Reading RSPB Group

WE launched our 2024 programme on January 9 with a talk by wildlife photographer and author David Boag entitled “The wild coast”.

With the help of his superb photographs, David took us on a tour of the varied habitats which make up the 11,000 miles of Britain’s coast.

In his home county of Dorset, habitat varies from sandstone cliffs to sand dunes and marshy ground and the long gravel spit of Chesil Beach, each with its own array of plants, invertebrates and birds.

Some of the birds found at the coast are “incidentals”, in other words species such as starling, grey heron, jackdaw and raven which are equally likely to be found inland.

Others are coastal specialists exploiting different niches in the habitat. Wading shorebirds such as dunlin, turnstone, sanderling and purple sandpiper are mainly seen in winter plumage and move further north to breed.

Our sea cliffs are home to a range of auk species, guillemot, razorbill and the much-loved puffin, all of which have to run the gauntlet of the scavenging kleptoparasitic great black-backed gulls, herring gulls and great skuas which harass them as they return with fish, forcing them to abandon their catch.

Gannets, with their 6ft wingspans and ability to dive into the water at 60mph, pack the cliffs in dense colonies.

But even these birds are dwarfed by the white-tailed sea eagles found on the coast around Mull and now also on the south coast of England.

Brent and pink-footed geese arrive in their thousands to overwinter and sea ducks such as the beautiful eider, which were previously found only on our north-eastern coast, are now regularly found on the south coast too. These coastal species are perfectly adapted to their habitat. The black back and white front of guillemots and razorbills ensure that they are not easily spotted by predators from above or below.

In species which nest in the open such as eiders the females are dull and well camouflaged whereas in hole-nesting species such as the puffin and shelduck, the females are as bright as the males, having no need for camouflage.

Some birds only come to land in order to breed, spending the rest of their life at sea.

The Manx shearwater is unable to stand and merely shuffles on its belly to reach its nest, coming in at night to avoid predators. On January 16 we had our first outdoor trip of the year when we visited Chimney Meadows on the banks of the River Thames to the west of Abingdon. Despite recent flooding, the site was easily accessible.

A series of arable and rough grazing fields provide a varied habitat for birds and other animals.

We saw good numbers of fieldfares and redwings, which have both been a bit scarce this winter, so we were lucky to enjoy close views.

A pair of stonechats and three yellowhammers were also much appreciated as was a female bullfinch in a hedge.

We also saw many of the more usual garden and farmland birds plus a good number of muntjac and a single roe deer.

A lovely morning walk in winter sunshine with 33 species of bird recorded.

On January 21 we visited Wishmoor Bottom, which is part of the Barossa nature reserve just north of
Camberley.

This is an area of lowland heathland and pine woods, which is home to a number of birds only found in this type of habitat.

Luckily, it was not too windy as Storm Isha was coming in later that day.

We were lucky to find two groups of redpolls feeding in the birch trees and enjoyed good views.

Dartford warblers were not found as they stay deep in the heather and gorse in the wind.

But the other target bird showed just before we left when a flock of about a dozen crossbills flew over our heads, allowing us to make out their crossed bill tips.

A raven made a very good end to the walk when we were almost finished. In all, 17 species were recorded.

On February 13 Peter Holden will give a talk on how birds have inspired art and culture and on March 12 Jonathan Forgham will talk about birding on the Polish Baltic coast.

On February 18 there will be a minibus trip to Blashford Lakes in Hampshire followed by a visit to the Warburg nature reserve in the Chilterns on February 20.

All indoor meetings are held in Pangbourne village hall, starting at 8pm. Visitors are very welcome. There is an entrance fee of £5 for non-members, juniors half price. New members are always welcome with annual membership set at a modest £15 (£10 for juniors).

For more information, visit group.rspb.org.uk/
reading

Judith Clark