In-flight! Welcome to the Autumn 2017 edition of the Airedale & Bradford Local Group Newsletter. This edition has been edited and produced by Judy Robinson, the next edition is due in the spring of 2018. Any contributions to future editions of this newsletter would be gratefully received: either speak to Judy, Paul (Group Leader) or e-mail abrspb@blueyonder.co.uk. Views expressed in this Newsletter are those of individual contributors and not necessarily of the RSPB. Our group website not only has a digital copy of this and earlier newsletters, but provides most useful information of what is happening within the group plus tips and ideas of how to increase your pleasure and enjoyment of the wildlife around you.

rspb.org.uk/groups/airedaleandbradford/

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no.SC037654

On Other Pages:

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2. Guided Walks

Indoor Meetings Programme

3 Guided Walk Reports

Dowley Gap

Prince of Wales Park, Bingley

YWT Reserve, Potteric Carr

6 & 7 Members’ News

8 Committee and other news

Yorkshire Birdwatching Sites - a review The guide commences with a section entitled 'Your Birding Year', which suggests the best sites to

visit each month (with an explanation of why one should visit at that time) - the best starting point for

anyone planning a birding trip.

The book gives in-depth coverage of well known sites like Spurn and Malham Cove, but the authors

have also sought out easily overlooked sites such as Castle Howard and Nostell Priory.

Eighty eight sites are identified across 340 pages - each one includes the following details:

Target birds and the likelihood of seeing them (as a percentage);

Other possible species (Spurn runs to two pages!);

A detailed map of the site;

How to get there includes SatNav and GPS details;

A guided walk.

The back of the book has an index of target birds, so that, if one is

looking for a particular bird, the appropriate site can be identified. The

Yorkshire Naturalists' Union's 'Yorkshire Bird List' (as of January 2017) is

also included.

The previous Yorkshire birding book - written by John Mather - was

published in 2008 and a lot has changed since then. This guide is bang

up-to-date.

The style is chatty and informal - with the author often referring to his own

experiences when visiting sites - making the book accessible to all birders, from beginner to

enthusiast.

Members of our group can order a copy of this book for just £17.95, a saving of £2.00 on the full

price (please quote 'Airedale and Bradford RSPB Local Group'). Send a cheque (payable to

Buckingham Press Ltd) to: BBS Yorkshire Offer, Buckingham Press Ltd, 55 Thorp Park Road,

Peterborough PE3 6LJ.

Guided Walks 2017/18

Provisional Programme (subject to weather conditions) - each walk lasts

approximately 2-3 hours.

Saturday 9 September: 7 am

Baildon Moor

Sunday 8 October: 3 pm

Northcliffe Dike and Red Beck

Saturday 18 November

Field Trip to Filey Booking Essential (8am to 6 pm)

Sunday 4 March : 9 am

Eccup Resevoir

Sunday 8 April : 7 am

Goitstock

Sunday 6 May : 7am

St Ives

Saturday 19 May Field Trip to Bempton Cliffs

Booking Essential (8 am to 6 pm)

Directions to the sites will be given at Indoor Meetings and on-line at:

rspb.org.uk/groups/airedaleandbradford

2017/18 Indoor Meetings

Friday 1 September: 45th Anniversary

Madagascar Geoff Trinder

Friday 6 October: Secrets of the Lune valley

Dr Kevin Briggs

Friday 3 November: Seabird Cities Steve Race

Friday 3 December: How to Build a Naturalist

Jeff Clarke Join us for coffee and mince pies

Friday 5 January: Wildlife Around the World

Mervin Nethercoat

Friday 2 February: Fuerteventura Mark Pearson

Friday 3 March: Images from a Warming Planet

Ashley Cooper

Friday 6 April: AGM at 7.00 pm, followed by:

The Long Spring: following the Spring from the Mediterranean to the Arctic

Laurence Rose

Details will also be posted on our Web Site. rspb.org.uk/groups/airedaleandbradford

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Indoor meetings are held in The Kirkgate Centre

39a Kirkgate Shipley

BD18 3EH Meetings commence at 7.30 pm An admission charge of £3.00

(Children free) will apply Meetings are open to both RSPB

members and non-members All talks are illustrated with digital images,

colour slides or film. www.rspb.org.uk

Saturday 28 October: Falling Leaves Event

At Cliffe Castle, Keighley. Join us for wildlife activities.

11 am to 3 pm

Dowley Gap Sunday 5 March 2017

Our first walk of 2017, with guide Mark Doveston, began at 9am from the meeting point next to the Fisherman's Arms alongside the canal in Bingley. Fifteen of us set out along the towpath, sighting a flock of greylag geese in the adjoining field, before listening to the increasing birdsong of robins, blackbirds and blue tits - among other passerines - in the hedgerows.

Several pied wagtails and grey wagtails were seen feeding at the sewerage works as well as a pair of reed buntings. Goosanders were spotted on the River Aire, swimming strongly in the fast flowing water. Pausing in Hirst Wood, we listened to the calls of coal tit, nuthatch and great tit before catching sight of them in the mature woodland.

Returning to the towpath, we had good views of goldcrests and a song thrush before seeing a pair of oystercatchers landing on a wall by the sewerage works.

As we joined the path along the River Aire, Mark pointed out a skein of whooper swans flying high overhead. A heron, cormorant, herring gull, sparrowhawk and little grebe were sighted in the vicinity. A pair of dippers were feeding in the torrent of water on the weir at Hirst Mill.

Walking along Coach Road, we had very good views of song thrushes and mistle thrushes perched together on the same tree, thus enabling us to compare their size, shape and colour, as well as their different song. A flock of visiting redwings could also be seen in the field alongside.

Our circular route continued past South Lodge and North Lodge where we joined Primrose Road, walking downhill past Milner Field Farm before taking the public footpath down to the canal. Returning to our starting point, a small group of us retired to the Fisherman's Arms and enjoyed a light lunch!

We were, once again, grateful for the expertise provided by Mark.

Birds seen:

Greylag goose, wood pigeon, mallard, wren, goldfinch, carrion crow, robin, blackbird, blue tit, chaffinch, black-headed gull, magpie, dunnock, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, reed bunting, goosander, coal tit, nuthatch, great tit, jay, song thrush, goldcrest, oystercatcher, cormorant, herring gull, long-tailed tit, whooper swan, sparrowhawk, heron, rook, little grebe, mistle thrush, green woodpecker, dipper, great spotted woodpecker, redwing, lesserr black backed gull, starling, jackdaw, Canada goose.

Carol Barrett

Photos: Paul Barrett

Guided Walk Reports

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HELP NEEDED!! Would you like to help out at our meetings?

We are in need of someone extra to help

serve Tea/Coffee and biscuits at the interval.

If we can recruit a few volunteers, it would share the load.

Please contact any member of the committee

Prince of Wales Park, Bingley Sunday 9 April 2017

Nine of us gathered at the main entrance to the park on a bright spring morning, including

two people involved in its restoration. There have been so many developments since our

last visit, in November 2014, with paths cleared & properly surfaced, various artefacts

uncovered & extensive sympathetic planting.

Initially we followed the main paths up to the top of the park, then cut back through the

heathland & via the quarry, a flat open grassed area where games can be played & stalls

set up for events.

Throughout the walk, we were accompanied by the sound of birdsong as the residents were

pairing off and establishing territories. A jay greeted us as we entered the park and was

regularly seen throughout the walk. The usual woodland birds were identified and we were

treated to superb views of a treecreeper feeding.

It was interesting to hear more about the history of the park from Allan Mirfield, Chair of the

Friends of the park & have things pointed out that we might have missed, such as several

rough stones, in various locations, in the shape of "chairs", including a four-seater!

Debbie White

Photo: Paul Barrett

Mealworms are a great natural food for birds and can be used to feed and keep them hydrated throughout the year!

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Field Trip to The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve Potteric Carr

Saturday 13 May 2017

The group organised a visit to the headquarters of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Potteric

Carr, just outside Doncaster. Departing from Shipley at 8am, we arrived at our destination

an hour later. First stop, as always, was the cafe! The Visitors' Centre is now housed in a

purpose-built facility (overlooking one of the many pools on the site) which was opened

earlier this year.

Having had our shot of caffeine, we set off around the reserve. We chose to move around in

small groups as experience has taught us that groups of more than half-a-dozen tend to be

counter-productive. This did not prevent us from bumping into each other in the various

hides scattered across the site.

The reserve covers a surprisingly large area and one group's stroll around the largest of the

'loops' took about three-and-a-half hours. During the day, countless warblers were heard

(and mostly identified) but very few were seen due to the thick foliage.

It is thought that there are a couple of 'booming' bitterns on the reserve and one of the

groups got a superb view of one at the Roger Mitchell Hide on the far side of the reserve.

There were not many waders in evidence, although a couple of little ringed plovers were

sighted on the East Scrape.

Numerous little egrets were seen throughout the day - four of them together on Piper Marsh.

A marsh harrier was quartering this area before being mobbed by lapwings and gulls.

Nesting was in full swing with black headed gull chicks and goslings dangerously on show

for predators and indeed, a herring gull was seen to devour a chick in one gulp, to the horror

of some on-lookers. Three different kinds of deer were sighted including, fallow, roe and

muntjac as well as a fox crossing in front of a hide.

Non-exhaustive list of birds seen: black headed gull, coot, goldfinch, great tit, blackcap,

robin, blue tit, chaffinch, chiffchaff, pheasant, mallard, moorhen, little egret, little grebe,

blackbird, swift, wren, Canada

goose, mute swan, marsh harrier,

gadwall, shoveller, lapwing,

jackdaw, swallow, pochard, great

black backed gull, little ringed

plover, redshank, greylag goose,

crow, magpie, herring gull, tufted

duck, bittern, house martin, sand

martin, cormorant, heron, kestrel,

reed bunting, wood pigeon, jay,

reed warbler, starling, thrush,

Cetti's warbler.

Paul Barrett Photo: Paul Barrett

Don't forget to put food and water out for your birds. Here's a great spotted woodpecker and a blue tit at committee member, Elizabeth's bird table. Photo: Elizabeth Poynter

Inspired by the talk by Ros

Lilley (YWT Volunteer) on

Friday 6 January, two

committee members - Carol &

Paul - visited the Yorkshire

Wildlife Trust reserve at

Staveley. Thirty two species

identified, including this water

rail:

Photo: Paul Barrett

Greetings Cards

Following a recent trip to the Farne Islands, Paul has produced a series of cards that can be purchased at our indoor meetings. They cost £1.20 each (or £1.00 each if you purchase three or more). All profits go to the local group. Photos: Paul Barrett

What your fellow members have been up to!

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Book review: The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell (Penguin/Michael Joseph 2015)

What happens when a penguin that you have rescued from an oil slick, and then cleaned, refuses to leave you and return to the ocean? The answer for a young British teacher working in Argentina was to reluctantly “smuggle” his new companion back to the boarding school where he worked. “The Penguin Lessons” is a fascinating account of Juan Salvador the penguin and his transforming effect on all he meets, from the housekeeper who regularly confides in him, to the homesick schoolboy who discovers a talent for swimming. As various attempts to return the bird to the company of other penguins are frustrated, the author has to admit that ultimately Juan Salvador lived a happy, though unorthodox, life. A heart-warming and often humorous biography set in the turbulent post Peronist era, it is written in a lively and accessible style and would appeal to “birders” and “non birders” alike.

Pamela Manktelow

We are delighted to announce that the RSPB reserve at St Aiden's is now fully open. Paul (our Group leader) popped across in April and took a few snaps. Juvenile bearded tits spotted and photographed in the reed bed at St Aidan's! Amazing to have one of the UK's rarest breeding birds doing well at both sites. Numbers crashed in 2011 but they are at a record high now thanks to a few milder winters and extra habitats being created. See if you can hear their 'ping' as you take the Reedbed Ramble!

Photos above: Paul Barrett

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Photo: Michael Noble

RSPB Airedale and Bradford Local Group was established over 40 years ago and is run by volunteers. We hold regular events to which RSPB members, their families and members of the public are all welcome. We would like volunteers to help run our Indoor Meetings and participate in other events that the group organises or is invited to. Our current priority is to find individuals who are willing to make and serve the tea and coffee at our indoor meetings. New committee members are always welcome.

If you wish to volunteer or join our committee, contact us by 'phone or e-mail or make yourself known at one of our Indoor Meetings. To make it easier, anyone joining our committee can be 'without portfolio' for the first few months whilst they find their feet. In addition to the monthly public meetings, the committee also meets once a month to plan activities and discuss wider issues regarding the RSPB.

They are also many other ways in which you can help. See the Volunteering pages -

rspb.org.uk/get-involved/community-and-advice/volunteer/

If you wish to help in any way please make yourself known at one of our Indoor Meetings.

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The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to

give nature a home

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership of conservation

organisations working to give nature a home around the world

Airedale and Bradford Local Group

The group's aim is to support actively the work of the RSPB in the local community and to involve RSPB members and the wider public in the Society's conservation, public affairs, education, fundraising and other activities. We have monthly indoor meetings locally from September through to April and have occasional walks around local nature reserves. So, if you would like to have fun and meet like minded people contact us and help make a difference for birds and wildlife. The group was founded 45 years ago and a celebratory cake will have been shared at the September meeting. Meeting place: The Kirkgate Centre, 39a, Kirkgate, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3EH Group Leader Paul Barrett

Treasurer Wendy Robinson

Indoor Meetings Secretary Jenny Cassidy

Publicity Debbie White

Walks Organisers Carol and Paul Barrett

Sales Organiser - RSPB Goods Carol Barrett

Committee Members Elizabeth Poynter Eleanor Stoyles Newsletter Editor Judy Robinson All committee members can be contacted, in the first instance, by 'phoning 01274 582078 or by e-mail abrspb@blueyonder.co.uk