Newbury District Ornithological Club (NDOC)
This club has recently been regenerated. It is now worth joining. You can by ringing Karen Eggleton on 01635 269566 or visit their web site www.ndoc.org.uk.
It has recently issued several Annual Reports and is now only a couple of years behind. These Reports are interesting and well worth reading or using as a reference. In essence the Reports tell you where to go to see birds and what birds can be seen in the Newbury area.
I particularly like the ringing reports. There was a report of a Blackbird which was caught in the ringing nets in the Newbury area. It had been ringed in Sweden. Sadly it was later eaten by a cat in the Reading area. This incidence reminded me of one of the times I was twitching in the Scillies. I found a very rare Grey Cheek Thrush which had been blown over from America. It had set off on its autumn migration and was caught in a gale. Several hundred twitchers came to see it and add it to their life list. Sadly it was eaten by the Vicar’s cat before all the birders on the Island could see it.
I have been a member of the NDOC for over 20 years and always enjoyed reading their quarterly report “Field Views” as well as their web page. In the past I rarely went out with the group on their field trips because I was really a loner and a twitcher. I disliked field trips with the RSPB and NDOC because I thought large groups scared off the birds. Also I felt embarrassed reading my bird book in front of other people. For some strange reason it is considered “bad form” to read a field guide when birding. But there is always something I want to revise or learn about the birds I see and I always carry a book with me.
However I am now a senior citizen and have changed my views. Now the group outings are good and many eyes find more birds. In the past I found the NDOC’s quarterly programme most useful. They always visited really good local sites. I would often go to them, the week before or the week after the arranged date. The Programme always quotes a grid reference which makes finding the site easy and there is a short note of the birds expected at the site.
A case in point is Hens Wood which lies between Hungerford and Marlborough on the A4. The grid reference is 174/ SU246678. It is a wood which is renowned for hosting Crossbills, Redpolls and Siskins. It is very easy to get to and parking is excellent – there is a lay-by just before the second turning to Great Bedwyn.
If you look up these woodland birds before you go you will have a lot more pleasure from your stroll. There will of course be several more woodland birds to see
Redpolls are small finches which are very similar to Linnets. Incidentally there is nearly always a pair of Linnets on Freeman’s Marsh, usually by the foot bridge in front of the Morecombe and Wise statues. Redpolls are very active birds with red caps, black bibs and brown/black plumage. They also have two white wing bars. The male has a pink breast and rump. Incidentally I saw one in my garden today.
Crossbills are the only birds I know which have a crossed bill, hence the name. They are thickset finches with big heads and short forked tails. The basic colour of their plumage varies immensely. Males are usually red all over but can be a crimson shade or even orange. The female can be green or greenish/yellow or greenish/grey. Crossbills can often be seen drinking from puddles on farm tracks.
Siskins are the only European finch that combine a greenish overall colour with two bright yellow wing bars. The male has yellow patches on its forked tail and black on its head. In winter the black bib and cap turn grey.
All these birds are Residents and so you can see them all year round.
Hawkeye