Berkshire Ornithological Club

News

Berkshire Bird Index 2008 18 Aug

2008 was the ninth year of the Berkshire Bird Index (BBI). The BBI was started in 2000 to use statistically analysed hard data to try to measure changes in bird populations in the county, especially for the more common species. It uses the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) methods and data, and the BTO carries out the analysis. The BBI achieves a much larger coverage across the county than is usual for a BBS, to give as thorough a picture of Berkshire’s birds as possible, and Berkshire has one of the highest number of BBS observers of any county in the UK, with 95 squares surveyed in 2008 (about 5.2 % of the county).

The report discusses the changes in both resident and migratory species in Berkshire over 2000-2008 (the period for the BBI) and 1994-2008 (the period for the BBS). The changes for 1994-2008 are compared with changes in the South-East of England over the same period.

The BBI is a work in progress, and the population trends will become clearer and more reliable the longer the survey runs. Consequently, we very much hope that we can maintain or expand the number of squares surveyed, so if you do not have a square, volunteer today!

BOC launches new programme for 2010–2011 16 Aug

The Club is delighted to announce its programme for the new season, the indoor meetings beginning on 29th September at the usual venue of Room 109, Palmer Building, Reading University. An exciting variety of subjects is in prospect this winter with the top event being a celebrity lecture by Mike Dilger from the BBC’s "The One Show" in January including some film from the show and an inside story on making wildlife clips for television. Other highlights include Gordon Langsbury’s AGM show on the subject of waders and a return of Mike Leach to continue his entertaining exploration of the world of Owls.

The field trips are many and varied, twenty five of them starting on 11 September with a coach trip to Dungeness. Also, we are pleased to announce a visit to Andalucia led by Ken White, our joint Berkshire BTO Representative. If you would like to start closer to home, we have local walks on Thursdays each month, some to familiar spots and some to new places in and around Berkshire.

One important thing to note is that this year some indoor meetings will be at different locations in Reading University. Please check your membership card each time to ensure you find the right place. A map is on the website. Make sure you join us on as many occasions as possible and we look forward to your company.

A new breeding bird for Berkshire 28 May

It has just been announced that Oystercatchers have bred at Theale. Oystercatchers have been seen on several gravel pits across the county this year and may have attempted breeding at more than one. Oystercatchers typically breed around the coasts and inland on shingle river beds and moorland in the north of the UK. The four chicks seen last week by Ken Moore and Roger Stansfield at the Theale Main Pit are the first confirmation of breeding in Berkshire for this species, which Ken Moore reports has been gradually spreading southwards through the midlands in recent years. Welcome to Berkshire! More...

Garden Bird Feeding Research: Volunteers Needed! 23 May

Ecologists at the University of Reading are launching a series of projects to look at some of the impacts of feeding birds in our gardens, including the effects on species other than birds. They are currently looking for volunteers in Reading to join two of their projects. More...

BOC Photographic Competition 2010 - yet another new winner! 1 Apr

For the first time, Marek Walford won the Gordon Langsbury Cup at the BOC Photographic Competition for his superb portrait of a Black-necked Grebe. This is a continuation of the remarkable run of new winners every year since at least 2003.

A collection of superb photographs was entered by Colin and Patricia Humphrey between them winning three of the four top prizes in the two contested categories. However, a total of five portraits were marked at maximum by the judges Gordon Langsbury and David Cromack ensuring stiff competition in the final selection for the Portrait section. In Action, a remarkable nine entries attracted maximum marks making the final selection of the winner even harder.

A total of seventy five entries were contested in the Portrait section and forty two in the Action category. Due to lack of entries the digiscoping category was not contested. This was again a very high quality and competitive evening and David Cromack is investigating further publication opportunities for the winners.

The competition was sponsored by London Camera Exchange to whom the Club offer their gratitude.

Berkshire's breeding birds: changes over the last twenty years 30 Mar

The first two years of atlas surveying are indicating distribution changes from twenty years ago, some of which reflect known national trends, others perhaps not anticipated. More...

Can you help monitor Reading Council’s bird conservation measures? 12 Mar

Giles Sutton, Reading Borough Council's biodiversity officer, explains the environmental mitigation measures required for some planning applications: in Reading, nesting sites are encouraged for urban breeding birds such as Swifts, House Sparrows, House Martins. Can you help monitor how effective they are? More...

BBS - Vacant Squares 9 Mar

Can you take on a breeding bird survey for the BTO? There are several squares in Berkshire that the BTO is seeking volunteer surveyors for (see map). Please contact Ken White or Sarah Priest at btoberks.ken.sarah googlemail.com.

Protecting the Ground Nesting Birds on Greenham and Crookham Common 9 Mar

Greenham and Crookham Common, close to Newbury in West Berkshire, is a registered common permitting open access to all, and has become an extremely popular place for dog walking and other outdoor pursuits. The area is also an important nesting site for some of Britain's most endangered birds. West Berkshire Council (WBC) and Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) have joined forces to champion all wildlife at the site and as the 2010 nesting season gets underway, they are working hard to meet the needs of both visitors and the vulnerable ground nesting birds. Katty Baird, writer for BBOWT, tells us more.

Update and offer from London Camera Exchange 22 Feb

We have received the following from London Camera Exchange.

Zeiss

We have 1x green angled Zeiss 65mm scope with both the 30x and the 15-45x

• Normal price for the scope with the 30x is £1290
• Normal price for the scope with the 15-45x is £1390
• Normal price for the scope and both lenses would be £1519
• We are currently selling the kit for £1249
• I can offer the whole kit to the members for £1179
• This is a new scope but it has been in our Zeiss cabinet

Kowa

Pyser, the company that has been importing Kowa for as long as I've have been here have lost the distribution, so at the moment we can't get anything by Kowa. There are rumours that another company will be making an announcement soon as to being the new distributer, I'll keep you posted as soon as I hear anything.

QMR Update 22 Feb

Last week thieves cut the lock chain on our gate into Queen Mother Reservoir, cut a hole into the sailing club building and stole the club's safe. Thames Water have sealed our gate until a new entry system can be installed. In the meantime, we can only use the reservoir when the sailing club gate is open (exit passes to lower the barrier when it is in operation must be obtained from the sailing club office). The club office is normally closed on Mondays and open between 10 am (though the gate may be open earlier) and 6 pm on other days.

Thames Water are planning to install a card operated system (and perhaps number plate recognition), though this could take several months. An update will be issued when the new system is fitted.

BOC Photographic Competition – 17th March 2010 19 Jan

We are now inviting entries for the 2010 Competition and the Gordon Langsbury Cup. The maximum entries you can submit will be four in each category and they must be sent, preferably by email, to the Organiser, Colin Wilson by 10th March at the latest. The categories will be Digiscoped, Portrait and Action. This year there will be no Digiscoped competition unless we receive a total of more than 20 entries from a minimum of six people so do please send them in if you use this method of photography. To enter Digiscoped the photograph must have been taken using a camera through a telescope. Portrait is a picture taken by any camera or method demonstrating a bird clearly, preferably in its natural habitat. Action is a photograph of the bird in movement which may be flying, feeding, preening or any other activity. No photographs of captive birds will be acceptable.

Prizes will be given for the winners and runners-up in each category. The overall winner wins the Gordon Langsbury Cup for 2010. For more information see the 2010 Photographic Competition Rules or call Colin Wilson on 01252 837411 or email at colin.wilson berksoc.org.uk

This year we hope will match or surpass last year’s competition so get out the cameras and get shooting! And don’t think the competition is sewn up before you join in – in the last seven years there has been a different winner of the Gordon Langsbury Cup every time!

Birds and Bats 17 Jan

Members might like to consider supporting a petition to government to make provision for birds and bats in building development mandatory.

The commendable drives for more energy efficient homes and redevelopment of existing buildings have led to decline in the number of bird and bat species that have come to depend upon our homes and buildings for their nesting and roosting sites for Bats and birds (such as the Swifts, House Sparrows and Starling)that live within our buildings. All have shown a marked decline over the last decades. The refurbishment of historic buildings, the conversion of old factories etc into apartments etc, and more energy efficient homes, although necessary, have left these species with fewer sites. Although these species are protected this has not prevented these sites being lost. I would ask that the government make mandatory within the building regulations the needs of these species are provided for within a suitable building whether this be “new builds” or redevelopment. There are a variety of ways to do provide suitable sites for these species; from installing "nest bricks" at the original building stage, to retro fitting boxes under the eaves or within roof spaces of buildings.

You can sign up to the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BirdsBats/.

Berkshire Bird Atlas - Distribution Maps 9 Jan

Based on the data submitted in the first two years of surveys, we have prepared maps of the species richness of tetrads and the distributions of individual wintering and breeding species. These provide a guide to progress so far and gaps in the distributions for which we seek more information... more

Berkshire Bird Atlas update and request for more breeding records 23 Dec

The Atlas Group is pleased to announce considerable progress in the survey work and a report of progress is shown on this website. One of the concerns about the breeding season progress is the shortage of breeding records and new assistance is provided in recording breeding evidence on our new Atlas webpage.

We welcome all assistance in providing breeding records whether they are as a result of being a recorder for the Berkshire or BTO National Atlas or just having casual records such as Blue Tits, Blackbirds or House Sparrows breeding in the garden. Easy ways to record these are shown on the main Atlas page and all help is very welcome. Any questions can be addressed to: colin.wilson berksoc.org.uk.

Black-headed Gull Colour Ringing 23 Dec

Tim Ball, from Reading and Basingstoke Ringing, explains more about their project to colour-ring Black-headed Gulls at breeding colonies in Berkshire... more

Ring-necked Parakeets invading Berkshire 3 Dec

Ring-necked Parakeets have expanded into Berkshire rapidly over the last 20 years. Largely restricted to the Windsor area in the late 1980s, by summer 2008 they had spread to much of the east of the County. We have had a request for help in monitoring this expansion from Dr Alexa Lord at Imperial College, London... more

Ringing Demo - Update 28 Nov

Despite a rather poor weather forecast the rearranged ringing demonstration given by Tim Ball on 8th November was a great success - this is his report together with a few photographs... more

Annual General Meeting 20 Nov

At a well-attended Club AGM on 11th November, the Chairman, Neil Bucknell, reported that membership continues to grow - the Club now has about 400 members, twice the size of seven years ago. In the last year, the Club negotiated an access license for its members to Queen Mother Reservoir and is working with Reading Borough Council and others on a number of conservation projects. Ken Moore's summary of bird records for the year was delivered by Colin Wilson. Our Treasurer, John Roberts, explained that after seven years without a change, it would be necessary to increase subscription rates in 2010 - full details will be published in the New Year.

Neil Bucknell retired as Chairman after his three-year term. His successor is Renton Righelato who stood down as Secretary after 8 gruelling years - Mike Turton took up the secretarial pen. Three other Committee members retired at the end of their three-year terms: Rosalind Stanley, Andy Tomczynski and Colin Wilson. They were replaced by Neil Bucknell, Fraser Cottington and Bill Nicoll. The President, Gordon Langsbury, thanked all the Officers and Committee members and went on to give a spectacular presentation on wintering birds in New Mexico.

2005 Bird Report available now 6 Sep

The latest Report is now available. Our biggest and best yet! A Robert Gillmor painting of the Laughing Gull adorns the front cover and 154 pages of information, 16 in colour with graphs and a selection of colour photos to catch the eye. Articles include accounts of feral Barnacle and Snow Geese at Eversley, the finding of the Laughing Gull, a survey of warblers at Theale and a study of Tree Pipits in West Berkshire amongst others.

The 2005 Report is available from the Report Editor or Secretary for £7.50 plus £1.50 P&P (Cheques payable to Berkshire Ornithological Club). Free to BOC Members.

KENNET VALLEY PARK - protect the area for ever 3 Sep

The area, well known to members, lies between Reading and the M4. It is beautiful and sometimes magic, the flood-plain of the River Kennet, a haven for wildlife - one of the best nightingale sites in England, it is enjoyed by nature-lovers, anglers, boat people, ramblers, cyclists, and by many local residents as a quiet peaceful place within easy reach of their homes.

Every five years or so, starting in the early 1980's, Kennet Meadows has been under threat, whether from gravel companies or from builders. The latest, from a consortium led by Prudential's property arm, PRUPIM, who wanted to build 7500 houses there, suffered a major setback when, following yet another campaign by local people, the Department for Communities and Local Government took it out of the South-East Plan because of the flood risk it posed to the area and to central Reading.

A petition, following a resolution from veteran Kennet Meadows campaigner Pete Ruhemann to Reading Borough Council, which received all-party support, seeks to end the threats to Kennet Meadows by putting the area into a Trust to be managed for the benefit of local people. Please give it your support. The BOC fully supports this proposal, not least because of the value of the area for birds and wildlife. The petition can be accessed on-line at "Make Kennet Meadows a Trust" Petition

QMR Access 1 Sep

Because of vandalism to the BOC entry gate at Queen Mother Reservoir, the full access arrangements have been suspended pending repair of the locking system. In the meantime permit holders may visit during sailing club hours. The Datchet Water Sailing Club has agreed to issue exit passes to permit holders (go to the club office) enabling us to visit during the Club's opening hours (in the summer 9.30 to half an hour before sunset; in winter 10 am to 6 pm; the club is closed on Mondays). Visitors should check the closing time and make sure that they have left the site before the club locks up. An announcement will be posted as soon as the BOC gate is functional again.

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