Page 39 - Yachter Autumn 2020

BIRD WATCHING AT
GINS – 06 MARCH 2020
Many of our members have watched with interest the attempts by our lovely Oystercatcher to hatch her eggs in a nest on the club foreshore.
Others will have been amused at the Black Bird with the white streak dodging into
the clubhouse to hoover-up the crumbs after a carvery lunch and more recently the Peregrine Falcon which has identified the rigging on Crews Control as a Des Res on the river. Incidentally, I am told that it is probably an adolescent male.Teenagers hey!! Regulars at Gins will know that the bird life is prolific so a session with some experts seemed like a good idea.
An initial approach to the RSPB regional office resulted in a meeting with the aptly named Keith Partridge, the co-ordinator for the New Forest group of the RSPB. Even on a dull day at the beginning of January Keith was captivated by the birds at Gins, and a plan was formulated for a session in March supported by some of his members. Low water at midday seemed to be the ideal time so, on Friday 6th March twenty
members and six RSPB members met on the balcony. Our RSPB friends had brought along telescopes, identification charts and books.The silver lining to all the February rain was that the field behind the dinghy park was flooded and the resultant lake was full of ducks, geese and the odd Little Egret. Amazingly, the sun shone, and the birds came! We confined ourselves to the Club’s grounds, so no wellingtons needed.
Over a four-hours we saw thirty-four species including some Avocet and the rare Marsh Harrier.The haul was classed by
the RSPB as being “very good indeed”.
It would have been thirty-five if only the Kingfisher had arrived five minutes earlier instead of waiting for Robbie to take out the rubbish! Lots of coffee and a convivial lunch topped off a successful day.
We hope to repeat this session in the future so please watch the bulletin.
Words: Margaret Roper Photos: Lauren McCann
SOCIAL REPORT 39