Malta, birds and Europe

The birds and birders of Europe need your help.

There are only 500 signatures on the petition below to stop the European Union giving in to the government of Malta
on bird shooting. I have personally signed up to this and hope other members will add their weight to stop the bird
slaughter in Malta and strengthen the message in countries where they are seeking weaker laws. All it needs is
sixty-seconds of your time.

1. 
   Please support the campaign by sending EU Environment Commissioner Dimas the text provided at: www.proact-campaigns.net/maltarevisited/spring_2006.html
2. 
   You can, in addition, add your name to the online petition at: www.petitiononline.com/malta06
   which will later be sent to Mr Dimas in printed form.
3. 
   You can also access this petition via www.birdforum.net if you are (or
   become) a member.

Thanks for your support.

Colin Wilson –

Lake District trip information

The trip to be organised for 18th (or 19th) May to 21st May 2006 is likely to contain the following features:

• A visit on the way up to Forest of Bowland (for those travelling Thursday)
• At least one trip to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve (probably more)
• A visit to St Bees Head
• A visit to see Ospreys at the RSPB viewpoint
• A visit to the only Golden Eagle site in England (they did not breed in 2005)
• Possible visits to Hodbarrow (RSPB), South Walney Island (Cumbria Wildlife Trust) and Kent valley, Kendal

The itinerary will be settled once the number of people are known and the accommodation has been booked so timings can be fixed.

Birds we hope to see include:Eider (breeding), Osprey (nesting), Golden Eagle, Peregrine, Buzzard, Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart, Dipper, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Fulmar.

At present I have located a recommended hotel with beds from £28.50 to £31.50 per head B&B but it is already very busy in May. This is fairly close to Leighton Moss with views over the estuary from some rooms (hence slightly more expensive!) The hotel also does evening meals (3 course) for £15.50 on Friday and Saturday nights with a good choice, including vegetarian and gluten free options.

I shall need to know who wishes to come quite quickly. So far the only firm bookings I have are as follows:

Harry and Lynn Matthews (double room)
Ruth Angus
Bill Nicol
Myself

(Roger and Ros Stanley will join us as they are staying there independently)

If the trip appeals to you please let me know as soon as possible so I can reserve rooms and complete the plans. This hotel only has 5 rooms free for the three nights, hence 10 people on a sharing room basis will be the maximum we can accommodate here. If I have more than that number I will need to find an alternative place.

Tel 01252 837411 or mobile 07899 066687
Email colin.wilson@theroc.org.uk

Colin Wilson –

The Birds of Berkshire annual reports – back copies for sale

 
The Club hold a limited number of back copies of The Birds of Berkshire reports that are offered to members in return for a donation of at least £3 per copy. Proceeds go to The birds of Berkshire Conservation Fund.

 
If you have old copies that you do not want, please think about donating them to the Club to help the Conservation Fund.

 
If you have reports to donate or would like back copies please contact the Secretary, Renton Righelato.

 
Back copies currently available:

 
1972, 73, 74, 75, 76/7, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82/3, 84, 86/7, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92/3, 96/7.

 
Single copies only are held of several of these.

 
Renton Righelato –

Kingfishers in Berkshire 2005 ? Survey report

The survey of Kingfishers in 2005 has been completed and the report of findings is now available. We would like to
thank all the participants in the survey who contributed with their sightings from the beginning of the year until
the end of August. Special thanks go to Chris Robinson for his time and expertise on compiling the report, to
Marek Walford for providing records from www.berksbirds.co.uk and to Mike
Turton for collating email records. In 2006 we are collecting casual records of Buzzards and red Kite in Berkshire,
another easy survey and we hope you will all contribute further to this.

Colin Wilson –

Lake District trip 19th to 21st May 2006 ? alternative option

This trip, a repeat of a successful visit some years ago, to be lead by Colin Wilson, is being extended for those who wish to spend one more day birdwatching in the Lake District. This will mean travelling to the Lake District on Thursday 18th May. For those travelling on Friday a suggested itinerary for the journey up will be provided and both parties will meet in the hotel in the evening. The main itinerary has not been finally settled but the intention is to visit Leighton Moss (RSPB), St Bees Head (RSPB), the Bassenthwaite Osprey viewpoint and to seek other local specialities like Ring Ouzels, Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warblers etc. Also, if time allows we may visit the Haweswater where Golden Eagles may still be seen.

As bookings for hotels need to be arranged and negotiated members interested should please contact Colin as soon as possible on 01252 837411 so he can assess the numbers and rooms required. The weekend will involve a fair amount of walking (many reserve viewpoints are at least a mile over uneven terrain from car parks) so wet weather gear and walking boots are recommended.

Colin Wilson –

Supporting bird conservation work

The committee of The Birds of Berkshire Conservation Fund has agreed that the fund be merged with the ROC?s Conservation Fund and managed by the ROC. The fund will continue to be called ?The Birds of Berkshire Conservation Fund? and Peter Standley and Neil Bucknall will continue as review committee members, with Renton Righelato as convenor. John Lerpiniere agreed to join the review committee. The Environment Agency, through Malcolm Schofield, will be kept informed of the Fund?s work and their advice sought, particularly of wetland-related projects.

The Birds of Berkshire Fund has given £3,200 in grants over the last three years and the combined fund currently has £3,500 available. See the Club?s website for application details or contact Renton Righelato.

Colin Wilson –

Updating the ROC?s constitution

A number of changes to the Club?s constitution were approved at the Club?s AGM held on 7th December, before the Christmas Social (the AGM had been adjourned from 9th November, when a quorum was not present). The changes were necessary to bring the constitution in line with the Club?s aims and practices as they have evolved and with equal rights practice. The main points are:

• The area of activity of the Club now includes the whole of Berkshire. We produce The Birds of Berkshire Report, organise recording and support bird conservation on a county-wide basis. Thus the previous restriction to the Reading area (Reading is only one of the six unitary authorities in Berkshire) was inconsistent with the Club?s activities.
• Unambiguous inclusion of conservation in our objects as this is a growing part of the Club?s work.
• Replacement of ?Family? membership with ?Joint? membership.
• Removal of the Librarian from the list of Non-executive Officers required. The Club has not had a Librarian for many years: the Secretary maintains the Club?s archive of reports. The Committee has the power to appoint an officer to a new archival role, if required.
• Clarification of Committee voting rights to ensure democratic governance.
• Removing the limit on the number of guests a member may introduce.

The proposed changes have been accepted by the Charity Commission and can now take effect.

Colin Wilson –

Programme changes – December 2005

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to make a second change to the forthcoming indoor programme.

David Cottridge’s talk, “Birds of the Sacred Mountain”, has been postponed until 8th February.

Alistair Mackay has kindly agreed to bring forward his talk on “The London Wetland Centre” to 25th January”

Ray Reedman –

Annual Photographic Competition ? 22 February 2006

In acknowledgement of the number of photographers now using digital cameras we are adjusting the categories for the
competition in 2006. There will be four categories:

• Best slide photograph of a bird (this can be a portrait or action shot)
• Best digiscoped bird in Berkshire
• Best digital bird portrait
• Best digital bird action photograph

The rules will be almost the same as last year but the main change is that the limit for entries to each category
is now limited to 5 instead of 3, so up to 20 photographs may be submitted by participants. Following his
retirement from the competition, Dickie Duckett will join Gordon Langsbury as a second judge in 2006. The rules and
methods of submitting photographs are detailed here. If you need a paper copy please ring Colin
Wilson on 01252 837411 and he?ll send you one.

We would like as many entries as possible and the digiscoping category should open up the field for quite a few
more members to take part. Another excellent competition is in prospect.

Colin Wilson –

ROC Photographic Competition 2006 rules

This year, 2006, we are offering 4 categories in our competition. These are:

• Best slide photograph of a bird (this can be a portrait or action shot)
• Best digiscoped bird in Berkshire (portrait or action shot)
• Best digital bird portrait
• Best digital bird action photograph

Each of the four categories will be judged and winners chosen by Dickie Duckett and Gordon Langsbury. The meeting
will then, on a show of hands, choose the overall winner who will win the Gordon Langsbury Cup, currently held by
Dickie Duckett for his superb Black-browed Albatross composition in 2005.

Overall rules

1. The competition is open to paid up members of the ROC. New members may join on the night if they wish.
2. No more than five entries per category per entrant.
3. Entrants agree to winner and runner up photographs being displayed by the ROC on it?s website and used for publicity purposes, at the Club?s discretion. The ROC will make reasonable attempts to ensure acknowledgement is given to photographers whose work is used in this way.
4. Photographs will be judged on all factors including exposure, colour cast, focus, composition and form.
5. Photography related prizes will be given in all categories for first place and second place and the overall winner will also win the Gordon Langsbury Cup.

Digital section

1. Photographs will be of birds only
2. Limited image manipulation is permissible but no cloning of the bird image itself. Accordingly, adjustment to exposure, sharpening, colour correction, sensor dust spotting and cropping and resizing is acceptable. It is not permissible to clone any part of bird images, or copy or pass off other people?s work.
3. Images should be resized if possible to 1024×768 and 72dpi. If images are not of this size they will be adapted by the ROC without responsibility for the results.
4. Closing date for entries is 15 February 2005. No changes or additions can be considered after that time. Images should be emailed to colin.wilson@theroc.org.uk or sent on a CD to his home address: Blakeney, St. Catherine?s Road. Frimley Green, Surrey, GU16 9NP. Any questions please telephone 01252 837411.
5. The pictures will be placed in Microsoft Powerpoint and shown as a slide show. Portrait pictures will be expanded to full page height.

Colin Wilson –