ROYAL SOCIETY for the PROTECTION of BIRDS

East
Surrey
RSPB Group
for local birdwatchers
We
hold indoor meetings at the White Hart Barn, Godstone, every second Wednesday of
the month (except August) – Everyone is welcome.
We
run all day field trips every month, and some half day field trips during the
winter months. Anyone is welcome to join us. There is always someone leading
trips to give advice and hints on identification etc.
EAST SURREY RSPB GROUP
The second week in March saw lesser redpolls finally turn up in my
garden much later than in recent years with a maximum number of seven in the
garden at one time. March 14th saw two brambling in the garden, one
male and one female, this being the first time that I have had two of these
delightful birds in the garden at one time. Locally, early March saw flocks of
waxwings reported from Warlingham, Coulsdon and the Holmethorpe area. A bittern
was seen again briefly on the Bay Pond at Godstone on March 5th. A
red kite was seen at Chelsham on March 7th and one over Godstone on
February 28th. At Holmethorpe a white-fronted goose, a red-crested
pochard, dunlin and a Mediterranean gull were all seen in the first two weeks of
March, and an oystercatcher at the end of February. To the south of us along the
Sussex coast the first of our summer migrants were seen by the middle of March,
with swallows, sand martins, wheatear, chiffchaff and ringed plover reported in
ones and twos. By the time you read this article the first of these birds will
have arrived in our area or have started to pass through to travel further
north. Recently there have been reports of common cranes and spoonbills in
Sussex, so you may be lucky and see these birds should they pass through our
area.
The group indoor meeting in April is on Wednesday 13th at the
White Hart Barn, Godstone starting at 8.00 pm. This meeting is preceded by our
AGM which usually lasts about ten minutes. The speaker for the main meeting is
Peter Holden who will give a talk
entitled “A Celebration of Birds” Recollections
with film clips of his forty years work for the RSPB. This is a change to our
previous list of monthly meetings.
Everyone is welcome, admission £3.00.
The field trip in April is on Sunday 17th
to Selsey Bill and Church Norton in Sussex, looking for sea birds and
summer migrants. Meet at Godstone Green car park at 8.00am, bring a packed
lunch, cold weather clothing and walking boots. We try to share cars and
therefore fuel costs. For further information see our website www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk
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Members
get involved in survey projects for various organisations and fund raising
events in the local area. |
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A
local committee was elected with the aim of providing monthly indoor meetings,
monthly field trips and to plan fund raising events to support the many RSPB
conservation projects, both in the British Isles and abroad. Initially the group
held its indoor meetings at the White Hart Barn, Godstone, but as numbers
attending these meetings rose, we moved the venue to Caterham School for a
number of years, but moved back to Godstone as the White Hart Barn provided
better facilities. Over the years the group has been able to attract some big
names in the birding world to give talks at our meetings.
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The
group has raised over thirty thousand pounds over the years, this money going to
support RSPB projects in Nigeria, Morocco, Greece and Spain. In the British
Isles we have provided funds for projects on many RSPB Nature reserves, as well
as monies towards educational schemes run by the RSPB. Currently we are
providing funds for the first RSPB Nature Reserve in Surrey at Farnham. Funds
have been raised over the years by such events as film shows, art and craft
exhibitions, sponsored bird counts, and sales at many local events.
For
further information about the group’s forthcoming events, all our latest news
and our latest newsletter see our website – www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk
For
general information about the RSPB see website – www.rspb.org.uk