Wensum Valley Birdwatching Society

Archive for the ‘Bulletins’ Category

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. by 10th. June latest as nothing is pre-ordered. Contact me (Josh Leeder.)on 01603 872660 .

Don’t forget your gnat repellent and appropriate clothing for the weather. Also a torch is useful for finding your way back to the car.

N.B. Nightjars are sensitive to noise and we will only enjoy close views if the birds are not disturbed. As responsible birdwatchers we must set the standard and if any other groups on the heath are not so responsible a polite word may be necessary.

Join us for our annual Dawn Chorus event at NWT Sparham Pools. We meet for a 04.15 start and finish around 08.00. Bacon Butties are available at the end to all those who booked them. Please add your name to the Attendance Sheet with your order at the next indoor meeting or contact our event Leader, Alwyn Jackson. Please note that parking in the reserve is limited, so please park tidily . There is also room for a few cars just along the main road near the bridge.

Our speaker for this evening’s indoor meeting is Dr Kevin Elsby ARPS.  A lifelong interest in birds and all things natural. A busy local GP he has, over the past 10 years or so, started to take what began as a hobby more seriously. “I started just wanting to take pictures of birds but, over the years, my interest in wildlife has expanded into just about everything,” When not working as a GP, Kevin spends his time travelling the world, taking photographs and leading tours for a UK based wildlife holiday company. He also gives lectures to UK wildlife and photography groups, and on-board cruise ships whose destinations have included the Amazon, South Georgia and the Galapagos Islands. Read the rest of this entry »

The carpark was filling up rapidly as we arrived at Lynford and a later count revealed 34 members had turned out for this popular walk. The weather was fine but cool. We set off past the Arboretum, ears and eyes on alert and the list soon began to mount. Our target birds were Hawfinch,Crossbill and Firecrest but anything could turn up. Read the rest of this entry »

Following our (short) AGM, Peter Lambley OBE is our speaker for this month’s indoor event. Peter, who is a member of our Society, is an experienced naturalist.  His C.V is impressive.  He spent his early working life looking after the Natural History collection at the Castle Museum followed by four years in Papua New Guinea and then 15 years at English Nature in Norfolk.  As he explains “I am really a Botanist but have a general interest in natural history and like travelling.”  His talk is based on his trip to Patagonia which was his first to South America.
I feel an interesting talk coming on!

Our A.G.M. will take place at our indoor meeting on Thursday 15th April 2010.

Full details, including Nomination Forms are available from the secretary.

Minutes of last years AGM, Agenda for the 15th April 2010 and Audited Accounts for 2009 will be sent out to all members during the first week of April 2010 to give members the opportunity to read these documents at their leisure before this year’s AGM.

We are seeking articles from members for inclusion in the WVBS 2009 Annual Report.  Articles of about 300/500 words on any birding subject are required by the very latest 30th June to enable us to achieve a publication target date of 1st October.  If you have been monitoring a particular bird on your patch, had a special birding experience or whatever then we would like you to share it with us. Come on, members, we need your help!

A Birders Year in Norfolk

Member Allan Hale is known to most of you. He has given talks to our Society many times over the years and his last talk on Boughton Fen in November 2009 was a cracker. You can be assured of wonderful photography and great dialogue. Both old and new members are in for a treat.

The exact location for this outdoor trip will be decided at the last minute as it will depend on the birds.

We meet at Morrison’s car park Fakenham ( Grid Ref TF 934375 ) and leave there at 0900. We have permission from Morrison’s to park as long as we are well away from the main entrance.  Suggest we gather in the far left-hand corner near the road.

Our Event Leader is Colin Fenn. Contact Colin on 01362-697783 to confirm your interest or complete the attendance sheet at any of our indoor events.  Please let Colin know if you intend travelling direct (and to check where we are going!) In case of emergency on the day Colin’s mobile number is 07941300038.

This will be an all-day event so bring packed lunch and wear suitable clothing/footwear as the weather on the coast can be changeable.  If you are members of RSPB, NWT or NOA then please bring your membership cards.

Titchwell Marsh – Coastal Change Project

We welcome Paul Eele of the RSPB who is our speaker for this indoor event.  Paul is the warden at RSPB Titchwell having worked there for the last 8 years.  He has been with the RSPB since 1994 spending time at Otmoor, Haweswater and West Sedgemoor before coming to Norfolk.  He is, in his spare time, a trainee ringer and a keen gardener.  We look forward to getting first-hand information on the planned changes at one of our favourite Norfolk Reserves.