2009 Chairman’s Report

I look back over 2009 with a sense of awe and wonder. This was the year that saw us decide to open the club up from a small group of enthusiasts into something that we felt would offer a much wider audience, a range of exciting opportunities. How right we were, because despite having worries about how well our first year might have gone, our every expectation has been exceeded.

When we first launched the club to the wider public on Monday March 16th , I said that WBC would aim to offer something for everyone - people of all ages, all abilities and needs, and people looking for fun or friendship through birds. The club is unique in a number of ways, firstly we cross county borders and offer the chance for people from Norfolk and Suffolk to be part of the same group. Secondly, we are very keen to offer everyone the chance to learn more and have some of the most highly respected naturalists in the area, leading some of our field trips and giving talks. Finally, because we have a very strong focus upon the importance of conservation and believe that we all have the power to do something that could make a difference through specific projects. Part of this conservation work is done through the hard work and dedication of a growing band of ringers within the club coordinated by Stephen Flory, the club’s Ringing Secretary.

Our projects have centred on birds that are currently under tremendous threat and are listed as Biodiversity Action Plan species. These include Tree Sparrows (shown right), which we are colour-ringing at two sites to determine movements between these sites and others in Suffolk and elsewhere and House Sparrows, Linnets, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings, which are being trapped on local farms.

The first talk we held was led by Steve Piotrowski and centred on the success of the Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project. During this talk, Steve told us how the initial project had developed from fairly small beginnings to culminate in over 1,000 nest boxes in both Suffolk and South Norfolk, all of which are monitored and the birds ringed. We increased our membership at this first meeting to around the 50 mark and in total around 75 people enjoyed this educational talk.

Our next event was a Good Friday dawn-chorus meet at Carlton Marshes and, as you have probably read on the website, a large group gathered and were taken around the reserve and shown some great birds. Particularly noteworthy was a Little Owl, at the start of the walk that sat out and allowed everyone great views. This meeting was followed by a review of what was seen and heard and hot-cross buns for all.

Following this, our subsequent outdoor meetings all seemed to offer a diverse range of experiences – Hobbies hawking over Redgrave when Andrew Green led us around the reserve, a porpoise off Orfordness as Steve Piotrowski gave us a guided tour and a fantastic range of waders and very obliging Water Rails on our coastal migration watch in September.

In addition to these trips, we also held an open day in July, when despite blustery, damp conditions, we were able to demonstrate bird ringing with a good range of species including both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers. Many visitors were able to see the work of wildlife artists, take part in children’s activities and partake of homemade cakes and teas, etc. More than anything it was a chance for like-minded people to chat and share knowledge and experiences.
(Right: Ringing demo at WBC Open Day)

Finally, I was perhaps most proud of the first foreign trip to have been arranged, when we took a group of over 50 people on a mini cruise from Portsmouth to Bilbao. The trip had something to offer for everyone who came.... 5 species of whales, three species of dolphins, 99 species of birds, 18 species of butterfly, several bars and a swimming pool!
(Right: Some of the Bilboa cruise participants)

In October, we begun our indoor programme once again and had excellent talks from Bill Baston sharing his incredible photographs from near and far, Dawn Balmer sharing information about the Bird Atlas 2007 – 2011 and finally Adam Rowlands, Senior Site Manager for RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve.

Over the course of this year our members has increased from 16 to 105. The number of active ringers within the club has risen from 7 to 16. Our average attendance at indoor meetings has been around 60 and our outdoor meetings have all had healthy numbers of participants.

During our field trips we have seen a total of 139 species of birds, our ringers have caught an amazing 5,522 birds (not including species ringed in nest boxes as part of the Barn Owl Project) of 58 species.

Our committee, which is twelve strong, has met eight times to keep everything running smoothly and my sincere thanks go to them for their commitment and hard work and to all WBC members for a great first year.

Our thanks must also go to the team of helpers who support the club at every meeting – whether this has been cooking hot cross buns, making tea and coffee, the wonderful spread of cakes we had on the open day or manning the raffle at indoor meetings.

Our website has developed under the watchful eye of Kevin Allenby. Kevin is a professional website designer and runs his own business, but as a club member is kindly providing the club with a free service. The website will be updated regularly (too many websites stagnate so people lose interest), so keep looking and if you have an article, holiday report, etc., that you would like posted, please get in touch with Kevin.

As much as we think this year has been successful, we aim to make 2010 an even bigger and better year for Waveney Bird Club. We have arranged trips to Orfordness, Dingle Marshes, Redgrave Fen, Outney Common, Minsmere, Dunwich Heath, Breydon Water Boat Trip, Pembrokeshire and Poland. We have indoor talks featuring Poland, Waveney Valley, Mexico and the Arctic and Antarctic. We feel sure you will want to be part of these events and help us ensure that our vibrant organisation continues to provide something for everyone - people of all ages, all abilities and needs, and people looking for fun or friendship through birds - and thrives….

Happy New Year and good birding

Roger Walsh