<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society Newsletter
Newsletter of the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society
EDITORS' INTRODUCTION
May 2003
Birdtours.co.uk
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This May news has the usual good variety of contributions; thanks to all those who have contributed. Ray Hobbs drawings nicely illustrate the article by Pete Marsh on the 10km square with no breeding birds but loads of interest throughout the year. Ringing and the thorough coverage of the area by the recorder and the leaguers are covered in the regular sections. From the Morecambe Bay Wader Group there has just arrived a report of an Oystercatcher that was ringed on Heysham Helipad in October 2001 and was seen on 22 July 2002 up near the Varanger Fjord at 70 29N and 28 28E; a distance of 2413 km. Looking at The Migration Atlas this looks about the furthest ever for a west coast Oystercatcher. On 9 May Pete Marsh spotted a Knot with a coloured leg flag and rings; probably from a study the Dutch are doing on them and we await the detail with interest.

The LDBWS special survey species this breeding season are   

1) Buzzard and Raven in order to establish a clear position for these rapidly expanding populations                    
2) Yellowhammer to check whether this is as scarce as appears from recent atlases.

Please pay particular attention to these and send in all observations at the end of the summer. John Wilson is co-ordinating the Buzzard and Raven data and Brian Townson the Yellowhammer so if you want to focus on a particular area contact them for the allocation of tetrads. Casual records are important.

The principal BTO survey this year is the 75th annual Heron survey. All the main areas are covered but if you come across a small heronry do not assume it is covered by someone else. Let Keith Woods know about it.

Phil Holland, 2 Rennie Court LA1 5XE will pass on any data to the above if that is easier for you.

THE NEXT NEWSLETTER is due in mid September.




Birdtours.co.uk
Worldbirder.com
Local Sightings
LDBWS Website
Newsletter Index