sevenoaks local group · subantarctic macquarie island, following one of the largest successful...

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Very best wishes for a happy New Year from all the Committee. Many of our longer established members will remember a young man by the

name of Jeremy Bird, who regularly attended our meetings and went on to become “Young Ornithologist of the Year”. Jeremy grew up in Kent. During his teenage years in the 1990s he and his mother Angela were regulars to Sevenoaks RSPB Members Group meetings. Jeremy studied ecology at the University of East Anglia and has worked with BirdLife International at their head office in Cambridge, and in their Pacific office in Fiji [RSPB is the UK BirdLife Partner]. Jeremy is now studying the recovery of seabirds on Australia’s

subantarctic Macquarie Island, following one of the largest successful eradications of invasive species to date. He is no stranger to our Newsletter as a “foreign correspondent”. In the April 2005 Newsletter, Jeremy wrote about a forthcoming expedition to Cambodia that he was leading, wrote a summary of the findings in the August 2006 issue and In the April 2010 issue he outlined his forthcoming expedition to Bangladesh in search of the wintering grounds of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, reporting back in January 2011. In this issue he outlines his work on Australia’s Macquarie Island, and I’ve followed this with news of

a forthcoming rodent removal project on Gough Island in the Atlantic, and a successful one on the

Shiant Isles. Did you know that you can help the RSPB at no extra cost when you shop on line? If you use

Amazon, then register with Amazon Smile, specify RSPB as your chosen charity, and from then on a donation will be made by Amazon every time you buy something.

How to find out what is happening in the Group:

Via Facebook: Access your facebook account and type in RSPB Sevenoaks Local Group. Here you can read about local bird sightings, conservation news, and you can join the facebook group and contribute photographs and comments. Do try it; we have a lively set of Sevenoaks and Kentish photographs and news the moment it happens.

Via the web: Details of our programme, updated news, and colour versions of Newsletters can also be viewed on our RSPB web site: - www.rspb.org/groups/sevenoaks - why not bookmark it?

Alternatively go to the RSPB main website www.rspb.org.uk, click “Get involved” then “RSPB local

groups” (listed under Community & advice). At find a group, type in “Sevenoaks” and enter,

then click on “SEVENOAKS LOCAL GROUP WEBSITE”. For future use bookmark the site. You can of course use this route to find any RSPB Local Group in the country. If you no longer wish to hear from RSPB Sevenoaks Local Group, please contact Brian Nobbs, Editor [email protected]. 36 Main Road, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, TN14 6EP, confirming your name and address and stating that you wish to unsubscribe from the RSPB Sevenoaks Local Group’s communications. The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home.

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

England and Wales no. 207076; Scotland no. SC037654

SEVENOAKS LOCAL GROUP

JANUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER

http://www.rspb.org/groups/sevenoaks

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

mailto:[email protected]

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My work on Macquarie Island – text and photos by Jeremy Bird

Invasive species are one of the most pervasive threats to wildlife around the world. Humans are an inquiring species and for centuries we’ve explored far and wide, but a disastrous side-effect of our early voyages was the accidental or misguided introduction of mammalian predators far beyond their natural ranges. In their original state, oceanic islands are magical places, where seabirds top the food chain. Although auks and gannets in the north, and albatrosses and penguins in the south tend to steal the show, my favourites are the shearwaters and petrels that come in under the radar. Perfectly adapted to remote island life, petrels can forage over vast distances before finding their way back to land. To avoid predation by skuas and gulls, petrels only return to their colonies under the cover of darkness. They nest in vast colonies to dilute the risk of predation, and they nest in burrows safely hidden below ground. These traits mean petrel populations have a major influence on the islands where they nest. Historically, they could number in the millions. Vast quantities of nutrients collected in the seas around would be deposited nightly, and the very action of burrowing influences the whole soil structure and vegetation of their island homes. But sadly, most islands are no longer in their original state. Following the introduction of mammals, the behaviours petrels have developed to avoid avian predators so successfully, were no help against rats and cats. Populations have been depleted since the 1800s leaving many species facing extinction in part or all of their range.

We’re still a long way from finding solutions to many of the conservation challenges ahead, but invasive species management is one area where huge strides have been made. Before the 1980s, the eradication of introduced rodents from a whole island was thought impossible, but since then the size of islands where successful eradication programmes have been completed has gone up and up. Until the wonderful recent success on South Georgia, a UK overseas territory in the South Atlantic, Australia’s Macquarie Island where I’m now studying, was the largest island to have been treated. In the late 1990s cats were removed, followed in 2011-2014 by rabbits, rats and mice in a combined operation. When you see the full scale of the island’s 35 km of jagged peaks and inaccessible cliffs the size of this achievement becomes clear. The operation took $25 million of public funding, and now there’s a desire to understand what has been delivered.

I’m approaching the end of a year studying the status and trends of petrel populations on Macquarie Island. This work, supported by the Australian Antarctic Division, builds on years

of monitoring by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. The focus has been on four species. White-headed Petrels and Antarctic Prions both survived the period of invasive mammals on the island, but barely. Their populations are now expanding. One of the best indications of this is the change in breeding success. When this was first studied in the late 1970s below 20% of White-headed Petrel breeding attempts successfully fledged chicks. Today this is up around 80%. I’m also looking at Grey Petrels and Blue Petrels. Both species became extinct as breeders on the main island during the 1900s. Greys had disappeared altogether while Blues survived in small numbers on some offshore rock stacks. Both species have returned to breed and numbers are climbing

Jeremy at work on Macquarie Island

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year on year. In the case of Blue Petrels, the transformation is breath-taking. A visit to a colony at night now greets you with a great wall of noise from birds calling in their burrows, while the ghostly shapes of their partners flit across the starlight above.

One of the things I think is important is to have a vision for island recovery. So often we have to adopt a triage approach in conservation, dealing with the most urgent cases first. Extinction risk is the benchmark we tend to use to inform this, and once a species imminent risk of extinction has passed, we say job done and move on to the next one. In the case of islands and their seabird communities, I hope we continue to strive well beyond that point. Already at Macquarie we’ve removed the threat of extinction for many species and that’s a great achievement, but let’s keep monitoring these populations until they’re back up in the millions where they belong. Then seabirds will be fulfilling their role in driving the ecosystem and we can really be proud.

Macquarie Island is a good news story and it is showing what can happen when we tackle the threat from invasive species. It is contrasted by the situation currently on the UK overseas territory of Gough Island, part of the Atlantic Tristan da Cunha islands. Numbers and statistics are not always the best way to express changes to wildlife. On Gough this year their prion population failed completely in their breeding – not a single chick was raised owing to invasive mice. I read that in times gone by if you were to walk out of the research station at night with a head torch you’d be peppered by petrels flying into you, disoriented by the light as they return to their burrows. Now researchers are lucky to see any. In terms of historic numbers, and the diversity of species it supports Gough is arguably the most important seabird island on Earth. RSPB is heavily involved in efforts to undertake a rodent eradication in 2019. It’s massively important that as members we support them in this effort. One of the great privileges of the work I’m involved in is to come and live in a true wilderness area. I love the popular writings of the nature writer Robert Macfarlane – one of many great communicators of today helping to reconnect us with nature and remind us of its importance in our lives. I came across his Word of the day this morning: “Jokamiehenoikeus” - Everyman’s Right (Finnish) - the freedom to walk, cycle, swim, camp & forage in the landscape, without causing damage or disturbance. To experience this day in day out is not always easy, but it is always rewarding. I’ve lost count of the number of times of been snowed, hailed and rained on while eating lunch. I’ve been physically blown off my feet, my hands have been numbed and my knees are sore. But the island is springing at the moment – Elephant Seals are arriving on mass to pup while the great bulls fight on the beaches, the first albatross of the season are back and soon they’ll be crying overhead, the cushion-plants are turning green again, and penguins are on their way. It’s great to see an island on the up. Finally, I just want to sign off by saying that a career in conservation requires a real passion for the environment. That passion was fuelled and fostered in me by many members of Sevenoaks RSPB who were great teachers in my formative years. I am and always will be extremely grateful to you all for helping me along this path. Jeremy Bird

Blue Petrels return on mass to their colonies at night. Until recently they had disappeared from Macquarie Island, but numbers are firmly on the up.

A Grey Petrel incubating its egg. These winter-breeding burrow-nesters are another species that is recovering following successful eradication of mammalian predators.

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Ambitious plan to remove "mega-mice" from Gough Island

to save millions of seabirds Jeremy’s article about his work on Macquarie Island shows what can be done, and another gang of feral rodents are about to enter the firing line.

Gough Island, as mentioned by Jeremy, is part of the Tristan da Cunha group, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. Here, mice, accidentally introduced by sealers in the 19

th century and with no natural predators to limit them,

have evolved into “mega-mice”, 50% larger than normal and with carnivorous habits. They now feed on the helpless chicks of seabirds such as the Tristan Albatross, which are left alone whilst their parents are away fishing. The chicks, despite weighing up to 10 kg have not evolved the instinct to respond to this new threat and the wounds inflicted often kill them. After years of planning, the monumental task of eliminating the mice will be attempted in 2020. The island is remote, with rough terrain and often extreme weather. Ships will transport helicopters to within range and the pilots will perform a series of complex aerial manoeuvres to drop bait across the island. The pilots need to be highly experienced, but they still will be unable to reach some areas, and these will have to be covered by field workers on foot. Every location must be targeted. Such a monumental effort requires team work and combined resources. The RSPB and Tristan da Cunha government are partnered with BirdLife South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs (South Africa), Island Conservation, The Fitzpatrick Institute (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Zoological Society of London, World Land Trust, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Rothschild Foundation.

It certainly won’t be easy, but it will be really worth it. Ian Lavarello, Chief Islander of Tristan da Cunha says “we have a unique opportunity to save Gough Island and the species that make their home there. “If we do nothing, we will eventually lose this amazing South Atlantic seabird mega-colony and its contribution to the world’s oceans will cease. With dedication and rigorous planning, success is possible. Monumental programmes such as this are not without their challenges but the rewards for global conservation are great.”

To find out more about the project, go to www.goughisland.com.

And closer to home :-

The Shiant Isles, some 5 km off Lewis, between Skye and the Western Isles are among the most important sites in Europe for breeding Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills. However, Black Rats, descendants of survivors from shipwrecks, had decimated the breeding birds by targeting eggs and chicks, and some species such as Manx Shearwaters and storm petrels no longer bred. However, this year the Isles were declared rat free – which required at least two years without any evidence of rats. From the BBC News website: Dr Charlie Main, senior project manager for the Shiant Isles Recovery Project, said: "This is an absolutely fantastic moment for the Shiant Isles and everyone involved in the project is delighted that they are now officially rat free. With so many of Scotland's seabird populations in decline it's vital that we do all we can to help them. Making these islands a secure place for them to breed is really important." Dr Main said it was hoped numbers of seabirds would recover over the next few years.

[In 2018 European Storm Petrel was confirmed as breeding on the Shiant Isles. Ed.]

Tristan Albatross © RSPB

https://www.goughisland.com/

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We meet on the first Thursday of the month, at OTFORD VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL, High

Street, Otford, TN14 5PQ. The car park is adjacent to the hall, and is free after 6 pm.

Entrance fee = Group Members £2.50, non-members £3.50.

Please note that meetings will START PROMPTLY at 7.45 pm, doors are open from 7.15 pm.

DONATIONS OF RAFFLE PRIZES ALWAYS APPRECIATED!

7.45pm Thursday 3rd January 2019

Where Yeehaa meets Olé - Ralph and Brenda Todd

A winter wildlife tour around the Southern States of New Mexico, and Southern California. Through the Sea of Cortez for whales; deserts with magnificent landscapes, cacti and Cactus Wren, the winter spectacle of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, and finally a meander along the coastal reserves of Texas with its many water birds and rare Whooping Cranes.

7.45pm Thursday 7th February 2019

Gardening for Wildlife – Brian Nobbs Gardens can be mini nature reserves. Demonstrating ways to encourage a range of wildlife into the garden, Brian will show you the secrets of his own garden, planted for all year round interest to both its owners and wildlife! Birds, butterflies, bees and mammals caught on camera.

7.45pm Thursday 7th March 2019

Tigers and Teasias – Andrew Cleave

A welcome return by Andrew. Birds and wildlife of northern India. Fascinating endemic and migratory species in mountain terrain, forests, marshes and grasslands – a Teasia is a very small but very colourful bird, quite a contrast with a tiger!

7.45pm Thursday 4th April 2019

Coasts and Islands around Britain – Colin Page

Colin is a skilled naturalist and wildlife photographer from Rye who has an eye for observing the complete range of wildlife and landscapes wherever he goes. Calling at Scilly, County Antrim, Anglesey, The Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland, the Farnes, North Norfolk, White Cliffs of Dover, and ending at Rye Harbour!

Plus media sale – Books, DVDs and CDs

7.45pm Thursday 2nd May 2019

AGM – plus

Operation Turtle Dove – Nicole Khan

Nicole is an RSPB Turtle Dove advisor in the South East, and will update us on her work advising farmers on habitat management, and understanding the needs of Turtle doves and their feeding and nesting requirements in the UK Ensuring a safe passage on migration and research into the migratory route and wintering grounds is also covered.

Plus wine and nibbles

Note: As the Main Hall will be in use as a Polling Station for Local

Elections, this meeting will be held in the Club Room.

DIARY SECTION

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7.45pm Thursday 5th September 2019

Mary Braddock – Colour Magic in La Brenne A visit to this rural part of France, cluttered only by the 2.000 lakes that help create a haven for colourful orchids, butterflies, dragonflies and birds. Mary is a naturalist and superb photographer.

7.45pm Thursday 3rd October 2019

Red Kites and Peregrines – Keith Betton.

The fascinating story of how the Red Kite and Peregrine Falcon were brought back from the brink in the UK. Keith Betton is vice president of the British Trust for Ornithology.

7.45pm Thursday 7th November 2019

John Buckingham – Kerala – Birds of S.W. India

Sandwiched between the lofty green-shrouded Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea lies Kerala, the quiet mystic - Gods Own Country. Kerala is well endowed with avifauna as nearly 500 species of resident and migratory birds abound in this area. Lush green tropical forests, numerous freshwater and brackish lakes and waterlogged paddy fields form the major birding habitats of this region.

7.45pm Thursday 5th December 2019

Simon Ginnaw – Britain’s Coastal Birds and their Secret Lives

Enjoy a scenic journey around the British coastline discovering the lives of our fascinating coastal birds, from Puffins to Purple Sandpipers, Guillemots to Gulls, Razorbills to Redshanks. Our coastal birds are some of the most specialised & nomadic species on this planet. Each species adapted to life in some of our wildest habitats.

Also, don’t forget the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 26-28 January 2019.

Recycle your used stamps

The RSPB can raise money from used postage stamps, so if you would like to bring any to an indoor meeting, Brian or Jean will take them off your hands.

The Society can also find good homes for used binoculars & telescopes. They can be refurbished and used by wardens and students overseas where

such equipment is difficult and expensive to obtain, so particularly valued.

Photographic Competition 2018

There was a high standard of entries for our recent photographic competition, viewed at the November and December meetings. The top five in each category are listed on page 9 and the winning photos reproduced on page 10. Congratulations to the winners, but equally importantly, thanks to all who submitted entries and to those who viewed and voted.

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Our field meetings are a great opportunity to see a wide variety of birds and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. The walks are for people of all abilities and for the most part cover easy terrain at a leisurely pace, providing a chance to enjoy birds and learn more about them and their habitats, and share a common interest with others. Target birds are indicated for each trip, but of course they are not guaranteed. On most walks we suggest you bring a packed lunch. Warm, waterproof clothing and stout footwear are advised on all trips. All walks are undertaken at your own risk. Remember to take your RSPB membership card to all meetings at RSPB reserves. Length of walk: “A” = 1 mile: “B” = 2 miles: “C” = up to 4 miles

For those with satellite navigation, we have included the nearest Post Code, but please note this only gives an approximation of the meeting point, but usually to within a few hundred metres.

2019 January Tue 1

st

1.00 pm “A”

Bough Beech (TQ495492) TN14 6LD

New Year startup Meet on the causeway road overlooking the reservoir near the KWT reserve centre

at Winkhurst Green. Led by John Waterman

January Wed 9

th

10.30 am “C” All day

Shellness (TR042699) ME12 4RJ

Owls, raptors, waterfowl & Snow Bunting. On the Isle of Sheppey. Meet at start of sea wall just outside Leysdown-on-Sea, at end of B2231. (Approx. 1 mile after passing the toilet block).

Bring lunch. Led by Anne McGregor

January Sun 13

th


Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve (TQ722757) ME3 7SU

Waders & wildfowl Take the A289 off the A2 near Strood. From the A289 follow the B2000. For Salt Lane turn 2

nd L after the round stone “Cliffe” village sign (into Rectory Road). Turn

R at the next T junction and Salt Lane is next L. Continue along Salt Lane until the road bends sharply to the right - the car park is situated on the left hand side just

past the bend. Bring lunch and your RSPB Membership card.

Led by John Waterman

February Wed 6

th


Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (TQ942188) TN31 7TY

Waders and winter visitors. Possible Bittern, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harrier From A259 towards Hastings, turn L, after Rye Town on minor road to Rye Harbour. Meet in car park, then walk across past reedbeds and pits to Castle

Water hide. Bring lunch. Led by Anne McGregor

February Sun 17

th


Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN

Migrants, raptors, waterfowl, Bittern From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile,

opposite Boulderwall Farm turn left and meet in the car park for the ARC pits.

Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card.


If you coming to a WEEKEND field meeting, please let JOHN WATERMAN know by phone or

text [07935 206618], also if you wish to arrange a car share. Please note that John works on

Saturdays until 7.30 pm - apologies for any missed or non-returned calls.

Similarly, if you are coming to a WEEKDAY field meeting, please let ANNE McGREGOR

know by phone [01732 454304],

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March Sun 24

th


Shellness (TR042699) ME12 4RJ

Owls, raptors, waterfowl & Snow Bunting. On the Isle of Sheppey. Meet at start of sea wall just outside Leysdown-on-Sea, at end of B2231. (Approx. 1 mile after passing the toilet block).

Bring lunch. Led by John Waterman

March Wed 27

th


Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (TR063196) TN29 9PN

Waterfowl and early migrants. Past sightings include Osprey, Bluethroat,

Firecrest and Stone Curlew. From B2075 Rye to Romney road take Dungeness road to Lydd. After 1 mile,

opposite Boulderwall Farm turn left and meet in the car park for the ARC pits.

Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card. Led by Anne McGregor

April Sun 7

th


Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD

Waterfowl, waders, maybe some migrants, raptors Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village. NB Nearest toilets in Superstore before Shepherd Neame Brewery.


April Wed 10

th


Oare Marshes KWT Reserve (TR013648) ME13 0QD

– followed by Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park

Wildfowl, waders, raptors followed by woodland birds Off A2 before Faversham. Continue on from B2045 along Harty Ferry Road to car park by Kent Wildlife Trust information centre. Signposted from Oare Village.


May Wed 1

st


Conyer Creek (TQ962648) ME9 9HL

Migrants, including Cuckoo and Nightingale, plus warblers & waders From the A2 in Teynham take Station Road north. Turn right into Lower Road, then turn north onto Conyer Road. Park near Ship Inn in Conyer Village.


May Sun 12

th


Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve (TQ059164) RH20 2EQ

Wildfowl and Summer visitors

On the left on A283 – 3 miles before Pulborough, after turning off A24 at

Washington. Bring lunch & RSPB Membership card


May Tues 21

st

to Fri 24th

Group holiday to Somerset Levels

A trip to the Somerset Levels organised in conjunction with NatureTrek. More information is on page 12 of this Newsletter.

For further details, including a full itinerary, and booking, contact Tom

Mabbett at Naturetrek, [email protected]. Tel: 01962 733051.

June Sun 9

th


Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh Nature Reserve (TR235631) CT3 4BP

Summer visitors Take the A299 from the A2 to the A28, turn S towards Canterbury. Take Grove Ferry turn off. Meet at car park next to Grove Ferry Inn (TR235631).


June Wed 12

th


Ashdown Forest (TQ468305) TN22 3JD

Woodlark, Tree Pipit, Redstart and other heathland & woodland birds From A22 at Forest Row, take B2110 Hartfield Road to Coleman’s Hatch, then Kidd’s Hill, continuing on to B2026 and car park at Old Lodge.



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If you’ve ever fancied getting involved with some practical conservation, why not come out to one of our work parties? Try felling a tree, making a dead hedge or starting a bonfire; get some fresh air and make a difference. Send an email to [email protected] or call 01892 752430 if you are thinking of coming, or if you’d just like more information.

Meet at the Reserve car park at 10:00 am. Post Code TN11 0PT. All work is conducted under

the supervision of the warden, and tools can be provided, though you may prefer to bring your own

(gloves, saw, loppers, etc.). Don’t forget to bring some lunch and a drink!

From the A21, take the turning signposted “Capel/Kent College/Old Church/Pembury Walks”, then

turn left, signposted “Capel” into Halfmoon Lane. The car park is approximately 0.3 miles on the left.

2019 Work Parties at Tudeley Woods

Wednesdays:- weekly from 9th

January up

to and including 27th

March, then 10th

April, 8th

May,

5th

June, 3rd

and 31st July, 14

th and 28

th August, then

weekly from 4th

September to 18th

December.

Alternatively, if you would like to work at Broadwater

Warren, work parties are Tuesdays:- weekly from 8th

January up to and including 26th

March, then 9th

April, 7th

May, 4th

June, 2nd

and 30th

July, 13th

and

27th

August, then weekly from 3rd

September to 17th

December, meeting at 10am, Also the second Saturday in each month, meeting at 9.30am.

Meet in Main Car Park, Broadwater Forest Lane, off A26, TN3 9JP.

Sevenoaks RSPB Group Photographic Competition 2018 Results

Birds 1

st Nigel Meachem Perfect Landing

2nd

Nigel Meachem Short-eared Owl =3

rd Dave Smith Two Red and Green Macaws having an argument

=3rd

Robin Cutler “Berry Feast” – Redwing feeding on Cotoneaster berries 5

th Reg Oakley “Where’s mum and dad gone? We’ve a long way to go soon”

Fauna 1

st Dave Smith A Cotinga Hawker Butterfly

2nd

Nigel Meachem Scarce Swallowtail 3

rd Jan Chart ‘Maternal Love’

4th

Nigel Meachem ‘Squabbling Siblings’ =5

th Robin Cutler Wolf Spider carrying her egg

=5th Brian Nobbs Swallowtail Butterfly, Kos

Flora 1

st Jean Nobbs Wildflower meadow

2nd

Lesley Smith Chicken in the Woods, Tree Fungus 3

rd Nigel Meachem White flowers

4th

Jan Chart ‘On the Rocks’ 5

th Jan Chart ‘True or False?’

Landscape 1

st Brian Nobbs Lake aflame, Sevenoaks

2nd

Jean Nobbs Storm approaching, Flevoland 3

rd Sheila Turley Sunset, near Margate

4th Nigel Meachem Mirror Lake

5th Jan Chart

‘El Capitan of All’

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Photographic Competition 2018 Winners

Birds:

Nigel Meachem

‘Perfect Landing’

Fauna:

Dave Smith

A Cotinga Hawker

Butterfly

Flora:

Jean Nobbs

Wildflower Meadow

Landscape:

Brian Nobbs

‘Lake aflame’, Sevenoaks

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Celebrating 50 years of RSPB groups

Local groups started their life in 1969 as "members' groups". Their original aim was to support the YOC (the predecessor to RSPB Wildlife Explorers), raise funds, recruit members and help to organise local film shows. The first RSPB group was Epping Forest, set up in early 1969 (later replaced by the current NE London local group), closely followed by Bath & District, Coventry & Warwickshire and Newcastle upon Tyne, all in 1969. We now have over 140 local groups across the UK, from Orkney to Guernsey and Lowestoft to Fermanagh. Leading nearly 1,700 guided walks, giving 363 talks about our work to 8,191 people in other organisations, carrying out wildlife surveys, fundraising, visiting schools and much much more. The overall total financial contribution to the work of the RSPB was £316,894 in 2016/17.

Sevenoaks Group first formed in the early 1970’s and following a brief hiatus was re-formed in 1994, with first Julie Childs and then Bernard Morris as leader, with Anne Chapman taking over the reins in 2010. 2019 is therefore the 25

th anniversary of the re-founding of the Group.

As well as all the indoor and field meetings, members have enjoyed Group holidays in the UK from Northern Ireland and Scotland to East Anglia, via the north of England and Lincolnshire, and in Europe from mainland France (three times), Spain (twice), Ireland, Bulgaria, Poland, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean islands of Lesbos, Corsica and Mallorca. We have had sales stalls and represented the RSPB at events from Sevenoaks to Hever and led walks around Knole for the public. Committee members have given talks on behalf of the RSPB to WI’s, church groups, fellowships, bird clubs, garden clubs and centres, care groups and many others, plus other RSPB Groups (over 420 since 1994). Fundraising has also been an important activity and between 2006 and April 2018 £54,000 was raised from Pin Badges and a further £49,000 donated to RSPB conservation work.

We aim to celebrate our anniversary in 2019, so watch out for events in our future Newsletters, website and Facebook. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let Nature Sing

2019 sees the start of a new RSPB campaign – “Let Nature Sing”. As politicians renegotiate our relationship with the European Union and decide on the policies that will shape our countryside for years to come, we have a historic opportunity to get nature firmly on the political agenda. We need governments across the UK to step up their ambitions and establish world-leading new laws that will drive the recovery of the nature on our doorstep – and in doing so, inspire other countries to act.

If enough of us speak up for nature, our voices will be heard. Will you join us at the start of

the journey to let nature sing? Find out more in the RSPB website under “Get Involved/campaigning”, or following the link from the Sevenoaks Group website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Waitrose “Community Matters” raises £300 Over the month of November 2018, Sevenoaks RSPB Local Group was included as one of the months three charities supported by Waitrose’s “Community Matters” scheme. Thanks to all those shoppers who put their green tokens in our section – it raised £300, which will go to conservation projects.

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Group Holiday 2019 Tailor made Naturetrek trip to Somerset Levels

Tuesday 21st

to Friday 24th

May 2019

After making our own way to the hotel in Wells, further travel in Somerset will be by Naturetrek minibus. Depending on numbers we would have one or two minibuses in Somerset. As you would expect from the term “levels” the walking is easy, on flat ground, and will be interspersed with time spent in hides. The proposed itinerary is: Day 1 - Arrive at the Swan Hotel, Wells in the evening to meet your leader, dinner and briefing. Days 2 - 4 - Full days exploring the levels/Steart Marshes. Day 4 - Depart in the evening for home (option to stay on another night of course for those who wish). For a 3 night / four day tour fully guided, breakfast and 3 course dinner at the 3-star hotel with award winning restaurant, but with lunches taken at own expense at local pubs, it would come to between £460 and £485 per person (depending on numbers – lower price if party is 14-16) based on two sharing a room. £90 supplement for single occupancy.

For further details, including a full itinerary, and booking, contact Tom Mabbett at Naturetrek,

[email protected]. Tel: 01962 733051. The Somerset levels are one of England’s largest remaining wet meadow systems with important numbers of breeding waders in summer which can be found on a number of nature reserves including

RSPB West Sedgemoor, Avalon Marshes,

Shapwick Heath and RSPB Ham Wall. The wetland pools and reedbeds of the Avalon Marshes provide superb habitat for wildfowl, waders and herons. The visit in late May is timed to coincide with the breeding season and peak migration of waders such as Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and Little Ringed Plover, among the commoner Lapwing and Redshank. This is also one of the best times to watch Hobby feeding on dragonflies over the pools. There is also a good chance of seeing Bittern as they fly across the reedbeds to bring food to their chicks. This is the area where Common Cranes have been reintroduced and there is a good chance of finding them. Wooded areas are home to a range of woodland birds including warblers, Spotted Flycatchers and Marsh Tits, and there will be the chance of a pre-breakfast dawn chorus, probably at Ham Wall.

Rising sea levels are putting the squeeze on our coast, so WWT and the Environment Agency have

created Steart Marshes, Bridgwater - one of the UK’s largest new wetland reserves. Hundreds of hectares of saltmarsh and fresh water wetlands buffer homes and businesses from rising sea levels, and provide habitat for a rich mix of wetland wildlife including Otters, egrets, waders, owls and wildfowl. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Robin changes allegiance!

The Robin, Erithracus rubecula, which until recently has been classified as a member of the thrush family, has had a change of family and is now a flycatcher!

Ham Wall RSPB, Avalon Marshes, Somerset,

Glastonbury Tor in the background


sevenoaks local group · subantarctic macquarie island, following one of the largest successful...

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