January 2005 newsletter
Hello to you all, and a special welcome to all new members.
I trust that you have all enjoyed the Christmas break. I wish you all a very happy New Year and hope that you will all enjoy the New Year break. January 1st is always a good day to give that ‘year list’ a good kick and get 70 or 80 species on your list. There are lots of winter Thrushes and Finches around at the moment plus of course Waxwings. Traditionally my January 1st jaunt was always round the North Norfolk Coast and some wonderful times have been had. Whether I shall make the North Norfolk Coast on January 1st this year I am not sure (watch this space!).
THANKS to everyone who has been kind enough to give of their time and effort to make both indoor and outdoor meetings so enjoyable. In particular a big thank you to our ‘catering’ staff (!) our ‘raffle rousers’ and all those of you who have recently come forward and helped to set out and then put away the chairs at Lenwade Village Hall. Many hands have made much lighter work.
FIELD MEETINGS
Since the last newsletter we have had field meetings at Breydon Water and Yare Valley on November 13th November and at Lyndford Arboretum on 4th December. Alwyn has kindly let me have the following report of the Breydon trip:
Ten members braved the strong northerly winds and showery rain for a field trip to Breydon Water near Great Yarmouth. Our spirits were lifted when five very tame Snow Buntings were located as they fed among the flotsam and jetsam at the water’s edge. As we walked along the shoreline a flock of Lapwing drifted across the open water and a rock Pipit was flushed from a patch of rough ground below the sea wall. Several duck species including Shoveler and Wigeon were seen in flight as they sought shelter or better feeding areas. We watched a juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting over the adjacent marshes, its pale head clearly visible in the rather poor light. As we returned to our cars for some midday refreshment (and to warm up!) small flocks of Redshank, Ringed Plover and Curlew started moving to their feeding areas as the water level dropped.
After lunch six of the group returned to the sea bank to discover the bird numbers had increased dramatically as the mudflats had been exposed. A little Egret was spotted some distance away and two Knot feeding on the shoreline gave us an opportunity to appreciate the plumage details of this delightful wading bird. Other waders – Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, more Redshank and Curlew were observed before the worsening weather drove us to return to our cars. Although it was a relief to get back under cover we had enjoyed some good birdwatching together. Our thanks to Charles and Fran Neale for all their hard work in organising the trip - no doubt we will return to Breydon another day.
The trip to Lyndford Arboretum was attended by 17 members. Led by yours truly it did at one stage look as though it was going to fizzle out into a non-event but happily everyone was finally rewarded with good views of the ‘target’ bird – Hawfinch. Thanks to Bill Shepherd for spotting it. Generally the day was very quiet but in addition to Hawfinch, good views were had of Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, good numbers of Redwing and a mixed flock of Siskin and Goldfinches. The proposed trip extension to Santon Downham did not go ahead since the day was becoming somewhat overcast and given the time of year the short period of daylight would seriously curtail the amount on time that could be spent on site. Perhaps Santon Downham can be considered for a future trip.
On Saturday October 9th the ‘Wild About Norfolk’ event was held at Broadland High School at Hoveton and this turned out to be a splendid occasion. There were any number of interesting stalls and it was felt that our stand and display more than held its own with some of the bigger organisations. Many thanks to all those who attended the event. Whether or not the event takes place next year is somewhat ‘up in the air’. Once again ‘watch this space’.
INDOOR MEETINGS
Our speaker in October was Malcolm Rains who gave a presentation entitled ‘China Revisited’. Malcolm was a member of the Norfolk ‘gang of 5’ who went on the birdwatching trip to China in May 2004. Malcolm’s slides were basically of the trip that he had taken to China some 10 years previously. From comments afterwards everybody seemed to have enjoyed an interesting and informative presentation. It was particularly interesting for those of us who went to China in 2004 because we could compare the habitat and environment between Malcolm’s first and second visits. The habitat loss was tremendous. Our friends from ‘WildSounds’ also kindly came along and set out a wonderful choice of books, videos, DVDs and recordings for sale. If you need to contact them their contact details are as follows: -
WildSounds
Department 05
Cross Street
Salthouse
Norfolk NR25 7HX
Tel : 01263 741100
Fax : 01263 741100
Email : sales@wildsounds.com
Our November speaker was Mike Toms from the BTO who gave a talk on garden birds and bird gardens. Mike tried to help us to understand a little more about how garden bird surveys were giving the ‘boffins’ a greater insight into how garden feeding and garden habitat could affect breeding success and mortality rates. Data gained has helped to chart the decline of some species such as the House Sparrow and Starling, and an increase in other species such as Goldfinch, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove, and has helped in the understanding of these trends. Again a very interesting presentation with some colourful projections. Bintree Bird Seeds were kind enough to attend this meeting, and brought along a good selection of bird food to sell. If you need to contact them, their full address, telephone, fax and email details are as follows:-
Bintree Bird Seeds
Manor Farm Cubitts
Bintree
Norfolk
NR20 5NE
Tel : 07775 517473
Fax : 01362 684334
Email : algy.farm@farming.co.uk
Talking about ‘presentations’ those of you who have attended our most recent indoor meetings will be aware that we have now purchased (with the Awards for All funding) the Society’s own slide projector, stand, screen and Public Address system.
On December 16th we had our Christmas get together. 40 Members attended and I think it fair to say (certainly from comments to me on their way out) the evening was enjoyed by all. Ray, Alwyn, Josh and Bill kindly organised some quiz entertainment. Ray kindly knocked up a good punch which he distributed to members on their way in. Thank you to all those who contributed food, and raffle prizes. The raffle I am told raised £50. A marvellous effort. If you have ideas for next years Christmas get together do please let your committee know.
HOLIDAYS
From the lack of articles submitted for publication I can only assume that nobody has had any! I still wait in vain for your vice Chairman Ray to let me have a write up on the holiday that he and Chris took ‘down under’ a year ago. Hopefully this will arrive in time for the next issue because for Christmas I gave Ray a sheet of paper and a pencil! I wondered whether I should spell vice with a capital ‘V’ but thought it might give the wrong impression!
As you know, Allan Hale, (one of our members), seems in his time to have travelled to most places. I reproduce here a little article that he wrote some time ago about a business trip to Dubai.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH A DESERT EAGLE OWL
Last spring I made a business trip to the Middle East taking in Dubai, Cairo and Beirut. Luckily I was able to get my first days business in Dubai out of the way promptly, so I hired a car to drive out into the desert for some birding. First stop was the Lahbab Fields were they grow fodder for the local camels. Here I quickly picked up some good birds. An Indian Roller was perched on the telegraph wires near the entrance, and Red-wattled Lapwing patrolled the grassy fields. Little Green Bee Eaters hawked insects everywhere; Grey Francolin were common as was Crested Lark and Laughing Dove. As a large group of Swifts flew across the fields it wasn’t too difficult in the perfect light to pick out the odd Pallid Sift amongst their more common cousins. A Graceful Warbler was spotted in the scrub nervously eying up a watchful Southern Grey Shrike perched on the wires almost immediately above it.
The workers in the field are used to the birders that are brought here by the local guides although I did not see anybody else. I lamented the state of the grass crop, which was pathetic considering the constant irrigation (which was the magnet for the birds). Apparently the reason is the increasing saltiness of the irrigation water. The fresh-water table is lowering and the upper levels are being replaced by salt-water seeping in from the Arabian Gulf. The birds kept coming thick and fast – White-cheeked Bulbul, Little Ringed Plover, Tawny Pipit and Tree Pipit were quickly added to the list. Hoopoe were quite common, whilst Isabelline Wheatear was a species that I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. Time to press on to a site where I had seen Purple Sunbird and Red-tailed Wheatear a couple of years previously. I got Brown-necked Raven while I was still parking the car. It wasn’t exactly a car park since I was off road by a mile of so on gravely desert. Off I went on foot in the intense heat to search for the Sunbird and the Wheatear.
Walking up a steep sided Wadi, I glimpsed a Desert Eagle Owl flying from one side of the valley to the other. It landed out of sight so I quickly moved forward to get a closer view, after all this was an exceptionally good bird that I had never seen before. Really good views were obtained less than 50 yards distant; the bird was calling constantly and snapping its bill loudly. Feeling really satisfied, my attention was distracted by a passing Purple Sunbird so I turned away from the owl and progressed a few paces to view the Sunbird. I was aware that the owl’s calls were continuing, and indeed getting closer, so I turned to take another look at it. It was now one very unhappy bird, calling, bill snapping and walking down the wadi side towards me with wings fully outstretched. It was initially a very imposing sight, but my joy turned to caution as it got increasingly closer. This bird really meant business and at 20 feet distant I was getting seriously nervous. My natural inclination was to pick up a small rock (about the size of a golf ball) and when the owl was only 10 feet distant (yes, ten feet, -think about it- a Desert Eagle Owl is a really big bird!) I felt that a gentle under-arm throw of the rock was in order. What happened was the rock actually hit the bird. I didn’t mean it – honest! It then turned and flew off towards the far end of the wadi still swearing at me vigorously. It had all been quite unnerving. This was my cue to leave, but even then I spotted a Red-tailed Wheatear and several Pied Wheatear on the way out.
Back into the car and off to the next site. I crossed the border into Oman with little difficulty – surprisingly there was only a large sign to say you had left the United Arab Emirates and entered the Sultanate of Oman. Incidentally Dubai is one of the Emirates that makes up the U.A.E. Having reached the site where I expected to see raptors over the cliff tops, I was disappointed to see that the watch point was now a campsite for a group of nomadic desert Arabs. I moved quickly on, because in this day and age, a “westerner” can never be sure of a good reception from a group of Arabs. Middle Eastern politics is a very complex subject, and having fallen foul of it before, I had no wish to repeat the experience. The campsite was home to a family of Arabian Babblers so it wasn’t all bad news!
Off into the real desert along a fairly well worn gravel track – Avis Car Rental would not have been impressed! Desert Lark and Desert Wheatear were soon seen and Purple Sunbird was quite common; their dashing flight making for difficult viewing. Desert Lesser Whitethroat was next on the list, being little more than a slightly washed out version of our Lesser Whitethroat. An Isabelline Shrike was perched on a parched twig while the occasional Pale Crag Martin hawked insects overhead. Two “game-type” birds completed the birds seen here; the first was Sand Partridge, the other Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse. The latter was a real bonus, and the first I had seen since a birding trip to Israel in 1990.
Back to Dubai City where the tide should have been right in The Creek for waders and terns. Squadrons of Rose-ringed Parakeets were soon seen before I turned my attention to The Creek. I started off well by seeing a large flock of Broad-billed Sandpipers, and then a huge raft of Greater Flamingos. The common gull here was the eastern race of Yellow-legged Gull known as Pontic Gull, but I also saw Slender-billed Gull and both Gull-billed and Caspian Terns. Then it all went downhill when the local police threw me out. I protested my innocence (but not too vociferously!) before retreating as gracefully as the circumstances permitted.
I telephoned Colin Richardson at his office in Dubai City. Colin was originally from Scotland, and now the local bird expert in Dubai; he leads many trips in the area. He confirmed that he also has experienced problems with the local constabulary even when he leads large groups. His advice was to drive round the other side of the Creek, away from the police and continue birding there. I followed what seemed at the time like good advice and soon ticked off Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Pacific Golden Plover. The advice seemed a lot less acceptable when the cops arrived again. Not so easy this time; they ticked me off, but I got away with it, after undertaking to leave and not to return. Who says that birding is a quiet respectable activity?
Next morning was a workday, but I got up well before dawn and drove northwards towards Abu Dhabi, another of the Emirates. This time I was after Grey Hypercolius, a bird I had never seen previously, despite many trips to the Middle East. This time I was lucky, seeing not only three Hypercolius, but also Menetries Warbler.
From a business point of view it had been a good trip. From a birding one even better, having got two new birds. Many good memories, tempered by the intransigence of the Dubai police. However, I shall never forget that experience with the Desert Eagle Owl!
Thanks for that article Allan.
If holiday articles are not submitted for publication in the next newsletter I shall have no alternative but to ‘borrow’ another article by Allan concerning his attempt on the Icelandic ‘day list’ record.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership currently stands at approximately 85. Thanks to all of those of you who have joined. Do please renew your membership. Do please consider buying membership for a relative or friend as part of their Christmas present (even if a week or two late!!). If you find that we are a friendly society do please tell other people. If for any reason you don’t find us friendly – please tell us.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
You will either have just received or will shortly receive your programme for 2005. This is your Society, and so your suggestions for field trips, and topics for indoor meetings would be most welcome.
Do remember the bird race on Sunday January 9th. This is as serious and as competitive (or not) as you wish to make it. Primarily the object is to have a good day our birding. If anybody wishes to join in the bird race and would like more details about how, where and with whom, please feel free to contact me (office number 01362 692424, or Alwin on 01362 637752 or Ray on 01603 872709). If you would like to partake but have no one with whom to join up, we shall be more than happy to try to find you a leader or co-team members.
Our next INDOOR meeting is on Thursday January 20th when Professor Fred Cooke will give a talk entitled ‘Birds of the Canadian Arctic’. If Fred’s past talks are anything to go by, this will be a super ‘not to be missed’ presentation. Although Fred is a Professor, he has a wonderful ability not to talk above ordinary mortals (!) and this combined with Fred’s lovely sense of humour makes his talks a real pleasure to listen to.
WHAT’S ABOUT?
As mentioned previously plenty of winter Thrushes and Finches. Lots of Pink Footed Geese in the North Norfolk Coastal area and marshes. During the day they can often be seen further inland especially where sugar beet tops have been left. Flocks of Pink Footed Geese are always worth scanning though. Very often they contain more unusual Geese such as Barnacle and Red Breasted Geese. Bean Geese on Buckenham marshes near Strumpshaw. A trip to Welney and the Ouse Washes will produce the spectacle of hundreds of Bewick and Whooper Swans. Feeding time at the Welney Wildfowl Centre is a spectacular. Thousands of male Pochard (the ladies winter in warmer climes!!) join with the swans and other duck species at feeding time. The Ouse Washes is a good site for Short Eared Owl. Closer to hand, Wensum Valley itself will no doubt be host to Goosander and possibly other less common water foul. During times of bad or hard weather a lot of wildfowl are driven inland. Don’t forget the Raptor roost at Great Ryburgh. Roydon Common has in the past also been a good place to look for Raptors. Try some of the more open heath and similar terrain for Great Grey Shrike. Waxwings are another good winter possibility (lots in Norwich in November), and ‘tit; flocks are always worth looking at because other species tend to mix with them – e.g. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (and sometimes Firecrest).
WENSUM VALLEY STUDY AREA
The new enlarged area has been adopted and as you know details have previously been published. If anyone is still uncertain as to the new study area please let either myself, Alwyn, or Ray know and we shall be happy to let you have details. The old irregular shaped recording area was replaced by a regular rectangular shaped area. At the suggestion of the Wensum Valley Project, this has been further slightly enlarged in the southeast corner so as to include an environmentally sensitive area which is also part of the Wensum Valley. Full co-ordinates have been made available, but basically the area in question is the area of marsh near the old May & Baker (then Rhone Poullenc and now some other whose name eludes me) works adjoining the old outer ring road round Norwich, just north of the Dereham Road roundabout. Now aren’t you lucky people! Even MORE Study Area for the same subscription! Quick, tell your friends and get them signed up while this amazing offer lasts!
COLOUR RINGED TREE SPARROWS.
(A note from Ray)
Many of you know that a flock of up to 80 Tree Sparrows are wintering on Sparham Hall Farm feeding on a block of wildbird food, mainly millet, sown by the farmer, Charles Sayer. As the birds do not breed on the farm we are trying to establish where they are breeding. At the time of writing (20th Dec) I have caught 12 of the Tree Sparrows. All have been ringed with a metal BTO ring on the left leg and 2 of them have an orange plastic ring on the right leg. Weather permitting it is hoped to catch more of these (before the seed is finished) and ring them with both BTO metal and orange plastic rings.
If you see any Tree Sparrows will you please do your best to determine whether they have any rings, and if so, note the place and date plus any other info you consider relevant and let me have the record by whatever means is most convenient to you.
All records will be acknowledged with the history of the bird to date.
Ray Gribble, Tel 01603 872709. E-mail h.gribble@ntlworld.com
5 Morse Close, Lenwade, Norwich, NR9 5QQ
COUNTY ROOK CENSUS
(A note from Alwyn)
A new county-wide census of the Rook population is to be launched in 2006 by Bill Landells, Bryan Sage and Mark Cocker. It will probably take place in April which is the period when rookeries reach their fullest extent. Full guidance on how to survey a rookery will be provided.
Mark Cocker and Bill Landells are keen to hear from anyone wishing to take part and you are asked to contact them at the addresses below so they can coordinate complete coverage of the county.
Mark Cocker, The Hollies, The Street, Claxton, Norwich. NR14 7AA
Email markcocker@btinternet.com
Bill Landells, Northhaven, Marks Lane, Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk. IP27 0TL.
Email bland@doctors.org.uk
GOOSANDER RECORDS.
(More from Alwyn)
I would be interested to hear of any sightings of Goosander in the valley, especially of those seen at sites other than at Sparham Pools Nature Reserve. I am interested in finding out what other areas the birds frequent whilst overwintering in the valley. Please send any records to our Acting-Recorder, Ray Gribble at 5, Morse Close, Lenwade. NR9 5QQ or Email h.gribble@ntlworld.com or use the egroup.
Alwyn Jackson
BIRDS AND WINTER WEATHER.
(Yet more from Alwyn !)
As the winter weather closes in we can withdraw to our centrally heated homes in order to survive, but what about our birds?
Extremes of weather can have dramatic effects on bird survival but what impact does normal winters have?
Some recent work by the BTO set out to find out more.
As expected, increasingly adverse weather usually reduces bird survival and the impact is almost always greater for first year birds. Young birds are likely to be relatively inexperienced at foraging, and may also be excluded from the best foraging spots by adults, particularly when weather conditions are harsh and food scarce.
Most of the effects on bird survival occur in winter and the weather was found to be the most important determinant of annual differences in survival. Species were affected in different ways.
Ground foraging species, like the Dunnock and Robin suffered most in snowy weather when food was likely to be most difficult to find. Song Thrushes, on the other hand, which can dig through snow to a certain extent, were most affected by long periods of hard frost. Wrens, being small, were affected badly by most winter weather variables. In particularly bad winters survival could be half of the normal rate. However their populations seem able to bounce back rapidly as they can produce many chicks in a year.
The Great Tit and Blue Tit provide an interesting contrast in the effects that weather may have. The larger Great Tit, which often forages on, or close to, the ground, is affected most by snow cover, like ground foragers. The Blue Tit, however, forages much more in the tree canopy and is more exposed to bad weather, and its survival is hardest hit by long periods of cold, wet weather.
(Reference: “Chilly winters and hot summers”. Rob Robinson. Pp10-11 BTO News Nov-Dec 2004)
Alwyn Jackson.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Billy Youngman
Many of you will know Billy. He is one of our keenest members attending virtually all indoor meetings and field trips. You may have noticed that he was not at the Christmas Social. Unfortunately Billy has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour, which is inoperable.
He is at home and Alwyn and I visited him and his wife Marion before Christmas. We took a small gift on behalf of the club and the best wishes of you all. Marion has sent me an e-mail thanking us and asking me to pass on her appreciation to all of you.
Our thoughts are with Billy & Marion
Ray
FINALLY
I look forward to seeing all of you again soon. Wrap up, get out, and happy birding
Best wishes.
David Pelling