AUTUMN/WINTER 2011

Bedford RSPB Local Group Newsletter

Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Group’s ‘New Look ‘ Newsletter.

2011 has been a good year for us... no expenses scandals, phone tapping or rioting, so WELL DONE

EVERYBODY.

During the past year, our membership has increased and

the monthly field trips have attracted more members than

ever before — in fact, on a couple of occasions, we have

been over- subscribed! We also organised two very

successful long weekend trips to Gigrin Farm in Wales, and

The Farne Islands in Northumbria where, as well as a host

of other sea birds, we saw these charming puffins [Right]

A committee meeting took place in early September to

plan next year’s programme, which gives me the opportunity to welcome Carolyn and Malcolm

Hawkes to your committee. They will replace Robin Edwards who is retiring from the committee

after many years loyal and valuable work for our local RSPB group.

Thank you

Bob Montgomery ... Group Leader

The second edition of our newsletter...

A good read... Peter Clarke is a frequent visitor to Lundy Island and recommends one of his favourite books -

‘The Birds of Lundy’ by Tim Davis and Tim Jones [Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society

and Lundy Field Society, Berrynarbor, Devon. 2007]

Here’s a taster, which gives a tantalizing account of the possible existence of Great Auks on

Lundy at one time, from a letter written by the Rev. H G Heaven [a very appropriate name!]

dated 6 September 1865...

‘In the year 1838 or 1839... one of our men in the egging season brought us an enormous egg,

which we took for an abnormal specimen of the guillemot’s egg, or, as they are locally named,

the ‘pick-billed murr’. This, however, the man strenuously denied, saying it was the egg of the

‘king and queen murr’, and that it was very rare to get them, as there were only two or three ...

ever on the island. On being questioned further, he said the birds were not like the ‘pick-bills,

but like the ‘razor-billed murrs’...that they were much larger than either of them, and he did not

think they could fly, as he never saw them on the wing nor high up the cliffs like other birds, and

that they, as he expressed it, ‘scuttled into the water, tumbling among the boulders, the egg

being only a little way above high water. He evidently knew of no other name for them than

‘king and queen murrs’ which he said the islanders called them ‘because they were so big and

stood up so bold-like. It was precisely like the guillemot’s egg in shape, nearly, if not quite, twice

the size. The shell of the egg was kept for some years, but unfortunately it at last got broken.’

Inside this issue:

Welcome 1

A good read 1

Photos & Poem 2

Keep a look out for...

2

‘Unforgettable Sri Lanka’

2-3

Your committee 3

Did you know... 4

PAGE 2

If you have a favourite poem, piece of prose, or photo you’d like to share, please let us know.

Photos, poems etc...

Ode to the Wallcreeper

We seek him here, we seek him there

We seek him – with despair.

Where is that bird

Of which we’ve heard?

Does he exist? – No, all feared

We climb and search the face

High, high ranges – NO trace

The path it narrows – WHAT A DROP!

My gawd – VERTIGO is what we’ve got.

Do not give up – onward go,

That bird must surely show.

A creeping grey blob is seen

Hearts a-flutter – we can dream.

Maybe, maybe this is it,

It moves, it flutters and with a flit

A flash of scarlet is espied

Then better views – wonderful, wonderful ‘butterfly’.

Wallcreeper, wallcreeper, what can we say

We’re neck-sore and drenched, but you’ve made our day.

Acelyn Yates

‘Unforgettable Sri Lanka’ by Marion Hessian

Having prevaricated for a number of years I finally set off for

Sri Lanka in February 2011. I was travelling with a

Naturetrek group of thirteen guests and two leaders (one

British and one Sri Lankan).

We arrived in the early hours of the morning and, having

tidied up and enjoyed a coffee, we set off for some pre-

breakfast birding where I got to grips with a few of the species

of wetland birds I would be regularly encountering (including

pheasant-tailed jacana, cotton pygmy-goose, stork-billed

kingfisher and the ubiquitous

Indian pond heron).

Imagine my surprise as we left the site and recognised two British

birders approaching – namely Alan Davies and Ruth Miller of

‘Biggest Twitch’ fame who spent a day showing our RSPB group the

birding delights of Anglesey last year. As another guest was

reading their book he was equally surprised.

After breakfast we travelled to Anuradhapura where we were to

spend two nights. The garden yielded the illusive Indian pitta and

a host of other species new to me. We toured some of the sites of

this ancient city before moving on to Sigyria – another of the

regular holiday destinations in the ‘Cultural Triangle’.

‘A million voices for nature’

Painted Stork

Indian Peafowl

KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR A GREAT WHITE

AT A RESERVE NEAR YOU...

Although once rare in Britain, we’re all used to see-

ing little egrets now – commonly found in and near

wetland areas. But next time a white heron-like bird

catches your attention just make sure it’s not the

little egret’s larger cousin – a great white egret.

These impressive birds are now increasingly regular

visitors to the UK. One was recently found just over

the border – at Gayhurst Quarry, Newport Pagnell...

Photo: Robert Norris

PAGE 3

Group Leader: Bob Montgomery

Treasurer: Ray Roche

Membership Secretary: Ace Yates

Speakers: Peter Clark

Booking for outings: Robert Norris

Outings planning: Malcolm & Carolyn Hawkes

Outings reports: Geraldine Carpenter

Some of us took an additional (and very interesting) visit to the ancient city of Pollonurawa. It was

late as we returned and, on the quiet road leading back to Sigyria, we encountered a family of

elephants crossing the road. Having only previously seen elephants in game reserves I found this a

thrilling experience. Our driver was very anxious and the bull elephant very cross. Only when we

switched off headlights and reversed some distance down the road did the elephant stop waving his

trunk and bellowing and the family found a way through the hedge and continued their journey. A

huge bellow was directed at us as we drove past and our driver

gave an equally heartfelt (if quieter) sigh of relief.

Our next destination was the very busy city of Kandy. They

were celebrating the full moon, Poya, day and the city was

extremely crowded. The President was also visiting and

Udawatakelle Forest reserve was full of fascinating birds,

toque macaques and armed guards.

As we left Kandy we also left the main tourist trail and headed

into the hills. The roads had been severely damaged in the

week before our arrival due to land slips and heavy machinery

was busy digging out new roadways.

In the hilly area around Nuwara Eliya we found rather fewer species but many rare and endemic

birds. On an early morning visit to Horton Plains (leaving at 4.45) we found Sri-Lanka whistling-

thrush, Sri Lanka bush warblers, Kashmir flycatchers, dull-blue flycatchers, Sri-Lanka white-eyes

and more—all before breakfast.

We also spent time in the southern lowlands at Tissamaharama and Yala where highlights included

giant squirrel, Indian nightjar and Indian roller, but regrettably no sighting of leopard, although

those in the next vehicle caught a glimpse of one stalking prey. We were certainly close and heard

some of the action!

Our next destination was Udawalawe Reserve where Asian

elephants were abundant. We also saw golden jackal and a

variety of different birds, including Sirkeer malkoha, lesser

adjutant and the attention seeking ashy prinia.

The tour concluded at Sinharaja. The accommodation was basic,

the food uninspired (particularly for those of us who did not

enjoy spicy foods!) and the leeches were very evident but these

discomforts were more than compensated for by the fabulous

birds we found. Highlights here were the Sri Lanka spurfowl,

Sri Lanka frogmouth, Malabar trogon, blue magpie and several

other endemics.

By the time we arrived back at the airport I had seen 218 bird species of which 27 were endemics

and, this being my first visit to Asia, 169 ‘lifers’. My head was completely full and I confess to

having been unable to give full attention to each bird but many will never be forgotten.

My memories of the sights, sounds and wildlife of Sri Lanka should last a lifetime!

Your committee:

‘A million voices for nature’

Asian Elephant

Gt. Stone Curlew

Making a nest box

In the UK, more than 60 species are known to have used nest boxes.

They are very simple to

make, and a great way

to introduce children and

grandchildren to wildlife.

Use a plank of wood

about 150mm wide x

15mm thick and cut to

the dimensions shown.

The bottom of the

entrance hole must be at

least 125mm from the

floor to prevent cats

from reaching inside.

The inside front surface

should be roughed to

help chicks to scramble

up and out, and a

drainage hole should be

drilled in the base. Hinge

the lid with a piece of

leather or rubber ( a

piece of old cycle inner-

tube would do, then add

a catch to the front lid to

enable you to clean out the box in the Autumn.

The entrance hole size depends on the species that you hope to attract :

- 25mm for blue tits and coal tits; 28mm for great tits.

The box should be placed 2 to 3 metres high on a tree or wall, out of

reach of cats, facing between North and East and tilted slightly forward

to give some protection from driving rain.

W E ’ RE O N T HE W E B…

W W W . R SP B . O R G . U K/ L OC AL G R O UP S/ BED FO R D

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity:

England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

Did you know…

PAGE 4 ‘A million voices for nature’