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Spring 2012

Dear Group Members,

As of January, and in contrast to the severe weather conditions last year, it was exceptionally mild in the Home Counties. Many of our common bird species were missing from our bird tables, no doubt remaining in the countryside whilst the weather was mild. Some members reported an increase in visitors including lesser redpoll, blackcap and goldfinch, coming to the feeders but, it should not be forgotten that, for some time many bird species are struggling in the south east. It is worrying that we've lost more than a quarter of our farmland birds and a fifth of our woodland birds in this region with species like the lesser spotted woodpecker, the willow tit and the corn bunting having vanished from some areas altogether.

What's been happening since September? Although support was down on previous years our Wine and Wisdom evening in October raised a net profit of over £380 for the society. Thanks are due to David Sadler for, once again, being our Quiz Master, to Karen and Jane for providing the refreshment, the committee for all their efforts in making the evening a success and, not least, you the members for your support. Please note that this year's event is on Saturday 20^th October.

Our indoor meetings got off to a good start with David Lindo delivering an excellent talk entitled 'The Urban Birder' and was generally well attended. Many of you were looking forward to David Boag in October but, unfortunately, due to last minute circumstances beyond his control he was unable to get to us. There is always a first time for everything and we were hugely relieved and thankful when Simon stepped in at the eleventh hour with a new edition of his talk about Mote Park. I am always a little disappointed that the members evening is not better attended. Again it was a very enjoyable social evening with some excellent presentations by members plus some very nice food and refreshment.

Please see 'Dates for your Diary' to check on our remaining talks. Well done Derek, our Indoor Meetings Organiser for the excellent choice and quality of the talks. Our outdoor meetings have been well attended with local half-day walks very popular. The highlight and perhaps funniest moment for me occurred on the 'Mammal Morning' Yes, they are not always bird- walks. After opening a number of traps a Dormouse was, at last found but, before it could be placed into a large open plastic bag for all to see it had disappeared! Where had it gone? Well - to find out more please read the Field Trip Summary.

Simon, our Outdoor Meetings Organiser, has graduated with a Masters in Conservation and Forestry from Imperial College London. His graduation ceremony is at the Royal Albert Hall this May and, on behalf of the members, I congratulate him on this achievement and wish him every success in his future career.

I will report on the coach outing to Abberton Reservoir in our autumn edition and would remind everyone that the next coach trip is to the RSPB Strumpshaw Fen Reserve in June. I expect this to be very popular and advise early booking.

Response to our previous enquiry regarding 'Group Holidays' was very positive and I am pleased to announce that Derek Jackson will be leading a group of members on our very first venture to the Forest of Dean in early March. How they get on will be in our autumn newsletter along with future plans.

Lastly I would like to thank the committee and all volunteers for their continued support and to you, the members, for supporting the RSPB Maidstone Local Group.

Enjoy the birds,

Dick Marchese
Group Leader