Category Archives: Birds
South Downs Book Series reviewed
We drew your attention to this book series back in the summer. A lengthy review of all three books by Katy Rice appears in today’s Argus. The review is expository rather than critical but it provides a good sense of what each book is like.
GJMG.
Photography competition
The first South Downs Futurescape Photography Competition with categories (i) landscapes, (ii) wildlife, (iii) ‘urban’ wildlife, and (iv) families enjoying the South Downs. You can enter a maximum of three photos. Closing date is 28 February 2014. Judges include David Plummer and John Dominick. More info here.
Join the Hit Squad
If you’re interested in wildlife and enjoy working outdoors then Sussex Wildlife Trust is looking for conservation volunteers to help at local nature reserves. Every weekend, our Saturday Conservation Hit Squad, led by Sarah Quantrill, visits different nature reserves to carry out important conservation tasks. Summertime work includes path clearing, fencing repairs and bramble or bracken control. As well as learning new skills, getting out in the fresh air and meeting new people, our Saturday volunteers enjoy spotting plenty of wildlife including summer butterflies, wild flowers and birds. Although this is a weekly group working from 9-5pm on a Saturday, volunteers do not have to commit to helping every week. The only requirement is to be over 18 years old and reasonably fit. Lifts are available from Woods Mill nature reserve near Henfield or volunteers can go direct to the chosen nature reserve. If you’re interested in joining us for a taster day or finding out more then please get in touch with Liz Francis on 01273 497562 or email lizfrancis@sussexwt.org.uk
New South Downs Book Series
UPDATE, 21st July: all three volumes are now available — my copies arrived a couple of days ago, GJMG.
There’s a new book series on the South Downs with volumes on the archaeology (John Manley), geology (David Robinson) and natural history (Robin Crane and Rendel Williams). The geology volume appears to be available now but note that there’s a slightly discounted price if you order all three volumes at the same time.
RSPB South Downs Futurescape
Some of you will have seen Rachel Whitfield, the RSBP Community Engagement Officer, presenting at the recent Fulking Parish Council meeting.
Rachel has sent us a flyer and her presentation notes to put here on the website.
Rachel’s contact details are:-
Rachel Whitfield
Community Engagement Officer
South Downs Futurescape
Futurescapes is generously supported by the EU LIFE+ Communications Programme
The RSPB, South East Regional Office
1st Floor, Pavilion View, 19 New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF
Hedges, nesting birds and dogs?
The Parish Council would like to remind everybody about their responsibility towards wildlife particularly at this time of the year.
This is the time of year when everything starts growing madly, and as a consequence, this is when we start pruning and trimming to make our gardens look their best.
However, please spare a thought for our wildlife, in particular the birds. This is the season when they have already chosen their nesting sites and are bringing up their chicks; taking down or hard pruning established hedges and trees can be disastrous for them. Using electric hedge trimmers for prolonged periods can scare away the parent birds, meaning abandoned nests and chicks. If possible, try to plan hard pruning before 1st March and after 31st July at the earliest, ideally end of August, and keep tidying to a minimum during these times – many birds have two or three broods, especially if weather conditions are adverse.
It is actually an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 intentionally to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built – for example, if you know there is an active nest in the hedge and still cut the hedge, damaging or destroying the nest in the process.
We also need to be aware of ground nesting birds, such as skylarks, pheasant, meadow pipit, when walking our dogs, especially when walking through ‘open access land’ (in our area Fulking escarpment and the north face of The Downs ). From 1st March to 31st July, dogs must be kept on a short lead on open access land to protect these ground nesting birds. At all times of the year, dogs should be kept on a short lead when in the vicinity of livestock. We are seeing an increasing number of incidents on Fulking escarpment of dogs chasing cattle and sheep and the owners being unable to call them back under control. As a reminder, farmers are within their rights to shoot dogs which are worrying their livestock.
We live in the countryside, and wildlife and livestock are a large part of this. We as residents should try to set an example and politely remind others who use and enjoy this beautiful area of their responsibilities.
Three acres and a cow
Three Sussex cattle have arrived at Woods Mill for the summer and are now receiving visitors in Little Meadow. Reserves Officer Steve Tillman explained why they are there:
Using cattle to control grass and vegetation growth is the ideal way to create the best habitat for a variety of wildlife. Ground nesting birds such as snipe will benefit from naturally grazed pasture as will a huge range of grasses and wild flowers, as well as barn owls who fly over the fields at dawn and dusk searching for field voles.
Woods Mill nature reserve is home to a wide variety of dragonflies including brown and southern hawkers, red and ruddy darters, black tailed skimmers and even the rare scarce chaser. Damselflies, easily spotted during the late spring and summer, include both the beautiful and the banded demoiselle and the powder blue azure damselflies. Grazing itself creates a variety of different length grasses while droppings from the cattle will attract the midges and flies that dragonflies and damselflies feed on.
Update, 5th June 2013: another eight have arrived.
Fulking Village Fair – Sunday 28th July 2013
Fulking Village Fair – Sunday 28th July 2013
Downside Meadow – 12 noon till 5pm
A must for everyone’s diary, cancelled last year due to bad weather the social committee for the Fulking Village Fair have worked hard to ensure this year’s fair will be even more fun for all the family.
Children’s games and entertainment, Pimms, local ales, homemade cider, Birds of Prey, live music including Brighton City Singers, homemade cakes, ice creams, cream teas, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Dog Show and over 45 various stalls & country demonstrations.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Fulking Village Fair – Sunday 28th July 2013
Downsview Meadow – 12 noon till 5pm
