BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP

SEPTEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke

Contents:

From The Group Leader

The State Of Nature 2016

Naturetrek’s 2017 Brochure

Notices

What’s Happening?

September’s Outdoor Meeting

October’s Outdoor Meeting

July’s Outdoor Meeting

June’s Outdoor Meeting

May’s Outdoor Meeting

A Murder Of Crows?

Sri Lanka: Udawatta Kele Forest Sanctuary

Local Wildlife News

Quiz ‘Page’

And Finally!

Charity registered in England and Wales no. 207076

From The Group Leader

Welcome to September, the autumn and the commencement of another RSPB Basingstoke

Local Group Programme.

You may not yet be in to the full swing of the autumnal passage of birds, but we can but

hope that the new Programme will encourage you to make the most of this before the clocks

go back once again, the days shorten perceptibly and that most ferocious of unwanted

seasonal beasts rears its ugly head once more – Christmas!!! At least there’ll be plenty of

Robin about, even if only on cards! But more about the latter soon!

This coming Sunday the Outdoor Meetings start with a visit to Keyhaven and Pennington

Marshes, where migration is sure to be obvious, as might other birders if the recently found

Buff-breasted and White-rumped Sandpipers linger to the outing weekend. Wader and

passerine passage has been good there in recent weeks, with the odd skua, diver, seaduck

and less expected seabird thrown in for good measure, and so those attending, weather

permitting, can expect a day well worth the effort of visiting the coastal south.

Please do go over the 2016 – 2017 Programme and let us, the Committee, know what you

think of it. As always, we’re here to try and accommodate all input for the future and the

more we get from you, hopefully the more the future events of the Local Group can be

tailored to your tastes and needs.

There’s a varied range of subject matter in this Newsletter and I hope that you find some of

it to your liking – if not, do let me know, in the nicest possible way of course! I’ll try to

include a mixture of text and images, more serious and lighter material in future Newsletters

but again, if there’s anything you believe ought to be included do let me know.

Apologies are due for my lack of communication with you over the ‘summer break’, this

primarily due to an accident that left me with broken fingers etc. that rather complicated the

act of trying to put a Newsletter or even mailings together. Even though there are still

ongoing issues with my extremities I’m now at least able to type – unfortunately however

this probably won’t improve what I type! So, any copy from any Member would be

appreciated for forthcoming Newsletters and / or the Local Group’s website.

Finally, just a thank you for from me, the Committee and Society for your continuing

support of the RSPB, through the Local Group, and therefore all the wildlife and wild places

that the Society in turn champions.

I look forward to seeing you out in the field with the Local Group soon and wish you all

well for your bird and wildlife watching over the coming months.

Peter E. Hutchins

The State Of Nature 2016

Dear Colleagues,

Last week was a good week for the work of the RSPB.

Last Wednesday, in collaboration with more than 50 other organisations, we successfully

completed the first phase of launching the State of Nature 2016 reports.

The reports set out how species are faring, the main factors affecting populations and some

of the great work conservation organisations are already involved in. Through State of

Nature we are setting the political agenda for nature conservation, now in the face of the

challenges arising from the proposed departure of the UK from the EU.

The RSPB has played the leading role in a partnership of more than 50 research and

conservation organisations to produce and launch these reports. I cannot emphasise

enough what a terrific collective effort across our organisation this has been.

In Edinburgh 125 guests, including MSPs, civil servants, agency staff, land managers and

NGOs heard Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate

Change and Land Reform, re-commit the Scottish Government to actions aimed at meeting

the 2020 Aichi targets. I was equally pleased to hear that there was a compelling call from

two young Scots on the importance to young people of protecting and enhancing

biodiversity and the value of connections to nature.

In London, we were reminded by Sir David Attenborough of the importance of our global

commitments for nature, and that the natural environment is the most valuable thing that we

have in this country. Trevor Dines from Plantlife inspired us with a compelling case from

improving agriculture policy. Andrea Leadsom MP, Secretary of State for the Environment

welcomed the report as a reminder that there is still much to do. At the end of a lively

debate on the future of nature conservation post EU referendum, Orlagh McLaughlin from

the Northern Ireland Young Campaigners made the whole audience sit up and take notice

by quoting Seamus Heaney and urging us to campaign more effectively.

State of Nature has received widespread media coverage including national radio, TV and

press. In the spirit of partnership, interviews were shared among the State of Nature

partners. Rarely has such a large group of conservation groups come together – more than

twice as many as for the first State of Nature. It’s very notable that the feedback from across

the partnership has been excellent – a credit to all the hard, often unseen, work which goes

into making coalition working successful.

The UK State of Nature 2016 includes the UK Overseas Territories and it is great news that

the UK and several UK Overseas Territory Governments have jointly announced that more

than two million square kilometres of British waters will be protected for future

generations. This vast area of sea includes coral reefs, some of most pristine tropical

marine systems, and critical oceanic islands such as Ascension, Gough and Henderson that

are the focus of RSPB action. This far-reaching announcement is another example that even

in these challenging times, we go far beyond documenting declines and can help deliver

real progress for saving nature.

Our own response to the State of Nature has to be to redouble our hope, determination and

commitment. Our task has never been easy - but the passion, energy and dedication shown

by all of you tells me that we can, and we will, do it!

Best wishes,

Mike Clarke Chief Executive

UK Headquarters The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL rspb.org.uk

Naturetrek’s 2017 Brochure

Naturetrek’s 2017 Brochure – Celebrating 31 Years Of

Birdwatching, Botanical And Natural History Holidays.

Naturetrek’s new brochure for 2017 is packed with over 40 new wildlife holidays and over

400 tours to worldwide destinations. This Hampshire-based wildlife specialist continue to

lead the way in providing exceptional Birdwatching, Botanical and Natural History

holidays. Conveniently based just down the road from Basingstoke, in the picturesque

village of Chawton, Naturetrek is always delighted to host visitors at the Mingledown Barn

office.

Mingledown Barn

The new HQ of Naturetrek – where you will always find a warm welcome

If you are in the process of planning your next wildlife holiday, please feel free to visit them

for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. Four of Naturetrek’s regular tour leaders, Andrew

Cleave, Jim Andrews, Stewart Woolley and Lee Morgan are all well known to the RSPB

Basingstoke Local Group, and although Lee has now moved to Canada and Stewart to

Scotland, Andrew and Jim are still Basingstoke-based and great advocates of Naturetrek and

in particular of the many tours they lead! Particularly popular at the moment are Brazil,

Colombia, wildlife cruises and our extensive European programme which focuses on the

special birds, plants and insects of the quieter corners of our varied continent.

To find out more please visit their website at www.naturetrek.co.uk or call Naturetrek on

01962 733051

Watch out for exciting news for the Group from Naturetrek in the near future!

Notices

Subscriptions

The annual subscription to the Local Group is now due.

This is now £15, as was both proposed and agreed by the Membership at the Annual

General Meeting on 18th

May 2016.

The Treasurer, Gerry Gardner, will be available to help lighten the load that you need to

carry home after any Indoor Meeting!

Annual Donation

At the 2016 Annual General Meeting it was proposed and agreed that the donation from the

Basingstoke Local Group should be for ‘Intertidal Habitats’.

The intertidal habitats in the South East are some of the most important in the country and

are vital homes for wading birds, terns and waterfowl. With our donation we can help

protect these amazing places and birds from the pressures of recreational disturbance and

sea level rise, while inspiring people about how precious these places are.

The RSPB has worked with the Environment Agency to create a fantastic new intertidal bay

at Medmerry, between Selsey and Bracklesham in West Sussex. Existing sea defences were

breached in autumn 2013 and saltmarsh and mudflat is now starting to form to compensate

for losses of internationally-important habitats in the Solent. There’s still a long way to go

until the ecosystems are established.

Nearby at the RSPB’s Pagham Harbour and Langstone Harbour reserves, the Society is

undertaking lots of work to encourage Little Terns to breed, one of our most threatened

seabirds.

The RSPB is also working with councils around the south coast harbours and north Kent,

through the planning system, to ensure that developments that might lead to increased

recreational pressure include suitable mitigation measures to reduce any disturbance.

Winter Birding Weekend

The 2017 winter birding weekend for the RSPB Basingstoke Local Group will be in Devon,

based, as before, at the Passage House Hotel on the banks of the Teign estuary.

When: A two night stay, arriving Friday 10th

February and leaving on Sunday12th

February

2017.

In addition to visiting a selection of the various birding sites and reserves (Topsham,

Exminster Marshes, Dawlish Warren, Berry Head, Labrador Bay, Broadsands, Brixham

Harbour etc.) a birding cruise on the Exe estuary will be organised on the Friday or

Saturday for those who wish to join it.

Full details will be available at the September indoor meeting.

If you cannot attend the meeting and wish to at go on the weekend please contact me on

01189 700859 or 07779 026915 or Gerry.Gardner@btinternet.com and I will forward full

details.

Gerry Gardner

Poole Harbour Bird Boats

Hello all

My name’s George Hinton and I work down in Dorset as part of the RSPB team there. I’ve

emailed your Group Leader to let you know about our upcoming bird boats around Poole

harbour and our Dorset Discovery Winter Tour. Both of these fantastic events will hopefully

be of great interest to you and some of you may have already experienced them and know

what they entail, but for those who haven’t I’ll provide a brief introduction:

Poole Harbour Bird Boats – November 20th

, December 11th

(Brownsea Island landing),

January 15th

2017, January 29th

2017 (Brownsea Island landing), February 12th

2017

(Brownsea Island landing), February 15th

2017.

Poole harbour is not only just a natural phenomenon, but a wildlife phenomenon also.

These special boat tours provide you with a brilliant opportunity to experience the harbour

in all its winter glory. The array of bird life is superb and world-renown, ranging from the

largest wintering flock of avocet in the UK to record breaking numbers of spoonbill, the

harbour has it all. Experience all there is to offer from the comfort of the Brownsea Island

ferry and in the company of passionate and knowledgeable RSPB staff, ensuring it to be an

unforgettable trip where you’ll miss nothing and see everything.

These tours are delivered through a partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, National

Trust and RSPB. Please follow the link for more information and details on how you can

book your place.

Harbour cruise - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/1ab5e144-132c-432b-aa78-

11e92fcecc19/pages/details

Harbour cruise and landing - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/dc48468b-3b69-44b8-

a328-93830fa54bee/pages/details

Dorset Discovery Winter Tour – January 9th

to 11th

2017.

This is an exclusive opportunity to experience Dorset wildlife like never before. Gain

unprecedented access to some of the county’s most renowned wildlife locations and miss

nothing with expert guide knowledge and information. Across three days you’ll explore

Dorset extensively, searching for the best of winter residency and migration, such as all

three diver species, merlin and hen harrier. A celebration of Dorset wildlife, the Dorset

Discovery Winter Tour will finish with your camera reel full to capacity and binocular grips

well worn. We will be visiting RSPB reserves that are not normally open to the public, led

by the staff who manage them and all profit goes back to conservation, what could be

better? Booking is limited to ensure an intimate and personal experience so book without

delay to make certain you don’t miss out.

For more event information, including a full tour itinerary, please follow the link provided.

http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/dorset-discovery-winter-tour-–-january-9th-–11th-

2017#overlay-context=dorset-discovery-winter-tour-%25E2%2580%2593-january-9th-

%25E2%2580%259311th-2017

If you have any further questions or queries regarding both events then please feel free to

contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

Looking forward to potentially seeing some of you come winter time!

Many thanks

George Hinton Community Engagement Officer

RSPB Arne, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5BJ

Tel 01929 553360

Mobile 07872 116424

British Birds

We’ve been given a number of copies of British Birds that are no longer of use to the

original owner, these covering the years 2001 to 2008; in total 96 issues and the Index for

each of the eight years.

If you’d be interested in purchasing any of these please contact the Group Leader. They will

also be on sale at the Indoor Meetings, with a price of £1 per issue or £10 for a year, 12

copies and the Index, having been suggested.

As always, any profits gained through the sale of these items will go to the RSPB and its’

continuing work.

Brian’s Bees The honey that has been on sale at Indoor Meetings is still available! In three varieties!

Thank you to all those that purchased this locally sourced product, and to all those that do

you in the future! Please do remember when considering sourcing honey in the future that

this is both locally produced, some of you may even know the bees, and that a donation to

the Group is made on each purchase!

Local Group Website

The Local Group website continues to be worked upon by our trusted band of computer-

literates, well Tim. Carr, so if you haven't been to the site during the Summer Break, why

not take a look and tell us what you think. Any thoughts on what we should, or should not,

include within the site will always be appreciated, this then helping to make the site more

relevant to current group members, and helping to get across the right message to

potential members.

Link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke/

Newsletter Mailings

Do we have your email address? If not, please do pass it on so that the Group can

communicate with you in a more environmentally sensitive manner! The monthly

Newsletter being an example of this, saving resources, money and time by being mailed to

you, rather than hard copies being created and perhaps only sitting partially read until the

next one appears. With regard to this, it’s hoped, seemingly never-endingly, that the lack of

hard copy will be resolved in the future!

Bird Food

We are happy to supply any bird food to you at any time, just call on 01256 – 770831,

07895 – 388378 or mail us on fieldfare@jaybry.gotadsl.co.uk and we will arrange delivery

to you. If you have any requirements that are not listed, please do let us know and we will

ensure that they are available when you, or your birds, need them.

The below are examples of just a few of the items that we can supply. Please do enquire

after anything else and we will provide you with a cost, time of delivery etc. As both of us

are currently working in / about Basingstoke delivery can be expected to be completed

within a day of an order being received – can you get that service anywhere else? Prices

vary according to the seasonality of the foods, where we are able to source them from, and

so on:

Wild Bird Mix – Peanuts – Black Sunflowers – Sunflower Hearts – Niger –

Fat Squares – Fat Pecker Balls – Birdboxes – Feeders – Wildfowl Food – Bat

Boxes – Mealworms – Suet Pellets – Hedgehog Feeders.

A variety of items will be available at most Indoor Meetings but if there is

something ‘missing’ that you want, please do let us know.

Peter & Alison

What’s Happening?

A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you

entertained as the nights continue to lengthen:

Basingstoke Natural History Society

c.stubbs@mypostoffice.co.uk

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The Wild Flower Way, Spring, North & South Of Perth

Date 11th

October

Time 20:00pm

An illustrated presentation by Carol Watson.

A joint meeting with the HIWWT.

United Reformed Church, London Street, Basingstoke, RG21 7NU.

Patricia & Colin Stubbs: 01256 323324; Diane Rampton: 01256 467533 or Nicola

Williams: 01256 353194.

Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust

http://www.hwt.org.uk/

Nature Photography

Water Violets by Elliott Fairs

Date 8th

October

Time 10:00am to 4:00pm

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Discover nature photography in a one day introductory course. Ideal for beginners and

improvers our nature photography course will show you some very simple techniques and

guidelines to help you learn how to use your digital camera to take better photographs of

natural subjects.

In a mixture of presentations, discussions and practice you will learn:

how your camera works, and what it can and can’t do

techniques and tips on improving picture quality

how to take pleasing pictures through a better understanding of composition

In the afternoon there will be an outdoor photo session to test out your new skills in the

beautiful Twyford water meadows beside the River Itchen.

Is this course for me? If you have a digital camera that stays on auto and you enjoy taking photographs, but are

disappointed with the results then this course is for you. Through presentations and

demonstrations you’ll get to know more about what your camera can and can’t do. You’ll

be shown simple guidelines to composing pictures and see how they can be improved

with basic editing. If you are still not sure then please contact the tutor to discuss further.

What do I need to bring?

Digital camera

Camera manual if you have one

Spare camera batteries

Empty, but formatted SD memory card

Suitable clothes for the weather on the day

Comfortable walking shoes/boots/wellies

You might like to bring a note book and pen or pencil

Packed lunch

Tutor Mike Allen – HIWWT South Downs Reserves Officer

Twyford Parish Hall, Hazeley Road, Twyford Winchester SO21 1QY.

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Birds Of Prey: Conservation And Recent Research

Hobby on Nest with Chicks

Date 12th

October

Time 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Hawk Conservancy Trust projects both in the UK and overseas.

Join us for an illustrated talk by the Hawk Conservancy Trust from Weyhill, near

Andover to discover the work being carried out in their bird of prey hospital, with the

raptor nest box scheme, and other research projects including international work with

critically endangered vultures.

Badger Farm Community Centre, adjacent to far end of Sainsbury's store, Badger Farm

Road, Winchester SO22 4QB.

Grid reference SU462 275

What‘s That Tree? Autumn

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Date 14th

October

Time 9:30am to 12:30pm

Autumn tree identification course

Our autumn tree identification course will give you memorable tips on how to identify

our native trees and shrubs.

Autumn is a time of change for our wildlife and the transformation of many tree and

shrub species can be remarkable. You will be spending the morning outdoors at

Harewood Forest near Andover learning identification tips. You will discover how to tell

the difference between live tree and shrub species in autumn by learning the distinctive

shapes of leaves as well as learning about the different fruits, barks and even the location

of the plant.

During the course you will be walking at least 3 miles on uneven terrain including hilly

places, a short but steep slope and rough, sometimes muddy tracks.

Is this course for me? An introductory course to identifying trees and shrubs in autumn is ideal if you are a

beginner or you want to brush up on your skills.

You must be able to walk at least 3 miles on uneven terrain including hilly places, a short

but steep slope and rough, sometimes muddy tracks.

What do I need to bring?

Suitable, warm and dry clothing for the weather on the day

Strong, comfortable footwear for walking

If it’s due to rain please bring waterproofs

Please bring your own refreshments.

Tutor Susan Simmonds - Assistant Education Officer

Susan has a lifelong passion for wildlife and graduated in Environmental Science, she has

worked and volunteered in the conservation sector for 15 years. She recently took the

opportunity to spend two years lecturing as a temporary, sessional lecturer on a BTEC

National Diploma course in Countryside Management at Sparsholt College. As a

qualified teacher in the Lifelong Learning sector she enjoys teaching her skills through

courses like plant species identification and mammal tracks and signs to others. Susan has

a desire to make a difference and to play a part in conserving our natural world and

believes that she can do that through further study and ultimately through lecturing and

research. She loves species identification and regularly teaches wildflower identification

and carries out survey work. She is currently playing a key part in updating the Botanical

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Society of The British Isles (BSBI) Atlas of the British & Irish Flora as a ‘Hectad

Guardian’.

Susan is a governor at a local primary school and works each week with the teachers and

children to assist them in using their outdoor environment. As the chairperson for the

school’s Woodland Committee she has written a management plan for the site and

oversees its management. You can hear Susan as she has a fortnightly slot on BBC Radio

Wiltshire on Sunday lunchtimes, where she speaks about seasonal aspects of the

countryside.

Meeting at Wherwell village playing fields car park, Longparish Road, Wherwell, SP11

7JP.

The playing fields are located near to the school where there is a very large car park with

free parking for you to use.

Capture A Downland Autumn

Date 19th

October

Time 2:00pm to 5:00pm

A photographic excursion over the spectacular St Catherine's Hill

Bring your camera on this 2 mile guided walk around this spectacular downland reserve.

There will be plenty of time for photography and advice on taking better pictures. The

walk involves a gentle climb of 70m.

Car park: by Tun Bridge, Garnier Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9PA.

Map reference SU484280

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Basingstoke Wildlife Watch

Wildlife Watch In Action

Batty Evening In Overton!

Date 30th

May

Time 7:00pm to 9:00pm

An evening of crepuscular and nocturnal creature events, bats and bat detecting, moths

and moth-trapping included. For further details, please contact:

Clare Lloyd Williams 01256 – 782665 or Peter E. Hutchins on 01256 – 770631.

Please note that all the events noted above may be filmed and photographed for

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust's fundraising and publicity purposes.

If you have any concerns, please speak to a member of staff.

The Oakley Gardening Club.

New Zealand, North And South

Date 3rd

October

Time 20:00pm

Alan Copeland.

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St. Leonard's Centre, Rectory Road, Oakley.

For further information please contact: Mrs. Joan Crame on 01256 - 780137.

Overton Biodiversity Society

http://www.overton-biodiversity.org/

Orchard Day Fair

Date 8th

October

Annual celebration of the community orchard at Overton Hill: Apple tasting, cake

and apple juice, displays, children's activities etc. in a joint event with the

Community Orchard Group.

For further information please contact:

Ken or Jane on 01256 – 771121 or email jakmackenzie@yahoo.com

Local Opportunities for Conservation Volunteering

Are you interested in your local environment? Do you have a passion for

conservation and wildlife? If yes, try the following the site to check on what’s

happening locally that you could become involved in.

http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2BEA9CA3-DD29-414A-AAE4-

0F8A916F61E4/0/Conservationworkparties.pdf

There are opportunities for you as an individual, a family or a social group to join

the groups of volunteers already working in the following areas:

Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Plantation

Chineham

Cliddesden

Glebe Gardens, Victory Park and King

George Vth Playing Fields (Brookvale)

Kempshott

Mill Field Local Nature Reserve

Oakley

Old Down, Kempshott

Overton

Popley

South View

September’s Outdoor Meeting

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Keyhaven Marshes: 25th.

For this Outdoor Meeting please meet in the car park by the harbour for a 10:00 start (SZ

307 915, OS Landranger map 196; SO41 0TR).

This is off the minor road left off Keyhaven Road, Keyhaven, this accessed by the public

car park, and almost opposite The Gun Inn Public House.

For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a

Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 52.2 miles between Basingstoke and the site,

the AA site 51.1; a travelling time of 75 and 81 minutes being quoted by these sites; these

by using the M3 and M27 and then through Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst. As always, it’s

best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear this in mind

when deciding on when to leave.

A walk about this very well-known coastal nature reserve will definitely, as for the

previous month, be one of the birding highlights of the Local Group’s 2016 – 2017 calendar

with both good numbers of birds to be seen, a wide range of species to be looked for, both

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birds and other wildlife, harbour and sea views to look out over, the Isle of Wight to stare

forlornly at and, hopefully, fair weather to encourage both birds and those watching them

out.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

A species on the increase in the county and a distinct possibility for addition during the

outing

Heading east from the harbour at Keyhaven the waters both offshore and inland will be

looked over, the latter fringed by reedbeds and hopefully holding both resident and migrant

warblers. With lower levels of water the exposed edges attract Water Rail out to feed, Little

Grebe often diving repeatedly in the still deeper waters. The floods will have brought in

wildfowl in good numbers, wintering birds such as Pintail and Wigeon perhaps already in

evidence whilst gulls, herons, including Little Egret, and waders, mostly now in autumnal

tones, will be picked out amongst these with ‘scopes.

We’ll not be the only ones making the most of this coastal area, as we’re sure to see

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The beach and shallower waters offshore allow waders such as Turnstone and Redshank to

feed and often these are seen very close to hand, as are the near resident herd of Mute Swan

– watch out for ringed individuals of the latter. Boats in the harbour give waders further

places to roost, Turnstone again often obvious in mottled gatherings.

Further afield the saltmarsh out towards The Hurst Spit gives up foraging areas for many

waders, though the lengthier vegetation often obscures these until they move in to the air,

Whimbrel, Curlew, godwits and Little Egret however leggy enough to be seen regularly.

The dotted about the saltmarsh are always worthy of attention, both Peregrine and Merlin

being possible visitors to these; as has been proven on previous outings.

Keyhaven Marshes

A typical view of the saltmarsh, looking out towards Hurst Castle / Spit

Ever eastwards our walk will take us along the seawall from where we’ll be able to look out

over further areas of saltmarsh, further waders, gulls, corvids, raptors and ‘herons’ to be ted

here, and, inland, the many pools that are such a focus for both waders and wildfowl.

Scanning the latter will provide yet more chances to improve your identification skills on

the former though such species as Avocet and Oystercatcher should at least provide a few

readily identifiable birds, both sure to be vocal as well as showy in their pied plumage.

Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper may be ‘hiding’ amongst the Dunlin whilst Greenshank

will be joining their more familiar cousins, Redshank.

The scrub, hedgerows and rough pasture flanking the pools and dykes provide both shelter

and sustenance for passage passerines, Dartford Warbler include, so time watching may

well see wagtails, pipits, flycatchers, warblers and chats added for the outing. The

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invertebrates they’ll be foraging for to include dragonflies and butterflies, perhaps Clouded

Yellow being amongst the latter.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

One of the passage migrants most likely to be encountered about the marshes

As we approach and pass Pennington Marshes time will be spent again looking out to ‘sea’,

the shallower offshore waters here being favoured by the local now resident Eider with early

Red-breasted Merganser perhaps already back for the winter. Terns may still be fishing

among the noticeably larger numbers of gulls and uncovered shingle spits may be used as

places of rest before continuing the lengthy journey southwards. If the weather’s been poor

prior to the outing, especially if it’s come in hard from the south-west, such viewing could

add more unexpected visitants such as auks, divers and Common Scoter, these among birds

such as Mediterranean Gull which may be noted passing along the coast at any stage of the

outing. Grey Phalarope are regular wind-blown September visitors so care needs to be taken

on watching any small and active waders, both on the open waters and the inland pools if

the weather’s forced any of these inshore prior to the day of the meeting.

Keyhaven Marshes

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We can but hope for weather and views like this

Moving inland on having our fill of primarily water-based birds we’ll check over the flocks

of wildfowl grazing out on the pastures and farmland to see if anything more distinctive

than Canada Geese are present, Curlew again likely to be found in the latter fields and

needing scrutiny to see if a Whimbrel or Bar-tailed Godwit is lingering with them.

The hedgerows and copses again are worthwhile lingering about for further south-bound

migrants, the warblers etc. moving through sure to be joined by mixed flocks of tits. Finches

and buntings will be using these prior to dropping in to the fields to feed and thrushes will

become more evident as we move away from the coast, these perhaps to include the first

Redwing of the late year for many.

The footpath from Lower Pennington back towards Keyhaven is sheltered and here we’re

more likely to see butterflies and other insects active, making the most of the fruiting

brambles, puddles, sunlit perches and, for those such as dragonflies, the abundance of

smaller winged prey.

Looking back to the coast will provide further migrants as they continue to move through

and feed in the scrub, overhead Swallow and martins perhaps even joined by a late, for us,

Swift. Throughout the outing birds will be moving overhead, even if ‘only’ gulls and crows;

looking inland and skywards is sure to add further raptors, Buzzard in particular often

evident over woodland to the north.

Late September usually provides a few migrant surprises about the marshes and species

such as Wryneck might just be gracing the area, so care’s needed on scanning throughout

the visit as birds appear on tracks, hedge or scrub crowns, as will also be the case when

looking amongst the more expected waders, Pectoral Sandpiper perhaps the most likely of

vagrants to be included in the roving flocks of Dunlin. Even without birds of such note the

outing’s sure to provide much of interest and time spent going over all that’s feathered will

be sure to give up a surprise or two.

Dark-bellied Brent Branta bernicla

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Will they be back?

Please be aware that the walk will take in areas of unmade paths, include shingle /

pebbled beach, and that we’ll be in the open, and therefore possibly having to be aware of

the sun and the other weather coming in off the sea!

The walk will take us through to early afternoon when there will be the options to head

home, linger about the area or complete a further walk later / nearby.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey

home, such as The New Forest National Park, Lower Test Marshes, Calshot, Stockbridge

Down and Micheldever Spoil Heaps will be available closer to the day of the trip, and

during the outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are

addressed as soon as is possible.

PS both Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpiper have been seen on the marshes in

recent days, as have Osprey, Spoonbill, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper ……

October’s Outdoor Meeting

Shatterford & Bishop’s Dyke: 23rd.

For this outing please meet at the Shatterford Bottom car park for a 10.00am start (SU

348 063; OS Landranger Map 196); this being on the western side of the B3056

immediately north of the railway bridge at Beaulieu Road Station, midway between

Lyndhurst and Beaulieu.

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For further details of the starting point, to offer or request a lift etc. please contact a

Committee Member prior to the weekend of the outing.

The RAC Route Planner gives a distance of 42.64 miles between Basingstoke and the car

park, the AA site 42.7; a travelling time of 52 and 59 minutes being quoted by these sites.

As always, it’s best to leave ample time to reach the site for the start time, so please do bear

this in mind when deciding on when to leave.

The area to be visited this month is one of heath, bog and mixed woodland towards the

eastern extremities of The New Forest National Park.

26

Beaulieu Road Station

The bog south-east of the station and some of the ‘locals’

The walk will take the group south from the car parking area, where the conifers may hold

Crossbill among the more expected finches, and out on to the heath. Here Dartford Warbler

and Stonechat are likely, the former however just as likely to be heard as seen, though a

decent late autumn day might have them in song, as well as ‘growling’ at trespassers in to

their territories. Both reptiles and amphibians may well be on the move, having already been

warmed by the morning sun, so watch your step! The wetter areas of the heath may hold

waders such as Snipe and also attract in late hirundines to feed low over the standing water

where insects will also be on the wing; dragon and damselflies perhaps putting in their last

appearance of the year for many.

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Shatterford Bottom

Showing the bog, heath and parts of the adjacent woodlands – all to be visited by those

attending!

Denny Wood

Hopefully as we shall see it, though presumably with less leaves!

Viewing from the railway bridge south of the station should also add raptors over the

woodland that frames the more open areas of heath, Buzzard to be expected, Goshawk to be

hoped for. The rise in height to reach the bridge allows far more of the heath to be seen at

28

any one time, perhaps allowing a returning Great Grey Shrike to be seen atop Gorse or

Broom, before it heads off to prey on local insects, or other birds! Woodlark, Meadow Pipit,

Stonechat, Linnet and Crossbill are just a few of the species possible on lingering here, both

on the ground nearby and on the wing.

Moving in to the mainly deciduous woodland on the western side of the heath, Denny

Wood, we will start to encounter many of the residents and perhaps just a few of the late

migrants returning southwards. Chaffinch, up to five species of tit, Wren, Robin and

Dunnock will make up much of the smaller avifauna while less vocal but hopefully as

showy will be Nuthatch and Treecreeper, all three woodpeckers also a possibility here.

Migrants such as Chiffchaff may again be in song and further searching may produce the far

less common but even more appreciated Redstart, perhaps Whinchat being seen amongst the

Stonechat on the adjacent heath. As well as both the resident songsters and migrant

additions the woodland will hold a great variety of both plant and insect life, fungi also sure

to be in evidence, just waiting for the photographers amongst those attending.

Artist’s Fungi Ganodema applanatum

One of the brackets commonly associated with Beech

Moving back across the heath will allow us another opportunity to try and see, and hear,

species not already come across, such as Dartford Warbler, Stonechat and Curlew, the latter

however possibly all having returned to the coast prior to our visit, their territories empty

for another season. The more open areas of heath-less ground near the car park often good

for foraging finches, including Brambling amongst the more common Chaffinch; Siskin,

Lesser Redpoll and Crossbill again to be looked for before finishing the walk.

There are no facilities on site, excepting the railway station close to the car park.

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The walk will take us through to early afternoon, allowing then ample time to visit other

nearby New Forest NP or coastal sites before heading back inlands and northwards to

Basingstoke.

More updated information on the site, the wildlife present and places to visit on the journey

home, such as The Beaulieu Estuary, Matley Bog, Crockford Ridge / Bottom, Lower Test

Marshes and Eling Great Marsh will be available closer to the day of the trip, and during the

outing itself. If you have any queries, no matter what, please ensure that these are addressed

as soon as is possible.

July’s Outdoor Meeting

Stockbridge Down NT: 24th.

Just a few images from this mid-summer Outdoor Meeting, all courtesy of Doug. Kelson.

Turtle Dove Stretopelia turtur

The rarest of the down’s inhabitants seen, and heard!

They hazy days of summer!!!

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Yellowhammer Emberizza citrinella

Perhaps the gaudiest of the birds likely to be seen on site

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Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorous

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Marbled White Melanargia galathea

Note the red mite, Trombidium breei, attached below the left wings

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Orange Footman Eilema sororcula & Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris

Just two of the orange-themed lepidoptera seen on the wing about the downs

Nursery-web Spider Pisaura mirablis

This one, as is so often the case, on Common Nettle

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Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae

Straight out of the cocoon in to ‘wedlock’!

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Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum

Always exciting to encounter, this one nectaring on buddleia, as were 20+ Red Admiral!

Chalkhill Blue Polyommatus coridon

Perhaps not quite as judicious as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth!

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Calocoris roseomaculatus

Pink bales!

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June’s Outdoor Meeting

Thursley Common NNR: 19th.

Further images from Doug. Kelson, all from the first of the ‘summer’ Outdoor Meetings.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

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Hobby Falco Subbuteo

One of at least three seen

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42

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Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata & Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma

nymphula

Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens & Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

It wasn’t only Doug. that appreciated these!

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Fence-post Jumper Marpissa muscosa

The species, a male here, is common on dry-stone walls in south-east Dorset and frequent in

some areas in south-east England. Elsewhere it is local and generally rather uncommon

45

Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata

“Love those reflections”

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Sheep’s Sorrel Rumex acetosella

European Dodder Cuscuta europaea

The latter yet to flower and totally dependent on the host plant for nutrition

May’s Outdoor Meeting

Durlston Country Park: 22nd.

This outing, to one of our more distant destinations, was not well-attended, only 4 of us

clustering in the car park. More turned out for the last visit there 3 or 4 years ago, when

most looked at the horizontal deluge blasting in from the west and decided to return home.

In the event, the 2 of us who did stay, went on to have a decent day's birding. This day,

however, was bright and fine, warm enough to bring out a few butterflies, at times; just a

hint of haze, at sea, dimming the distant Needles.

For two of us, the journey down had been enlivened with sightings of several Buzzards, a

soaring Sparrowhawk and, most surprising; a Kingfisher crossing the road at tree-top level.

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After an argument with one of the parking meters, which decided that it would stop

accepting coins just before the full amount had been put in, we walked towards the light

house. Both Common and Lesser Whitethroats were singing in the Hawthorn and

Blackthorn scrub; audible but elusive, particularly, the Lessers. In fact, the burgeoning of

Spring growth hid many of the passerines most of the time and we were grateful for fleeting

glimpses of the likes of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Dunnock, Blue and Great

Tits, Long-tailed Tits or Wrens or even Robins. Song Thrushes and Blackbirds were more

accommodating and shouted their songs from the prominent perches, Greenfinches

“cheemed” from high perches, though difficult to see against the foliage. Chaffinches

sometimes chanted in plain sight.

Collared Doves raced over the hillsides singly, or in pairs and a couple of Stock Doves were

seen. Woodpigeons were frequently made themselves obvious, plucking flower buds from

shrubs. At Durlston, the Feral Pigeons, though more varied in plumage than the truly wild,

ancestral versions, live lives completely different from their urban relatives. They nest in the

cliff crevices and race about the sky to feed in the turf or fields beyond the reserve, always

needing to be wary of the danger from resident Peregrines, also nesting on the limestone

sea-cliffs.

Out in the open, Jackdaws were the most visible birds. They were usually on view, flying up

or down the valleys or tugging at the turf, to expose insect prey. These birds, too, find plenty

of suitable cavities in the eroded cliff rock, for nesting. The turf, with its ant-hills was the

attraction for a Green Woodpecker, which we frequently heard “yaffling” near the

lighthouse but which kept just over the other side of the hill from us, hidden by the lie of the

land. A foraging Rock Pipit was more confiding and approached closely as it searched the

short, Rabbit-bitten turf, for tiny spiders, beetles and flies. Further up the hill, a Meadow

Pipit fluttered upward from a high twig, to parachute down again, singing the whole time.

Just too far away for us to hear a single note, though. Later, we were to see a Rock Pipit

perform a similar flight from shelter of a cliff-cleft; his song just audible above the murmur

of the distant waves against the cliff. At any moment a Swallow or a pair would skim low

over the grassy hillside but we were not sure if they were birds just arriving or if they were

locally resident birds.

Chalk Milkwort Polygala calcarea & Early Gentian Gentianella anglica

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With Eyebright Euphrasia sp.

That turf was a floristic delight; patches of Chalk Milkwort splashed the turf with intense

blue, though, in a few places, we found the pink and even the white versions of this variable

flower. Hidden amongst the Milkwort and elsewhere, in the short turf, were the modest,

pale, split-petalled flowers of Eyebright and the first flowering heads of Salad Burnet were

beginning to show. A trampled patch sported the stunted spikes of Early Gentian. Cowslip

patches were just past their best, as were the vivid flowers of Early Purple Orchids. Just

beginning to open, though, was a tall clump of blue Wild Clary. Some slopes were yellow

with Bird's Foot Trefoil and they were where we found butterflies.

Wild Clary Salvia verbeneca Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula

The truly intense blue of an Adonis Blue butterfly was difficult to ignore and we tracked it

to where it stopped by a second, also male, Adonis Blue, then moved on. The Common

Blues paled by comparison but were also very bright. We also discovered the tiny and

exquisite Small Blue, in the same area and, later, had to walk carefully by one which was on

the track, possibly a little chilled by a brisk breeze. A day-flying moth, the Burnet

Companion (appropriate, now that the Burnet was beginning to flower) was also discovered

around the Trefoils.

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Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus, Common Blue Polyommatus Icarus & Small Blue Cupido minimus

In contrast to the delicate butterflies, delighting the eye amongst the flowers, were the

smoothly-shiny, hulking, green-black forms of Bloody-nosed Beetles walking stolidly

through the grass on absurdly large “feet”. The large feet of the one illustrated, show it to be

a male. The increased surface area enables him to keep a grip on the smooth shell of the

female, which has smaller feet, during mating. Later, an oily-shiny, Bedstraw-munching

larva dropped into deeper cover before it could be photographed. These beetles cannot fly;

their elytra (wing-cases) are fused permanently shut. We didn't disturb any of them

sufficiently to stimulate the production of acrid, red, predator-deterring fluid from the

mouth; the “bloody nose” which gives the beetle its name. Ladybirds, some of which were

seen, will use a similar defence, with a yellowish liquid.

Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa

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Sailor Beetle Cantharis rustica

Another beetle seen was Cantharis rustica; one of the soft-shelled Soldier Beetles. Such a

common, distinctively marked beetle needs a common name, I think. Red or orange soldier

beetles are often seen on the umbels of Hogwort and, in my childhood, at least, were known,

misleadingly, as “Bloodsuckers”. Their colour was supposed to be reminiscent of the

uniform of the British army; the “Redcoats”. Cantharis, though, is blackish.

We reached the coastal cliff-top track and walked east. Along the way we passed several

entrances to the Tilly Whim ”caves”; actually mines for exploiting the limestone rock

during the Napoleonic War. The stone was used to build fortifications along the southern

coasts but, when the threat of French invasion passed, the market for the stone collapsed and

they closed. This stretch of coast escaped the open-cast quarrying of the Isle of Portland.

The caves used to be partly open to the public but more collapses, of tunnels, this time,

means they are now closed, the entrances gridded to prevent unofficial exploration. The

tunnels are, now, important refuges for several species of bats. By the entrance to a Bat

Cave, I saw a Robin...just saying!

From the track, we could gaze down past the pink of Thrift, to the tiny forms of substantial

birds far below. Edgar's imagination, in “King Lear”, describes an imaginary scene, to

convince blinded suicidal Gloucester that he did, indeed stand upon a cliff-top from which

he could plummet:

“.......................How fearful

and dizzy 'tiz, to cast one's eyes so low!

The crows and choughs that wing the midway air

Show scarce so gross as beetles.”

No Choughs, unfortunately, though I once saw a vagrant at St. Aldhelm's Head just a few

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miles west of Durlston. Maybe, one day. The Crows were there, though, and Jackdaws, as

well as passing auks. Shags and even Cormorant and they did, indeed “show scarce so gross

as beetles”. Edgar goes on to describe the “dreadful trade” of gathering Samphire from the

cliffs; no gatherers but the Rock Samphire was visible along the top of the cliff, and lower,

to those who leaned out, for a look.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Patrolling Digging

To and from the cliffs, a constant trickle of Guillemots whirred as they left to fish or

returned to nesting ledges. There were small rafts of them on the sea, not far from the cliff-

base but Razorbills were far fewer. Eventually, we found half a dozen, or so, keeping apart

from the clusters of Guillemots. We saw both species well enough to appreciate the browner

colouration of the Guillemots, compared to the black of the Razorbills. At one point, I was

able to watch a Razorbill as it “flew” beneath the surface of the clear water close to the cliff.

Puffins, though a possible sighting and a species I have seen here, were not seen.

It was also possible to note the differences between passing Shags and Cormorants as they

commuted below us.

At least 2 pairs of Fulmars patrolled the cliffs, on stiff, straight wings, sometimes

approaching close enough for us to see their “tube-noses”. I watched one make repeated

approaches to a deep cleft in the cliff-face. It didn't land, but I assume it was looking at a

nesting ledge.

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Razorbill Alca torda Raven Corvus corax

One Crow, mobbed by Herring Gulls, turned out to be a Raven. It passed back and forth

over the steeply-sloping cliffs above the main cluster of Guillemots, tightly packed under a

cave-like overhang. Nearby, a Great Black-backed Gull just watched, without taking to the

wing. Eventually, the Raven landed on a ledge just outside the crowded Guillemot-cave and

walked in. The guillemots all watched the Raven, every sharp beak turned in its direction;

moving to follow its movements in the gloom at the back of the cave. The Guillemots didn't

seem to be brooding eggs or guarding chicks, yet. I think the Raven was just checking but,

no doubt, it will be back and then, the massed beaks of the auks might not be enough to save

all the eggs or offspring.

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Crowded Guillemots, standing, not brooding. All beaks are turned towards the hulking

Raven, looming in the gloom, just left of the rock, at the back of the cave.

Lovely bit of whitewash on the rocks below the entrance

Eddies from the off-shore wind carried the distinctive fowl (!) stink produced by a sea-bird

colony to us. A single Sandwich Tern was seen, but distantly; that wind kept passing sea-

birds distant.

This section of cliff path has a safety wall, on the seaward side, beyond, which pink Thrift

thrives amongst Alexanders, Sea Campion, trailing stems of Madder, robust Wild Carrot and

low, wind-pruned scrub. Uphill, on the landward side, the sheltered, low vegetation of

provides habitat for many interesting invertebrates. On the wall itself, was found a single

Round-mouthed Snail, presumably heading for cover; they are not usually active in

sunshine. These molluscs don't have a round mouth, as such, the name refers to the opening

of the shell. On the back of the “foot” can be seen a hard disc; when the animal retracts into

its shell, the disk fits, neatly into the “round mouth”, plugging it against predators and

dehydration. It would certainly take a determined and well-equipped beetle to bite through

that disk. These snails are related to the winkles and periwinkles of the seashore and have an

odd way of moving. Unlike the series of rear-to-front undulations of most snails and slugs,

these little beasts move, first one side of the foot forward, then the other; a kind of soft-foot

shuffle. Other differences from “usual” snails include the mouth at the end of an extendible

tube and, as can be seen, in this image, the bright eyes, just under the base of the tentacles.

The beady eyes and the tubed mouth remind me, at least, irresistibly of a Clanger. I've found

this species close to Basingstoke, on Watership Down.

Round-mouthed Snail Pomatias elegans “Pill-bug” Woodlouse Armadillid sp.

Large, black woodlice were frequently noticed, in this area. These were Armadilidium

54

vulgare and I think the ones in the image above were certainly intent on behaving in a

vulgar way and they were not the only ones found like this. This species, which rolls into a

ball, when disturbed is also known by many other names; Pill Woodlouse (yes, they actually

were taken as a pill) Roly-polys, Cheese-logs, Sow Bug, Doodle Bug, Slater, Carpenter and

more. It is thought that they originated in the Mediterranean region but have, over the years,

been widely distributed around the world as unofficial passengers aboard ships or even the

smallest of water craft. It's easy to imagine them in timber or plant roots, for example.

Eyes down revealed other low-life, too. In places, the vegetation was speckled with the

nymphs of several species of bush cricket, all appearing to be very early instars. When a

bush cricket (and other insects) hatches, the wingless nymph is called a first instar and it

will undergo several moults, through several instars before reaching the adult form.

Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima, Dark Bush-cricket Pholidoptera

griseoaptera & Great Green Bush-cricket Tettigonia viridissima

The images are in order of discovery and in order of eventual adult size. The first two have

rudimentary wings as adults and are flightless but the Great Green Bush Cricket acquires

fully-formed wings and as its name suggests, becomes one of our largest insects. The

female, with a sabre-like ovipositor, which she thrusts into soil to lay eggs, reaches up to

7cm in length.

Much smaller were the little Metalmark moths about nettle patches and the bright Black and

Red Leaf-hoppers which pinged away at the slightest disturbance of the attractive Stinking

Irises.

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Metalmark moth Choreutis pariana & Black and Red Leaf-hopper Cercopis vulnerata

Wall Lasiommata megera

The Wall Butterfly is becoming very scarce and this one, spending much of its time sunning

itself on a warm rock, was the first I'd seen for two years. It was just about this time, while I

was photographing the Wall (you know what I mean) that the call of “Peregrine!” was heard

and we were able to admire a large falcon sweeping majestically along the cliffs towards the

east, before turning inland and out of view. Those Feral Pigeons had better keep on the alert.

At this time of year, it is likely that the Peregrines have large chicks to provide for.

Two of the group decided to break for a coffee in the visitor's centre while the other two

made inquiries about the whereabouts of a particular plant, known to grow in the reserve.

Eventually, we accompanied one of the staff as he went to count “Twyblades”. He did

remember to correct himself and say “Twayblades”, though. Several times. It was fortunate

that we were with him because it is doubtful we would have entered the dense clump of

small trees near the car park and seen the orchids otherwise. We saw more than a dozen

Twayblades and some unopened Common Spotted Orchids as a bonus and picked up

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another bird; Bullfinch, on call, only. We helped him find a few plants and rewarded him by

finding him a male Scorpion Fly, his first.

Common Twayblade Neottia ovata Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis

Male – it doesn't sting

Another chat with staff gave us better directions and we made for the top fields, the “Saxon

Meadows”. These traditional hay fields still show the long ridges and traces of furrows of

the ancient “ridge and furrow” pattern of agriculture. Here the grass is allowed to grow long

and is full of hay-meadow flowers. Wonderful patches of purple showed where the Early

Purple (some showing interesting and attractive colour variations) and Green-winged

Orchids grew. There had been flowering Early Spider Orchids flowering there, on my last

visit, a month before. Yellow Hay Rattle, a semi-parasitic plant, helped keep the larger,

coarser grasses in check by absorbing nutrient from their roots and allowing delicate

Quaking Grass to shake-out its fragile-looking seed-heads. There were patches of Cowslips,

too, now past their best but still beautiful and the light-blue Pale Flax plants swayed with

the wind-blown grass. On my previous visit, I'd walked further in this “Skylark Zone”, as I

thought of it, and found a couple of fields yellow with massed Cowslips.

It was in these fields that we found what we had been looking for; Adders' Tongue Fern, in

greater abundance than I'd ever seen before. Hundreds of the inconspicuous ferns poked out

their tongues at us as we walked amongst them. This was the first time I'd seen the species

for over thirty years; though I'd probably passed many by, unnoticed; they are not

conspicuous, though fascinating.

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Adder's Tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum & Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula

Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima & Pale Flax Linum bienne

Objective achieved, two left for home whilst we waited to see if anyone from the Hampshire

Ornithological Society turned up for their afternoon walk. Nobody did, so we decided to

take advantage of this by using the afternoon to divert to Lower Pennington, on the way

back. There was news of an extreme rarity running around in the shallows at the back of

Fishtail Lagoon. It was no challenge, finding the bird; just use bush-craft, dodge the low-

flying Swifts, and look at what the group of happy birders were watching; a Stilt Sandpiper,

no more than 200m from where I'd seen my first of the species, in 2002. This was a lovely,

summer-plumaged and elegant little wader, occasionally being pushed around by the larger

Redshanks as it fed, often beside brightly plumaged and black-bellied Dunlins. It stayed

58

quite distant and often disappeared but was seen well. Bonus!

Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Common Tern Sterna hirundo

It did have 2 legs!

There was extended viewing of this delightful visitor from over the other side of the

Atlantic, during which a fine Drake Garganey appeared and scant attention was paid to a

dozing Spoonbill, at the far end of the lagoon. Gradually, we let ourselves take more notice

of other birds; a female Pintail, one of the Mallard ducks trailing 11 ducklings and a

Shelduck with just one fewer. A Little Grebe cackled from the open water, Reed Warblers

chuntered in the reeds and Reed Buntings flew back and forth to and from hidden nests.

There were Lapwings dashing after Crows and Oyster Catchers having noisy disputes. A

couple of Whimbrels were “7-whistling” as they flew by. A pair of very tame Common

Terns hunted fry along the channel leading to the sluice, often flying within a few metres of

us. One posed confidently on a nearby post and smiled for the camera. The pair of noisy

Little Terns didn't hang about, though and were last seen sweeping rapidly away, down-

wind, towards Normandy Lagoon, where several pairs usually breed.

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Shelduck with 10 ducklings ... and a Coot

Out on the nearby Solent, was a party of summering Eiders, close inshore. The photograph

happens to show a male and a female, but they are not a pair, just 2 of 5 assorted ages and

sexes. Eiders have recently bred not far off, though, so, maybe....

A Curlew called and showed, briefly and a couple of still grey Grey Plovers pecked at the

mud. A single Great Crested Grebe on the sea should, surely have been on a nesting

territory.

It was time to leave and we trudged back to the car. Just as we were about to go, two raptors

rose from the direction of the Avon Water reed-beds; one dropped away but the other rose

higher, on a thermal, then headed straight out towards the Isle of Wight. Was there a pair, in

suitable breeding habitat? The bird that dropped was far off and could have been a Buzzard

but I had tracked the bird I was sure was a Marsh Harrier. We made a brief stop to look at

the flooded fields and found ourselves being observed, in turn, by one of several brooding

Lapwings, whom we left in peace.

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Eider Somateria mollissima

A “pair”

Marsh Harrier Circus aeriugonosus Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Distant! A brooding female

So, now you know what you missed!

Doug. Kelson

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A Murder Of Crows?

From the British Ornithologists’ Union

They steal, raid nests, and keep the company of witches. But the unpopular crow may not be

the menace people think.

A new study, published in the BOU’s journal IBIS (here), has found that crows – along with

their cousins the magpie and the raven – have surprisingly little impact on the abundance of

other bird species.

Collectively known as corvids (a group that includes choughs, jackdaws and even jays),

these birds are in fact being menaced by mankind in the mistaken belief that removing them

is good for conservation. This new study found that in the vast majority of cases (82%),

corvids had no impact at all on their potential prey species.

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“Many nature lovers have been distressed to witness a crow or magpie raiding the nests of

their beloved garden songbirds, stealing their eggs or eating their defenceless chicks,” said

study co-author Dr Arjun Amar from the Percy FitzPatrick Institute for Ornithology.

“Although this predation is entirely natural, these observations can be upsetting to witness

and often leave people wondering if these predators might be reducing bird numbers.”

“However, our global review suggests that we should be cautious before jumping to

conclusions over the impacts these species may have. Just because a predator eats

something occasionally does not always mean that they have an impact,” Dr Amar said.

The study reviewed all published evidence on whether predation by corvids actually reduces

the overall breeding performance of birds or, more importantly from a conservation

perspective, reduces their numbers. Data were collated from 42 studies of corvid predation

conducted across the globe over the last 60 years.

Not only were corvids unlikely to have any impact on their potential prey species, if there

was an impact it most often affected the breeding success of the prey species rather than

their subsequent numbers. Half of cases found that corvids reduced breeding success

whereas less than 10% of cases found that they reduced prey numbers in the long term.

“These results have big implications for the

likely benefits of corvid control,” Dr Amar said. “They suggest that killing corvids will be of

most benefit to those interested in gamebird shooting rather than conservationists.” He

added: “Bird hunters are usually most interested in increasing numbers of birds available to

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shoot immediately after the breeding season and this appears to be where corvids have most

impact”. “Conservationists on the other hand, are usually interested in increasing a species

population size and our results suggest that only in a very few cases did corvids have an

influence on this aspect of their prey,” Dr Amar said.

The review analysed the impact of six corvid species on a variety of prey species including

gamebirds, songbirds, waders, herons, cranes, sea birds, wildfowl and raptors. The 42

studies incorporated into the review included 326 cases of corvid – bird prey interaction

Most of the data stemmed from field research in the UK, France and the United States. The

impacts were determined partly by comparing bird counts before and after corvids were

either removed or their numbers reduced.

The review also found large differences between the impacts of crows, historically

considered the most ‘cunning’ corvid, and magpies which are sometimes killed by home

owners hoping to protect songbirds in their gardens. Crow species were six times more

likely to have an impact on bird prey species than Magpies.

Mistaken assumptions about corvid predation were possibly explained by the birds’ diurnal

nature and the fact that they are conspicuous nest predators: “Their importance in prey

population regulation is often assumed prior to any assessment of the evidence,” the study

warned.

Chrissie Madden, the lead author on the paper, hoped that the review would challenge the

perception that all corvids were bad, thereby preventing needless killing: “Our results

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suggest that this is a mistaken belief and that generally speaking people would be wasting

their time killing corvids to increase bird numbers”.

“Overall therefore, our study points to the fact that we are often too quick to jump to the

conclusion that crows and magpies may be the cause of bird population declines,” she said.

You can download “A review of the impacts of corvids on bird productivity and

abundance” here

Glyn Young

Sri Lanka

Udawatta Kele Forest Sanctuary.

Our road wound through agrarian lands into the hills to Udawatta Kele Forest Sanctuary.

This, one of the smaller reserves, is in the hills just north of Kandy and is little more than

250 acres (though not completely disconnected from other areas of forest nearby). It has

almost the feel of a public park and is treated a little like that by the local city residents;

there is even a cycle-route through it.

It was here, that we were first introduced to the infamous and irksome “leech socks”. These

are closely-woven linen socks pulled on over one's own socks and extending up the leg, to

around the knee, where a cord is tightened. The idea is to keep leeches from our lower

regions.

The leeches, in these rainforests are terrestrial and lurk in the leaf-litter and undergrowth.

They detect the odour of passing vertebrates and loop, rapidly towards them. When they

arrive, they can squeeze through the eyes of bootlaces or even through loosely-woven cloth

and find creeping under the elasticated top of a sock or up inside a trouser leg easy-work.

They do this extremely stealthily and are often not noticed until they are engorged with

blood and drop away, leaving the wound to continue dribbling blood for another half-hour,

or more. Fortunately, they are not known to spread any diseases. It is never wise to stand

still for long, in leech-infested areas. This allows them to reach one's feet and climb aboard.

Of course, when moving elsewhere, it may result in moving closer to other leeches. We also

kept a close watch on each other, to spot looping leeches sneaking up legs. Fortunately, the

dark leeches showed well against our light-coloured leech-socks. Despite all that, though,

some got through our defences. I found one, only after returning to the mini-bus, when it

dropped from my throat, heavy with my blood. Another time, someone plucked one from

the back of my neck.

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Despite the record of over 80 species in the reserve, birds were hard to find, especially

because we had to spend most of our time getting stiff necks from searching the lofty

canopy while avoiding the threat of leeches. The late afternoon timing and dull light were

probably not helpful.

A small, muddy, artificial lake, filling a steep, forested hollow, proved interesting for other

things. Carp and Tilapia (possibly) could be seen cruising the murky water and a long Water

Monitor swam sinuously to rest its head on a floating log, displacing a large Side-necked

Terrapin as it did so.

Water Monitor Side-necked Terrapin

Amongst the giant bamboos, striving saplings and occasional mature, buttress-rooted forest

tree were occasional trees bearing what looked like rugby-ball-sized lychees, dangling from

trunks or boughs, sometimes fallen to the forest floor. These were Jackfruits. Apparently,

potentially, the largest fruit in the world, reaching from 10 to a staggering (reputed) 100lbs!

The ones we saw were more modest. In cultivation, each tree can produce 100-200 fruit a

year and they are eaten in a large variety of ways. I hacked into a fallen one, with my pen-

knife, and tried a taste. I found it a little resinous but rather bland. It may have been over-

ripe; the reason it had fallen. A ripe one is supposed to taste of “a combination of apple,

pineapple, mango and banana”! It is likely that we tasted some in one or two of our fruit

salads, which sometimes contained (generally delicious) unidentified fruits.

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Jackfruit Wild Boar

Jackfruits are valuable food to many wild animals, too, from squirrels to parrots. They are

also enjoyed by the Wild Boar (recent immigrants to the reserve and becoming pests), a

sounder of which trotted slowly past, seemingly not too concerned by our presence. These

are the same species seen in Europe, though, perhaps a little smaller and, certainly less

hairy; both effects of the climate: less need to put on layers of warming fat and hair.

We also saw several Indian Muntjac Deer, which were more nervous and moved cautiously

away from us, into thicker cover.

The crossing of a small lake-feeder stream proved interesting. While avoiding the waving,

blind snouts of hungry leeches (go and chase boars and deer, why don't you!) I found

several spiders of the tetragnathidae (long-jawed orb-weaver spiders) family, small ones

which are found in England. These slender arachnids, close to water, as is often the case, in

the UK, were around 4-5cm long.

Long-jawed Spider sp.

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The birds; mostly just glimpses through foliage, high off the ground but we managed to find

a small party of fast-flicking Scarlet Minivets in the canopy. The males of this tit-sized

species are black with scarlet undersides, the females grey, with yellow underneath. Flickers

of flame through the leaves. A male Black-naped Monarch was seen; a dusty-blue

flycatcher, with a very small black patch on the nape. A very different flycatcher was the

Asian Paradise Flycatcher. Juveniles and females are basically cinnamon but the males

develop long, trailing tails and many change from cinnamon to white, retaining the crested,

black head. I tried to photograph one but it kept changing perches behind leafy foliage. I've

included it, anyway, to ensure a picture of a bird, in this section.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher Leech

White-phase male Engorged with my blood

Indeed, fly-catching birds seemed the order of the day, with Asian Brown Flycatcher and

fly-hawking Red-vented and White-bellied Drongos amongst others recorded.

The light was rapidly draining so we drove to our lodgings, for the night; Polwattha Eco-

lodge. The “Eco-lodge” part of the name was about right; a modest building, up a long,

bumpy track into the forest. Comfortable enough for such intrepid explorers as ourselves,

though!

And explore, we did; well, a wander around the buildings after dark, to see what might be

up and about in the noisy night.

I recorded some of that sound-scape; a blitz of bleeps, burrs, bangs and hissing, blending

into an exciting whole. This was the sound of frogs, toads, crickets, cicadas and others

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proclaiming their availability to a mate or challenging others of the same gender. The sound

of the rainforest.

We were not able to assign any of the noises to night birds, with certainty; though a

bleeping noise may have been a small owl species; certainly to be expected in such an

environment.

Of more immediate interest was what we were trying not to tread on; things hopping,

crawling, sliding about our feet. One remarkable creature could, at first might, have been

mistaken for a small snake. It was an extraordinary-looking thing, about the length of my

forearm, sliding serenely over the ground beside the path; a terrestrial flatworm. Generally

called “Arrow-headed Flatworms”, for obvious reasons, these are relatives of the tiny,

blackish planaria, just a few millimetres long, which may be found in freshwater (like my

garden pond) in the UK. They don't proceed by lengthening and contracting, like worms or

by undulating muscles in their undersides, like molluscs but use tiny cilia, on a carpet of

slime. We do have small terrestrial species in this country and the introduced New Zealand

Flatworm is notorious for its predation of earthworms in some parts of the country. In all

my travels, I've never found one quite like this, though they are found in many warm, wet

parts of the world.

“Arrowhead” Flatworm

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Mantis (top) and Katydid sp. Tree Frog sp.

On walls, attracted by the lights were fascinating (and, often very large) “bugs”. We found a

bulky, brilliantly-green Katydid (named from the call of North American representatives of

the family). It was obvious on the contrasting colour of the wall but, in daylight, its shape

and colour would make it very hard to find amongst the leaves. A nearby mantis was more

sombrely coloured and only half the size of the Katydid. Perhaps more familiar to a British

observer was an earwig, but nearly two centimetres long, with golden wing-cases.

“Peeping” noisily, with distended throats, on walls, posts and on the ground were small tree

frogs, possibly also keeping an eye-out for smaller insects attracted to the lights. The

Katydid, illustrated was about 5-6 centimetres long, easily larger than the frogs.

On the ground hopped a varied selection of toads, some of the larger of which might have

had a go at swallowing a mantis or Katydid. Although so varied, they were all the same

species; the same Common Indian Toad, we'd seen in the grounds of the Paradise Beach

Hotel.

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Common Indian Toads

Toque Macaque

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Local rugby fan, just outside the park!

We finally decided we ought to get some sleep; we had an early start to get ready for and

more steamy forest to stare into, the next day.

If you want to hear, many of the species mentioned in this account, I recommend typing

“Xeno-canto”, into whatever search engine you use, followed by the name of the species

you are interested in. It is very likely that you will be able to hear the bird of your choice,

wherever in the world it might be. Of course, there are many rare and little-known species

still to be added but there will be no problem with British birds and I've found every one

of the Sri Lankan birds I've tried for, so far. Most of the time, contributors have entered

multiple examples of the bird's vocalisations, so one can listen to song, contact calls,

alarm calls etc.

Doug. Kelson

Local Wildlife News

The following ‘highlights’ are just a few of the more notable reports received over the late

summer / early autumn period. If you’ve anything further to add, please feel free to let us

know at any time. All reports will be appreciated, whether they relate to birds or any other

form of local wildlife. Also, as they say, this is “Just the tip of the iceberg” – there’s a great

deal more out there to be found, especially as the autumnal passage is now truly under way.

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Annual Beard-grass – this was found growing at Brimpton GP’s on one of the Evening

Walks, as was Elephant Grass!

Annual Beard-grass Polypogon monspeliensis

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Doug. Kelson

Clifden Nonpareil – this striking moth once again began to appear at local moth traps,

though others have been found roosting on walls, so be aware as you walk past the side of

your house!

Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini

Mike. Wall

Also known by the less glamorous name of Blue Underwing

French Cranesbill – during the summer this was just one of the flowers that added to the

rich pink through to mauve colouring of hedgerows and verges.

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French Cranesbill Geranium endressii

Nick. Montegriffo

Glossy Ibis – three north over Old Basing on 15th

could not be relocated at any of the local

wetlands; a further 1st for the Borough.

Grasshopper Warbler – just a single bird has been found so far this autumn, at the site for

them locally, The Mill Field LNR.

Green Sandpiper – to date the commonest passage wader recorded locally this autumn,

The Vyne NT Watermeadows being the most likely place to catch up with them.

Greenshank – one moved north over Overton on 26th

August.

Hazel Dormouse – the local sites continued to hold these exquisite animals with records, in

boxes, to at least 14th

.

Hobby – small numbers have been reported from late summer, all seemingly passage birds

as none have lingered to be seen by others.

Lapwing – the gathering at The Vyne NT Watermeadows peaked at over 100 during the

early part of this month.

Leopard Moth – just one of the many stunning moth attracted to moth traps locally over

the summer.

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Leopard Moth Zuezera pyrina

Dave. Levy

Mandarin – the peak count at Farm Pond, Sherborne St. John was of five birds, four being

eclipse drakes.

Montagu’s Harrier – a melanistic bird moving west over The Mill Field LNR on 14th

was

totally unexpected, especially after a very clear night that left few migrants settled locally.

This was the 3rd

record of this harrier for the site.

Ortolan – a bird seen, and heard, moving low west over Overton on 2nd

constituted perhaps

just the 6th

Hampshire record and the first since 1992!

Peregrine – a pair produced young in the Borough, though at least one of the offspring

might not survey that long!

“This young Peregrine near Basingstoke took an early flight from its pylon nest this

afternoon - tumbled down and took its first swim too in a nearby river - and looked fairly

poorly. So after a 30 minute session with a hair dryer it is now hopefully going to have a

better start. But before it takes the next step some raw chicken hits the spot! Here's hoping it

gets back together with its parents by tomorrow.”

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Keith Betton

Away from the breeding area further birds were seen over / in the Town Centre, Old Basing,

Chineham, Kempshott Rise and Overton.

Polecat – two seen between Overton and Ashe were the first recorded for some time, as

well as the first multiple sighting locally. Unfortunately, this ‘pair’ was down to a single

individual by the next day.

Polecat Mustela putorius

Mrs. Heath

This presumably one of the two seen crossing the road at Berrydown the previous evening

Ruby-tailed Wasp – summer’s usually a season of much deriding of wasps, but one of the

scarcer species ‘caught on film’ might be seen as a more agreeable visitant.

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Ruby-tailed Wasp Chrysis ignita

Doug. Kelson

A species of cuckoo wasp, barely 1cm in length

Sexton Beetle – local moth-trappers, as usual, encountered these on an all too regular basis

in their traps through the balmier periods.

Common Sexton Beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides

Dave. Levy

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The mites on these help reduce the competitors on the carrion they colonise

Small Tortoiseshell – a further poor showing of these this year encouraged Butterfly

Conservation to ask people to report any seen in their gardens. If you note any your

sightings can be submitted here: http://www.gardenbutterflysurvey.org/

Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

Mike. Duffy

Stone-curlew – at least three local pairs fledged young successfully and the post-breeding

gathering peaked at 19 birds! Although the latter’s of note, it has to be remembered that in

2015 this group reached a peak of 22.

Swift – the last local birds were seen in early august, again lingering later than some might

anticipate. However, as usual, the majority of birds had moved on by the end of July,

leaving the skies once again quiet.

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Swift Apus apus

Ashley Warren

Mike. Duffy

Note the sky’s colour!

Wheatear – passage birds were seen on the downs and local farmland in small numbers, no

more than two being recorded at any site at any one time; the Ashley Warren area to date

being most productive.

Whinchat – local birds on autumnal passage included two near Ramsdell and singletons at

The Vyne NT and The Mill Field LNR; the NT bird being accompanied by a female

Stonechat.

And from north of the border, yet more from our ex-pat. and his camera; Stewart Woolley.

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Peregrine Falco peregrinus

“Not the greatest shot you will ever see, but the sky was a featureless pale grey, makes a

change from dark grey and wet!”

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Dunlin Calidris alpina, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus & Rabbit Oryctolagus cunniculus

It doesn’t have to be rare to be enjoyable!

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Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Too cute, too cute!!!

As always, thank you to all those that have contributed to this report; if I have missed

anything, please do let me know and be sure to keep me updated as we head in to the

autumn proper. If you find anything you consider particularly notable, or you would like an

update on what is happening locally, please do feel free to contact me at any time. I can

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assure you that you will always get a favourable response! 07895 – 388378 is the hot line,

well my mobile number anyway!

Quiz ‘Page’

An autumnal feel, perhaps not surprisingly, to your ‘Quiz’ this month!

Firstly, where are the birds in these images, what are they and how many are there?

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Now, can you identify the following by the ‘clues’ given?

Walking along a coastal wader hot-spot one autumn day, you spy a small shorebird ahead

of you on the mud at the edge of the water. Having set up your scope, you can see

immediately that it is one of the smaller Charadrius plovers. However, you know that it

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could be one of three species, as at this time of year populations are on the move.

The bird has plain brown upperparts, a pure white underside and an incomplete dark

breast-band. From the finer details of these blocks of plumage you think you may have

identified it to species level. What is it?

One autumn day, you flush a pale bird of prey from the upper branches of a small tree on a

coastal heath. This looks like none of the Common Buzzards you’ve seen before, but wary of

the chances of an anomalous bird, you make copious notes and take some quick record

shots as it flies away, to try and put a name to it.

With the details of the head, legs, tail and upperwing and underwing all duly noted, as well

as its overall structure and proportions, you think you may be able to conclusively identify

this unusual raptor. What is it?

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And finally, you’ll be pleased to see, some birds you’re likely to encounter in the coming

weeks, though not necessarily showing like this!

1)

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2)

89

3)

4)

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5)

6)

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7)

8)

9)

The quotes relating to or involving birds in the April Newsletter, possibly the last one many

of you received, were made by:

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1.Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly:

Langston Hughes.

2.Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings: Salvador Dali.

3.Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark: Rabindrath Tagore.

4.A forest bird never wants a cage: Henrik Ibsen.

5.It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to

learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go

on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad: C.

S. Lewis.

6.The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

7.No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings: William Blake.

8.I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad

luck of the early worm: Franklin D. Roosevelt.

9.Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give

way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings: Victor Hugo.

10.My heart is like a singing bird: Christina Rossetti.

11.It's impossible to explain creativity. It's like asking a bird, 'How do you fly?' You just

do: Eric Jerome Dickey.

12.The compelled mother loves her child as the caged bird sings. The song does not

justify the cage nor the love the enforcement: Germaine Greer.

13.The bird, the bee, the running child are all the same to the sliding glass door: Demetri

Martin.

14.Praises for our past triumphs are as feathers to a dead bird: Paul Eldridge.

15.The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: it is supported by them: Victor Hugo.

16.It's best to have failure happen early in life. It wakes up the Phoenix bird in you so

you rise from the ashes: Anne Baxter.

17.History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never

reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of the world as the song of a destroyed wild bird:

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Joseph Conrad.

18.I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a

bough without ever having felt sorry for itself: D. H. Lawrence.

19.If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the

possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands:

Douglas Adams.

20.I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to

dance: E. E. Cummings.

And Finally!

From a recently received email, please don’t take offence!

“Good evening, Peter.

There was one thing you might not be bothered about not seeing.

Geoff announced that he'd found a Grey Partridge then amended that to Red-legged

Partridge then someone pointed out that, now it was in full view, it was actually a Green

Woodpecker.

I got the 'scope on it and asked if anyone wanted to take a look at Geoff's 'pecker.

Several people did.”

Doug.

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Linnet Carduelis cannabina

An “ahh” moment at RSPB Pagham Harbour during the August Outdoor Meeting

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"Come on in; the water's lovely"