Do you know your birds? Try this Charity Quiz

Bob Scott, the ornithologist, tour leader and pioneering RSPB reserve warden, who became head of RSPB Reserves, died last year at the age of 70. To celebrate his life a nature-based quiz has been launched today. It aims to raise £25,000 for the conservation of trans-Saharan migrant birds in West Africa and is available for download now.

Click this link for details:

http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/bob_scott_quiz.html

25th March 2010

Blackcap – in a Chippenham garden – Lynne Hallam

Swallow – Hilperton, Trowbridhe – Mike Hamzij

Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 10 Lapwing, Little Egret, 2 Sand Martin – Kent End, CWP – John Powell

3 Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 10 Goldeneye, Redshank, 2 Little Egret – CWP74 – John Powell

2 Wheatear – Woodford Valley – D & J Peart

24th March 2010

10 Wheatear – Colerne Camp – Andrew Dawson

4 Little Egret – Great Wishford – Mike Trew

3 Chiffchaff, 24 Snipe – Whaddon, Trowbridge – Mike Hamzij

20 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Marsh Tit, Water Rail – Chippenham – Mark Coller

Swallow – Box - George & Jan Hunt

Willow Warbler – CWP74 – Catrina Young

Little Ringed Plover – Kent End, CWP – Catrina Young

5 Sand Martin, 10 Chiffchaff – Coate Water – Catrina Young

Needs Ore Point WOS field trip – 7th March 2010

Report of WOS field trip by Steve Davies

After 13 or so hours and around 180 miles, Malcolm, Pete Adams and myself recorded 73 species. The day went something like this…

For full report go to -

http://swindon-birds.co.uk/wostrip.html

Blackbird is the most common visitor to school grounds

A UK-wide survey of wildlife in schools has revealed that the blackbird is the most common visitor to school grounds.

85% of schools taking part in the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch reported seeing blackbirds, with an average of 4.3 being seen at each school. Over 75,000 school children and teachers took part in the wildlife survey, involving 2,375 classes from nearly 2,000 schools. A total of 83,792 birds were counted between 18 January to 1 February. In second place was the starling with 3.9 birds per school, followed by the woodpigeon with an average of 3.1.

Report from RSPB, 22/03/10

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-247363

23rd March 2010

2 WILLOW TIT, 6 Marsh Tit, 4 Siskin, 15 Goldfinch, 2 Raven – Ogbourne St George – Phil & Graham Deacon

Wheatear – Blakehill – John Durell

Red Kite – Great Bedwyn – Andrew Dawson

Little Ringed Plover (1st Spring record), 2 OYSTERCATCHER, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Redshank - Kent End - Ken Cypher

MEDITERRANEAN GULL, 5 Sand Martin, 4 Shelduck, 2 Redshank, 24 Shoveler, 6 Goldeneye – CWP74 – Ken Cypher

Black-Tailed Godwit, 7 Golden Plover – CWP74 - Mike Burdekin

22nd March 2010

WILLOW TIT, 3 Marsh Tit, Red Kite, 3 Siskin, 20 Goldfinch – Ogbourne St George - Graham Deacon

5 Sand Martin, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Shelduck, Goosander, Chifchaff, Lapwing – Coate Water - Malcolm Royal

Raven – Devizes – Anthony Mitchell

Black-Tailed Godwit – CWP74 – Ali Swainston

Fears harsh winter harmed UK wildlife

Kingfishers may have been seriously affected by the cold weather

The harsh winter may have had a devastating impact on Britain’s wildlife, it has been warned. British Waterways, which looks after 2,200 miles of the nation’s waterways made the comments as it launched its annual wildlife survey. The organisation is concerned frozen canals and lakes will have cut off the food supply to birds such as the heron and especially the kingfisher. It is asking the public to spot birds, animals and insects for its survey.

From BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8575537.stm

New Forest to benefit from landmark conservation agreement

Report dated: 17 March 2010

Natural England announces record-breaking £16 million conservation programme.

Rare species and habitats in the New Forest – one of England’s most precious landscapes – are to benefit from a landmark conservation agreement, launched today by Natural England. The new agreement will provide £16 million over the next 10 years and will help safeguard the traditional grazing methods that for centuries have shaped the New Forest’s unique wildlife.

Under the historic practice of “commoning”, ponies and cattle have been allowed to graze freely over extensive areas of the Forest, preserving the richness of its heathland and wood pasture habitats. The agreement announced today will provide a major funding boost for these grazing activities and will also support habitat restoration projects and the preservation of many archaeological features in this historic landscape.

For full report go to

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2010/170310.aspx

21st March 2010

PEREGRINE – Roundway Hill – Anthony Mitchell

3 Chiffchaff, 16 Reed Bunting, Lesser Redpoll, 2 Gadwall, Water Rail, Barn Owl, 20 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, Small Tortoiseshell - Nightingale Wood, South Marston – Phil & Graham Deacon

Blackcap – in a Swindon garden – Sue Deacon

2 Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Water Rail, 2 Little Egret – Matt Prior

2 Chiffchaff, 4 Lesser Redpoll, Marsh Tit, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell – Webbs Wood – Robin Griffiths

Sand Martin, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Shelduck, 325 Black Headed Gull – Cricklade – Robin Griffiths

3 Raven – Castle Combe – Stewart Dobson

SHORT-EARED OWL - Barbury Castle – Paul Crowley

 90 Wigeon – CWP82 - John Grearson

Brambling, 6 (six) Blackcap – in a Salisbury garden – John McCarthy

MERLIN (female), 3 Raven, 8 Hare - Fyfield Down - Trevor & Sue Clayson

30 Redwing – Clatford Hall – Trevor & Sue Clayson

40 Snipe, 20 Lapwing, Shoveler, Teal, 7 Goosander, roosting Tawny Owl, 3 Pipistrelle Bat – Coate Water – Trevor & Sue Clayson

Swallow (1st Spring record), Chiffchaff – Chute Causeway - Paul Castle

Wheatear, Stonechat, Red Kite – SPTA centre – Paul Castle

Blackcap, Brimstone, Comma - in a Corsham garden - Alan Carpenter

PEREGRINE, 2 OYSTERCATCHER, 2 Willow Warbler (1st Spring record), 20 Sand Martin, 2 Redshank, 3 Raven, 6 Chiffchaff – CWP74 – Chris Walker

2 WILLOW TIT, Woodcock – Ogbourne St George - Malcolm Royal

Chiffchaff – Stitchcombe – Malcolm Royal

Brimstone – in a Chippenham garden - Lynne Hallam

Wheatear, 4 Raven, Red Kite, 10 Corn Bunting – Milk Hill – Paul Tubb

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