ROC trip to the British Birdwatching Fair, Rutland Water

Adding to the summer programme of ROC, we are hiring a coach and driver for the above event on Saturday 21st August. The maximum capacity will be 32 seats: early commitment is advisable. At the fair you can find everything to do with ornithology, optics, books, painting, outdoor clothing etc. with discounts often available. There are plenty of places to eat and drink. Or just bring your binoculars to see Ospreys, Tree Sparrows and much more. Robert Gillmor should also be there.

To make this trip pay we will need to fill the coach, so come and have a fun outing with the ROC this summer!

Schedule: Leave Reading at 7.30 a.m. to arrive circa 10 a.m. (An extra pick up may be possible in East Berks)
Leave Rutland at 5.30 p.m. to return circa 8 p.m.

Cost: £25 per ticket, which includes coach ticket and group rate entry. (There are no further concessions on Saturday for RSPB or Wildlife Trust members). The cost does not include entry to star speaker events, which will need to be pre-booked.

Interested? Then contact Ray Reedman on 0118 9864338 meander2@hotmail.com or Colin Wilson on 01252 837411 colin.wilson@theroc.org.uk to book your tickets.

Colin Wilson –

Fobney Lock and Island ? a nature reserve in the making?

This area is an interesting place to explore for birds. We have recently renewed discussions Brian Uttley started
some years ago with the Reading Borough Council about the potential of the
area for a wetland nature reserve. Signs are positive.

While the development of a reserve will be a long term project the
ROC is keen that as many people as possible to visit the
area and record birds seen there. These will help in designating the site as a reserve and in gaining support
financially.

Our main area of interest is Fobney island itself which lies between the Kennet and Avon Canal and the river
Kennet. The island floods in the winter and creates a rich habitat for many birds. Across the canal to the north
are Fobney and Coley meadows where the fields flood every winter to provide a superb habitat for wetland birds. A
walk across the designated, signed paths in this area will show you reedbeds, meadows and hedgerow habitat
surprising to find so close to the town centre.

We are looking at the possibility of some limited habitat management on the island in the short term, including
mowing and baling and harrowing to create exposed mud. If you feel you would like to be involved in this new
initiative at this early stage, or would like to contribute financially to the
ROC Conservation fund towards the costs of the work, please email
Renton who is currently managing this project for us. In particular, if
you know a farmer or contractor who could help us do this work, preferably, on a non commercial basis, we would
greatly value this help.

The best way to approach Fobney Island area is to follow the signs to the local Civic Amenity Site (refuse tip) on
the A33 and once in Island Road, turn right immediately before you enter the refuse amenity. At the end of this
lane, past Manor Farm Cottages, you will find a rough piece of ground where you can park (SU705709) and follow
footpaths to the lock, onto the canal bank and around the whole area.

All records are valuable, they do not have to be rarities and we would like some for the summer as well as for the
winter so any time is a good time to visit.

Enquiries please to Renton Righelato, or in his absence to
Colin Wilson.

Colin Wilson –

Annual Report 2002 ? Can you help?

Calling all members to assist with the completion of this report! We need some line drawings and a few photographs
to adorn the publication. Can you help with either? We can use most pictures of local birds but specialities
photographed or seen in 2002 would be of most help.

If you think you can assist us or wish to discuss it further could you please contact
Colin Wilson or Peter Standley to
discuss. We aim to publish in the next couple of months.

On a second point, we also need some advertising or sponsorship. If you own a business would you be happy to make a
small contribution in return for an advertisement? Alternatively, why not ask your boss if he or she would support
a good cause and get some positive publicity? A quarter page advert is just £25 and a half page would cost £50. A
full page is available for £100.

One final suggestion is that anyone able to support the club by a personal donation to the cost of the report would
be acknowledged in appropriate fashion so for example, a quarter page message of support could be provided for £25
or be treated anonymously as you wish.

Please let Colin Wilson know if you can help in this way. Thank you for
your support.

Colin Wilson –

Prudential development proposal south of Reading

We understand there will be an exhibition at the Calcot Hotel on 27 to 29th June about the proposed Prudential
development which cuts through many of our most visited bird habitats. This is in advance of a Planning Application
which is expected next year. We encourage members to attend the exhibition and to register their views at every
opportunity.

For further information and a general idea of what is planned at present those with an internet enabled computer
can visit www.kennetvalleypark.com or there is an information line on
0118 975 3040. We are hoping the exhibition will provide more information to interested parties than is available
at present.

Colin Wilson –

Pagham Harbour and wildfowling

The ROC amongst other birdwatching societies, has been asked to help recently on the threat of introducing
wildfowling at Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve. The
Sussex Ornithological Society asked us to write and express concern about an
application for wildfowling at the site.

On behalf of ROC members, many of whom go to Pagham Harbour, at least once a year and probably more often, the
Chairman wrote to the West Sussex County Councillor on the Advisory Board to express concerns about the
application. This was acknowledged and at a recent meeting of the Board the written objections were a strong item
in the Board?s presentation of the future management plan for the reserve.

The next steps are for the Sussex Ornithological Society,
Sussex Wildlife Trust and
RSPB
to state why the introduction of wildfowling would be harmful and for the wildfowlers to state why it would not!
Then a recommendation to the Council will be made by the Advisory Board.

If the recommendation is not accepted by the Council the matter may go to appeal and we will be asked to support
again. We will keep members up to date on developments and in the meantime, if you have a particular interest in
the matter please feel free to email or call Colin Wilson who is handling
the responses for the ROC.

Colin Wilson –

Fobney Lock and Island gallery