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BIRDING
WITH YOUR GROUP LEADER
 Hello
everyone,
As
we reach that quiet time of the year for seeing birds
in our gardens, we wait to see how successful the
breeding season has been for all our favourites.
A number of bird species are really declining
but some are expanding in a spectacular way, such as
Goldfinches.
I would like to thank Chris Galvin one of our recent
speakers who works for Opticron.
He told me that it might be possible for the
group to receive a couple of telescopes to benefit the
events when we are out.
We would like to thank Chris and Opticron for
this kind donation which will be used by us and also
the Liverpool Wildlife Explorers group
Enjoy
the birds.
Chris
Hello
all and welcome to the summer newsletter.
It’s
fast approaching that time of year again, when our
breeding birds and their offspring will be looking at
heading south for the winter.
Amongst these birds are the seabirds that breed
in northern Britain and winter off the African coast.
Birds such as skuas, terns and shearwaters.
What you might not realise is how many of these
birds pass by so close to home, and how many species
visit Merseyside as they stop off in Liverpool Bay on
their way south. This
year we’re running no fewer than four Mersey Ferry
Liverbird cruises – including our first ever weekend
cruise – out into Liverpool Bay, giving you the
unique opotunity to see just what fantastic marine
life the waters just a few miles out of the mouth of
the River Mersey support.
Details of the cruises and more details can be
found further on in this newsletter.
It’s
also our great pleasure to present to you a guest
crossword; a real monster crossword that will
hopefully get that grey-matter working!
Many thanks go to group member Sean O’Hara
who compiled this crossword especially for us.
Good birding,
Stephen
CROSSWORD
All
answers are British birds... only a handful of
rarities!
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ACROSS
1.
Smallest magician
in the family (6)
2.
& 4 down. Rare domestic cockney these
days (5, 7)
4.
& 35 down. Sounds a windy gas (4, 6)
6.
& 38 across.
Lifts scrambled conifers (4, 5)
7.
Killer seen in craggy remote
areas (3)
8.
...Billy was an old steamer
(5)
9.
see 43 across
11.
Historically
seen with scarlet bill (5)
12.
Not
on this cheese (5)
13.
Very
large victim
16.
Richard’s
rock or tree (5)
17.
Extinct
Eskimo (6)
18.
Trumps
male 27 (4)
21.
Did he do away with Bambi? (8)
22.
&34
down. Funny flags (4, 7)
23.
Ties
up layer (7)
25.
Falls in Snowdonia (7)
27.
Judges females collar (5)
28.
It’s a little snowy (3)
29.
Found in bootleg retro records (5)
32.
Sea pirate would eat 44 chicks (4)
33.
Allowed in pub (6)
37.
In new renewable energy we believe (4)
38.
See 6 across
39.
Rhone
whirlpool (5)
40.
Note before service (8)
41.
Divine humour (6)
43
& 9 across. A famous wee dram (3, 5)
44.
Reverse four eights (4)
45.
Day in the life of mixed up winger (7)
46.
His favourite pastime must be Subbuteo
(5)
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DOWN
1.
Is Mars green or not? (9)
3.
Very fast, always on the wing (5)
4.
See 2 across
5.
Can this pair spend up? (9)
9.
He leads a charmed life (9)
10.
Is King in sea, glen or mountain (5)
14. Often
seen on board next to knight (5)
15.
Sings for his supper, no cheddar!
(12)
17.
A hundred or caught speeding in car
test (9)
19.
Sister mixed up in court room enclosure
(7)
20.
Can be late (4)
24.
Anfield never a venues to appear in (5)
26.
A weather forecast (8)
30.
Like a drink before bedtime (8)
31.
Slip Granny (4)
34.
See 22 across
35.
See 4 across
36.
Hard to find in tickly problem (6)
42.
Don’t walk like this in the
USA
!
(7)
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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11
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12
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13
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14
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21
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23
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24
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Mersey
Ferry Liverbird Wildlife Cruises
This year, once again, the RSPB – in conjunction
with Mersey Ferries, National Museums Liverpool and
the Environment Agency – are operating Wildlife
Cruises on the River Mersey.
Cruise
dates this year are:
Friday 31st July, Tuesday 18th
August, Monday 14th September and Saturday
26th September.
The
July and August cruises are mainly family orientated,
whereas those in September are the principal seabird
cruises. Leaving
Seacombe at 11.00am, Liverpool Pier Head at 11.10am
and Woodside at 11.20am, the cruises last about 3
hours and sail out as far as the Mersey Bar.
In recent years, the variety of birds seen has
increased and the unexpected is to be expected!
Last year, for example, the cruise stumbled
across a family of 5 Spoonbills feeding on the beach
off Crosby. Seals
and Harbour Porpoise are also occasionally seen.
The
cost has again been kept at a bargain £10 and tickets
can be purchased from any of the Mersey Ferry booking
offices. Remember
to check the departure times when booking your tickets
in case of any amendments.
Make
a note of the dates and come along for an interesting
and rewarding day out.
We hope we can welcome you on board!
85
CLUB NEWS 2009
For those of you who haven’t
already heard, our “85 club” is a wonderful
opportunity giving you the chance to win one of two cash
prizes each month and with the added bonus that you know
you’re helping the RSPB at the same time!
The 85 club is open to any member of the group
and for a mere £12 a year you can pick a number from
our board of 85 – that’s just £1 a month!
We’ll keep you updated with who’s winning
what.
April
09 (AGM
special)
Elena Vivori - £50
Jan Donkin - £50
Olga
Philips £5
Ros
Emery £5
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May
Shirley Peden £20
Howard Mills - £5
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June
Sean O'Hara -20
Alan Whitwell - £5
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July
Rosemary Brice- £20
Ron Baker - £5
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August
Cherry Bowmaker - £20
Sean O'hara - £5
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September
- £20
- £5
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October
- £20
- £5
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November
- £20
- £5
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December
- £50
- £50
-
£10
-
£10
-
£5
-
£5
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January
- £20
- £5
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February
- £20
- £5
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March
- £20
- £5
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Remember, the more numbers you
have, the more chance you have of winning a prize!
For details of joining our 85 club, see Ann or
Brenda at the next indoor meeting.
MEETING
PROFILES FOR JULY
TO JANUARY
10
SATURDAY
11th JULY
Old
coach road (Kirkby): Another new venue for the group. Meet 11.00am at
Kirkby Admin, bus from Kirkby railway station, contact
Traveline on 0871 200 2233 for times etc. A walk of
about 4 miles on quiet lanes and some fields. Farmland
birds including Yellow Wagtail and Corn Bunting plus
migrants should be seen. No facilities.
Leader: John Clegg (Tel: 523 7353 or
Mobile:07776 393578)
SATURDAY
15th AUGUST
Anglezark:
Meet
10.30am at the car park (OS map 109 ref:620160),
approx 50 minutes from Liverpool. An easy walk along
the Anglezark woodland trail, then along Lead Mine
Clough (industrial archaeology). Woodland and upland
species with water birds on the reservoir and feeder
streams in Lead Mine Clough. Dependent on the weather,
the two areas may be joined by a short walk. No
facilities, nearest available at Rivington - Great
House Barn visitor centre
Leader: Dave Hardy (Tel: Mobile 07811 323354)
 TUESDAY
18th AUGUST
MERSEY
FERRY CRUISE – Family Day
Ferry departs Seacombe 11.00am, Liverpool Pier Head 11.10am & Woodside
11.20am. Duration
approx. 3 hrs. Sailing
out to Liverpool Bay.
Activities onboard for families.
Tickets £10.00 for adults & £5 for
children age 3-15.
Advanced booking essential!
Phone Mersey Ferries for more details: 0151 330
144
MONDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
MERSEY
FERRY CRUISE
A chance to observe the birdlife of Liverpool Bay from the world famous
Mersey Ferry. Details
as for Tuesday 18th August cruise.
SATURDAY
19th SEPTEMBER
Bradlegh
Loop: Meet 11.00am at Earlestown Station (10.14am train from
Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay). An easy 3 or 4
mile walk along footpaths, lanes and towpath on the
remaining section of the St. Helens canal.
Mostly open countryside, but should produce a
mixed variety of species. There is a half hourly
return train service. No facilities on walk.
Leader: Howard Mills (Tel: 0151 226 3285 or
Mobile: 07710 217663)
MONDAY 21st
SEPTEMBER INDOOR MEETING
Florida Sunshine State:
We welcome a new speaker for the autumn run of
talks, Stuart
Meredith. He
will be telling us about Florida, ‘the sunshine
state’. Stuart
used to work for RSPB up at Fairhaven Lake and now
runs a birding holiday firm.
Have a nice day, y’all!
MONDAY 19th OCTOBER INDOOR MEETING
Snowy Owl – King of
the Arctic:
It’s that time of the year: you’ll have to
be in your seats early as we welcome back Gordon
Yates. Gordon’s
film this year will be about the Snowy Owl.
For those of you who have never seen one of
Gordon’s films, you will be in for a real treat on
the night!
SATURDAY
31st OCTOBER
Wigg
Island: Another
new venue for the group. Meet 9.45am at Paradise
Street Interchange for No. 4 bus, or
10.45am at the visitor centre. An easy walk on good
paths. Some screens for viewing over the river,
whichshould produce a variety of waders and woodland
species. Facilities in visitor centre, if open.
Leader: John
Clegg (Tel: 0151 523 7353 or Mobile: 07776 393578)
SUNDAY
8th NOVEMBER
Pennington
Flash: Our second visit this year to a popular venue and,
apart from the usual resident species such as wildfowl
and Long-tailed Tit, we add the chance to see late
autumnal and early winter visitors. Meet 10.30am at
the country park car park (Pay & Display). Access
is signposted from the East Lancashire Road (A580 with
the A572 to Leigh). Allow up to 45 minutes travel
time. An easy walk on good paths. Toilet facilities
available.
Leader: Chris Tynan (Tel: 0151 480 7938 or Mobile
07831 352870)
SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER
Eastham Country Park: Meet
10.45am at the visitor centre. The country park is by
the banks of the Mersey, found by travelling through
the Birkenhead tunnel, following the A41 towards
Chester, eventually seeing a brown tourist sign to the
park. Public transport - Arriva 401 or First Bus 1
from Sir Thomas Street, alight at first stop on the
A41 after Bromborough Police Station. Woodland and
estuary species to be seen. Toilet facilities should
be available.
Leader: Howard Mills (Tel:
0151 226 3285 or Mobile 07710 217663)
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