Hertfordshire News, Comment and Bulletin articles

This month

Wintering Bittern Research Project

On behalf of the Rye Meads Ringing Group, I am doing a six month study of wintering Bitterns in the Lee Valley, funded by Thames Water Utilities and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, to find out how and where they spend their time, and to discover exactly what their requirements are.

If you see a Bittern this winter anywhere in the Lee Valley (apart from the Bittern Watchpoint at Fishers Green) please let me know. I require the exact time, activity (flying, feeding etc) and precise site. Please ring me (evenings) on 01279 424307 or e-mail alanjohn_harris@lineone.net

Many thanks.
ALAN HARRIS

Solitary Sandpiper at Rye Meads

NEW 18/9/2002 - Paul Roper's report and description of the Solitary Sandpiper is here.

Hertfordshire's 4th - yes FOURTH - Solitary Sandpiper was found by Paul Roper on the scrape in front of Draper Hide at Rye Meads on Friday 13th (who say's it's an unlucky date?). The problem was that the bird was located on a part of the reserve not currently open to the public. In fact, there are plans to turn that area into a reedbed, aided by EU funding. Fortunately the Rye Meads Ringing Group, assisted by RSPB wardens and volunteers, were able to open that part of the reserve up for the inevitable mass of twitchers, all keen to get a view of this mega-rare North American wader.

Access was arranged for Saturday and Sunday, provided the bird was still present - which it was, much to the relief of visiting birders. On Saturday a steady procession of people patiently queued up to wait their turn to enter the hide, which could only hold limited numbers. A one pound donation was requested and we await news of how much money was raised.

The sandpiper performed admirably all day Saturday, which was fortunate when you consider the choice of feeding areas in the immediate area. It often consorted with the regular Green Sandpipers to allow excellent comparisions to be made, and it appeared settled. However on Sunday it became quite mobile and twitchers who had not visited on Saturday grew a little nervous as they queued up. The bird eventually flew off high to the east at 1255, not to be seen again.

Our sincere thanks go to the Rye Meads Ringing Group and RSPB for making this such an orderly and well-organised twitch. Thanks must also go to the visiting birders who, by and large, were very patient and well-behaved, making way for others to get into the hide once they had grilled the sandpiper. Finally, special thanks go to Paul Roper of the RMRG whose terrific find this was.

The three previous records of Solitary Sandpiper in Hertfordshire are (thanks to Lee Evans for information):

Hertfordshire has the unlikely honour of being second only to the Scilly Isles for British Solitary Sandpiper records! Some photos of our latest record, taken by Jim Lawrence, can be seen here. Other photos can be found on the Multimedia page.

Gareth Watkins

Paul Roper of the Rye Meads Ringing Group writes: "Thanks to all of the RMRG members who gave up their days ringing to help with the access and controlling the crowds particularly Alan Harris, Sarah, and Jeroo. Also thanks to the RSPB who also did an excellent job (most of Sunday) particularly Vicky and Carol and a number of other volunteers. Also, thanks to all the birders who were all very well behaved. The odd silly and irate comment (which under the circumstances when you are waiting at a gate in that state of panic were probably expected!!) were all dealt with in the spirit. This type of thing gives you sleepless nights but all went very well thanks to the good organisation and well behaved birders.

At present estimates of people who saw the bird probably run well over 1000, cash raised will go towards the RSPB for conservation work on the reserve and the Rye Meads Ringing Group to fund their studies on the site. Finally thanks to Tringa solitaria for turning up on a Friday night and going at Sunday lunchtime much better than the middle of the week when arranging access is impossible!"

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Bucks Bird Club Conference 2002

The 7th annual Bucks Bird Club conference is to be held on Saturday 19th October at the Memorial Hall, Manor Road, Wendover nr Aylesbury from 0930-1700. The topic for this year's conference will be Bird Habitats and features an interesting selection of talks.

Jeremy Greenwood (Director, BTO) - "Gardens: an important bird habitat"

Rob Fuller (Director of Habitats Research, BTO) - "Recent changes in woodland habitat and their effects on birds"

Neil Lambert (Site Manager, RSPB Otmoor Reserve) - "Otmoor: the restoration of a wetland site"

Andy Gosler (Research Lecturer, Edward Grey Institute, Oxford University) - "Habitat relationships in the Great Tit"

Chris Knights (Farmer, wildlife and conservation photographer) - "Bird life, including the Stone Curlew, on a Breckland farm"

The full day conference includes teak and lunch breaks providing opportunities to peruse the displays and stalls and enter the competition. Tickets must be booked in advance but are open to everyone. Cost: #12.50 per person, #10.50 for senior citizens/full time students (includes lunch, tea & coffee). (Refunds are available for cancellations up to 7 days prior to conference minus a 10% reduction for admin costs.)

For tickets, send a cheque/PO payable to Buckinghamshire Bird Club for the amount of tickets you require, including a Stamped Self-addressed envelope, to Graham Taylor, 54 Halton Lane, Wendover, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 6AU (Tel 01296 625796). Please state if you have any special dietary requirements, need directions to venue and clearly state the names of those attending. These names will be included on lapel badges so you can also indicate any other information you'd like to go on there (e.g. RSPB St Albans, Herts Bird Club etc).

About the Bulletin - Letter from HBC Chairman

We apologise for the lack of Bi- monthly Bulletins since the last one at the end of February. This has been caused by circumstances beyond our control. As you know the administration of the Bird Club is carried out entirely by volunteers and sometimes circumstances occur where the system breaks down. It is appreciated that members look forward to the Bulletins even if it is only to see what they have missed!

After this special edition it is hoped to recommence normal service. However to enable us to do this we need all records for July and onwards to be sent to Alan Gardiner 199 Watford Rd, St Albans, AL2 3HH. E-mail: bird.bulletin@ntlworld.com. Ideally this can be best achieved by submitting your records to this website when they will be forwarded automatically to Alan (in addition to the county recorder and website editor).

It is worth mentioning that both the Bird Club and the Herts Natural History Society are always looking for more volunteers to help run the societies. If you feel that you have something to offer even if it is only time please give me a call on 01923 442182.

In the meantime we are looking at ways of making the work of compiling and sending out bulletins easier for our band of volunteers. One way of doing this would be sending out the Bulletin by e-mail. This would get the Bulletin to members very much quicker as often they are held back so a number of communications can be sent out together. Would all members prepared to receive their Bulletin by e-mail please advise us by e-mail of this as soon as possible on bird.bulletin@ntlworld.com.

Peter Delaloye

Chairman. Herts Bird Club

Reminder for 2001 records

Just a gentle reminder to make sure you have sent in all your Herts records for 2001. Mike Ilett is keen to get them all in as soon as possible. If you haven't got yours in yet, please see Mike's contact details (he is on email if you have an electronic list). Thank you!