Archive for the ‘WVBS Bird Counts’ Category

Our traditional Winter Count will be our first Outdoor Event of the New Year.

The idea is to find as many different species as possible in our recording area between 8am and 4.30pm.

Don’t worry you don’t have to be bird watching all that time, you can start at any time and anywhere in the valley after 8am but you must finish by 4.30pm. The finishing point will be in the bar of the Fox and Hounds, Lyng. (Where you can also book in for a meal afterwards, which is a very nice way to end the day!)

This is a team event – teams can consist of 2 to 4 members who have a cross section of bird watching experience. In other words we prefer not to have teams comprising solely of very experienced birders!

A reminder of the rules again

• You can start anywhere within the WVBS area
• All species counted must be seen or heard
• In teams of two all must see or hear each species counted
• In teams of three, 2 must see or hear each species counted
• In teams of four, 3 must see or hear each species counted
• The finish time is 4.30pm, inside the Fox and Hounds, Lyng
• Feral pigeons are accepted, hybrid waterfowl are not.
• Birds within the grounds of Pensthorpe are not accepted

Attached separately in next month’s Newsletter will be a checklist for each team to tick off the species seen and it would be most useful if participants could add the location for our record purposes.

If you are unfamiliar with the WVBS area a copy of the map can be found here or in any of the Annual Reports.  If you wish to take part or are short of team members please let Richard Norris know a.s.a.p or at the latest 21st December.

This is a fun event so please come along and enjoy yourselves.

Please note that this event was cancelled due to the weather

Sunday 31st. May - Dawn Chorus at Sparham Pools.

Join us for our annual Dawn Chorus event at NWT Sparham Pools. We meet for a 04.30 start and finish around 08.00. Bacon Butties are available at the end to all those who booked them( cost £1 each) Bring your own coffee/tea.etc.  Please contact the Event Leader, Alwyn Jackson urgently if you haven’t already done so. Please park quietly and tidily as space is at a premium.

Sunday 7th. June - Summer Bird Count

By popular demand the Summer Bird Count is being re-introduced into our outdoor programme on Sunday 7th.June. Make a note in your diary. Richard Norris has kindly volunteered to organise it. Please contact Richard with your team and whether you wish to stay for meals. All by 24th. May, please,so arrangements can be finalised.

The Rules are:-

• You can start anywhere within the WVBS area and at whatever time suits you on Sun 7th June
• All species counted must be seen or heard
• In teams of two all must see or hear each species counted
• In teams of three, 2 must see or hear each species counted
• In teams of four, 3 must see or hear each species counted
• Feral pigeons are accepted, hybrid waterfowl are not.
• Birds within the grounds of Pensthorpe are not accepted

The finish time is 6pm inside the Fox & Hounds, Lyng. Leave A1067 go past Lyng Mill into the village and the pub is on your right. The car park is c. 30m past the pub.  The Fox & Hounds are well known for their good meals and have asked that we provide them with an indication of how many people will be there for the end of the Count and how many will want meals.

It would be helpful if the more knowledgeable birders will accept less knowledgeable members in their teams.

Thursday 18th. June - Nightjar Evening

Our nightjar evening will follow the usual format. Those who would like to have a bit of a social and have a meal will meet at the Marsham Arms at 7:00pm ish so we can all sit down and order our meals at 7:30ish. If you would just like to have a drink you can join us at any time in the evening.

We will aim to finish our meals etc. so we can leave the Marsham Arms no later than 9:20pm and arrive at Marsham Heath by 9:30 in time to catch the nightjars coming out. Please let me know if you would like directions or more information and also numbers so I can inform the landlord. Over 20 members had meals last year so we like to give warning to the landlord by 10th. June latest as nothing is pre-ordered. Contact Josh Leeder.

Don’t forget your gnat repellent and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Sunday 28th. June – Lakenheath Fen and Weeting Heath

Outdoor trip into the wilds of Suffolk! Anything could turn up but we hope to see Stone Curlews & Wood Larks at Weeting and Golden Oriels and much more at Lakenheath. This is an all day trip so bring your lunch. Underfoot is reasonably flat and firm but sensible footwear is advisable.  Lakenheath is exposed so be prepared for all weathers.

We meet at Cherry Tree carpark in Dereham and leave promptly at 0900 to arrive at Weeting at 0940 and then on to Lakenheath.  Event Leader is Colin Fenn.  Please let Colin know if you intend going straight to Weeting or if you are unable to attend for some reason.

Bring NWT/RSPB membership cards.

Thursday 16th. July- Social Evening.

A note for your diary. More details next month

By popular demand the Summer Bird Count is to be re-introduced into our outdoor programme and the proposed date are Sunday 7th June.  Make a note in your diary.
The Winter Count was so popular that we have been requested to re-instate the Summer Count to this year’s programme.  Richard Norris has kindly volunteered to organise it. Read the rest of this entry »

A new event has been added to the 2009 Programme – the return of the Summer Bird Count.  The exact format is still to be finalised but it will take place on Sunday 7th June and finish at a suitable local hostelry at 6pm with a meal afterwards for those who wish. 

The idea is for teams to spend as much time as they wish spotting birds in the Wensum Valley area, the more species the better.  Some teams will probably spend every moment of the day birdwatching, getting up at midnight to see some owls and maybe a nightjar, others may start around 6, do some favourite places and maybe nip off somewhere else, others may have a leisurely breakfast  and have an altogether more relaxing time.

More news in good time.

There are several reasons for joining in the Bird Counts-1.      To help get a complete set of records for the Society

2.      An excuse (if one needs one) to spend a few hours with like minded friends enjoying birdwatching in the WVBS recording area

3.      Getting more species on our yearly list if we keep one

4.      Seeing how our skills compare with other members in finding the birds in our area

5.      Possibly seeing completely new species

For me it is all of these although I’d be lucky if I managed the last – but you never know.  Whatever your reasons it should be FUN so it was disappointing that only 3 teams entered. Those that did take part certainly enjoyed themselves and saw some exciting birds.

In total 93 species were recorded with everyone seeing such good birds as Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Common Buzzard, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher, Grey Partridge and Spotted Flycatcher. We all had excellent views of Woodcock (6 sightings) and Nightjar (3 chasing each other in good light & really close). I just hope they will perform as well on the Nightjar evening.

I know ALL birds are GOOD but let’s face it some are more exciting than others.

Other special birds were Teal, Wigeon & Shoveler (all drakes) at West Raynham, Honey Buzzard, 1 male giving the best views I’ve ever had as it glided in front of the trees at Great Ryburgh Raptor Watch Point, Little Ringed Plover, on nest. Barry, Bridget, David and Ian saw a rufous phase Cuckoo.

The team just mentioned had a change of gendre as Ian was replaced by Bridget on Sunday morning!! Is this within the rules? Does it matter – certainly not. They enjoyed themselves.

If by now you are wondering who recorded the most species – is it important? Not really. But for the record Josh and I got 89 species with Barry et al then Sue & Bill both close behind. Bill & Sue also saw Otter at Sparham Pools.

Those who did not join in missed a great day’s birding. Don’t miss the Winter Bird Count. If you want help don’t be shy to ask.

PS I’ll be forwarding all the records to our new Recorder

Ray  Gribble

Thank you to everyone who sent in records. At the time of going to print 17 members contributed 484 records of 91 different species this month.

Each individual sighting received may not show on this summary, however, all records do contribute towards the annual report and our understanding of the birds of our study area.

Records also received for Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Common Shelduck, Common Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Mew (Common) Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Wood Pigeon, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sky Lark, Meadow Pipit, Winter Wren, Dunnock(Hedge Accentor), European Robin, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Wood Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch & European Goldfinch.

February Contributors

Peter & Alma Banson, Bob Bradley & Jenny Evans, Andrew Brown, Ian Brittain, Sue & Bill Gibney, Geoff Hemmings, Hoe Bird Walk (HBW), Alwyn & Carole Jackson, David Knight, Charles & Fran Neale, Jacky Pett, Barry & Bridget Pummell, Rare Bird Alert (RBA), Martin Spriggs, Nick Street.

If you submitted records but you have not been included in the list above it is because I received them after I had completed the report. However they will be entered on our database and contribute towards the compilation of the 2007 Annual Report. Thank you.

WVBS NEEDS YOUR RECORDS!

Send them to:

Hard Copy E-mail or E-group Phone

Ray Gribble ray.gribble@tesco.net 01603 872709

5 Morse Close

Lenwade wensumvalleyBS@yahoogroups.com

NR9 5QQ

I have completed my two month apprenticeship as Bird Recorder for the Society so would you now send your March records to Ray please. Thank you.

Alwyn Jackson.

Bird Count Sunday 7^th January.

Despite the gloomy weather 22 members making up 9 teams took part in our annual Winter Bird Count. In total 83 species were recorded, they were:-

Little Grebe Lapwing Mistle Thrush

Great Crested Grebe Snipe Goldcrest

Cormorant Black-headed Gull Long-tailed Tit

Little Egret Common Gull Marsh Tit

Grey Heron Lesser Black-backed Gull Willow Tit

Mute Swan Herring Gull Coal Tit

Greylag Goose Greater Black-backed Gull Blue Tit

Canada Goose Stock Dove Great Tit

Egyptian Goose Wood Pigeon Great Tit

Shelduck Collared Dove Treecreeper

Wigeon Feral Pigeon Jay

Gadwall Barn Owl Rook

Teal Little Owl Carrion Crow

Mallard Tawny Owl Starling

Shoveler Kingfisher House Sparrow

Pochard Green Woodpecker Tree Sparrow

Tufted Duck Great Spotted Woodpecker Chaffinch

Goosander Skylark Brambling

Hen Harrier Meadow Pipit Goldfinch

Common Buzzard Grey Wagtail Greenfinch

Sparrowhawk Pied Wagtail Siskin

Kestrel Wren Linnet

Red-legged Partridge Dunnock Redpoll

Grey Partridge Robin Bullfinch

Pheasant Blackbird Yellowhammer

Moorhen Song Thrush Reed Bunting

Coot Redwing

Golden Plover Fieldfare

Some of the more notable records were

Little Egret 4 at Blackwater Lane, near Lenwade (Josh Leeder, Peter and Alma Banson) was the only record.

Goosander 1 Bittering GP (Ian Brittain & Paul Riley)

5 Sparham Pools NR (Ray Gribble, Clare Hill & Keith Finn)

Also 3 at the same site (John Horsman,Alwyn & Carole Jackson)

Hen Harrier male in the Kettlestone area (Barry Pummell, David Knight & Ian Doble) which must qualify as one of the star birds of the day.

Common Buzzard 3 at Bittering (Bob Bradley & Jenny Evans)

Single at Great Ryburgh Raptor Watch point (Ian Brittain & Paul Riley)

2 at Raynham Hall (BP, DK & ID)

1 at Colkirk (Bill & Sue Gibney)

Golden Plover 250+ at Mattishall (BB & JE)

16 at Bittering GP (IB & PR)

32 at Lenwade (IB & PR)

Snipe 20+ at Dereham Sewage Works (IB & PR)

Little Owl The only record was single bird at Bylaugh (JH, A&CJ)

Willow Tit 1 at Sculthorpe Moor NR (B&SG; IB&PR), a single at Hempton Marsh (BP,DK & ID), Martin Spriggs and Nick Street went one better and saw 2 at Sculthorpe.

Tree Sparrow IB & PR recorded 6+ at Fulmodeston; BP, DK & ID also recorded this species.

Brambling 1 at Sculthorpe (BB & JE;B & SG), 1 at Worthing railway crossing (BP, IK & ID)

Redpoll 20+ at Sparham barns (B & SG) was the only record of this species.

Judging by the banter in the bar at the Bridge at the end of the day everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day even though they may not have seen as many species as other teams. The three teams who recorded the highest count of species were Bob Bradley and Jenny Evans with 71 species, Barry Pummell, David Knight and Ian Doble with 69 species and Ian Brittain and Paul Riley with 68 species and a Peacock!

Congratulations to you all.

Alwyn Jackson

The first meeting in the New Year will be our annual Bird Count on Sunday January 7^th. The idea of the count is to find as many different species as possible in our recording area between 8am and 4.30pm.

Don’t worry you don’t have to be bird watching all that time, you can start at any time and anywhere in the valley after 8am but you must finish by 4.30pm. The finishing point is the bar of the Bridge Inn, Lenwade. It is a team event – teams can consist of 2 to 4 members who have a cross section of bird watching experience. In other words we don’t want teams of very experienced birders!

A reminder of the rules again

· You can start anywhere within the WVBS area

· All species counted must be seen or heard

· In teams of two all must see or hear each species counted

· In teams of three, 2 must see or hear each species counted

· In teams of four, 3 must see or hear each species counted

· The finish time is 4.30pm, inside the Bridge Inn, Lenwade.

· Feral pigeons are accepted, hybrid waterfowl are not.

· Birds within the grounds of Pensthorpe are not accepted

Each team will be supplied with a checklist to tick off the species seen but it would be useful to add the location for our record purposes.

This is a fun event so please come along and enjoy yourselves.

If you wish to take part or are short of team members please let Alwyn know.

Josh Leeder (01603-872660), Alwyn Jackson (01362-637752), Colin Fenn (01362-697783) and Ray Gribble (01603-872709) are planning to enter teams and need team members. If you are interested in joining in please contact them directly.

The first meeting in the New Year will be our annual Bird Count on Sunday January 7^th. The idea of the count is to find as many different species as possible in our recording area between 8am and 4.30pm.

Don’t worry you don’t have to be bird watching all that time, you can start at any time and anywhere in the valley after 8am but you must finish by 4.30pm. The finishing point is the bar of the Bridge Inn, Lenwade. It is a team event – teams can consist of 2 to 4 members who have a cross section of bird watching experience. In other words we don’t want teams of very experienced birders!

The rules are simple:-

· You can start anywhere within the WVBS area

· All species counted must be seen or heard

· In teams of two all must see or hear each species counted

· In teams of three, 2 must see or hear each species counted

· In teams of four, 3 must see or hear each species counted

· The finish time is 4.30pm, inside the Bridge Inn, Lenwade.

· Feral pigeons are accepted, hybrid waterfowl are not.

· Birds within the grounds of Pensthorpe are not accepted

Each team will be supplied with a checklist to tick off the species seen but it would be useful to add the location for our record purposes.

This is a fun event so please come along and enjoy yourselves.

If you wish to take part or are short of team members please let Alwyn know.

September 2006

Thank you to everyone who sent in records

I have to get this document to Margaret by the 2^nd Thursday of the month for it to be incorporated into the Newsletter. For me to be able to include your records I really need them by the preceding Monday. Whenever I receive your records they get put onto the database but are sometimes too late to go with the Newsletter.

Most of the summer visitors are now departing for warmer climes so try and capture those “last seen” records. So much more difficult than the “first seen” isn’t it!!

Expect flocks of Northern Lapwing and Golden Plover to start building up.

Each individual sighting received may not show on this summary, however, all records do contribute towards the annual report and our understanding of the birds of our study area.

Please keep all records coming in by whatever means suits you –see below.

NOTE change of E-mail address

Sept Contributors

Andrew Brown, Ian Brittain, Dawn Dowsett, Colin & Jacquie Fenn, Ray & Chris Gribble, Sue & Bill Gibney, David & Jane Gurney, Allan Hale, Derek & Rosemary Harvey, Geoff Hemmings, David Knight, Josh Leeder, Nigel Mears, Barry & Bridget Pummell, Rare Bird Alert, Andrew Reeve, Paul Riley, Charles Sayer, Bill Shepherd, Nick Street.

WVBS NEEDS YOUR RECORDS!

Send your records to:

Hard Copy E-mail or E-group Phone

Ray Gribble ray.gribble@tesco.net 01603 872709

5 Morse Close WensumvalleyBS@yahoogroups.com

Lenwade

Norwich

NR9