Stoat Monitoring
This is just a reminder about Sarah Sankey's plea for help by our local group members in placing stoat monitoring tubes at various locations (see my email about this). If you are thinking of volunteering but haven't yet got round to it, then there is no time like the present! Sarah's number is 01856 850176 or email: sarah.sankey@rspb.org.uk
Another Volunteering Opportunity
At a recent meeting of your local group committee with Andy Knight the idea was put forward that local group members might be prepared to take visitors to Orkney out on bird watching walks around their area, perhaps pointing out sights of interest, flora and fauna, etc. You wouldn't have to be a great expert but just have local knowledge of the area. Training could be given if necessary. I took a lady from Dorset out around the Mull Head last year and she and I both really enjoyed our day out. If any member warms to this idea they can contact me 01856 741382 or email me and we can see what the response is. This could also be a fund-raiser for the RSPB as I would imagine visitors would be only too pleased to make a small donation in return for a guided walk.
Migrants outing to Stronsay
Alan Leitch led this trip on September 9th on a perfect day weather-wise. His report of the birds seen is as under:
RSPB Local Group Outing to Stronsay
Highlights from a pleasant day in the sun were;
Waders; Greenshank (2), Black-tailed Godwit (45), Knot, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Sanderling (72 - including a colour-ringed bird & 26), Bar-tailed Godwit (14), Snipe, Turnstone, Curlew, and Golden Plover (300+).
Wildfowl; Mute Swan (3prs with broods of 4 cygnets), Pink-footed Geese (23), Red-breasted Merganser (25), Little Grebe (1), Coot (40ish), Pintail (16), Shoveler (17), Wigeon (800+), Teal (50+), Gadwall (2), Tufted Duck (26), and the ever present Greylags...
Passerines; Wheatears numbered (20+), Meadow Pipits dotted around in loose flocks and a few White Wagtails with fewer Pied. Linnet & Twite probably in equal number.
Grey Heron (at least 20 seen), Sandwich Tern (15+), Arctic Skua (2), Peregrine (Ad, male chasing the Black-tailed Godwits) and a cock Hen Harrier on the way to the boat.
Enjoyed the company those who came along. Until next time.
Loons Hide Sessions
Don't forget, an RSPB Warden will be at The Loons Hide (off the B-class road between Twatt & Marwick)on Fridays between 10 am and 1 pm as follows:
Sept. 28; October 5, 12, 19 & 26; November 16; December 14.
Why not go along and see what's about at this popular reserve?
Orkney Field Club Events
Dick Matson has supplied me with details of what's going on in the Autumn: Meetings take place at the St. Magnus Centre, Kirkwall at 7.30 and non-members are very welcome. Entry is £1 for members & £2 for non-members which goes towards costs.
SEPTEMBER Sat 15th or Sun 16th Identifying Migrants. We will visit hot-spots on Mainland Orkney learning how to identify autumn bird migrants. We will choose the day with the better forecast but if both days look unsuitable we will try again on Sat 29th or Sun 30th Sept. Meet at the car-park opposite Tesco’s at 9.30am. Contact: Dick Matson on 751426.
Fri 28th. Club Night. The Orkney Hen Harrier Story. In an illustrated talk Eric Meek gives a brief history of Hen Harrier studies in Orkney, culminating in the findings of Arjun Amar's PhD study and the subsequent investigations and discovery of what caused the decline of the mid 1990s.
October
Sun 7th. Berriedale Picnic. By passenger ferry from Stromness to Moaness. On to Rackwick by minibus and then on foot into Berriedale and back to Moaness via Sandy Loch. We hope to see lots of interesting fungi, migrant birds and other wildlife as well as gorgeous autumn colours. Book with Dick Matson on 751426.
Wed 10th to Fri 12th. Identifying Fungi. Fungal forays on each day, followed by evening workshops in Kirkwall using microscopes. The event will be run by national expert Liz Holden, organised by Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme in association with Orkney Field Club and the Orkney Biodiversity Records Centre.
Booking essential – to book please email julian.branscombe@orkney.gov.uk – or ring 01856 852037, but please note that Julian is now only in the office part-time, and it may take a couple of days for messages on the answer-phone to be responded to.
Fri 19th. Club Night. Telling the Environment with Seaweeds. Dr Martin Wilkinson of Herriot-Watt University explains what seaweeds are and what we can learn from looking at the make-up of seaweed communities on the seashore. While these are influenced by natural factors such as wave action they can also indicate what man-made stresses can do.
Sat 20th . All day in and around Stromness. Special Seaweed Identification Workshop run by Martin Wilkinson organized by Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme in association with Orkney Field Club and the Orkney Biodiversity Records Centre.Booking essential – to book please contact Julian Branscombe as above.
NOVEMBER 11th. Seal Watch South Ronaldsay. By car to Windwick, S Ronaldsay, to discretely watch grey seal pups. We also hope to see bulls competing for females. Meet at 9.45am at the car-park opposite Tesco's (we will share cars). Time permitting those who wish can come on to one or two birdwatching spots in S Ron. Bring extra warm clothing, refreshment and something waterproof to sit on while we watch. Book with Dick Matson on 751426.
Fri 30th. Club Night. From Falconry to Farming. Exploring human-animal relationships in the last 10,000 years through the archaeo-zoological record. An illustrated talk by Prof Keith Dobney of the Department of Archaeology, Aberdeen University.
(The OFC “Christmas” Dinner will be held on 1st February 2013.)
Lichen Events Roger Davies is leader of the OFC Lichen Group and will be organising lichen outings this autumn. If interested please phone Roger on 721395 or email him at roger@headweb.co.uk . Roger is also very happy to help with lichen identification.
Orkney RSPB Wildlife Explorers Programme
Orkney WEX is aimed at children aged 8-12. Younger children are welcome as long as a responsible stays with them. Unless otherwise stated all meetings are charged at £1.50 for RSPB members and £2 for non-members. Contact: Jane Beckwith on 01856-841212 or Kate Thomson on 01856-851835 or email: orkneyrspbwildlifeexplorers@hotmail.com.
Sun 7th Oct. Beach Art. Together we will create art from shells and nature. Try your hand at felting and clay work. Meet: Rendall Hall. Time: 2-4pm
Sun 18th Nov. Seal Pup Watch. Meet: Venue in South Ronaldsay to be confirmed. Time: 1-3pm
Sun 9th Dec. WEX “Wildabout Christmas” Party! Join us for making Christmas crafts and celebrate Christmas with us. Meet: Indoor venue in Kirkwall to be confirmed. Time: 2-4pm
Scottish Ornithologists Club Talks
RSPB members are very welcome to attend these talks which are held at the St. Magnus Centre, Kirkwall starting at 7.30 pm. Talks are free apart from a collection at the door towards costs. This season's talks are as follows:
Thurs. 4th October Atlas 2007-2011 - the final update. Bob Swann, Scottish Organiser for the BTO Bird Atlas Project, will give a personal view of how the bird atlas project progressed over the four years of fieldwork. He will also illustrate the results of this massive project reviewing species that have shown amazing gains in range and others that have witnessed spectacular declines.
Thurs 8th Nov. RSPB Local Group AGM and Talk. After brief AGM business Rory Crawford, RSPB Seabird Policy Officer, will give a talk on Scotland’s Seabirds – a Mystery Wrapped in Contradiction. He tells us how important Scotland is for seabirds, the history of their treatment by the human race, the ground-breaking research currently being undertaken and the conservation measures which urgently need to be implemented. The AGM will start at 7.30 and the talk at 8.15pm. Venue: the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall.
Thursday 7th Feb. Jeremy Brock – Spanish Steppes: Birds of the Laguna.
Thursday 7th March. Edmund Fellowes - Some bird photography adventures in Dumfriesshire de Gallocanta.
Photo Competition
In association with the Orkney Camera Club the RSPB Local Group is running a photographic competition under the title “Wild Orkney: the Way I See It”. The competition is open to Orkney residents and visitors of all ages and photos should focus on one of the following categories:
Wild Open Spaces
Wonderful Colours of Orkney
Waves and Water
Wondrous Nature in Detail
The competition runs from now until the 30th April 2013. Entries should be dropped off at “Visit Orkney”, the Travel Centre, West Castle Street, Orkney, KW16 3AG or posted (clearly labelled “Photographic Competition”) to RSPB, 12-14 North End Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AG.
Visit www.cameraclub for further information and to download an entry form.
Don't forget stamps!
I called into SAS Supplies, Laing Street, Kirkwall the other day only to find about four carrier bags full of stamps waiting for me so some of you have heeded by request to save stamps for the RSPB Save the Albatross Appeal. Please drop off stamps at SAS or at the RSPB Stromness office as they really make a difference to the appeal.
TESCO!!
Just one more appeal - this time for me! Quite a number of members have responded to my plea for help in bag-packing at the Tesco store on Fri.5th/Sat.6th October. I would be grateful for even more names as the more checkouts we can man then the more funds can be raised towards vital conservation work in Orkney. If you are able to spare an hour or two on either day (but particularly on the Friday) then please contact me either by phone (01856 741382) or by email. I hope to hear from some of you.
Phew! that's it for now I think. Please send any items of interest, or photos, to me for inclusion in a future email.
Best wishes, Pauline W/Local Group Sec.