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

SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER

In this issue

Spare plants for the

May meeting

Garden Tasks for

Spring

Message from Editor

Pin Badge Sales

Hard weather birds

Leader’s notes

Turtle Dove Project

Isle of Arran trip and

Island Years

Swifts

Other Events and

Cakes galore!

Local walk and trip

reports

Spring and Summer

programme

Arran booking form

BRING YOUR SPARE PLANTS TO THE MAY EVENING MEETING If you have any spare bedding plants or other plants left over from your spring gardening, please bring them along to the May evening meeting and donate them. We will have a table where members can leave them and make a donation for any plants there they would like to take away. For this to work, please bring any plants in plastic bags or cardboard boxes and, if you think you may wish to take anything, please bring something to carry them home in. And for donations please bring plenty of coins, not notes please! GARDEN TASKS FOR SPRING A reminder that birds still like to be fed and watered during the spring and summer, it keeps the adults fit at this exhausting time of year raising the young. Although chicks and young birds are often fed on insect food, a supply of

high energy seed for the adults never goes amiss! Please see Val and Larry at indoor meetings to replenish your supply. 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. Nearly a third of our members now receive it in this way. Please contact myself if interested or you have any questions about what is involved. If you want to print all or certain pages, this can be done in either colour or greyscale if needed – see your printers instructions. If you wish to read or download previous newsletters please see the instructions at the bottom of page 11. Many thanks indeed to all contributors of this edition and further contributions are always welcome.

Peter Reed Editor

peter.pj.reed@talk21.com

__________________________________________________________

RSPB YORK LOCAL GROUP

__________________________________________________________

Page 2

Pin badge sales hit £1 million

The following was taken from a recent RSPB Volunteers ‘Involve’ magazine:

With the amazing and loyal support of our volunteer community fundraisers the RSPB’s pin badge donations have passed the £1 million mark. Every one of the c.12,000 boxes around the UK are emptied and replenished by volunteers. Visiting each box regularly, they have contributed around 300,000 hours and ensured that we received a very healthy £560,000 in unrestricted funds after all costs have been deducted. Our 1,800 fundraisers help us distribute the one million-plus high-quality enamel badges we produce annually. The range now includes insects, flowers and bugs, as well as birds. We have the largest catalogue of charity pin badges in the UK with new additions to the range every year. We also provide wholesale BirdLife partners to enable them to raise funds for their work across the world. Our dedicated HQ volunteers are also vital in the running of our eBay pin badge sales and thanks to their work we raised £50,000 last year in direct online pin badge sales and auctions of rare badges. If you know a shop or location that could host a pin badge box or you would like to become a pin badge fundraiser in your local area please contact us via CommunityMarketing@ rspb.org.uk and we will put you in touch with your local Community Fundraising Officer.

For the North East and Yorkshire area this is Kate Whitehead at the NE Regional Office at Denby Dale, Huddersfield, who email is kate.whitehead@rspb.org.uk or 01484 868428.

Alternatively, you can contact our York LG representative Muriel Cruchley who co-ordinates those in our local York area (contact details on programme) who can supply further information and explain what is involved and provide a leaflet on the scheme. Muriel has carried out this vital role for many years and writes that our local group has raised £2,700 in 2015-16, £3,500 in 2016-17 and £3,060 in this last financial year – an amazing £9,260 for the RSPB! A huge thanks to Muriel and all her volunteers!

Did you have an influx of unusual birds during the cold, snowy weather?

Many observers reported new and exciting birds to their gardens during the recent severe weather. Reports of an influx of fieldfares and redwings (left) from the countryside were frequent plus larger numbers of blackbirds, chaffinches, bramblings, yellowhammers, redpolls, siskins and song and mistle thrushes. Woodcock and common and jack snipe were also found more frequently in gardens and cities and a lost golden plover was rescued and habilitated from a garden in Glamorgan, South Wales.

The RSPB issued an appeal for the public to put out extra food and keep fresh water available. Old apples and other fruit were

especially welcomed by thrushes, and Sue and Robin Ball had their local three parakeets back to hog the apples from the fieldfares and other birds (right). Many of these birds affected by the weather eventually found their way back to normal habitats when the weather improved, though some were taken in by animal charities for eventual release.

If you have any interesting photos, please send them in to me and a selection can be placed in the next newsletter or on the website.

Peter Reed

Sue Ball

Mike Walton

Page 3

From the RSPB York Group Leader

The clocks have now changed and we are in British

Summer Time, however the weather does not seem to

know!

On our group trip on Saturday we saw avocets at North

Cave Wetlands and the black headed gulls were starting

to nest, so spring is happening and there are reports of sand martins and wheatears from other

parts of our county.

March marks the end of the financial year for our group and as we look back on our efforts over the

past year we have had a very good year. The attendance at indoor meetings has been excellent

and our coach outings have also been a success.

One area that has been a little disappointing is fund raising. We used to attend several events in

and around York in past years and raise much needed funds for the society. However these events

have either stopped or the charge for us to have a stall is such that we are unable to make a profit.

So rather than look for large events to attend I am wondering if any of you may know of smaller

events that we could attend where there is no charge for a stall or just a modest fee?

Perhaps you might consider having a coffee morning, or if you have a large enough garden, some

kind of outdoor event? It does not have to be a large event, if you only manage to raise £20 for the

RSPB it all helps. With a group membership of over 300 if we all could each raise £10 we would be

able to send £3,000 to the RSPB. Please let me know if you have any ideas and would like any help

with organising an event.

In this newsletter on page 5 are details of our 2019 group trip to the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Due to

Brexit and the falling value of the pound, hotels are receiving more bookings so we are having to

plan well in advance. Our trip is timed to allow us to see a few of the winter visitors such as geese,

whilst the resident raptors such as hen harrier and golden eagle should be nesting and the first

wheatears might have arrived.

Have a good summers birding, thank you for your continued support.

Barry

Trip reports continued from page 9

18 March 2018 Studley Royal This was cancelled due to illness and adverse weather due to ‘The Beast from the East 2’.

24 March 2018 Early Spring along the Humber (Far Ings Nature Reserve) The coach left York at 8am with 39 members for our journey to Far Ings, a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve on the south bank of the Humber within sight of the Humber Bridge. We walked around the reed bed first and added robins and wren to our day list and then set off and walked along the side of the Humber. Several male reed buntings were singing from the bushes and members at the front of the party had good views of a pair of bullfinches. Overlooking the Humber we could see curlew, redshank, teal and mallard. Just as we left this footpath to walk into the reserve we saw a kingfisher flying low over the water. A Cetti’s warbler was singing close to the first hide and we managed to get a glimpse as it flew into the reed. Goldeneye, gadwall and greylag geese were visible from the Ness Hide, but as one birder in the hide said, there were more people in the hide than birds on the reserve! After lunch we decided to call in at North Cave Wetlands on our way back home and this reserve had much more wildlife, and one of the first birds we saw were a pair of avocets. A black-necked grebe was on the main lake and from the east hide it was possible to see a Mediterranean gull amongst the black-headed gulls. From Crosslands hide we were treated to the sight of a marsh harrier hunting over the reeds, despite lots of black-headed gulls mobbing it. Barry Bishop

Page 4

North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project

Richard Baines, Turtle Dove Project Officer for the North York Moors National Park Authority writes about this threatened bird and their project to help its recovery The beautiful Turtle Dove (right) is our smallest European dove. This tiny power house of a bird travels 11,200 km on their round trip to and from Mali in Africa to nest in the North York Moors NP and Howardian Hills. Unfortunately Turtle Doves are in big trouble; their population has declined in both the UK and Europe to such an extent there may now be fewer than 100 birds nesting in the whole of Yorkshire. Only 50 years ago it was classed as a fairly common bird. Why Are Turtle Doves in Trouble? Turtle Doves are no different from many other birds; they need food, shelter and water. However changes in land management practices means there are fewer places they can find the tiny native seeds they prefer to feed on. They like to nest in large scrubby hedges or young conifer plantations. Ponds are essential too; these provide a good supply of drinking water. Their decline may have also been worsened by hunting in southern Europe as they migrate in spring. The new North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project funded by Heritage Lottery, North York Moors National Park, Forestry Commission and Howardian Hills AONB in partnership with RSPB, Scarborough Borough Council, and North and East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre aims to help these birds. It will focus on where Turtle Doves are still nesting; this is principally around the forests of the southern fringe of the North York Moors National Park and in the Howardian Hills AONB. What are the Project Aims?

1. Provide advice, training, support and small-scale capital work. 2. Train keen farmers about Turtle Dove conservation so that they can spread the word

amongst the farming community. 3. Recruit volunteers to conduct surveys. 4. Deliver talks and guided walks for local residents, schools and community groups. 5. Create publicity and display material at key locations such as the Sutton Bank National Park

Centre and the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre. How Can You Help? If you have a farm or are in control of land, big or small and you have areas which could be managed to improve feeding and/or habitat we need to hear from you. Turtle Doves love feeding on native seed from autumn sown pollen & nectar mix, flower rich arable field margins or wild flower grasslands. Helping to increase these areas of habitat will also restore the vibrant colour to our local countryside helping many types of wildlife from pollinating insects to farmland birds. Turtle Dove Surveys 2018 Until we started our volunteer surveys in 2016 there had never been a special survey to find out how many Turtle Doves are still breeding in Yorkshire. We are continuing our surveys in 2018 focusing on Wykeham, Broxa, Langdale and Harwood Dale forests and a new area in the Howardian Hills. This exciting project will also be an opportunity to record numbers of other important species in our area such as Redstart and Tree Sparrow. We also would like to know about any sightings you have in or close to the National Park or Howardian Hills. If you see a Turtle Dove please email us at conservation@northyorkmoors.org.uk or phone the National Park office at 01439 772700.

Richard Baines http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/looking-after/our-projects-and-partnerships/natural-heritage-and-land-management/north-yorkshire-turtle-dove-project/

© Richard Bennett

Page 5

Group trip to the Isle of Arran 2019 In conjunction with Deirdre Brown Travel we have organised a group trip to the Isle of Arran from 3 - 8 April 2019. The Isle of Arran is often referred to as Scotland in miniature as there are hills on the northern part of the island and lowlands on the southern part. The highest hill is Goat Fell at 2866ft. The island has three endemic species of tree and over 200 species of bird have been recorded. The island has a healthy population of raptors: buzzard, peregrine, golden eagle, kestrel, sparrowhawk, hen harrier and short-eared owl. It is also nationally important for red-breasted mergansers. More information about the birdlife can be found by logging on to www.arranbirding.co.uk We will be staying at the Kinloch Hotel which is a beach front hotel at Blackwaterfoot on the sunset side of the island. This 3-star hotel has 37 en-suite bedrooms, an indoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, squash court, snooker room and Wi-Fi. More information about the hotel can be found by logging on to www.bw-kinlochhotel.co.uk We will be travelling to and from the island in a luxury coach that has an onboard toilet and drinks. I will be the tour guide. If you are interested in joining us can you please complete the booking form on page 12, and return it to me, either by post or at an indoor meeting.

Barry Bishop (Above photo of Lochranza Castle by Chris McLean, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=450282)

Island Years Island Farm by Frank Fraser Darling Continuing the theme - do you have an interest in remote Scottish Islands and its wildlife? While browsing in York Library last year I happened to come across the above book, and, having vaguely recognised the author’s name, had a look inside. It appeared interesting, so I took it out and became most engrossed over the next few weeks of reading it. Basically, it is about the author’s life of living on four uninhabited islands off the west coast of Scotland, studying the wildlife and establishing or building somewhere to stay for himself, his wife Bobbie and son Alastair. Most of the book is a fascinating account of the practical living aspects – organising boats and building accommodation on Eilean A’ Chleirich (Priest Island, now owned by the RSPB), The Treshnish Isles and North Rona - together with accounts of the practical difficulties of living there, the all-year-round weather conditions and the wildlife found there. Lastly, they move to live permanently on Tanera Mor, one of the Summer Islands where they established a farm to try and develop new crofting agriculture techniques and refurbished the derelict buildings to live in. All great stuff - technically this book is two books: Island Years and Island Farm, republished as one in 2011 by Little Toller Books. Have a look in the Library under the Natural History section under 508.4115 SCI or search the on-line Library catalogue – it’s well worth a read! Peter Reed Further info on Tanera Mor at http://www.summer-isles.com/ or the author at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Fraser_Darling

Page 6

A Swift Recovery?

Louise Bentley who recently gave a most fascinating talk to our local

group at an afternoon meeting, describes this vital work

In 2015, we set up ‘Bolton & Bury Swifts’ a local project to help swifts in our area, there are similar groups popping us across the UK trying to help this special bird. Swifts are iconic summer visitors who brighten our skies with their high-speed aerial antics. They are often noticeable at dusk; on a warm evening, look out for dark scythe-shaped birds, darting around rooftops forming “screaming parties.” Being one of the last migrants to arrive and the first to leave, they are heralded as a true sign of summer. Swifts are the fastest bird in level flight reaching speeds of up to 69mph. They sleep, eat, drink and even mate on the wing, they don’t build a mud cup nest like swallows and martins but nest inside crevices in the eaves of our roof tops.

Earlier this year, I was thrilled to join the RSPB as Volunteer Swift Champion; just in time to enthuse and educate people about their plight, ahead of the 2017 season. One of my tasks is to review local planning applications and make appropriate recommendations for internal bird bricks for new builds. Anyone can look online at local planning applications and make comments, why not use this to help, swifts and other building dependent birds?

For hundreds of years swifts have nested alongside us but new builds and roofing renovations block access to the eaves and they are losing their homes at an alarming rate. As a result, swifts have declined by 38% since 1994 and are now an amber listed Bird of Conservation Concern. However, the true picture can only be obtained from long-term monitoring data which isn’t available for swifts, however the RSPB suggests that if it were they, would likely qualify for red-listing in the UK. If we can help swifts and house sparrows through the building process this has got to be a win for people and nature, (if the homes are in the right place of course).

Bolton & Bury Swifts have made and installed over 50 swift boxes at 25 venues in our area, which includes boxes donated to two schools. We have also built our first swift tower! (See left). This was a collaboration with Gorse Hill nature reserve in Aughton. It can take some time to attract swifts and we recommend the use of an attraction call player, this certainly worked at our house where, to our delight swifts bred for the first time in 2017.

We would love to hear from you, so do get in touch if you wish to help save swifts! I can be contacted

on the email address below. There is lots of information on the excellent Swift Conservation website also on Action for Swifts Blog and of course the RSPB website. Most importantly please do report your sightings of swifts flying low near rooftops, which indicates they maybe nesting nearby via the RSPB website – Swift Survey or follow this link: https://swiftsurvey.org/Rspb/Home/Index

Or equally important to you can send records of Nesting Swifts to North & East Yorkshire Ecological Records Centre, they are based at St Williams College in York, they are an important player in conserving nature in your area, do look at their website for further information about what they do. www.neyedc.org.uk

Happy Swifting!

Louise Swift Champion, RSPB, Greater Manchester. louise.bentley@rspb.org.uk

James Bentley

Dennis Atherton

Page 7

Forthcoming other Local Events (in addition to the programme) Meet the Peregrines Saturday 5 May, Saturday 26 May and Saturday 25 August. 10am till 4pm. Dean's Park, York Minster. The RSPB Local Group will be on the lawns by the north west tower of the Minster to watch and show visitors and passers-by the Peregrine Falcons. (Image: Maria Sitnikova)

Dawn Chorus Walks, led by Barry Saturday 28 April 6AM Hob Moor Sunday 29 April 6AM Rowntree Park Saturday 5 May 5.30AM York Cemetery Please check the Events section of the website closer the date for the meeting points for the walks. Cakes Galore! – Garden Party Coffee Morning in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance Our long-time local group member and supporter Pat Adams (who provides those delicious cakes at our afternoon meetings!!) is having a Garden Party on Saturday 28 July and writes: Dear Members of the York RSPB,

Cakes galore!

We are having a Garden Party on Saturday 28th July and was wondering if any of you would like to

come and join us. We are starting at 10.00 and finishing at 15.00, we have a very large garden for

all to stroll around with plenty of birds.

It is in Aid of The Yorkshire Air Ambulance which in the past 3 years we have raised over £2044.25.

Sorry please don’t bring dogs with you.

Mill House is about 1 mile north of Warthill on the right-hand side, soon after you pass Breezy Knees. The full address is Mill House, Warthill, York, YO19 5XS. Grid Ref. OS 676569

From the A64 Hazelbush junction, turn towards Warthill/Stockton-on-the-Forest – taking the left road

(Common Lane) pass the Snowball Plantation - we are about 1 mile on the left.

If coming from York via Stockton-on-the-Forest, go north through the village and turn right at the T

junction onto Common Lane at Snowball Plantation, then as above.

Many thanks

Pat

Page 8

Local Walks and Day trip reports: November 2017 – March 2018

19 November Manor Farm, Kelfield Fourteen members, including one new, assembled on a gorgeous (sunny and cold but no wind) day at this farm that we last visited in 2013. We were met by Richard Bramley, the owner of the farm which has been in his family for many years. His grandfather was given a few animals to start the farm but it is now an arable farm. After an introductory talk in one of his barns we moved to a nearby field where Richard described the crops he grows and the yield properties of the seeds involved (right). Situated quite close to Cawood, parts of the farm can be flooded when the River Ouse breaches its banks. Richard also described the measures he has taken, planting trees, hedges and crops to benefit wildlife over a number of years. As we had walked the farm in 2013 on our last visit we decided to move to his other farmland near Riccall for our walk. Here we walked into a field full of wild flowers sown to provide wildlife with cover and food during the winter months. Other fields with rotational crops were also seen and yellow hammers attracted our attention for a while and then several fieldfares were located with grey heron and mute swan nearby. Buzzard and red kite were also seen overhead and two roe deer appeared before we reached our cars. After the return trip to Kelfield, Richard kindly provided tea, coffee and biscuits in the barn prior to our departure. A super day was enjoyed by all during which we recorded 24 bird species. Ken Searstone 26 November 2017 Blacktoft Thirteen members travelled to Blacktoft Sands on a cold but sunny morning. There was no sign of the green winged teal from Xerox hide but good views of a male merlin and a bittern flying over the reedbed was adequate compensation. From Marshland hide we saw a few shelduck and a marsh harrier sat on some cut reeds opposite the hide. The long walk to Ousefleet hide was rewarded with excellent views of a merlin attacking crows and magpies that were annoying it. After lunch we visited First, Townend and Singleton hides where we had good views of bearded tits, black tailed godwits, redshanks and marsh harriers as they circled over the reed bed at dusk.

Barry Bishop 20 January 2018 Wheldrake Ings Eight group members met at Bank Island Car Park at 9am on a grey and chilly January morning. We climbed up to the viewing platform and looked at the birds on the water at Bank Island and we

soon had teal, wigeon, gadwall, mallard and tufted duck, greylag goose and great backed gull on our list. We then walked along the road and then down the lane towards the ings. Sat on a low branch on the first tree on our left was a tawny owl (left). We slipped and slid along the riverside footpath to the tower hide. From here we could lots of cormorants, pintail, goldeneye, shoveler, wigeon, teal, mallard, gadwall and tufted duck. On our way to the pool hide some of the party saw a goldcrest. We did not remain the pool hide for long as there were only 5 birds to be seen from it. We

managed to negotiate the footpath to swantail hide where we joined another birder. From this hide we had good views of the birds we had seen from the tower hide plus a pair of snipe (opposite page, top). We then walked back to our cars and ate our lunch. Our next stop was at the viewing point near Thorganby Village Hall. Not many birds to be seen from here but we added mistle thrush and stonechat to our list.

Barry Bishop

Chris Brookes

Page 9

North Duffield Carrs was our final stop for the day and at last the sun started to shine. In the afternoon sunshine we had excellent views of whooper swans, the yellow and black beaks of the adults standing out in the sunshine. A marsh harrier was hunting over the reed bed and we saw three buzzards, one of whom was mobbed by carrion crows. The light was starting to fade so we made our way home with a list of 45 birds for the day, with the tawny owl being the star bird of the day. Barry Bishop

27 January 2018 Yearsley Moor Despite the poor weather forecast we were agreeably surprised to see 15 meeting on a day when all the snow and ice from the previous week had melted away. Our downhill route towards the now refurbished “Woodman’s Cottage” found treecreepers, goldcrest and various tit species to start our list. At the bottom of the hill two previously frozen lakes now hosted one male and two female goosanders along with a similar trio of mallard. After crossing the path which separates the ponds a bullfinch was heard and seen before a large flock of siskin and redpoll moved through the trees. On the return part of the walk more common woodland species were seen before, much to our surprise and delight crossbill appeared at the top of some conifers (right). This sighting dispelled our fears that this species had not returned here this year. One bird subsequently became 3 or 4 before we moved on to take in the sound of marsh tit as we returned to our starting point where two greater spotted woodpeckers flew over. Ken Searstone 18 February Appleton Roebuck Our group of 12 met close to the Roebuck Inn in this village on a fine Sunday morning. Ken gave a brief introduction to the history of the village and of nearby Bolton Percy which was also included in the walk. Historically, William the Conqueror, Thomas Fairfax and Henry Percy (Hotspur) were influential in the area at various times. We set off down Church Lane taking note of lots of garden birds - obviously well fed in this part of the village. At a junction in the road an amusing garden feature held our attention which was worthy of a photograph (below).

Shortly after this we encountered the muddiest part of the walk but as the adjacent fields held fieldfare, redwing, yellowhammer, buzzard and pied wagtail the mud didn’t bother us. Crossing over the east coast mainline for the first time we made our way to Bolton Percy taking in more winter thrushes on the way. After passing the 15th century church and the old tithe barn now converted into holiday accommodation, we crossed a stream which featured mallard and moorhen. The track led us across a field to a stile over a wire fence where we turned back towards Bolton Percy.

On our way to re-cross the east coast mainline via another bridge, we had “rapturous” views of 5 buzzards, two red kites and a kestrel in the air at the same time. Bullfinch was heard and seen by some as we crossed the bridge from where we walked through an avenue of trees back towards Appleton Roebuck. A flock of meadow pipits was the main feature of our return back to our starting point. Ken Searstone Trip reports are continued on page 3.

Barry Bishop

Mark Coates

Jennie Stopford

Page 10

Spring and Summer programme of events – April to September 2018

APRIL

Sun 15 at 10am ALL-DAY OUTING to North Cliffe Woods. Meet roadside at

OS Ref. 860374 N53.82578364 W-0.69495845. Followed by North Cave Wetlands. This is the first of a new style event for 2018. There will be a walk in the morning followed, after lunch, by a visit to a larger reserve or similar site. As well as the usual suitable clothing and footwear, bring a packed lunch and a thermos if you are staying the full day. North Cliffe Wood is a woodland YWT reserve. In spring a carpet of bluebells and other woodland flowers provide a beautiful sight, while in the woodland canopy, migrant warblers, including willow and garden, plus chiffchaff and blackcap, add their songs to the resident species, such as treecreeper, great spotted and green woodpeckers. In recent years, woodlark has colonised, adding their rich and evocative song to the chorus. North Cave Wetlands, although a former sand and gravel quarry, is now an oasis of thriving wildlife. A mixture of shallow and deep water lakes and reed beds provide outstanding habitat for passage, breeding and wintering wildfowl, waders, terns and gulls.

Tue 24 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING followed by the AGM – ‘Recollections of our

local group - a light hearted presentation about people, places and birds over the past 20 years or so’ by Anne and Chris Lloyd. Followed by the Annual General Meeting.

Wed 25 at 10am MORNING WALK to Red House Wood. Meet roadside Moor Monkton.

OS Ref. 511569 N54.005603 W-1.2218379

MAY

Tue 15 at 7pm EVENING WALK at Strensall Common. Meet Scott Moncreiff Road car park at

Strensall. OS Ref. 636598 N 54.030279 W -1.0305422. Buses No 5 or 5A from town – contact Peter Reed for info on the short walk to the meeting site. A walk being led by Peter Reed around the southern part of the Strensall MOD training area, including its heathland, ponds, grassland, scrub and the open ranges. Some of the birds we hope to see or hear include woodpeckers, cuckoo, curlew, finches, buntings and warblers.

Wed 31 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING – Paul Morisson ‘Discovering Coquet Island’.

Dr Morisson started as a volunteer warden 30 years ago and is now employed by the RSPB as Head Warden for Coquet Island and Roseate Tern Ambassador. He will be giving an illustrated talk on the work of the reserve, including, we hope, live webcam footage. Lying less than 1 mile off the coast of the town of Amble, Northumberland, Coquet Island may be small, but it is of national importance. It has the southernmost colony of Eider Duck and after years of decline numbers have started to increase. Small populations of Puffins, Black-headed Gulls, Fulmars and Kittiwakes all breed here. However, it is the Roseate Tern that makes the island so special. Up to 100 breeding pairs of ‘Rosies’ make a return trip from Ghana each year and account for more than 90% of the UK's population. Much work has been done to see their numbers thrive, with a terrace of nest boxes helping to protect them from larger gulls and the weather.

JUNE

Tues 12 at 10am ALL-DAY OUTING to Filey & Bempton. Meet car park in Filey Country Park.

OS Ref. 123816 N 54.217953 W -0.27798146

Page 11

JULY

Wed 18 at 7pm EVENING WALK at Fulford Ings. Meet St. Oswalds Road, Fulford

OS Ref. 604496 N 53.939000 W -1.0814065

AUGUST

Sun 26 at 10am MORNING WALK at Hildenley Wood, near Castle Howard. Meet roadside.

OS Ref. 741716 N 54.134912 W-0.86739308

SEPTEMBER

Wed 19 at 7.30pm EVENING INDOOR MEETING – Ian Newton ‘Panama, Birding in the Rain’.

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. Ian's visit to Panama's Canopy Lodge coincided with some of the wettest weather ever recorded there. Despite the weather he came back with some of his favourite images of the colourful birds and other wildlife he saw.

Sun 23 at 10am MORNING WALK at Londesborough. Meet roadside.

OS Ref. 869454 N 53.897498 W-0.67902080

DAY TRIPS by COACH April to October 2018

Please book these trips directly with Barry either by telephone (0774659669), email (leaderyorkrspb@outlook.com) – note new contact details - or in person at meetings. 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.

Monday 20 August 2018 Wash Cruise, by coach 8am

This has been organised by Michael Cruchley and is now fully booked. He will contact those going with further details nearer the date mjcruchley@btinternet.com

Saturday 6 October 2018 Hartlepool and RSPB Saltholme - by coach 8am

This visit to the Hartlepool area followed by RSPB Saltholme Reserve which has a fairly newly built Visitor Centre with all facilities (see our earlier article on this reserve in our Dec 2014 Newsletter or below on how to access old newsletters via our website). The Saltholme Pools Hide upgrade should also be completed by the date of our visit and the new seal viewpoint will be available at Greatham Creek. There will be a footpath between Saltholme and the new seal viewpoint at Greatham Creek for those that would like to walk up there. They will also have a chance to look over the newly realigned part of Cowpen Marsh so there will be some good birds to see everywhere. A booking form will be available nearer the time at meetings or on the website or contact Barry as above. A note on how to access old newsletters from our LG website Back copies of the Newsletters for the last 4 years are available in the News Archive - Click on News in the website header and you will see the News Archive on the right side of the page, arranged by month. Newsletters are published 3 times a year in April, September and December.

Page 12

RSPB YORK LOCAL GROUP IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEIRDRE BROWN TRAVEL

GROUP TRIP TO ISLE OF ARRAN

3 – 8 April 2019

Luxury return coach travel from York to Blackwaterfoot, Arran

5 nights at 3-star Kinloch Hotel.

5 three course dinners with choice, plus tea and coffee

5 full Scottish breakfasts

1 night’s entertainment at the hotel

5 packed lunches

Return ferry crossing to the Isle of Arran

Porterage

Barry Bishop will be the tour guide.

Price is £622 per person based upon 2 people sharing a double/twin room.

A booking deposit of £70 per person is required and the full balance is due on

2 February 2019.

Please make cheques payable to Deirdre Brown Travel.

Please note that you will need to arrange your own travel insurance as it is not included in the price.

Towergate is the preferred partner for Deirdre Brown Travel and can be contacted on 03448921478.

Please return the slip below to Barry Bishop, 18 Jennifer Grove, Holgate, York. YO24 4DZ before

1 June 2018.

RSPB York Local Group trip to Arran 3-8 April 2019.

I understand that I am responsible for arranging my own travel insurance.

Name…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………I wish to book

………………places

Email address for acknowledgement of receipt of booking form and cheque

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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

give nature a home.