MEMBERS ENTRIES

Hi all, I have been asked by the committee to help relieve tension, boredom and anxiety for all those self-isolating at this present time.

Apparently, supplying guns is not an option so it was deemed that maybe it would be nice to show some images that didn't quite make the top three in the 2019 foto comp.

The only copy of the images I can presently find is the Judge's copy, which has no name or order. I will try to back-reference them with cross-references supplied. This should make for an interesting mix of pictures. Please let me know if yours is not correct.

As there are lots of great images to view I will have to 'drip feed' a few as and when I'm able.

Please also join in with any nice comments and maybe vote for your personal favourites.

Just before I start I should like to show how one member of the Gossage household is exercising whilst self-isolating.






As you can see mouse watching is very hard work, .......but to continue.

Black-tailed Godwit - Bob Gill, Frampton.

Linnet - John Showers, Minsmere.

Marbled White - Matt Hazleton, Summer Leys.

Spotted Fritillary - Martin Swannell, Mercantor, S.France.

Water Avens - Pete Gilbert, Bavaria

Thick-headed fly - Clive Bowley, Pitsford.

African Elephant  - Bob Mason. Amboseli, Kenya.

Barn Owl - John Tilley, Summer Leys

Bittern - Matt Hazleton, Summer Leys.

European Bee-eaters - Dave Jackson, Bulgaria.

Cheerz, Robin.  p.s. please remember to subscribe to Members' Garden Photos with your images. Thanks.

Wildlife BCN Summer Leys NR Closure

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM WILDLIFE BCN: 

Due to the number of visitors we received over the past couple of days, we have made the difficult decision to close the Summer Leys car park.

We understand how important connecting with nature is at this moment in time, but must do what we can to ensure everyone follows the social distancing advice given by the Government. 

Therefore the car park will be closed from 4.30pm today until further notice. We hope you understand our reasoning for this, please check our website for the latest information as we continue to actively monitor the situation.

Pitsford Water Park Closed

Anglian Water have closed all their water parks;

https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/news/anglian-water-to-close-water-parks-to-limit-spread-of-coronavirus/

"We’ve sadly made the decision to close all of our water parks to the public along with all activities with immediate effect to help limit the spread of coronavirus. None of our car parks will be open and all tracks and gates are closed

Public access will not be permitted in any areas. We had hoped to keep our green spaces open, but the wellbeing and safety of our customers, visitors and colleagues is the most important thing at this time"

Wildlife Trust BCN have closed their Rushden Lakes visitor centre however nature reserves currently remain open although the situation could change over the coming days.

https://www.wildlifebcn.org 

Sywell & Other Country Parks

Country park update - Coronavirus

Our country park car parks, play areas and public buildings are closed for the foreseeable future.
The park grounds are open for outdoor exercise but only in accordance with current government rulings around social distancing.
The closure applies to Irchester, Sywell, Brixworth, Barnwell and Fermyn Woods Country Parks.

CORONAVIRUS - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Following The Wildlife Trust's decision to cancel all talks and meetings the Bird Club committee have come to the decision to follow suit and cancel the April and May indoor meetings as a safeguard to our members.

We would urge everyone to follow the Government's advice and take precautions against Coronavirus as appropriate.

Please check back regularly for updates before the June meeting where Becky Ingham from Hookpod is due to speak. In the meantime we wish you all good health and look forward to convening again once the threat has subsided.

Great Crested Grebe 

The Abington Park Heronry

For the third year running Grey Herons are nesting on one of the islands in Abington Park, Northampton, with one nest occupied and another being built. It’s unclear whether the second nest has a pair or just one heron building and is hidden from view.

Whilst most visitors to the park seem happy with these recent residents some have been keen to express their views. “I don’t like them, they’re ugly” and “they’re nasty, they eat all the babies” are just two of the comments I’ve heard whilst photographing the birds. 

Fishermen seem ambivalent to their presence, justly so as the herons tend to fly out of the park to catch prey and have been seen returning with goldfish taken from garden ponds! Cormorants on the other hand don’t seem to be as welcome, neither was the Otter seen several times during December. 

A Kingfisher has delighted visitors with irregular sightings mostly after heavy rainfall when the river is too murky and fast flowing for it to fish efficiently. Goosander have also been seen in varying numbers with one still present today, and it won’t be long before the prehistoric looking young herons hatch and show their faces above the nest.

All images above taken in Abington Park

Birding Holidays - Update.

With Coronavirus restrictions taking hold across Europe it seems likely that most trips for the foreseeable future will be cancelled. Naturetrek will be contacting everyone affected or through Robin for Club members booked onto the Poland trip.

If we’re not all self-isolating over the next few months there are a few upcoming birding holidays that may be of interest to members. 

Following on from the Club's successful trip to the Camargue last year & Chairman Bob’s excellent talk in January, Neil M. will be leading 2 Naturetrek tours from 2nd - 6th & 6th - 10th May with Dave J. as co-pilot;

https://www.naturetrek.co.uk/tours/the-camargue-in-spring

The Bird Club’s 2^nd trip to Poland from 17^th – 24^th May where we'll be paying a visit to Bialowieza Forest, with more than 200 species of birds as well as mammals such as Wolf, Lynx & Elk.

Possibly more of interest to the photographers amongst us is an intimate 5-day holiday to Svalbard in June where Polar Bears, Arctic Fox & Walrus could be encountered along with many Arctic birds;

http://www.paulalistaircollins.co.uk/workshop-arctic-adventure-2020

For further information please contact the companies in the links or speak to me at the next meeting, hopefully not through a face-mask! 😷

Dave J. 

Red-necked Phalarope - Dave Jackson

Soggy in the Forest of Dean, NBC Car trip

As if there was not enough water about the weather decided to give us another couple of soakings
during the day even though the forecast didn't mention rain.
Four of us gave battle in the forest area, we started the day at New Fancy View a reliably known spot for displaying Goshawk. True to form Richard soon picked up a distant raptor soaring and circling then going into steep dives at incredible speeds, turning on a sixpence and climbing high up into
the sky once again.
Whilst watching this bird displaying a second appeared quite a bit closer, but not everyone got views of this as several trees were in the way, depending where you stood.
Several Common Crossbills flew by and perched reasonably close. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were also noted.




As a shower came in we retreated and made our way to a lovely little churchyard in Park End.
From here we made our way down through the wooded valley. Typical woodland birds were seen,
Song Thrush, Tits,  Robin, Blackbird and more than several loud calling Nuthatch. Moving on across an old railway station line to a stream, without warning a Dipper suddenly broke cover and shot up-stream out of sight.




A little further on we came to the village green enhanced with several lines of Yew. This is the place for seeing the secretive Hawfinch. Scouring the shadows Bob soon found this fabulous chunky Finch. Appearing almost twice the size of a nearby Chaffinch it still managed to mysteriously melt away in front of our very eyes.

We back tracked and had lunch on a nearby bench surrounded by singing birds.




 Moving on we headed to Cannop Ponds, now a pay and display area. The beautiful Mandarin Duck can always be found here. The males are outrageously gorgeous and although in comparison the female isn't so gaudy she is lovely in her own right.




Wendy found a rather nice Grey Wagtail by the stream running through the wooded area.




 There is a bird table situated just beside the road,  bereft of food and birds I decided to sprinkle some of our  bird food (that we always carry) on it. Immediately lots of birds just came from nowhere and fed in frenzy, Brilliant!






We thought we would try New Fancy Viewpoint again, to finish the day. A pair of Ravens displayed close to with Goldcrest and Treecreeper feeding nearby.  Rain set in so the sat-nav was set for home.

 Thanks go to Bob, our dedicated driver for the day and also for all his images here.