 Dear MBS Members and Friends
I bring news of activities past and future - however I've not been able to update the website!
Successfully migrated server, thanks to helpful online chat with Andy of Catalyst2, but it seems I'll need to reload Filezilla... If anyone understands what I'm talking about, please advise! |
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Indoor Meeting
Friday 17th March, Jeff Blincow will be taking us to Bhutan, the Himalayan “Land of the Thunder Dragon”. Jeff has been a birdwatcher all his life and has been lecturing on wildlife for many years. He has travelled far and wide across the world and his interests have taken in all aspects of wildlife. He is a member of the conservation team at Yardley Chase in Northamptonshire.
Jeff previously spoke to us about Birds of Greece back in February 1989 and as recently as January 2017 gave a talk to the London Natural History Society about Bird Flight.
All welcome. £5 (£3 for MBS members)
Entrance Fee includes Fairtrade tea/coffee and biscuit.
7 for 7.15pm Gospel Oak Methodist Church, entrance Lisburne Rd NW3 2NT.
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Local Outing
Sat 18 March – London Wetland Centre 
The centre occupies more than 100 acres of land which was formerly occupied by several small reservoirs. SSI in 2002. Lapwing, Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpipers, Snipe, Wagtails, Common Tern, early hirundines, Wheatear, Warblers e.g. Whitethroat, Blackcap.
Toilets. Indoor cafe. Gift and birdwatching equipment shop.
Entry fee for non WWT members £11.91 or £8.91 concs.
NB 10% Discount if booked online. You also have the choice of Gift Aid or not.
Hammersmith underground. From there 10 min bus ride. If 283 not going to the Centre, 33 or 72 to Red Lion and 5 min walk down Queen Elizabeth's Walk. Meet at entrance 10.30.
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Coach Outings
The remaining coach trips of the season are 29th April to Pulborough Brooks RSPB, Sussex, 13th May to Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire and 3rd June to the New Forest National Park (Acres Down & Bolderwood), Hampshire.
Details are on the coach outings page of the website. However, this has not yet been updated with the appropriate PayPal buttons. You will be able to book your place on these coach trips at the Indoor Meetings 17th March and 28th April or email coach bookings for further details.
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Other dates for your diary
RSPB Central London Local Group (CLLG) See details on their website
Thursday 9th March Talk on 'Wildlife Crime' by Bob Elliot.
Saturday 22nd April their next coach trip is to Cliffe Pools, North Kent
Booking Essential: Telephone: 07768 121 435;
E-mail: cllgcoachbookings@gmail.com
xxxxx
The London Bird Club See details on the LNHS website.
Outings: Sat 18th March to Hyde Park and Sun 26th March to Brent Reservoir
and, of special interest to some MBS members,
Wed 22nd March 7pm at Burgh House a talk on the wildlife and management of Hampstead Heath by Meg Game, Senior Ecologist for Hampstead Heath, who also leads our Tuesday walks on the Heath.
All welcome - member or not - £2 door charge.
xxxxx
Making Nature - how we see animals
Exhibition at the Wellcome Collection, Euston Road runs until 21st May.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
This year's exhibition at the Natural History Museum runs until 10th September.
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February Highlights
Coach Outing: Saturday 11th Feb - Pagham Harbour
Andrew reported:
 Cold, but not bitter, we avoided snow and rain. There was a flock of 60 Wigeon on the roadside pool, Lapwing behind, a Stock Dove on a post, and a solitary Snipe flew over. There were Coot, Moorhen and a Redshank in the channel. Curlew flew around bubbling, and Meadow Pipits ‘seep’ed. There was a flock of 80 Avocets where the channel met the main estuary, with Shelduck. Several hundred Lapwing swirled around with a handful of Golden Plover above. Teal and Pintail dabbled in the shallows, and Herons, Cormorants and Little Egret roosted on islands. Later flocks of Brent Geese began flying towards us, displaced by the rising tide, and several Dabchicks were fishing busily. At the harbour mouth we had lovely views of a nearby Whimbrel on the saltmarsh. On a shingle island there were roosting Grey Plover, Dunlin, and Turnstone, with Skylarks and Ringed Plover behind. At the sea, a small raft of Common Scoter, a handsome male Red-Breasted Merganser, a diver (probably a Black-throated), and 2 Great Crested Grebes. Walking back we were treated to the gentle barking of more flying Brents, and at the pool there was a close Black-Tailed Godwit. The cold had people gravitating back to the coach for an early departure at the end of a varied and enjoyable day. (Photo by Andy)
Indoor Meeting: Friday 17th Feb – Hampstead Heath - London’s Countryside
Matthew Maran is a London based photographer who has recently focused on the wildlife and landscapes of Hampstead Heath. He gave us a beautifully illustrated talk on his development as a wildlife photographer and the making of his Hampstead Heath book.
Local Outing: Saturday 18th Feb - Stocker's Lake
Our visit to Stocker's Lake was a change to the published programme due to a disrupted train service for Blue House Farm. 14 of us gathered at Rickmansworth Station for the short walk to the lakes. We enjoyed the woodland walk and checked out the canal before going into the Stocker's Lake Nature Reserve. Lunch in the hides and, for most of the group, a warming cuppa and cake in the Cafe before returning to the station. We eventually saw the hoped for Goldeneye and Red Crested Pochard but also enjoyed multiple sightings of Goldcrest.
Hampstead Heath
 Latest excitement on the Heath, sadly unseen by the Tuesday group, has been a Little Owl. On Tuesday 28th February, guided by Dave, we made a detour from our usual route in order to view the tree where Little Owl had been reported the previous Saturday. Checking the London Birders site later in the day, I discovered it had been seen that very day - Tuesday at 6.30am! And it's been reported a couple of times since - at 2pm. Just not at 10.30am last Tuesday!
We have, however, had some good sightings of the Kingfisher - indeed 2 Kingfishers - recently and been entertained by Shovelers going round in circles.
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Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Indoor Meeting Friday 17th March + London Wetlands Centre the next day... or on the Heath.
Marion Hill (Publicity)
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