A plea for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker records
Survey organiser and Hertfordshire County Recorder, Ken Smith writes:
In most areas the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is in serious decline and for most birders it is quite a challenge even to get it on their year list. The reasons for the decline are not known for sure but work by the RSPB suggested low breeding success was a possible factor. It would be great to be able to compare the results of the RSPB work with those from the BTO Nest Record Scheme to see whether low breeding success is a general problem. Sadly over the last few years the numbers of nest records for this species have fallen to such low numbers that this is not possible.
Lesser Spots can be found nesting in any woodland but seem to be more abundant in well wooded areas and woods with high levels of dead wood. For example wet woodlands along river valleys.
It is obviously difficult to find Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests but I think that some found as part of normal bird watching may be going unreported to the Nest Record Scheme. The usual rule for submitting a nest record is that the contents of the nest must be known on at least one visit. For woodpeckers in general and Lesser Spotted in particular it is usually not possible to view the nest contents without specialist video viewers. However a great deal can be learned about the timing of breeding and likelihood of success from the behaviour of the adults at the nest. By simply recording adult behaviour over a series of visits you can contribute to our knowledge of this species. Monitoring of nests at any stage can provide data in timing and nest outcome.
The value of these observations could be increased considerably if the contents were known, particularly the numbers of large young that are likely to fledge. As a pilot in 2015 a few of us who own the necessary video equipment and poles to inspect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests are offering a flying squad nest inspection service. If you have an active nest with adults feeding young contact me and provided I think the nest is likely to be accessible I will try to arrange for one of us to come and inspect the contents. We will respect site confidentiality where this is an issue.
If you find a nest site, please contact Ken Smith (ken.smith910@ntlworld.com) and please submit Berkshire records of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, in confidence, to the county database.
Chairman’s Report 2014
Change of programme March 18th
Connor Jamieson will be unavailable and Derek Niemann will instead talk on his recent book, “Birds in a Cage”
Beale Park 2014 Bioblitz
Beale Park 2014 Bioblitz – Sat 6th September
Beale Park are holding a Bioblitz this Saturday. It will be a relaxed affair – simply to record all the species you can, no counts/timed effort or similar, and will go on all day. Any birders are welcome, and indeed anyone wanting to record other wildlife too.
Neil Bucknell –
New season programme
New season programme announced
The Committee has put together another great programme of events for the new season, both indoor meetings and field trips. The indoor meetings will feature some top speakers on a variety of bird topics ? something for everyone – with almost all meetings taking place in our usual venue in the Palmer Building at Reading University. Outdoor excursions will take us to many fine birdwatching sites, both near to home and further afield ? some by car and others using a shared coach.
Most outings are day or half day outings, but there are a few weekend options as well. All trips have named contacts so please talk to them to find out more and check that the trip is taking place as advertised. For weekend and longer trips please contact the leader well in advance to allow all the arrangements to be made. The programme card contains information about both indoor meetings and outdoor trips, so keep it handy as a reminder. Printed copies of the Membership/Programme Card will be available at indoor meetings.
Ted Rogers –
2009 and 2010 Reports
2009 and 2010 Reports Published
The 2009 and 2010 Birds of Berkshire Annual Reports are now available from the Secretary for £7.50 each plus P&P (£1.50 per report + £1 per additional report) (Cheques payable to Berkshire Ornithological Club). Free to BOC Members.
Mike Turton –
Meeting 20th November 2013: Change of Speaker
Meeting 20th November 2013: Change of Speaker
For family reasons, Bob Flood is unable to be with us on Wednesday to give the advertised talk. Instead, the Atlas team will give a preview of the new Berkshire Atlas that will be published in December. You will see some of the outstanding drawings and photographs and glimpse some of the fascinating results of the surveys – some expected, some unexpected – that the book contains.
All members are encouraged to come to the meeting on Wednesday as it’s also time for the AGM. It’s worth noting that, if fewer than 50 members turn up, the AGM will have to be postponed to a future date.
There will also be a limited number of copies of Robert Gillmor’s new book ‘Cover Birds’ (all about the covers that he has produced for the Berkshire Annual Reports) available at the meeting at a special members-only price of £10 (normal cover price £12.99).
Mike Turton, Secretary – 18 Nov 2013
Auction of Birds Of Berkshire Covers by Robert Gillmor
Auction of Birds Of Berkshire Covers by Robert Gillmor
The Club is auctioning the originals of the illustrations from the Birds of Berkshire covers for 2005 (Laughing Gull), 2006/7 (Alpine Swift) and 2008 (Red-footed Falcons) by Robert Gillmor to boost the Club funds. The pictures are initialled by Robert and are unframed. Each picture will be sold by a separate sealed bid auction.
Sealed bids are now invited for the 2005 picture of Laughing Gull. These will be opened at the AGM on 20th November 2013. Size of the picture is 130mm x 145mm on a sheet 254mm x 177mm. Price guide in excess of £200.
Bids, bearing the name and address of the bidder and bid value, should be put in a sealed envelope marked “2005 cover artwork” which must be with the Secretary by 8pm on 20th November 2013.
Bids may be handed to the Secretary at an indoor meeting or sent to: The Secretary, Berkshire Ornithological Club, 7 Fawcett Crescent, Woodley, Reading RG5 3HX.
The envelopes will be noted by the Secretary with the time and date of receipt. A bid by the Secretary must be similarly noted by the Chairman. The Chairman and Secretary will open the bids and announce the winner at the end of the AGM and before the talk on 20th November 2013 in Room 109, Palmer Building, University of Reading. If there are equal winning bids the first that was received wins the painting. All bids, other than the winner, will be held confidential by the Chairman and Secretary.
Mike Turton, Secretary – 3 Oct 2013
Fobney Island Wetland Nature Reserve Opening
Fobney Island Wetland Nature Reserve Opening
BOC members are invited to the official opening of ?Fobney Island Wetland Nature Reserve? at 11am on Friday 17 May 2013. Please note the change of date from the preliminary announcement.
Berkshire Atlas & Avifauna – pre-publication offer
Berkshire Atlas & Avifauna – pre-publication offer
The new Berkshire Atlas and Avifauna will be coming out later this year. It will be a beautiful, large format book packed with drawings and photos as well as over three hundred species accounts and chapters on Berkshire bird history, habitats, and a where to watch section. The pre-publication offer provides large discounts on the published price for oders by 20th June. Go to http://berkshirebirdatlas.org.uk/ to see more about the new atlas and for order information. All profits from sales will go to bird conservation work in Berkshire.
Renton Righelato 3 May 2013