November report

November meeting. Four enthusiastic birdwatchers enjoyed a good day's birding at Titchfield Haven. It was a very cold but sunny day with no wind.
We visited four of the Hides. In total we saw 68 different species off birds, helped along with Stewart's telescope. The high lights were Eider Duck, Water Rail, Graylag geese, Barnacle geese, Raven, Kingfisher, Avocet, Bearded Reeding, and a very late Swallow much to Stewart's delight.

The next meeting is at Lower Test Marshes. Meet at The Salmon Leap Pub, at 10am on New Years Eve. Friday 31st December!!!

The Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, is a large (50–71 cm body length) sea-duck, which is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters. It is characterized by its bulky shape and large, wedge-shaped bill. The male is unmistakable, with its black and white plumage and green nape. The female is a brown bird, but can still be readily distinguished from all ducks, except other eider-species, on the basis of size and head shape. This duck's call is a pleasant "ah-ooo." The species is often readily approachable.
The eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with the celebrated eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives.

The November Meeting

The November Meeting of the Bird watching Group will be on 26th November at Titchfield Haven at 10am. Entrance fee is £3.00. It may take longer than 2 hours to visit all the Hides, but there is a Tea Room in the centre.

October Meeting

Only four us turned up at Pig Bush car park on a dull, windy but mild morning. Not many birds to be seen with just 12 species although we did see a treecreeper doing just that.
Sheila



Overview
The treecreeper is small, very active, bird that lives in trees. It has a long, slender, downcurved bill. It is speckly brown above and mainly white below. It breeds in the UK and is resident here. Birds leave their breeding territories in autumn but most range no further than 20 km. Its population is mainly stable.

Where to see them
Best looked for on the trunks of trees in suitable woodland. In autumn and winter, it often joins flocks of tits and other small birds, so if you come across such a flock in a wood, it is worth listening out for a treecreeper among them.

When to see them
All year round.

What they eat
Insects and spiders, and some seeds in winter.