News archive
November 2009
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Autumn 2009 : MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
As always, our outdoor trips have been well supported and the weather has been reasonably kind to us. I have missed some, but the highlight for me was at the Tay Reed Beds when we were able to see Bearded Tits in the hand as the Tay Ringing Group were operating there at the same time.
Thanks to the Programme Committee for an excellent programme of indoor and outdoor events.
The new programme for 2009-2010 is nearly complete and will be out shortly.( has now been issued to members - with details on the website - pg)
Ten of us enjoyed a lovely holiday on the Greek Island of Lesvos in May this year. The weather was
beautiful and the wild flowers were extravagant in both number and species. We missed some of the
birds we had hoped to see as the migration had been early this year [climate warming?]. However there were plenty to go around. The Greek firemen went on strike at the end of our trip so we had an extra day's holiday. Fine at the time, but the paperwork on our return.......
Plans have been laid for the autumn weekend this year which will be based at Nairn on the Moray Firth. We intend to spend one day on the Black Isle and one day on the Moray coast. This may have been and gone by the time you read this Newsletter. Any ideas for next autumn. Let's hear from you.
The spring trip abroad in 2010 will be to Majorca, staying at Peurto Pollensa early in May. Hopefully we will fly from Aberdeen. We have been to the area before so the sites are known to us and we can be sure of plenty of birds. Anyone interested in this trip should give their name and telephone number to me and I will keep you informed as plans develop.
The local office always has vacancies for members willing to help at the various shows around the town and county. If you feel you would like to get involved, Julie or Carrie at the office would like to hear from you. I recently spent a very pleasant day helping out at the Oldmeldrum Highland Games.
I welcome Penny Hartley to the Committee as a co-opted member. I hope she finds it a rewarding experience.
Rodney Payne
( tel: 01569 763742)
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Bird Surveys
Would you contribute to conservation efforts and make your bird watching more meaningful by monitoring bird populations? Anyone with basic identification skills can contribute as a volunteer
for surveys run by the British Trust for Ornithology with other organisations such as the RSPB and
the Scottish Ornithologists Club.
A new Breeding and Winter Bird Atlas [for the British Isles and Ireland from 2007 to 2011] is in
its early stages. The surveys are simple to carry out and volunteers are needed.
Volunteers are also needed for the Breeding Birds and Heronries surveys. We would also like to
know of the existence of any heronries
Please contact
Graham Cooper for South Aberdeenshire
Email grm.cooper@btinternet.com
Telephone: 013398 82706
OR
Paul Doyle for North Aberdeenshire
Email paul@albaecology.co.uk
Telephone: 01358 751384
OR
Visit the BTO website: http://www.bto.org