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November 2019

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, in Scotland no. SC037654

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INDEX

03 Your Committee needs you

03 2020 Photographic Competition

04 Important Update

04 Operation Owl

08 State of Nature 2019 Report

11 Feeding bread

12 Nepal attempts record

12 Emma Louisa Turner

14 Outdoor meetings’ reviews

18 Indoor meetings’ programme

19 Outdoor meetings’ programme

21 Committee details

EDITOR’S NOTES

Welcome to our November/Autumn newsletter.

I hope you will enjoy this newsletter which

includes all of last year's photographic

competition entries, together with the details on

how to submit your entries for the 2020

competition.

Thank you to all who currently receive their

newsletter via email. I know this method isn't

suitable for all but it does save the group a

considerable amount of money in printing

and postage costs. Plus you have the added

bonus of receiving your emailed copy in full

and glorious colour and you will also receive

the monthly e-letter. Please consider adding

your name to the email list.

Shaun Camponi

shaun_camponi@yahoo.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP LOCAL GROUP

SUBSCRIPTIONS 2019

Subscriptions: Unwaged £7.00

Individuals £10.00

Families £15.00

Entrance charges: Members £2.00

Non-members £4.00

You should have received a membership

subscription renewal/joining form at the same

time you received this newsletter. Your

subscription is due on 1 January 2020 and to

renew your membership you can pay by

cheque or cash (see renewal form).

Your Committee needs you

RSPB local groups are run by volunteers to

promote the aims of the RSPB in the local

community. They offer RSPB members and

the public the opportunity to get more

involved in our work to save nature. Groups

run activities like indoor talks and outdoor

walks. They fundraise and campaign for the

RSPB and attend local community events to

inspire people to support the RSPB.

We are looking for additional members to join

the RSPB

Wakefield

Local Group

Committee.

Importantly

you don't need

to be an expert

in birds -

people skills

are much

more

important for this role. There are a number of

roles within the committee and if you feel a

particular role would best suit you, other

members would be happy to change roles.

The Group needs people who can help and

assist the development of a range of

activities designed to encourage wide

participation from the group membership and

to attract new group members.

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2020 April AGM

Photographic competition

deadline date 31 March 2020

Thank you to all who submitted images to

last year's photographic competition, the

standard was very high. Congratulations to

last year's winner Rod Appleyard for his

(front cover) young kestrel photo.

Following previous year's successful

competitions it has been decided to hold the

same two part format to the evening after

the April AGM – one being Members’

Presentations and the other a photographic

competition with the winner decided on the

night by the audience. A small prize will be

awarded. The deadline to submit images is

31 March 2020.

Members will be able to submit only one

entry per person, in JPEG format on storage

media such as CDs or memory sticks or via

email, with the subject of birds/wildlife/nature,

accompanied by a brief note as to when and

where they were taken. The images will be

displayed anonymously.

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Important update - Review of policy on

gamebird shooting and land management

by RSPB

Please read this important message form

Martin Harper our Director, Global

Conservation 'who requested it be passed

onto members'.

Dear all,

I want to personally make you aware of an

important announcement made at our AGM

this Saturday by Kevin Cox, Chair of RSPB

Council.

In summary, Kevin announced our intention to

review our policy on game bird shooting and

associated land management informed by the

views of our members and other

stakeholders.

We aim to complete the review before the next

AGM in 2020. This may seem like a long time

but we want to engage people in the right way

and ensure we have the best available

evidence to guide us.

We are carrying out this review in response to

growing concern from the public, including our

membership, about the environmental impact

(including for carbon, water and biodiversity) of

intensive forms of game bird shooting and

associated land management practices. This

includes both driven grouse moor management

(which involves shooting our native red grouse)

and largescale release of non-native game

birds, primarily pheasants and red-legged

partridges, now in excess of 40 million birds

annually.

As we carry out the review, we’ll be informed

by the views of our members and other

stakeholders and there will of course be an

opportunity for you to contribute your

views. We are still developing the plan and the

exact details of the process we’ll be following

and we’ll keep you updated as the project

progresses.

For more information,

please read my

blog https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/

martinharper/ and I will update regularly via this

route on what is happening. You can also

watch a video from myself explaining more

about

this https://vimeo.com/367227943/ec565da541

If you have any questions email the project

team via Gamebirdmgtreview@rspb.org.uk and

we’ll get back to you.

With best wishes,

Martin Harper

Director, Global Conservation

Operation to fight bird-of-prey

persecution, 'Operation Owl', goes

national

A North Yorkshire Police initiative designed

to reduce the number of illegal attacks on

birds-of-prey as been rolled out across the

country.

In February 2018 North Yorkshire Police –

which has 40 officers tackling wildlife crime –

launched 'Operation Owl' to combat the

issue, firing the warning shots in a new drive

to bring those responsible to justice.

Operation Owl - initially a partnership

between the police, the Royal Society for the

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Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Royal

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (RSPCA), together with the North

York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National

Parks - has now gone national.

Over the weekend of September 21 and 22

this year, Operation Owl was officially rolled

out nationally.

It set out to raise awareness of raptor

persecution, encouraging the public to be

vigilant for signs of this criminal activity,

whilst increasing police surveillance checks

on known hot-spots in order to disrupt

offender activity.

North Yorkshire is home to a fairly diverse

population of birds of prey and has more

confirmed incidents of raptor persecution

than any other county in England – a

situation that North Yorkshire Police is

determined to tackle.

A new website will provide access to detailed

information and resources to support the

public in being vigilant for signs of raptor

persecution and reporting anything incidents

of concern.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act it is

an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take

wild birds. Nevertheless birds of prey

(raptors) are still shot, poisoned and trapped

– especially in areas where the land is

managed for driven grouse shooting.

‘The landscape of North Yorkshire attracts

huge numbers of visitors every year.

Unfortunately, it also has a terrible history for

the illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of

birds of prey. We are proud to support North

Yorkshire Police with this initiative and would

ask people to report any concerns to them. If

people want to speak in confidence about

raptor persecution they can contact us on

0300 9990101.’

The question of the persecution of birds of

prey in our countryside has long been a

controversial issue and it remains a bone of

contention.

The Glorious Twelfth is a well marked date in

the countryside calendar but some people

say it masks something rather less glorious

and the beauty of North Yorkshire’s heather

moors has long hidden an ugly truth.

Spectacular birds of prey or raptors make

moorland their home, sharing it with the

grouse bred for shooting, but figures point to

them having a long history of being illegally

persecuted.

Guy Shorrock, Senior Investigations Officer

at the RSPB, says birds of prey or raptors

have not always been welcome on grouse

moors: “Hen harriers, peregrines, buzzards,

sparrowhawks, goshawks, short-eared owls

and red kites have ended up being shot,

trapped or poisoned.”

He points to Natural England data from

satellite-tagged hen harriers between 2010

and 2017 that shows 72 per cent of the 58

birds tagged were killed or likely to have

been killed on or around grouse moors.

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Most people would perhaps welcome the

enlargement of Operation Owl but can they

expect the campaign to solve matters? Has

experience over the past 18 months in North

Yorkshire shown that is going to be the

case?

Yesterday the RSPB released its annual bird

crime report, revealing all the confirmed

cases of persecution in 2018 across the

country as a whole. Unfortunately, it makes

grim reading.

Yet again North Yorkshire has been

confirmed as the worst county in the UK by

far for illegal persecution of birds of prey.

Nationally there were 87 confirmed cases,

with 15 within North Yorkshire. Blackspots

included Nidderdale and the Dark Peak area

of the Peak District.

At first glance, Operation Owl would seem to

have failed here but Guy says it should be

judged in more ways than through a body

count. “The operation may not have done

much yet in cutting persecution but the

success has been in raising public

awareness.”

Sergeant Stuart Grainger, who is leading

Operation Owl in North Yorkshire, agrees. He

is regularly asked to do presentations to

groups who may come across evidence in

the outdoors, including 250 volunteers and

rangers working for the Yorkshire Dales

National Park.

He believes achieving proper change could

be slow. “I hope it doesn’t, but it could take

years before we make great strides in halting

bird of prey persecution,” he says.

So, if the killing is continuing, who is to

blame? Guy Shorrock is in no doubt. “Since

1990 two-thirds of those convicted for raptor

persecution have been gamekeepers,” he

says.

But he also believes such behaviour receives

unspoken approval, even expectation, from

estate managers and owners. “Gamekeepers

are small cogs in big machines. The whole

estate management and shooting industry is

creating a playing field for gamekeepers to

act in this way.”

This point of view is challenged by the

National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. Its

Chair, Liam Bell, says: “The NGO is not

aware of any recent reports of raptor

persecution in England and Wales but

encourages people to report any evidence to

be investigated. The NGO supports the Code

of Good Shooting Practice and insists its

members operate within the law. Anyone

found to be doing otherwise and convicted of

a wildlife crime has their membership

withdrawn.”

Meanwhile, the Moorland Association, which

represents grouse moor owners, says this

year has seen a record-breaking total of 47

hen harrier chicks born, most of them on

grouse moors.

Amanda Anderson, Director, adds: “We

condemn any wildlife crime and one incident

is one too many. Those who break the law

deserve to be punished. We are involved in a

great deal of effort and many initiatives

aimed at eradicating raptor persecution

wherever it takes place.

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"Gamekeepers and estates are actively

involved in Operation Owl. The debate on

this subject is all too often polarised which

obscures the positive news. The path to

more progress is people working together.”

These assurances do not cut much ice with

those on the other side of the fence and Guy

Shorrock says the problem is much worse

than the RSPB’s figures show. “The

confirmed incidents are just the tip of a very

large iceberg.

"Based on my 28 years of experience in this

area of crime, I’d be astonished if we’re

recording even one per cent of what’s

actually taking place.”

Last year there was just one conviction in

court for persecution. That so few

perpetrators are caught and brought to book

is perhaps not surprising. Sergeant Grainger

explains: “These are largely hidden crimes.

The people who do these things can take

their time and work in remote locations, and

of course the birds can’t speak for

themselves.”

Guy puts it more bluntly: “If someone wants

to shoot a hen harrier at 4.30 in the morning

in the middle of a moor, who’s going to be

there to witness it?”

There are signs that public frustration over

grouse shooting is growing. A petition to

Parliament to ban it was set up earlier this

month by Wild Justice, fronted by TV

naturalist Chris Packham. It received 70,000

signatures in its first week.

Can healthy populations of birds of prey ever

enjoy peaceful coexistence with grouse

shooting? Guy believes what is happening on

the moors mirrors intensive agriculture, which

has earned itself a bad name in the eyes of

many who would prefer more

environmentally friendly food production with

room left for wildlife.

Ultimately, the RSPB would like to see an

independent review of grouse shooting and

for driven grouse shooting to be licensed with

licences removed from those estates that do

not follow the rules. Campaigners at the

organisation also want the police to do more,

saying there is not enough good quality

enforcement work.

Whether much will change any time soon is

not clear. Like the guns on the Glorious

Twelfth, the arguments will rumble on and

our sweeping moors of purple heather will

remain a source of disagreement and distrust

in defiance of their serene beauty.

The RSPB’s bird crime report for 2018 details

individual incidents in our area. In November

2018 a satellite-tagged hen harrier known as

River disappeared over Nidderdale. In April

this year it was found dead on Ilton Moor on

the Swinton Estate. It was x-rayed and found

to have two pieces of shot in its body.

There are many different signs you may

come across which may lead your suspicions

to illegal activity.

Warning-This link contains graphic images.

www.operationowl.com/recognise

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/raptormap

or www.operationowl.com

or the National Wildlife Crime Unit’s site

at www.nwcu.police.uk

If you find a dead or injured bird of prey,

witness unusual activity, or see a trap

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positioned on top of a pole, note the location,

take a picture if possible and contact the

police on 101, the RSPB in complete

confidence on 0300 9990101, Crimestoppers

on 0800 555 111 or the RSPCA on 0300

1234 999.

STATE OF NATURE 2019 REPORT

The UK’s wildlife continues to decline

according to the State of Nature 2019 report.

The latest findings show that since rigorous

scientific monitoring began in the 1970s there

has been a 13% decline in average

abundance across wildlife studied and that

the declines continue unabated.

Following the State of Nature reports in 2013

and 2016, leading professionals from more

than 70 wildlife organisations have joined

with government agencies for the first time,

to present the clearest picture to date of the

status of our species across land and sea.

The State of Nature 2019 report also reveals

that 41% of UK species studied have

declined, 26% have increased and 33%

show little change since 1970, while 133

species assessed have already been lost

from our shores since 1500.

Butterflies and moths have been particularly

hard hit with numbers of butterflies down by

17% and moths down by 25%. The numbers

of species, such as the High Brown Fritillary

and Grayling, that require more specialised

habitats have declined by more than three

quarters.

The UK’s mammals also fare badly with

greater than 26% of species at risk of

disappearing altogether. The Wild Cat and

Greater Mouse-eared Bat are among those

species teetering on the edge of

disappearing.

Much is known about the causes of decline

and about some of the ways in which we

could reduce impacts and help struggling

species. The evidence from the last 50 years

shows that significant and ongoing changes

in the way we manage our land for

agriculture, and the ongoing effects of

climate change are having the biggest

impacts on nature.

Pollution is also a major issue. Whilst

emissions of many pollutants have been

reduced dramatically in recent decades,

pollution continues to have a severe impact

on the UK’s sensitive habitats and

freshwaters, and new pollutant threats are

continuing to emerge.

Daniel Hayhow, lead author on the report,

said: “We know more about the UK’s wildlife

than any other country on the planet, and

what it is telling us should make us sit up and

listen. We need to respond more urgently

across the board if we are to put nature back

where it belongs. Governments, conservation

groups and individuals must continue to work

together to help restore our land and sea for

wildlife and people in a way that is both

ambitious and inspiring for future

generations”

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“In this report we have drawn on the best

available data on the UK’s biodiversity,

produced by partnerships between

conservation NGOs, (Non Governmental

Organisations), research institutes, UK and

national governments, and thousands of

dedicated volunteers. It’s through working

together that we can help nature recover but

the battle must intensify.”

Whilst the data that the report shows are

alarming there is also cause for some

cautious hope. The report showcases a wide

range of exciting conservation initiatives, with

partnerships delivering inspiring results for

some of the UK’s nature. Species such as

Bitterns and Large Blue Butterfly have been

saved through the concerted efforts of

organisations and individuals.

Reflecting growing concern about the

environmental and climate emergencies,

public support for conservation also

continues to grow, with NGO expenditure up

by 24% since 2010/11 and time donated by

volunteers having increased by 46% since

2000. However, public sector expenditure on

biodiversity in the UK, as a proportion of

GDP, has fallen by 42% since a peak in

2008/09.

For a full copy of the State of Nature 2019

report and to find out how you can do your bit

to save UK wildlife –

www.nbn.org.uk/stateofnature2019

Beccy Speight, CEO of the RSPB said

“Nature is still being lost across the UK at a

deeply concerning rate. Many of the

pressures and threats driving these declines

- like nature itself – do not respect national

boundaries. Whilst governments across the

UK have recognised the climate and

environment crises threatening our natural

world - and that restoring the natural world

can provide some of the solutions we need -

there desperately needs to be more

immediate action and cooperation on the

protection of nature between the four

countries. We need ambitious legislation with

binding targets to not only halt nature’s

decline but secure its recovery. And we need

that legislation now.”

Rosie Hails, Nature and Science Director at

the National Trust said: “The UK’s wildlife is

in serious trouble. We know that over 40% of

species have declined since 1970 and it’s

simply not acceptable. We are now at a

crossroads when we need to pull together

with actions rather than words to stop and

reverse the decline of those species at risk

as well as protecting and creating new

habitats in which they can thrive.

“We need a strong new set of environmental

laws to hold our governments and others to

account and to set long-term and ambitious

targets. Only a robust approach to

environmental protections and law making

can deliver this for England, Wales and

Northern Ireland. But it’s not just government

that needs to act; we can also all do our own

bit for nature and wildlife including nature-

friendly planting in our backyards and

choosing peat-free composts for our gardens

that protect precious peatland habitats.

“As the country's biggest private landowner

we have set ourselves some key targets by

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2025. This includes an ambition to create

25,000 hectares of new priority habitats such

as new butterfly habitat in the Heddon valley

in Devon to help butterflies like the high

brown fritillary and moorland at the Dark

Peak in the Peak District to help birds like

golden plover.

“We are also championing sustainable

farming with an ambition for at least 50 per

cent of our farmland to be 'nature-friendly',

with protected hedgerows, field margins,

ponds, woodland and other habitats allowing

plants and animals to thrive.”

Nikki Williams, Director of Campaigns and

Policy at The Wildlife Trusts, said “Nature is

in big trouble but we know how to bring it

back. Local action is already making a real

difference and now the government needs to

play its part. We need a Nature Recovery

Network established in law – one that is

locally developed and nationally connected –

this would help join up our last remaining wild

places by creating vital new habitats. It’s time

to make nature a normal part of childhood

again and restore wildlife so it can recover

and thrive across urban jungles and the

countryside once more – where it can be part

of people’s daily lives.”

David Noble, Principal Ecologist at the BTO,

said, “We owe a huge debt to the thousands

of volunteers who give up their time to take

part in the huge range of surveys that enable

us to produce reports such as this. There is

considerable change in the plants and wildlife

we share this country with, and it is essential

to understand the underlying causes, identify

species and habitats under most pressure

and collectively take appropriate

conservation action. Without the dedication

of these volunteer naturalists, our knowledge

and capacity to respond would be very much

poorer – thank you to them all.”

Christine Reid, Principal Conservation

Adviser, Woodland Trust said “We must

tackle nature decline at the same time as we

tackle the climate breakdown. By creating

more and better managed native woodland

habitats we tackle both problems together.

The additional effect of increased pests and

diseases facing our native trees and woods,

like ash dieback, will have wide ranging

impacts on wildlife, and mean we need to

redouble our efforts. Now is the time to fight

back against both nature decline and climate

change.”

Fiona Mathews, Professor of Environmental

Biology, University of Sussex and Chair of

the Mammal Society said "We have identified

seven species of mammal which are in grave

danger of disappearing from our landscape,

the wildcat, greater mouse-eared bat, grey

long-eared bat, black rat, red squirrel, water

vole and beaver. Populations of some of

Britain's most iconic mammals, including the

hedgehog and the dormouse, are also

declining. Wildlife charities are united in their

belief that there is hope. We highlight, in the

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State of Nature, some of the key threats to

British Wildlife, including urban expansion,

pollution and land management. There are

now opportunities to tackle these issues and

create an environment good for both wildlife

and people. We also call on the public to help

us find out more about the state of British

mammals and identify ways to halt the

decline. We have the data gathering

technology at our fingertips and we would

urge everyone to get involved."

Jenny Hawley, Senior Policy Officer,

Plantlife said “Plants fuel the diversity of life

on earth: they are the building blocks of all

habitats and the foundation of complex food-

webs that include all our other wildlife

including insects, mammals, reptiles,

amphibians and birds. We know one in five

British wild flowers is under threat and

continued declines, as revealed today, must

be urgently addressed if we are to better

protect the wealth of wonderful wildlife plants

underpin. This means doing much more to

unroot the drivers of decline such as the

intensification of agriculture, climate change,

and air pollution. Where wild flowers lead,

wildlife follows: the marsh fritillary butterfly

feeds almost exclusively on devil's-bit

scabious, so lives or dies according to the

prospects of its food plant.”

Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-

the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-

releases/state-of-nature-

2019/#WxbHwUw54CujxA0s.99

The Swan Sanctuary & The Queen's Swan

Maker

As many of you know there has been a lot of

debate about feeding swans and other

waterfowl with bread. We have always

maintained that feeding them bread is fine,

Today we received a this statement from The

Queen’s Swan Marker, David Barber, MVO,

endorsed by Professor Christopher Perrins of

the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology

at Oxford University.

“There has been a great deal of press

coverage in recent months regarding the ‘Ban

the Bread’ campaign which is confusing many

members of the public who like to feed swans.

Supporters of the campaign claim that bread

should not be fed to swans on the grounds that

it is bad for them. This is not correct. Swans

have been fed bread for many hundreds of

years without causing any ill effects. While

bread may not be the best dietary option for

swans compared to their natural food such as

river weed, it has become a very important

source of energy for them, supplementing their

natural diet and helping them to survive the

cold winter months when vegetation is very

scarce.

There is no good reason not to feed bread to

swans, provided it is not mouldy. Most

households have surplus bread and children

have always enjoyed feeding swans with their

parents. The ‘Ban the Bread’ campaign is

already having a deleterious impact upon the

swan population; I am receiving reports of

underweight cygnets and adult birds, and a

number of swans from large flocks have begun

to wander into roads in search of food. This

poses the further risk of swans being hit by

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vehicles. Malnutrition also increases their

vulnerability to fatal diseases like avian-flu

which has caused the deaths of many mute

swans and other waterfowl in the past.

Furthermore, there have been statements

made in the media claiming that feeding bread

causes angel-wing in swans. Angel-wing is a

condition where a cygnet develops a deformed

wing. Professor Christopher Perrins, LVO, FRS

of the Department of Zoology at Oxford

University stated, ‘There is no evidence of a

connection between feeding bread and angel-

wing; at least some cygnets develop this

condition without ever having seen any bread’.

I therefore encourage members of the public to

continue feeding swans to help improve their

chances of survival, especially through the

winter.”

We’d like to Thank everyone for their support

and we hope that this will help these beautiful

birds.

http://www.theswansanctuary.org.uk/cause/offi

cial-statement-bread-queens-swan-marker/

Nepal attempts record with a Dead Sea of

plastic bags

Back in December 2018 young Nepalis created

a map of the Dead Sea with used plastic bags

Wednesday in a bid to set a new international

record and raise awareness about the vast

volumes polluting the world's oceans.

Volunteers tied 100,000 colorful used plastic

bags on a metal grid 20 meters long and five

meters tall, shaped like the Dead Sea, on open

ground in Kathmandu's city center.

The record attempt was organized with a

slogan "One Dead Sea is enough for us".

"We decided to tie plastic bags and make a

sculpture of the Dead Sea to spread

awareness over the world to minimize waste of

plastic," Surgeon BC of Stem Foundation

Nepal, the group that organised the event, told

AFP.

Global plastic production has grown rapidly,

and is currently more than 400 million tons per

year.

It is estimated that two to five percent of

plastics wind up in the oceans, where much of

it breaks down into tiny particles that harm

marine life.

Article sent in by Mick Rose

Emma Louisa Turner FLS (1867 – 1940)

A keen ornithologist and respected

photographer.

Emma Louisa Turner FLS (1867 – 1940)

was an English ornithologist and pioneering

bird photographer. In 1911 a photograph of

young Bittern

in the nest

taken by

Emma Turner

proved that

Bitterns were

breeding again

in Norfolk

having been

driven to

extinction in

Britain in the

late 1800s.

Turner was born on 9 June 1867 in Langton

Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent She was

described as being "...small in stature but

very wiry, quite capable with a punt or rowing

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boat". She took up photography after

meeting Richard Kearton in 1900.

For 20 years, she lived and worked for part of

each year (including some winters)

at Hickling Broad in Norfolk, chiefly on

a houseboat of her own design, which she

named Water Rail after the first photograph

she took in the Broads, of a water rail. She

also had a hut on a small island in the south-

east of Hickling Broad, which became known

as Turner's Island.

Emma L Turner was the first “Watcher”

(Warden or Ranger) at Scolt Head Island

from 1924-25. The Island, forming part of the

distinctive salt marsh fringing the North

Norfolk Coast, was acquired by the National

Trust in 1923 and is leased to the Nature

Conservancy Council (now Natural England)

who still manage the site today.

In her book, 'Birdwatching at Scott Head',

published in 1928 Emma Turner describes

how her job involved protecting the birds and

their eggs, mainly from visitors, to record the

birds on the island and to survive island

living, which was a challenge to say the least!

She describes how precious drinking water

was and the lengths they went to, to collect

and save it, the laughter experienced when

escaping the mud.

She also describes with great fondness the

joy of the landscape. It was agreed that she

would fly a flag each day to signal that she

was still alive, with two flags going up in an

emergency, inevitably this didn’t always go to

plan!

“I cannot find a watcher for Scolt Head” In a

fit of recklessness I replied “Why not have

me?”… It was essentially a pioneer job”

Her bittern picture resulted in her being

awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal

Photographic Society. She was one of the

first ten women fellows of the Linnaean

Society and the first female honorary

member of the British Ornithologists'

Union. Though not a graduate, she was also

an honorary member of the British

Federation of University Women.

After meeting and being inspired by Richard

Kearton (who along with his brother Cherry

Kearton was one of earliest wildlife

photographers) she decided to take up

wildlife photography and to document all the

Broadland birds. She befriended two

marshmen, Alfred Nudd and keeper Jim

Vincent, and with their help she learned the

ways of the marsh, and how to find, study

and photograph the Broadland birds. It was

Vincent who helped her find the young

Bittern in 1911.

She was also a keen gardener, at her homes

in Girton,Cambridgeshire and Cambridge, an

d kept Terriers, which she trained to flush

birds so that she could count them. She lost

her sight two years before her death, which

occurred on 13 August 1940.

Extracts from her book, 'Broadland Birds',

which was published in 1924, formed the

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basis of a radio programme about her

life, 'Emma Turner; a life in the reeds',

broadcast by the BBC in 2012, produced by

Sarah Blunt and with sound recordings

by Chris Watson. This 30 minute BBC

Sounds broardcast is well worth a listen.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b019rlz0

‘The Yellowhammer’s Nest’

A Poem by John Clare

Just by the wooden brig a bird flew up,

Frit by the cowboy as he scrambled down

To reach the misty dewberry—let us stoop

And seek its nest—the brook we need not

dread,

’Tis scarcely deep enough a bee to drown,

So it sings harmless o’er its pebbly bed

—Ay here it is, stuck close beside the bank

Beneath the bunch of grass that spindles rank

Its husk seeds tall and high—’tis rudely

planned

Of bleachèd stubbles and the withered fare

That last year’s harvest left upon the land,

Lined thinly with the horse’s sable hair.

Five eggs, pen-scribbled o’er with ink their

shells

Resembling writing scrawls which fancy reads

As nature’s poesy and pastoral spells—

They are the yellowhammer’s and she dwells

Most poet-like where brooks and flowery

weeds

As sweet as Castaly to fancy seems

And that old molehill like as Parnass’ hill

On which her partner haply sits and dreams

O’er all her joys of song—so leave it still

A happy home of sunshine, flowers and

streams.

Yet in the sweetest places cometh ill,

A noisome weed that burthens every soil;

For snakes are known with chill and deadly coil

To watch such nests and seize the helpless

young,

And like as though the plague became a guest,

Leaving a houseless home, a ruined nest—

And mournful hath the little warblers sung

When such like woes hath rent its little breast.

John Clare (1793-1864) is still a rather

overlooked figure in English Romanticism and

nature poetry, but he’s been called the greatest

nature poet in English literature (by his

biographer, Jonathan Bate). His poem ‘The

Yellowhammer’s Nest’ shows Clare’s wonderful

sensitivity to vowel sounds, as he explores the

patterns found within nature by focusing on the

nest of the bird, which is described as ‘poet-

like’.

OUTDOOR MEETINGS REVIEWS

Saturday 30 March

Sherwood Forest

The RSPB has recently become heavily

involved in the conservation management of

Sherwood Forest and it was great to make

our first visit as a group to the

Nottinghamshire site and its spectacular new

visitor centre.

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny

spring day for our visit to the ancient

woodland famed for its old oak trees and the

enduring legend of Robin Hood. We were

here in search of woodland birds and wildlife

and spent several hours and miles exploring

the many trails through the forest and the

adjacent heathland at Budby.

No visit to Sherwood would be complete

without paying homage to the Major Oak,

propped up and still hanging on for dear life

after its eight hundred years plus existence.

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Although a busy tourist attraction, it is easy to

escape the crowds by exploring the paths

away from arguably the most famous tree in

the country.

The woodland with a range of trees of

different ages and plenty of ancient oaks with

decaying timber provides ideal habitat for

woodpeckers. We searched high and low for

them and saw a great spotted woodpecker,

heard a green woodpecker but the lesser

spotted

woodpecker

lived up to its

name and

evaded our

best efforts to

locate it.

Nuthatches

were

seemingly

everywhere

and a couple

of treecreepers put in brief appearances. We

also saw a few jays, no surprise there as

they are great lovers of acorns and oaks. On

the raptor front, we had sightings of both

buzzard and kestrel.

Budby Heath is adjacent to the northern edge

of the forest and it was convenient to visit

here as well although this wasn't in our

original plans. A crossbill was located by its

chipping call as it flew overhead and later we

found a female perched at the top of a pine

tree. We had been tipped off about the

presence of rare oil beetles and found one of

these impressive beasts in its restricted area

along the path at the edge of the heathland

burrowing into the sand. We looked in vain

for woodlarks but by now it was afternoon

and not the best time of day for bird activity.

The sun had brought the early spring

butterflies out with sightings of comma,

peacock and brimstone. A marsh tit was

seen briefly visiting one of the feeding

stations back in the forest. The excellent

weather and wonderful woodland walks and

wildlife were enjoyed by all.

Nine members attended.

Paul Disken

Sunday 28 April

Rutland Water (coach)

Our first visit to Rutland Water for several

years was a welcome one and we had an

excellent day. It is impossible to fully cover

the reserve properly in a day, such is the

wealth of paths and excellent hides from

which to observe the diverse wildlife.

We started our day at the Egleton reserve.

We called in at reception to pay our entry

fees and started the birdwatching almost

immediately from the Anglian birdwatching

centre. One of the first birds of note was a

female ruddy duck which was keeping close

to a pochard. Ruddy ducks have almost been

wiped out following a controversial culling

programme but this one had obviously gone

under the radar. A little egret was feeding on

the shore and a sedge warbler was belting

out its scratchy song from a nearby bush.

As we walked along the paths to the north of

the centre, the birdsong from the hedgerows

was absolutely superb. Willow warbler,

garden warbler, lesser whitethroat and

blackcap were all taking part in the chorus

but the star attraction was a nightingale

which was intermittently bursting into song. It

was keeping well hidden though in a dense

tangle of undergrowth. A second nightingale

was heard a few hundred yards away. This

bird was similarly reclusive.

There was much of interest to enjoy from the

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hides including over thirty common terns

hawking over the water. The first osprey of

the day flew over and we also saw our first

swifts of the year among the swallows, house

martins and sand martins. Waders included

little ringed plover, common sandpiper and

redshank and a couple of the group also saw

a bar-tailed godwit. In the distance a couple

of red kites soared over the ridge and

buzzard was also added to the list.

The latter part of the day was spent at the

Lyndon reserve. Here a trail leads to hides

with great views across to an osprey nest.

We had excellent views of a pair of ospreys.

The female bird was sitting on eggs with the

male bird standing guard close by. Both birds

were also later seen in flight with one of the

birds collecting mud to do maintenance work

on the nest. It's great to see the ospreys

doing so well and staff at the visitor centre

mentioned that twenty five individual ospreys

have been recorded in the area so far this

year- an impressive tally.

The day had flown by and all too soon, it was

time to return home. Twenty three members

attended.

Paul Disken

Sunday 16 June

Fairburn Ings

An enjoyable walk on the Coal Tips trail proved

to be full of interest. Even the weather was kind

following a week of seemingly endless rain.

A chiffchaff was in song as we left the visitor

centre. A common tern was present on the first

lagoon. We then had excellent views of a green

woodpecker feeding on the ground and then

perching up on one of the fence posts. Another

was seen in the same area shortly afterwards.

This area is often very good for them and it

was good to get views of a bird that is more

often heard than seen.

The reed fringed lagoons were productive with

plenty of reed buntings and reed warblers

inhabiting the phragmites. We heard the

pinging call of bearded tits and with patience

had several brief views of these attractive

birds. A little ringed plover was seen on the

shore and a great crested grebe was feeding

four demanding stripy youngsters. There were

also good numbers of little grebes present.

Happily, the spoonbill has returned to Fairburn

to breed this summer and we enjoyed sightings

of a bird feeding on the Pickup Pool and a pair

circling in flight gaining some considerable

height. There were also several little egrets on

the moat and plenty of herons and cormorants.

As we reached the far end of the trail, a cattle

egret was seen perched up on one of the trees

adjacent to spoonbill flash. How long before

this species which is expanding its range

breeds in Yorkshire and where better than

Fairburn.

The trail with its elevated position gives great

views over the surrounding countryside. To the

north, a buzzard and a couple of red kites were

soaring. Back towards the centre and it was

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good to see plenty of sand martins whizzing in

and out of the nesting wall by Pickup Pool. It

had been a very enjoyable visit and we had

only explored less than half of the reserve.

Paul Disken

Sunday 11 August

North Cave Wetlands

We spent a pleasant morning at the ever

expanding YWT reserve - a haven for wildlife

developed from sand and gravel quarrying.

Waders took centre stage with excellent

views of three species of sandpiper- wood,

green and common. It was good to compare

them side by side. This year has seen a

decent passage of waders with excellent

numbers of wood sandpipers at a number of

localities so it was no surprise to see them

here. A total of ten had been recorded on the

reserve in recent days which is impressive

and we saw at least four of them. Hopefully,

these birds have had a good breeding

season. In addition, there were sightings of

dunlin, little ringed plover and a juvenile

spotted redshank.

Sand martins and house martins were

feeding over the reserve with just a couple of

swifts. There was also a nice gathering of

lapwings building up making a fine sight,

particularly when they took to the air in

unison. Raptors were represented by the

brief appearance of a kestrel and a buzzard

circling in the distance.

A kingfisher put in a brief appearance on a

post before whizzing off at great speed.

Greylag geese were probably the most

numerous bird on the reserve and were

seemingly everywhere. Most of the ducks

were undergoing their autumn moult- looking

fairly tatty in the process. We did pick out two

garganeys on the Island Lake, always good

to see this fairly scarce summer visitor.

It had been a good outing with plenty of

interest in reasonable weather. Nine

members attended.

Paul Disken

Sunday 29 September

Frampton Marsh (coach)

It was a very poor weather forecast and the

journey down was very wet but luck was on our

side as the rain stopped by the time we arrived

at the reserve.

After calling at the visitor centre, we were keen

to get out and make the most of a break in the

weather. We headed to the sea wall which

overlooks the freshwater marsh on one side

and a huge expanse of saltmarsh adjacent to

the Wash on the other. Conditions were very

pleasant indeed and nothing like as bad as

expected.

A few meadow pipits flew weakly overhead and

the piercing call of a yellow wagtail was heard.

Waders on the marsh included spotted

redshanks, greenshank and redshank. Further

along, a pectoral sandpiper, an American

vagrant fed on the edge of one of the creeks. It

was a welcome sight and a first for some

members of the group. We also had good

views of a couple of little stints with several

dunlin and ringed plover. Black-tailed godwits

were also dotted around the marsh and the

reserve was certainly living up its billing as a

wader hotspot.

Out on the saltmarsh, there was a group of five

yellow wagtails. A short-eared owl was a

surprise sighting sitting on the ground before it

made a brief hunting foray. A couple of marsh

harriers were also patrolling the marsh for prey.

A sure sign of autumn was the appearance of a

brent goose and we later saw a flock of about

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fifteen birds, newly arrived from their breeding

grounds in the tundra. Little egrets were a

regular sight during the day, being encountered

all over the reserve with probably over thirty

birds present.

It was a fairly mild day in spite of the generally

unsettled weather, there were several insects

on the wing and these included migrant

hawker, common darter dragonflies and a red

admiral.

Showery conditions arrived in earnest at

lunchtime but apart from one soaking, we

managed to keep reasonably dry thanks to the

excellent hides. There were plenty of ducks on

the reserve with hundreds of wigeon the

dominant species. We also saw pintail,

shoveler and gadwall. A couple of avocets

were good to see.

In the distance looking inland, a large raptor

was making its way slowly but steadily south. It

was time to get the telescope on it which

revealed an osprey. It's always a thrill to have a

chance encounter with one of these

magnificent birds on migration.

The day's list continued to build with snipe

added. Last but not least was a water rail which

we watched from shelter of the visitor centre as

the rain had now really taken hold. It made a

sprint worthy of Usain Bolt as it ran out in the

open from one area of rushes to another.

It had been an excellent day's birding enjoyed

by twelve members.

Paul Disken

INDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME

Thursday 28 November 2019

Ashley Grove – Trinidad and Tobago

Our meeting on Thursday 28 November 2019

sees us welcome yet another new speaker to

the group with a talk by Ashley Groves on

“Trinidad and Tobago – Home of the

Hummingbird”. Ashley has really enjoyed

nature and the great outdoors from an early

age and has volunteered with the RSPB for

many years. He has now set up his own

company, “Experience Nature”, running very

successful wildlife and photography holidays

both in the UK and overseas. His talk on

“Trinidad and Tobago” will show us the

highlights of recent trips to these beautiful

Caribbean Islands, where Ashley was able to

fulfil his dream to photograph hummingbirds,

which have fascinated him for many years. It

will feature plenty of lovely images of these

exquisite little jewels, along with some of the

other wonderfully colourful birdlife of the

islands, such as scarlet ibises, red-billed

tropic birds and manakins, all set against the

backdrop of the exotic local flora. The talk will

also include some film with the sounds of

some of the species featured, so it will be a

real treat and a bit of very welcome escapism

on a winter’s evening - do join us!

Thursday 12 December 2019

Christmas Meal and Quiz

Thursday 23 January 2020 – Tim Melling –

Canada – The Wild West

Our 2020 programme of Indoor Meetings gets

off to an excellent start on Thursday 23

January 2020 with the very welcome return to

the group of the ever popular Tim Melling with

a talk on “Canada – The Wild West”. Tim has

recently retired from his role at the RSPB

Regional Office, but is still busy leading wildlife

holidays, several of which have taken him to

Vancouver Island and the adjacent part of

British Columbia in search of the iconic

mammals and birds to be found there,

including grizzly and black bears, river and sea

19

otters, several species of whale and special

birds such as bald eagles, Steller’s jays, and

chickadees. Do come along to explore this

wonderful part of the world in Tim’s company

and to enjoy his unique blend of knowledge

and enthusiasm – definitely an evening not to

be missed!

Thursday 27 February 2020 – Allan and Sue

Parker – Natural Northumberland

Our meeting on Thursday 27 February 2020

sees us welcoming back to the group more of

our favourite speakers when Allan and Susan

Parker from Sheffield will be returning to give

us a talk on “Natural Northumberland”. Over

the years we have enjoyed many talks by this

talented husband and wife photographic team

whose previous visits to the group have taken

us all over the country. This talk features the

varied landscapes of Northumberland,

covering the wildlife of both the unspoiled

Northumberland coast, including the flora and

fauna of the Farne Islands and Holy Island, and

the less well known but equally special habitats

and wildlife of the Cheviot Hills. Please come

along to share with us what is sure to be

another excellent evening with Allan and

Susan.

Thursday 26 March 2020 – Andre Farrar –

Kent – The Wildlife Garden of England

On Thursday 26 March 2020 we welcome to

the group Dr Andre Farrar with a talk on “Kent

– The Wildlife Garden of England”. Andre

worked for the RSPB for 36 years in a variety

of roles and is now an active volunteer still

working to save birds and wildlife in the

countryside. He grew up in the heart of the

North Downs and now lives near Canterbury,

so he is ideally placed to show us the rich and

varied wildlife of Kent, which features two bird

observatories and also has three birds named

after places in the county! Andre’s talk will also

address the mix of challenges and

opportunities facing this sometimes crowded

and pressured corner of the UK and what can

be done to ensure that the Garden of England

continues to be full of wildlife. This promises to

be a fascinating and thought provoking evening

so do come along and join us.

Thursday 23 April – Members’

Presentations, Photographic Competition

and AGM

Thursday 24 September 2020 – Julian Sykes

– Living the Dream

Thursday 22 October 2020 – Keith Clarkson

– Iceland

Thursday 26 November 2020 – Gary

Prescott – RSPB Reserves and Their Birds

Thursday 10 December 2020 Christmas

Meal and Quiz

All Indoor Meetings start at 7.30 pm and are

held in

Ossett Community Centre,

Prospect Road, Ossett WF5 8AN

Tel: 01924 274838

Entrance charges: Members £2.00

Non-members £4.00

GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS:

Subscriptions: Unwaged £7.00

Individuals £10.00

Families £15.00

***Stop Press***

Congratulations and a big thank you to

Mick Rose whose raised a fantastic sum

of £2514 from the sale of Pin Badges.

OUTDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME

Sunday 1 December

Horbury Wyke and Lagoons

We will explore a couple of lesser known local

sites that often get overlooked. The wyke and

lagoons attract ducks and geese in winter and

20

snipe also inhabit the area. Kingfishers can be

found along the river and canal. It will also be

interesting to see what passerines we can find

at this time of year.

Sunday 26 January

St Aidans

We can expect wintering wildfowl on the

lakes and pools of one of our local RSPB

reserves. This can also be a good time of

year to see raptors as they hunt in the short

daylight hours attracted by the abundance of

prey.

Saturday 29 February

Adel Dam

This Yorkshire wildlife trust reserve on the

outskirts of Leeds is excellent for kingfishers

and woodland birds. The hides afford close

views of the birds. We can also hope to see

red kites overhead as we are not too far from

their Harewood stronghold.

Sunday 29 March

Sprotborough Flash

This is our first visit to this reserve in the Don

Valley. Recent winters have seen the reserve

play host to bitterns among other wetland

species. The first spring migrants should also

be arriving in the woodland.

Saturday 25 April

North Cliffe Wood

We time our visit to enjoy the birdsong and

can expect the warblers and other songbirds

to be in full flow. Woodlark will also be a

target bird adding to the chorus on the heath.

The bluebells should also be starting to

flower in this attractive woodland in East

Yorkshire.

Sunday 17 May

Adwick Washlands

This is a fairly small easily overlooked site in

the Dearne Valley managed by the RSPB.

We hope to see breeding and migrant

waders including snipe, redshank and

avocet. Yellow wagtails are regular here.

Kingfisher is also a possibility.

Saturday 20 June

Rodley Nature Reserve

This award winning local nature reserve run

by volunteers is something of a hidden gem.

A haven for wildlife in the conurbation of

Leeds, we hope to see a variety of breeding

birds including common terns and kingfisher

and a diversity of other wildlife. It’s a venue

well worth seeking out.

Thursday 16 July

Budby - Sherwood Forest (evening visit)

This is an evening visit to this extensive area

of heathland and woodland. We will seek out

the nightjar, the enigmatic summer visitor

which breeds in the area. We also hope to

see woodcock and owls are also likely to be

encountered.

Sunday 16 August

Blacktoft Sands

We hope to see migrant waders and reedbed

specialists on the RSPB reserve which flanks

the Ouse and the Trent. Depending on the

water levels, there is always the chance of

seeing water rails at the edge of the reeds.

Bearded tits will be feeding youngsters and

our chances will depend on how successful

the breeding season has been.

Saturday 26 September

Spurn

Spurn is probably the UK’s fines t mainland

site for witnessing visible migration and has

an enviable record of turning up rare and

scarce birds. An autumn visit always

produces something of interest and we look

forward to seeing what special birds this year

will bring.

Sunday 25 October

Old Moor

There should be plenty to see at this time of

year. Numbers of golden plovers and

lapwings should be building and the wildfowl

21

numbers will be swelled by arrivals from the

north. The RSPB reserve continues to

develop and excel in attracting a wide variety

of birdlife. The cafe and shop are added

attractions.

Sunday 15 November

Martin Mere(coach)

Pink-footed geese and wintering whooper

swans should provide a fantastic wildlife

spectacle as they visit the mere. The geese

in particular are a sight to behold, particularly

as they fly in to roost from the surrounding

farmland. We will be running a coach trip if

we get sufficient interest.

Saturday 12 December

Pugneys Country Park

Take a break from the Christmas shopping to

have a morning stroll around the lake. It’s

often a good time of year for unusual visitors,

particularly among the wildfowl. In previous

years, we have seen smew at this time of the

year.

To book or for further information on any of

our outdoor meetings contact Paul on 01924

456352

Please wear suitable footwear and outdoor

clothing as we often visit wet and muddy

areas. Further information can be obtained

from any Committee Member, via the website

or at any indoor meeting.

Local Group Website:

rspb.org.uk/groups/wakefield

The RSPB website: rspb.org.uk

COMMITTEE DETAILS

Full details of the committee are on your

programme cards.

Contact point:

Duncan Stokoe

12, New Road, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 5LR

email; duncanstokoe@gmail.com

Tel: 01924 280458

Newsletter Editor:

Shaun Camponi,

2 Bath Road, Heckmondwike, WF16 9EA

email: shaun_camponi@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 0797 119 7405

Contributions for future newsletters would be

much appreciated and will be accepted either

hand written, typed or on storage media

memory sticks in Microsoft “Word” –

preferably in Arial 11.5 point. Please send or

email contributions anytime to the above

address.

Any advertisements printed in this newsletter

are not specifically endorsed by the RSPB or

the Wakefield District Local Group.

Data Protection Act: The Wakefield District

Local Group would like to keep your details in

order to send you further information about

group activities and the work of the RSPB.

If you want to amend or update your details

or you do not want us to use them in the way

stated, please contact the Membership

Secretary – Mark Archer, 6 Calder Gate,

Stanley, Wakefield WF3 4QS

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature

conservation charity, inspiring everyone to

give nature a home. Together with our

partners, we protect threatened birds and

wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside

will teem with life once again. We also play a

leading role in a worldwide partnership of

nature conservation organisations.

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