this Issue - The RSPB · a registered charity ñ England and Wales no. 207076, Scot-land no. SC037654 This is my first contribution to the newsletter as Group Leader, having just

newsletter NO 91 wintER 2016

Newsletter Editor: Linda Tagg

3, Carpenter Way, Potters Bar, EN6 5PZ

Tel: 01707 656 715 email: [email protected]

In

this

Issue

Advertisement…………...…..….......5 Advertisement…………….…...…..11 Coach Outings………………..……..3 Data Protection Act ……...…….…12 Email Newsletter etc……………..…2 Group Visit to Morocco.....................8 Local Bird Report…….….….............6 Local Group Website……..…..........12 Local Outings Report…….................2 Newsletter Copy Date….....….........12 Phenology, Some Local Observations from Potters Bar.…………………....10 RSPCA Fun Day………………….….2 100 Club ……………………….……12 100 Club Application Form…….….12

GROUP LEADER’S COMMENTS

by Ian Sharp

Any advertisements enclosed with

this newsletter are not specifically

endorsed by the RSPB or the Potters

Bar & Barnet Local Group

Group Website:

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/

pottersbarandbarnet or just search

for Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB

The Royal Society

for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is

a registered charity:

England and Wales no. 207076, Scot-

land no. SC037654

This is my first contribution to the newsletter as Group Leader, having just taken over

the role from Jacky Walker. Jacky has been a tireless supporter of the Group, being an

active Committee member for 17 years and stepping into the Acting Group Leader role

for the last two years. She will be a hard act to follow but I will do my best to fill her

shoes.

We are very fortunate to have such an active local group and my recent attendance at

Committee meetings has highlighted to me the experience and enthusiasm that all the

committee members and other volunteers bring to make this group so successful. I

know I will be relying on their support to help me fulfil my role.

One of my first pleasing tasks was to present 5 year service awards to Jennie Arnold,

Gill Barlow, Elaine Eyles and Hilary Sharp at the October meeting. Their organization

of regular coach outings and holidays in the UK has been, and continues to be

appreciated by many members. In 2016, this has included many Wednesday and

Sunday day trips and a long weekend in Titchwell, one of our favourite locations.

Details of all trips are in your programme.

The Group holiday to Morocco was very successfully organized by Yvana Reeves who

had to plan the trip without the support of Ian Stewart who sadly passed away last

year.

You may have noticed that Lynn Baker’s name as Newsletter editor at the top of the

page has been replaced by Linda Tagg’s. Preparing the newsletter is not an easy task

and Lynn has produced a very professional looking newsletter for us for the last four

years. We are grateful to Linda for taking over this role.

The Christmas outing is now being planned. This will involve a trip to Rainham

Marshes folowed by a meal at Old Fold Manor Golf Course, Hadley Highstone. Please

get in touch with the Outings Team if you wish to be included.

The Quiz evening held on 7 October was organized for the first time by Lesley Causton

and a great success it was too. Everyone enjoyed the evening and the event raised over

£600.

John Rowley maintains the Group’s website and elsewhere in this newsletter he

provides details of how to access it. It does contain a lot of useful information so please

take the time to have a browse. John also makes a plea for members to opt to receive the

newsletter and programme in electronic format. This helps keep costs down. However,

we realise some people prefer to read the paper version or do not have access to a

computer so we will continue to provide it when required.

When you receive this newsletter it will be close to Christmas so season’s greetings to

you all and best wishes for 2017 which I am sure will have as full and interesting a

group programme as this year.

2

NEWSLETTERS, PROGRAMMES and UPDATES by email

Help us reduce our costs and get your newsletter and programmes by email. Please email the editor at

[email protected] with your name and postcode.

We also e-mail out a brief monthly update, we would like to contact as many people as possible using this, please email the

editor and ask for email updates. (You can always unsubscribe if it does not suit you.)

John Rowley Website Editor.

Local outing reports Mark and Cilla Mead

1 May

We were on holiday so our youngest son 'Peter Mark' ran the

outing!

Four people went to Little Paxton.

Birds seen: nightingale (excellent

views), little ringed plover, and

lots of warblers

5 June

Three people including Mark went

to Rye House Marsh.

Weather dull and overcast, but sunny later.

Birds seen: several reed warblers, Cetti’s warblers, sedge

warblers.

Star birds-two garganey.

3 July

Ron Crummey and Mark went to Hexton Chalk pits and

Paxton Gravel pits.

Some nice birds including red kite and garden warbler.

Main reason for the trip was for butterflies which included

lots and lots of marbled white, several dark green fritillary.

Later at Paxton: Norfolk hawker and black tailed skimmer!

Also several red-eyed damselflies!

7 August

Six people went to Bowers Marsh. Sunny and warm but

windy!

Nice array of raptors including: peregrine, marsh harrier,

sparrowhawk and kestrel

Also some nice other birds: yellow wagtail, avocet, bearded

tit.

Also dragonflies!

4 September

Mark and Ron Crummey went to

Panshanger. Rather windy!

Lots of little grebes, great spotted

woodpecker, female sparrow hawk,

and late dragonflies.

Plus outstanding views of Osprey

2 October

Five people went to Heartwood Forest. Weather clear and

chilly.

Birds seen: swallows, house martins, red kite, yellow hammer,

redwings.

RSPCA Southridge Fun Day 16 July

The branch ran a stall selling RSPB items at this

popular local annual event. John Rowley also

prepared a display of birds’ nests and other nature

items to attract the interest of children, which proved

to be an excellent opportunity to chat to them and

their parents about nature and the work of The

RSPB.

Money was raised for The RSPB -the badges sold

particularly well! Thanks to everyone who helped

towards the stall. A “fun day” was had by all.

Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB stall at The RSPCA Southridge Fun Day

Nightingale

John Busby RSPB

Dragonfly

Mike Langman RSPB

3

Great Dixter and Batemans Wednesday 18 May 2016

Members of the group enjoyed the first midweek outing of

the year by a visit to East Sussex. In the morning we took in

Great Dixter, the former home of gardener and garden writer

Christopher

Lloyd, where

we explored the

medieval house

and the

beautiful

gardens.

In the afternoon

we travelled on

to Batemans,

previously the

country home of

Rudyard Kipling,

and full of fascinating Kipling history and memorabilia.

Minsmere - Sunday 22 May 2016.

By the time you read this you may have seen the BBC’s 2016

Springwatch series from Minsmere and the wonderful

variety of wildlife and birds there. Our visit the week before

had the signs of the show’s preparations and celebrities were

possibly about we were told; but no one was spotted.

The group saw 74 species of bird* whilst exploring the

reserve trails and we were pleased that the rain (forecast) did

not materialise; it was a very pleasant warm day.

Highlights of the trip were good views of bittern and hobby

from Bittern hide. Bearded reedling at Island Mere hide; tree

creeper high up from the Canopy hide in the woodland; and

in other places Caspian gull, kittiwake and Cetti’s warbler.

Other birds Minsmere had for us: sand martin who had

returned to the sand banks near the visitor centre. Two

marsh harriers were seen taking nesting material to their

chosen spot deep in the reeds. Avocet and black headed gull

were sitting on nests; barnacle goose had goslings; black-

tailed godwit, various other gulls and terns in numbers, and

a ring plover and grey plover.

A lucky few were able to see muntjac deer, water vole, and

stoat; linnets and cuckoo.

The café as usual was a welcome lunch break and final stop

before sadly we had to return to the coach.

* Day’s total 80 once sightings from coach included. “Bird of day”

Caspian gull by a short head.

Rutland Water - Sunday 19 June 2016.

A dry day with warmth was experienced when the group

visited Rutland. We went during the time when three

osprey chicks were being reared by the parents, and had

close up views on screen, both from the hides and visitor

centre; as well as through our bins and scopes.

As well as an informative talk about the osprey project on

arrival at Lyndon Visitor Centre we were treated to a

yellowhammer on their bird feeder, (a pleasant surprise).

The paths to the best osprey viewpoint hide took us along

the south side of Rutland Water and on the way parents of a

family of whitethroats were spied feeding their youngsters.

Also kestrel, buzzard, sedge warbler, blackcap, chiffchaff,

swallow, grey wagtail, reed bunting and various water birds

including greylag goose.

After a couple of hours we headed on to the west side of

Rutland Water, near Egleton. From the Anglian Water

Birdwatching Centre we were spoilt for choice. 25 hides,

each with bird’s names, and all within easy walking and

with excellent signage showing the way and giving the

distances. Various habitats: eight lagoons, wet meadow,

hedgerows, and woodland at top of Lax Hill- well worth the

climb to see view of surrounding area.

The group enjoyed views of a variety of birds including tree

sparrow, garden and willow warbler, jackdaw, great crested

and little grebe, Egyptian goose, shelduck, gadwall, little

egret, lapwing, redshank, green sandpiper and mystery duck

(hybrid? part scaup / potchard).

Wildlife spots: hare; and “cute of the day” a tiny wood

mouse below the feeder outside the Anglian Water

Birdwatching Centre.

Total of 70 species were seen over the day, plus a red kite en

route. “Birds of the day”: large birds-osprey; smaller birds -

between the yellowhammer and the flock of tree sparrows.

Continued overleaf

COACH OUTINGS by Jenny Arnold, Gill Barlow, Hilary Sharp and Elaine Eyles

View of the house at Great Dixter

Dan Powell RSPB

4

Dungeness Sunday 24 July 2016

Thankfully it was cooler than the very hot week prior to our

visit, but the strong coastal breeze was a surprise. We had

seen a search and rescue helicopter fly over and read later

that at nearby Camber sands, a few swimmers had sadly been

caught out by the tidal currents.

The RSPB Dungeness reserve is part of the National nature

reserve.

We crossed Romney marsh with clear views dominated in the

distance by the power station.

The shingle and the wide expanses of

water in the flooded extraction pits

are at their best in summer; lots of

flora, butterflies and dragonflies are

found there.

The hides overlook the pits; the

visitor centre has a panoramic view.

There is a well-stocked shop and

friendly helpful staff, very

welcoming.

The group strolled round the two mile circuit, some with

flower guide books.

Bird sightings included: marsh harrier, hobby, sand and

house martin, kingfisher, linnet, great crested and little grebe,

kestrel, common and green

sandpiper, common tern, oyster

catcher, a variety of gulls, barnacle

and Egyptian goose, yellow, grey

and pied wagtails; and a flock of

lapwing.

“Bird of the day” was a great white

egret, hiding in Denge pit.

Flora. 15 listed, including yellow

horned poppy, mallow, fleabane,

meadow vetchling, ragwort, burdock.

Butterflies. Red admiral, peacock, meadow brown, small

white, small heath, small copper, common blue, common

argus. We also saw great numbers of small blue damselflies,

far too many to count!

A very pleasant summer’s outing enjoyed by all

The Lodge &Wrest Park - Wednesday 17 August 2016

A morning stop at The Lodge, Sandy– only a one hour drive

from Potters Bar.

There is a new visitor information hut at the car park with an

open shelter from the elements which faces the heathland.

The shop was well stocked as usual.

Two volunteer “guides” met us and from 10.30 to 12 noon

took us on a stroll to the Memorial Gardens and the Lodge

Italian-style garden behind the House.

For some this was

their first visit and

the ladies were

very willing to

share their

knowledge both of

the history of the

Lodge and its more

recent time with

RSPB.

The reserve opened in 1961; and its management plans, both

current work and future, for developing and expanding

sandy heath over next 20 years sound exciting. A wind

turbine is the latest development; it became operational

earlier this year.

Hobbies have bred successfully; we missed seeing the

fledglings by just over a week, but saw a brilliant camera

phone picture. The heathland was peaceful and the weather

just glorious. A few birds we saw at the feeding station at the

pond next to the Meadow hide: dunnock, great spotted

woodpecker, nuthatch and carrion crows; and dragonflies.

If you go do try to see Stan Bailey’s memorial plaque, pinned

onto the barn owl carved into a dead oak tree. In spring it

will be surrounded by bluebells we’re told.

Wrest Park

(English Heritage owned, half an hour or so from the Lodge)

The afternoon was spent exploring the restored gardens at

Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and finding out about its long

history. Sculptures and follies at every turn; and the designs

of the landscape expertly laid out on the advice of Lancelot

“Capability” Brown.

Despite it being very warm and sunny we walked the length

and breadth of the park, seeking shelter under the massive

trees and shrubs were we could. Resting alongside the

“designed” river which frames the garden we were treated to

a flash of kingfisher. For the less able a mobility cart travels

around the garden to the furthest point, the famous Archer

Pavilion.

The house exhibition is very clear and easy to follow, rooms

impressive. The all new facilities cater for everyone. There

were not too many benches, but one could take a chair or mat

and picnic all day. We however sadly had to return home.

continued on next page

Kingfisher

John Busby RSPB

Peacock butterfly

Mike Langham RSPB

RSPB: The Lodge, Sandy

5

Fingringhoe Wick Sunday 18 September 2016

The group had a good day out birding, thankfully fresher

than the few scorching days of mid week.

What is the name Fingringhoe? It is Saxon and can be traced

back to around 975 AD. Two theories: one meaning related

to the land belonging to the Fingringas, the descendants or

followers of a man of similar name; alternatively the name

may derive from the Danish, (then old English), word for

“finger” - the finger of land that diverts the Colne eastwards

between Roman River and Geedon Creek.

In modern times Fingringhoe Wick was once a farm, then

worked as a gravel pit. In 1961 Essex Wildlife Trust

inherited the undulating terrain which is largely buried in

woodland, thickets, dense scrub, ponds and a large lake.

The Colne river frontage provides additional habitats

saltmarsh, foreshore and inter-tidal mudflats at Greedon

Bay.

Our visit coincided with an exciting new development, an

extension to the reserve of more intertidal mudflats, on the

banks of the river Colne. And a brand new hide. As the

reserve is now 200 acres it was good that the staff at the

visitor centre could indicate where the highlights could be

found, given we had limited time. We had plenty of places

to sit and eat and clear signage and distances were on the

map.

71 species spotted by just 17 pairs of eyes. “Birds of the day”

were osprey and great white egret, but the wader count

came out tops too. Avocet, curlew, dunlin, common

sandpiper, green sandpiper, redshank, godwit, knot,

turnstone; and oystercatcher, little ring plover and ring

plover. Also ducks, gadwall, pintail, pochard and shelduck;

and little grebe. Five raptors (in addition to the osprey).

More difficult to spot were bullfinch, chiffchaff, green

woodpecker, kingfisher, and reed bunting.

Not so easy to miss were

the large dragonflies and

delicate butterflies

including small copper.

Dan Powell RSPB

We are indebted to our printer Minuteman Press who has kindly printed this edition without charge.

6

LOCAL BIRD REPORT

from Philip Brown

Please keep sending your reports to

Philip Brown, 301 Shurland Avenue, East Barnet, Herts. EN4 8DQ

Tel 020 8441 3830, E-Mail: [email protected]

As you can see from the map below, our local area is divided into 4 sections. Each area has a corresponding column on the

table which lists the species observed. The areas are split east to west by the M25 motorway, north to south by the A1 (M),

to the south by the A406 and to the west by the M1 motorway. The border to the north is OS TL15 and to the west is OS

TL40. The species listed do not include many of the more common birds as it is a selected list, and the lack of a cross in the

column may just be that the area or bird has been under recorded. This report covers the period from 1 April 2016 to 30

September 2016. An early record of note was two cranes over the Hatfield area on 4 April. Rye Meads sightings have in-

cluded purple heron, little stint, whimbrel and kittiwake, while King George V Reservoir has seen red-necked and Slavoni-

an grebes, and a glossy ibis. There was only one turtle dove sighting - at Heartwood Forest in May. The period has ended

with a steady influx of winter ducks and the first redwing sighting for the autumn.

My thanks go to everyone who has contributed reports for this item.

7

SPECIES AREA NOTES SPECIES AREA NOTES

A B C D A B C D

GREYLAG GOOSE X X X X CASPIAN GULL X Amwell

ROSS' GOOSE X Hilf ield Park Res LITTLE TERN X Amwell 10 M ay

BARNACLE GOOSE X X X X BLACK TERN X X X Hilf ield Park 14 M ay, Amwell & KGV 12 M ay

EGYPTIAN GOOSE X X X X SANDWICH TERN X X Amwell, KGV

SHELDUCK X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilf ield Park, Rye M eads, KGV COM M ON TERN X X X X

M ANDARIN DUCK X X X X ARCTIC TERN X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilf ield Park, Amwell, KGV

WIGEON X X X STOCK DOVE X X X X

GADWALL X X X X TURTLE DOVE X Heartwood Forest 13 M ay

TEAL X X X RING-NECKED PARAKEET X X X X

PINTAIL X X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell, King George V Res CUCKOO X X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Aldenham CP, Amwell, Rammey M arsh

SHOVELER X X X X BARN OWL X X X Heartwood Forest, Panshanger Park, Amwell

GARGANEY X X Amwell, Rye M eads, KGV LITTLE OWL X X X X Willows Farm, Essendon, Totteridge

RED CRESTED POCHARD X KGV TAWNY OWL X Highwood Hill, Barnet

POCHARD X X X SHORT-EARED OWL X X Heartwood Forest, Rammey M arsh, KGV

SCAUP X X Hilf ield Park, KGV SWIFT X X X X First KGV 17 April; Last reported St Albans 23 Aug

COM M ON SCOTER X X Hilf ield Park, KGV KINGFISHER X X X

GOLDENEYE X X Amwell, KGV LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER X X X Gorhambury Estate, Ware, Trent Park

SM EW X King George V Res 20 Aug SKYLARK X X London Colney, Trent Park, Gunpowder Park

GOOSANDER X King George V Res SWALLOW X X X X

GREY PARTRIDGE X Heartwood Forest, Colney Heath, Tyttenhanger HOUSE M ARTIN X X X X

LITTLE GREBE X X SAND M ARTIN X X X X

RED-NECKED GREBE X King George V Res 20 Aug M EADOW PIPIT X X Willows Farm, Gunpowder Park, Totteridge

SLAVONIAN GREBE X King George V Res 4 Sept TREE PIPIT X Ellenbrook Fields 10 April

BLACK-NECKED GREBE X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilf ield Park, Amwell, KGV GREY WAGTAIL X X X X

LITTLE EGRET X X X X YELLOW WAGTAIL X X X X Tyttenhanger, Kings M ead, Sewardstone

GREAT WHITE EGRET X X Amwell 3 Jul, King George V Res 24 Apr WHITE WAGTAIL X X Gorhambury Estate, Hatf ield Aerodrome, KGV

PURPLE HERON X Rye M eads 11 Jun NIGHTINGALE X X Ellenbrook Fields, Fisher's Green, Rye M eads

GLOSSY IBIS X King George V Res 16 Aug BLACK REDSTART X Tyttenhanger 19 April

CRANE X 2 over Ellenbrook Fields and Hatf ield 4 Apr REDSTART X X Tyttenhanger, Totteridge, Trent Park, Sewardstone

RED KITE X X X X WHINCHAT X X X Tyttenhanger, Cuff ley, Kings M eads, Totteridge

M ARSH HARRIER X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell STONECHAT X X X Heartwood Forest, Rye M eads, Pattypool M ead

SPARROWHAWK X X X WHEATEAR X X X X Ellenbrook Fields, Hilf ield Park, Kings M ead, Totteridge

BUZZARD X X X X RING OUZEL X X Hatf ield Aerodrome, Tyttenhanger, Totteridge, KGV

OSPREY X X Coopers Green GP, Panshanger Park, Amwell FIELDFARE X Last - Totteridge 21 April

KESTREL X X X X REDWING X X X Last - Totteridge 17 April; First Bowyers Water 23 Sept

HOBBY X X X X WHITETHROAT X X X X

PEREGRINE X X X LESSER WHITETHROAT X X X X

WATER RAIL X X Amwell, Rye M eads, King's M eads BLACKCAP X X X X

OYSTERCATCHER X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilf ield Park, Amwell, KGV GARDEN WARBLER X X X X

AVOCET X Amwell GRASSHOPPER WARBLER X X X

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER X X X X CETTI'S WARBLER X X X X

RINGED PLOVER X X X SEDGE WARBLER X X X

LAPWING X X X REED WARBLER X X X

KNOT X King George V Res 4 Sep CHIFFCHAFF X X X X

SANDERLING X X Amwell 10 M ay, King George V Res 13 M ay WILLOW WARBLER X X X X

LITTLE STINT X Rye M eads 27-29 Aug WOOD WARBLER X Wormley Wood 28 April

DUNLIN X X X X Coopers Green GP, Hilf ield Park, Amwell, Rye M eads SPOTTED FLYCATCHER X X X

RUFF X King George V Res 11 Sep PIED FLYCATCHER X Waverley Grove Finchley

JACK SNIPE X Kings M ead, Rye M eads FIRECREST X X X Sherrardspark Wood, Radlett , Brickenden

SNIPE X X X X BEARDED TIT X Amwell

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT X X X Tyttenhanger, Kings M ead, Amwell, Rye M eads, KGV M ARSH TIT X X Sherrardspark Wood, Northaw Great Wood, Amwell

BAR-TAILED GODWIT X Amwell 20 Apr TREECREEPER X X X

WHIM BREL X X X Aldenham CP, Rye M eads, KGV NUTHATCH X X X X

CURLEW X X Tyttenhanger 22 Apr, Bricket Wd 26 Jun (f lew over) RAVEN X X Childwickbury, Gorhambury, Totteridge

COM M ON SANDPIPER X X X X TREE SPARROW X Tyttenhanger

GREEN SANDPIPER X X X BRAM BLING X X X Sherrardspark Wood, Fishers Green

WOOD SANDPIPER X X Tyttenhanger 31 Aug, Rye M eads 3 Jun SISKIN X X X

GREENSHANK X X X LINNET X X X

REDSHANK X X X X LESSER REDPOLL X X X Tyttenhanger, Fisher's Green, Gunpowder Park

TURNSTONE X KGV 8 M ay, 16 Aug CROSSBILL X Amwell 10 Aug, Brookman's Park 19 Sept

KITTIWAKE X Rye M eads 1 June BULLFINCH X X X X Tyttenhanger, Aldenham CP, Fisher's Green, Trent Park

LITTLE GULL X X X X Tyttenhanger, Hilf ield Park, Amwell, KGV YELLOWHAM M ER X X Heartwood Forest, Tyttenhanger, Wildhill

M EDITERRANEAN GULL X X X Tyttenhanger, Rye M eads, KGV REED BUNTING X X X X

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL X X Tyttenhanger, Amwell

8

Situated on the north-west corner of Africa, Morocco divides into three natural regions: the fertile northern coastal plain

along the Mediterranean, backed by mountains rising to 2500m; the rich plateaus and lowlands lying between the rugged

Atlas mountains (average elevation 3350m); and the southern and eastern semi-arid areas that merge into the Sahara Desert.

The tour leader for our group of ten, was Josele Saiz, founder of Boletas Birdwatching Centre in Spain. He has guided this,

his favourite trip, around 40 times. His enthusiasm for the country’s birds and his experience meant from our start in

Marrakech we anticipated exploring exciting new places; from bustling city to snow topped mountains, from lush valleys to

rocky gorges, from stony desert and huge sand dunes to sparkling seas.

Each region would provide birds attracted to that particular habitat and the timing of the tour, 16-27 April, meant we could

also see hirondines, warblers, passerines and raptors on migration.

There would be long drives to take us into the high mountains, with stops to enjoy wildlife and scenery, and early starts to

give us the best chance of seeing rare desert or mountain species.

In the Ourika valley, south of Marrakesh we followed the river valley as the waters become increasingly volatile, between

red sandstone cliffs. Berber villages, with flat roofed houses, perched precariously on the hillsides, displaying red

earthenware pots and tagines, beneath blue skies with high cloud.

April here is stunning, with sparkling rivers full of snow melt, fringed by apple, pear and almond orchards, covered in

delicate pink and white blossom

The majestic Atlas Mountains formed a snowy backdrop to our sightings of pallid swift, common bulbul, kestrel and house

bunting. The valleys of olive and cacti had homes where flimsy wooden

bridges crossed the river to link them to the road. Wild iris, wisteria and

cherry blossom alternated with patches of bright green alfalfa, barley,

beans and potatoes. Colourful butterflies flitted hither and thither.

Local tourists sat at restaurant tables or on sofas, set alongside the rivers,

dipping their feet into the cold mountain waters.

Birding along the road we heard the fluid notes of a nightingale, the call

of a Levaillant’s green woodpecker, a resident breeder in Morocco.

Isabelline (olivaceous) warblers and blackcaps flitted in the fresh

greenery. Red rumped swallows swooped around an ochre coloured

farm building. A male and female serin, with their tinkling sounds,

showed well.

Throughout the trip we lunched at local restaurants, often eating chicken or beef tagine, mopping up the juices with local

bread. Good places to taste local food and learn more about Moroccans and their way of life.

We journeyed into the High Atlas Mountains around lightly protected hairpin bends, until we arrived at Oukaimeden, a ski

resort, 2,600 metres above sea level. The mountain scenery was stunning, with patches of snow and melt water streams.

We walked in the cool mountain air, seeing flocks of red and yellow-billed chough. Josele shows us the more elusive

crimson winged finch, Seebohm’s wheatear and black redstart.

Our walk in alpine pastures was where wild narcissus carpeted the wetter areas and the minute sage skipper butterfly

fluttered over the paths. We spotted a handsome rock bunting, blue rock thrush, swiftly followed by Barbary partridge and

Levaillant’s woodpecker. Wooden huts, used between March and August by herdsmen grazing their flocks, were a feature

of the landscape.

A long drive east to Boumalne Dades, took us over the High Atlas mountains, some peaks still clad in snow. We reached

the Tizi 'n' Tichka pass with its beautiful and unusual rock formations after more twists and turns on the mountain road,

cliff one side and sheer drop the other, before going down into the stony desert. Stops on the way provided Barbary

falcons, booted eagles, Sardinian warbler, firecrest, serin, kestrel, short-toed tree creeper, white crowned black wheatear and

trumpeter finch.

Our hotel that night was called the Xaluca Dades. As we made our way into the cool dark of its traditional Moroccan décor

we were welcomed by singers and drummers, in local costume, lined up at the entrance.

Group Holiday Spring 2016,

Migration in Morocco by several group members, collated

by Yvana Reeves

In the Ourika Valley

9

Early next morning we were on sandy, tussocky, flat land, strewn with ubiquitous rubbish, but nevertheless a famous

birding spot, the Tagdilt Track. We quickly realized it was much colder than anticipated, bright but freezing. We were all

caught out with no gloves and fewer layers than needed on a flat, wind-blown plain.

Josele announced a list of the target birds, and we soon forgot the icy air, as the birding was excellent. A thick-billed lark

was a delightful sight as it repeatedly jumped up to get seed on a small green

desert bush. We picked up black wheatear, desert lark and watched Temminck’s

lark on the pathway.

Later we were in a stony, sandy bowl of land, with a few short trees, in front of

fifty feet high cliff. This offered some protection from the wind and as we thawed

out we had good views of black wheatear.

We began to see birds everywhere in several small bushes with fresh, bright

green leaves; an unexpected pied flycatcher, bright yellow-fronted willow

warblers, their colours welcome after the pale, sand-coloured desert birds. Then

a woodchat shrike showed and flew, landing to chase a willow warbler who has

the sense to evade him. We followed the trail of two little birds and had a group

of five pretty trumpeter finches with their orange bills.

This was migration at its best!

There were many other special memories. Driving slowly on a farm in the desert and finding cream coloured coursers,

dipping out on Tristram warbler but seeing fascinating land formations in a long gorge, where limestone formed into

strata with caves, jagged terra cotta peaks reaching up, folds of rock looking like brain coral but on a massive,

mountainous scale. Scattered through the gorge were large and small hotels, built in traditional style and hung out over

the gorge where the views were at their most impressive; searching for Maghreb

wheatear, watched by a local Berber, in a place like a barren red moon-scape, stopping to

see desert and crested lark, while a short-toed eagle circled in the distance.

Another stop and we saw a pair of fulvous babblers fly up, and on a wire perched blue-

cheeked bee-eaters.

We spot our first hoopoe lark as well as impressive sand dunes, golden in the afternoon

light.

Other highlights. Walking in a small grove, among migrating birds, we counted ten

species of warbler, two flycatchers, with fulvous babblers and a rufous tailed scrub robin,

adding their colour.

Migrating birds were literally everywhere. We visited oases near to the Algerian border, all the while the temperature

slowly rising. We searched for the charming, tiny and busy scrub warbler. Their Latin name includes ‘inquieta’, meaning

restless. We finally found a family group of five that bounced our way as Mohammed, our driver, herded them toward us.

We stay at Ouazazarte, which grew prosperous through the film industry, whose stars and crews consume services in the

town and on location. We passed studios, with film sets still in place and moved into a barren, red rock landscape so

favoured by the filmmakers. Here we spotted flycatcher, Bonelli’s warbler, countless larks and Barbary ground squirrel.

We visited the Tahdout reservoir and in the clear morning light picked out the background of stony spits jutting out from

the azure water of the lake, edged with green tamarisk, with snow on the distant Atlas. An hour produced good views of

marbled teal, flamingo, blue heron, white wagtail and gull-billed tern.

The expansive mountain scenery finally ended at Taliwin, where the Atlas and Anti-Atlas meet in the valley of the River

Sous, one of Morocco’s most productive areas. The hillsides of argon trees produce the best oil and perfume. The goats

even climb the argon tress for their yellow berries, a most unusual sight.

Outside Agadir we drove to Sous Massa National Park after one of the rarest birds of the trip, the endangered bald ibis.

We had no sightings until we were driving alongside scrub when we suddenly see movement – YES! Around ten bald

ibises, looking like ageing rockers who’d lost all their hair except on the very back, processed across the ground. They

poked their long down curved bills into the ground like mad professors searching for land mines. These were ten of only

500 left in Morocco, which is about half of the world population. It was hard to believe that we were looking at one of the

rarest birds in the world! Continued overleaf

Part of the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

10

A walk beside the Sous River produced a robin and black crowned tchagra with his striped head chestnut wings and song

like a wolf whistle. Soon there was a glorious fly over by glossy ibis in formation like geese. We had another chance to see

Moussier’s redstart, stonechat with baby, Sardinian warbler and zitting cisticola, as well as greenfinch, serin, house martin

and chaffinch.

We go back to the Sous estuary on the final day and are soon calling off the

names of many waterbirds: two large flocks of spoonbill and flamingo, a

Kentish plover, common sandpiper, turnstone, sanderling, grey plover,

curlew, black-tailed godwit and a curlew sandpiper. Josele spots a rarer

tern among the Sandwich, gull-billed, black and little terns. There is one

lesser-crested tern preening itself with its orange bill and black crest.

Our final long drive through the red hills back to Marrakesh airport

provided time to reflect and talk about a great two weeks birding.

We’d seen 171 different species, the spring migration and many of the

Moroccan specialities. We’d dipped into the culture of the country, had a

night time visit to Jemaa el Fna square in Marrakesh, eaten from the stone

tagines, stayed in Kasbah hotels, enjoyed the snow topped mountains, wadis and oases, experienced driving across the

stony desert, and seen the moon and sun on Erg Chebbi, the most mysterious of sand dunes.

Phenology, Some Local Observations from Potters Bar

by John Rowley

For 20 or more years I have been taking part in “Nature’s Calendar” www.naturescalendar.org.uk run by the Woodland

Trust. This has involved me in observing and noting the dates when certain natural events start happening in my local area

(Potters Bar). eg when blue tits start collecting nesting material. Such study is known as Phenology.

This “citizen science” has many recorders over the country. Some people only record one thing, for example bluebells in

their local wood, but put together these hundreds of recordings give a valuable insight into trends occurring over the years.

Some records go back to the eighteenth century and, as an example, have shown that over the last 25 years, flowers

bloomed between 2.2-12.7 days earlier than any other 25 year period since 1760.

Being a scientist I thought I would attempt to see if my own limited observational data recorded in Potters Bar between

2000 and 2015 would show any trends. I have been recording several “Spring” events: swallows appearing, oak buds

bursting, bluebells and lesser celandine in flower, and blue tits nesting.

Using a computerised spreadsheet, I plotted the date (or rather the number of days after 1 January of the year in question)

of each type of observation, against the average temperature for Jan- March of that year. The graph is below. For the

temperature values, I used records for Heathrow airport

from the internet.

Being only one set of data the results have a quite wide

scatter, but the trend lines do show that the warmer the

year, the earlier the events have occurred. What is

interesting is that even this small amount of data shows

essentially the same effect as the large international

studies. Note that swallow (and other migrants) do not

know when they set off from Africa, that it has been a cold

spring in Britain, hence their arrival is largely

independent of the temperatures here; however, they

would arrive to find a poorer supply of insects as a result

of late flowering. Interesting too is that the lesser

celandine has a different response to the bluebell. In fact

last winter was so mild that I recorded my first lesser

celandine at the end of December!

The Woodland Trust always needs more recorders so if

you or friends in other parts of the country would like to start recording, please go to the Nature’s Calendar website.

Our Group in Morocco April 2016

11

WATERPROOF JACKETS & TROUSERS

FLEECE JACKETS & WALKING TROUSERS

WALKING BOOTS & SHOES

WELLINGTONS & GAITERS

SOCKS GLOVES & HATS

THERMAL UNDERWEAR

COVER THE OUTDOOR STORE

52-54 HIGH STREET, BARNET, EN5 5SJ Telephone: 020 8440 5775

At COVER you will find a large range of clothing and

equipment suitable for all your outdoor requirements

ALWAYS GREAT VALUE & DISCOUNT PRICES

We take a pride in giving our customers a warm welcome with helpful advice if required.

We are open Monday to Saturday 9.30 am to 5.30 pm

Advertisement

12

DATA PROTECTION ACT

This newsletter is delivered to all RSPB members living in our catchment area (covered mainly by postcodes EN5 and EN6),

the list being provided to us and updated by RSPB Head Office. If any recipients would prefer to be removed from our

local mailing list please inform the editor.

OUR LOCAL GROUP WEBSITE

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/pottersbarandbarnet or just search for

Potters Bar and Barnet RSPB.

You will find lots of information about the Group’s activities in-

cluding our outings and meetings programme. This newsletter can

also be viewed there with the added bonus that all the photographs

are in colour.

Our website can also be accessed from the main RSPB site at

rspb.org.uk.

NEWSLETTER COPY DATE

Many thanks to all our contributors for their much

valued input to this newsletter. I will be delighted to

receive your articles, reports, notices, news items,

photographs, correspondence and

advertisements at any time.

[email protected]

Closing date for copy for our next edition will be

Friday 14 April 2017

Potters Bar & Barnet RSPB Local Group 100 CLUB

I wish to join the 100 Club and enclose my cheque for £….....…….. for ….....…. number(s)

made payable to Potters Bar & Barnet RSPB 100 Club.

Name__________________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Phone_______________________________ Email_______________________________

Please return to: Chris and Ron Youthed, 29 Allandale Crescent, Potters Bar, EN6 2JZ

Phone: 01707 656796 email: [email protected]

100 Club

The 100 Club is a simple but effective means of raising funds for the RSPB.

For those of you who don’t know, the 100 Club works by members subscribing to one or more of 100 numbers and having

the chance to win a prize in the monthly draw.

A subscription costs £12 per number per year. The draw usually takes place at the Friday evening meeting with a first

prize of £25 and a second prize of £10. Twice a year, in June and December, there is a £50 prize.

The remaining funds, after minimal expenses, are donated to the RSPB. In 2015/16 we donated a gratifying £800.

At time of writing there are just 14 numbers left before all 100 numbers are spoken for. Can you help reach this target?

There is an application form below, but we are usually at the Friday evening meetings so you can speak to us there.

Many thanks good-luck to those who already support the 100 Club.

Chris & Ron Youthed