Hugh’s News – 13 November 2022

The number of Starlings roosting in the reed bed at Burton Mere Wetlands is building nicely, and the murmurations are really impressive just now.  Bill captured the attached scene this last week.

To experience it for yourselves, get down to the Visitors Centre for the last hour before closing, around 3:30pm.

Member Martin Donaldson took a great photo of the Long-billed Dowitcher that was at BMW last month.  This is a North American wader that occasionally turns up in Britain. Superficially it looks similar to a Snipe, with a plumpish body and long, straight bill; but it lacks the bold stripes of a Snipe.

Ellie captured a nice Dunnock.  Easily overlooked scurrying in the undergrowth, they have subtle but beautiful markings when seen well.

We were sent another photo of the escaped Red-tailed Hawk, seen on a roof on Banks Road in West Kirby by Nick Baty.  You can see it is still sporting a jessie ring on its right leg.  It seems to be flourishing still!

I hope to be able to give a talk to the Club based on my recent trip to Namibia and Botswana.  It won’t get into the programme for a year or two though, so here are a couple of teasers.

While it is unusually mild as I write this, winter will surely arrive properly soon. So, if you’ve not done it recently, clean your feeders and fill them up ready for the birds when the temperatures fall. And keep any water baths clean and full, especially if the conditions freeze.

Hugh