We’ll be repeating last year’s successful session of bird box construction on Sunday 1st March.
Category: Camlad Valley – Events
Not a Camlad Valley CWG event, but many of our members get involved with the annual curlew survey and other activities in support of one of our most charismatic birds. Find out how you too can get involved at this event:
NB: Rigmoreoak is Natural England’s site on the Stiperstones near Pennerley. Look for the ‘Natural England’ signs showing its access road on the left-hand side of the road coming from Pennerley towards The Bog Visitor Centre. (The postcode is SY5 0NE , but this may not get you all the way there when entered into your satnav as it applies to a large swathe of the Stiperstones!)
We held our AGM at Churchstoke Community Hall on 12th February. After the requisite AGM admin covered the Group’s Chair, Mary Napper, we had reports from Leo Smith and Rob Rowe on the respective activities of the Bird and Plant Groups.
After a refreshment break, we were treated to a talk by local wildlife photographer and writer Andy Fusek-Peters. His amazing photographs of birds, hares, dragonflies and other wildlife kept all those present enthralled. All the pictures Andy chose for our event were taken locally, showing just what spectacular images are to be had on our doorstep – if you have as much patience, skill and imagination as Andy (unlikely on all counts, sadly for the rest of us!).
If you couldn’t make it to the event, it’s worth visiting the gallery of Andy’s images on his website: www.andrewfusekpeters.com/gallery
Leaden grey skies and the occasional shower did not deter the twenty people who joined our birdwatching walk around Roundton Nature Reserve. In fact, the weather had more of an impact on the birds we hoped to see, as they were generally staying sheltered and being consequently hard to spot!
Led by our local bird expert, Leo Smith, we explored the different habitats the Reserve has to offer — woodland, wild flower meadow, fields and open hillside — and searched for the different bird species each one holds.
The absence of swallows, martins and swifts, even over the wild flower meadow where they would normally expect to be seen, was noted and reflects an apparent national scarcity. Hopefully, they will turn out to be late arriving in the UK this year rather than simply down in number.
Chiffchaffs were heard loudly ‘chiffchaff-ing’, and occasionally glimpsed in the pockets of woodland around the reserve, and a great spotted woodpecker was heard then seen. The undoubted highlight of the walk, though, came towards the end as we descended from the shoulder of Roundton Hill: a pair of peregrines flying around the summit.
