This is a NEW Group. Dave Denman is the contact
In response to some enquiries I am forming a new group for our Meopham U3a .
It will be known as “ Local Nature Appreciation Group “ and its interests will include Bird Watching ,
Flora and fauna , Butterflies etc , incorporating an element of photography .There will be local , monthly visits , to Reserves ( RSPB , Kent Wildlife etc ) , most of which are easily accessible to us .
Should you be interested in joining then I will act as Group Contact,
Dave
Local Nature Appreciation Group .Gordons Promenade 15th Nov, for pictures click HERE.
The weather on Tuesday meant that we had to rearrange the meeting place , as fields were too muddy and slippery for walking.Eleven of us met on a sunny ,
breezy morning as the high tide was coming in .Various species of gull were on show, along with feral and Wood pigeons, Crows , Starlings.
A beach search showed distant Dunlins, Lapwings, Black tailed Godwit, viewed through our telescopes .
Small White and Red Admiral .
Local Nature Appreciation Group trip to Sevenoaks 24.01.2024, for pictures click HERE
Six of us met at this Kent Wildlife Trust owned reserve, on a bright ,clear morning. From the car park, our first stop was at the look-out point,
where Teal, various gulls, Canada and Greylag geese and Lapwing were spotted.
A Robin sang close by as we had a leisurely walk along the track towards the Jeffrey Harrison hide.
Blue and Great Tits were scuttling around the trees in search of a snack and a Wren made a brief appearance.
From the hide, at least five Common Snipe were seen on one of the islands, with Cormorant, skittish Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Gadwall,
Pochard and three sightings of a Kingfisher! An amazing colourful little bird and always nice to see.
The Tower hide gave us good views of Mute Swans, Tufted ducks and a Great-crested Grebe.
A walk in the wooded section produced excellent sightings of male and female Siskins for us all, with a Great-spotted Woodpecker
drumming close by. Long-tailed Tits were seen and a Goldcrest flitted about at its normal fast pace.
A ‘squealing pig’ sound indicated that a Water Rail was close by and sure enough, on a low lying pond, it ran from one section of reeds to another.
Not always the easiest bird to see. On our way back to the car park, a Chaffinch called from a nearby tree and showed itself for a few seconds.
In all, 32 species were seen / heard, which is a good total for the few hours that we were there.
After lunch, we had a walk to the Willow hide. Along the way, we heard a Nuthatch calling, but had good views of a Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Redwing.
Local Nature Appreciation Group trip to Riverside Country Park. 23/2/2024 click HERE
The weather was in our favour, as 14 of us met at this lovely country park on Friday. A stroll up to the river, where binoculars and telescopes scanned the mudflats. Grey Plovers were seen way offshore, with Redshanks, Black-headed and Herring gulls, Shelduck and Shoveler were spotted. An easterly walk towards Bloors Wharf as the tide was coming in, gave us a good sightings of Curlew, Teal, Wigeon, Dunlin and Oystercatchers. Great and Blue Tits, along with a Dunnock, Robin, Greenfinch and a Jay were seen scampering around in the nearby trees. A bit further along the track, Pintails, Moorhen and a calling Mediterranean gull overhead were added to our list. We decided to retrace our steps and head towards the woodland section, in the west of the reserve. Turnstones were abundant aboard an abandoned boat and at least 3 Common Snipe were resting on a small grassy island. A Wren was heard calling nearby with a Chaffinch calling too. Numerous Magpies, Carrion Crows, Blackbirds and Wood Pigeons gave us more for the list, whilst Brent Geese glided by in the small inlet. Some of us had lunch in the cafe and chatted about the day. It was good to see so many there and always nice to meet new members.
Our total bird count was 30 species.
Local Nature Appreciation Group – Saturday 18.05.24 click HERE
RSPB Northward Hill U3a group trip
Nine of us met at this lovely reserve on a bright Wednesday morning and were greeted by our target bird, a Nightingale. This spring migrant bird had flown from Sub – Sahara Africa to claim its territory and find a mate in the dense undergrowth, close to the car park. Having searched for a while, we spotted it briefly in a nearby tree, just before it decided to hide once again. Two Cuckoos were calling from different parts of the reserve and seemed elusive. The walk up towards the Ernie Helmsley view point gave us Blackcap, Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Wren and a Song Thrush. From the impressive views at the view point, we managed to see a distant Marsh Harrier, Carrion Crow, Greylag and Canada Geese. Rosemary then called a Common Whitethroat, which gave us a few chords of its scratchy song. One of the Cuckoos flew high overhead, whilst another Nightingale belted out its ‘machine gun’ call, so we went searching again, to no avail unfortunately. A Blackbird serenaded us back down the hill and the car park for a well earned cuppa! A Cettis Warbler sang noisily on our way to the Sweenie viewpoint, where a Red Admiral butterfly bathed in the sunshine, wings wide open and the Cuckoo could be heard again in the distance. A Common Buzzard quartered above, whilst Goldfinches were spotted and heard in the nearby bushes. Jackdaws and a lone Grey Heron were noted as we walked to the newly rebuilt hide. Black-Headed Gulls, Coots and a Lapwing were seen at close quarters, whilst further back, two Mute Swans and Little Egrets put on good displays. Even better when one of the Egrets flew in closer for some good binocular views. Mallards and Moorhens put in an appearance, whilst a few Redshanks and a lone Oystercatcher could be seen flying around the pool. Another Nightingale was singing and a Greenfinch ‘wheezed’ as we headed back to the cars. Swallows flew overhead to bid us farewell and with a tally of 34 species seen and heard, a lovely time was had by all.
Many thanks to everyone that attended.
Steve and Hazel
A beautiful , very local, Meopham walk , organised and researched by Rosemary and Stuart ,
concentrating on the flora and fauna in this meadow as well as dozens of wild pyramid orchids and the rare rockrose,
we also identified over 20 bird varieties and 5 different butterfly species amongst this wild meadow -- and it's on our doorstep !
Additional information from Steve, also posted on the Meopham u3a Facebook Page
Please use the bluebird above to contact DAVE.