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.
* * *
