News

Bird Photography Exhibition - A not to be missed event!

Jon Evans (photographer) - Event takes place at Redgrave & Lopham Fen SWT Reserve (31st July, 1st Aug and 7th/8th Aug)

Jon Evans (member), has been asked by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to exhibit his fantastic photographic work at their Redgrave & Lopham Fen Reserve. For those of you that are not familiar with Jon's work, if I had to sum it up I would say "Simply Breathtaking!"

Jon has been a keen photographer since 1976 and many of you that came on the Bilbao Trip last year will remember him and the wonderful shots that he took. You will find many of Jon's pictures on this website and many other bird and wildlife websites. On several occassion his work has been used by organisations to promote conservation projects, particularly bird shots where a species is in decline and needs all the help it can get. Jon is often seen with his camera around RSPB Minsmere where, when he isn't photographing the wildlife he is volunteering his time helping out on the reserve.

Jon's reputation is for taking that natural shot that's never been achieved before, so you will appreciate that this is an event not to be missed. The exhibition takes place over the following two weekends 31st July & 1st Aug and 7th & 8th August. Jon's works will be available for purchase either as a print or a framed print, so a great opportunity for a unique gift.

Of course there will be the opportunity to also have a look around this fabulous reserve. If all of this is not enough, then to end this lovely day out, why not sit in the SWT's cafe or picnic area and enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake!

Kathy Piotrowski

Days Out - RSPB Minsmere

Waveney Bird Club Ringing Events from Thursday 29th July and Every following Thursday throughout the Summer Holidays

Dear All

Waveney Bird Club remains proud to have been asked by the RSPB to hold ringing events at their Minsmere Reserve as part of their family days. Please do come along as it is a great opportunity to see birds in the hand and to learn more about the wonderful conservation results that bird ringing achieves. Previously WBC ringers have enjoyed the opportunity to ring and show members of the public Cetti's Warbler, Nightingale, Marsh Tit and Green Woodpecker, to name but a few.

For those of you bringing along children the RSPB has a huge variety of other activities that they can also enjoy. There will of course be the opportunity to enjoy a walk around the reserve, but please also do note that on the following Thursday (5th August) Steve Piotrowski & John Grant, will be doing guided walks, if this is your preference.

My suggestion would be to make a day of it and either bring a picnic or Minsmere does have a wonderful cafe facility with lots of lovely home cooked meals/snacks available.

Kathy Piotrowski

International Ringing Success

Stephen Flory (Waveney Bird Club's Ringing Secretary), has today reported of a club ringing success. You will all remember that during January of this year Suffolk too experienced very heavy snow, however I know from talking to other members that many of us assisted the struggling birds, by feeding them in our gardens.

Many of you will be aware that several of our members do an amazing job by ringing birds at various sites and Stephen spends many hours feeding all of that important data into the BTO. Steve (my other half) ringed a male Blackbird in our garden on the 23rd January, he weighed at the time 120.7g. I spent vast amounts of money on apples and wildbird seed helping to fatten him up. He was on the 26th March recovered in Lerum, Sweden, weighing 139g. The sad news is that he was recovered as a road kill, but on a positive note it proves that a bird wintering in Bungay is then making its way through Sweden to more Northern breeding ground. What we have to hope is that all the Blackbird friends that travelled with him are thriving with the help of the efforts of our members, great news I think.

Kathy Piotrowski

Promotion within the Ringers

Good News!

You will be delighted to hear that last month Chris McIntyre (Vice-Chairman) was promoted to a C Ringing Licence Holder. For those of you that don't understand the ringing scheme, this means that Chris has now trained and shown to be competent enough to now ring alone, he has advised that whilst he continues his training he is also committed to helping others follow in his footsteps.

Waveney Bird Club currently has 3 Trainers within the group and another 14 who like Chris are making their way up the ranks. Please note that within the next few weeks it is our intention to add a ringing section to the website, where we will report regularly on the success of this part of the Waveney Bird Club. You will note from this new section, the important role ringing plays in the overall study of wild birds and their movements throughout the world.

Congratulations again Chris.

Steve Piotrowski

Members Spotted Flycatcher Nestbox Scheme

Dear Members

“Exciting News” At the last Committee meeting I can advise that part of our discussions included the fact that we have a little “nest-egg” of club funds.

Taking your views into consideration at the AGM, which were, that you would like us to use any excess funds for project works. You will, I hope, be pleased to hear that the committee has on all our behalf’s, taken the decision to put up at least 91 (representing one for each member) nest boxes up in the Waveney Valley area.

The committee further agreed that as new members join us we will keep adding to the total number of boxes that we put up. The Club’s aim will be to get them all up by February 14th 2011, to coincide with National Nest Box day. So now is the perfect time to treat somebody for their Birthday to a WBC Membership!

The overall plan is to link it to our project works of helping various BAP (biodiversity action plan) species. Which, for those of you that don’t know what this means, quite simply it is a species that has been notably declining and would be at risk if help is not given, so we felt with club funds we could give that help.

In the first instance we are looking at boxes for Spotted Flycatchers, which are often to be found around churches. So, we have made approaches to the Diocese about permissions to put up boxes in church yards local to us all. Our discussions with the Diocese have so far been wonderful, they are extremely positive about our project and feel that it is something they would love to work with us on, so I will keep you updated.

The club will then carry on with it’s ongoing project, helping other BAP species including Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.

Best Wishes

Steve Piotrowski (Project Officer - Waveney Bird Club)

Members Offer

Signed copies of The Mammals of Suffolk

Click to download “The Mammals of Suffolk” flyer

Please find attached (link above) a flier for a book written by Simone Bullion “The Mammals of Suffolk”, which I thought you may or may not has seen published, but you may be interested in purchasing a copy of?

The cost is £20, I thought it’s maybe an ideal present for somebody, even yourselves? If you would like to order it through the club you will avoid you any postage costs. Copies will also be signed by the author Simone Bullion.

I have advised Simone that as a club we would be happy to make copies available for purchase at the next few indoor meetings. Alternatively you can ring me on 01986 893311 to reserve a signed copy. Please note that all proceeds to go to two of our larger local conservation groups The Suffolk Wildlife Trust and The Suffolk Naturalists Society.

Kathy Piotrowski

Conservation Award for WBC members

Awards Patrick and Brian Barker of Lodge Farm, Westhorpe, Suffolk were announced as the winners of the 2009 FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards at a House of Commons reception on 28 October. Cousins Patrick and Brian Barker were presented with a silver lapwing trophy, designed by Patricia Northcroft, and a cheque for £1,000 by TV presenter and farmer, Jimmy Doherty. The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) is an independent organisation with charitable status and the leading provider of farm conservation advice in the UK.

Aimed at farmers and landowners who demonstrate outstanding commitment to conservation and environmental management, the FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards reward the very best land managers who can show a track record of environmental best practice integrated into a commercially successful farming enterprise for more than three years. Lodge Farm is also the location of the successful Buzzard breeding - see note below.

Further Success for the Barker Family in Westhorpe

Dear all,

As Waveney Bird Club Members, I am sure you will be delighted to hear that Patrick Barker (Committee Member) and his cousin Brian (member) have built further upon their success of last year's Silver Lapwing Award (see above)

Patrick & Brian have just been nominated for the Farmers Weekly Countryside Farmer of the Year and have got into the final 3 with judging due to take place on 28th July. More details are below, but please everybody do keep your fingers crossed for them, as a family they work incredibly hard and this award would without doubt go to two very deserving young men.

www.fwi.co.uk/awards-website/shortlist/#countrysidefarmer

Patrick & Brian have also been working with the RSPB on a project on Turtle Doves, looking at their feeding, nesting and fledging which involves whoosh netting, ringing and radio tagging. According to the RSPB in 2009 only 15 TDs were ringed in the UK, Patrick reports that they have caught and ringed 5 already in his garden in Gislingham and have at least 3 pairs present in Westhorpe as well as fledged young.

Sadly, no barn owls breeding yet but the boxes have fledged Kestrels and Tawny Owls so far.

In 2010 the Barker family have by wildlife sympathetic farming, added 4 species of bird to their farm list - Peregrine, Water Rail, Red Kite and Spotted Flycatcher, found great Crested newt breeding evidence in their refurbished ponds at Great Ashfield, evidence of harvest mice in barn owl pellets. The Barker family have also hosted over 800+ people, who have visited their farm this summer looking at farming and conservation. A special thanks must go to Patrick's Mum Clare, who always ensures that during the farm visits everybody is catered for with a very warm welcome thrown in X

Patrick advises that he is always looking for interesting ideas to develop the work that they are doing so if anyone has any then they should feel free to get in touch.

Kathy Piotrowski

Breeding Buzzards - Suffolk chick ringed

On 8th June 2009 members of the ringing group of Waveney Bird Club were able to ring the first Buzzard chick in Suffolk for 10 years and only the 3rd ever in the county at Lodge Farm, Westhorpe. There was only one chick in the nest but it successfully fledged a fortnight later and was the young of an established pair in their second year of breeding at Westhorpe. The club have been ringing at Westhorpe since 2007 and in that time have been able to ring over 30 different species including 8 different Biodiversity Action Plan species and 8 species that feature on the Farmland Bird Index mostly due to the area of winter wild bird seed mix and pollen and nectar mix sown as options within the farm’s Higher Level Environmental Stewardship scheme.
Photo © Chris McIntyre 2009

Collared Dove Rescue

Dear All

On Thursday morning I noticed an adult Collar Dove sat on the grass verge outside our house. Assuming that it had perhaps hit a window or was certainly dazed for some reason or another, I left it on the ground to recover. I was a little concerned to still find it there several hours later, suddenly, it then moved and revealed to little baby chicks underneath. I was a little shocked as clearly it wasn't dazed it was brooding it's babies, that had been blown out of the nest, because of the very windy weather.

Knowing that you should always leave baby birds where you find them, I had a dilemma on my hands. They were only approximately 10 days old, so not enough feathers to fly, Mum couldn't lift them back up off the ground, so they were very vulnerable to predators. Then I had an idea, I popped home after remembering that we had, had several birds nest in our garden and attempted to find a redundant nest. Eventually I found an old Blackbirds nest, I took it out of the tree, went back to where the baby Collar Doves were on the ground. Wedged the old nest firmly into a crook in the nearest tree, so that it couldn't be blown out again, placed the little babies in it and hoped that Mum would find them.

This was now two days ago and guess what? Both nest and babies are still safely snuggled up, with Mum proudly sat on top of them, you can imagine my delight. Steve has said that hopefully as they get older he could ring them using WBC rings, so as a group hopefully we can continue to monitor their progress. The ultimate would be for them to go on and produce their own families.

I'll keep you posted, best wishes

Kathy Piotrowski

Quick Update!

Steve and I continued to keep an eye on the nest and can report that both baby birds have now fledged. Sadly we missed the opportunity to ring them, but I am still pleased that these little ones survived and will have the opportunity to go on and hopefully have young ones of their own.

Kathy Piotrowski

Trichomoniasis

We have had lots of reports from our members of sick and/or dying birds frequenting their bird table and feeding stations. This is almost certainly due to the parasite Trichomoniasis which has been very prevalent in finches throughout the Waveney Valley this last autumn. Click here for further information.

WaveneyBirdClub.com

Home News & Offers Membership + Events Programme of events Trip reports + Projects WBC Projects List Gulls Project Tree Sparrow Project Members Bird Photos + Bird Sightings 2010 2009 2008 Childrens Area Chairman's Report Contacts Links	News Bird Photography Exhibition - A not to be missed event! Jon Evans (photographer) - Event takes place at Redgrave & Lopham Fen SWT Reserve (31st July, 1st Aug and 7th/8th Aug) Jon Evans (member), has been asked by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to exhibit his fantastic photographic work at their Redgrave & Lopham Fen Reserve. For those of you that are not familiar with Jon's work, if I had to sum it up I would say "Simply Breathtaking!" Jon has been a keen photographer since 1976 and many of you that came on the Bilbao Trip last year will remember him and the wonderful shots that he took. You will find many of Jon's pictures on this website and many other bird and wildlife websites. On several occassion his work has been used by organisations to promote conservation projects, particularly bird shots where a species is in decline and needs all the help it can get. Jon is often seen with his camera around RSPB Minsmere where, when he isn't photographing the wildlife he is volunteering his time helping out on the reserve. Jon's reputation is for taking that natural shot that's never been achieved before, so you will appreciate that this is an event not to be missed. The exhibition takes place over the following two weekends 31st July & 1st Aug and 7th & 8th August. Jon's works will be available for purchase either as a print or a framed print, so a great opportunity for a unique gift. Of course there will be the opportunity to also have a look around this fabulous reserve. If all of this is not enough, then to end this lovely day out, why not sit in the SWT's cafe or picnic area and enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake! Kathy Piotrowski Days Out - RSPB Minsmere Waveney Bird Club Ringing Events from Thursday 29th July and Every following Thursday throughout the Summer Holidays Dear All Waveney Bird Club remains proud to have been asked by the RSPB to hold ringing events at their Minsmere Reserve as part of their family days. Please do come along as it is a great opportunity to see birds in the hand and to learn more about the wonderful conservation results that bird ringing achieves. Previously WBC ringers have enjoyed the opportunity to ring and show members of the public Cetti's Warbler, Nightingale, Marsh Tit and Green Woodpecker, to name but a few. For those of you bringing along children the RSPB has a huge variety of other activities that they can also enjoy. There will of course be the opportunity to enjoy a walk around the reserve, but please also do note that on the following Thursday (5th August) Steve Piotrowski & John Grant, will be doing guided walks, if this is your preference. My suggestion would be to make a day of it and either bring a picnic or Minsmere does have a wonderful cafe facility with lots of lovely home cooked meals/snacks available. Kathy Piotrowski International Ringing Success Stephen Flory (Waveney Bird Club's Ringing Secretary), has today reported of a club ringing success. You will all remember that during January of this year Suffolk too experienced very heavy snow, however I know from talking to other members that many of us assisted the struggling birds, by feeding them in our gardens. Many of you will be aware that several of our members do an amazing job by ringing birds at various sites and Stephen spends many hours feeding all of that important data into the BTO. Steve (my other half) ringed a male Blackbird in our garden on the 23rd January, he weighed at the time 120.7g. I spent vast amounts of money on apples and wildbird seed helping to fatten him up. He was on the 26th March recovered in Lerum, Sweden, weighing 139g. The sad news is that he was recovered as a road kill, but on a positive note it proves that a bird wintering in Bungay is then making its way through Sweden to more Northern breeding ground. What we have to hope is that all the Blackbird friends that travelled with him are thriving with the help of the efforts of our members, great news I think. Kathy Piotrowski Promotion within the Ringers Good News! You will be delighted to hear that last month Chris McIntyre (Vice-Chairman) was promoted to a C Ringing Licence Holder. For those of you that don't understand the ringing scheme, this means that Chris has now trained and shown to be competent enough to now ring alone, he has advised that whilst he continues his training he is also committed to helping others follow in his footsteps. Waveney Bird Club currently has 3 Trainers within the group and another 14 who like Chris are making their way up the ranks. Please note that within the next few weeks it is our intention to add a ringing section to the website, where we will report regularly on the success of this part of the Waveney Bird Club. You will note from this new section, the important role ringing plays in the overall study of wild birds and their movements throughout the world. Congratulations again Chris. Steve Piotrowski Members Spotted Flycatcher Nestbox Scheme Dear Members “Exciting News” At the last Committee meeting I can advise that part of our discussions included the fact that we have a little “nest-egg” of club funds. Taking your views into consideration at the AGM, which were, that you would like us to use any excess funds for project works. You will, I hope, be pleased to hear that the committee has on all our behalf’s, taken the decision to put up at least 91 (representing one for each member) nest boxes up in the Waveney Valley area. The committee further agreed that as new members join us we will keep adding to the total number of boxes that we put up. The Club’s aim will be to get them all up by February 14th 2011, to coincide with National Nest Box day. So now is the perfect time to treat somebody for their Birthday to a WBC Membership! The overall plan is to link it to our project works of helping various BAP (biodiversity action plan) species. Which, for those of you that don’t know what this means, quite simply it is a species that has been notably declining and would be at risk if help is not given, so we felt with club funds we could give that help. In the first instance we are looking at boxes for Spotted Flycatchers, which are often to be found around churches. So, we have made approaches to the Diocese about permissions to put up boxes in church yards local to us all. Our discussions with the Diocese have so far been wonderful, they are extremely positive about our project and feel that it is something they would love to work with us on, so I will keep you updated. The club will then carry on with it’s ongoing project, helping other BAP species including Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. Best Wishes Steve Piotrowski (Project Officer - Waveney Bird Club) Members Offer Signed copies of The Mammals of Suffolk Click to download “The Mammals of Suffolk” flyer Please find attached (link above) a flier for a book written by Simone Bullion “The Mammals of Suffolk”, which I thought you may or may not has seen published, but you may be interested in purchasing a copy of? The cost is £20, I thought it’s maybe an ideal present for somebody, even yourselves? If you would like to order it through the club you will avoid you any postage costs. Copies will also be signed by the author Simone Bullion. I have advised Simone that as a club we would be happy to make copies available for purchase at the next few indoor meetings. Alternatively you can ring me on 01986 893311 to reserve a signed copy. Please note that all proceeds to go to two of our larger local conservation groups The Suffolk Wildlife Trust and The Suffolk Naturalists Society. Kathy Piotrowski Conservation Award for WBC members Patrick and Brian Barker of Lodge Farm, Westhorpe, Suffolk were announced as the winners of the 2009 FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards at a House of Commons reception on 28 October. Cousins Patrick and Brian Barker were presented with a silver lapwing trophy, designed by Patricia Northcroft, and a cheque for £1,000 by TV presenter and farmer, Jimmy Doherty. The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) is an independent organisation with charitable status and the leading provider of farm conservation advice in the UK. Aimed at farmers and landowners who demonstrate outstanding commitment to conservation and environmental management, the FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards reward the very best land managers who can show a track record of environmental best practice integrated into a commercially successful farming enterprise for more than three years. Lodge Farm is also the location of the successful Buzzard breeding - see note below. Further Success for the Barker Family in Westhorpe Dear all, As Waveney Bird Club Members, I am sure you will be delighted to hear that Patrick Barker (Committee Member) and his cousin Brian (member) have built further upon their success of last year's Silver Lapwing Award (see above) Patrick & Brian have just been nominated for the Farmers Weekly Countryside Farmer of the Year and have got into the final 3 with judging due to take place on 28th July. More details are below, but please everybody do keep your fingers crossed for them, as a family they work incredibly hard and this award would without doubt go to two very deserving young men. www.fwi.co.uk/awards-website/shortlist/#countrysidefarmer Patrick & Brian have also been working with the RSPB on a project on Turtle Doves, looking at their feeding, nesting and fledging which involves whoosh netting, ringing and radio tagging. According to the RSPB in 2009 only 15 TDs were ringed in the UK, Patrick reports that they have caught and ringed 5 already in his garden in Gislingham and have at least 3 pairs present in Westhorpe as well as fledged young. Sadly, no barn owls breeding yet but the boxes have fledged Kestrels and Tawny Owls so far. In 2010 the Barker family have by wildlife sympathetic farming, added 4 species of bird to their farm list - Peregrine, Water Rail, Red Kite and Spotted Flycatcher, found great Crested newt breeding evidence in their refurbished ponds at Great Ashfield, evidence of harvest mice in barn owl pellets. The Barker family have also hosted over 800+ people, who have visited their farm this summer looking at farming and conservation. A special thanks must go to Patrick's Mum Clare, who always ensures that during the farm visits everybody is catered for with a very warm welcome thrown in X Patrick advises that he is always looking for interesting ideas to develop the work that they are doing so if anyone has any then they should feel free to get in touch. Kathy Piotrowski Breeding Buzzards - Suffolk chick ringed On 8th June 2009 members of the ringing group of Waveney Bird Club were able to ring the first Buzzard chick in Suffolk for 10 years and only the 3rd ever in the county at Lodge Farm, Westhorpe. There was only one chick in the nest but it successfully fledged a fortnight later and was the young of an established pair in their second year of breeding at Westhorpe. The club have been ringing at Westhorpe since 2007 and in that time have been able to ring over 30 different species including 8 different Biodiversity Action Plan species and 8 species that feature on the Farmland Bird Index mostly due to the area of winter wild bird seed mix and pollen and nectar mix sown as options within the farm’s Higher Level Environmental Stewardship scheme. Photo © Chris McIntyre 2009 Collared Dove Rescue Dear All On Thursday morning I noticed an adult Collar Dove sat on the grass verge outside our house. Assuming that it had perhaps hit a window or was certainly dazed for some reason or another, I left it on the ground to recover. I was a little concerned to still find it there several hours later, suddenly, it then moved and revealed to little baby chicks underneath. I was a little shocked as clearly it wasn't dazed it was brooding it's babies, that had been blown out of the nest, because of the very windy weather. Knowing that you should always leave baby birds where you find them, I had a dilemma on my hands. They were only approximately 10 days old, so not enough feathers to fly, Mum couldn't lift them back up off the ground, so they were very vulnerable to predators. Then I had an idea, I popped home after remembering that we had, had several birds nest in our garden and attempted to find a redundant nest. Eventually I found an old Blackbirds nest, I took it out of the tree, went back to where the baby Collar Doves were on the ground. Wedged the old nest firmly into a crook in the nearest tree, so that it couldn't be blown out again, placed the little babies in it and hoped that Mum would find them. This was now two days ago and guess what? Both nest and babies are still safely snuggled up, with Mum proudly sat on top of them, you can imagine my delight. Steve has said that hopefully as they get older he could ring them using WBC rings, so as a group hopefully we can continue to monitor their progress. The ultimate would be for them to go on and produce their own families. I'll keep you posted, best wishes Kathy Piotrowski Quick Update! Steve and I continued to keep an eye on the nest and can report that both baby birds have now fledged. Sadly we missed the opportunity to ring them, but I am still pleased that these little ones survived and will have the opportunity to go on and hopefully have young ones of their own. Kathy Piotrowski Trichomoniasis We have had lots of reports from our members of sick and/or dying birds frequenting their bird table and feeding stations. This is almost certainly due to the parasite Trichomoniasis which has been very prevalent in finches throughout the Waveney Valley this last autumn. Click here for further information.