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page has been replaced by Linda Tagg’s. Preparing the newsletter is not an easy task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