Heritage Open Day, St. Patrick's Church

The Heritage Open Day at St. Patrick's Church is to be held this Saturday. If you'd like to know how this bird came to be in the church and the story behind it, then you're welcome to come along. Another tick for the patch perhaps?

Below is a copy of the poster and the press release for further information.

Information and images from Tony Philp.

Increasing involvement of young birders‏ with local bird clubs

I received an email from a West Midland Bird Club Management Committee member asking for opinions on how the involvement of young members with the Club could be increased. The member is also interested in how bird clubs in general might be able to increase young birders' involvement. All opinions are welcomed, but particularly from birders under the age of 50. Please send responses, either as a comment, tweet or via email, to me by September 9th.

Here's an edited version of the email:

---

At the last West Midland Bird Club Management Committee meeting there was a fair amount of discussion on how to get a greater degree of involvement from younger members in the running of the Club – an essential as, if there is no succession to the present (largely but fortunately not exclusively) ageing bunch, there won’t be a WMBC in say thirty years’ time.

Only three younger members appear to have had any involvement in recent years in the running of Club matters. One as recorder for two years on a nestbox project, who had to give it up due to work commitments, but has since helped with the forthcoming Annual Report. Another as branch secretary at Stafford, who also has had to stand down (possibly due to pressure of work). The third as branch secretary at Birmingham, who apparently has a busy lifestyle and doesn’t consider they have scope for taking on extra commitments within WMBC.

So is the lack of involvement from younger members due to:

1. 24/7 work ethic, and working life is simply too busy for members under 40 to take a significant role in the Club’s management.
2. Perception among the under 40s that WMBC is simply not run in a manner with which they can identify?

If the latter, what aspects of the way the Club operates are felt to be in need of improvement?

Are the branch activities still useful/relevant, and do the branches still serve a useful purpose in communication between the Management Committee and the members? (Indoor meetings have been dropped by Birmingham for lack of support, and the only branch where they get good support is Kidderminster. Stafford have dropped field meetings for lack of support, and the only branch where support is good is Birmingham, for the long-haul trips).

The quality of the website has in recent times become a subject of criticism. We are very conscious of this, and steps are in hand to improve the situation.

I shall be interested to know what you, and near-contemporaries among your birding friends and fellow-members, see as the changes necessary to move the Club forward, make it more easily identifiable for younger members, and encourage them to be more involved in future management. Responses received will be looked at during the next Management Committee meeting, and views will be received with interest and respect.

A Fifteen Minute Butterfly Survey

Each Summer Butterfly Conservation, in association with Marks and Spencer, organises "The Big Butterfly Count" - a nationwide butterfly survey. This year its being held between 20th July and 11th August and all you have to do is spend 15 minutes in your garden, or park, or woodland etc., and count the butterflies or certain species of day flying moths that you see in a fifteen minute period.

The survey was launched in 2010 and last year 27,000 people participated spotting 223,000 butterflies. Butterflies react quickly to environmental changes and are, therefore, excellent biodiversity indicators and can provide a warning also of other possible wildlife losses. The survey will also help the charity to spot butterfly trends and identify any declining species.

For more information please visit the website www.bigbutterflycount.org which gives details on how to take part and you can also download an id chart. You can repeat the survey as many times as you like and submitting results is really easy and only takes minutes.

(Thanks to Tony Philp for copying this to me)

Anyone know any of these observers?

As part of my research for the A History of the birds of Earlswood book, I wonder if anyone knows the forenames or contact details for any of the following people who have sent in Earlswood bird records to the West Midland Bird Club in the past? Any leads would be helpful. I'd like to contact them about further records/memories:

A. Abrahams
J.M.S. Arnott
D.W.H. Adams
P.J. Bateman
Miss E. Batchelor
R.F.E. Butler
R.S. Cropper
B.B. Daykin
K.A. Faulkner
P.P. Feeny
G. Fellows
N.D. Galloway
G.I. Giles
D.J. Harper
R.R. Higgins
C. Hill
B.J. Hulett
M.D. Humphreys
G.M. Ireson
M.R. Kimble
K.N. Kingscott
W.G.G. Lindley
E.C. Needle
J.E. Needle
C.D. Parnell
G.W. Rayner
J.R. Reynolds
G.L. Roberts
L. Salmon
Robert L. Smallwood (Bob?)
C.R. Stubbs
J.E. Sunderland (Ted)
D.M. Thomas
K.H. Thomas
Miss G. Thomas
A.A.K. Whitehouse
Miss O. Willetts
J.D.M. Wright

Red = recently added (08/04/2013).

Also, Peter Morgan, if you're reading this, I'm still interested in your records. As always, I'll be pleased to hear from anyone else with records/memories too!


Matt
www.twitter.com/earlswoodbirds

Earlswood 2013 Calendar

Tony and Barbara Philp have produced an "Around and About" Earlswood Scenes Calendar for 2013 (cover design below). It may not feature more than two wildlife pictures, but the views of the habitat will certainly serve as monthly reminders to those familiar with the patch. The calendar is on sale locally in Earlswood from Classic Pets, ACO Motors, Salon 4 and at the Tea Rooms of Earlswood Craft Centre - price £7.99. All profits go to St. Patrick's Church.

Twitter

This blog was set up to provide people with news on birds noted at Earlswood but I've been struggling to keep it updated recently, which perhaps explains why I've received less emails reporting birds seen compared to previous years.

Anyway, regulars here will be pleased to know that I've set up a twitter account for posting brief sightings news for the Earlswood area. It remains to be seen whether I keep it up though - you know what I'm like! I still intend to use this blog for more lengthy postings.

The Twitter account is at www.twitter.com/earlswoodbirds

Matt

August 6th 2012

Super visit - a good day for migrants:
Common Sandpiper at Windmill Pool; presumably the same bird present since the end of last month?
Common Redstart male in horse pasture hedge south side of Gypsy Lane.
Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling in Spring Brook Scrubland, and whilst attempting to see it (without success) a flock of 8 Crossbills flew over calling.
A certain over-summering duck remains, currently at Engine Pool.

The Gropper takes my patch year list to 109. Due to late shifts at work, I've not done much birding in the last couple of months, but hope to write a summary of what little has been seen when time allows. Please email me your Earlswood sightings from recent months as I've likely missed anything interesting.

Water levels appear to be falling at the two main pools (over a foot below maximum) - if they drop further and expose more lakebed, will we get some waders?

Matt

Earlswood wetland creation?

Waterfowl and waders are attracted to Earlswood Lakes, but many simply fly over finding nowhere suitable to land, or are disturbed off. A field near the lakes has come on the market recently, which I think could potentially be turned into a wetland nature reserve for these birds and other animals. I don't want to say too much on here, lest it attracts the attention of certain undesirable buyers, but if interested in co-purchasing or know someone who might be, please drop me an email. Thanks.
Matt

The field as it currently stands

Spring and outflow channel/ditch highlighted 

Just a very rough idea, probably subject to permissions!

(concealed hide to the right)

14th April 2012

Apologies for the lack of posts on here, and delay replying to your emails - I've been very busy at work in the last few weeks, and along with resting, a little birding and other things, I haven't had much time to spend on the computer. Actually, I haven't been finding a great many birds recently, but today was the best for a while with four patch year ticks:

• Male Redstart in hedge around larger horse pasture visible from the brick bridge (Gypsy Lane) at the southwest corner of Windmill Pool. I had a female in this same hedge last autumn, so evidently they like it.
• Two Oystercatchers flying around the two main pools, briefly settling on one of the reed islands, then heading off over Terry's Pool.
• A Yellow Wagtail flew straight over Engine Pool.
• Three Rooks (finally) over Springbrook Lane area.

There were also c. 55 Sand Martins over the lakes, which is largest congregation of this species that I've personally seen at Earlswood. Migrants including Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Common Tern and all three hirundine species are around, with a few Common Sandpipers having passed through. Since the Firecrest, a few other good birds have been found in the area by other observers. From memory, these were a Short-eared Owl along Norton Lane (Craig Reed), A Red Kite along Forshaw Heath Road (Keith Lovell), 3 Oystercatchers over the lakes (Martin Lindop) and a pair of Gadwall (found by Tony Philp) which stayed for many days and were joined by a second pair at one point. John Sirrett found the first Swallow, House Martin and Common Sandpiper, Jon Chidwick the first Blackcap, and Mike Jeeves the first Common Tern, whilst I think I can only claim Earlswood's first Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Sand Martin this year. Up to 3 Shoveler have been at Terry's Pool, with two males present today. Many thanks to everyone who's sent me their sightings - coverage seems to have been pretty good, despite the reduced amount of time I've put in so far this spring.

Matt

St. Patrick's Church open day

St Patrick’s Church, Salter Street

B94 6DE.

“A striking & unexpected accent in a wholly rural landscape” (Quote from English Heritage)

In 2011, St Patrick’s Church, Salter Street achieved Grade II*listed status. The beautiful Victorian church, designed by Bidlake, had finally been recognised as the very special place it is; there are intricate carvings, ornate decorations, stunning murals and a wonderful ceiling.

To celebrate this there have been several open days, allowing many people to come in and see the treasures for themselves. The next one is on:

Bank Holiday Monday 9^th April

Visitors will be welcome between 10am-4pm. There will be

· accompanied tours

· a chance to sit quietly

· the Millennium Tapestry to see

· wildflowers in our churchyard conservation area

· books for sale

· refreshments to enjoy.

Car parking is available in the car park, 100m along from the church

Contact phone number:

Barbara Philp 07734 228500