Potters Bar & Barnet Local RSPB Group

 

 

  Coach Outings

 

 

by Frances Attrill

 

 

Once again I have to thank all for the support given to our monthly outings. As I stated in the summer newsletter, it is much appreciated if you can book early and return slips by or before the given date. We now have a range of 3 different coaches, 29, 43 and 49 seaters (not to mention the 14 seater mini bus) to select from; and prices vary considerably. Availability also plays a part - the earlier our request the more chance to acquire the desired coach; initially the dates are booked and a guess made at the coach size required!

Outings seem to have been many since my last report so I will try to keep my account of these brief.
In April, we went to Stodmarsh, a favourite reserve with many. The weather was good but cold. We saw 50 species. A Savi’s warbler that had been heard was finally seen and positively identified, other birds included garganey, marsh harrier, kingfisher, little and ringed plover, Cetti’, sedge warbler and a nightingale – sadly no hobbies or bearded tits this time.

Early in May we had a trip to Oare Marshes combined with Pegwell Bay and Sandwich. Oare Marshes is an excellent reserve, which was new to many. Birds sighted included little grebe, egret, marsh harrier, bearded tit, avocet, lapwing, reed and sedge warbler and reed bunting. A walk to the river at Sandwich produced a flock of linnets, yellow wagtail, and a sparrowhawk sitting on a wall of a ruined building contently eating its prey, a wood pigeon, quite unperturbed by our approach. 69 species were seen by the Group; it was also noted that there appeared to be an abundance of marsh frogs.

In May a group of 23 went to Orkney. We visited the greater part of the Mainland and many of the islands. Various people have written in reports to give you a flavour of the holiday. Sally has kindly condensed these and done a separate trip report, containing the full reports for those who went. Liz, our hostess provided excellent breakfasts and saw to all her guests’ needs and mine! Among other island contacts, special thanks to Dick Matson, who kept me well informed of the whereabouts of birds, and everywhere we went we were made most welcome. We ate at a number of different places and always the meals were superb. I would just like to say “thank you” to all on the trip for their good company.

In June we went to Minsmere, the flagship of the RSPB, where we were rewarded with some excellent sightings,
85 species in total, with others heard but not seen . Birds seen included spotted redshank, Mediterranean gull, common, sandwich, Arctic, little and roseate terns, bearded tit, linnet, little and great crested grebe, greylag and barnacle geese, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk , kestrel and hobby, avocets, oystercatchers, plovers and ruff, black and bar tailed godwit, lesser and common whitethroat, Cettis and sedge warbler to name but a few. We also finished the day with a good list of dragonflies and damselflies.

 

Little Tern  RSPB Images ©



In July our Mystery trip took us to Bath, hence the clue “You won’t get wet, but you should come home clean!”
This proved to be a very enjoyable day with plenty of choices for people to take what they wanted from it, to visit the Baths, the Abbey, Jane Austin’s, the Prior Park NT ; or just sit in the park and listen to a brass band, or take a trip on the river. A few managed to do virtually everything!

The trip to Havergate was cancelled, by a phone call the night before, due to exceedingly high winds.

August was a mixed visit with the first stop being at Michelham Priory . The remains of the ancient Priory are incorporated into a splendid Tudor Mansion, surrounded by England’s longest mediaeval water-filled moat. Then it was on to Cuckmere Haven. The walk down to the sea alongside the Cuckmere river and pools produced little egret, curlew, and dunlin; other sightings included wheatear, spotted flycatcher, all the tits including coal tit, nuthatch and tree creeper, green and great spotted woodpecker, song and mistle thrush and three buzzards. Lastly we had a brief stop at Beachy Head before heading homewards. Sightings for the day numbered 50

In September we went to Walton on the Naze, with a very productive stop at Holland Haven on the way; the scrape provided some excellent birds including 2 little stint, ruff, and 2 wood sandpipers with an assortment of ducks and small waders; a redstart was seen by a fortunate few who opted to return to the coach as opposed to walk to Frinton. Northern wheatear and large flocks of linnets were seen at both stops. At Walton on the Naze there were large gatherings of grey plovers; turnstone and godwits, grey wagtail, blackcap, chiffchaff and marsh harrier were also sighted. A total of 59 species.

Mid week outings: In June we went to Wisley, always a popular venue.
September found us in Berkshire at the Herb Farm, near Reading, where most enjoyed a good lunch. This was followed by a river trip from Caversham down to Mapledurham House. On our arrival we were met by the Miller, who stayed with us giving us all a very interesting insight to life in the past with a tour of the Mill and then the House. This is an Elizabethan Mansion and is still the home of the descendants of the Blout family, as of the last 500 years. Prior to departure all then partook of a most enjoyable cream tea.

 

October found us in Stratford-on-Avon for a great day out; several of the group, including myself, had been many years ago. It was interesting to see the improvements made in the manner in which information is now presented. We visited Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where William courted

 

his future wife. Here we were greeted and entertained by a gentleman in Shakespearean attire. At Shakespeare’s
Birthplace there were persons in period costume in a number of rooms enacting life in those times and able to
answer our questions; the visit finished, in the gardens, with three actors performing extracts from “The Taming of the Shrew”, “The Comedy of Errors” and the “Seven Ages of Man”; all excellent. The last House on our agenda for the day was Nash’s House and New Place. Nash's House was owned by Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth, adjoining the site of the Bard's final home, New Place. Next year we have two more to visit, Mary Ardens and Crofts Hall.

By the time you read this we will have had a coach outing to Tollesbury and Heybridge Basin, a November weekend at Portland Bill and our Christmas dinner at Waddesdon; we will be looking forward to a weekend at Titchwell in January and all the coming events of 2010. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas; do come and join us on our Outings next year.
                                               

 

 

                               
 

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