Outdoor Meeting 5th July

Hello

Next Wednesday (5th July) is the club's summer outdoor meeting at Pitsford Reservoir.

The meeting starts at 7pm promptly, with a planned walk from the Fishing Lodge across the causeway and in to the Scaldwell Bay. It is anticipated that we will reach the Bird Club hide and scan from there and then walk back to the Fishing Lodge. The water level is very low currently with quite a bit of exposed mud so hopefully there will be a few waders on show. Nick Parker has kindly volunteered to lead this walk.

In the event of unpleasant weather and the walk isn't viable, committee members Robin G and Bob G will have planned a multiple choice quiz for your delight. There may even be a prize!

It is also anticipated that there will be some mini-beasts on show for your perusal including moths from the reserve traps and invertebrates collected as part of the organised reserve bio-blitz at Christies Copse earlier in the day.

There is no BBQ this year but hot drinks and biscuits will be available as usual.

This event is open to members and non-members alike.

Thank-you

Neil M

Green Sandpiper.

Common Tern.

Common Swift.

Some of the birds likely to be visible
at Pitsford Reservoir next week, images
courtesy of Robin Gossage and Jacob Spinks.

Garden Wildlife

Hello

I think we all enjoy visiting both local and far flung nature reserves to see a variety of wildlife, but it is possible to see quality wildlife right on your doorstep as proved by the following images of creatures photographed in David Arden's garden.

Images by David...

Regards

Neil M

Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly

Grass Snake.

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.

Painted Lady butterfly.

Singing Linnet.

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, in the world of Suffolk lied the Shire of Lakenheath.
In this realm once flew the most beautiful of birds the Golden Oriole but as time
went on they lost their way and were not seen since some years.
And those that mourned their passing did not live happily ever after.

THE END.





Or is it,............

Three Hobbits and two lassies forged their way to this sad and forgotten land and were
enthralled to find a splendid Kingdom of marsh, fen and woodland.

Eager to explore, Trish and Wendy set off to see what birds they could find in this
green and pleasant land. Leaving Bob Mark and Robin behind, they soon found themselves
looking at a wondrous Bittern



Meantime the Hobbits decided to search for the smaller inhabitants of this realm.
Raised flower beds by the entrance were worth searching, for here hiding was a Sulphur
beetle and a small leaf cutter bee.

Notice the blue eyes

We could hear the now rare call of the Cuckoo, but the girls saw it flying over.



The Hobbits heads were down finding a superb micro moth, the second for the shire.

Alder signal Stathmopoda pedella

Slowly moving on after dislodging the stones from between our toes us Hobbits found more goodies

Flecked General a rare soldierfly

Golden bloomed longhorn beetle 

The girls were looking at Kingfishers and Bearded Tits,



Ater a couple of raw Conies later a wifi rider told of six Common Cranes flying in our direction.



The Cranes are almost resident now in the shire, but not satisfied with these the girls watched hobbies hawking the fens.



Not to miss out The Hobbit trio were dancing with the revelation of an absolutely stunning

metallic Musk Beetle nearly two inches long Bob wanted it as a pet.



Marsh Harriers also hunted the fens and breeding Whitethroats were rushing to bring up their
offspring.






Now weary from our exploration we had to be careful not to be attacked by Robbers and one of the largest Horse flies in the Suffolk world.

A huge Large Marsh Horsefly

Give me your money   my precious

We will all sleep well tonight,  Ni Night.

Indoor meeting Wednesday 7th June

Hello

Just a reminder that our next indoor meeting will be this coming Wednesday evening when our guest speaker will be Conor Jameson with his presentation 'Looking for the Goshawk'. This enigmatic, secretive and difficult to observe raptor is always high up on any birdwatchers 'want to see' list and locally the phantom of the forest remains a mythical beast!

As usual the meeting will commence at 7.30pm at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir just outside Holcot village on the Brixworth Road. If you find there isn't enough parking by the lodge please drive down to where the fishing boats are moored and park there. Hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the meeting. We hope to see you there!

Regards

Neil M