Category

The meeting scheduled for 16th January 2021 has been cancelled because of the current restrictions.  As soon as we are able a new meeting will be arranged. Jackie Hart

Having had to suspend all meetings with Society members since the Covid 19 crisis commenced on 23^rd March 2020 we have experimented with an outdoor meeting held under the current restrictions. This meant we had to form groups of a maximum of six people each. To help keep the two groups apart we staggered our start times with the first one leaving at 9.15 am and the other at 9.30 am. (Our next meeting will have the option of three groups).

Inevitably the total species seen between the two groups varied with Jim Baldwin’s group seeing 42 species and Jackie’s group 35. Having compared the two lists we clocked up 45 species between us.

A group of six Grey Heron was noteworthy in that it is many years since I have seen so many together at this site – we now see Little Egret more regularly, as we did today. The first group saw more waders with Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Snipe and Greenshank in addition to Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Curlew and Lapwing. The second group spent some time looking at the ‘water’ birds for a member new to birding to see and get to know the wonderful variety in plumages. Fortunately, on our return the sun had appeared so we could see the Golden Plover in a better light as they were at rest on a far bank. Kingfisher is always a target bird here the first group was luck but not the second. We saw Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Shelduck and Little Grebe. One of the Cormorant was already showing its breeding patch and, of course, we saw Canada Goose and Brent. Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling from three locations and a Water Rail heard near the converted railway station. We now hope to hold regular monthly meetings; a programme will be sent out with our February mailing and in the meantime please check the IWNHAS website. Jackie Hart

Unfortunately, the advertised iRecord Training course in the recent e-bulletin is now fully booked.

It looks as this course has been very popular, and sold out quickly. It may be that the FSC offer another round of training based on high demand – we will let you know about any developments.

If you were thinking of attending the training, please do still register your interest at iwatchwildlife@gmail.com and we can then contact you directly should any further opportunities arise.

Apologies for any disappointment.

Catch up with all the latest IWNHAS news in the December e-bulletin here

The Ornithology group will experiment with holding the following bird meetings observing the current government restrictions. It is essential to pre-book a place as currently we will only be able to meet as a group with a total of six people.

• Two leaders have been arranged, Jim Baldwin and Jackie Hart and in January Dave Fairlamb will be able to take a third group
• Please either email Jackie at jackie30hart@gmail.com or telephone her on 01983 612677 and leave a message
• One group will meet at 9:15am and the next at 9:30am so that social distancing can be maintained
• You will be contacted with which group you have been allocated.

Sunday 20^th December 2020 at Yarmouth – meet in Thorley Road

Saturday 16^th January 2021 at Bembridge Harbour – meet in Latimer Road, St Helens.

Please note than we will not be able to accommodate any unbooked person on the day.

If these are successful we will hold a meeting in February so please watch this space. You should be receiving our published half-yearly programme in the next mailing due at the end of February.

We are hoping to be able trial a small number of outdoor meetings over the Winter Months. These sessions will need to be booked and have limited spaces available.

Whether or not the meetings will take place will be dependent upon restrictions at the time.

Many congratulations to Matthew Chatfield who was sworn in as the new IWNHAS President last Saturday 3rd October at a very socially distanced meeting strictly adhering to the rule of 6! (more…)

The new issue of ‘Recording Now’ – the Island’s species recording newsletter is out now, click here to read the latest species news, stories and events from across the Isle of Wight.

Society AGM 2020

Our postponed AGM is scheduled to take place on Saturday 3rd October at Haseley Manor Wedding Barn at 2pm. However, under revised Government guidelines we can no longer have 30 people. We do need to conduct our AGM business so the meeting will take place as scheduled but with just six people!

(more…)

Catch up with the news from IWNHAS in our July e-bulletin here:

https://mailchi.mp/5a42ed08ebe4/iwnhas-e-bulletin_july2020