This newsletter is co-edited by Peter Reed (01904 492494) and Chris Lloyd. Views expressed or advertisements

contained in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the RSPB or the York Group Committee. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/york

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SCO37654

Group Leader: Barry Bishop

AUTUMN 2017 NEWSLETTER

In this issue

LG trip to Picos de

Europa, Spain 2018

Talk on Mull

Message from Editor

Membership

Conservation News

Leader’s notes

York Peregrines

Isle of Mull Report

Local walk and trip

reports

Autumn programme

LG Bird Library

Day trip venues

New Yorkshire Book

Gibraltar Point

booking form

LG TRIP TO PICOS DE EUROPA, SPAIN IN 2018 Places are still available for our York LG’s exciting trip next spring – details are in the flyer or attachment with the last April newsletter. Please apply direct to Bird Holidays or contact them for further details at: 0113 3910 510 TALK ON MULL at THIRSK Monday 4th December 2017 7.30pm Barry is giving a talk “Springwatch on the Isle of Mull” - A talk by Barry Bishop, York Group Leader, at St James Green Methodist Church Hall, Thirsk, YO7 1AQ. Tea, coffee and biscuits; entrance fee of £2-00 for Richmondshire & Hambleton LG members, £4-00 for non-members, children are free. (Sounds like the York LG’s trip..?! Ed)

GARDEN TASKS FOR AUTUMN With autumn approaching, now is the time to clean up the bird feeders and stock up with bird food for the

coming months. To protect our birds from succumbing to disease don’t forget to clean all the equipment they use i.e. feeders, bird baths and change the drinking water regularly. Wash with hot water and allow to air dry. Don’t forget Val and Larry have a good selection of bird food at every meeting! MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR As usual we are still hoping further members will sign up to receive the newsletter electronically as a colour pdf, to save on printing, postage and packing costs. Please contact myself and Lynne Borthwick if interested or if you have any questions about it. If you want to print all or certain pages off, this can be done by using your printer set-up, in either colour or greyscale if needed. Many grateful thanks to all contributors of this edition and further items from members are always welcome.

Peter Reed peter.pj.reed@talk21.com

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RSPB YORK LOCAL GROUP

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Membership Renewal

Your membership of the York RSPB Local Group is due for renewal on 1st November 2017.

73 members now receive their newsletters via email. This, together with the move to a more cost-

efficient venue, has resulted in us being able to maintain the annual subscription at £4.00 per

household for the coming year. You can pay your membership in the same way as in previous

years:

• For those who pay by standing order the £4 will be debited from your account in November.

• If you pay by cheque please send this to me, Lynne Borthwick, 29 Whin Road, York, YO24

1JZ, made payable to “RSPB York Local Group”, with the renewal form sent with this

newsletter.

• You can also pay by cash or cheque at the next Indoor Meeting on 12th October or the

Afternoon Meeting on 28th October

• 75% of our members pay by Standing Order and this is hugely appreciated. If you would like

to switch to this method of payment, please complete the relevant section of the renewal

form or see me at an Indoor Meeting.

Next year’s programme and the newsletter will be sent out in December with new membership

cards. Those of you who have opted to have your newsletter via email will still receive the 2018

programme and membership card by post, unless, of course, you are able to pick them up at the

December meeting which, this year, is on Tuesday 19th.

Membership of our local group remains healthy, though slightly down in numbers on last year. In

August 2017, the group comprises 322 individuals or households (including Committee members

and a number of other local group leaders). In the last year we have welcomed 10 new members,

have had 6 resignations and 12 have been lost due to failure to renew their membership.

Thank you for your continued support which is greatly valued. On behalf of the Committee can I

end by saying how much we hope you continue to enjoy being a member of the RSPB Local Group.

Lynne Borthwick Membership Secretary

Conservation news items of interest

If you have missed these items please search the BBC site, or click the links: Rare pine marten captured on camera in North Yorkshire An image of a rare pine marten has been taken proving the animal does inhabit the North York Moors. The creature was once common across Britain but is now confined mainly to northern Scotland. It was captured on a wildlife camera trap run by the Yorkshire Pine Martin project in partnership with the Forestry Commission. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-40851301/rare-pine-marten-captured-on-camera-in-north-yorkshire RSPB hails natterjack toad 'baby boom' at Lodge reserve One of the UK's rarest toads is thriving at a nature reserve despite unfavourable spring breeding conditions, conservationists claim. About 500 natterjack toadlets have been counted at the RSPB's The Lodge reserve near Sandy, Bedfordshire, - five times more toads than were counted in 2016. Another 2,000 tadpoles have also been identified and were an indication of a "baby boom", the charity said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-40852840 See also: Natterjack toad numbers increase fivefold on RSPB Mersehead reserve at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-39207101

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From the RSPB York Group Leader

For those of you who know me, will not be surprised to hear that I am writing these comments whilst on the Island of Mull. The group had a trip to the island in May and I am very grateful to Mark and Moira Boast for writing a report about the trip. On the home page of mullbirds.com there are two short items. One is from David Sexton, the RSPB Officer on Mull, who came to our hotel and spoke to the group. He is asking for reports of sightings of adult white-tailed eagles in one area of the island. These birds bred in 2016 but have not been seen in 2017. (We were lucky to see two others near our hotel!) The other item is much close to home and is asking people to support a ban on blood sports on Ilkley Moor. This links in with the issue of having driven grouse shooting licenced, something that you may have read about in Nature’s Home magazine. The RSPB York Local Group has over the 40 plus years of its existence raised lots of money for the Society, which has enabled it to support the re-introduction of white tailed eagles to Scotland. Recruiting people to be members of the Society also helps when issues such as protecting hen harriers becomes national news. The RSPB is able to communicate to government that its million plus members expect laws regarding bird and wildlife protection to be upheld. I am grateful to you for the support that you give to the York group, which in turn helps the RSPB to “Give Nature a Home”. Over the next few months our programme of indoor meetings starts and I hope that you will be able to come and listen to some of the talks. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events, Best wishes for your autumn birding,

Barry

Great News about the Peregrines at York Minster

If you haven’t heard, the pair of peregrine falcons that live on York Minster have for the first time successfully reared two young! The news of successful hatching was announced in early July (right) and on Saturday 15th July members of the York Group and a member of the RSPB recruitment team were in Deans Park showing visitors the adult birds, with occasional glimpses of the month-old chicks peering above the edge of the parapet! In the following weeks, the juveniles became more adventurous (and visible, see below), clambering about the masonry and nearby scaffolding and making precarious flights and crash landings. One even landed on the ground and had to be rescued by Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation, Robert Fuller, the Minster police and local birder Doug Crawford! This juvenile, a male was ringed, the other (unringed) juvenile is also male. Doug has monitored the birds for many years and shares photos and news of the birds via a twitter account - twitter.com/yorkperegrines.

The breeding pair were using a purpose-made nesting tray of gravel on the NW bell tower and at the time of writing the juveniles were still around, although making longer flights away from the Minster.

Peter Reed Image: Doug Crawford

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York RSPB group visit to the Isle of Mull, May 2017

Moira and Mark Boast write about our local group visit to the Isle of Mull

At 6.30am on the morning of Thursday 18th of May 37 intrepid explorers gathered at the Memorial

Gardens. We set off in our luxury coach at around 7am to head north. Following stops at Gretna

and Stirling we arrived in Oban in perfect time to board the ferry for the 4pm crossing to Mull.

Barely had the ropes from the harbour been gathered in when the first bird entered the list for the

trip - a black guillemot.

After a pleasant 50-minute crossing, we arrived at

Craignure and made a very short trip to our hotel. We

were joined at dinner by Nigel and Alison who had made

their own way to Mull in their camper van. The hotel

location provided with a 2-minute walk to the bay

whereby the end of the stay most of us had enjoyed

good views of otters and a daily display by a very vocal

common sandpiper (right).

Friday May 19th

We spent the day doing two walks from the hotel as our driver John needed a well-deserved break.

In the morning we walked to Scallastle where the highlights were cuckoo and crossbills.

In the afternoon we did a walk at Torosay Castle. We tried very hard to turn a song thrush into a

mistle thrush but in the end decided it was a song thrush impersonating a mistle thrush! On the way

back the group split up and 10 of us returned along the shoreline which was a magnificent walk but

a bit of a scramble at times. The highlight was good views of great northern divers.

Saturday May 20th

Following an early breakfast we were back on the bus for the trip across Mull to catch the ferry to

Iona. This saw the start of what was to become the daily ritual of sandwich and crisp swapping! It

also saw the beginning of certain members of the group

taking on specialist roles - Eric as toilet attendant and Keith

as rubbish collector. Our driver John successfully and

safely negotiated the narrow bridges and tight bends on the

single-track road. It was raining when we reached the ferry

but thankfully it stopped on the short trip across to Iona and

it turned out to be a nice day.

The main target bird was the corncrake (right) and we think

most of us got some sort of view of one or at least heard

one. We also enjoyed good views of twite and wheatear.

Distant Manx shearwaters could be seen from the west side

of the island - Helen Searstone’s favourite place in the

world.

Image: Barry Bishop

Image: Barry Bishop

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Sunday May 21st

We set off in the coach again for a short drive to Craignure golf course where we stopped and

looked back towards the hotel to see a sea eagle perched at the top of the trees. We then

proceeded to Garmony and walked along the coast to Fishnish. A pleasant walk with views of

bullfinch and an excellent view of a siskin.

Following lunch we drove to Glen More. Our first stop gave us views of short-eared owls. We

travelled on and stopped to watch a male hen harrier for a good 10 minutes. We then moved on to

find eagles. There was some debate as to whether we saw golden or sea and the eventual

conclusion was probably both!

Monday May 22nd

It was on the coach again for a round trip to Glen More, along the north shore of Loch Scridian and

the southern shore of Loch Na Keal as far as Dhiseig Farm at the foot of Ben More. This drive was

even more challenging for our driver but he coped admirably. The highlight of the trip was definitely

the good views we had of golden eagles. We also saw great northern divers.

There was an occasion where on the left side of the coach a buzzard was seen but by the time it

had flown over the coach it seemed to have morphed into a golden eagle. Another debate!

Sadly for Larry we failed to get back in time for his pre-dinner jacuzzi.

Tuesday May 23rd

Our first stop was again at Craignure golf course and

this time two sea eagles could be viewed perched in

the trees (left) and we also saw arctic terns. We then

drove on to Salen where some of the group got off

and walked along the coast and some stayed on the

coach to Aros Bridge. They found a young dipper

near the bridge which the rest of us were also able to

enjoy when we caught up. We journeyed on to Aros

Park water fall and walked from there through the

woods to Tobermory. Some of us heard and some

managed to see wood warbler, a first for Sue who

was delighted.

Tobermory was a delightful place (right) but

unfortunately it rained the entire time we were there.

Thankfully there were some excellent cafes and

shopping opportunities.

Before dinner we were treated to a fantastic talk by

the RSPB Officer for Mull, David Sexton, who gave

an articulate account of the work done by the RSPB

to reintroduce sea eagles to Mull and to enable

them to flourish despite the misgivings of the local

farmers.

Image: Emanuela Buizza

Image: Peter Reed

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Wednesday May 24th

Moira and I got up early at 6am hoping to see otters as we were in the minority of the group who

had failed to do so. Our early start was unproductive but we finally got our reward (below) after

breakfast and again at the ferry terminal whilst waiting to board. Nothing like the last minute!

Kittiwakes, gannets, black guillemots, shags and cormorants were seen from the ferry but nothing

new to add to the bird list. The finally tally for the trip was 95 species and the prize went to John

Millett.

As well as otters, we also saw red deer, seals and

black rabbits on Iona. Butterwort, milkwort, tormentil,

eyebright, thrift, cowslip, bluebell, primrose, herb

Robert, flag iris and yellow pimpernel were among

the flora seen on the trip. The bluebells were a

spectacular sight cascading down some of the

mountain sides (right).

We journeyed safely back to York again stopping off

at Sterling and Gretna arriving back at 8.30pm. All in

all, a fantastic and very enjoyable trip. Many thanks

to Barry for his brilliant organisation and excellent leadership.

Mark and Moira Boast

Image: Emanuela Buizza

Image: Keith Reynolds

Image: Peter Reed

Image: Emanuela Buizza

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Local Walks and Day trip reports: April - August 2017

19th March – Nether Poppleton A forecast of high winds made us wonder how popular this walk would be. We were therefore agreeably surprised when our party numbered 18, including a few new faces, for this walk. Despite the wind, skylarks soon attracted our attention both in the sky and on the ground. The usual farmland birds were evident as we walked along the field edges but the usual little owl was not seen today. After negotiating a difficult stile across a beck a curlew was heard and then seen. After it landed a view through our telescopes was felt worthwhile and as a result a couple of mistle thrushes came into focus. Proceeding back towards the village, a party of long tailed tits entertained us and then an unexpected sighting of snipe and lapwing along with mallard were seen in a field. Six roe deer disappeared across the same field shortly afterwards. Back at our starting point we had a surprising tally of 27 bird species plus the deer. 26th March 2017 Fairburn Ings We met at the visitor centre and after checking the sightings board had a walk around the boardwalk. From the screen we saw little grebe, buzzard, roe deer and reed bunting. The kingfisher did not put in appearance at the screen, and only tufted ducks were to be seen on the “big hole”. Walking along the river bank trail we added great crested grebe to our list. The birds would do a little bit of their courtship display but sadly did not do their famous ”walk”. Goldcrest, willow warbler, long tailed tit and great spotted woodpecker were added to our list. After lunch we visited Lin Dyke area of the reserve. From the entrance gate we were able to see a great white egret and we heard chiffchaffs singing as we walked down the path to the hide. Forty-four different birds was our total for the day.

Barry Bishop 8th April 2017 RSPB Saltholme Thirteen members travelled up the A19 to this RSPB reserve near Middlesbrough. The wildlife watch point was our first stop where we could see a little grebe on its nest and then on to Paddy’s Pool hide where we commented on its refurbishment. Several of us found it difficult to see birds clearly through the tinted glass, and the new design for the windows. Great crested grebe and pochard were seen before we moved on to Saltholme hide. A little egret with colour rings was present, which had been ringed two years previously as a nestling at North Cotes, Lincolnshire. More waders were seen here including redshank, little ringed plover and a black-tailed godwit (above). We then ate lunch in the Phil Stead hide in the hope of seeing a garganey, but the bird did not put in appearance. However we did have close up views of a grey heron and little egret as they came close to the hide. Greatham Creek was our next stop and we had good views of seals on the opposite mudbank. We noted that this facility will be closed until autumn 2018 as they return the area to saltmarsh.

Image and text Barry Bishop 25th April Pretty Wood, Welburn - This walk was cancelled due to bad weather. 6th May Hawnby Fourteen members assembled by Hawnby church at the bottom of the main village on a bright spring morning. In the late 17th century a visit by three villagers to the north east, where John Wesley was preaching, caused a major upset to the village. The lord of the manor, being strict Church of England, turned the Wesleyan converts out of their cottages and they had to move to the outskirts of the village. We climbed the hill to access a footpath away from the village across farmland. The noise being made by the sheep was extraordinarily loud and we subsequently discovered that a group of young

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farmers were carrying out painful but essential work on the tails and other parts of this year’s male lambs. Farmland birds and hirundines were seen and we were pleased to encounter at least three tree pipits displaying before we turned downhill towards the River Rye. A short diversion to a known site for pied fly-catchers was unfortunately fruitless but a jay was heard through the trees. Towards the end of our walk, garden warbler and blackcap were added to willow warbler and chiff-chaff giving us a total of 43 birds seen and one, the jay, heard. 14th May Whisby Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire At 8.30 am on a damp morning over thirty members met up at Scarcroft Road in anticipation for our first day trip by coach for many years. The destination – Whisby near Lincoln – was reached after an hour in glorious sunshine after a comfortable ride down the A1, and we were soon checking out the café. However, the nightingales for which the site is well-known soon tempted us out and after a short walk and a little wait, most people saw one bird coming down to the ground to collect nesting material (right) or flitting about in the path side bushes. After this highlight we dispersed into smaller groups or individually as preferred and explored the tracks in the woodland, or around the various lakes produced from disused gravel pits. These held many water birds and we saw gadwall, mallard, mute swan, tufted duck, great-crested grebe and heron etc. On the islands there were a cacophony of nesting black-headed gulls with a pair of nesting oystercatchers with two young, and a nesting Mediterranean gull which also kept its head down! Further on there was a magnificent show of marsh orchids, cowslips, yellow rattle and other flowers and around in the bushes warblers were singing – willow and garden warblers, chiffchaff, blackcap and common whitethroat and a couple of cuckoos could be heard in the distance. All in all a very pleasant day, with a relaxing atmosphere of not having to drive and in the company of fellow group members. Peter Reed 16th July Wharram Percy The weather forecast was good for later in the day but rain was in the air as we assembled in the car park above the deserted Medieval Village, not a feature of our visit today. However before moving off Ken gave a brief summary of its history to the 14 attendees. After describing some features of our walk, we meandered down the hill into the valley where wild flowers attracted our attention and several birds, including some blackcap and willow warbler were heard and seen. Progressing away from the historical village along the route of an old railway line there were more flowers and butterflies. Many goldfinches were sighted on the telephone wires close to the site of the old station and the next-door cottage.

A short distance up this road brought us to YWT’s Wharram Quarry Nature reserve. The quarrying of limestone finished here in the 1940’s and after the landowner, Lord Middleton of Birdsall, became aware of the presence of bee orchids, it was offered to YWT in the 1960’s. The disused quarry is full of other rare plants, the flowers of which attract many butterflies, best seen in June/July each year. Marbled white and Six Spot Burnet moths (left), common blue, meadow brown and ringlet were found. Buzzards were seen overhead and a whitethroat performed on a hawthorn bush.

Reluctantly for some, we continued our walk which took us to the outskirts of Wharram le Street where house martins were nesting in the eaves of some houses, among the polybags put there to deter them. Swifts were also seen above the houses before we headed back towards our cars, passing a farm where pied wagtails and swallows were noted. During the walk, 23 bird species were seen with 2 more heard only. Ken Searstone Please see page 10 for a report on the visit to Staveley YWT Reserve

Image: Barry Bishop

Image: Ken Searstone

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Autumn programme of events – September to December 2017

SEPTEMBER

Wed 13th 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: Paul Bartlett: Costa Rica – Parrots, Birds

and other creatures. Although small, Costa Rica is one of the richest countries in the world for flora and fauna, including 800 bird species. It is a safe country with a good road network and excellent tourism infrastructure. Almost a third of the land is protected for conservation. The talk describes a specialist tour in 2015 aimed at seeing the main parrot species, macaws, conures, amazons and parakeets, together with many other birds, fauna and flora. Paul is a retired plant quarantine biologist and his photographs of wildlife in this talk display what can be achieved with bridge cameras and good guidance.

Sun 24th 10.00am MORNING WALK at Nosterfield. Meet car park. OS Ref 278795

N 54.210580 W -1.5752778 Nosterfield Local Nature Reserve is generally acknowledged as North Yorkshire's premier wet grassland nature reserve, particularly important for species such as Shoveler, Redshank and Lapwing. http://www.luct.org.uk/nosterfield/

OCTOBER

Thurs 12th 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: Ian Newton: Iceland – a land of fire, ice,

waterfalls and midges. Ian Newton, who lives in York, will be well known to members of the group, not least from his many, beautifully illustrated talks to RSPB and YOC. He is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and has specialised in Wildlife Photography for over 30 years. He will be showing us images from a late spring trip to Iceland, including most of the special birds that breed there. It's the stunning scenery that also makes this such a popular destination and the talk will include video clips and landscape photos taken with innovative techniques. If you want a preview of the quality of Ian's photography, visit his website: www.iannewton.foliopic.com/

Sat 14th 10.00am MORNING WALK at Crayke. Meet roadside below church.

OS Ref 560705 N 54.127314 W-1.1445780 The walk is part of Crayke Estate Walk which can be viewed on yorkshirewalks:- http://www.yorkshirewalks.org/diary15/diary590.html

Tues 24th 2.30 pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING: Aimée Nicholson: The Hen Harrier

Life+ Project. This is an exciting five-year programme of Hen Harrier conservation running until 2019. The LIFE project combines satellite tagging, on-the-ground monitoring, nest protection, investigations work, awareness-raising; and working with volunteer raptor field workers, landowners and local communities to protect hen harriers across northern England and southern and eastern Scotland. Aimée Nicholson, the Community Engagement Officer for the North of England, will be speaking about these magnificent birds, the threat they face and what the RSPB are doing to help them. Tea and/or coffee included. Parking at Scarcroft School will not be available on this date, please use public transport or Nunnery Lane CP.

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NOVEMBER

Thurs 16th 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING - Pete Short: Turning the Tide - The

Humber Estuary. Pete Short is the RSPB Humber Reserves Sites Manager which includes Blacktoft Sands and Read’s Island. The Humber estuary is amazing! It supports up to 180,000 waders and ducks in winter and many fantastic breeding birds such as avocet, little tern, bearded tit, and marsh harrier. It's the largest area of tidal reed bed in the UK but it's wildlife is threatened by habitat loss and erosion. Pete will be talking about the RSPB's work to turn this tide and save one of Europe's top wetlands and its internationally important Birdlife.

Sun 19th 10.00am MORNING WALK at Kelfield, near Selby. Meet at farm.

OS Ref 591385 N 53.839397 W -1.1033439 Kelfield is a small village and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the northern bank of the River Ouse, approximately 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Selby. Leader Richard Bramley.

Tues 28th 2.30 pm AFTERNOON INDOOR MEETING: Farmland Birds – a RSPB talk

presented by Bob Coursey. Tea and/or coffee included. Parking at Scarcroft School will not be available on this date, please use public transport or Nunnery Lane CP.

DECEMBER

Tues 19th 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING: Tom Lawson: Assam.

Tom Lawson, a stalwart of the group, needs no introduction. Tonight he will be transporting us to Assam, a province in North East India, a land of mighty rivers and fertile plains situated in the foothills of the Himalaya. Remarkable for the richness of its flora and fauna, its natural history represents a melting pot of east and west - many of the species found here being either at the westernmost or easternmost points of their range. York LG Library Just a reminder, Peter Reed manages a library of bird books for the group, which can be borrowed at a donation of £2 per book, with £5 returnable deposit. Books include the whole set of The Birds of Western Palearctic’ or ‘BWP’ by Cramp et al. plus various ID books for your foreign birding trips. Please contact me (see programme card) for a full list and further details. 16th August Staveley YWT Reserve Unexpectedly this venue had been programmed by the YWT for a children’s bug finding event. We therefore decided to move our cars from the YWT car park to a temporary alternative behind the village local hostelry, however, due to an unfortunate mishap in communication, one of our group unfortunately didn’t find the pub car park, so we became 13 for the walk. We modified our walk to a different route, without loss of wild life, to be expected at his location. At this time of year there was nothing exceptional seen on but a few hirundines were still about although fewer than a few days earlier in the week. We recorded 28 species of birds as well as several species of butterfly, e.g. peacock (right) during the visit. Ken Searstone

Image: Chris Brookes

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DAY TRIP VENUES September to December 2017

Please book these trips directly with Barry either by telephone (01904 639853), email (barryjbishop@hotmail.com) or in person at meetings, mentioning if you would like a lift or are able to provide one. Strong shoes or boots will be required on all the trips as well as a packed lunch. Please tell Barry as early as possible and note we will never pass on your contact details to anyone else. Don’t forget your RSPB or YWT membership cards if necessary.

Saturday 28th October 2017. Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire WT) by coach 8am

Note change of date from the published programme

Gibraltar Point is a dynamic stretch of unspoilt coastline running southwards from the edge of Skegness to the mouth of the Wash. Gibraltar Point impresses by its sheer scale and diversity of wildlife but to appreciate it fully you need to see it in different seasons. In autumn, huge whirling flocks of waders can be seen on the high tides. And in winter, there Brent geese, shorelark and snow bunting as well as flocks of redwing and fieldfare. There is a new Visitor Centre and a varied menu in the cafe. Further information at http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/gibraltar-point Price: £18 + £1 donation to LWT. Car parking is available in Millthorpe School for a £1 donation to charity. Booking essential – please use the booking form on page 12, or from the website.

Sunday 26th November 2017. RSPB Blacktoft - by car 9am

Come to Blacktoft Sands and see how many of the 270 species of birds you can see! The tidal reed-bed is the largest in England and is important for its breeding bearded tits, bitterns and marsh harriers. In winter, thousands of ducks are easily viewed from wheelchair accessible hides; hen harriers and merlins come into the reed-bed to roost as dusk descends; hundreds of teals and wigeons provide a wildfowl spectacle from the Ousefleet hide; tree sparrows flock near the flood bank; barn and short-eared owls can often be seen towards dusk.

Still time for an autumn seabird cruise!

A few RSPB seabird cruises from Bridlington are still available this autumn on the following days: Sunday 17 September at 2.45 pm Saturday 24 September at 8.30 am Saturday 30 September at 9.45 am These three and a half hour trips are now called Autumn Highlight Cruises (formerly Skua and Shearwater Cruises), specialise in looking for terns, skuas, auks, gulls and shearwaters moving on migration, so wrap up warm and bring your sea legs! Details by telephone: 01262 422211, or E-mail: bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk or on website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-435777

New book: Best Birdwatching Sites: Yorkshire

For information there is a new book out on birdwatching 88 of Yorkshire’s nature reserves and birding hotspots, along with maps, guides and inside tips etc. £19.95 Buckingham Press, available from the RSPB Shop, at rspbshop.org.uk/nh17, visit a reserve shop,call 0345 034 7733, or see the latest RSPB Nature’s Home Autumn 2017, page 87 for more info.

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to

give nature a home.

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RSPB York Local Group Outing by coach to Gibraltar Point

Saturday 28th October 2017

Please note change of date from published programme and leaving time

Gibraltar Point is a dynamic stretch of unspoilt coastline running southwards from the end of Skegness to the

mouth of the Wash.

In October, we could see a real mix of winter and summer visitors depending on the weather. In past years

October birds have included Lapland buntings, whooper swans, pink footed geese, merlin, hen harrier,

swallow, divers and crossbills.

There is a café, toilets and some of the hides are accessible by wheelchair.

The cost is £18 per person, payable in advance.

The reserve is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and they have asked for a minimum donation of £1 per

person. Please pay Barry on the day.

The coach will leave Scarcroft Road at 8am and return about 6pm.

Car parking is available in Millthorpe School for a £1 donation to charity, payable on the day. There are also

bicycle sheds on the school site.

Please make cheques payable to RSPB York Local Group.

NAME

ADDRESS

Telephone number

I wish to book … places at £18 each

Email address for confirmation of a place.

If you wish to park your car at Millthorpe School please provide your car registration number

Please return the form and your cheque to

Barry Bishop, 18 Jennifer Grove Holgate, York. YO24 4DZ.