Newsletter No.30

February 2010

Notices

Please support these two imminent events which promise to be of great interest. (See page 3 for details.)

Reintroducing Ratty
Please note especially this event which takes place this coming Saturday morning.

Bee Keeping Past and Present
This is another event for your diary next week. Please join us and spread the word far and wide.

Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris).
Another image from http://www.seeing.org.uk appropriate to the above.


Subscriptions
PLEASE PAY YOURS SOON TO AVOID EXTRA WORK ON OVERDUE PAYMENTS

£5 minimum per member for 2010-11 due by April.
Cheques, please, for “Henley Wildlife Group”, to Chris Bond, 47 St Andrew's Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1JA.


Contacts:

Sally Rankin, HWG Chairman: 01491 578633
email: s.rankin@btinternet.com

Chris Bond, HWG treasurer: 01491 572120
email: the.bonds@tesco.net

Maurice Litchfield, HWG secretary: 01491 575953

Andrew Hawkins: 01491 576929
email: awaj@waitrose.com

David Parry: 01491 572668
e-mail: thedavidparry@yahoo.co.uk

David Whitehead: 01491 573635
e-mail: dcwhitehead@thamesinternet.com

Tim Woods 01491 572789
e-mail: ajwoods@waitrose.com

Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust
01491 642001 (Warburg Nature Reserve office)
Website: www.bbowt.org.uk

River & Rowing Museum 01491 415600
Website: www.rrm.co.uk

Events

Saturday 27 February, 11.30 am (coffee from 11 am)
Reintroducing Ratty
Dr Tom Moorhouse, an ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Unit, Oxford University, will be giving a lecture on water voles. Better known as Kenneth Grahame's well-loved Ratty, water voles are highly endangered in the UK. This talk will give an introduction to their lifestyle, the problems they face and what can be done to halt, or even reverse, their decline.River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 1BF
Tickets £6, to book call 01491 415605 or email edbookings@rrm.co.uk

Tuesday 2 March, 7.30-9.30 pm
Bee Keeping Past and Present
A joint BBOWT and Henley Wildlife Group event. A fascinating talk on bee keeping by Ian Gourlay of the Oxfordshire Bee Keeper Association.
The Barn, Henley-on-Thames. Entrance via Kings Road car park (through small car park nearest the Town Hall)
Admission: £2 Contact: Tim Woods 01491 572789 ajwoods@waitrose.com

Fridays at 11.30am: April 9, May 21, June 4 & June 18
Guided Tours of Ratty's Refuge
30 minute tours of Ratty's Refuge garden and Mill Meadows with Henley Wildlife Group. Designed for adults but children are welcome.
FREE with Museum admission . Places limited; booking recommended
River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 1BF

Thursday 13 May, 7.00 pm
Annual General Meeting
Greys Green cricket pavilion verandah on the right side of the road, from Henley.Parking outside the village hall, on the left side of the road. THERE WILL BE A SHORT WALK AFTERWARDS, WEATHER PERMITTING.


River and Rowing Museum
The Museum has asked if we would lead more walks around Ratty’s Refuge, their Water Vole garden. Walks are scheduled for 11.30 a.m. on 9 April, 21 May, 4 and 18 June, all Fridays. They will be led by Sally Rankin or Andrew Hawkins. Last year we took visitors around the Museum’s garden and out into the meadows to see our wildlife area around the ponds, then we gave them our wildlife trail leaflet for the Meadows to encourage them to explore further. Ratty’s Refuge is usually closed off but if anyone would like to see it please let us know and we will arrange a visit. Spring and summer will be the best times to visit.
For details of other events at the Museum, see the links under What’s On at http://www.rrm.co.uk/


Wildlife news

“ On average, the seasonal timing of reproduction and population growth has become earlier by more than 11 days since 1975, but change has accelerated in recent decades.”
(http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/early-spring.html)

Black Swans
The last newsletter reported that a family of black swans had been seen at Heron Island, Caversham. We received this very interesting email from Jenny Ribeiro. It is very kind of Jenny to share her knowledge with us. Can we share her optimism on co-existence of species? The Ring-necked parakeets, for example, are out-competing some native species. Since 1995 they have progressed up the Thames from Staines. They are now well established in Mill End and Henley, and beyond. What has been displaced by the Red Kites?
As a narrowboat owner in the Thames and Kennet Marina in Caversham Lakes I have seen quite a lot of black swan activity over the last two years. In 2008 there was a family with five cygnets growing up successfully in the marina area. I did not see a family this last year, 2009, just the occasional visit from an adult or a pair of adults, but last week there was a lot of black swan courting display going on in the water from one couple, swimming abreast, dipping of necks, calling etc. Then, when this couple came ashore onto the grassy bank, they vigorously chased and bullied a pair of mute swans who had been minding their own business resting and grooming on the bank! The marina manager confirms that the black swans are relentless 'thugs' as far as the mute swans are concerned, and he has observed this a number of times. I'm sure that some of the residents on the narrowboats could add to these observations; I am only there occasionally, seeing to the boat or going off on a trip. I have really enjoyed seeing these beautiful birds and hearing their very varied calls.I think that the black swans pose little threat to the native swans in the long run; there is enough space for both of them on the river and surrounding bodies of water, but, where they run into each other in a confined space, like the bank between the road and the narrowboat marina, there is confrontation. Of course, this could have been because they were courting!

New Bird Survey for Henley
Ten years ago the Henley Wildlife Group organised a survey of the town’s wildlife, including the various bird species that were seen over a period of 12 months. The birds occurring in the gardens of about 30 participating households were recorded on a weekly basis, while sightings in areas such as the riverside, part of Lambridge Wood and the Watermans allotments were also noted. Results of the survey, together with information on other fauna and flora, were published in autumn 2003 in a report entitled “Wildlife and its Conservation in Henley-on-Thames”. Copies are available in Henley Library or from Sally Rankin or David Whitehead.
A second bird survey, to assess the changes that have occurred during the 10-year period, is now under consideration. Will the blackbird still be the commonest bird? Will the spotted flycatcher, the hobby and the yellowhammer be seen again? Will any new species have become established or visited the town? However, implementation of the new survey will depend on a sufficient number of people volunteering to monitor the birds in their gardens, and/or to look out for unusual species in non-garden locations within the town boundary. If you would be interested in taking part, or would like further details, please contact David Whitehead (01491 573635) (dcwhitehead@thamesinternet.com) or Sally Rankin (s.rankin@btinternet.com) (01491 578633) by 8 March. Friends who are not members of HWG would also be most welcome to contact us and to take part.

Reptiles - especially adders - and amphibians
We have the following from our conservation consultant, Rod d’Ayala:
“ This year the Oxfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group is trying to follow up all recent Adder records, this species now being very rare in the county. At best (as far we can tell) it is now restricted to a handful of sites and in very low numbers, where it still survives. The South Chilterns is one area of the county where there appear to have been several sites in the recent past (e.g. various parts of the Nettlebed Commons) with some records (not all confirmed) from in and around Henley itself. ANY records, old or current, rumour or fact, would be gratefully received.
“ Perhaps while you are thinking of Adders, records of other species of reptile and amphibian may come to mind. These would also be happily accepted. The other native species are the Common Frog, Common Toad, Smooth Newt, Great Crested Newt, Palmate Newt, Grass Snake, Common Lizard and Slowworm.
“ Records should include species name, location, date, recorder, number of animals and any other useful information (habitat, breeding status, size, lifestage, age etc.)
“ Please send any and/or all information however commonplace or trivial it may seem to: Rod d'Ayala, Oxfordshire ARG, 70 Newlands Avenue, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8QB, Tel: 01235 511 861 Email dayala@waitrose.com.”

Toad rescue
A reminder that the annual toad migration is imminent across the A4155, to the pond, south of the Henley Management College. Many of them die on the road, making the journey, in spite of the tunnel underpass.
Our member, Alan Parfitt, will be organizing the toad rescue activity and would welcome any and all help. This is usually a mid-week, evening activity requiring warm clothes and drinks. Contact Alan on 01491 572660 if you can help.

Update (25th February) : The toad migration has started today. Volunteers will be very welcome during the following week (from 1st March). Do please contact Alan at the number above or email alanparfitt@btinternet.com.

First ever* sighting of a Bittern at an Oxfordshire reserve (* First ever?)
This was at Chimney Meadows, 12km West of Oxford, on the North bank of the Thames. (http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/chimney-bittern.html).

Eels are vanishing from the Thames
Over the last five years, scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have recorded a 98 per cent drop in the number of European eels within the river.
(http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/thames-eels009.html)
(There are eel ladders in the lock gates at Marsh Lock).

Three-legged deer
In a reserve near Henley recently, in a herd of exotic deer, about six were seen which had only three legs. In all cases a rear leg was missing. I was puzzled then and remain so; can it be a fondness for haunch of venison? Someone who probably knows, thinks they are safari park casualties (ornamental deer are hardly wildlife).

Wildlife in the snow
Driving near Ewelme on hard-packed snow I saw a barn owl on the ground, passed it, came back and re-passed it. The town council representative on our committee, Simon Smith, who used to breed them, confirmed that they suffer when the ground is covered with snow. Under its cover, their prey species can continue to travel and the owls cannot see them. Their eyesight is poor so snow is very bad news for barn owls.
The snow brought many more birds into gardens this winter. Over a three-day period, flocks of twenty to forty-plus birds stripped the fruit from the crab apple tree in Sally Rankin’s front garden. They were mainly fieldfares but there were some redwings, blackbirds, blackcaps and a song thrush. A few days later, a bullfinch was also seen for the first time in nearly three years.

Mill Meadows
The snow on the Meadows was beautiful and we are wondering what effect it will have on the wildlife. It has knocked down a lot of the tall vegetation by the ponds and we found at the February work party that it was the easiest it has ever been to rake up the dead material. This exposes the soil, which we hope will encourage any dormant seeds to germinate. We have a Green Gym work party booked for 20 February. The main task will be opening up one of the ponds but we will try to do more raking as well. With any luck it will encourage things like Yellow Loosestrife and Common Valerian.
The Marsh Marigolds are coming to life, although at the moment they seem to be somewhat frost damaged. We look forward to another attractive display. There are no signs of the Fritillaries yet, but we are hoping for a display that compares well with last year’s. There were good numbers of butterfly larvae last summer on the nettles by the stream, near where it flows into the Thames.
Our work parties on Mill Meadows on the first Wednesday of each month, 09.30 in the River & Rowing Museum car park, continue to be pleasant, sociable affairs with a break in themiddle for tea/coffee and WI cakes. We were saddened to learn that the WI is no longer doing their stall at the farmer’s market. However, some of the people at the work party (including Penny and Maggie) have offered to bake cakes for us.

Valley Road Chalk Bank
There was a work party (i.e. myself) in November. Some light mowing was done.
There will be another work party on 10 March, from 09.30; meet at the Knappe Close entrance. Tools provided but anything suitable for dismantling the remaining chainlink fence welcome.
The value of the Chalk Bank is as a fragment of wilderness in the midst of housing. Litter and clearance of overgrowth are the main issues.

Gillott’s Field
Our warden for the Field is away in New Zealand at present and appears not to be on-line; we do not have a report. However I walked across it last week and noted that the stile in the downhill, south-west corner, has been replaced with a kissing gate. Same again at the other side of the next field. Together with the gate onto the Field this makes for a level walk to and from Greys Road and Hunt’s Cross.