News

Friday, 3 April 2009

SPRING MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

This has been the coldest winter we have had for some time. I am looking forward to the spring, not just for the birds, but for some nice sunshine! To be fair, the recent meeting at Stonehaven provided not only lots of snow but lots of that warm sunshine!

All our meetings have been well supported throughout this hard winter. We have had some good outings and some brilliant speakers at our indoor meetings. Our opening speaker, Jonathan Osborne, from RSPB Scottish Headquarters was excellent and I am sure we had a record crowd of nearly seventy for Nick Picozzi's "Spirit of Shackleton" talk.

Meikle Loch has now been purchased by the RSPB. I am pleased to say that my Chairman's Appeal raised £7,100 to give to the RSPB to help with the purchase. I thank the members and the non-members who contributed to the appeal. I am very grateful to you all for your generosity. I am sure it is appreciated by the RSPB. At least we know that the area is in safe hands for the future.

Mr George Wood-Anderson left money to the RSPB to establish a shelter for the RSPB Fowlsheugh reserve. I have seen the plans for a very modern building that blends well into the landscape. It is at the planning stage now and we can but hope it passes this hurdle and goes on to become a reality. I shall keep you informed.

The now obligatory, it seems, spring outing abroad is all arranged and, on the 6th May 2009, ten of us will be off to the Greek island of Lésvos which is famous for its migrant birds. We have been there before and in addition to the birds it is a lovely island with multiple habitats, everything from forests to a moonscape. Not only should it be good but it will be good!






Our Sales Organiser, Duncan Pennet, has spent a long time in hospital over the winter. This has disrupted some of the Christmas sales orders and I apologise for this. However, the good news is he is back on his feet and home, so a tidying-up exercise is under way. If you have orders outstanding please give him a ring on 07821 859877 and arrangements will be made to get the items, if you still need them, to you as soon as possible. Financial arrangements will be made as appropriate.

It is proposed that the Autumn outing on the Aberdeen holiday weekend, Friday 25th to Monday 28th of September, will be to the south coast of the Moray Firth. We shall arrange a birding programme on the Saturday and the Sunday. Although it is early, I would appreciate the names of anyone who is interested so that I can check numbers.

I am very pleased to welcome Hilary MacBean to the Local Group Committee. Hilary has taken on the task of meeting people at our events and introducing them around the Group.

The Bird Atlas continues and the BTO would be pleased to have more observers taking on squares needing four visits per annum. Anyone who is interested should contact your BTO representatives, Graham Cooper and Paul Doyle. See later in the Newsletter for details.
Rodney Payne