NEW COOT COLOUR-RINGING PROJECT IN NORTHUMBERLAND

This winter I have been colour-ringing Coot, mainly at Killingworth Lake on North Tyneside. 30 hand- caught birds have had colour rings added so far. The rings are white with three black alpha-numeric characters and are normally added to the bird’s left leg. This fieldwork links in with extensive colour- ringing of Coot that began in the North West several years ago.

If you come across any colour-ringed Coot I’d be very grateful to hear of your sightings at Killingworth or elsewhere. Please email the details to andyrickeard@hotmail.com

Many thanks.

Andy Rickeard
(Added 15/01/12)

COUNTY RECORD COMMITTEE  -  AN APPEAL FOR DESCRIPTIONS

The County Records Committee has provided, on the CRC page, updated reports for the position of Scarce & Rare species records in the county for 2010 & 2011. Only records examined and accepted by the committee will be published in the county annual bird report and therefore form part of the formal ornithological archive. There are many records for both years where descriptions are still awaited. Lists of those species which require a detailed description or brief notes are also available on the CRC page. If you found or saw any of these birds please submit your descriptions to the County Recorder now please. Thank you.

Tim Dean on behalf of the CRC

(Added 21/12/11)

FOUND ON HOLY ISLAND

Have you lost a lens cap for your Swarovski telescope? One found at Chare Ends, Holy Island. To reclaim please contact Colin Bradshaw on drcolin.bradshaw@btinternet.com

(Added 04/12/11)

AUTUMN MIGRATION OF LINDISFARNE BRENT GEESE IN FOCUS

Since early May 2011 we have followed Pale-bellied Brent Geese caught in Denmark with satellite transmitters. We still have contact to six of eight marked birds, and expect that some will migrate down to Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve to winter, whereas others would fly to Danish autumn staging areas. We are in the progress of preparing an in-depth analysis of autumn migration data for birds from this flyway-population, and in this respect relies heavily on volunteer observers who record flocks migrating along the east coasts of England and Scotland and the west coasts of Norway and Denmark. With this notice we would ask all who observe flocks of Pale-bellied Brent Geese migrating along the Northumberland and Tyneside coastline to note down detailed information about individual flocks, i.e. flight directions and time, and to report their observations in the usual way to NTBC, who will pass them on to us.

Thanks in advance: Preben Clausen & Marie Silberling Vissing, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Denmark. Enquiries: pc@dmu.dk

The satellite tracked birds can be followed on this link

(Added 04/09/11)

NTBC COUNTY ATLAS - CLUB MEMBERS : YOUR CHANCE TO SPONSOR A SPECIES

The Bird Club are pleased to announce a new scheme to allow members to sponsor a species in the forthcoming County Atlas. The County Atlas project will probably represent the largest financial undertaking the club has ever engaged in and whilst publication may still be some way off, the committee believes it is prudent to begin raising funds towards the project. As a result a ‘Species Sponsorship Scheme’ was launched on 31st March at the first Fund Raising Event for the County Atlas. Club Members now have an opportunity to sponsor a species and have a suitable personal inscription associated with that species.

The cost of sponsoring a species is £25. There are no restrictions on the number of species an individual member can sponsor. First come, first served, for a species. Each sponsor’s ‘inscription’ will be limited to 45 characters in length and appear once in relation to that species.

NTBC reserve the right to amend any inscription if necessary. Attached is a form that offers the opportunity to list three choices of species along with the required inscription. Species will be allocated on a strict 'first come first served' basis on receipt of a Species Sponsorship Form available at this link and an appropriate method of payment (cheque/postal order to NTBC).

Please send the form to Steve Lowe at 13 Crawford Place, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, NE25 8TD, pass it to any committee member or hand it in at an indoor meeting. In the event of questions please email Steve at zappa99@live.co.uk.

(Added 05/04/11)

RED KITE CAMPAIGNERS TARGET POISONING ‘BLACK HOLE’

A campaign to highlight the illegal poisoning of birds of prey in the Hexhamshire area of Northumberland is being launched this month by Friends of Red Kites (FoRK), the voluntary group which monitors the re-introduced population centred on Gateshead’s Derwent Valley.

Five Red Kites have been poisoned in the district, four of them in the past year, and the campaign aims to get over the message to the public about what is happening in their district.

The Hexham area with its patchwork of fields, mature and conifer woodlands bordering on upland grass and heather moor, has proved a big attraction to kites seeking to expand westwards from the core breeding area in the valley.

However, FoRK says that Hexhamshire has become a ‘black hole’ for the birds and there are now clear indications that persecution is preventing their spread into what is otherwise perfect kite habitat.

One kite was found poisoned there back in 2006. Last February two juvenile kites were found dead and then last summer a breeding pair were killed leading to their chick being predated. A post-mortem examination showed that the female, found dead close to an estate with a Pheasant shooting operation, died from carbofuran poisoning. Although illegal in Britain, the European Union and North America, carbofuran still appears to be the poison of choice for those seeking to persecute raptors.

The body of the male was found later and was too decomposed for positive analysis but it was strongly suspected he too had been poisoned.

All five cases have been investigated by Northumbria Police and RSPB but so far without result. The death of the pair which were breeding at the Highland Cattle Centre at Whittonstall was a major blow to the project – and to thousands of visitors who had watched the kites during both 2009 and 2010 using telescopes set up in the centre’s tearooms.

The campaign is being launched on Saturday March 12 at the Wentworth car park, the main parking area for Hexham town centre shoppers and people using the local sports centre. The date has also been chosen because it coincides with the monthly Hexham farmers market which attracts large numbers of extra visitors.

The local bus company which has part of its fleet with Red Kite livery is to loan one of its vehicle for the event. FoRK chairman Ken Sanderson said they were delighted with the help from the company and the eye-catching bus would be used as a base and office for the launch.

Leaflets about the local poisoning problem will be distributed on the day and FoRK members and a regional RSPB representative will be on hand to answer questions from the public. FoRK has also organised a series of presentations to local organisations throughout the district to get the message over to large numbers of other residents in the town and local villages.

Ken added: “We want to get the message across to the general public about what is happening in Hexham in the way of illegal poisoning and persecution and how this is preventing the expansion of the kite population from its core area into surrounding districts. We believe a lot of local folk will be very upset and disappointed about this persecution in their midst.

“What happen to the birds at the cattle centre, the only breeding pair in Northumberland in 2010, was an absolute tragedy and something we want to prevent happening again. We also want to demonstrate to the public the danger from illegal baits to all forms of wildlife as well as to domestic pets.”

The Mayor of Hexham, Councillor Terry Robson, has agreed to attend the launch and an invitation has also been sent to local Conservative MP Guy Opperman.

Ian Kerr (on behalf of FoRK)

(Added 02/03/11)

NTBC ADOPTS THE NEW BOU TAXONOMIC ORDER

In 2010 the British Ornithologists Union adopted a new taxonomic order with numerous changes especially to the passerines. It was agreed at the NTBC committee meeting on 6th January that the club should move over to this new order as from 1st January 2011. This will mean that the January club bulletin will be the first publication to adopt this new order. It will also mean that BIN 2010 will stay with the old taxonomic order so that the bulletins & annual report for last year are in sync. All further publications will involve the new BOU order including the new local atlas. Full details are available on www.bou.org.uk under the link ' The British List'.

It was also agreed at the committee meeting to use all the BOU English vernacular names from 1st January 2011. This will mean changes as follows to the following species
 

NTBC English Name                  BOU Name

Greater Canada Goose                             Canada Goose

Mandarin                                                   Mandarin Duck

Night Heron                                              Night-heron

Honey Buzzard                                         Honey-buzzard

Common Buzzard                                      Buzzard

Common Crane                                          Crane

Stone Curlew                                           Stone-curlew

Common (Mealy) Redpoll                         Mealy Redpoll

Crossbill                                                    Common Crossbill

Revised County Checklists will be made available on the RESOURCES AND DOWNLOADS PAGE in the near future.

(Added 14/01/11)

ANOTHER RED KITE POISONED IN NORTHUMBERLAND

The August bird club bulletin, reporting on the 2010 Red Kite breeding season, mentioned the deaths of a pair of birds nesting at the Highland Cattle Centre at Whittonstall and the resultant death of their small young in the nest. Toxicology tests have now confirmed that the male bird was killed by carbofuran poisoning. The results of testing on the female are still awaited.

Full details have been appended to the article available on the Bird Notes page

Ian Kerr

(added 10/11/10)

ATLAS OF WINTERING BIRDS IN NORTHUMBRIA  -  PRICE REDUCED

This major club publication has now been reduced to only £10 per copy (plus £7.50 p&p or collect at a club meeting). All proceeds made from this sale will go to the club’s Development Fund and will assist in the planned publication costs for the current atlas project. A good way to get a bargain copy and help the club at the same time! See the Publications page for further details.

(added 21/06/10)

GOLDEN OLDIES - HELP NEEDED WITH PHOTOS

We have had a suggestion to incorporate a new page on the club web site which would display photographs of rare, scarce or otherwise interesting species that were taken in the county before the current galleries. Although the current web site galleries cover from 2008 onwards, and there will definitely be some good images somewhere of rare and scarce birds in the preceding few years, it would be interesting to try and get copies of photographs from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Obviously the quality may not be what we have come to expect these days but that doesn’t matter, what we are after is just interesting pictures and if they are instructive then so much the better! If you have any that you feel might be suitable please let Chris know (christopher.knox@o2.co.uk  or tel : 0751 582 5024). If your photos are on slides then we can make a digital copy from the original and we can also scan prints.

Here’s the challenge then; who can supply photos from the 1960s?? We know of one member who could. PS – anyone want to see the 1979 Ivory Gull or the 1973 Red-footed Falcon?

CHRIS KNOX & MIKE HODGSON

(added 06/04/10)

TAPE LURING

There have been a number of reports regarding the use of tape luring to attract both common and in some instances Schedule 1 Birds during their breeding season in the last 12 months. The committee wishes to remind all members that it is incumbent upon them to abide by the birdwatcher's code the first point of which states " Avoid disturbing birds and their habitats. The birds interests should always come first."

In England, Scotland and Wales, it is a criminal offence to disturb, intentionally or recklessly, at or near the nest, a species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Disturbance could include playback of songs and calls. The courts can impose fines of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months for each offence.

NTBC Committee

(added 29/03/10)

CLUB CONSERVATION OFFICER - THE ROLE & HOW TO RAISE AN ISSUE

The key role of the NTBC Conservation Officer is to represent the Club in actioning issues concerning bird conservation which are brought to the Club’s attention either by Club members or by organizations.

Examples of consultations that have taken place are:

• A1 Road Widening Proposals
• Blyth South Harbour Wind Turbine Replacement.
• Castle Island Rowing Disturbance
• Cramlington South West Sector Development (Arcot)
• Newbiggin Sea Defenses Improvement
• Newbiggin Water Catchment Zone.
• North Brenkley Surface Mine
• Pegswood Moor Country Park Development
• Rising Sun Country Park Hides
• Shotton Surface Mine
• Tyne Bridge Kittiwake Colony
• West Hartford Business Park

Whilst the above list seems to give prominence to the urban south east it is in this area that most of the issues that have been brought to the Club’s attention have occurred. Members raising issues of concern should initially raise these with the Club Secretary and through them the Club Committee will decide whether to involve the Conservation Officer. The Conservation Officer is also a member of the Newcastle/North Tyneside Joint Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group

WADER STUDY GROUP PROJECT ON SANDERLINGS

Our attention has been drawn to a new project of the International Wader Study Group which aims to learn more about Sanderling migration routes, phenology and population dynamics in Europe, Africa and Asia. Almost 2,000 Sanderlings have been colour-ringed in Ghana, Mauritania, Oman, Netherlands, Iceland and Greenland. Club members are asked to be on the lookout for any colour-ringed Sanderlings in the county and report the details.

More information is available at www.waderstudygroup.org/res/project/sanderling.php

WEB SITE CONTENT

Since the inception of the club’s new web site, the bird club committee has laid down certain conditions for subject matter on the site. There have been a number of enquiries from club members about why local ‘Blogs’ have not been included on the Links page. The committee and others recognise that there are a number of interesting and relevant locally-based blogs, some run by club members, and whilst these contain information of interest/use to birders there are unfortunately a further number that contain language considered offensive and web links to sites deemed inappropriate and not in keeping with the club’s constitutional aims. One problem is that blogs are moderated only by their owners and the club, quite rightly, has no control over their content. This is particularly important as we wish to present the club in its most professional manner and it has an important aim to encourage younger members.  The committee would find it difficult to justifying one blog but not another and so, unfortunately for the foreseeable future, blogs will continue to be excluded. Members of course are free to visit and support these local blogs if they wish. The web site links (as distinct from  blogs) provided on the club site are considered to provide useful information to both club members and any interested members of the general public and the club will continue to provide others in a similar vein in the future.

BIRD CLUB ARCHIVES

As part of the recent 50th Anniversary celebrations the Club asked John Day to write a short history outlining the development and achievements of the TBC/NTBC since its formation.  The short account appeared in the copy of Birds in Northumbria for the year 2007.

In compiling the history it became apparent at a very early stage that the Club has no organised official archives nor does it deposit any material in local repositories, other than the record cards in the Hancock Museum.  Fortunately a number of long-standing Club members have reasonably complete sets of Bulletins, Birds in Northumbria and other publications on which the historical account was based, although the Club itself does not possess such files.

As a result the Club has appointed John Day as its official honorary archivist, and he is now actively attempting to bring together as much original Club material as can be identified and located.  He is donating his own collection of Bulletins, Birds in Northumbria, Club minutes and accounts (from 1979 to the early 1990s) and miscellaneous publications as a basis for the Club’s archive.  A number of gaps are also in the process of being filled by generous donations from other Club members, and as the joint editor of both the Breeding and Wintering Atlases he already has all the original field notes and textual matter from those two projects in safe keeping.

John is now contacting former Club officers to find out if any other material has survived e.g. Seaton Sluice Watch Tower records, so that they can be added to the official archive.  Current Club minutes and flyers are being copied to the archive and any member who has Club material that they feel could usefully enhance the Club’s collection should contact him at the address below.  Nothing is too insignificant – remember the seasonal greetings cards and the limited edition prints.  Even duplicates are required as some of the earlier material is ‘dog-eared and used’.  Indeed a duplicate set of Bulletins or Birds in Northumbria could also be placed in a local library which does not possess them already.

The intention is to deposit the Club’s archive, once it is reasonably complete, with a local record office, library or museum where it will be stored in ideal conditions and be available, in perpetuity, for serious researchers in years to come.

At the moment the collection and sorting of the Club’s material does not relate to the   monthly record cards deposited at the Hancock Museum.  These cards constitute a sizeable problem which along with the newer electronic material will require considerable thought in the next few years as to how, in future, they should be housed, sorted, stored, indexed etc.

JOHN  C DAY          Tel : 0191 266 3071   or  johncday@blueyonder.co.uk