HOC NEWSquarterly bulletin for herefordshire birdwatchers

readers pictures and stories - the benefits of social networking page 4

a fantastic offer by British Birds page 15

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Robins - Snippet No.9.

The moult page 10

August 2015

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Editorial!by Nicky Davies""it has been a busy season for our birds in recent months and I hope that you have been able to get out and about and enjoy the bountiful activity that our avian friends have been up to.!"there is a slightly different approach to this edition of HOC news. In addition to the regular trip reports, sighting highlights, and brief on forthcoming field meetings I have added in some pictures and stories from people across the County who have been observing and photographing birds. The pictures will show that you don't need expensive and fancy equipment to capture special moments. You don't even need to take photos of “mega’s” to catch the eye - just a little bit of patience and an interest in whats happening in your back garden or local patch. The stories that complement the pictures give the bigger picture. One story in particular demonstrates the interest shown in a blackbird nest by a family and dad explains the joy that watching the nestlings progress gives the children.""The robins are here again - this time Guy has focussed upon the moult and his methods utilised when recording events during the robins change of plumage.""Most of you will have received the 2013 annual report by now. If you haven’t, please contact Jim Wilkinson (Treasurer) directly and he will ensure that your copy is sent asap. If you are reading this online and are not a HOC member, the report is available for non-members at a price of £5 incl p&p. It is beautifully designed, full of records as well as great images. ""There is a fabulous offer by the well regarded “British Birds” journal on page 15 that gives HOC readers the opportunity to purchase a six issue trial subscription for only £13. In addition, they are offering a free 3-month trial of “rare bird alert”. This is an offer not to be missed and if you don't already subscribe, you will be sorry if you miss out on it as it really is a superb opportunity.!"Thank you to everyone who contributes to our Facebook page. Lets try and make it a forum for alerting people to sightings, events, birding sites and to open up discussions on all subjects relating to our feathered friends. We currently have 93 likes. please encourage your friends and families to like us and see if we can reach 100 very soon. See page 4 for some of the contributions sent in by our fans.""Please continue to send in your records to the recorders (details in the ‘contacts’ section) and keep checking the website for more news, sightings and photographs."Remember that the closing date for submissions for the next edition of HOC news is 14th October. If you have any queries about submitting information, please contact me on (07855 126642) or email at nickydavies71@hotmail.com""Happy birding""Nicky""

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"Editorial! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2!"Feedback from Facebook - readers pictures! ! ! 4!"HOC Autumn Trip News 2015! ! ! ! ! ! 5!"HOC Indoor meetings! ! ! ! ! ! ! 6! !HOC sighting highlights ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 7!"Ringing Recovery! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 8!"HOC field meetings! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 9!"Robins. Snippet no.9! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 10!"HOC Field Meetings Reports ! ! ! ! ! ! 11!"British Birds subscription offer! ! ! ! ! ! 15!"Advertising/Submissions/Contacts! ! ! ! ! 16!

Gallery!Facebook is a funny old thing - as the old phrase goes “words spread like wildfire”. I wanted to spread the word about birds and to receive some pictures from budding (and already budded) birders through the powers of our HOC Facebook page. I decided to ask our cyber-likers for some pictures and news of what’s happening in peoples local areas and stories behind the pictures. Feedback was extremely positive and some lovely stories accompanied the pictures……""Steve Tuck wrote “My picture is a Blackbird nest, common and hardly traditional birding material I know, but it's meant everything to my two little girls aged 7 and 4, we currently have the garden in lock down as they raise their chicks and it has excited the girls so very much.!A life of birds and a life of appreciation hopefully awaits? I doubt you will use it but hopefully you will appreciate the spirit in which it is sent?!The nest is just six feet from the Dining Room window and we can see directly into the nest whilst having supper! My girls are Charlotte and Emily, and would be delighted to see this in print. The chicks are doing well and the joy and excitement of watching the parents feed them is better than any television programme or computer game. I encourage the girls to list the birds we see in our modest garden, and whilst not a 'expert' myself, I am passing on my small amount of knowledge and who knows one day they might alert me to that rarity not far away.”!""

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Carole Protherough from Clehonger sent these in…"”Cuckoo stunned from hitting window, rescued today at Clehonger. Recovered from headache and flew away!!"""""

""""""""""""""Rachel Davies wrote ”These little cuties were found in my Gran's garden last year in a bush”. More of Rachel's delightful photos can be seen on her flicker page at "https://www.flickr.com/photos/racheldavies/sets/"

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Great crested grebe taken by Trevor Hulme from the hide at Bodenham lake.”The swan was just feeding but got too close to the nest as far as the grebes were concerned. The grebe on the water lunged at the swan which counter attacked rather out gunning the grebe; or so it seemed, but the grebe promptly dived and clearly attacked the confused swan from beneath successfully driving it away!”

HOC INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME AUTUMN 2015 TO SPRING 2016!"

Every 2nd Thursday in the month. Held at the Holmer Parish Centre (SO505:423) Holmer, Hereford. On the A49, Leominster Road, just north of ‘The Starting Gate Inn’ roundabout

and on left by Holmer Parish Church; car park and other facilities."All meetings are on Thursdays at 7.30pm."

A fee of £2 per member, £3 per non-member, includes refreshments.""2015!"

September 10th" Matt Wilmott"" " " “Farmland birds”"October 8th" " Robert Taylor " " " “Birds behaving badly”"November 12th " Jim Almond " " " " “A Shropshire birders year”"December 10th " Bob Swann" " " " “Red-breasted geese” ""

2016!"

January 14th"" David Boddington & Dave Coker. “Pied flycatchers in Herefordshire” February 11th " Stephanie Tyler " " " “Dippers”""

HOC SIGHTING HIGHLIGHTS !April - June 2015 Compiled by Mick Colquhoun (County Recorder)""During the three months up until 30th June 2015, the following notable birds have been recorded in the county:"

WGP = Wellington gravel pits!

BGP = Brockhall gravel pits! " " " "

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Date Bird Site Observer

05.04.15 Scaup Kenchester pools J Tilby

05.04.15 Red Grouse Darrens S Coney

11.04.15 Ring ouzel Hergest Ridge P and T Downes

11.04.15 Whimbrel BGP P and T Downes

11.04.15 White wagtail BGP P Downes

14.04.15 Hoopoe Much Dewchurch J Waugh

29.04.15 Ruff WGP E Quinto-Ashman

29.04.15 Whimbrel WGP E Quinto-Ashman

06.05.15 Whimbrel WGP E Quinto-Ashman

09.05.15 Brent Goose BGP J Tilby

09.05.15 Turnstone BGP P Downes

09.05.15 Hoopoe Pembridge M Evans

10.05.15 Whimbrel BGP S Coney, J Tilby

13.05.15 Temminck’s Stint BGP A Wilson

24.05.15 Spotted Sandpiper WGP S Coney, P Downes

09.05.15 Sanderling WGP P Downes

18.05.15 Sanderling BGP J Tilby

24.05.15 Sanderling Ballingham Wye J Davies

29-31.05.15 Sanderling WGP P and T Downes J Tilby "N Pegler

05.06.15 Sanderling WGP N Pegler

18.06.15 Honey Buzzard North Herefordshire P and C Downes

09.05.15 Brent goose BGP P and T Downes

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Ringing Recovery: Pied wagtail!T Ringing Scheme: London Ring Number: D512673 Species of bird: Pied/White Wagtail Motacilla alba. "This bird was ringed by Bardsey BO as age at least 1 year, sex unknown on 25-Aug-2014 20:30:00 at Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, UK "OS Map reference SH1121 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 52deg 45min N 4deg 48min W accuracy 0. "It was found on 05-Jun-2015 time unknown at The Weir, Herefordshire, UK "OS Map reference SO4341 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 52deg 4min N 2deg 50min W accuracy 0. "Finding condition: Dead: Not fresh "Finding circumstances: Entered Building "Extra Information: Stables "It was found 284 days after it was ringed, 154 km from the ringing site, direction ESE. ""Steve Coney

Yellow wagtail - a vivid relative of the pied wagtail. Picture taken by John Tilby

HOC Field Meetings 2015 September - December !!September 12th Saturday Chew Valley Lake, Somerset Meet at Woodford Lodge car park at 9.30am. (ST 565:607) (BS40 8XH) There are refreshments, toilets and an opportunity to purchase permits at £3.50 per adult and juniors £2.00 for visiting the hides around the lake. We will spend the day visiting prominent locations around the lake and using the six hides if possible to look for autumn migrants, wildfowl and waders. Travelling time from Hereford is approximately two hours. Will participants please contact the leader beforehand to assess weather conditions and travelling arrangements. Fairly easy walking with slight to moderate gradients. Lunch in cars. No dogs please. !Leader: Nick Smith! ! (tel: 07831 730676)!!September 23rd Wednesday Goldcliff and Newport Wetlands MMeet and park cars at 9.30am at grid reference ST370:829.  Directions from Monmouth: take the A40 then the A449 towards Newport. A the junction with the M4 cross onto the A48 and near Newport on the dual carriageway, turn left at the fourth roundabout (just past Tesco), then turn right and keep straight on towards Goldcliff ignoring signs for RSPB Newport Wetlands.  Park on the grass verge 100 metres past the Farmers Arms Pub. Afterwards a visit to RSPB Newport Wetlands.  Lunch in cars, easy walking. No dogs please. In adverse weather conditions please contact the leader prior to setting out. !Leader: John Pullen! (tel: 01600 750266)! !October 12th Autumn Trip to New Forest (four nights) !!October 22nd Thursday! Rotherwas and Lower Bullingham area !Meet at Goodwin Property farm site (by kind permission of Mr T Goodwin) just off Watery Lane at 10.00am, grid reference SO 524:373 where vehicles can be parked. The location is just off the B4399 Rotherwas spur road near the roundabout with Holme Lacy road. If approaching from Holme Lacy road end at approximately 1\2 mile turn right onto Watery Lane then take the first left which will bring you onto the site. The area of farm we will visit consists of fruit orchards and arable land where we will be looking for autumn migrants and early winter visitors. If there is sufficient time we will visit other sites in the locality. Some moderate gradients, lunch in cars. No dogs please. Leader: Gerald Parker! (tel: 01432 760023) !!November 10th Tuesday! River Wye, Holme Lacy !Meet at Holme Lacy Church (SO 567:347) at 9.30am to look for wintering birds along the river Wye. Easy walking with slight gradients, possibly muddy in places. Distance involved could be 2-4 miles depending on the route / weather conditions. If you are participating please contact the leader beforehand if weather conditions are inclement. Carry lunch. No dogs please. Leader: Tony Eveleigh! (tel: 01989 750297) !!December 9th Wednesday! Haugh Wood and Hampton Bishop Area !Meet at Forestry car park (SO 590:365) at 9.00am for a walk around Haugh Wood and possibly Broadmoor Common. Lunch in cars, then drive to Hampton Bishop to visit Lower Lugg Meadows which is part of a HWT Nature Reserve. Moderate gradients. No dogs please. Leader: Gerald Parker! (tel: 01432 760023)

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Snippet no. 9. ROBINS – The Moult by Guy Woodford!

Adult robins moult over a period of two months starting in July and unlike the first moult when juveniles gain their orange breast, neck and forehead, it is a complete process: all the old flight, contour and body feathers are shed and gradually replaced with new. Thus the configuration of their plumage is changing day by day.!

I am not equipped, nor licensed, to ring my birds. This is what David Lack did in the 1930s and described in The Life of the Robin (1943). So I have a problem of keeping track of individuals by their appearance, such features as two small white feathers in the olive-brown crown of one bird or distinctive ‘medals’ on the wings of others. Other factors do help: adherence to territory, tone of legs which varies from pale to near-black, and elements of voice. The moult is staggered; some birds start early, some late. There are landmarks and successions: primaries and secondaries fall out and re-grow in a set order. Similarly the robin’s 10 tail feathers moult in pairs starting with the middle two.!

Over the last few years I have compiled a MOULT CHART recording when each named bird reaches a certain stage. An obvious landmark is when the old tail is down to the outside pair. Then there is the ‘no tail’ stage when the new feathers are not yet visible. Of the 12 robins recorded in 2013 the first reached this stage on July 15th, the last a month later on August 14th with the others ranged in between. In this way I was able to keep track of all 12 even if they moved about which is not uncommon during the moult because attachment to territory is at its lowest ebb.!

A late stage of the moult has long baffled me: all the colours are subdued with a powdery look; this applies as much to the olive-brown of crown and back as to the orange of the front. At first I put this down to the faltering of the old feathers but the timing is not right. I have since observed or rather partly observed that the new feathers grow with less than full pigment and are only enriched to their full glory at the very end.!

Can any member confirm that I have this right?!

If you are able to confirm this, Guy would love to hear from you. His telephone number is (01531) 640344!

The Club's Education working group is looking for 2 volunteers to join them.!If you are interested in encouraging children's interest in wildlife, and would like to help

us do this, please contact Susanna Grunsell - 01432 344837 or write to 67, Foley Street, Hereford HR1 2SQ.

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EVENT DATES AND HELPERS REQUIRED!!

HOC Field Meeting Reports!!Kern Bridge, Goodrich to Wilton Bridge, Ross-on-Wye! 18th April 2015!Leader:! Nick Smith!!We all meet at Wilton Bridge car park for 9.00am on a very breezy, but clear day. We required a shuttle service to move everybody down to Kern Bridge, before we could start this walk alongside the river Wye for about 6 miles. A party of 15 then set off upstream following the riverbank and all its twists and turns! We had excellent views of mandarin ducks along the river with at least 11 seen of both sexes, plus plenty of mallards with one family party of ducklings. The odd reed bunting was singing in the bushes and skylarks in the adjoining fields. Overhead we had buzzards, kestrel, raven and sparrowhawk. We did have a glimpse of kingfisher. It was also a busy time for butterflies with many orange tips, green veins, comma, large whites and peacocks all on the wing despite the windy conditions. The willows along the riverbank also held singing blackcaps, willow warbler and chiffs, along with a few tit parties.!The early lunchtime break was beside a sand martin colony. The afternoon section was quieter, but nearing the end of the walk, we had both a heron and little egret standing in a field together. Sedge warblers were calling in bankside scrub. Swallows and house martins were at Wilton Bridge and a goosander on a muddy bank. Apart from the canoes going downstream and disturbing some of the wildlife, we all had tired legs after a pleasant walk and I would like to thank everybody who shared the river walk with a good mixture of habitats and variety of birds with 48 species recorded!!

Vowchurch to Abbeydore! ! ! ! ! 25th April 2015!Leader:! Geoff Davis !!11 HOC members met at Moorhampton Park Farm at 8.30am. We used three cars to ferry us to Vowchurch for a 9am start.As we stepped out of the cars, we were greeted by a chorus of song, alas not from the nearby church, but our very own feathered friends - song thrush, chiffchaff, wren, dunnock, blackbird and robin.!The weather for the day started cloudy, we also had sunny spells and dare I say it - two light showers and nothing to worry about.!Anyway, back to the birds, we took a short 2 minute walk to the river Dore bridge. The two star birds were missing, never mind, we turned around and as we retraced our steps towards the cars, we saw the most frequently sighted bird of the whole valley circling low above our heads, a red kite. A buzzard was next and also stock and collared doves.!Our walk for the main part would now have the river Dore to the left of us and we would walk along the disused Great Western Railway “Golden Valley Line” - flat and mainly straight. We hadn't gone far and our list was getting longer - skylark, swallow, goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, blackcap, willow warbler and thanks to Gerald Parker, a very good view of a garden warbler. There were also rooks from a nearby rookery. !As we walked up by Chanstone Court Farm, we picked up house martin, greenfinch, house sparrow, goldcrest, moorhen, coot, mallard and mandarin duck - common on this river. Also seen here were treecreeper and mistle thrush - Oh, and a kingfisher!!On now towards Maentwich farm and blue, great and long-tailed tits, yellowhammer, whitethroat, grey heron, cormorant, and calling curlew.!!

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continued….!A quick lunch and then on towards Newcourt Farm where linnet, pied wagtail and a big flock of corvids including ravens, were seen.!!Off the old line now and heading towards Moorhampton Park Farm via the river. I stayed close to the river bank for a while for a reason, I knew short walk would produce something special - and it did… A low flying and calling curlew which flew close to where we stood. Smiling faces all round. A sparrowhawk was added just before the cider tasting at the farm shop.!!Thanks to the 11 that attended, we had 51 species.

Spotted flycatcher by John Tilby

Ewyas Harold and Dulas !! ! ! ! ! 16th June 2015!(HOC contribution to Herefordshire Walking Festival). Leaders:! Chris and Phil Williams!This walk was HOC’s contribution to the Herefordshire Walking Festival. It was disappointing that only six members of the public had signed up for this meeting and five made it on the day, Eleven HOC members were present, including our very welcome experts Gerald Parker and John Pullen.!It was a fine sunny day for the walk which started on Ewyas Harold Common. Garden warblers and blackcaps were singing well and we saw both great spotted and green woodpeckers plus other hedgerow birds including bullfinch, yellowhammer and linnet. In addition to the birds we saw interesting wild flowers and several orchids. Small grasshoppers were also seen.!At Ewyas Harald there were numerous swallows, house martins and swifts by the church and a dipper was seen in the stream. We then moved on, climbing up by the side of the castle mound and across farmland towards the Dulas brook. Skylark, grey wagtail and dunnock were among the birds added to our list.!After crossing the Dulas brook another dipper was seen by the ford. In the meadows on the way to Dulas, spotted flycatcher and stock doves were seen.!Lunch was taken at Dulas Church. The wild flower garden was perhaps past its best, but it was still a spectacular display.!Goldcrest was heard and just before our departure a redstart was spotted visiting its nest under the roof of the church, giving us all good views as it made forays to fetch food to feed its young. Several redstarts were also seen on the walk along the drive of Dulas Court, although it was likely the bird seen at the church was feeding in this area.!The return through the woods back to the common was quiet, but pheasant, song thrush and goldfinch were spotted.!A total of 42 species were recorded on the day.!The feedback forms from all the festival participants were all very positive. It was pleasing to have HOC members joining in to provide information on the management of the common and the flora that was seen en route.!We particularly wish to record our thanks to Gerald and John for their invaluable help. !

Forest of Dean evening meeting! ! ! ! 24th June 2015!Leader:! Nick Smith A group of 17 people meet on a sunny and warm summers evening. This field trip was centred on two locations starting with Nagshead RSPB reserve and then moving to Crab Tree Hill. The RSPB reserve is well known for its summer woodland species and woodland walks. The evening was a rather quiet one, as the birds must have known we were coming and were shy or hiding! !We mainly saw or heard the usual tits species and a few warblers like chiffchaff and blackcap, but very little else in warblers. The pied flycatchers had already fledged from the nest boxes and only one lucky member in the party saw any glimpses. The odd nuthatch and treecreeper was heard and goldcrest seen, with siskin calling in nearby larches. The main pool only held mallard and a single heron with great spotted woodpecker nearby. !We left Nagshead and moved onto our main location for the evening around 9pm. Another party of birders from Gloucestershire was also gathering for the evening performance of the star species and after a walk through the forest, we came to Crab Tree Hill. !

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This is a vast clearing in the centre of the forest with plenty of heather, gorse, and scrub scattered over the area. We had good views of tree pipits and stonechats were breeding nearby. Fallow deer and bats were present as the evening became dusk. !The first few calls of the nightjar were heard about 9.40pm and before very long several birds were seen in the sky hawking around. The birds gave a spectacular display of calls and flights, ending in a marvellous bird perch in a tree churring away in the semi darkness. !Apart from the biting insects, I would like to thank all that came, for making a very enjoyable evening. The species numbers recorded were 28, plus a few Ringlets!

Farmoor & Otmoor!! ! ! ! ! ! 11th July 2015 !Leader: Chris Bartlett An early arrival at Thames Water’s Farmoor reservoirs allowed us time to survey the territory before the troop of HOC members turned up. Well, one came, and two red kites performed to order over the car park. We headed round the smaller reservoir and were rewarded by common tern, plenty of tufted duck, lesser black-backed and black-headed gulls and great crested grebe, and an assortment of adult and juvenile pied and grey wagtail. Waders were scarce, only one common sandpiper being seen. !We watched a kestrel circling and the call of the young directed our attention to the top of a large ash tree where we found the nest surrounded by thistle down. !After lunch the convoy of two cars headed round the southern Oxford bypass to the un-signposted RSPB site at Otmoor. A quick conversation in the car-park with two obliging birders established which telegraph pole the turtle doves were favouring, and within minutes we were able to watch and listen to this scarce and lovely bird. A female marsh harrier put in an appearance and a single hobby was spied on a post in the distance. !Sedge warblers sung lustily from the reedbeds, and whitethroat from the bushes. Close by the huge hide in the centre of the site a pair of bullfinch showed to advantage. Flocks of young blue, great and long-tailed tits were feasting on the seed heads of cow parsley as we returned to the car-park, and a great spotted woodpecker was spotted on the feeders. !Species total for the day, 49. A trip too far perhaps for HOC members, or a clash of holidays etc. My thanks to my two companions, what a shame the rest of you missed the turtle dove. !!!

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Turtle dove, RSPB!Otmoor 11.7.15. !Taken by Sue Griffin

ADVERTISING IN HOC NEWS:!

Small ads for members wishing to sell or obtain bird-watching sundries such as books or binoculars are free of charge. Please enquire with the editor.!

Commercial advertising rates are: 1⁄2 page £15 & full page £30 per issue, four consecutive issues for the price of three. Supplied single page loose insert £20 per issue.!

Position of advert at editor’s discretion. HOC does not necessarily endorse products or services advertised in its publications. Please mention this publication when replying to advertisements.!

Printed by Flying Colours, Croft Court, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7AB: 01989 566443 !

SUBMISSIONS!

Contributions to HOC NEWS should be received by the Editor by the 14th of January, April, July or October for the February, May, August or November issues respectively. !

Email: nickydavies71@hotmail.com!

Due to space and/or postal charges, contributions may be edited, shortened or divided into instalments at the Editor’s discretion. Illustrations will be printed in black & white only. Photographs will also be used at the Editor’s discretion but please note the printing process limits the quality of photocopying reproduction.!

Leaders of Club Meetings are invited to send, or to arrange for another member attending to send, a report of the meeting for publication. These are best when written and sent in as soon as possible after the event.!

Support the work of the Herefordshire Ornithological Club by advertising in this Newsletter. Revenue raised helps conservation of habitat for wild birds (which includes other forms of wildlife), the study of wild birds and the promotion of their welfare through the publishing of data and survey reports, active co-operation with other bodies having similar aims and the education of the public in all related matters. All the officers of HOC give their services voluntarily.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES!

Adult £12: Joint members (same address) £18: Junior (up to 18 years) £5: Life Member £300: Senior Life Member £180: Joint Senior Life Members £270: Corporate Membership £25.00

Chair: Gerald Wells, The Wain House, Bridge End, Much Cowarne, Herefordshire, HR7 4JL (01531 640124) geraldwells5@btinternet.com

Secretary: Tom Weale, Foxholes, Bringsty Common, WR6 5UN (01886 821368) tom@tomweale.plus.com

Treasurer: Jim Wilkinson, Coughton Forge, Coughton, Ross-on-Wye HR9 5SF (01989 763182) m.jim.wilkinson@googlemail.com

Recorder: Mick Colquhoun (01989 780580) Mobile: 07587 151627 mcc@mcolquhoun.plus.com Data Manager: Chris Robinson, Rock Cottage, Newton St. Margarets HR2 0QW

(01981 510360 herefordbtorep@btinternet.com) Indoor Meetings Organiser: Andrew Ramsay (01981 500726) manxshearwater76@gmail.com

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