Builders urged to allow for Swift nests

House builders and homeowners need to provide more nest sites for swifts, to help reverse the bird’s falling numbers, conservationists say.

The RSPB wants at least one in 20 new and refurbished homes to include permanent nest sites for swifts, which it says “need people” to survive.

A survey last year revealed more than three-quarters of swifts were nesting in homes.

The RSPB says the bird’s numbers have dropped by 30% in recent years.

The organisation’s studies have suggested the declining species is at risk from improvement work being undertaken on old houses.

Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10398386.stm

Labour’s eco-town plans included permanent provision for nesting swifts in 5% of new buildings.

30th June 2010

Cuckoo, 5 Reed Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 11 Yellowhammer, Little Owl – Water Eaton – Robin Griffiths

Green Sandpiper – Langford Lakes – Bob Blamey

29th June 2010

Red Kite – Braydon forest – Bob Philpott

2 Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Pipit, Stonechat – SPTA east – Malcolm Royal

2 OYSTERCATCHER, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Common Tern – CWP97 – Malcolm Royal

5 QUAIL, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 12 Corn Bunting – in the Ridgeway, Bishopstone – Phil Deacon

6 Raven – Westbury - Mike Trew

28th June 2010

Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtail – Nightingale Wood, South Marston – Graham Deacon

50 Swift – SPTA centre – Mike & Angela Trew

Red Kite – Crudwell – Jenny Ward

 

P&O wildlife watching mini-cruise

A message from Mark Coller (mqcoller@yahoo.co.uk)

On Sunday 29th August I will be going on the P&O ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao in Northern Spain for a “mini cruise”. The boat gets back in the UK on Wednesday the 1st September.
I go on this ferry for Whales, Dolphins and Sea birds. This will be my 5th trip.
WOS has done a Come and join us type trip before on this ferry, members make their way there and book themselves. It’s just a get together really !!!
The Boat is being scrapped after September this year so this is the last chance to go. I just booked a normal return foot passenger trip with food package. When you book, it comes up as a mini cruise.
You get about 4 hours on land, enough time to walk up the nearby hill for birds like Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat, Wryneck, Fan-tailed Warbler, Sardinian Warbler…
If any WOS members want to go along I will be on the top deck all day and will be able to help with identification if needed.

P&O Mini-cruise to Spain

Title: P&O Mini-cruise to Spain
Location: Portsmouth to Bilbao
Description: Your last chance to go on this nature watch cruise as the ship is being scrapped in September!
Mark Coller will be on board to help you identify sea birds, whales, olphins etc.
More details and website address on the News Page.
Mark’s email address – mqcoller@yahoo.co.uk

Start Date: 2010-08-29
End Date: 2010-09-01

27th June 2010

2+ NIGHTJAR - SPTA east – Jim Fuller

4 Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 20 Whitethroat, 6 Reed Bunting – Nightingale Wood, South Marston – Phil & Graham Deacon

3 Green Sandpiper, 27 Red-Crested Pochard, Gadwall with 5 ducklings - CWP68b – Nigel Pleass

2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Tern – CWP97 – Nigel Pleass

Little Ringed Plover – CWP301 – Nigel Pleass

Turtle Dove – Eysey – Nigel Pleass

26th June 2010

Green Sandpiper, 3 Cettis Warbler, Kingfisher (carrying food) – Coate Water - Malcolm Royal

15+ Nightingale (inc. juveniles), Grasshopper Warbler, 13 Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 60 Whitethroat, 30 Blackcap, 20 Willow Warbler, 30 Dark-Green Fritillary - SPTA centre - Phil & Graham Deacon

PEREGRINE, 2 Hobby – Rondway Hill, Devizes – Anthony Mitchell

25th June 2010

Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle - Coate Water – Tony Martin

24th June 2010

Little Owl – Birdbush – Christpoher Nicholson

QUAIL, 5 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail, Barn Owl – SPTA east – Steve Davies & Malcolm Royal

Red Kite – Latton – Sally & Bob Philpott

Green Sandpiper – Swindon STW – Matt Prior

PEREGRINE – Shrewton – Mike Trew

Kingfisher – Trowbridge STW – Rob Turner

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