________________________________________________________________

CHESTER RSPB GROUP

Website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/chester

NEWSLETTER NO. 78

August 2013 _________________________________________

RAMBLINGS FROM THE GROUP LEADER

Welcome members, and particularly new members. By the time you read this, we will

have started our new season, and have launched our local group offerings of great

speakers and very interesting outdoor events. Regrettably we have had to raise

subscription fees by a modest amount for the first time in several years, as running

costs for the group have continued to rise. I trust you still find it value for money.

Your national RSPB have collaborated with over twenty other wildlife conservation

organisations in the UK to produce a report entitled “The State of Nature”. This

actually makes for quite depressing reading when you think it not only covers birds

(house sparrows on the red data list!), but declines in numbers of butterflies,

amphibians, fish, woodlands, other insects as well as mammals such as hedgehogs, and

more. This report was launched by all the contributors at a major event in London in

June. Sir David Attenborough gave an inspiring keynote address, as did Mike Clarke.

The overall thrust of this report is mainly towards getting politicians to think outside

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of their four year next election horizon, and realise things need changing and

supporting for the long term. Starting NOW. We have a hard copy in the group if you

want to borrow it, or it is available on the internet. There is certainly a video of the

launch speeches on the websites. It is quite technical, but the messages are stark. We

have to effect change, starting now. Being a member of the RSPB is a great start.

You may also be aware that the RSPB has launched a rebranding. The logo has subtly

changed, and there is a new strap line “giving nature a home”. This is to be combined

with a TV advertising campaign over the summer; you may have already seen it. The

intention is to boost national membership recruitment, which has remained fairly flat

over the past year or so. Your committee have already contributed to the debate on

how to recruit and retain members at a local level. Further views are welcome.

On a personal level, my professional

work currently means I am weekend

commuting to Windsor/Egham. So I

will not be around for the first few

indoor meetings of the new season,

and the outdoor meeting I was due to

lead will be taken over by others.

Still, your stalwart committee did

outstanding work in the interregnum

between Roger and myself, and have rallied round to step into the breach again. I

should be back to torment you in the New Year. In the meantime I’ll be staying in

touch by email and phone, even dialling into the last committee meeting via Liz’s

speakerphone! Apart from living right under the landing zone into Heathrow from

which I’m getting a glow from unburnt Jet A kerosene, and rapidly going deaf, there

are some positives. Red kites are regularly (daily) seen over Windsor town centre, and

there is a large colony of squawking ring necked parakeets in the grounds of where

I’m currently gainfully employed. As I write this (July), you may think it is hot in

Chester. It is absolutely steaming down here in Surrey!

Norman Sadler

Disclaimer: For reasons of legal compliance, RSPB at ‘The Lodge’ has asked all

Groups to include in their Newsletters the following disclaimer: “The advertisements

in this Newsletter are not specifically endorsed by the Chester Group or the RSPB” 'The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

3

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS- AUTUMN 2013

Outdoor events

Saturday 14th September – Thurstaston Common

Thurstaston Common is a fascinating mix of woodland and lowland heath with a

resulting distinctive spread of birds, butterflies and other wildlife plus wide vistas

across the Dee estuary to the Welsh hills. Which woodpeckers will we see?

The leader for this trip is Peter Stevenson on 01352 716886

Meet Caldy Valley 9am

Saturday 12th

October- River Clwyd

A walk along the quiet banks of the

river Clwyd near Rhuddlan. Close

views of mudflats and river channel

for waders and wildfowl on the

rising tide.

Greenshank, spotted redshank and

ruff are all possible.

The leader for this trip is Barbara Cooper-Poole on 01244 571557

Meet Caldy Valley 11am

Sunday 8th

December- Mere Sands Wood and Marshside

Mere Sands Wood near Southport is an interesting new venue for us. It is a Site of

Special Scientific Interest for its geological features of ancient sand and peat but also

has a wide variety of bird habitats and has had some rarities (e.g. night heron) in the

past.

If time permits we shall also go on to Marshside on the coast for ducks, waders and

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geese. HT approx 3pm 9.2 metres

The leader for this trip is John Dawson on 01244 675929

Meet Caldy Valley 9am

All the trips meet at the Caldy valley church car park. Newcomers and beginners are

particularly welcome on these trips. Please contact the leader at least three days

beforehand to confirm arrangements. If the leaders does not know you are coming

they cannot let you know of any last minute changes to the trip. Wherever possible, car

sharing is encouraged. If you would like a lift or you can offer someone else one, let

the leader know.

Indoor Events

Wed 18 September at St Mary’s Centre, 7-30pm

"The snowy owl of the Arctic” – Gordon Yates

Gordon is a regular visitor to us. He is a “veteran” wild life photographer with a

particular specialism of cine film – he has made over 30; his latest film and talk will

give us a taste of an early winter but also an appreciation of the harsh conditions in

which these remarkable birds live.

Wed 16 October at St Mary’s Centre, 7-30pm

"Birds of Avalon" – Mike Roberts

Mike is a widely travelled birder but for

this talk he takes us to the more

congenial setting of the Somerset

Levels which hosts a wide variety of

birds and tells the story of the

reintroduction of the breeding common

crane, a bird which used to feature

highly on the menus of the medieval

feudal lords. A fascinating saga.

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Wed 20 November at St. Mary’s Centre, 7-30pm

“Birds of coast and island” - Paul Hobson

Paul has a lifelong interest in nature but was a teacher for 20 years until a top placing

in an international wildlife photography competition spurred him to “give up the day

job” and pursue his hobby full time. Be prepared for some stunning photography.

Wed 4 December, 7-30pm “Members’ Evening and Quiz”

N.B. VENUE CHANGE to the Guildhall

A members’ night with pre Christmas mince pies which for the last few years has been

highly acclaimed. If you have half of a dozen photos you wish to share with fellow

members contact Liz McClure (01244 409414 or elizabeth.mcclure070@gmail.com)

by 31 October. Slots limited to 6-8; book early to reserve your chance for fame and

fortune.

Ian G Ashworth BSc (Hons) MChS

Vanessa Wise BSc (Hons) MChS

Professional treatment and advice on all foot health conditions.

Ground floor clinic with local parking.

Evening and weekend appointments available.

Home visits on request.

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HPC REGISTERED

CHIROPODISTS/PODIATRISTS

6

UP THE PECOS

On March 15th Pete Rowland, a friend at Fort Clark, invited me on a trip in his small

boat along the wild and spectacular Pecos River in West Texas.

Shortly after crossing the US 90 highway bridge over the river canyon, the highest

road bridge in Texas, one arrives in Langtry. Now almost a ghost town, this town was

once the thriving HQ of Judge Roy Bean “THE ONLY LAW WEST OF THE

PECOS”.

Judge Bean was originally a saloon owner/whisky trader, serving the huge railroad

construction gangs building the new Southern US trans-continental railroad. He just

happened to possess an old law book, which was back then a quite adequate

qualification to become the only official Federal Judge in this vast wild frontier area.

Hence his un-official title “the Only Law West of the Pecos” His brand of justice was

raw and simple. His court was often held on the porch of his saloon and the sentence

was usually a $10 fine and a round of drinks for the house. He was besotted with the

English music hall sensation Lily Langtry, whose husband Edward Langtry is buried

in Overleigh Cemetery in Chester.

After parking the boat trailer I walked down the boat ramp, spotting an osprey, a more

common ringed kingfisher, together with a much rarer green kingfisher, perched along

the river side. Travelling about 7 – 8 miles up-stream I saw bald eagles, red shouldered

hawks, also a number of black and turkey vultures were just starting to nest along the

high cliffs that line the Pecos River Canyon walls.

Stopping for lunch in Dead Man’s Canyon, (the Comanche had killed 3 settlers here),

we were amazed by the thousands of tiny cliff swallows that were nesting along the

cliffs under a huge overhang. The smallest of the American swallows, the cliff

Swallow can nest solitarily, but it usually nests in colonies. Colonies tend to be small

in the Eastern USA, but further West they can number up to 3,500 nests in one spot,

usually on buildings, cliffs, and under bridges. Their gourd-shaped mud nests easily

numbered well over a thousand in this single location. Within a colony sometimes cliff

swallows may lay eggs in their own nest, then carry one egg in their bill and put it in

another nest.

After lunch we had 15 heart-stopping few minutes, as Pete could not get the boat

engine started. This was NOT a place to breakdown. Un-inhabited, many miles from

anywhere and no phone signal because we were in a deep canyon. Imagine our relief

when the engine finally started up again.

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Returning to the boat ramp late in the afternoon, we looked on in awe as a very heavily

armed US Border Patrol Air-boat came up onto the ramp. It patrols the Rio Grande

River and is used to ambush Mexican drug and people smugglers trying to get into the

USA. Even in the 21st Century West Texas can still be considered a “Wild Frontier”

Brian Gresty

MYSTERY BIRD

.

The above bird was photographed by one of our members, Brian Gresty, near the

Llangollen canal in July and sparked a big debate. All were agreed it was an ibis,

either an escapee or just far from home. Every continent was offered as its home;

Australia – white ibis is common in the eastern half ; Africa – there is a small flock of

sacred ibis in Morocco and historically Egypt ; America – but they only have white or

glossy; Asia has the sacred ibis in Iraq and parts of Europe have introduced sacred

ibises. Any thoughts?

The Editor

8

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9

CONSERVATION

Most of you will know that the RSPB is the UK Partner of BirdLife International. You

can find a short note on the 90th anniversary of the founding of BirdLife – then known

as the International Council for Bird Preservation – in the Spring issue of “Birds”

magazine. Most of the overseas work that the RSPB undertakes is under the umbrella

of BirdLife.

In 1922 a network of individuals and organizations, brought together by their passion

for birds and concerns over the decline of species and habitats, formed the

international Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP). They appreciated that international

cooperation was vitally important if their efforts were to be successful. Early

campaigns targeted the trade in bird feathers, oil pollution, hunting and shooting

during the spring migration period and emphasized the need for bird sanctuaries.

Although the Council was a purely voluntary and had no permanent staff, it included

individuals with good contacts and lobbying skills, and so was surprisingly effective.

In 1952 ICBP started to compile data on threatened birds and eventually in 1966, in

cooperation with IUCN (international Union for the Conservation of Nature), it

produced the first Red Data Book of Threatened Birds. Red Data Books and Lists have

subsequently had a profound effect on the global conservation agenda. The first

comprehensive IUCN Red List for birds was produced by ICBP in 1988 and in 1994

threat criteria for each species was added. A publication from 1994 – “Birds to Watch

2” - is particularly well produced and covers all species at risk. The latest information

on Red Lists is available at www.iucn.org/redlist.

From the 1960’s onward, ICBP expanded its role from research and lobbying to direct

involvement in conservation action. A notable example of this was the purchase, in

1968, of Cousin Island in the Seychelles. This purchase was designed to save the

Seychelles warbler – an acrocephalus warbler – from extinction. The species occurred

nowhere else and numbers had fallen to just 20 to 30 individuals because of habitat

degradation. Careful management of the habitat allowed the warbler to recover and by

1987, when the population reached 450, it was possible to transfer birds to nearby

Aride Island where it flourished and, by 1997, Aride held 1,600 birds.

In 1970 ICBP European members were influential in getting the EU Birds Directive,

the first environmental directive, approved. Today around 25,000 sites throughout

Europe are protected under the Natura 2000 network of reserves for the Birds and the

Habitats Directives. From 1980 ICBP employed a professional secretariat and

activities increased. In 1989 ICBP published its biggest book yet, a directory of

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Europe. The concept of a single reference book for

10

important sites for birds across an entire continent was ground-breaking and of great

importance for conservation. The publication set out to make the information

accessible to non-specialist decision makers in government and elsewhere. Work on

IBAs for the other continents followed and by 2009 some 9,500 sites had been

identified and documented - this figure has now grown to about 12,000. To make the

information more relevant at the local level, 129 publications covering all or part of 83

countries had also been produced by 2011. Details of all directories can be found on

www.birdlife.org/datazone/info/ibainventories .

In 1992 ICBP decided that its structure as a federation of many groups, often several

in each country, with somewhat varying philosophies was not appropriate. The

replacement structure has one representative organization per country – a Partner in

the BirdLife Partnership. The Partnership now has over 110 partners and is present in

all continents uniting over 7,500 staff and representing 2.7 million members.

ICBP/BirdLife has always depended on fees, donations and grants. The success of its

work and the projects that it has sponsored has ensured that it has benefited from

grants from a wide range of donors over the years. The scope of its work is amazing; a

few examples follow.

From 1990 it has sponsored conservation expeditions in many parts of the world.

Recently it has concentrated on sponsoring individuals from developing countries who

are keen on becoming conservation professionals.

Birds on small islands have fared particularly badly in recent history. Alien plant and

animal species, notably the black rat, have had a serious effect on many birds and have

led to the extinction of some. BirdLife, with its New Zealand partner to the fore, has

pioneered rat eradication programmes.

ICBP/BirdLife have devised and monitored management plans for forest and wetland

areas, starting in 1983 with the Arabuko – Sokoke Forest in Kenya. A recent example

is the Harapan forest in Indonesia where the RSPB has a major involvement.

In 2008 BirdLife instituted the Preventing Extinction Programme targeting 75

critically endangered species. Management plans for each species has been prepared

and a major fund-raising effort has been undertaken.

Seabirds have suffered greatly in recent decades from the intensification of fishing.

Most albatross species are endangered because of losses at the hands of the long-line

fishing industry. BirdLife have been in the forefront of efforts to reduce losses and

11

recent measures introduced on boats appear to be having some success. BirdLife are

also presently involved in the designation of marine IBAs.

Other topics that BirdLife are researching include climate change, the protection of

flyways for migrating birds and the close involvement of local people in conservation

projects.

ICBP/BirdLife was an early supporter of the concept of a single multi-volume

publication describing and documenting all the birds of the world. It endorsed the first

volume of the Handbook of the Birds of the World in 1992 and has continued its

support through to volume 16 in 2011. The Handbook is an amazing source of

information on ornithology, for details see www.lynxeds.com

John Chapman

Chester Osteopathy Christopher Holroyd GOsC Registered

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42, Stocks Lane, Boughton, Chester. CH3 5TF

tel: 01244 478700 or 07800 801427

www.chesterosteopathy.co.uk

info@chesterosteopathy.co.uk

For aches and pains at all stages of life; from new-borns to those more advanced

in years. Just some of the most common problems that osteopathy can help with:

Low back and sciatic pain, “Trapped nerve” , Neck pain, Shoulder pain and

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Appointments available Monday to Saturday inc. evenings and home

visits. Massage also available

12

FIELD TRIP TO HOCKENHULL PLATTS , APRIL 2013

On a very pleasant spring evening (remember those) around twenty folk turned up to

have a gentle stroll through the Hockenhull Platts nature reserve.

Some folk call it Roman Bridges; others call it Pack Horse Bridges. Either way this is

a local nature reserve run by the Wildlife Trust, with a bridleway running through it.

David Cummings is the warden, and has been as long as I can remember. It is my

local “patch” as I can walk to it from Waverton. In fact, some years ago, your local

group published a booklet with bird walks around Chester, and I authored the

Hockenhull entry.

David met us all and led a fascinating evening of history and wildlife. Although the

actual reserve is small, and not open to the public, it can all be viewed with binoculars

from the bridleway that formed the original packhorse route from Chester to London,

or the permissive footpath alongside the river. With the introduction of the

stagecoach, the bridges over the Gowy were too narrow and too expensive to widen,

so the new road (now the A51) was developed.

Otters are back in the Gowy. Spraints and footprints have been detected, and motion

sensors with infrared cameras have captured images of this mammal under the bridge

over the Gowy itself. Some years ago, David secreted an artificial otter holt on the

banks of the river on the reserve, and it seems to be paying off.

Anyway, lots of birds were seen. My species count totalled 31, including two I had

not seen in all the years I’ve been visiting there (wheatear and grasshopper warbler).

There was a report of lesser spotted woodpecker, and if confirmed, would be a first for

the reserve. Believe me, David has very good records, so if anyone can corroborate

that sighting, please let us know.

Word of warning. If you visit, do not stray off the path onto the reserve without being

accompanied. It is lowland wet heath land, there are very rare plants (e.g. orchids) that

could get trampled underfoot, and there are some hidden, overgrown ditches where

one could get seriously wet and stuck. Enjoy the reserve from the bridleway over the

bridges, or the permissive footpath along the bank of the Gowy towards Walk Mill.

I’m glad to say this was one of our more popular evening outings, well attended, and

very well hosted. Many thanks are due to David Cummings for his time, knowledge

and enthusiasm.

Norman Sadler

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THE “REAL”FIELD TRIP TO STIPERSTONES, MAY 2013

At 7am sharp saw 8 intrepid souls gathered in Caldy Valley. Destination Stiperstones -

an exposed ridge in Shropshire, and the weather forecast? - Horrendous!

We arrived at the Stiperstones Inn and were soon on our way up the track to ascend the

valley to the ridge. Chiff chaff was heard singing and then Roger made the first good

spot - sparrowhawk. A lovely patch of wood sorrel, and willow warblers singing their

sweet song. We had a tantalising glimpse of redstart and soon gained the ridge to see

red grouse flying away.

Over the ridge and

round Shepherds' Rock

we headed towards the

reserve of Brook

Vessons, with its old

gnarled trees. Two

curlews in the fields

below, and a red kite

were spotted. We could

hear redstart calling,

then singing, and finally

great views! A tree pipit shot up and landed in another tree. Further on and we heard

and finally saw whitethroat and blackcap in the same small tree. Confusing at first, as

the blackcap song was not particularly fluty, and could have been garden warbler. In

the end though, visual confirmation of blackcap was achieved. We then turned back

towards the ridge and great views of two cuckoos in flight, and more redstarts flitting

between the path and the adjacent trees. Skylarks sang overhead.

We were going to walk right along the ridge, but finally rain arrived with very blustery

strong wind, and it seemed wiser to descend the way we had come up. We soon

reached the Inn, real ale and coffee, and Rod and Jeannie succumbed to a sticky toffee

pudding!

Then on to Venus Pool, which gave us a lot of additional species. I immediately had

little ringed plover and ringed plover in the same telescope view, with lapwing and

common sandpiper nearby, and dunlin joining the party soon after. Other birds

included oyster catcher, great crested grebe and tufted duck. Over the water were

swallows, house martins, and sand martins, with swifts above the trees at the back. A

marsh harrier flew over, and we moved to the adjacent hide. Female and then male

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great spotted woodpecker were seen well with finches and tits.

We walked round the paths leading to another hide the other side of the pool, and still

more birds including a singing garden warbler - stock doves, buzzard and a linnet

singing on the return. We also spotted quite a few flowering plants, lady's smock,

orchids (? early purple), white and red campion, garlic mustard to name but a few.

Finally on the way home, a kestrel hovering at the roadside.

We were very lucky with the weather, avoiding most of the rain and showers and had a

list in the end of around 60 species - and a fair few flowering plants.

Peter Stevenson

THE BREEDING BIRDS OF NORTH WALES

This excellent publication will

shortly become available from

Liverpool Press and there is a

special pre-publication offer of £20

( instead of £45).

Why not give a loved one (or

yourself) an early special Christmas

present this year!! To avail yourself

of the pre- publication email Janet

McDermott via janmar@liv.ac.uk

before 1 October.

The Editor

15

THE “ALTERNATIVE” FIELD TRIP TO STIPERSTONES MAY 2013

As this part of Shropshire is one of our favourite places, Ron and I decided to go

anyway, even if the Stiperstones ridge in the rain was a bit much to ask. We left at a

more civilised hour, going via the A5, beautiful with cowslips and primroses and

cherry blossom, to find with only minor difficulty, Venus Pool off the A458 near

Cross Houses. Bird count had been minimal so far crow, magpie, pigeons varied,

blackbird and one peewit.

Venus Pool was an

enchanted place in the

morning sunshine (we

stayed in the hides

during the showers),

the beauty added to

by Hebridean

black/brown sheep,

and a plenitude of

teasels. Goldfinch

was about, chaffinch

of course, Canada

geese, mute swans,

oystercatcher, coot nesting, lots more peewit nesting on the sandy spits, mallard,

sandpiper (but which!!) and little ringed plover. We were please to find a great crested

grebe pair very close to the hide to the right, the female incubating while the male

circled protectively. Sand and house martin wheeled about, interspersed with

swallows. The small bird hide was attended by blue and great tit, hedge sparrow and

chaffinch and one female siskin. This would have been better had the feeders not been

virtually empty!

After a quick dog outing, we thought it must be lunch time and made a further foray

over the deep and fast Severn to Atcham, where we had fantastic smoked salmon

sandwiches at the Mytton and Mermaid, while overlooking the old bridge and the

river. Also entertaining was an array of different birds, wedding guests in ridiculous

heels and all sorts of feathers! We visited St Eata's 11th century church next door,

admiring the ancient stained glass. Thus refreshed, we felt able for the Stiperstones!

We had evaded the rain so far and felt very pleased with ourselves....

A circuitous route, charmed by goldfinches, took us to the southern part of the Nature

reserve, with stunning views of the Brythen, the Long Mynd and Caer Caradoc. One

buzzard the only new one! We found the access for all routes, a good 750 metres from

16

the Knolls car park. One wheatear and a pheasant were the only birds ill advised to

appear, as Liz tried her best to ignore the clouds coming up behind the Stiperstones

ridge. We turned tail and ran for the car park but not of course in time. We were really

frozen by heavy and painful hail accompanied by a high wind driving it into us. If

there were birds, we didn't care!! (But I thought I saw a ring ouzel all the same). We

retreated down the hill and back towards Shrewsbury, with snow at the edge of the

road.

A short visit to the McClure parents' grave in Wellington with some primrose plants

was a lovely thing to have done and a fish supper en route revived us enough to make

it back to Chester.

Liz and Ron McClure

GIVING NATURE A HOME

Most of you will be aware that RSPB has just undergone a re-branding. You might

have been reading the Autumn issue of Birds or visited the RSPB website, or seen the

TV advert. In case you’re wondering what it’s all about, here is some (distilled)

information from HQ on the new strategy.

What RSPB has always done and will continue do is to save threatened species and

habitats. When you protect habitat, you’re supporting all that biodiversity around the

birds, e.g. vegetation to nest in and food to eat, so all of the flora and fauna benefit, not

just birds. However, many people aren’t aware of this wider benefit for nature, or that

nature is in trouble in the UK. Norman’s front page article mentions the State of

Nature report, which shows us the extent of the problem. This shows that the need to

protect habitat for all of nature is becoming more crucial. You can read the report

online at http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science/stateofnature/

The report makes it clear that the work of RSPB and other conservation organisations

may have helped to achieve some successes, such as avocets, corncrakes, red kites, and

so on. But we have much more to do: we have lost 2/3 of our cuckoos, 44 million

birds, and 95% of hedgehogs since the 1950s, and one in ten British species of wildlife

are threatened with extinction.

Moreover, research shows that support for nature is in gradual decline, and fewer

people are concerned about threats to nature. Adult RSPB membership is at its lowest

for 10 years. The lost income hampers the ability do the vital work, but RSPB is also

17

concerned about losing the ‘reach’ that members have, i.e. the people they speak to

and the volunteers we have.

So the objective of the new branding is to make ourselves relevant to more people by

showing we can make a difference in helping threatened wildlife, and encourage them

to support us by joining the organisation. The re-branding is targeting people who are

already interested in wildlife, e.g. those who might visit a nature reserve with the

family, or who watch nature documentaries on the TV.

The “Giving nature a home” strapline is an extension of campaign work that RSPB

was already doing. Giving it more emphasis will let people know of the problem and

what they can do about it. RSPB wants to inspire people to build homes for nature to

bring people closer to wildlife – the focus is on common species, to make it easier for

people to get involved with nature by putting up bird feeders, building homes for bees

and hedgehogs and so on.

For more detail on this, see the new Birds issue: the editorial from RSPB’s Chief Exec,

Mike Clarke, on page 5, and the article on State of Nature starting on page 14. If you

want to help us inspire others to support this campaign, please come and talk to us at

one of our forthcoming events.

Roger Nutter

FIELD TRIP TO CLOCAENOG, MARCH 13

There were eight of us on the field trip to Clocaenog. It was bitterly cold when we met

at 7.30 but the sun was creeping over the horizon so we hoped it would warm up.

Our first stop was at the Tesco store in Ruthin, where waxwings had apparently been

spotted the previous day. We saw no sign of birds or of any berries on the trees, so we

guessed they must have had their fill and moved on. As we approached the forest car

park at Bod Petrual, there was a

welcoming party for us in the shape of

a series of three roadside posts each

topped with a buzzard. Shame one

couldn’t have been a goshawk, which

was our key target species for the day.

On the summit of Craig Bron Banog,

we were delighted to see a great grey

shrike. We watched it for quite a while as it flew from tree to tree hunting for food.

18

Unfortunately, the goshawks we hoped to see were absent; we looked and listened for

an hour or more, but had to admit defeat. I was thrilled for a moment when I thought I

saw one sitting on a branch some distance away, but it turned out to be a pale-coloured

rock showing through a bare tree.

We parked in three different places during our visit, and saw a variety of other birds

including coal and blue tits, raven, buzzard and robin, and good views of a pair of

bullfinches. The sound of siskins was all round us too, although we didn’t get good

views of them. On the way back to the cars from our final stop at Pincyn Llys, male

and female crossbills were spotted. They were quite flighty but the whole group

managed to get views of them in the binoculars and telescopes before they went deeper

into the forest.

So it was worth braving the cold in the end. Even with the sun shining all day, it didn’t

warm up!

Hilary Pritchard

A DAY OUT TO BEMPTON CLIFFS

For those who did not go to Bempton Cliffs you missed a fantastic day out. The

weather was superb. The offshore wind was a bit cold but the birds made up for that

when we got there. On the way by coach I saw and counted 23 species.

All day the total counted was 45

which consisted of gannets galore,

four different kinds of auks

including both black and bridled

guillemots. There were also

kittiwakes and fulmars; the

cacophony of noise was

tremendous. A raven was present

and a peregrine falcon flew past

lolling for a meal. A few

shearwaters passed by; also a delight for me was the tree sparrow- such a handsome

but rare bird these days.

Many thanks to the organisers of the trip and to our coach driver.

Malcolm Leigh

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CADOS PROGRAMME –AUTUMN 2013 Sat 21

st Sep North Wirral Leader: Roger Wilkinson 01244-381343

Sat 26th

Oct Migrant Mystery Tour Leader: Don Pawlett 01244-677477

INDOOR MEETINGS

Thu 3rd

Oct Madagascar Highlights by Roger Wilkinson

Thu 7

th Nov Central & South America by Steve Holmes

Thu 5th

Dec Hilbre Bird Observatory by Phil Woollen

Editor’s note

Hope you enjoy the bird photos (ex RSPB website) which our new printer can now do

in colour. My thanks to all the writers who provide such a variety of articles. I hope

that you enjoyed their contributions and perhaps will be stirred to have a go at writing

yourself. Future editions always need articles- short or long with or without

photographs. If you wish to contribute something, please do not hesitate to contact me

on 01244 675929 or by email johngdawson@onetel.com

Sadler Quality Ltd.

Solving Quality Problems

Reducing Scrap and Waste

Cost Saving

Quality Strategy

Culture Change

Training

Audits

2 Millers Close, Waverton,

Chester

Tel: 01244 335670

Mob: 07843 580440

Email: info@sadler-quality.co.uk

Web: www.sadler-quality.co.uk

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