COLCHESTER

LOCAL GROUP

Newsletter No 61 August 2011

Group Website – www.rspb.org.uk/groups/colchester

GROUP LEADER’S REPORT

Although the indoor meetings finished back in April, some aspects of the Group’s activities have continued right through the summer months. Back in early May several Group members helped to man a display on ‘gardening for wildlife’ at the Stanway Garden Centre. The garden centre laid out a nice display of wildlife friendly plants for us and we talked about birds and providing for them in our gardens. These ‘flag flying’ events are a good way to let people know that the Group exists and to encourage them to join us and two ladies in the tearoom promised to become RSPB members! A brief survey of folk we talked to revealed how few had provided nestboxes for birds, other than tits. I used my own example of having up two sparrow terrace-boxes providing six nesting holes, of which four were (still are) occupied, as a way of encouraging them to do the same. At least one couple went away with a terrace-box. I know it’s a bit of a hobby horse of mine but do consider putting up these boxes if you don’t have them. Equally starling boxes, which again I have had used, including one pair that double-brooded in a four chamber swift box – I hadn’t really wanted them to do that but as the swifts didn’t appear, I’m not complaining! My thanks to those who helped out at this event – I felt it well worth while. Coach and car trips continued right through until July and, as will be seen by the various reports, they turned up some excellent bird sightings as well as a range of other wildlife.

Thanks are due to Mick and John for continuing to organise these and the new programme, included with this Newsletter, has some good places in store for us for the coming season. Veronica and her helpers have once again been out collecting donations at supermarkets and despite difficult financial times have been surprised how well these collections have held up. See page 2. Another flag-flying exercise was an open garden event at Bradfield in June – Margaret and myself manned a Group display at a house by the Stour Estuary, which again was a useful way of meeting local folk and telling them about the Group and about gardening for wildlife. As always we helped RSPB staff from the Norwich office to man the display at the Tendring Agricultural Show – this one-day event in July, which attracts around 20,000 people annually, is one the RSPB’s best membership recruitment activities regionally. This year twelve (fifteen in 2010) folk were joined up and once again we were there to hand out local group information and talk to people. Thanks to Gillian and Margaret for lending a hand. Finally, as the summer heads towards autumn we hope that you have enjoyed your holidays and we look forward to seeing you at our indoor meetings and on our trips, from September onwards.

Russell Leavett

FUNDRAISING

Love Nature Week took place between 28 May and 5 June 2011. RSPB volunteers were out in force all over the country collecting for RSPB as part of Love Nature Week. In the Eastern England region over 200 volunteers raised over £10,000. Well done to those of you who took part – your help and support is always very much appreciated.

The local Group have once again been outside supermarkets in the area tin collecting and these have been very well supported. On 16 April at Fiveways in Manningtree we collected £317.22. On 25 June we were at the Fiveways Store at Stanway where £211.34 was raised on that day - these funds were allocated to the Love Nature Week mentioned above. Thanks very much to all the members who helped out on those days.

We have one more tin collection booked for later this year and if you are free to help, for just a couple of hours, I would love to hear from you. We will be at the Co-op Supermarket on West Mersea on 8 October. Do give me a call on 01206 735006 if you can spare some time. We are always looking for new ideas on how we can raise money for the RSPB and if you have thoughts on new initiatives then do give me a call.

Veronica Owen

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Many thanks to the members who have made donations with their subscriptions and also thanks to

those members who have renewed their membership early as this has helped to save postage

costs for the Group. A further membership form is enclosed for those members who have not yet

rejoined – I am sure you must have just mislaid the original form!

Hugh Owen

MORE TEA? …. A REFRESHING CHANGE!

Could you help with refreshments at our monthly indoor meetings?

No washing up is involved - just pouring tea and coffee and taking money. If we could get a rota going for the eight meetings we hold every season, then once a year is all that each person should be required to help. Contact me on 01206 735006 if you could help in this way.

Veronica Owen

FIELD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLESLEY AREA

The weather for this March car trip was overcast but quite warm and 15 members met at Bawdsey. There was a good selection of ducks and a few waders on the ponds, but the highlights were out at sea with up to six red-throated divers and three eiders seen.

We then paid an unscheduled visit to Hollesley Common where we had excellent views of a great grey shrike which had taken up residence. Several stonechats and a Dartford warbler were also seen. We then moved on to Shingle Street where a fox and a seal were spotted. The final visit was to Sutton Heath where a lot of conifers had recently been felled and another stonechat was seen.

LONDON WETLAND CENTRE This March coach trip was held on a very pleasant day with some late sun. The journey along the Thames provided us with excellent views of some of the sites of London. Throughout the day the loud, shrill, rasping screech of the rose-ringed parakeets could be heard and seen. Other wild highlights of the day were a little ringed plover, a terrapin and for some lucky members, a goshawk. The World Wetlands area, featuring 14 different habitats around the world included a selection of their native birds. It is always interesting to see wildfowl that we do not generally see in this country and at such close quarters. SHINGLE STREET/BOYTON MARSH/HOLLESLEY Plenty of April sunshine but a little cool and 12 of us met at Shingle Street. The raptor highlights were a marsh harrier, a ringtail hen harrier and a buzzard. A couple of migrant wheatears were present with a pair of stonechats keeping them company. We then paid an unscheduled visit to the RSPB reserve at Boyton Marsh where a number of migrants had arrived including both reed and sedge warblers. A smart white wagtail was in fine plumage. A short visit to Hollesley then enabled us to see a small flock of woodlarks. LAKENHEATH/LACKFORD The May car trip started at Lakenheath on a very windy day with 14 members in attendance. It

transpired that it was the busiest day of the year so far at Lakenheath. The wind also made it very difficult to hear any bird song and unfortunately we were not successful in locating a golden oriole. Despite this, a grasshopper was heard and the first good sighting was a red kite. We spent some time birdwatching at the furthest hide and lunched here as well. There were excellent sightings of at least six marsh harriers, a hobby, a bittern and two cuckoos (the

male chasing the female). On the return to the Centre we saw three garganeys in flight, a black tern, a kingfisher, a few dragonflies and damselflies. Around 50 species of bird were seen during the day. A few members finished off the day by spending an hour at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Lackford and a bonus was the sighting of a fine red-crested pochard. WICKEN FEN This June coach visit took place on a cool and windy day. Despite the weather over 50 species of bird were seen including male and female marsh harriers, hobby, and several Cetti's warblers. One of the highlights was two separate sightings of perched kingfishers and all members had excellent views. Outside the Centre was a small raised pond with a little vegetation but in the early morning an emperor dragonfly had emerged and stayed on the vegetation all day while its wings

were pumped up and dried out. An exuvia, the shed larval skin, was also seen on nearby vegetation which was evidence of an emergence on the previous day. Derek heard the distinct call of a corncrake, probably originating from the release programme in the Nene Washes. MINSMERE HEATH & LEVELS This July car trip took place on a warm but windy day. On the way to the beach we spotted four spoonbills on the reserve and had good views of bearded tits. We then walked to Dunwich Heath where brief views of Dartford warblers were seen. The walk then took us through the wood to

Eastbridge where our sandwich lunch was enhanced with a welcome glass of beer. During the slow stroll to the sluice area at Minsmere sea front we had good views of marsh harriers and hobbies. The final section was a walk back to the reserve car park. On route we visited the hides and highlights were six spotted redshanks, three species of terns, two little gulls and a few Mediterranean gulls. Over 60 species of birds, six species of butterflies and seven of damselflies/dragonflies were also seen during the trip.

Hugh Owen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COACH TRIP TO PULBOROUGH BROOKS RSPB RESERVE:

17 APRIL 2011 Walking down from the reserve centre, in warm spring sunshine, we could soon hear a nightingale in full song – what a welcome to this lovely place! Luckily, this bird chose an exposed perch allowing for fantastic views. Three more were heard in various places along the route, along with whitethroats, blackcap, chiffchaff, sedge warblers and a grasshopper warbler beside the River Arun. In the woodland we watched a treecreeper visiting its nest site in an old oak tree, with nuthatch calling nearby (and showing well on feeders back at the centre). A late fieldfare fed unobtrusively beside a hedge which was a pleasant interlude.

Pools on the meadows held a few lingering wigeon, with small numbers of gadwall, shoveler and mallard (with ducklings). We saw one green sandpiper, two little ringed plovers and a few redshank. Little egrets stalked the wetter parts and three buzzards soared over the woods. Orange tip butterflies were much in evidence and most of the group spotted brimstone, peacock and large red damselflies. An adder was also reportedly seen.

Peter Hamling

DONATIONS OF STAMPS

Used postage stamps from home and abroad can be turned into much needed cash. If you cut the stamps off the envelopes (but please, not too closely) and bring them along to our Group meetings, or pass them to a Committee Member, we will pass them on to The Lodge for you. If you have large quantities we are happy to collect them.

DONATIONS OF BINOCULARS OR TELESCOPES

We continue to receive donations of binoculars, telescopes and cameras for which we are most grateful – these are serviced and eventually find their way into the hands of wardens of nature reserves in developing countries, often in Africa or Asia. Giving support to emerging nature conservation organisations in this way is a very important aspect of the Society’s work. Often donations of equipment come our way as the result of a family’s loss of a loved one. What better way to celebrate their interest in birds than to pass their equipment on to someone who really appreciates it but can’t possibly afford it. Please bring any such equipment to an indoor meeting or contact us so it can be collected.

……….and Natural History Books

We now sell a selection of second-hand books about natural history at our indoor meetings and would be grateful for donations. We regret that we cannot accept novels! All profits from these sales go into Group funds and eventually reach the RSPB through our donations to them.

UNUSUAL VISITORS TO MY GARDEN

Recently, I was going to put some weeds in my composter when I noticed an unusual bird which

appeared to be stuck between the composter and the garden fence. I quickly got a large zipper bag and helped the bird into it. It didn’t seem too perturbed by all this - but what was this bird? I wasn’t at this stage able to identify it so out came the bird identification book. I soon realised I had a water rail in my garden. Knowing it would be better off in the water I took it down to a marshy area near the River Blackwater and released it. Now my bungalow is about 100 yards or so from the river, but in between there runs the Norwich to London main line embankment (!) and attendant power lines so how did a

water rail come to be in my garden, I ask myself! On another occasion I came into the garden to be completely startled by a flash of colour and a fairly small bird flying off. Its colour told me it could only be a kingfisher but what on earth was it doing on my back lawns?! Having a short rest perhaps, having gone somewhat off course? When I look back on these two events I can hardly believe either – but how pleased I have been to see these delightful birds right in my own back garden.

Chris Ridgwell – from Feering

BIRDS AND WINDOWS DO NOT MIX

I found this article really interesting and decided to publish it – it’s from the RSPB’s website – July 2011(Ed) This picture of an owl silhouette on a window pane highlights the risk of window strikes. An RSPB member contacted headquarters when she returned home from holiday, opened the bedroom curtains and saw the huge bird imprint. RSPB experts confirmed the bird was an owl, and most likely a tawny owl because of the size and shape. The marks on the window would have been left by 'powder down', a substance that helps birds protect new, growing feathers. Fortunately, there was no sign of the bird and we can only assume that it had flown away probably suffering from a headache! RSPB Wildlife Enquires team, based at The Lodge, are advising that the risk of window strikes can be reduced by making the window pane more obvious to the bird, or by removing the reflection. If you have problems with birds flying into your windows, then fixing an object to the outside of the glass to indicate the obstacle will work – try cutting out random shapes such as half moons or stars from coloured self-adhesive plastic. The most effective shape is likely to be a hawk, as the short-headed, long-tailed silhouette of a bird of prey creates the instinctive reaction in small birds to avoid it. You could also put cling film or non-reflective cellophane on the outside of the window during the breeding season to stop frequent strikes. Self-adhesive bird silhouettes can be purchased from any RSPB shop, many good pet shops and garden centres. Tall buildings with lots of glass can be a real hazard for migrating birds but the popularity of patio doors and double-glazing in homes has also led to many injuries and fatalities among birds that fly into them. Double-glazed windows tend to pose a greater risk than single-glazed, since they produce clearer reflections. If you find a bird that has flown into a window, put it in a dark, safe place to rest for a couple of hours for the best chance of recovery.

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PLANTING FOR WILDLIFE

Lots of you ask about what plants to buy to encourage wildlife in your gardens and having been at some of the events Russell mentions in his front page article I thought it might be useful to publish the following, again from the RSPB website. A wildlife-friendly garden doesn't have to be wild and overgrown and it can look attractive all year round. Grow a wide variety of plants and you'll offer food and shelter for all sorts of wildlife. The size of your garden will limit what you can plant, but it's possible to provide something on even the smallest balcony or terrace. A structured approach: Creating a rich habitat of trees, shrubs and flowers is the key to providing wildlife with year-round food. You might like to think of it as the equivalent of a motorway service station: a place for creatures to stop over for food and a rest! Include a variety of plants: evergreens, fruit trees, colourful cottage garden plants, annuals and wildflowers to prolong flowering and fruiting times and give a year round food resource. A well-managed area of trees,

shrubs and flowering plants of different structures will support many kinds of wildlife. A range of different structures and ages have many benefits, such as somewhere for birds and insects to breed, feed and shelter. Be natural: Native species are a rich source of food. However, do not rule out some of our non-native garden plants. Many are closely related to their native counterparts and palatable to most insects. Equally, birds seem to find the berries of non-natives such as cotoneaster or pyracantha just as edible as those of the native hawthorn, for example. A well-planned garden can provide a mix of vegetation, light, shade and shelter by using plants of different shapes, sizes and growth characteristics, planted in borders with wavy edges. A variety of features will attract more wildlife too. For example, different birds and insects use different parts of the tree and shrub canopy in which to feed. Go wild: Overly tidy gardens are not great for wildlife, but that doesn't mean you have to let your garden run completely wild! Some maintenance, such as regular pruning, is necessary to enhance the benefits a garden brings to wildlife. Any maintenance should be planned with care. For example, if you tidy up and trim immediately after plants have flowered, birds can't use the seeds, so think about letting plants die back naturally and tidying them up later. Other ideas include allowing ivy to scramble up a fence at the end of the garden, leaving piles of leaves and fallen fruit, and letting a patch of flowers go to seed. You'll soon create the kind of habitats to attract wildlife. You might spot blackcaps eating the red berries of honeysuckle in the autumn and common darter dragonflies feeding on the flies that come to feast on the over-ripe juices of the fruit. Blackbirds gobble up cotoneaster berries through winter or forage for insects under the shelter of a humid shrub bed all year round, accompanied in summer by a hedgehog or toad that has also come to feed on the insects. Whatever happens I’m sure you’ll enjoy the presence of these visitors. Come along to our talk on 12 April 2012 when Barry Kaufman-Wright will be talking about this subject. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE COLCHESTER GROUP’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Now is the time to finalise things for the Group’s 30th Anniversary Barge Trip on 5 November. Many of you have already expressed an interest in attending but we do have a few places left, so, if you haven’t already put your name down, now is the time to contact me if you would like a place. If you have made a booking, now is the time to pay! Please send me a cheque for the sum of £32 per person by 31 August - complete with an SAE, so that I can send you a map of where to meet etc. The cheque should be made out to RSPB Colchester Local Group, not to me! This represents good value as it includes endless tea or coffee whilst on board plus a

mid-sailing meal - if you are a vegetarian please let me know. On the day, we will need to meet at 10am for a 10.30 sailing from Mistley Marine, Anchor Lane, Mistley and would plan to be back at Mistley in the late afternoon. The exact time will depend on tidal conditions. The barge will sail under engine power so that we can drift close to birds without disturbing them and we will plan to sail down the estuary as far as Parkeston Quay, where we will turn around and retrace our path back to Mistley. Given good conditions it should be an exciting and different way in which to see the estuary and its birds.

Russell Leavett

NEWS FROM THE WOODS

It is that time of year when, dare I say it, birds fall down the menu a bit and butterflies become the plat du jour. So far this season, it has been quite remarkable with two species in particular stealing the limelight – White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries.

Many of you will be aware that Stour Wood has for a long time been the premier site in Essex for seeing White Admirals. One of our most graceful butterflies and unlikely to be confused with anything else – Purple Emperors are larger, with a different wing-shape and considerably rarer. Earlier today (30 June) I had the pleasure of watching a White Admiral. Before connecting with it, I had seen a fine array of common species, including a couple of Red Admirals. I would describe the flight of a Red Admiral as ‘furious’, even ‘manic’, a total contrast to the White Admiral’s graceful, effortless but still powerful flight. One moment, there it was at my feet sunning on a bramble leaf, then before you knew it; it was up in the tree canopy and away. Minutes later, there it was again, as if from nowhere. When it was flying low down, it would glide on flat wings showing off its white lines – what a magnificent sight. What makes this story even more uplifting is that I was watching this particular event unfold not in Stour Wood, but Wolves Wood. This is now the third year running that White Admirals have been seen in Wolves. In 2009, there were two sightings and then last year there were several reports of multiple individuals – a more positive indication of

colonisation. So far this year, I have received reports on five dates with the first on the 19 June and the best day being the 27 June when six were seen. These figures pale in to insignificance when compared to the forty- or-so that regularly patrol the rides in Stour Wood every summer, but I hope that this is just the beginning of a long association. Trumping the White Admirals has been the appearance of Silver-washed Fritillaries at Stour in the last three years. By the end of the 1950s, they had virtually disappeared from Eastern England. A dedicated bunch of lepidopterists instigated a re-introduction at Mark’s Hall near Coggeshall in 1999 and now they seem to be well and truly on the way back across their former range. Re-establishment in Stour Wood happened last year and egg-laying was witnessed. So far this year, there have been days when up to six have been seen – a very healthy number. When I was strolling around Wolves Wood in April, I was delighted to see some wonderful spreads of violets around the rides (the Silver-washed Fritillary’s foodplant) and in the back of mind a little voice was saying “If I was a Silver-washed Fritillary...” Well they must have read my mind as two were seen on the 27 June – the first at Wolves Wood for fifty years. All of this is fantastic news. Woodlands are such diverse habitats that need a lot of time, money and effort to get them into good condition for these species. Once you get them in that condition, you have to maintain them as such, maybe even tweak and enhance from time to time. To this end, we are indebted to our volunteers for helping keep the rides in such good condition, but also our Local Groups for their hard work in raising funds and awareness of the RSPB. Do please take the time to go and see the fruits of your endeavours on a sunny day. Thank you for all your help and support.

Mark Nowers

BIRD FOOD

Thanks to John Nicholls and Clive Pougher we are able to offer bird food for sale in small quantities at our indoor meetings. Should you wish to purchase larger quantities, such as 25kg bags, please contact John on 01206 797719 to place an order and arrange collection from him. We are extremely grateful to John and Clive for making this service available to our members and others.

HELP SAFEGUARD OUR SEABIRDS AT SEA

Facts and figures

� Every year, just under eight million seabirds from 26 species, such as puffins and terns, come to the shores of the British Isles to breed, often in spectacular colonies. Millions more waders, gulls, divers and seaducks, winter in and around our coasts and estuaries.

� Between 70% and 90% of the global population of Manx shearwaters, 60% of the global population of great skuas, and over 55% of the world’s northern gannets breed in Great Britain. Manx shearwater is the bird species for which the UK is the most important in a global context (apart from the Scottish crossbill).

� In the last decade, the number of seabirds breeding round the UK has declined by more than 9%, equivalent to a loss of over 600,000 breeding seabirds.

� At present, less than 2% of the global marine area is under protection. � Less than 0.01% of UK waters are under full protection from all damaging activities.

Despite the RSPB’s efforts, it looks as though some of our most precious sealife, including seabirds, might not benefit directly from the designation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network as currently planned for the UK. The seas and oceans around the UK are very important for marine wildlife, with over half of the UK’s biodiversity to be found in our seas. They are home to weird and wonderful creatures as diverse as cold water corals and deep sea sponge gardens, to seahorses and the second largest fish in the world, the basking shark. We have a good track record in the UK of protecting wildlife on land, but protection of marine wildlife in the UK has lagged behind. While we protect seabirds at their breeding colonies on land we currently do not protect them at sea, where they spend most of their lives, and which they depend upon for food. We need to show the Government the strength of support for the proper protection of all our marine wildlife, including seabirds. The RSPB will be handing in signed pledges to the Government towards the end of November this year and hopefully they will realise that the membership of the RSPB has a voice.

Please step up for nature and support the RSPB’s campaign to ensure seabirds are fully protected

by adding your name to the RSPB's pledge – if you have access to a computer, visit the RSPB

website at www.rspb.org.uk and search for ‘safeguarding our seabirds’.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT MINSMERE

Visitors to Minsmere will notice several changes over the coming months. In fact, one major change has already taken place – the car park has at long last been upgraded, removing the notorious pot holes! The car park improvements, and expansion, which were funded by a grant from the East of England Development Agency, are the first phase of the exciting Minsmere Discover Nature Project. Improvements to the visitor facilities at Minsmere will benefit all visitors and help to broaden the reserve’s appeal. The project includes:

• Expanded tearoom with improved serving arrangements

• New reception area and revised shop layout

• Upgraded toilets

• New family activity and learning area

• New classroom for school visits and school holiday activities

• Replacement Island Mere hide which will be fully accessible and located further forward for better viewing

• New interpretation This project is the culmination of five years of planning, including consultation with many visitors, to ensure Minsmere remains a superb place to watch wildlife whether you

are an experienced birdwatcher or complete beginner. Discover Nature has been made possible by a grant of £870,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Essex and Suffolk Water, Waste Recycling Group through the Suffolk Environmental Trust and further funding from RSPB supporters and donors. Work on this project will start in September 2011 and is scheduled for completion in April 2012. Minsmere will remain open throughout, although access to some areas will be temporarily restricted. Another major project underway is an upgrade to the sea defences at Minsmere. This is led by the Environment Agency and will ensure that Minsmere’s freshwater habitats remain protected from the sea despite rising sea levels. This project will involve upgrading the North Wall, which will be closed from mid August 2011 to early February 2012. During this time, we will continue to offer excellent viewing opportunities as we will open a series of seasonal viewpoints and trails. So watch this space - one thing is certain - Minsmere is going to get better and better!

RSPB MEMBERS’ DAY AND AGM – SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER 2011 QUEEN ELIZABETH II CONFERENCE CENTRE, WESTMINSTER

Have you ever been? If not, then read on and see if I can tempt you to attend! Upon arrival you enjoy a cup of tea of coffee while you mingle with other members and enjoy the RSPB information stands. Then it’s on to the AGM, where our Chairman and Treasurer will share their personal highlights of the work your support has enabled the RSPB to do over the past year. President’s Awards are handed out to the most outstanding, loyal and committed volunteers and then…….it’s time for lunch! A delicious two course meal with hot, cold and vegetarian options is provided with plenty of time left to browse through gifts at the RSPB shop and chat to enthusiastic RSPB staff. The afternoon is filled with a series of excellent presentations from RSPB staff. All this for just £37! Booking forms will be available from the end of July and you can either download a copy from the website: www.rspb.org.uk or call Kathryn Balaam on 01767 680551. There’s also a copy of the form in the August edition of Birds magazine – so you’ve no excuse! Go on…….I just know you’ll enjoy yourself!

NEWS FROM OUR SISTER ORGANISATIONS

The Essex Wildlife Trust The Colchester branch of EWT holds regular indoor meetings at the Shrub End Community Hall (where we meet). Their meetings start at 7.45 pm, doors open from 7.15 pm. RSPB Local Group members will be made very welcome. Thursday 15 September: The Re-wilding of Dunwich Forest – an illustrated talk by Simon Leatherdale of the Forestry Commision about one of Suffolk’s stunning wildlife areas. Thursday 20 October: The Wildlife of Peru – an illustrated talk by Dr Simon Cox Thursday 17 November: The Wildlife of Northern France – an illustrated talk by Roy Croucher of Northern France Wildlife Tours

Colchester Natural History Society

The CNHS would be very pleased to see Group members at their indoor meetings, which are held at the Cardinal Bourne Hall in Priory Street (at the East Hill end, opposite where the car park ends, which is free in the evenings). The last one of the current season is: Tuesday 20 September – 8pm: Frank Vargas: “Farming for Wildlife in Spain & Essex” Frank is the Essex Farmland Bird Recovery Officer for RSPB and will talk about the agricultural scene in his native Spain and compare it with that in Essex. Tuesday 25 October – 8pm Professor Jules Pretty OBE: “This Luminous Coast”.

Professor Pretty will talk about his latest book. In the course of a year he walked along the edge of East Anglia completing 400miles on foot and 100 miles in a variety of boats.

Tuesday 22 November – 8pm Dr Stephen Clarkson: “Some of the Wildflowers of Greece” Dr Clarkson is the botanical recorder for the CNHS and is

also Secretary of the East Anglian branch of the Wild Flower Society.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Thanks to those of you who have provided interesting articles for this newsletter – it is always good to hear from you and I’m sure our members enjoy reading your input. It would be nice to receive more contributions from our membership……..you are probably aware that most of the articles come from your Committee or from RSPB staff and publications. I’m sure many of you have some little snippet that we would all find interesting – something about the birds visiting your garden, a place you have visited that has been a great success or just a stroll in the local countryside. See page 5 to hear what happened in Feering! Do share those precious moments with us.

Articles for the next edition by 18 October 2011 please, to:

Margaret Leavett, 10 Grove Road, Brantham, Manningtree, CO11 1TX

Email: margaret.leavett@btinternet.com Telephone 01206 399059

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

Colchester RSPB Local Group is run by volunteers. We hold regular events to which RSPB members and members of the public are welcome. If you would like more details, or are interested

in helping out, please contact us at the address below.

Russell Leavett (Group Leader) 10 Grove Road, Brantham Manningtree, CO11 1TX

Tel: 01206 399059 Email: rleavett@btinternet.com

RSPB Eastern England Office, Stalham House, 65 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1UD

Bird illustrations from RSPB Publishing resources CD-ROM – Line drawings by John Busby, Mike Langman and D Powell. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654