourself to identify Reed and Sedge Warblers from their similar songs. House Martins, Swallows, and Swifts should soon be abundant, gracing the sky with their differing styles of aeronautical acrobatics. The Turtle Dove’s purring song is one of my favourites. There will shortly be so much out there to see. A beautiful time of the year.

 

 

 

 

MARATHON

 

Alwyn has submitted the following article which may be of interest. I think in turn Alwyn received it from the Hawk and Owl Trust.

 

Marathon Bird Watch; 30^th April/1^st May

 

The event will run from 08:00 on Saturday, 30^th April up to 10.12 on Sunday, 1^st May i.e. 26.2 hours (the marathon distance). The objective is to see as many bird species as possible, in Norfolk, during all or part of this time. The event is not a race or a competition between teams. The score for the event will be the total number of species recorded by everyone participating. However, to keep some local focus, there will be a small prize for the team that records the most species on Sculthorpe Moor Reserve. The Reserve will be open for an extended period and there may be some additional access off the boardwalk and down to the reed beds.

 

As a finale to the weekend’s activities a bird quiz, compiled by Mark Cocker author of Birds Brittanica, will be held in Sculthorpe Village Hall at 6.30 p.m. on May 1^st. There will be 5 rounds of questions, a sausage and mash interval, and prizes.

 

Sponsorship

 

Raising money is our (The Hawk and Owl Trust) main objective and we hope to get some corporate sponsorship to give us a ‘kick start’. Media coverage on radio and in the press will help this. There will be individual sponsorship sheets and we hope that each team will try to get some sponsorship on their own e.g. 50p a bird for the first fifty species, £1 for the next fifty, £1.50 thereafter; Raptors at £2 each. Having said that, any amount, large or small, will be most welcome. Sponsorship sheets are being sent out to Hawk and Owl Trust members in the East Anglian region in the spring edition of The Peregrine. These sheets will also be available from Les Kindleysides at 01328-853853.

 

Basic Rules

- The Recording area for the event is all of Norfolk.

- Participants should be organised into teams of 2 to 4. Each team can choose its

own area and time period to cover, it is not necessary to participate for the full 26.2 hours.

- Each team should start by registering at Sculthorpe Moor Reserve at anytime

from 08:00 on the Saturday and receiving a checklist. They should finish by returning the completed checklist to the Reserve by the end time on the Sunday.

- The Reserve will be open for teams to bird watch from 08:00 until 21:00 on the Saturday and again from 07:00 on the Sunday.

- Birds should be seen to be counted, not just heard.

 

If there are members who are interested but who cannot raise a team I suggest they contact Ray, Alwyn or Nigel Middleton to see if they can be found a team place.

 

And Alwyn has asked me to add the following message from Nigel Middleton the Warden of the Hawk & Owl Trust Reserve at Sculthorpe Moor:

 

MARSH HARRIERS

Now that Marsh Harriers are returning could people please keep a check on breeding birds. If they suspect any problems or interference with the birds, please let Nigel know. He will investigate and take matters up with the authorities if necessary. He can be contacted on 01328 878848 or on his mobile 07867 572794.

 

FINALLY

Well, this will be the last Newsletter that I shall be responsible for. I have decided that I need a break. I have enjoyed putting the Newsletter together. Thanks to all of you who have contributed articles. Thanks also to those of you who have pointed out the various mastikes that I have made!!

 

Best wishes and wonderful birding to all of you.

 

 

David Pelling

 

 

AND FINALLY, FINALLY

A VERY BIG THANKYOU to David for editing the Newsletter for us. I’m sure you’ll all agree that he’s done a sterling job and I for one will miss his wit and humour even if it has been at my expense occasionally!!

 

Ray