Hugh’s News – 24 April 2021

John Gill has just heard from a friend who does a lot of voluntary work with various nature conservation groups that they heard a Bittern “booming” today at Lunt Meadows, a wetland trust developed over the last few years in Sefton.  Volunteers, including his friend, have planted reed beds there over the last few years and the project has been very successful, but this really is the icing on the cake. Members will recall we had a successful visit there a couple of years ago, with a Barn Owl being the highlight.  There has also been a booming Bittern at Burton Mere Wetlands this spring, which just shows how providing the right habitat will bring in the birds!

The photo of a Bittern below is not from Lunt or BMW but my image from a Club trip to Martin Mere in February 2012.

The Rock Pipit photograph was taken by Bill Wonderley 14th April on the Great Orme. Rock Pipits are usually found on rocky shorelines.  Compared to the more common Meadow Pipit, they tend to be a darker, greyer colour above and below, with dark legs.

New member Stewart Smith sent us this photo taken on the promenade between Egremont and Vale Park, of a Redshank sat on the lid of a refuse bin! Redshanks sometimes perch on field posts to sing when they are on their breeding territories, so maybe this bird is using a makeshift song-post!  We thought the image is certainly unusual and rather comical.

Would you like to submit a witty caption to accompany the image?!  No prizes, just for fun.  Email Bill or me ([email protected]).

I found this tiny Chiffchaff on our patio last week, most probably from a window strike, perhaps evading the local Sparrowhawk.  There had been a calling bird around our back garden for a week, so I would guess this was the same bid.  I picked it up and placed it in a covered box in the kitchen.  It was so light, typically they are less than 9g! Luckily it recovered quickly and when I checked 15 minutes later it flew off strongly back to the trees.  What I assume is the same bird is still calling as I write so presumably it survived its ordeal.

Thank you to all the Members that attended Thursday’s wonderful talk from David Hollis on the birds and nature of Shetland.  It seemed to be very well received, I know I really enjoyed it.  The numbers we are getting at the meetings are truly encouraging, although of course we cannot wait until it is safe and practical to meet up together again.

Hugh Stewart