Page 25 - Out Birding Winter 2023

More Grand Get Together News
Sixty seven members signed up for the weekend, although last minute circumstances prevented some people from a􏰀ending. Adrian, who had done all of the preparatory work on the guided walks around Gibraltar Point, was one of those. Mike Pollard stepped in to his shoes with aplomb and allocated the routes to the group leaders on the day, with no collisions occurring!
On the Saturday evening we held the raffle then enjoyed a couple of hours with “Steppin Stones” our ceilidh band. As well as ge􏰁ng most people up to dance, they entertained us with their singing. Caroline made a good choice when she booked them.
One of the outcomes of a GGT is a boost to the Conserva􏰂on Fund with money raised from the raffle, the quiz and dona􏰂ons. Liz has provided me with the figures and the total raised by these was £502.90. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Pat
What Happened Next?
As a footnote to my last article on "my" Long-eared Owlet, I am happy to say that it continued to thrive. It spent a few weeks in my neighbours' garden before I started to hear it squeaking from other parts of the village. Even though Long-eared Owls are strictly nocturnal, the baby squeaked on and off, day and night. But, however hard I peered into the shrubbery, I could never see it as it was so well-concealed.
As the sky filled with baby hirundine and the bushes with young
Willow Warbler, the Owlet roamed over an ever-wider area. I
last heard it two months after it fledged, in mid-July. The Crows
fledged two chicks as normal, we were too late to ring the Tawny Owls which had already fledged, and we successfully ringed our Barn Owlets in early July, albeit a little late. It was an exceptionally good breeding year for all bird species, with two extra Osprey heading back to Africa at the end of August.
I now know how to find Long-eared Owls, and look forward to listening out for them on long winter nights while out aurora spotting.
Neil Hammatt
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