Monday Meeting

I’m so pleased to let you know that we are able to have our first indoor meeting on Monday 14th September. Dave Mason will give a talk on the birds he saw on his visit to the USA last winter. It will be held at 7.30pm in the Sapcote Pavilion on Hinckley Road. The Church Hall could only hold 12 people. The Pavilion is a little more spacious but we will be limited to 18 individuals, or a couple will count as one, allowing another person to come. I will need to know if you would like to attend. Chairs will be spaced 2 metres apart. A mask should be worn on entering the building and when standing, but you may remove them when seated. You will also need to bring your own mug if you’d like tea or coffee.

We have had to sign a contract promising to abide by these rules while we use the building. This is a one off use. We don’t know where or if we can meet in October. You can rest assured that if it can be done safely we’ll meet.

We must thank Ken, Nev and Dave in particular for setting this up.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to attend.

COVID-19

Dear Members and the Public,

As you can understand, the decision has been made to postpone the talks arranged for April and May until 2021, at this point June is still scheduled but may be cancelled in due course. Organised walks are also postponed until further notice.

Don't forget to send your Garden Bird list to Ken Reeves and check out the list on www.burbagebirders.co.uk.

Keep safe, Keep your distance, stay in touch.

Rutland Water 15/03/20

Well ... What a super day! 9 of us (including Bev's brother Steve) enjoyed at Rutland Water yesterday. We met up at the Lyndon visitor centre car park and after lunch went over to the main visitor centre in Egleton. Even though the weather was not that good, I'm not sure anyone really minded as we took full advantage of the hides there and the fact that the visitor centre had been refurbished in recent years was brilliant. Nev (bless him) mentioned to the volunteer when paying at Lyndon:

"How distressing it was at the minute with the coronavirus, that us oldies and members of a local bird club who have little money and couldn't even buy any toilet paper or hand sanitiser" ...

She felt so sorry for us we managed to only pay £4 each so that was a result to start with.

Anyway, please find below a list (in no particular order) of the 69 different species we found. Even the 'Birder of the Year' aka Mr John Taylor managed to spot some 🙄👍

Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting f/m and son, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Marsh Tit, Crow, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Egyptian goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Tufted duck, Goldeneye, Goosander (f), Ruddy duck (f), Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Great White egret, Grey heron, Moorhen, Coot, Golden Plover x 300, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common gull, Common Scoter , Shelduck, Red Kite, Oyster Catcher, Stock dove,

Wood pigeon, Green woodpecker, Pied wagtail, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Crow, Kestrel, Curlew, Barn Owl, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Smew f/m, Red Shank, Pin Tail Duck, Black Tailed Godwit, Starling,

Peregrine (standing on the Ospreys nest), Little ringed Plover, Bullfinch f/m, Sand Martins x 3, Buzzard, Song Thrush and finally a Magpipe (as my 4 year old grandson used to say).

John and I even managed 'a lifer' with the Ruddy duck ... so all in all a very happy day, well for some of us anyway.

See you all soon coronavirus free permitting ...

Angie