31st March 2010

5 Wheatear, 2 Swallow, Culrew, 8 Fieldfare – Blakehill – Robin Griffiths

John Booth funeral

There will be a funeral for John Booth at Swindon Crematorium on 16th April at 2 pm. Please do not send flowers. There will be a collection for the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust and Prospect Hospice. If people would like to make a donation and can’t attend the funeral, please send it, with John Booth’s name, to:

The Cooperative Funeral Directors, 439 Cricklade Road, Swindon. SN2 1AQ

30th March 2010

Swallow – Wingfield - Simon Young

40 Swallow, Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 9 Gadwall, 5 Teal – Coate Water – Malcolm Royal

John Booth tributes

“John was a good friend and amazing photographer. He’d want us to be happy now, not upset, although we, as friends cannot help but cry. John’s work inspired me and I’m sure it did for many others too. We spent many happy days together on birding trips and chasing after butterflies. I just wish we had a bit more time to spend doing the things he loved to do. John will always have a little space in my heart for ever more. John will be sadly missed by all that knew him.”

Daniel Webb

 

Photos taken by Daniel Webb

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I met John through my membership of WOC and North Wilts RSPB. A real good companion, both birding in a group, or on a special twitch. Very generous with his knowledge and always a Gentleman. A man I was pleased to call a friend, and one I shall miss very much.”

John Bayliss

 

29th March 2010

2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap – Mortimore Wood, Pewsham – Colin Treweke

MANDARIN – Hullavington – Stewart Dobson

3 SHORT-EARED OWL – Stofird area – Bob Blamey

Red Kite – Corsham Court – Lou Warrington

House Martin (1st Spring record), Several Swallow & Sand Martin, Goosander, 3 Blackcap, 4 Redwing – Coate Water – Geoff Bown

2 RING OUZEL - Liddington Hill – John Powell

Sad news of John Booth

Sadly, John Booth passed away this morning, 28th March. Every WOS member knows John as he was the Editor of WOS News for seven years from 2003 to 2009. It was he who introduced the superb colour bulletins and high quality paper which has allowed many excellent photos to be featured. John gave his all to the newsletter, continually expanding the interest value and raising the standard. He was also a long term member of the Society and made a huge contribution through his committee work, leading meetings, giving talks and establishing the annual WOS Photographic Competition. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership at the AGM this year.

Those who knew John personally will remember him as a kind, gentle and generous person with a lovely sense of humour. He will be very greatly missed.

If you would like to send a tribute to John for this page, please email chair@wiltshirebirds.co.uk.

28th March 2010

3 RING OUZEL - Liddington Hill – Graham Cox & Bob Philpott

8 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Marsh Tit – Webbs Wood - Robin Griffiths

26 Golden Plover – Blakehill – Robin Griffiths

Swallow – Corsham Lake – Don Smith

WILLOW TIT, Marsh Tit, Red Kite, 6 Treecreeper, 20 Nuthatch – Savernake – Steve Davies

Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe – Froxfield – Steve Davies

2 Wheatear – Etchilhampton Hill – Anthony Mitchell

2 Green Sandpiper – Kent End, CWP - Mike & Rita Burstow

Sand Martin – Dinton - John Fishwick

350 Golden Plover – Coate – Anthony Mitchell 

2 Blackcap (9 on 23rd), Chiffchaff, Brambling – in a Salisbury garden – John McCarthy

Red Kite – Liddington Hill – Trevor Clayson

Blackcap – in a Corsham garden – Alan Carpenter

 

27th March 2010

TWITE (male) - Roundway Hill SU019654 with finch flock – Bruce Maxfield

OTTER – Coate Water – Kev Sergaent

BEWICK’S SWAN - 1 mile south of Downton (unconfirmed record, no further details) - unknown observer, birding pager only

Raven, 3 Chiffchaff, 35 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing – Luckington – Stewart Dobson

7 Lesser Redpoll – Webbs Wood – Robin Griffiths

Wheatear – Westbury Quarry – John Osborne

FIRECREST, 4 COMMON CROSSBILL, Woodcock, 200+ flock of Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Goldfinch & Brambling – Savernake area – Mike Burdekin

8 Chiffchaff – Brinkworth – Ian Searle

Willow Warbler, 28 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 8 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare, 11 Reed Bunting, 8 Yellowhammer, Lesser Redpoll, Water Rail, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Teal, Grey Wagtail, Barn Owl – Nightingale Wood, South Marston – Phil & Graham Deacon

Brambling, 100 Corn Bunting, 30 Fieldfare, Chiffchaff – Stanton St Bernard – Matt Prior

2 RUDDY SHELDUCK - Chiseldon floods – Malcolm Royal

3 RING OUZEL (males) – Liddington Hill - Malcolm Royal & Graham Cox

 2 Wheatear – Liddington Castle - Nigel Pleass

Swallow – CWP68 – Nigel Pleass

OUT OF COUNTY…..2 WHOOPER SWAN - between Kempsford and Hannington Bridge (Gloucestershire) – Nigel Pleass

WESTERN YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, 2 Swallow, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 8 Goosander, Kingfisher, 21 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing, 8 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler – Coate Water – Ian Searle

26th March 2010

24 Golden Plover, 2 Snipe, Raven – Blakehill – Robin Griffiths

2 RUDDY SHELDUCK - Chiseldon floods – Steve Davies & Malcolm Royal

RING OUZEL (male) – Liddington Hill – Tony Martin

Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, 38 Teal, 3 Chiffchaff – Coate Water - Malcolm Royal

Kingfisher survey pleas for Wiltshire

From the Wiltshire Times:

British Waterways is calling on people to survey the Kennet and Avon Canal to spot kingfishers. As part of its annual wildlife survey British Waterways wants to know if kingfisher numbers have been affected by the cold winter. In the severe winter of 1962/3 between 80 and 90 per cent of the kingfisher population died.

Oda Dijksterhuis, British Waterways’ ecologist on the Kennet and Avon Canal, said: “Kingfishers can usually be spotted on most stretches of the Kennet and Avon Canal as it provides a great habitat for these colourful birds. “A couple have been spotted on the Caen Hill flight of locks by one of our team at British Waterways. It’s great news considering the terrible weather we have had with the canal completely freezing over in some sections and it will be interesting to see what other people spot this year.”

To take part in the wildlife survey download a guide from www.waterscape.com/ wildlifesurvey

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