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The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group

HeronHeron The

Newsletter - December 2014

The Royal Society for the protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076, in

Scotland no. SC037654

We welcome Nick Martin as our speaker tonight

Nick has been hooked on wildlife from an early age and after graduating with a biology degree he set out on a career in conservation and has worked for both the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB for whom he is currently a Site Manager. He is also an experienced tour leader and wildlife photographer. His talk will take us around Britain describing some of the wild places and the special animals and birds that live there, from the sea bird colonies of the Shetlands to reptiles found on the Dorset heaths and will include stunning images ranging from swirling flocks of waders, lekking black grouse to basking adders.

DIARY DATES

January 2015

Friday 9

CAWOS meeting: Pennine Wildlife by Tim Melling

7:30 pm for a prompt 7:45 pm start at St. Vincents Roman Catholic Church,

Tatton Street, Knutsford, WA16 6HR

Tuesday 13

Indoor Meeting: Birding in the Isle of Avalon by Mike Roberts Introduced by: Graham Palmer 01625 420179

Sunday 25

WGBG Coach Trip: North Lancashire Coast Depart at 8 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Judith Rees 0161 980 5034 or Steve McGann 01625 533652

Sunday 25

National RSPB Event: Big Garden Birdwatch Join Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers and the RSPB Macclesfield Local Group for the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch. There will be advice on using binoculars and telescopes and help with identifying common garden birds, as well as lots of helpful hints on completing your own survey at home. Come and help us count the birds at one of the most attractive and innovative gardens in Cheshire at the Jodrell Bank Arboretum, University of Manchester, Macclesfield, SK11 9DW. LR Grid reference: SJ796717 (N53.24205, W2.30667) Meet at the Jodrell Bank car park. 10.30 am - 12.30 pm. Discounted Group entry for RSPB members (confirmed on booking) or free to Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre ticket holders. This covers entry to the Discovery Centre and all exhibitions. Booking essential. Contact: Tina Hanak 07870 804413

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Christmas Cheer by Ray Perry

Robin Redbreast: The Robin is the bird of Christmas cards. It seems that the name Robin Redbreast was adopted over a hundred years ago and named after the postmen, who delivered mail, because they wore red coats – or so the story goes!

The Robin is a very confiding bird. It can come quite close when one is working in the garden, especially when turning over soil. It is a very opportunistic species; it is hoping you will turn up some earthworms for it to consume! In fact the male is quite a violent bird. It will attack and viscously fight potential rivals entering its territory. The species was studied by the late David Lack who wrote the definitive book about it, entitled The Life of the Robin. It was first published in 1943 by Wetherby and a reprint appeared in 1965, which is still available from dealers. Well - at least the Robin looks good and sings very sweetly.

In the winter the species can migrate into this country but according to T Hedley Bell, in his book The Birds of Cheshire, there is no evidence of significant movement in Cheshire. The Holly and the Ivy: This is a Christmas carol but the holly and the ivy were used in pre-Christian times in the celebration of the Winter Solstice and later included in Christmas celebrations after the widespread adoption of Christianity. The holly and the ivy were, and still are, used in decorating large houses with “green boughs”. Mistletoe: This is another survivor from pagan times. Mistletoe is parasitic on trees such as apple, eucalyptus and juniper. The white fruit is consumed by birds, especially in harsh winters. Gold: Gold was offered as a gift to Jesus by one of the three kings from the Orient and, of course, included in the carol We Three Kings. There are a number of British birds with gold or golden in their name – including Goldfinch, Goldeneye, Goldcrest and Golden Pheasant. I have only seen the magnificent Golden Pheasant on one occasion and that was on a road in woodland, close to Bodorgan on the Isle of Anglesey. There are plenty of yellow or gold plants in our countryside. For example, there is Golden Rain, different buttercups – notably the Goldilocks buttercup and many other plants – for example Cat’s-ear & Autumn Hawkbit. Christmas tree: There has been an annual donation to London of a Christmas tree since 1947. It is a giant Norway spruce sent by the people of Oslo in thanks for British aid in WW2. Christmas trees now appear in most houses these days, decorated with baubles, lights and small prezzies. Carols: There are many of these – including Good King Wenceslas, apparently composed in Victorian times. The Twelve Days of Christmas mentions Partridge, Turtle Dove, French hens, Colly (or calling) birds – now known to be Blackbirds, farmyard geese – assumed to be a variant of the Greylag, the swans were most likely Mute Swans, and the “gold” rings referred to the rings around the neck of Mallards. Christmas dinner: I hesitate to mention birds consumed at Christmas but nowadays turkey is favourite but many years ago it was chicken. Very long ago it was goose. Ebenezer Scrooge presented a goose to the Cratchet family after his conversion to “normality” by several visiting ghosts including that of his late partner, Jacob Marley.

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Photograph by Darren Mayer

Father Christmas: He has many names including St Nicholas, Santa Claus and Kriss Kringle. A few years ago my grandson followed the progress of Father Christmas flying around the world, delivering presents to children. He followed the progress of the “present delivery service” using my daughter–in–law’s iPad. Reindeer in the wild occupy the northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America. The reindeer has been domesticated by many northern peoples including the Lapps. The reindeer was finally exterminated in Scotland in the 12th century but domesticated beasts were reintroduced from Sweden in 1952. Christmas cards: The first Christmas card was created in 1843 but only drawings of people were used. The first bulk cards available for purchase were of nativity scenes. The still popular Robin first appeared in late Victorian times.

Much more can be said about Christmas but I must finish now. I wish all Macclesfield RSPB group members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Cheer by Ray Perry continued

News from our Wildlife Explorers

Something fishy went on at the last Wildlife Explorers meeting.........

The November Wildlife Explorers' meeting started with a seasonal theme. Tiny Christmas robins made from pine cones were created as Christmas Tree decorations. They'll be used to decorate the Wildlife Explorers Tree at the United Reform Church Christmas Tree Festival, 12-14 December 2014.

The overall theme for the meeting was 'British Freshwater Fish' and it proved so popular that one intrepid Explorer turned up complete with her own fish fins attached to her arms!

The group learned the names of the main body parts of a fish and their functions and created a giant fish from individual pieces. Leader Martin James demonstrated the amazing

way fish regulate their position in the water using an organ called the swim bladder. Some more familiar types of British fish were then introduced such as minnow, bullhead, stickleback, trout, eel and pike.

Younger Explorers made brilliant felt stuffed fish in bright colours. For some this was their first ever attempt at sewing with fabulous results overseen (and sometimes over sewn) by new Leader Helen van der Veken.

Explorers then worked out freshwater food chains combining fish with other creatures from these habitats. (Otters were very popular!) The Phoenix group also acted out a lake food web to demonstrate how the different layers of the food pyramid interact and how toxins become concentrated the higher up the food chain you go.

Photograph by Darren Mayer

Photograph by Darren Mayer

Photograph by Darren Mayer

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Remember: for up to date information on all events and

activities see the website: www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk

News from our Wildlife Explorers continued

Tree Dressing at Tegg’s Nose Country Park 2104 marked a change of location for the annual Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers Tree Dressing event. Explorers gather each year at the end of National Tree Week to celebrate the cultural and ecological importance of trees by creating amazing sculptures from natural materials inspired by wildlife, popular culture and myths and legends. The event attracts children of all ages with parents and grandparents in tow and everyone joins in, enjoying being outside and getting creative. This year the group chose Tegg’s Nose Country park as their location, accessing the woodland from the car park at the end of Holehouse Lane in Langley. Everyone was wrapped up warm and wearing silly woolly hats which was just as well as there were a couple of heavy hail showers. This didn't put off our budding artists who produced an amazing selection of sculptures including a Green man, a hedgehog, a mountain goat and a wildlife makeover of Dr Who. Using a clay

base, the children collected leaves, pine cones and berries to transform into works of art. All the sculptures are left to weather in the coming months and they will have no harmful impact on the environment. The group played some games to warm up and then enjoyed a selection of seasonal treats together with refreshments and hot drinks. One of our youngest members even created a 'Hen Harriet' (Hen harrier) which is very fitting as this year Wildlife Explorers will be raising money for the Skydancer project which aims to better protect this much persecuted bird of prey.

Photograph by Grace Carter

Photograph by Darren Mayer

Photograph by Darren Mayer

Request from our Wildlife Explorers

Please can you save your Christmas Cards and bring them to the January meeting. Our Wildlife

Explorer Leaders would like to re-cycle them in a craft activity they have planned for our birdwatchers

of the future

Thank you

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Volunteering for the RSPB by Frankie Babcock

Where can you see tigers, sharks, foxes, humming-birds and guillemots - all in one day? At the RSPB Mull of Galloway Reserve……...naturally ! A few years ago I started doing a bit of volunteering with the RSPB locally. It’s been great fun working with such a lovely, knowledgeable and welcoming group of people. I realised it didn’t matter that I couldn’t tell a chaffinch from a chiffchaff but that just an interest and enthusiasm for birds and wildlife conservation and a little spare time are what count. With this realisation, I’ve felt confident enough to undertake two weeks residential volunteering on different RSPB reserves each summer.

This year, at the end of June, I spent a week at the Mull of Galloway Reserve, located at the most southerly point in Scotland. Everywhere you look is a beautiful view; the Solway Firth and Irish Sea to the west and in the distance, the Isle of Man and Cumbria. In spring and summer, the 280-foot high cliffs are home to thousands of seabirds, in particular, guillemots, razorbills, shag and kittiwakes. It’s not just the frenzied activity of the sea birds you can enjoy…as

the coastal heath of the cliff tops is also sizzling with wildlife - breeding linnet, wheatear, stonechat feeding their young… and bugs, butterflies and beetles, including the spectacular jewel in the crown...the rose chafer beetle fizzing atop the frothy lace of hogweed florets. One fine evening, the other residential volunteer and I helped one of the Information Officers to set up his regular moth trap and five small mammal traps around the reserve. Early the following morning, with the same anticipation and excitement a child has opening their Christmas stocking, I had my first experience of helping to identify and count the overnight catch. No mammals on this occasion, although a couple of the traps had been sprung indicating a shrew had passed safely through but a bumper haul of 200 moths, consisting of 20 different species.

Moths found on the reserve include northern eggar, angle shades, map-winged swift, true lovers knot, fox moth, shark and garden tiger. Day flying moths include humming-bird hawk-moth, six spot burnets and cinnabars. Butterflies include dark green fritillary, common blue, meadow brown, red admiral and small tortoiseshell.

Where there are moths and butterflies, there are of course caterpillars! Two easily identified caterpillars are those of the northern eggar and cinnabar moths. Each have their own method of deterring predators. Cinnabar moth caterpillars can be found on ragwort and they ingest and store the harmful toxins from this plant in their bodies making them taste very nasty. The hairs on the body of the northern eggar caterpillar act as an irritant, lodging in the throat of anything that tries to eat them. The main role of volunteers at the Mull of Galloway is helping in the visitor centre, directing visitors to points of interest and showing them wildlife. At other reserves there can be a whole range of different volunteering options such as practical conservation work, nest protection and surveying. RSPB residential volunteering provides you with accommodation, new skills and great memories. Spending time working in such stunning havens for wildlife is an experience I would definitely recommend. The short term residential placements are limited in number…but just as rewarding, is the experience of volunteering locally with our Wildlife Explorers or at a local reserve e.g. Coombes Valley.

Rose chafer by Rob Conn

Northern eggar moth by Rob Conn C

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Northern eggar caterpillar by Rob Conn

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Health and Safety

In the event of fire or other emergency necessitating evacuation of the building, please leave in an orderly manner

via the nearest available Emergency Exit or as instructed by a designated Committee member. Emergency Exits are

indicated by the internationally recognised symbol of a ‘running man’ on a green background.

If required, there is a first aid kit in the kitchen. (If you do have an accident, however minor, while here tonight please

report it directly to a Committee member who, amongst other things, will ensure that details are logged in the

Accident Report Book.)

NOTICES

Fundraising News

Today, our Treasurer David Tolliday received this Local Group Contribution Certificate (see opposite) from Mike Clarke the RSPB CEO thanking us for our contribution to RSPB funds for the financial year ending April 2014. Tonight, following our successful WOW and other fund raising activities together with monies raised by our Wildlife Explorers and Phoenix Groups, we are giving another £9,400 to the RSPB. The Committee and you, the members have indicated that these funds should be allocated as follows:

International Projects £1,050 Regional Farmland Projects £4,775 Education £150 Hen Harrier Appeal £250 RSPB Reserves Coombes Valley £2,175 Conwy £500 Saltholme £500 This is a magnificent achievement, a big thank you and well done to everybody who helped us reach this total.

Local Group Committee

Christmas Tree Festival

Our Wildlife Explorers will be decorating a tree in the United Reform Church to celebrate the

Christmas Tree Festival with the theme of ‘Giving Nature a Home’

The Wildlife Explorers have been busy making pine cone robins and they will use natural

materials to complete their designs.

The Festival at the United Reform Church is in support of the East Cheshire Hospice and is

open from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 December

During the weekend there will be organ music, storytelling among the trees, a visit (or two) from

Santa and choir events with winter songs.

The Festival will close with a Carol Service at 5:30 pm on Sunday 14 December