1

KOS News

The Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society

Number 510 September 2017

Black-winged Stilt by Keith Cutting

● News & Announcements ● ● Black-winged Stilts ● Not that Bonaparte? ●

Train birds● Book Review – Australasian Eagles ● ● Bird Sightings July – August

2017 ● Fifty Years Ago●

2

KOS Contacts – Committee Members

Newsletter Editor: Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 e-mail: nvmccanch@hotmail.com Membership Sec: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staplehurst TN12 0PY Tel: 01580 891686 e-mail:chrisgk.roome@btinternet.com Chairman: Martin Coath, 14A Mount Harry Rd Sevenoaks TN13 3JH Tel: 01732-460710 e-mail: coathmartin@gmail.com Vice Chair.: Brendan Ryan, 18 The Crescent, Canterbury CT2 7AQ Tel: 01227 471121 e-mail: brendan.ryan@yahoo.co.uk Hon. Sec: Stephen Wood, 4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, Faversham ME13 0PJ. Tel: 01795 890485. e-mail: doctorstevewood@yahoo.co.uk Hon. Treasurer: Mike Henty, 12 Chichester Close, Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5PA Tel: 01428-683778 e-mail: michaelvhenty@gmail.com Conservation & Surveys: Murray Orchard, 1, Gatesbury Way, Puckeridge, Ware, Herts SG11 1TQ Tel: Home 01920 822955 Mobile 07776 238645 Editorial & Records: Barry Wright, 6 Hatton Close, Northfleet, DA11 8SD Tel: 01474 320918 e-mail: umbrellabirds66@gmail.com Archivist: Robin Mace, 4 Dexter Close, Kennington, Ashford, TN25 4QG Tel: 01233-631509 e-mail: robin@mace-online.co.uk Website liaison: vacant

Indoor Meetings organiser: TBA Outdoor Meetings organiser: Ray O’Reily 44 New Road, Cliffe, Rochester,

Kent ME3 7SL 07879 636198 griff@batten.uk.net

Ordinary Members: Ken Lodge 14 Gallwey Avenue, Birchington, Kent CT7 9PA Tel : 01843 843105 e-mail: lodge9pa@btinternet.com

3

Keith Privett 6 Tritton Close, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN24 9HN Tel: 01233 335533 e-mail: keith.privett@ntlworld.com Jack Chantler 34 Gladstone Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7ET Tel: 01304 366214 e-mail: j.chantler14@btinternet.com Andy Appleton 34 Pennine Walk Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3NW 01892 513542 e-mail: andrewappleton@btopenworld.com Tony Morris, The Hidden House, 28 Kingstown Road, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Kent CT7 6AZ 01304 851943 e-mail: tonyandpam.morris@tiscali.co.uk

Autumn has finally arrived – this morning as I went to liberate my hens there was a distinct nip in the air and I could see my breath. A group of unseen Chaffinches passed overhead and both Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were active in the trees along the hedge. Autumn is far and away my favourite season for birding, with so much potential for the unexpected. This year has already brought an Arctic Warbler to Sandwich Bay and with a whole armada of hurricanes in the Atlantic and Tropical storms in the western Pacific, who knows what might arrive?? As has been said, it is an ill wind that does not bring a good bird or two! This newsletter is notable for three contributions from members, a welcome development and hopefully we can expect more such contributions in the future, they would be most welcome! This issue once again includes details of our forthcoming KOS Conference in November, a good opportunity to meet members and also to make your thoughts and ideas about the society known to a wider audience. The relevant committees are always on the lookout for willing recruits so if you have some time available please consider offering your assistance, it would be most welcome! Good birding, Norman

Editorial

4

Editorial and Records sub-committee The KOS Editorial & Records Committee would like to hear from any individuals within the membership that would like to join the county rarity panel. Contact Barry Wright or Alan Fossey, (details above) KOS Conference November 2017 Details of the forthcoming KOS Conference are included in this newsletter, along with a booking form. It looks set to be an interesting day and I look forward to meeting some of you in person! We like to keep in touch with all our members, so if you change address, email address or phone numbers please remember to inform our membership secretary, Chris Roome. He can be contacted on: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staple Hurst TN12 0PY

Tel: 01580 891686 e-mail: chrisgk.roome@btinternet.com

News and announcements

5

Black-winged Stilts at RSPB Cliffe Pools.

Juvenile Stilt, by David Fenton-Scott

It has taken much work and dedication from a wide range of people within the RSPB to get to the stage this year where we fledged 7 young Black winged stilts at RSPB Cliffe Pools. Reserve staff, reserve ecology, investigations and of course our dedicated band of volunteers all contributed to this amazing success after 3 years of heroic failure. Throughout the 4-year saga, much has been learned about the birds requirements, and consequently year on year changes have been made in approach but most importantly the ability to react to changing circumstances while the birds are on site has been implemented.

Articles

6

2014 saw the first attempt by Black-winged Stilts to nest at Cliffe. They chose one of the main breeding islands on Radar pool. Although a good choice in terms of terrestrial predators, it was also within the large black headed gull colony. The islands are within deep water and steep sided due to erosion, therefore do not provide good feeding opportunities for the young. Four chicks hatched, but disappeared after the 5th day. 2015 saw two pairs nest with the Black barns pools amongst sea club rush, around 20 metres from each other. Predator management was undertaken on site, with an electric fence considered around the nests. However due to the water levels and amount of vegetation, this was not possible. Levels were dropped in the pool to minimise chances of the nest been washed out. Both nests failed around the end of May (22nd and 27th), both had been predated by foxes. By early June, both pairs had re-nested on the main breeding islands on Radar again, amongst the large Avocet colony. Although safe from ground predators, the large Black-headed gull colony was still. Five young hatched from the two nests; however all were predated by Black-headed gulls, the last as the parents attempted to swim it off the island to the shore. 2016 Following the failings of 2015, plans were made to maximise the chances of successful breeding, The priority was to encourage nesting stilts into a location that contained good chick rearing habitat and where the nests could be protected from predations by foxes and badgers, and also avoid the situation of the bird nesting near or within the large Black-headed gull colony. Black Barns 5 was decided to be the ideal place to concentrate our efforts after they had nested there in 2015. Topping out large stands of Scirpus, but leaving enough for cover, and grazing by horses to open up margins was done in late winter. The pool was also encircled with an electric anti-predator fence. We sat back and waited. A female stilt arrived on the pool on the 13th April, a further pair on the 17th and a fourth the following day. Two birds left on 19th but 3 days later the remaining pair were joined by 6 more birds, the pair that had left and a further 4 (3 females and a male). Stilts had been recorded at 2 other sites in the UK in April, yet 8 birds had passed through or settled on Black Barn 5.

7

Will Tofts 2016.

Three pairs eventually settled, 2 within the fenced area and one nest outside. Despite predator control being carried out on site, the nest outside the electric fence was predated by a fox, several days after nesting and the second nest, bizarrely, failed due to the other male within the fenced area removing the eggs from the nest. The remaining nest hatched 2 young; however both died in two separate torrential downpours, one chick only 10 days away from fledging. The pair that nested outside the fence reappeared at Higham Marshes and nested around 10th June. Incubation went without drama until 2 days before hatching was due when the nest was predated by Carrion crows. A full account of Black-winged Stilts from 2014 - 2016 can be found in British Birds Vol.109.643-700. 2017 Preparation for the arrival of stilts in 2017 by extending the area that was fenced in 2016 and the continued cutting and grazing regime. After the extremely dry winter, water levels were significantly down around the Black Barn pools. These are only rain fed, so availability is restricted to what is there. Black barns 4 and 5 had dried out the previous summer/autumn and levels hadn’t risen to where we had wanted them be. Consequently we moved

8

all the water out of BB4 into 5, to improve the levels, but also to make BB4 (which is unfenced) less attractive for nesting in. The stilts arrived in the UK late March/early April, with one turning up in Sussex on the 29th March (5th earliest record in the UK), with the first stilt turning up at Cliffe on the 31st March. Over the next two weeks, there was a big influx of birds, with one even turning up in Iceland on the 20th April (their first record). There was plenty of toing and throwing between reserves in the Thames basin, with Cliffe, RSPB South Essex and RSPB Rainham Marshes have the majority of bird days. One pair seemed to settle at Cliffe in Black Barn 2, and were seen copulating on 5th April. No nest building was seen, and the birds left site around a week later, turning up at RSPB South Essex alongside another pair of Stilts, which nested on the 29th April at Vange Marsh. Unfortunately this nest failed 5 days later, probably due to fox predation. We all thought that this would be the end of the stilt saga this year, as most of the big influx of stilts so far had departed. However both pairs from South Essex returned to Cliffe on 9th May and started nesting on the 18th and 19th May, both within the fenced area. One nest on a spit of land, the other nest built up within the water.

Rob Budgen 2017

9

Rob Budgen 2017

The incubation period proceeded mostly uneventfully with little work required but to manage water levels within the pool during the occasion downpour. The pair that nested within the water did stop incubating for 8 hours on 24th May, which caused some worry that the eggs might have chilled. Thankfully both nests hatched on the 11th June and 12th June, both producing 4 young each. The first week or so, the young spent most of their time around the nest sites, not wondering far, and were defended diligently by the parents from any gulls commuting over the pool. The 8 pairs of Avocet and their young dominated the best feeding areas within the pool, yet despite this the young stilts still only used a small amount the area they were in to feed. After only 2 weeks the young stilts were able to fend for themselves reasonable well, with them seen seeing off several black-headed gulls feeding nearby. A laser (consented to be used by Natural England), which has been used previously to deter gulls at Tern colonies was used to move on loafing Lesser Black-backed gulls in the adjacent pools. Unfortunately one of the young was lost from the pair with both adults. The chick seemed to be smaller in size and had been spending quite a bit time away from the rest of the family. It had disappeared previously, only to reappear a day or two later which led to it being named Lazarus.

10

Rob Budgen 2017

Management after the young hatched consisted of keeping water levels up within the fenced area by moving water from the rest of the black barn pools. This has two impacts of reducing food available to Black-headed gulls feeding on chironomid lavae made available as levels dropped and also encouraging the young to feed nearer to vegetation that can be used as cover from aerial predators. Sadly the male stilt from the pair that nested in the water disappeared from site 2 weeks after the young hatched. Although it is not known what happened, it is unlikely he would have abandoned the female, so was therefore assumed to have died. We believe this was the male stilt that had also nested at Cliffe in 2015 and 2016 and had been given the nickname ‘Darth Wader.’ Throughout the nesting period through to fledging, so many of the RSPB volunteers and local birders put in countless hours from dawn until dusk watching over the nests and young. Their work was invaluable and is greatly appreciated. Eggers remain a potential problem (although very small) for new colonising species and consequently news was not put out regarding their breeding.

11

Although stilts had a successful breeding season in 2017 across Britain, with 4 pairs fledging 13 young, their establishment as a regular breeding species in Britain is by no means assured. There is little suitable breeding habitat which is free from disturbance from people and dogs, and where predation levels are sufficiently low. Key measures include minimising predator, especially by foxes and badgers; preventing disturbance from humans including bird watchers and photographers; preventing theft of the eggs; and minimising rapid fluctuations in water levels at nest sites. These key intervention needs for pioneer birds has been established and implemented at Cliffe Pools and with some luck we hope to see them flourish for many years to come.

Rob Budgen 2017.

Will Tofts

12

Not that Bonaparte?

Bonaparte’s Gull by Terry Laws

A visit this Summer to Corsica which included a trip to Ajaccio and a visit to the house where Napoleon Bonaparte was born, followed by, on my return to the UK, recent great views of the long staying Bonaparte’s Gull - Larus philadelphia - at Oare, triggered some questions in my mind. What is the connection between N Bonaparte and this elegant North American Gull? The famous Napoleon Bonaparte - Emperor of the French - was a member of a large family. He had 6 siblings who survived into adulthood, and was the second oldest. He had two brothers, Joseph the oldest and Lucien - (1775 - 1840) his younger brother. In October 1803 Lucien married for the second time, but five months before his wedding on May 24th his new intended wife - the widow of a Parisian banker - had given birth to a son - Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte. It is this child - Emperor Napoleon’s nephew - who grew up to become the ornithologist whose name is commemorated in the vernacular name of Bonaparte’s Gull. Charles Lucien had an interesting life, including 4 years spent with his parents and siblings in England, in Shropshire and Worcestershire from 1810 to 1814 as high status political prisoners living on an estate called Thorngrove near Grimley for most of that time. As Charles Lucien grew up he developed an ardent interest in Natural History, and after marrying his cousin Zenaide in 1822, he sailed for Philadelphia and on arrival there began to study American Birds and became a leader among Philadelphia’s ornithologists. He published papers in the

13

Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia including an “Account of Four Species of Stormy Petrels” - based on notes and observations made during the voyage to the USA - and the proposal to give the vernacular name Wilson’s Petrel [Oceanites oceanicus] arose from this paper in order to honour Alexander Wilson - an eminent American Ornithologist who had died some 10 years before Charles Lucien arrived there. Charles bore a striking resemblance to his famous Uncle and was described in 1824 as - “…. a little set, black-eyed fellow, quite talkative, and withal an interesting and companionable fellow. He devotes his attention to ornithology and has published a continuation of Wilson’s work on the above subject……. He read a memoir on the Golden Plover. To a novice it seems curious, that men of the first intelligence should pay so much attention to web-footed gentry with wings.” Charles travelled extensively during his life between the USA and Europe, settling in Italy and visiting London a number of times, becoming a member of the Linnaean Society, and continuing to devote himself to a systematic classification of all the birds in the world, but he died in 1857 while striving to complete this great work. His obituary in the Proceedings of the Linnaean Society noted his ‘extreme ardour in the pursuit of science……… Confining himself to Vertebrate zoology, and especially conversant with the class of Birds, which few men have studied so successfully, his labours have contributed largely to our knowledge of the faunas of North America and Europe in particular, to the improvement of their systematic arrangement………………” It was while he was working in Europe that his name was first attached to the small gull that today bears his name. It had first been called Sterna Philadelphia in 1815, and Larus capistratus by Bonaparte himself in 1826, but in 1831 Richardson and Swainson suggested the name Larus Bonapartii in their book Fauna Boreali - Americana. The name has stuck in the vernacular in French, English, Swedish, German and Spanish although the specific scientific title has reverted to the original. So, a striking small American gull perched among Black Headed Gulls - Larus ridibundus - at Oare bears the name Bonaparte - nephew of the Emperor Napoleon - and styled from 1840 onwards as Prince of Camino and Musignano - but that’s another story………………….

Chris Roome

14

Train Days Curlew Sandpipers, Kingsferry Bridge, Kent, September 10th, 1972. Whilst recently enjoying the arrival of Curlew Sandpipers at Oare Marshes, BEW, JET and myself somehow got into a conversation about how we got about pre-car driving days. Bicycles and walking to the local park, woods and even the duck pond came to mind whilst and, of course, there was always our respective Dad and his car, especially for the long haul. All these weighed in with a few votes but quips about penny farthings, trams and horse and carts caused a few giggles but rather rendered the conversation redundant. Upon leaving Cliffe, however, my mind paired up Curlew Sandpipers with a train trip to the boundaries of The Isle of Sheppey. Although only armed with a pair of Carl Zeiss 10x40 binoculars, the Peterson Field Guide and notebook, I was rallied by a headful of ideas inspired by John Gooder’s Where to Watch Birds. Accordingly, myself and my wife at the time, set out by train from Orpington to North Kent. I was hoping for a few new shore birds to add to the well-spaced out meagre list of ticks that had crept onto the checklist of the afore mentioned field guide. However, as the nearest rail stop was on Kingsferry Bridge the destination being the narrow western stretch of the Swale that eventually runs into the Medway. The rail stop was Swale Halt and, accordingly, I made a point of informing the driver we would like the train to stop there. Un-accordingly, he went straight through it but, apologetically perhaps, duly stopped at the next station, Queensborough. However, he managed to pull away in time, thus escaping a few well-chosen words of comment from myself. Crossing platforms, the return train eventually arrived, once again we asked the driver to stop, he duly did but was unable to explain as to why the other driver didn’t. Of course, this was when British Rail ruled the rails, its better now, isn’t it? I had visited the area many years before and had a small grasp of the surroundings. On one occasion, my Dad pulled up in his Singer Vogue estate on the road to Lower Halstow and we watched a flock of high flying Lapwings go over. My nan had a caravan near Minster and, during the school holidays herself, Mum, my sister and yours truly virtually lived there for most of the vacation. In those days, Dad had his own business and he and my Grandad would come down at weekends on a Friday evening. Occasionally my older brother would visit, if he wasn't tearing around on his Vespa GS! We used to put “Swoop” out in the field near to the caravan for the birds but the only visitor that still stands out was a Pied Wagtail. There were Whitethroat and Blackcap nearby and I remember that we once found a Nuthatch nest and a rather special sighting was a young Spotted Flycatcher. I can remember walking up and down the site entrance in the evening looking out for Redshank and Curlew in the fields as they leapt up at my presence. Dad’s Observers book of Birds confirmed their identification.

15

Fast forwarding quite a few years, we push further into the future but still way back in the past which probably only makes sense if you are Doctor Who...or me. On a rather sombre autumn Sunday morning we eventually found ourselves on the Swale seawall heading out west from Kingsferry Bridge along a narrow stretch of the river toward Chetney Marshes. After half an hour or so of precious little we noticed an old land rover coming across the field and heading in our direction. Upon stopping a little way before us, an old boy and his black and white collie clambered out. He was waving a stick and it was clear he was not coming over to ask us about the birds. His first question was to ask what we were doing here to which I replied, reasonably, walking along the sea wall which was a footpath. His retort to that was that we should stay on the footpath to which I retorted that was what we were doing as it was the best way to see the shore birds on the departing tide. It wasn’t, of course, but we daren’t tell him that. He continued to whinge on by which time I had heard enough and pushed off leaving him to his rantings. As a parting gesture, my wife patted the collie on the back only to find her hand covered in grime. This minimal episode confirmed the view that I held at the time, country folk like don't like “city folk” and “townies” on their patch. Nowadays, I look back at “Old Dan” and “Black Bob” and smile but wonder if the view I held then is much different now. Two cultures that can never be quite breeched, you know, like bird-watchers and people. Undeterred, we pushed on and soon began spotting waders as the tide pushed up, noisy Redshanks dominating and plenty of small brown waders quickly up and away before a pair of bins could be raised let alone a field guide or notebook. We did not drop below the sea wall for cover in case you know who re-appeared! At the time, this was the accepted way of approaching waders, dropping out of sight and crawling up the bank for a “decco”. Before frustration got the better of the birdwatching, a small group of waders caught our gaze. I immediately realised they were not a species I knew and we settled down on the bank to view them. I was surprised and glad they didn't immediately turn tail and fly off. They were certainly not Common Sandpipers (even if it was a bird I had yet to see) or even resembled a few close by Dunlin - the bill was too long and noticeably curvier and, as they took a few short flights, they showed no black shaft in the tail. The rump was, in fact, a clear white and the wings showed a thin white bar. The bill and legs were both black whilst the breast was a subtle buffish colour. Apart from an odd glance up, they busily indulged in feeding, their heads firmly planted in the water, quite relentless in their quest. What were we really looking at here, were they possibly a group of CURLEW SANDPIPERS? This would be rarity for me, I scribbled down notes and really rough sketches choosing to view the field guide later which later confirmed my identification. An old-timer told me years before it wasn't right to carry a field guide around, worse than walking about with the bins’ in their case! However, eventually, I did pull the id book out of the ruck sack after making sure no old timers were around.

16

Unfortunately, I cannot remember much more from the day, I guess time and tide had won the day from the moment we started to walk back. The day was complete, I even forgave Old Dan! They were my birds, I had found them without being tipped off, having them pointed out or, as in often the way these days, making a phone call or being paged/ twittered! However, the one overall field note was how smart and elegant they looked when we first encountered them, a feature that was to always accompany further sightings. The rather sad off shoot from these ramblings is the said note book and field guide are long gone. Most of the above is from memory, a part of me had disappeared in that notebook, even the Peterson guide with the early ticks in the check list has gone. In my imagination, I visualise all sorts of birding memorabilia swirling around in space that a host of house moves have created before, eventually, being swallowed up by a huge black hole. I replaced the field guide but it would never be the same. In more ways than one, things never were. I have no memory of the return train home but I reckon my head was still swelling in the fact that I had found something special. Trains played a part in those early days, another trip into Kent took us over The Swale and onto Sheerness where we took a local taxi to Shellness, the driver pulling up rather smartly as we approached the first crater on the infamous Shellness track. Once on the beach, I quickly found a nest scrape which housed four Ringed Plover eggs, the parents running around nearby whilst drooping their wings. We quickly left them to their secret but any further memories ended with them, another notebook in the black hole. A day trip to Whitstable provided a host of waders as the tide came in but, as I was to learn, dog walkers can put the lid on any birding venture. as off all the birds went! The delights of Sandwich Bay which was a half hour walk from its station and I can remember seeing Knot, Sanderling and Grey Plover at close quarters despite the fact we got absolutely drenched as the rain came down. Back inland, back on a train and into Canterbury where an early spring visit took us into Blean Woods. As I remember it was a hard slog but a flushed Woodcock put a shine on the day despite the long walk there and back. Brockenhurst and Beaulieu Road put one in the heart of the New Forest and provided some very special birds including the gorse loving Dartford Warbler. The highlight of one trip there was well into the spring and we chanced upon an Oak tree which was alive with singing Willow Warblers, a migrant that is on the wane these days, However, as the gear piled up and I run out of stations, a car became a priority and in August 1974 I purchased a Mini Countryman, leaving the train to take its own strain.

17

——————————— Additional back up notes In the field, Curlew Sandpipers always look smart, from their brick red summer plumage to the softer tones of the autumn juveniles they never fail to stand out and impress. They were a species well worth continually getting to know, even when in an intermediate plumage. In the spring of 1987 I came across a rare spring migrant at Bough Beech at the back of the North Lake, a treat in itself in the days when it was possible to do so! It had not the depth of colour that is only in full regalia come late May-June on the breeding grounds but it still stood out. There was a soft pinkish tinge to its under parts and the long supercilium and curved bill were immediately apparent. My notebook for the day recorded it’s feeding behaviour:” A nesting Little Ringed Plover pair were frantically trying to drive it off but it didn't seem that bothered as it continued to feed sometimes lost to sight in the grassy bank it occupied on the North Lake. At times it would stop, the head reigning into the neck and looking downwards as if anticipating its next move. The bill was dark in colour and shaped at a downward curve, the lower third of which ended in a smooth, downward tip. Its long legs give it an advantage, sometimes venturing further into the shallows, the belly touching upon the water’s surface. and the bill not visible”! I later checked with the then recorder. GJAB, who confirmed it was, at the time, only the second spring record for the reservoir. Spring birds quickly move through Britain by the middle of May but it is in the return leg of autumn passage when they fully come into their own. These returning adults are already losing their tundra splendour, the male’s vivacious ruddy red face, mantle, neck and underparts beginning to break up. In full breeding plumage, the belly shows distinctive black and pale bands. The males arrive on the coastal marshes touching down in mid-August before the adult females begin to arrive. Come late August, the advanced guard of fresh looking juveniles arrive and, as September breaks, further numbers arrive, often penetrating further inland to reservoirs and gravel pits. In some years there are high number of juveniles as they easily mix in with other waders, particularly Dunlin and Little Stints. At Cliffe Marshes in 1978 there were 113 on September 13th accompanied by 146 Little Stints. Such numbers in Britain are often associated with north easterly winds which can explain the huge curve they take on from their breeding grounds at the top of the world in Siberia, all 3,500 miles of it! Another outstanding year occurred in 1990 when on July 28th there were 153 at Murston and 125 at Cliffe comprising the largest influx of adults yet recorded. In fact, Kent in general, and Cliffe in particular, consistently gets more adult birds of this species than anywhere else in Britain (from Kent Bird Report 1995 reviewing past totals). This pattern seems to have shifted in more recent years, east from Cliffe to Oare Marshes.

18

In Kent, 1999 was an outstanding autumn for them with most coastal sites experiencing good to high numbers. Among the high totals were peak counts of 67 at Oare on 27th August whilst Elmley recorded peaks of 118 on 30th August before 130 there on 1st September. It was also a notable autumn that the number of juveniles were high from mid-August onwards. In the spring of this (year towards the end of May), I saw a late summer plumaged bird at Dungeness RSPB which possessed a limping leg but, alas, it was so too far away, to photograph it or the limp. No amount of justice could have done it credit but at least I photographed this year’s passage of adults. I recently looked up an old British Birds and found an article on Curlew Sandpipers. It was the September 1972 edition and it offered a fascinating insight into this bird’s migration. It was, appropriately, published just around the time of the Kingsferry Bridge trip that is described above. The vignettes at the end of the article perhaps summed it all up, the mood of the day, the times we lived in and how BB published such matter. What stands out is the westerly curve this species takes on it autumn migration to pass through our shores. The unprecedented westward migration of Curlew Sandpipers in autumn 1969, P.I Stanley and C.D.T. Minton, Vol. 65, 1972, No.9, September 1972, p365-380

. Adult moulting Curlew Sandpipers, East Flood, Oare Marshes, Kent. Top image, July 2004 Above image, July 2017. By Chris Bond

19

Rare Birds reported in Kent in the first six months of 2017 The following birds have been reported in Kent so far this year but in order to have them included in the 2017 Kent Bird Report or the 2017 British Birds Rarity Report need to have a description or good quality photograph submitted. If you are a finder, observer or photographer of one of these birds please could you email the relevant description or photograph to Barry Wright at umbrellabirds66@gmail.com or Chris Hindle at christopherhindle@hotmail.com. The birds in capital letters are British Birds Rarities. Cattle Egret Biddeneden 2016 to January 2nd Caspian Gull (1st winter) Deal January 8th Caspian Gull Swanscombe Marshes February 4th Siberian Chiffchaff Willop Sewage Works February 6th Richard's Pipit Seasalter January 21st 8 Twite Cheriton February 7th LESSER YELLOWLEGS Dungeness RSPB April 22nd-23rd Caspian Gull Bough Beech March 2nd Caspian Gull Bough Beech Marsh 13th Black Kite Birchington April 10th Black Kite Minster, Sheppey April 16th Black Kite Cliffe April 27th Black Kite Seabrook/Folkestone April 30th Alpine Swift Dungeness RSPB March 11th Alpine Swift Kingsdown and Sandwich Bay April 16th Hooded Crow Cliftonville March 11th IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF Seaton March 30th-April 6th Richard's Pipit Swale NNR April 3rd SQUACCO HERON Dungeness RSPB June 11th-13th Cattle Egret DBO May 11th Purple Heron Foreness May 1st Black Kite Maidstone May 1st Black Kite Dover May 6th Black Kite Worth May 7th Black Kite South Foreland May 11th Black Kite Lenham May 16th Black Kite Minnis Bay May 27th Black Kite North Foreland May 27th Black Kite Lydd May 27th Black Kite Bockhill June 3rd Red-footed Falcon (adult female) Grove Ferry June 2nd

20

Red-footed Falcon Sandwich Bay June 28th GULL-BILLED TERN Dungeness RSPB May 16th Caspian Gull (adult) Bough Beech May 19th Alpine Swift Furnace Pond May 6th Alpine Swift Dungeness RSPB May 30th Red-rumped Swallow Kingsdown June 3rd Melodious Warbler Swalecliffe May 22nd Rose-coloured Starling (adult) Dungeness RSPB June 1st

Chris Hindle & Barry Wright ______________________________________________________________

Book Review - Australasian Eagles and Eagle-like Birds

Stephen Debus (author) ISBN: 9781486306923 Published by CSIRO publishing Publication Date: Sep 2017: Paperback £39.50

21

Bird books, like birdwatchers, come in all shapes and sizes, from identification guides of varying quality to erudite monographs on a single species. I have never been to Australia and these days it seems increasingly unlikely that I will ever go, even though historically a number of McCanch’s have been involved in the events which shaped that extraordinary continent. I am also on record as saying that raptors are not among my favourite birds, so you might wonder why I would be interested in this book. Put simply, I have an abiding curiosity about all things in the natural world, especially birds and their place in the global ecosystem. This remarkable book there are detailed and clear explanations of the biology and ecology of ten species I have never met and only two of which could I raise a mental image. So, reading this was a voyage of discovery and it is fair to say that I learned something new on practically every page. Indeed, in reading the species accounts many questions were raised in my mind and it is fair to say that every one of them was subsequently answered in this comprehensive text. However, this is hardly a book to read for light entertainment, but it is clearly written, authoritative and comprehensive in its presentation of information on the subject species. Each species account covers Field identification, Habitat, Population, Movements, Food, Social organisation, Social behaviour, Breeding, Measurements, Weights, Sexing and a Commentary which ties together much of the previous material. The wider text also considers the taxonomy of Australasian Eagles within a DNA based classification. Of course, I am not in a position to challenge the author on the content of his work, but frankly I felt little need to do so given the comprehensive and well -referenced text. I was able to bring some of my own prior research to bear in the matter of predation by Wedge-tailed Eagles on lambs, having looked at some earlier research in the course of my enquiries regard avian predation on sheep. This is well covered in the Commentary section for that species and is fully referenced, placing the perceived problem into a pragmatic context, and even manages to correct a bizarre misprint and edit failure in an earlier, popular work on the species!! The book includes a range of photographs by David Whelan, most of which show interesting aspects of plumage or behaviour. These are of such quality that I felt I would have liked to see more and also to have them given more page space, though this might have been a production constraint.

22

White-bellied Sea-Eagles by David Whelan

In a final Epilogue, there is a review of the conservation status and concerns for each species, culminating in a couple of paragraphs which sum up the threats to nature manifest in Australia. I found this enlightening, for so many of the problems of that continent are replicated here in Britain and throughout the developed and developing world. Should you buy this volume, it is, after all, not cheap. If you are going to Australia and like Eagles, then YES definitely. If you have ever been and like Eagles, then Probably. If you will never go, but like eagles and all of wider nature, then perhaps. If you do buy and read it carefully, you will learn lots of amazing stuff and find a comprehensive set of references to enable you to find out so much more.

Norman McCanch

23

KENT BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR JULY AND AUGUST 2017 - Chris Hindle Where necessary the acceptance of records within this report is subject to ratification by the “British Birds” Rarities Committee (species in capital letters) or the KOS Rarities Committee. The results of these deliberations are regularly published on the KOS Website. WEATHER_____________________________________________ July began with a generally westerly air flow that brought cloud and occasional rain to the UK but in the south east a weak ridge of high pressure brought warmer and drier conditions. The warmest days were on 17th and 18th but these were followed by a violent, thundery breakdown. From 21st it was often cooler with some persistent heavy rain. At Bishopstone 67.5mm of rain fell in the month. August was generally unsettled, but climatically it was close to average with sunshine and showers. In Kent the temperature exceeded 27°C on the 29th but reached only 13°C the following day as rain and fresh northerly winds arrived. The monthly rainfall at Bishopstone was 67.25 mm. WILDFOWL_____________________________________________ A surprise find was two Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Oare Marshes on Aug 2nd. Obviously over-summering birds. During July and August up to nine Egyptian Geese were reported from Bough Beech, Dungeness RSPB, Postern Park, Penshurst Estate and Lade and four Ruddy Shelduck flew E at Cliffe Pools on July 15th and one was seen at Dungeness RSPB from 17th-26th. These regularly occurring late summer birds are thought to disperse from the feral population in the Netherlands. As many as 18 Mandarins were reported from Whetsted GPs, Tonbridge, Furnace Pond, Penshurst Estate, Bough Beech and Godmersham. During July and August up to five Garganey were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Oare Marshes, Reculver, Cliffe Pools and Stodmarsh/Grove. PARTRIDGE TO GREBES__________________________________ A Quail was heard at Worth Marshes on Aug 14th. Single Sooty Shearwaters were seen at Herne Bay, Reculver and North Foreland on Aug 10th with one at DBO on Aug 17th.

24

In July, two Manx Shearwaters flew past DBO on 1st with 34 flying W there on 12th, one on 13th, three on 21st, four on 27th, two on 28th and five on 29th. On 21st five also flew past Deal with two at Walmer Beach. In August single birds were recorded at DBO on 2nd, 3rd and 8th and at Bockhill on 2nd with six there on 3rd and one at Foreness on 10th. Other than the birds mentioned in the table below single Balearic Shearwaters were recorded at DBO on July 5th and off Bockhill on July 20th and 21st with three at St Margarets-at-Cliffe on Aug 4th and one at Sandwich Bay on Aug 8th. Three were also seen at DBO on Aug 9th with singles at Reculver the next day and at DBO on Aug 24th and 30th. Balearic Shearwaters at DBO at the end of July and beginning of August

July 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Aug 1 2 3 4 5

2 - - 1 1 6 11 5 3 23 - 1 - -

A very early Leach's Petrel flew W past the fishing boats at Dungeness on Aug 19th. As many as four Shags were seen off DBO, Sandwich Bay, Bockhill and St Margarets-at-Cliffe and during the summer two Bitterns were reported from Stodmarsh/Grove and Dungeness RSPB. An immature Night-heron was seen briefly at Lade GPs on Aug 9th, whilst a Cattle Egret arrived at Dungeness RSPB on July 6th and remained there until 9th with others seen at Stodmarsh/Grove on July 14th and flying inland at North Foreland on Aug 7th. On Aug 31st a party of five made up of 1 adult and four juveniles arrived at Dungeness RSPB.

25

Great White Egret by Nick Smith

Great White Egret numbers built up to seven at Dungeness RSPB by the end of August with one or two recorded at DBO, Sandwich Bay, Worth, Cliffe Pools, Oare Marshes, Stodmarsh, Wouldham and Lade. Birds seen at Sandwich and Dungeness RSPB during July had both been colour-ringed this year as juveniles on the Somerset Levels. A White Stork was reported from Dungeness flying towards Lydd on Aug 5th and two were seen flying over Pembury on Aug 27th and were seen on Romney Marsh on 29th. These two were coloured-ringed as free flying birds in Poland but were taken into care when they reached the UK earlier this year however they later escaped. A Glossy Ibis flew over Dungeness RSPB on July 25th and during July and August there were up to three Spoonbills at Dungeness RSPB, DBO, Walland Marsh, Cliffe Pools, Pegwell Bay, Elmley, Graveney, Oare Marshes and Sandwich Bay with six at Cliffe Pools on Aug 27th. A Red-necked Grebe was reported off Foreness on Aug 23rd with another at Tankerton on 30th whilst single Black-necked Grebes were found at Bough Beech on July 6th, at Dungeness RSPB on Aug 13th and at Lade on Aug 15th.

26

BIRDS OF PREY_________________________________________ Reports of up to three Honey Buzzards came from DBO, Lade, Oare Marshes, South Foreland, Shadoxhurst, St Margarets-at-Cliffe, Sandwich and Samphire Hoe. A Black Kite was reported from Brooklands on July 14th and during July and August up to three Red Kites were recorded from Tankerton, Luddenham, Edenbridge, Hythe, Cliffe Pools, Sandwich Bay, Oare Marshes, Burnham, Bough Beech, Bockhill, Dungeness and Lydd. A female Hen Harrier was seen at Conyer on July 21st with others at Oare Marshes on Aug 17th and DBO on Aug 28th and a Montagu's Harrier was reported flying over Dungeness RSPB on July 2nd with others at Walland Marsh on Aug 24th with a female flying out to sea at DBO on Aug 26th.

Osprey by Barry Wright

A colour ringed Osprey was found at Capel Fleet on July 4th and 5th. It had originally been ringed as a nestling at Tainfield, near Tain, Highland, Scotland and had flown 777 km SSE. It or another bird was also seen at Elmley on 20 th. During the remainder of July and August single birds were seen at Ashford, Lydd, Wouldham, Dover, Conyer, Seasalter, Riverside CP, Sevenoaks, Bough Beech, Sandwich Bay, Pegwell Bay, Upchurch and Uplees. The first summer male Red-footed Falcon first found at Grove/Stodmarsh at the end of June remained there until July 2nd.

27

Single Merlins were reported from Burham on July 17th, Cliffe Pools on Aug 5th, Lower Hope Point on Aug 14th and Dungeness RSPB on Aug 24th and 28th. RAILS TO WADERS___________________________________ A Spotted Crake was reported from Stodmarsh on Aug 27th. A Stone-curlew was seen at Dungeness RSPB on July 30th whilst another bird seen at Pegwell Bay from Aug 17th-31st had been colour ringed as a pullus earlier this year on Salisbury Plain and was seen later in Cheshire before it arrived in Kent.

Black-winged Stilts by Barry Wright

Up to 11 Black-winged Stilts were still at Cliffe Pools during July with some birds remaining until Aug 25th. There were also three reported from Oare Marshes on July 23rd with a juvenile at Riverside CP on Aug 23rd. A juvenile Dotterel was seen briefly at DBO on Aug 23rd with another bird at Bockhill on 31st. After the first returning Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Dungeness RSPB on July 11th up to 11 birds were reported from Dungeness RSPB, Sandwich Bay, Pegwell Bay, Shellness, Cliffe Pools and Oare Marshes. However on Aug 17th there was a new arrival of mainly adult birds when 48 were counted at Dungeness RSPB and 21 at Pegwell Bay. A Temminck's Stint was reported from Pegwell Bay on July 20th with another at Dungeness RSPB on July 25th. There was an inland record of a Sanderling when one was found at Bough Beech on July 19th and 20th and an early Purple Sandpiper was seen at Oare Marshes on Aug 30th.

28

After four Little Stints were seen at Oare Marshes on July 19th up to four birds were seen at Oare Marshes, Dungeness RSPB, Sandwich Bay, Bough Beech, Cliffe Pools and Pegwell Bay and an adult White-rumped Sandpiper was seen briefly at Oare Marshes on July 15th. A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported from Pegwell Bay between July 19th and 22nd and an adult was seen at Dungeness RSPB on July 28th and 29th with others reported from there on Aug 4th and from 27th-31st whilst others were seen at Cliffe Pools from Aug 5th-6th and on Aug 26th.

Red-necked Phalarope by Chris Bond

A juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was found at Oare Marshes on Aug 30th and 31st. In July and August up to ten Spotted Redshanks were found at Milton Regis, Oare Marshes, Sandwich Bay and Cliffe Pools.

29

Marsh Sandpiper by Barry Wright

A juvenile MARSH SANDPIPER was found at Cliffe Pools on July 11th and remained there until Aug 5th. This is the 26th Kent record and the third from Cliffe.

Wood Sandpiper by Chris Hindle

30

During July and August up to three Wood Sandpipers were recorded at Dungeness RSPB, Coldharbour, Oare Marshes, Worth Marshes, Lade, Cliffe Pools and Sandwich Bay.

Long-billed Dowitcher by Chris Bond

A moulting adult LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was found at Oare Marshes on Aug 8th and remained there until the end of the month. This is the 15th record of this species for Kent. AUKS TO GULLS_______________________________________________ Single Pomarine Skuas were seen at Reculver on Aug 10th and at Shellness and DBO on Aug 21st whilst in July and August up to 27 Arctic Skuas were seen off DBO with smaller numbers counted at Reculver, Herne Bay, Shellness, Dover, Seasalter, Swalecliffe, Sandwich Bay, Hythe, Seabrook and Bockhill. During July single Great Skuas were seen at Bockhill on 20th and at Shellness on 25th and during August up to eight birds were recorded DBO, Reculver, Swalecliffe, Shellness and Herne Bay. Two Black Terns were recorded at Reculver and Walmer on July 22nd after which up to 30 birds were recorded from DBO, Dungeness RSPB, Reculver, Bockhill, Tankerton, Seasalter, Swalecliffe, Shellness, Pegwell Bay, Oare Marshes, Cliffe, Foreness, Lower Hope Point, Seabrook, Lade, Bough Beech

31

and Sandwich Bay although there were higher counts of 65 at DBO on July 26th, 52 off Tankerton on Aug 23rd and 50 at Cliffe on Aug 29th. A Roseate Tern was found at Pegwell Bay on July 30th with other birds there on Aug 1st and 4th and also at Sandwich Bay on the latter date and there was an inland record of three Arctic Terns at Bough Beech on July 29th with one still present until Aug 2nd. An adult Sabine's Gull was seen off Reculver and Herne Bay on Aug 10th whilst the regularly returning adult BONAPARTE'S GULL first seen in 2013 returned to Oare Marshes on July 10th and remained there until the end of August. During July and August one or two Little Gulls were seen at DBO, Cliffe Pools, Lower Hope Point, Oare Marshes and Pegwell Bay.

Juvenile Little Gull by Jonathan Boyce Leigh

As many as four Yellow-legged Gulls were reported from DBO, Dungeness RSPB, Conyer, Cliffe Pools, Higham Bight, Oare Marshes, Reculver, Bockhill and Folkestone Harbour.

32

DOVES TO WOODPECKERS_____________________________________

Longeared Owl by Chris Dennis

A juvenile Long-eared Owl was reported from near Tudeley on Aug 1st and during July a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting at Reculver Oyster Farm on 13th with others at Elmley on 20th, Lower Hope Point on Aug 25th and Bockhill on 31st.

33

In July single Bee-eaters were seen at Dengemarsh and Kingsdown on 4th and at Sandwich Bay and Broadstairs on 5th. Seven birds also flew over New Romney on Aug 28th. A Wryneck was reported from Stodmarsh on Aug 27th. GOLDEN ORIOLE TO HIRUNDINES________________________________ A male Red-backed Shrike was identified at Worth on Aug 9th. Up to three Ravens were reported from DBO, Wye, Grove, Shuart, Bough Beech, Wouldham, Pegwell Bay and Bockhill. Two Firecrest were seen at Sandwich Bay on Aug 17th and another was found at Bockhill on Aug 29th. CETTI’S WARBLER TO WHEATEARS_______________________________ A Wood Warbler was found at Ashford on July 27th, one was trapped and ringed at Sandwich Bay on July 31st, one was seen at Worth on Aug 2nd with another at Selling on Aug 3rd. On Aug 6th another bird was ringed at Sandwich Bay and one was seen at Warden Point. One or two Grasshopper Warblers were reported the Sandwich Bay, Shuart, Reculver, Warden Point, Western Heights, Bockhill, Nethergong, Little Farthingloe and Dargate. A Melodious Warbler was found in a garden at Dungeness on Aug 10th and another was seen on Worth Marshes on Aug 13th whilst one was reported from Dungeness on Aug 28th. After the first Pied Flycatcher of the autumn was found in Northdown Park on Aug 14th single birds were seen at Sandwich Bay, Samphire Hoe, Bockhill and Foreness during the rest of the month. Up to four Black Redstarts were seen at Samphire Hoe, Folkestone, Bockhill, Church Hougham, Cliffe Pools and DBO. DUNNOCK TO BUNTINGS_________________________________ A Crossbill was seen at Bockhill on Aug 8th and a female Common Rosefinch was found near Kingsdown on July 1st.

34

DBO = Dungeness Bird Observatory BBRC = British Birds Rarities

Committee RSPB = Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

“The Patch” = the warm water outflow from Dungeness Nuclear Power Station NNR=National Nature Reserve NR=Nature Reserve LNR=Local Nature Reserve FC = Field Centre WR = Wildlife Reserve GP = Gravel Pits CP = Country Park CONTRIBUTORS________________________________________________ This summary owes much to the contributors to the various sites in “Latest Sightings” on the KOS Website at www.kentos.org.uk, KOSForum, Twitter and the RBA Hotline. Records have been contributed by A. Appleton, W.Baker, R. Bailey, G. Barker, P. Beraet, Bockhill Birders, R. Blackman, J. Bloor, Bough Beech (per A. Ford), R. Brockett, E. Brown, D. Bundy, N. Burt, G. Burton, F. Cackett, M. Casemore, J. Chantler, P. Chantler, M. Chidwick, P. Cliffe, P. Coleman, R. Collins, DBO (per D. Walker), C. Dennis, R. Dubbins, T. Dunstan, D. Eade, B. East, P. Eerdmans, R. Elvy, D. Faulkener, D. Feast, C. Fison, Folkestone and Hythe Birds (per I. Roberts), S. Gale, C. Gibbard, S. Ginnaw, P. Graham, V. Green, J. Guiver, J. Hall, S. Haughie, R. Heading, J. Headley, M. Heath, A. Hindle, C. Hindle, M. Hindle, A. Holcombe, B. Holcombe, M. Hollingsworth, B. Holwell, B. Hunt, N. Jarman, C. Johnson, M. Kennett, J. King, A. Lawson, A. Lipczynski, P. Lloyd, J. Massey, K. McDonnell, S. McMinn, M. McVail, S. Mills, S. Mount, M. Norman, D. Oates, M. Orchard, R. O'Reilly, T. Paternoster, A. Pavey, D. Perrin, A. Perry, J. Perry, C. Powell, K. Privett, M. Puxley, R. Roberts, M. Roser, K. Ross, J. Russell, T. Ryan, Samphire Hoe (per L. Collins, P. Holt, D. Smith, and P. Smith), SBBO (per I. Hodgson), Sevenoaks WR (per S. Clerici), I. Shepherd, D. Smith, D. J. Smith, I. Stewart, W. Stoneham, D. Sutton, Swale NNR (per R. Smith, D. Faulkner, I. Davidson), T. Swandale, R. Thorogood, P. Trodd, N. Upton, B. Watmough, A. Wells, R. Wheller, M. Wilson, J. Woolgar, B. Woolhouse, S. Wood, B. Wright and M. Wright.

Please send records for this review to:

Chris Hindle, 42, Glenbervie Drive, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 6QL

Email: christopherhindle@hotmail.com

Records sent to me may not all be used for this report as I try to extract

the more interesting sightings. However all records are equally

important and I forward them to the appropriate Area Recorders who

enter them all onto the KOS database.

35

Please send records for this review to: Chris Hindle, 42, Glenbervie Drive, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 6QL Email: christopherhindle@hotmail.com Records sent to me may not all be used for this report as I try to extract the more interesting sightings. However all records are equally important and I forward them to the appropriate Area Recorders who enter them all onto the KOS database. Fifty Years Ago 342. Olivaceous Warbler One trapped at Sandwich Bay Sept. 27th (IB, MD, WGH). First record for Kent. It is interesting to note that another bird of this species was trapped at the Isle of May on Sept .24th and remained until Sept.26th when it was killed by a Great Grey Shrike

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Ziway, Ethiopia April 2007 by Norman McCanch

KBR 1967

Norman McCanch

Letters and Notes

36

What Future for Birds in Kent? An exciting one-day conference

Kent Ornithological Society Saturday November 4th 2017

This conference will explore some of the challenges facing wild birds in Kent. The morning sessions will be broadly themed on “Places” and the afternoon session will focus on “Species”. SPEAKERS Stephen Moss Naturalist, Birder, TV Producer and Author Alan Johnson RSPB John McAllister KWT David Walker Warden, Dungeness Bird Observatory Ian Hunter Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Dr Hazel Jackson University of Kent Murray Orchard Kent Ornithological Society Dr Stephen Wood Kent Ornithological Society Kent Bird Artists, Norman McCanch, Stephen Message and Ian Rendall will be exhibiting work.

Canterbury High School 9.30 - 4.15 (Registration & Coffee from 9.00am) This stimulating one day conference will examine a range of issues, especially the changes facing birds both resident in - and migrating through - Kent. Presentations will range over the importance of habitat and its preservation and enhancement for birds, and at the history of bird life in the County -

Booking To book a place please return the form below to: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0PY together with your cheque for the appropriate amount . Payment can also be made using BACS to the KOS.[see below]

Places are limited - book early!

37

Kent Ornithological Society 2017 Conference What Future for Birds in Kent? £25 for current KOS members £30 Guests & Non KOS members £20 under 25s Including refreshments on arrival, morning coffee, buffet lunch and end-of-day refreshments. Please choose your method of payment from the two options below - cheque or BACS transfer, and send the completed form either by post or email to:- Chris Roome, (KOS Conf) Rowland House, Station Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0PY. chrisgk.roome@btinternet.com] Number of Places required:- Member - £25_______ Guest - £30________ Under 25 - £20________ If paying by cheque please make the cheque out to Kent Ornithological Society. [Please tick box to show payment method used] I enclose a cheque for £…………made payable to Kent Ornithological Society

.

I have made a payment via BACS to Kent Ornithological Society of £…………… using Bank sort code: 30-95-37 and Account Number 01637909

Please include KOSCONF17 as the reference. Name: …………………………………………………………. Address : ……………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………. Post Code: …………………email: ………………………………………… A detailed programme and a map to the venue will be sent to the address you have indicated via email or by post if you have no email address. Please indicate numbers of vegetarian buffet lunch option if required: ……………………..

38