sevenoaks local group

SEVENOAKS
LOCAL GROUP
MAY 2014 NEWSLETTER
Diclofenac is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug used by many of us of a certain age.
Not only is it useful for humans, but it is also used widely in the veterinary field.
However, for Old World vultures it is deadly. Before the cause was recognised, it
caused the loss of 99% of vultures in India, Pakistan and Nepal. The birds fed on
the carcases of animals which had been treated with the drug, but by an unkind
quirk of metabolism it causes them almost immediate renal failure.
Safer alternatives are readily available and the ban on the drug in the sub-continent,
together with captive breeding programmes may have begun to halt the decline.
In the absence of the avian waste disposal units, the numbers of stray dogs have increased,
predictably bringing a rise in the occurrence of rabies and other diseases. It therefore seems
incomprehensible that diclofenac has now been authorised for use in domestic animals in Italy and
in Spain, where 80% of European vultures live!
This shows clearly that we need to maintain the pressure on governments and authorities to
consider environmental issues. An example of this working comes, perhaps surprisingly from the
Sudan and again features vultures. A power line from Port Sudan to the Red Sea has electrocuted
thousands of birds, including hundreds of endangered Egyptian Vultures over the years.
However, following research and pressure from BirdLife International, the Sudanese Wildlife Society
and the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, a new, fully insulated power line has been
constructed and the old “killer” line decommissioned.
This action has removed one of the hazards facing birds migrating through this region. To get
another angle on migration, the recent peregrinations of Chris the Cuckoo are described on page 4,
whilst if you are thinking of a journey of your own to a warm winter resort, you can get a flavour of
the Caribbean island of St. Lucia on page 2.
An outline of next season’s indoor meetings, organised by Jean (Nobbs) is included – full details in
the next Newsletter – and John (Waterman) and Nick (Barlow) have produced another excellent
programme of field meetings for the autumn, and to get a flavour, Nick’s reports on two of them are
reproduced on page 5.
Once again we will be having a photographic competition (details on page 9), this time with four
categories instead of three. The flora and landscape categories will stay the same, but we are
splitting “fauna” into birds and non-birds (mammals, reptiles, insects, etc., etc.), so there will be
even more opportunities for you to get those shutters whirring.
Brian Nobbs, Editor. Brian.Nobbs@tiscali.co.uk. 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP.
Don’t forget our website, www.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks.
A colour version of this newsletter will appear in the “News” section on the website.
The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a
home.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity:
England and Wales no. 207076; Scotland no. SC037654
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Great Birds in the Lesser Antilles – January in St Lucia
Text and photographs by Brian Nobbs
St. Lucia lies at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles chain in the Caribbean. A volcanic island 43
km (27 miles) long by 22km (14 miles) wide it feels much bigger, probably because few stretches of
road are either straight or level. The centre is mountainous (the highest peak 950 m (3,118 ft)) and
covered in lush rainforest, whilst lower down undulating hills are covered with native trees and
plantations of bananas and cocoa, with some agricultural land. Fortunately the forests are
respected, not only for their wildlife but to protect the water sources.
On Boxing Day 2013 torrential rainstorms battered the island, sweeping away bridges and causing
extensive flooding, and it was easy to see a month later that without the forest cover the erosion
caused would have been catastrophic.
The capital, Castries, is in the north-west, but the airport is at the southern tip, within (relatively)
easy reach of our hotel complex at Anse Chastenet, near Soufrière on the west coast. Despite the
apparent small size, the island holds at least six endemic (i.e. found nowhere else) species St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia Black Finch, St.
Lucia Wren, (a seventh, Semper’s Warbler, is probably extinct), and a further 14 that are endemic
to the Lesser Antilles.
Outside Soufrière the excellent Botanic Gardens gave
A good introduction not only to the native flora, but
also to a number of the birds, which being used to
people, modelled beautifully. The Purple-throated
Carib flashed its iridescent gorget of throat feathers in
the sun, and the Grey Trembler demonstrated the
weird vibrato for which it is named.
Also nearby were the Sulphur Springs, an area of
bubbling mud pools indicating the centre of volcanic
activity with the remains of the caldera (rim of the
volcano) all around us. Indeed the aroma of hydrogen
sulphide (think rotten eggs) gave the town of Soufrière
its name (“air of sulphur” in French).
A further feature of the area are two sharply pointed
hills, Gros Piton (798m) and Petit Piton (743m)
sticking up like a pair of canine teeth.
Purple-throated Carib
Bananaquit
The hotel Anse Chastanet is spread over
the side of a hill, overlooking the
Caribbean, so although a fair amount of
climbing was involved to move around
the site, the views were spectacular. Our
room had a large balcony, and we soon
found that placing some of the brown
sugar supplied for our coffee along the
handrail attracted a number of birds,
particularly Bananaquit and the Lesser
Antillean Bullfinch.
A stroll around the grounds, passing Zenaida Dove and Carib Grackle on the ground and Antillean
Crested Hummingbirds, including one on its nest, feeding from flowers, with an American Kestrel
perched overhead, led us to a small stream, flowing through the woodland and into the sea. It may
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have been small, but it contained fishing Little Blue, Green and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and a
Spotted Sandpiper. A wide variety of tropical trees and bushes grow naturally or have been planted,
including African Tulip Tree, Breadfruit, Castor Oil, Banana and West Indian Mahogany. Emerging
from the vegetation were the ruins of the buildings and machinery from the days when there was a
sugar plantation here, one of the crumbling walls acting as a base for a St. Lucia Pewee doing
some fly catching.
A morning boat trip from the hotel’s beach gave good
views of Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, and Royal
Tern, doubtless hunting the numerous Flying Fish
which erupted from the water around our boat.
I hadn’t realised how easily these fish can change
direction in mid-air, so they are no easy target.
Early morning excursions into the interior with some
excellent local bird guides produced more spectacular
birds, including the handsome blue and yellow St. Lucia
Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, with its long spotted tail,
the elegant Gray Kingbird, subdued but charming St.
Lucia Pewee, and all the other island endemics,
including the spectacular, but rarely well seen St. Lucia
Parrot.
Gray Kingbird
Near the Atlantic coast to the east, a small area of
wetland held Wilson’s Snipe, Cattle, Snowy and Great
Egrets, whilst on the beach were more familiar
Sanderling and Grey Plover. One of the plovers had a
sequence of coloured rings on its legs, subsequently
found to have been put on at its breeding grounds in
Canada.
In addition to the birds, Jean managed to go snorkelling
from the hotel’s beach most afternoons among
myriad colourful fish, corals and other sealife, whilst I wandered around the grounds with my
camera, or chilled out on the balcony baiting Bananaquits and Bullfinches!
With spectacular scenery and wildlife, very comfortable accommodation, good food, and friendly
locals, this Ornitholidays organised trip provided an excellent holiday.
Anse Chastanet resort
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Diary of a Cuckoo
On June 1st 2011 a male Cuckoo in Norfolk was fitted with a 5 gram transmitter (for the technically
minded, a Platform Transmitter Terminal) which transmits basic data to a satellite, giving the
position accurate to within 500 metres. The PTT transmits for 10 hours at a time before going into
‘sleep’ mode for 48 hours to allow the solar panel to re-charge the battery.
The Cuckoo was named ‘Chris’ (after the broadcaster Chris Packham) and he has successfully
migrated to and from central Africa every year since, giving some intriguing information about his
travels.
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Having just completed (on 26 April) his latest return to Norfolk or the summer, it is interesting to
see not only the route he has taken, but also how this differs from previous years.
Chris has his own Blog, and the information given below is adapted from the British Trust for
Ornithology website, where you can get much more information about Chris and the other tagged
Cuckoos - (http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking/).
We pick up the story in Angola, where he spent
most of December 2013. This in itself was a
surprise, since in previous years he used the
swamp forests of the Congo. In mid-January this
year he started heading NNE to the Central
African Republic, at one stage covering 930km
In under 5 days, arriving in the CAR on 25th
February and staying for several weeks before
moving on to first Ghana and then the Ivory
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Coast, arriving by March 21 and again taking a
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rest until at least April 6 .
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However, by April 11 he was flying over the
western edge of the Sahara in Mauritania, having
already covered 1525km from his previous
location, and using a more westerly route than
in previous years. A course change mid-way took
him to northern Morocco in the early hours of
April 14th.
In previous years, Chris has travelled to and
from Africa via Italy and France, but once again
he seems to have decided on a change of
scenery and this time headed through central
Spain, crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains
and arriving in northern Spain by 17th April.
Chris’s Journey
26 Apr
24 Apr
17 Apr
14 Apr
11 Apr
21 Mar
to 6 Apr
25 Feb
15 Jan
By the 24th April he was in Normandy, France,
inspecting the area of the D-Day Omaha Beach,
but he was soon off again, touching down back
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in Norfolk on the 26 .
It is tempting to think that along with his fellow Cuckoos, Chris has ‘come home’, but where is his
home? On average, only 15% of his time has been spent in the UK, compared with 47% in the
Congo and 38% travelling.
It is interesting to see that birds such as Chris can modify their migration routes and stopping off
sites if necessary, which makes the whole process of migration even more intriguing. To me
Cuckoos are particularly interesting since they are raised by a completely different species, perhaps
a Dunnock or a Reed Warbler, and from their first migration have to make their own way without
any guidance from an adult. They all tend to winter in the same general area of central Africa, but
take different routes to get there, and may well use an alternative for the return.
There is still so much to discover!
Brian Nobbs
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Field Trip reports
If you haven’t been able to join any of the mid-week field meetings, led by Nick Barlow, these
reports by Nick will give you a flavour of what you’ve been missing.
2/4/14: Oare Marshes KWT Reserve.
On our last trip here, in October 2013, we were lucky enough to have excellent views of the Spotted
Crake and rather less good views of a Red-necked Grebe: today was less exciting; however we had
a total of 47 species. On this day of major pollution warnings, with our own pollution being increased
by that coming from the Continent, together with dust from the Sahara, there was a smog-like haze
visible even here at Oare. The prevailing gentle breeze from the SE gave way to a very
uncomfortable E wind as the tide came in: chilly, despite the sunshine.
As we arrived at the car park we were greeted by a Chiffchaff, a Cetti’s Warbler (which called all
day), and by a Bearded Tit flitting over the reeds; later, near the sluice, we saw 3 Bearded Tits and
briefly had good views of a male bird.
We walked back along the road: great views of Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, and Skylark, and a nice
view of one of a few calling Mediterranean Gulls which passed above us; also one Sedge Warbler.
The Highland cattle attracted a good deal of attention; and we saw several Small Tortoiseshell and
a few Peacock butterflies.
From the East Flood hide we had better views of a pair of Pintail, and of around 90 roosting Blacktailed Godwits coming into breeding plumage. Other sightings included Linnets, Kestrels, a good
view of a juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting along this side of the West Flood and which disturbed
Lapwing, Redshank, Wigeon, Pochard, and Grey Heron amongst others; several Reed Bunting
including 3 very bright males in one bush; a few Curlew by the Swale; and a number of Avocet.
Later by the road we had a great view of a male Marsh Harrier which landed by the East Flood; and
a brief view of a Green Woodpecker.
17/4/14: Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve.
A very lovely day; full of birds and birdsong, leaves just starting to green the trees, spring flowers
and butterflies, blue skies and warm sunshine. At the Visitor Centre we were welcomed by Anna,
who kindly briefed us on recent developments and current bird sightings. Our visit was timely, with
the first Nightingale of the year arriving just the week before.
We spent most of the time on the eastern side of the Reserve, sheltered from a chilly breeze. Apart
from the birdsong some highlights included a good deal of Green Woodpecker activity and, as we
got closer to Fattengates Courtyard, super views of a pair of Nuthatch very low down, then a pair of
noisy Wrens in the brambly undergrowth, while above them a singing Willow Warbler showed well;
then for some the best view of a singing Nightingale close and posing by the edge of the water. On
the trees by the T-junction a pair of Treecreepers displayed their climbing skills moving effortlessly
along the underside of overhanging branches (we had even better views on our return journey).
Male Blackcaps seemed to be round every corner, and there were several Chiffchaffs; but just a few
Crows in the field with the longhorn cattle.
We went on to Hanger View (with views of the deer)and then had lunch at the picnic area above
Nettley’s hide: 3 Bullfinches flitted past, and nesting Long-tailed Tits were very busy. Butterflies
included several sulphur-yellow male Brimstones and one female in a courtship flight, a few
Peacocks, and some Orange Tips. Flowers included Greater Stitchwort, Celandine, Violets, and
Primroses.
At Jupp’s View we had good views of 3 Avocet: one guarding a scrape, seemingly intending to
breed (which I’m told would be a first for Sussex) and loudly seeing off a bewildered Canada Goose.
Only one Swallow was seen.
We returned along the public footpath by the church passing a rookery, a Goldcrest was busy in a
large Yew tree, and a flock of Jackdaws called from the trees. Back at the car park a Raven called
and flew west; I was surprised to learn that there are a couple of pairs on the downs.
We ended the day going along the edge of the ‘heathland restoration project’ area , a Great Spotted
Woodpecker ahead of us, then past the ‘dragonfly’ pond and lovely banks of Bluebells, and through
Black Wood to Hail’s View; where, facing into an uncomfortable breeze, there were several more
geese, ducks and waders (more Redshank and Lapwing, and a Curlew) and finally two odd-looking
birds in the distance which we found to be a pair of Mandarin ducks.
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Annual General Meeting
The 20th Annual General Meeting of the current Sevenoaks Group was held on 1st May.
Anne Chapman, our Group Leader, and Jane Love, our Treasurer, reviewed another very
successful year, during which we were able to donate £4,000 to the RSPB. The members present
voted to direct the money evenly between heathland and woodland habitat projects.
In addition, the amount raised for the RSPB from pin badges rose from £1,674 in 2012/13 to £5,815
in 2013/14, largely due to the efforts of Mick Love in placing and servicing pin badge boxes around
our “patch”.
It was agreed that from 2015, the Group’s year, formerly starting in September, should be realigned
to match the financial year, making 2015 subscriptions due in May 2015.
The Committee for 2014/2015 will be:











Leader
Treasurer
Secretary & Membership Secretary
Field Meetings (weekday)
Field Meetings (weekend)
Special Field Trip Co-Ordinator
Indoor Meetings
Newsletter & Web site Editor
Sales Co-ordinator
Campaigns Champion
Press Officer
Anne Chapman
Jane Love
Gill Saunders
Nick Barlow
John Waterman
Mick Love
Jean Nobbs
Brian Nobbs
Ann Breame
Jacquie Martin
Vacant
Unfortunately Julie Childs has had to relinquish the role of Press Officer, so if anyone is
interested in taking on this post, or perhaps in helping out at one of our sales events during
the summer, please contact Anne Chapman at: anneanddave.chapman@virgin.net.
Even a couple of hours help at these event would be gratefully received.
The events at which we plan to have a presence and items for sale are:
August 16th & 17th
– Kent Wildlife Trust’s Festival of Wildlife, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.
September 7th
– Heavy Horse Show, Shoreham.
September 13th & 14th – Hever Country Fayre, Hever Castle.
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Bird Names
Some birds are such a feature of the local scene that they have acquired a whole range of regional
or dialect names over the years. Here are just a few, from Francesca Greenoak’s British Birds their
Folklore, Names and Literature.
Great Crested Grebe: Greater Copped Doucker, Greater Dabchick, Greater Loon, Ash Coloured
Swan, Arsefoot, Car Goose, Tippet Grebe, Satin Grebe.
Bittern: Bittour, Buttal, Butter Bump, Bumpy Coss, Bumble, Bog Blutter, Bog Jumper, Bog Drum,
Bull of the Mire, Boom Bird, Miredrum, Clabitter, Heather Blutter.
Dunnock: Blue Isaac, Blue Jig, Blue Dickie, Doney, Smokey, Bush Sparrow, Dykesmowler, Hedge
Betty, Hedge Mike, Segge, Hedge Scrubber.
Yellow Wagtail: Barley Bird, Cow-klit, Cow-bird, Golden Dishwasher, Ladybird, Potato Setter, Mawdaw, Oat-ear, Sunshine Bird, Yellow Molly.
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Goldfinch: Gold Spink, Gool French, King Harry Redcap, Seven-coloured Linnet, Spotted Dick, Lady
with the Twelve Flounces, Sherriff’s Man, Foolscoat, Sweet William, Proud Tailor, Jack
Nicker, Draw Water, Moleneck.
Long-tailed Tit: Long-pod, Long-tailedPie, Dog-tail, Long-tailed Capon, Long-tailed
Chittering, Hedge Mumruffin, Ragamuffin, Juffit, Jack-in-a-bottle, Bottle Tit, Poke Pudding,
Pudding Bag, Puddney Poke, Oven Builder, Bum Barrel, Can Bottle, Hedge Jug, Bum
Towel, Bellringer, Nimble Tailor, Prinpriddle.
Mistle Thrush: Hollin Cock, Holm Screech, Mizzly Dick, Screech, Skirlock, Squawking
Thrush, Jay Pie, Jercock, Chercock, Stormcock, Jeremy Joy, Big Mavis, Horse Thrush,
Felfit, Fulfer, Fen Thrush, Norman Thrush, Stone Thrush.
Minibus Trips – Summer / Autumn 2014
Sunday 13th July
Rutland Water Ospreys
Day Trip
We plan to spend the day in two different locations at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve.
Providing the birds co-operate and stick to the routine that they have established in recent years, we
will spend the morning at Manton Bay, where, after a video presentation by the warden, we should
be able to watch a pair of Ospreys, hopefully with their young. We will be in one of two hides that
overlook the nest site, giving us good views of the birds feeding, bathing and stretching their wings.
For the photographers among us that have long lenses, some good shots should be possible.
The afternoon will be spent at Egleton where the Anglian Water Bird Watching Center is located.
From here we have access to 28 more hides. We would not expect to visit all the hides but would be
guided by the staff at the centre as to the best locations on the day.
Grade C – up to 4 miles walking.
As this trip is dependent on bird behaviour, changes could be made at a later date.
The reserve is run by the local Wildlife Trust who make a charge for entry, this is included in the
cost of £22.50 per head. Booking form below.
Minibus will leave Mavala car park at 6.45am, returning at about 7.00pm.
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Sunday 5 October
Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve
Day Trip
NOW FULLY BOOKED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN TO MICHAEL LOVE,
14 THE LANDWAY, KEMSING, SEVENOAKS, KENT, TN15 6TG.
 Please reserve ………….... place/s for Rutland Water on 13th July 2014
A cheque for £22.50 each is enclosed payable to ‘Sevenoaks RSPB Local Group’.
NAME: ………………………………………………..
DATE: …………………
ADDRESS:…………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
TEL.NO: ………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-MAIL:………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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BROADWATER WARREN &TUDELEY WOODS
From the blog of Alan Loweth, RSPB Wealden Office Manager & Volunteer Co-ordinator:
Spent an hour walking round the reserve this morning
[15th April] in beautiful weather and was treated to
singing and displaying Tree Pipits, singing Woodlark,
Linnet , two pairs of Marsh Tit, a Grey Wagtail at the
Decoy Pond, Siskins in the larches and a number of
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in full voice.
Then it was time to start this month's check of our 200
Dormouse nestboxes to see if the recent warm weather
had encouraged the dormice to emerge from hibernation.
We weren't disappointed. We checked half of the boxes
and found 4 animals, including a male and female
tucked up together.
Alan Loweth
A great wildlife sighting to round off 2013 was when a
Dartford Warbler was spotted on the heath at Tudeley
Dormouse © Alan Loweth
Woods in mid-December. It’s the first Dartford Warbler
to be seen at Tudeley since 2007 and the only known sighting in Kent in 2013!
This traditional heathland bird has lots of character, singing from a perch on top of gorse bushes
before darting back into the scrub. They went down to just 11 pairs of birds in the UK in the 1960s.
Things have improved for them, but there’s still a long way to go. They are another species that rely
on well managed heathland and we hope they will return to breed both at Tudeley and at
Broadwater as the landscapes become more and more tailored to their needs.
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From Steve Wheatley, Weald Sites Manager, RSPB South East England, reporting on 1 May:
Tree Pipits have been very vocal at Broadwater Warren. This charismatic bird has a very distinctive
parachuting flight from up high to the ground. It’s fluting song can currently be heard every day at
Broadwater and numbers are the highest since the RSPB acquired the site. This is especially
important because Tree Pipits are Red Listed as a species of highest conservation concern.
The Decoy Pond at Broadwater is now teeming with tadpoles, and a Grey Wagtail seems to be
nesting on the island. The trees on the island were coppiced during the winter, so it’s great that
wildlife is already responding to the extra sunlight. Contrary to its name, most of the body of the
Grey Wagtail is actually a lovely yellow.
Woodlarks are still singing, announcing their territories. Dunnocks have got off to an excellent start
this year and are doing well at both Broadwater and Tudeley. Linnets are singing their scratchy,
chattery song and Chiffchaffs are announcing their name from the scrub – “chiff-chaff-chiff-chaffchiff-chaff-chiff-chaff”. Willow warbler, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler have also been heard in the
last couple of days.
Meanwhile, in the shady, undisturbed woodlands the Bluebells are flowering and look amazing. It’s
easy to take bluebells for granted in this area, but the woodlands of this region really are the global
centre.
Brimstone butterflies are having a great spring at both reserves. Our recorder at Broadwater
counted 68 Brimstones on her survey last week, beating a count of 67 the week before. Plus, there
are now butterflies being consistently seen in areas they’ve never been seen before. Look out for
the ‘whites’ emerging now – Large White, Small White and Green-veined White.
A dense barrier of Rhododendron has been removed from one part of the woodland by our wardens
and volunteers this past winter. A massive quarry close to the A26 has been uncovered. The
exposed, sunny sandy quarry face can now be used by mining bees. Over time a rich woodland
ground flora will develop above and below the quarry.
Returning Nightjars should now have crossed from Africa into Europe and will be arriving here late
in May. They will have started their amazing journey from central Africa back in February or early
March, and will be looking for food and territories as soon as they reach us.
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TUDELEY WOODS WORK PARTIES
If you’ve ever fancied getting involved with some practical conservation, why not come out to one of
our work parties? Try felling a tree, making a dead hedge or starting a bonfire; get some fresh air
and make a difference. Send an email to Claire Derbyshire, the Wednesday Work Party Leader, or
Tom Pinches, the Warden at tudeley.woods@rspb.org.uk if you’d like more information.
Meet at the Reserve car park at 10:00 am.
All work is conducted under the supervision of the warden, and tools can be provided, though you
may prefer to bring your own (saw, loppers, etc.). Don’t forget to bring some lunch and a drink!
The reserve is off the A21. From the Sevenoaks direction, pass the turning for Tunbridge Wells, and
just before the Shell petrol station turn left into Half Moon Lane (signposted “Capel 2”). The reserve
car park is approximately 0.3 miles down the lane on the left (look out for brown RSPB sign).
2014 Work Parties
2014
May
June
July
August
September
Sunday
Wednesday
28th
7th
4th
2nd
13th
10th, 24th
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Photographic Competition
Our next photographic competition, only open to
paid up Group Members, is approaching, so
now is the time to get out and about with your
cameras.
This time, there will be four categories – Birds,
Other Fauna, Flora, and Landscape, and up to
two entries per category are invited. They
should be prints of no larger than 15cm X 21cm
(A5), printed from film negatives, slides or
digital. We are looking for exciting images, so
there are no rules regarding how or where the
photographs were taken.
The entries will be displayed anonymously (but coded), at the January 2015 meeting, when all the
members attending will be invited to vote for their choice by ballot. They will then be displayed again
at the February meeting, this time with the photographers named, and the winners in each category
will be announced. This allows everyone to participate, and avoids the subjectivity of a single judge.
Please send your entries, clearly identified with your name, address, title of the picture and the
category, to me at the address below, or hand them to me at the October, November or December
2014 indoor meetings.
Entries must be received by 21st December 2014. There is no entry fee (or prize), but if you wish
your photographs to be returned by post, please enclose a suitable stamped addressed envelope.
Please send entries to me, Brian Nobbs, at 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP.
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INDOOR MEETINGS
We meet on the first Thursday of the month, at OTFORD VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL, Otford,
TN14 5PQ. The car park is adjacent to the hall, and is free.
Entrance fee = Group Members £2.50, non-members £3.50.
Please note that meetings will START promptly at 7.45 pm, doors are open from 7.15 pm.
DONATIONS OF RAFFLE PRIZES ALWAYS APPRECIATED!
Notes for your diary – further details will be in the September Newsletter:
September 4th 2014
Cuba – and the World’s Smallest Bird – by Ann & Phil Ferrar
October 2nd 2014
Falkland Islands – Birds and Wildlife in close up – by John Buckingham
November 6th 2014
Our Local Raptors – or are they? – by Ed Drewitt
December 4th 2014
Bob’s Best of the Year – his best wildlife images over the last 12 months
– by Robert Canis
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January 8 2015
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February 5 2015
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Once More unto the Breach – by Adrian Thomas
Trinidad, Tobago and St. Lucia – by Brian Nobbs
March 5 2015
The Walk to Hel: a 50 mile walk to Hel on the Baltic Coast of Poland
- By Jonathan Forgham
April 9th 2015
The Plight of the Bumble Bee, plus film of the Short-haired Bumblebee
project at Dungeness – by Nikki Gammans
May 7th 2015
AGM + feature to be announced
Recycle your Printer Cartridges and Mobile Phones
We now have collection boxes for used printer cartridges and old
mobile telephones which we will bring to indoor meetings.
Not only will this help the environment, but at the same time will
bring in a small amount of money for the group.
The RSPB can also raise money from used postage stamps, so if you would
like to bring any to an indoor meeting, Brian or Jean will take them off your hands.
The Society can also find good homes for used binoculars & telescopes.
They can be refurbished and used by wardens and students overseas where
such equipment is difficult and expensive to obtain, so particularly valued.
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Our field meetings are a great opportunity to see a wide variety of birds and get some fresh air and
exercise at the same time. We will see over thirty different species on most walks and sometimes
fifty plus. The walks are for people of all abilities and for the most part cover easy terrain at a
leisurely pace, providing a chance to enjoy birds and learn more about them and their habitats, and
share a common interest with others.
On most walks we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear
are advised on all trips. All walks are undertaken at your own risk. It does have to be pretty bad
before we give up on a walk, but if the weather is dodgy please check with us that the walk is still
on. Contact numbers are: John Waterman on 01959 532364 (weekends – see also box below) or, if
you are late, ring John on 07935 206618, or Nick Barlow on 01732 762816 (weekdays), before
setting out.
For Minibus trips, the contact is Mick Love on 01732 384573.
Remember to take your RSPB membership card to all meetings at RSPB reserves.
Length of walk: “A” = 1 mile: “B” = 2 miles: “C” = up to 4 miles
For those with satellite navigation, we have included the nearest Post Code, but please note this
only gives an approximation of the meeting point, but usually to within a few hundred metres.
For car sharing, weekend meetings will start from the car park of Mavala UK Ltd., Unit 4,
Morewood Close, London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 2HU. Turn off London Road into Morewood
Close (by Fire Station), follow road round sharp right hand bend.
Mavala is on right before Station Car park.
Those wishing to car share should arrive at 8:30 for an 8:45 departure.
Participants are of course free to travel directly to the meeting location if they prefer.
If you coming to a weekend field meeting, please let John Waterman know by phone or text
[07935 206618], whether you are meeting at Mavala or travelling direct.
FIELD TRIPS May - December 2014
May 2014
rd
Fri 23
10.30 am
“C”
All day
Northward Hill RSPB Reserve (TQ768765) ME3 8SR
Wetland & Woodland birds
Adjacent to High Halstow, off A228. The visitor centre is at Bromhey Farm,
signposted R off High Halstow to Cooling road. Bring lunch.
June 2014
Sun 22nd
5.00 pm
“B” Eve.
NO premeet at
Mavala
Tues 24th
11.00 am
“C”
All day
Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve (TQ554372) TN3 9JP
Nightjars, Woodcock
From A26 1 mile south of Tunbridge Wells, turn R into Broadwater Forest Lane (SP
High Rocks, Groombridge). The car park is on the left after approx. a mile.
Bring a torch and insect repellent.
Wed 13th
11.00 am
“C”
All day
Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN
Waders, wildfowl & migrants
From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile turn R
at Boulderwall Farm onto gravel track leading to reserve centre.
Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
Thursley Common (SU900417) GU8 6LN
Heathland birds, Hobby, dragonflies
Meet at Moat Pond car park half way between Elstead and Thursley.
Allow 1½ hours travel time. Nearest toilets are at service station just before turn off
to Elstead.
Bring lunch.
August 2014
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September 2014
Thurs 11th
11.00 am
“C”
All day
Cuckmere Haven Head (TV518995) BN25 4AD
Autumn migrants.
On A259 between Eastbourne and Seaford. Meet at Country Park car park.
Bring lunch.
Sun 14th
10.30 am
“C”
All day
Dungeness (not RSPB) (TR089168) TN29 9NB
Seawatch
From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 2 mile meet at
Old Lighthouse Car Park. Followed by visit to RSPB Reserve?
Bring lunch& RSPB Membership card..
October 2014
Thurs 9th
11.00 am
“C”
All day
Shellness Nature Reserve (TR040703) ME12 4QL
Migrants, geese, waders, birds of prey.
On the Isle of Sheppey. Meet at Leysdown on Sea seafront on B2231.
Bring lunch.
Sun 26th
10.00 am
“C”
All day
Reculver (TQ226693) CT6 6SU
Waders, migrants, seabirds.
M2 then A299 towards Thanet. Meet at the car park by Reculver Towers. Seawall
and footpath walks.
Bring lunch.
November 2014
Fri 7th
10.30 am
“C”
All day
Sun 23rd
10.00 am
“C”
All day
Elmley Nature Reserve (TQ939679) ME12 3RW
Waders, wildfowl, raptors.
Take A249 from M20 J7. One mile after Kingsferry Bridge turn R on signposted
rough track for 2 miles to reserve car park.
Bring lunch. NB. Long walk to hides.
Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve (TQ552792) RM19 1SX
Wetland birds
Exit M25 at J30. Follow signs to Dagenham, London, on west bound A13. Exit A13
at the A1306 (first junction signposted Wennington, Aveley and Purfleet). From
junction follow signs to Purfleet along A1306 for half mile. At traffic lights, take R,
signposted A1090 to Purfleet onto New Tank Hill Road flyover. The entrance is
300m along this road, on R just after bottom of the flyover.
Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
Note: From October 2014 there will be changes to how you pay to use the
Dartford crossing . You will no longer pay at the barriers, instead you’ll be able to
pay in advance, or up to midnight the day after crossing. For details see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dart-charge-dartford-crossing-remote-payment
Tues 25th
10.30 am
“C”
All day
Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD
Waders, raptors, migrants
Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car
park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village.
Bring lunch.
NB. No toilets on site but Sainsbury’s store just off B2045 has food and toilets.
December 2014
Sun 14th
10.00 am
“C”
All day
Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve (TQ059164) RH20 2EQ
Wildfowl and winter visitors.
On the L on A283 – 3 miles before Pulborough, after turning off A24 at Washington.
Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.
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