n e w s l e t t e r WINTER 2014

AN ON-LINE COLOUR VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE AT:

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/suttoncoldfield/ Then click on ‘NEWS’

Sutton Coldfield Local Group

Editorial A very warm welcome to the latest edition of the Newsletter from your Local RSPB Group. We have plenty to read about in this issue and so we hope that whether you are one of our ‘regular’ readers or a ‘newcomer’, that you may find it interesting, perhaps informative but above all enjoyable! Many of you may be aware of the RSPB’s new campaign ‘Vote for Bob’ and we are encouraged to do just that by Bob himself and given details of how we can get more involved in helping to get nature on to the political agenda (p2). We find out about ‘A Hidden Gem in the Urban Landscape’ and discover how changes affecting bullfinches means we may be lucky enough to see them closer to home (p3).

It seems that the good weather we have enjoyed this year (in contrast to last year’s summer deluge) has meant many of you have been out and about and have been kind enough to share your birding highlights with us. Did any of you manage to see the wonderful spectacle created when it is estimated around 30,000 swallows gathered in September in Anglesey as they prepared for their long migration south? Perhaps Janet Meakin’s sightings were part of this incredible event (p4-5). The University of Birmingham are involved in a collaborative research project, Liveable Cities, and as part of this research are currently investigating movement patterns of birds through bird ringing. They explain how we can all contribute to this research by recording birds which have been

A great tit (p6)

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ringed as part of this project, so, if you would like to get involved keep those binoculars handy and let them know should you spot one of the ringed birds (p6-7).

If you enjoy testing your knowledge in our ’Just for Fun’ quizzes then we have another one for you (p7). No prizes I’m afraid, but why not let us know how you get on? Many thanks to everyone who has sent in contributions and so until next time...

Happy Birding! Jackie, Editor

A nuthatch, a bird seen at Martineau Gardens (p3)

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Hello everyone, I’m Bob - you might have heard a little about me recently. Well, here I am! I’m spearheading a new campaign – ‘Vote for Bob’ – to get nature on to the political agenda. I hear you’re an amazing bunch of humans who love wildlife and want to help. That’s exactly what I need. I may be a red squirrel, but once you get past my bushy tail, pointy ears and primary diet of pine cones and nuts, there’s not much difference between me and you. Honest. I’ve decided I can no longer sit idly by while the woodlands, meadows and wildlife around me are disappearing. It’s time to make a stand. Squirrels are quite good at standing up when they sense a threat. I want to challenge politicians to take nature seriously. In the run-up to the General Election now is the time to get nature on their agenda. And over the next few months, I’ll be doing just that through my Vote for Bob campaign. With the help of folk from the RSPB, the campaign is off to a great start. Thousands of people have already cast their vote and shown their support for nature. You can learn all about me and my campaign and start getting involved by visiting my website voteforbob.co.uk. A vote for Bob is a vote for nature. Sign the petition today. And please share my campaign with your friends and family. Thanks Bob

Did you know... The coat of the red squirrel varies in colour with the time of year and location. There are several different coat colours ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain; in other parts of Europe and Asia different coat colours co-exist within populations, much like hair colour in some human populations. The underside of the squirrel is always white-cream in colour. The red squirrel sheds its coat twice a year, switching from a thinner summer coat to a thicker, darker winter coat with noticeably larger ear-tufts (a prominent distinguishing feature of this species) between August and November. A lighter, redder overall coat colour, along with the ear-tufts (in adults) and smaller size, distinguish the Eurasian red squirrel from the American eastern grey squirrel.

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A Hidden Gem in the Urban Landscape

Within a few metres of the busy Bristol Road, Edgbaston Cricket Ground and the Priory Tennis Club is Martineau Gardens, a garden and wildlife sanctuary in the very heart of the city. Martineau Gardens is a community garden with formal garden areas, an orchard, a ‘veg’ patch and fourteen hectares of broadleaf woodland. All these (and more) habitats are maintained by a group of volunteers without whom the gardens could not survive, or open free of charge, six days a week. The woodland is bordered by residential gardens on one side and the tennis club on the other. It is dominated by pedunculate oak trees some of which are over 150 years old and the woodland also includes sweet chestnut, elder, beech, sycamore, hazel and field maple trees. Down the slope at the very bottom of the woodland is a clearing that is home to six permanent beehives, (tended by an expert bee keeper), whose honey is harvested each year, poured into jars and sold to the public, as if to underline the organic credentials of every thing grown and sold at Martineau Gardens. Speaking to Brian Perry the bird recorder at Martineau Gardens, it is evident that some notable bird sightings do take place including great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, and treecreeper. Typically, great, blue and coal tits, bullfinches, and long tailed tits are seen, especially at the birdfeeder or from the bird hide, as well as the occasional green woodpecker. While Martineau Gardens is not renowned for bird sightings it does have the secluded location and habitats to attract rarer one-off sightings such as woodcock, willow (or was it a marsh) tit, kestrel, peregrine falcon, as well as one sighting of a red kite!

Winter visitors include goldfinches, siskin, greenfinches, redpoll and goldcrests. Jays are regular visitors, jackdaws are seen from time to time, and buzzards and sparrowhawks have been seen overflying. These sightings along with others may be in part due to a fragmented ‘green corridor’ running along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston Pools, (accessed from the nearby Winterbourne Gardens) that the birds can travel along.

Brian explained that the volunteers are able to put out peanuts and seeds for the birds throughout the winter and spring seasons due to a generous donation of feed from one of the garden’s supporters. Also in the woodland, (managed primarily as a nature reserve), there are seven nest boxes. Most are used each year by blue and great tits and this is largely determined by the size of the hole on the plate fixed to each box. Although one year, when the nest boxes were flooded out, the birds nested under the eaves of the roof of the pavilion! The nest boxes are checked each year and old nesting material is cleaned out and the boxes are sterilised to remove the danger of parasites surviving from one year to the next. Some readers may be surprised by the presence of bullfinches at Martineau Gardens, but figures from the BTO Garden Bird Feeding Survey show that the numbers of bullfinches visiting gardens has increased six fold since the mid-1990s. Brian speculated that they may have travelled in from the orchards of Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Other reasons suggested by BTO studies include the fact that they are no longer persecuted as an agricultural pest, and that food supplements and feeder designs have diversified hugely in recent years allowing the bullfinches to get a toe hold in gardens. So much so that counts are now higher in suburban than rural gardens. Continues on page 8...

A jay, a regular visitor to the gardens

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A male bullfinch

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BIRDING/WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS - 2014

MAGGIE PERRIS We recently visited Welney Wetlands Centre in Norfolk and saw lots of lovely birds including whooper swans and cranes but the highlight came at the end of the trip when we popped into the main hide for one last look. Our attention was drawn by a highly visible reed warbler immediately outside the window but following it as it took off, we were delighted to see two yellow wagtails on the walkway roof - not just two magnificent adults but also two juveniles! A bit of a put-down followed when excitingly reporting this at reception on our departure we were told there had been 20-30 there the previous week!

LINDA HOBBS On Saturday 6th September 2014 along with hubby Paul and two others from the Birmingham RSPB Group, I went on my first skua and shearwater boat trip from Bridlington. It was also the first of the season for the boat too. It made a change seeing Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head from the sea. I might have seen all the birds but for being on the wrong side of the boat, however, I really enjoyed the experience. BARBARA VALENTINE At the end of April

I went to Yorkshire for a few nights. Having visited Bempton for my puffin ‘fix’, I decided to go to Spurn for the first time. Imagine my surprise when I was flagged down just before the car park. It was a case of mistaken identity – but well worth it. Following instructions I hurried down the track and found a hoopoe hopping along. Brilliant! JANET MEAKIN As I cycled the North Wales

coastal path in mid-September, I watched around 2,000 house martins skimming over the sand at low tide; it was a sight to behold.

BERNARD ROBINSON Not quite a highlight, more of a question! From early September for at least a month or so carrion crows have been pecking (and digging up to be more accurate) a grass verge area opposite my house. They have wrecked an area of around 25 sq.m. in total. Clearly they are finding insects, but can anybody suggest what? I have searched the disturbed ground but haven’t been able to spot anything. SUE WEBSTER 3rd Sept 2014,

RSPB Sandwell Valley. My friend and I saw 2 kingfishers from the Lake Hide, plus 10 cormorants, 1 gadwall, a heron family with 2 chicks learning to feed, 3 adult swans, 4 cygnets, a female sparrowhawk and a hobby which flew across the lake towards the hide and went straight over the top of it and us! Sept 30th, Sandwell Park Farm. On the pond behind the farm my friend and I saw several dragonflies and witnessed a mallard jump up out of the water and try to grab one. Missed! ROS BRADLEY It was very pleasing to see

a ‘lifer’ at our local RSPB reserve – a Pacific golden plover. Our only other new bird of the year was the spectacled warbler in Burnham Overy Dunes, Norfolk. IAN WARD Whilst on holiday at Cheddar early in the year, my wife and I were walking through a public car park in the village when we spotted a dipper. It then took off and flew two feet above our heads and disappeared in the local stream. It was just so unusual to see a dipper flying across a busy public car park. ROSEMARY AND VICTOR PARSLOW

Our highlight was being able to watch a dipper preening for about 10 minutes without being concerned that we were watching him/her whilst we were on a walk from Hawes to Aysgill Force, Wensleydale.

A yellow wagtail, adult male

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MARTIN WILTSHIRE An October morning stroll with my dog, along the Otter Estuary in Budleigh Salterton, was quickly upgraded into a “twitch” by a casual remark from a passerby when an elderly lady with a pair of ancient binoc’s, asked if I had seen the grey phalarope. I hadn’t but with a few minutes of searching the saltmarsh, the little gem revealed itself. As I stood watching, it fluttered across the top of the water towards me and I could not believe it kept coming and settled down at the water’s edge less than 15 feet from me. Fortunately my dog ignored it and it stayed there just long enough for me to get my camera phone out of my pocket, focus and take the shot...just out of frame! Never-mind, the sight of an unexpected, but really rare migrant, made my day. MARGERY WILLIAMS

Going over to Ireland in June, I spotted two Manx shearwaters flying alongside the ferry. They flew with us for most of the way. It was wonderful seeing how fast and acrobatic they were as they weaved and skimmed the tops of the waves trying, or so it seemed, to keep pace with the boat.

Then, half way across the Irish Sea, there was a small group of black guillemots swimming nearby. I was pleased to see them as the last time I'd seen black guillemots was on the RSPB coach trip to Anglesey about two or three years ago. We'd stopped off at Holyhead harbour on the way to South Stack and we saw, through our scopes, just two swimming about amongst the boats. A few days later, when walking along the cliffs at Bray, there were three groups of 12 or more black guillemots swimming and flying about at close quarters. It was wonderful seeing so many and not really needing my binoculars. Seeing the black guillemots close up in Ireland, as well as the Manx shearwaters, was really something special.

COLIN SEDGWICK My recent birding highlight was a pelagic trip off Cape St Vincent, Portugal. We travelled 10 miles out into the Atlantic ocean to catch up with some trawlers which were surrounded by sea birds. Amongst this throng were 4 species of shearwater, including great and sooty, both European and Wilsons storm-petrels, great skuas bullying smaller birds and several sabine gulls as well as more common gulls like yellow-legged. On the return we saw porpoise and bottle-nosed dolphin. Great trip, 6 new species for me, despite sea-sickness! JOHN DAVIS Arriving at Penang airport early,

the sky was as usual filled with raptors. The airport is the largest area of flat grass in an otherwise tropical hilly island. So take your binoculars and enjoy some birdwatching whilst your plane is delayed!

JEAN WILLIAMS Whilst on holiday in Porec in Croatia in early September, we had seen many birds on migration, including swallows, martins, willow warblers and pied flycatchers, but one day when we had travelled a few miles down the coast to a place called Laguna, all at once there was a movement on the grass nearby,

and there was this fantastically marked bird, obviously looking for insects and completely ignoring us standing there. Only ever seeing pictures of them before, I could only guess what it was, but for some reason I was expecting it to be larger than it was, but it was the shape and wonderful markings which made me think that it couldn’t be anything else. It was only by taking a photo of it and positively identifying it when I got home, that I could be sure that I had seen my first wryneck.

The wryneck photographed by Jean

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And from a little further afield...

Black guillemots, adults

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URBAN BIRD STUDY Help the University of Birmingham record colour ringed birds.

The University of Birmingham are conducting research into the breeding performance and movement patterns of birds living within the City of Birmingham.

Part of the three-year study involved the installation and monitoring of 300 nest boxes within 30 study sites; including parks, recreation grounds and other green-spaces across Birmingham. As the breeding season has now finished for cavity nesting birds such as the blue tit and great tit researchers are currently investigating the dispersal and movement patterns of birds across the City through a programme of mist netting.

Mist netting involves the temporary installa-tion of fine nets set between poles to catch birds in flight. Once caught a lightweight, uniquely numbered, metal ring is fitted onto a bird’s leg by licensed handlers. These standard British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) rings provide a reliable and harmless method of identifying birds when they are encountered again. Various biometrics are taken from the birds, including age, sex, weight, wing length, fat and muscle score, before releasing them after a few minutes.

This year small, brightly coloured plastic rings are being fitted to the legs of six garden bird species; dunnock, great tit, robin, long-tailed tit, blue tit and coal tit. For each study site one of 12 different colour rings are being used. The University are asking for our help in recording any birds seen wearing a coloured ring either in our gardens, parks or whilst out and about. As a different ring colour is being used for each study site researchers can then calculate how far birds are moving across the city; between the site where the colour ring has been issued and the next encounter.

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A blue tit

A blue tit having been colour ringed

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A great tit, colour ringed

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‘Just for Fun’ Quiz Answers will be available from February at our indoor meetings and on our website

1. Which country has the peacock as its national bird?

2. Which bird is sacred in Peru?

3. Which popular bird was named after what was wrongly thought to be its country of

origin?

4. Which bird makes a call like a fisherman’s reel?

5. Red-tailed hawks, bushtits, ruddy ducks, and black-capped chickadees are all birds

native to which continent?

6. Which football teams have the following nicknames, a: the bluebirds, b: the cherries

c: the bantams, d: the gulls?

7. Which of the following did not star in Alfred Hitchcock`s film `The Birds`?

Donna Reed, Jessica Tandy or Tippi Hedren?

8. What is the fear of birds called?

9. Which actress played Dorien in the TV sitcom `Birds of a Feather`?

10. In the film `Psycho` what is Norman Bates` hobby?

11. How is the chaparral cock, a ground cuckoo native of Mexico, better known?

12. Where would you find brackish water?

13. Which country has the world’s highest waterfall?

14. What is the second longest river in the world?

15. What is the deepest sea trench called?

16. What percentage of a tomato is water?

17. Animals can be classified by food type, e.g. insectivores eat insects. In each of the

following cases, indicate what the animal eats: a: folivore, b: granivore,

c: omnivore, d: ophiophagy, e:lepidophagy, f: detritivore, g: oophagy

18. Common, water and pygmy are types of which British mammal?

19. How many wings does a bee have?

20. What are grey dagger, forester and dingy footman species of?

So if you see a colour ringed bird in your garden or whilst out and about then please record the following: bird species, ring colour, time, date and sighting location and let the researchers know!

To find out more about the project or to report a colour ring sighting please contact the researchers via email dxh232@bham.ac.uk OR telephone 07835632525.

All bird food used during the study has been kindly sponsored by Twootz.com.

A colour ringed great tit

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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.

The Sutton Coldfield Local Group was established in 1987 and is run by volunteers. It holds regular events to which

RSPB members and the public are welcome. If you would like more details, in the absence of a Group Leader please contact RSPB Banbury on 01295676447

The Field Meetings Organiser is: Tony Green, 22 Milton Avenue, Tamworth, Staffs B79 8JQ Preferred contact by email: tonygreen777@hotmail.co.uk or Tel: 01827 750633 Mobile: 07531329664

This Newsletter is edited by Jackie Bloor, 18 Glenville Drive, Erdington, B23 6PR Tel: 0121 382 4602

The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the RSPB or of the Group Committee.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity:

England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

We are on the Internet! We now have our own RSPB website, it can be viewed using the following link:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/suttoncoldfield/

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A Hidden Gem in the Urban Landscape - continued from page 3 Quite apart from birds, Martineau Garden’s oak woodland also has purple hairstreak butterflies and the oak bush cricket. It has the nationally scarce Deptford pink wildflower and eyed and pine ladybirds. In addition there is bog bean in the garden’s ornamental pool and the nearest place where it occurs is Little Bracebridge! Moths are trapped on a regular basis and over 200 species have been found with still more to be identified. So Martineau Gardens has a lot to offer to the visitor, not the least for being a place of peace and quiet and a homely cup of tea or coffee (in return for a donation). Martineau Gardens is open six days a week (closed on Sundays), between 10.00am and 4.30pm. For information on forthcoming events and a lot more please visit www.martineau-gardens.org.uk

PAT BRAMBANI It was with great sadness that we learned in June that Pat Brambani had unexpectedly passed away in her sleep. Pat had been a Committee Member for the Group for many years. In the years before her health deteriorated, she had contributed so much to the running of the Group, particularly in respect of Sales. Although unable to attend meetings, she continued to take a great interest in the Group accompanying her son, Paul, on trips to The Lodge to discuss sales and to get additional casual stock, trips out that she enjoyed and valued. Pat will be greatly missed.

NAREN SHAH

It was also with sadness that we learned that Naren Shah had lost his 12 month battle with cancer in September. Naren was known to many in the Group as being a quiet, gentle man who was a regular at our indoor meetings and was always a very keen supporter of the Group. Naren had somehow managed to combine his favourite interests in life with his enjoyment of nature and wildlife, photography and travel. Naren contributed some wonderful pictures to one of our AGM shows and was a regular contributor to the Newsletter. Naren will be much missed and our sympathy goes to Naren’s wife, Rosemary and to his wider family.