THE SOCIETY'S CONSTITUTION

Registered Charities have been advised to make sure that their membership are given current and updated copies of the organisations' Constitutions. Last year some minor changes were made to our Constitution so now is an opportune time to distribute an updated version to our members. If you have not received a copy, either download from this page, or contact the Secretary.
View the Society's constitution

SWIFT & HIRUNDINE SURVEY 2008

A report on last year's Swift & Hirundine Survey is enclosed with this Bulletin including a comparison of results with earlier years. More volunteers are needed for this survey which involves recording nests and flocks of SWIFTS, SWALLOWS SAND MARTINS and HOUSE MARTINS during the period Mar to Sep. The results from this survey will also contribute to the BTO Atlas Project. Sand Martins nest April to August. In our area, they have previously nested in drainage holes in the banks of the River Hogsmill in Kingston and more recently have established a colony in holes among the pilings surrounding Ravens Ait on the River Thames. They will also nest in gravel workings and sand banks. House Martins nest May to October under eaves of houses, especially near water sites. In our area, Swallows mostly nest in stables and outbuildings on farms and occasionally under bridges. Swifts nest late May to August in towns and suburbs, often colonially in roofs of buildings. Listen for screaming parties of Swifts, indicating nesting activity.

How to take part:
  1. Collect a survey form from the Information Table or from Thelma Caine at Indoor Meetings or contact Thelma on 01372 468432.
  2. Select sites to survey -
  3. Record the number of nests, where seen, and the date. Also record flocks.
  4. Hand in your forms to the Recorder, Mike Schickner or to Thelma Caine by the September Indoor Meeting.

"WATCH OUT FOR RAVENS" by Mike Schickner

On the 16th January, I saw a Raven in Painshill Park, Cobham. On the 29th February, Daphne Millington and David Wooldridge saw one (possibly the same bird) flying over The Ledges. So please keep your eyes open. Don't assume a big black bird is a Crow or a Jackdaw. If you are not familiar with the Raven, it is bigger and heavier looking than a Crow with a slower wing beat It helps, as in my case, if it is being mobbed by a couple of Crows, which give a size comparison. Especially when perched, it can be seen to have a rounded tail, not square. Also, the call is distinctive, a deep 'korrp' often repeated three or four times.

The recently published "Birds of Surrey" says that the Raven is spreading West to East. There were only seven records for Surrey in the period 1900 to 2000. Recent records tell of one at Chilworth in 2004 another at Frensham in 2005 and, also in 2005, a pair seen mating in South-east Surrey, although they didn't stop in the County to nest There were also a number of sightings in 2006.

Email addresses.

You don't have to be a 'twitcher' to want to enjoy unusual birds locally. If you missed out on the waxwings, at Horton Country Park or the egrets on the Hogsmill, why not let us have your email address and you can be added to the Hot News circulation list. But please remember to let us know when it changes. Email addresses and comments to both Gary Caine (to add to the membership list) and Mike Schickner (for the Hot News service).

Recruiting New Members

Word of mouth is one of the best ways of expanding membership of the club. Annemarie Stiegler has generated postcard size publicity cards if you can think of anywhere to put them, or people you would like to send or give them to. Ruth Shinebaum has a stock of bird club "business cards" which members can carry when out and about, chatting up prospective new members. See either Annemarie or Ruth for supplies at the indoor meetings.

Do you live in the Elmbridge area?

There have been frequent attempts to build in the area, often to the detriment of local wildlife. Our conservation officer, Tony Quinn, is keeping an eye on things and making representations on the club's behalf where we think there will be a significant environmental impact, but it isn't always easy to be aware of all planning applications. So if you live in the area and see an application in your local newspaper or posted on a community boards or pole that you think warrants our attention, PLEASE let Tony know. He can be contacted on: 020-8241-6087 or ant.quinn@btueyonder.co.uk. Thank you.

RECORDS SUB-COMMITTEE - A PLEA TO ALL MEMBERS

A recent study of SDBWS records has shown that several sites in the Society's recording area, which over the years have produced worthwhile sightings, no longer appear to be visited regularly by Society members. Below is a list of species you might expect to see during a birding year at three adjoining sites close to Epsom.
Site + Grid RefTarget Birds
Epsom Common TQ 190 650Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Pheasant, Woodcock, Stock Dove, Cuckoo, Tawny Ow1, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, FieIdfare, Redwing, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer
Rushett FarmTQ 173 608Kestrel, Hobby, Pheasant, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Skylark, Swallow, Fieldfare, Redwing Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, Redpoll, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Stew Ponds TQ 183 609Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting

As the table shows, you don't have to travel far to see good birds! Other worthwhile sites not covered on a regular basis are:

o Richmond Park (southern section) TO 198 717o Hampton Filter Beds TO 130 693
o Barwell Court and Winey Hill TQ 169 630o Prince's Coverts TQ 160 610
o Fieldcommon (TQ 127 665) and its associated sites

If you live close to any of these 'forgotten' sites, please think about visiting them during 2004, the more frequent the better, and send in your records to the SDBWS Recorder, Mike Schickner.

YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND GIFT AID

Can we remind members of the financial advantages to the Society of the Gift Aid Scheme. All you need to do is to sign the Gift Aid Declaration. The Society can then recover the tax on all of your future membership subscriptions, or any donations you make, until you decide and tell us otherwise. You must be a tax payer, paying enough tax (either income tax or capital gains tax) to cover the amount we as a Society can claim from the Inland Revenue. If you do not pay any tax at all, then there is no point in signing the Declaration. Do think about the scheme, and if in doubt or in need of further information, please contact the Treasurer. If you have mislaid the form, copies can be obtained from the Membership Secretary, Mr. G. Caine or Treasurer, Mrs. M. Lewis. The forms will be made available at indoor meetings.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Below are the Telephone numbers of members whom you might need to contact.
CHAIRMANDavid Wooldridge020 8942 9632david@davidwooldridge.wanadoo.co.uk
SECRETARYVacant  
TREASURERMargaret Lewis020 8336 0882margaretk0124414@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARYGary Caine01372 468432gary.caine@royalmail.co.uk
RECORDERMike Schickner01932-864844mike@schickner.freeserve.co.uk
COACH OUTINGS SECRETARYBrenda Fitzgerald020 8390 3901brendafitz@live.co.uk
FIELD OUTINGS SECRETARYPaul Spencer020 8397 3770vicky.spencers@btinternet.com
INDOOR MEETINGS SECRETARYAnne Turner020 8942 1583 
MINUTES SECRETARYAlison Gilry020 8399 3916alisongilry@hotmail.com
SOCIAL ORGANISERStephen Waters01372 457442stephen@swgarden.fsnet.co.uk
RECORDS SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRMANThelma Caine01372 468432t.caine@cabi.org
RECORDERMike Schickner01932 864844mike@schickner.freeserve.co.uk
B.T.O. LIAISONThelma Caine01372 468432t.caine@cabi.org
INTERNETNorman Ford01932 863475hockley@sdbws.ndo.co.uk
eandn@encief.co.uk
BULLETIN EDITORMary Sims01932 783224 
PUBLICITYAnnemarie Stiegler020 8977 8997amristiegler@aol.com
CONSERVATION OFFICERTony Quinn020 8241 6087ant.quinn@blueyonder.co.uk
INDOOR MEETINGS STEWARDDavid Abrahams020 8390 6873 

IMPORTANT NOTICE - all members please read

Management committee members each have a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of all members of the Society. It is regularly updated by the Membership Secretary. Because of the data protection act it is important that our membership is aware of this list. If any member wishes to see what information, personal to them is on the list, they should contact the Membership Secretary, Gary Caine Tel:01372 468432 e-mail: gary.caine@royalmail.co.uk.

PS. If you are a member and are reading this, you are obviously connected to the Internet. Please e-mail the Society with a blank message so that we can get a record of your e-mail address, hopefully to make it easier to contact you if necessary