WENSUM VALLEY BIRDWATCHING SOCIETY

 

 

Indoor Meeting - Bird migration was put under the microscope by Graham Appleton at our Lenwade meeting in February.  Graham, who is Head of Fund Raising for the British Trust for Ornithology, described the extraordinarily complex migration patterns of millions of birds moving to, from and through Great Britain. He described the various migration paths of birds from those who only travel short distances across the UK to the incredible journeys taken by birds who travel thousands of miles to and from their breeding grounds. He explained that there is still much to learn about migrating behavior which is being constantly modified by global warming and human activity and how the migration knowledge base is being put to good use in helping predict the spread of Bird Flu.

 

Next Indoor Meeting - Lenwade Village Hall, Thursday April 20^th , starting at 7.30 p.m. The AGM (which is usually very short) followed by a talk by Norman Sills (RSPB) entitled ‘Lakenheath Fen – the first Ten Years’. All are welcome, refreshments available. Non-members £2, free if you join.

 

Field Trip – After consulting the tide times, and allowing time to don several layers of insulation, Bill Shepherd led the trip around the RSPB reserve at Snettisham where tens of thousands of wading birds were pushed off their feeding grounds by the incoming tide and onto the banks and islands in front of the RSPB hides. I did not attend this trip, but the words of one who did, sum up the day.  “As the tide came in thousands of birds took to the air and gave an aerial acrobatic display which, to me, is one of the most awe inspiring natural wonders to be seen in Norfolk – absolutely magic”.  

Next Field Trip - Blickling Park on Saturday April 1^st. Meet in car park at the dam end of the lake at  9.0 a.m.

Colin Wright:  01603 - 740548    [atomic.colin@virgin.net]