Ask the Committee!
This is where the Somerset Ornithological Society attempt to answer some of your queries. If you have a question about the society, or birds in general, please email us a question and we will get the most appropriate person from the committee to answer it. Answers will be posted below.
We will attempt to answer as many questions as possible, but it might not be possible or practical to answer everything!
Email questions click here
Question: With the last mailing from the SOS I received an advertisement for Remembird II birdsong recorder.
While I appreciate that availability of recordings of calls & songs in the field can be a valuable aid to identification, as can be the ability to record bird sounds, I am distinctly unhappy with the idea that it is promoted to "call birds out of the undergrowth".
As well as being disturbing birds if used repeatedly at any time, during the breeding season, playing calls can disrupt breeding, and as a fully trained bird ringer I require an upgrade to my ringing permit to do use playback in the breeding season, and have to stick to very strict guidelines.
Does the SOS have a policy on the use of playback and would it be perhaps be appropriate to remove any reference to it from any similar adverts in future? Denise Wawman.
Answer: I do not recall the advertisement in question, but the general point you raise centres on unwarranted disturbance by audio lures. In one form or another these have been around for many years, with perhaps the most familiar being the use of tape recordings to attract susceptible species such as Nightjar in order to obtain easy views.
Those in favour argue that used sensibly such equipment causes no undue distress to the target species. The problem arises with overuse by a single, or small group of observers, or by a succession of birdwatchers using similar means of attraction. Few would deny that this has the potential for disturbance, particularly to vulnerable breeding species.
This is always going to be an area for debate. Indeed I can recall correspondence many years ago now arguing that distress caused to mist-netted birds by ringing activities could no longer be scientifically justified.
We have to accept that any activity which disrupts the usual behaviour of a bird will have some effect, even at the lowest end of the scale, ogling it with binoculars.
SOS has no policy as such on this issue, or on the advertising of this equipment, other than that stated in Rule 5 of our management rules. There are, after all, clear and effective safeguards in current wildlife legislation which birdwatchers are obliged to strictly observe. We would take the view, that common sense should always prevail, birdwatchers should exercise caution in all methods used to obtain views, and that above all, the welfare of the bird should come first.
Brian Hill, President SOS
Question: Hello. Last year we had many siskins in our garden from mid-January onwards, with only a few before January and during April, and none after April. This year we have not seen any at all. Are they normally irregular visitors or is there something unusual this year? Our feeders have not changed - still plenty of nyger seeds and sunflower hearts. Thanks for your help. Alyce and Martin Merry (North Somerset)
Answer: In Somerset , the Siskin is an uncommon, but increasing resident or migrant breeder; a locally common winter visitor and passage migrant (Somerset Birds 2008).
The Siskins main natural food supply is the seeds of trees: spruce and pine in spring and summer, birch and alder in autumn and winter. These trees require more than one year to accumulate the necessary reserves to produce a crop, and this cropping interval becomes longer the further north they grow, where the growing seasons are shorter. When crops fail in Scandinavia, then that triggers a movement of those finches that depend on them for food into other areas of Europe to search out their food supply (Finches by Ian Newton). There can also be a similar movement within different areas of Britain , so in some winters, when there is a good supply of local natural food, very few Siskins can be expected to visit garden feeders; the opposite applying when natural food supplies fail. Jeff Hazell.
Question: First - thank you for your website, which has given us much pleasure as we have used it to find good birding places to visit, particularly in the Somerset Levels. I have just read the RSPB response in the Hinkley Corridor Study for Public Consultation, October 2009. The RSPB was one of several organisations that were "pre-consulted". Here is their response (my bold): Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 2.10 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is not a statutory consultee but was consulted due to the presence of internationally important areas for birds (Special Protection Areas (SPAs)). RSPB noted concern regarding the potential effect of a new overhead line on the feeding grounds and flight paths of birds associated with the Severn Estuary SPA and Somerset Levels and Moors. The RSPB questioned whether a new overhead line corridor could follow the route of the M5 as closely as possible and avoid the Steart Peninsula managed retreat. My question is: given that SOS, along with many other local environmental and wildlife organisations, were not pre- consulted, will the SOS be formulating a response to the proposed new overhead line? Alyce and Martin Merry
Answer: Thank you for your kind comments about the website. SOS would not necessarily expect to be directly consulted about this proposal, and in matters of this kind we are generally reliant on our members to keep us informed, although in the case of large scale developments like Hinkley we do tend to keep a weather eye open. Where we believe the interests of Somerset birds are threatened we do make formal planning objections. In this particular instance the General Committee is likely to take the same line as the RSPB in supporting the M5 route, and I expect us to make a similar submission to the National Grid. Brian Hill
Question: It's my birthday on Friday Nov 6th and I'd like to try to see the starlings roosting on the Somerset Levels that day - I gather Westhay and Shapwick are both good for this. I just wanted to ask if you know: a) whether there should be 'spectacular' activity by Nov 6th? b) what time in the afternoon this is likely to peak? c) any other tips re seeing this? We'll be coming up from Dorset near Bridport so given that's quite a journey I want to maximise my chances! Thanks so much for your help Best wishes Jo Adams
Answer: The mega starling roost will probably not reach peak numbers until the later part of November onwards. However, given good weather conditions it can still be a good sight early in this month. Weather-wise, a fine, dry day with a clear afternoon sky is needed, hopefully with some sunshine. This will encourage the arriving small flocks to stay up, merge and together perform some of their amazing aerial manoeuvres, before gradually peeling off and dropping down into their reedbed roost.
Keep an eye on the S.O.S. messageboard to hopefully find out which of the regular roosting sites the birds are using, and aim to be on-site about one-hour before sunset.
Traditionally, the main roost can be at Westhay Moor, Ham Wall or Shapwick Heath.
There is a Starlings Hot-Line (07866-554142), but I'm unsure as to whether or not it's working this year. Jeff Hazell
Question: Hi I'd very much appreciate your opinions about a suitable scope to buy. I'm finding it confusing! I would mostly be using it at Ham Wall/Shapwick/Greylake. What spec and make would you recommend? I currently use 12x25 Nikon binoculars. Many thanks Phil Knibb
Answer: Hi Phil, It's difficult to give advice on telescopes because there are a lot of variables. Firstly it will depend on your budget, 'scopes retail for anything between £150 and £2,500. Secondly, do you want a straight or an angled eyepiece? Thirdly, size and weight, which is directly linked to the diameter of the object lens (the size of the front lens) - the bigger this is, within reason, the more light that can be gathered by the 'scope which means it will perform better in poor/low light conditions. Do you want a fixed magnification eyepiece or a zoom? Personally, I favour a fixed because it gives a wider field of view than a zoom at the same magnification, but many birders happily use a zoom. My advice would be to go for a middle-of-the-range 'scope, say one with a 65mm diameter objective lens and a not to powerful zoom eye piece (60x is too much for such a 'scope).
It would really be advisable for you to try-out a number of different models in field conditions. One of the nearest places you can do this is at the London Camera Exchange's new shop "Lakeside Optics" at Chew Valley Lake , located at the tea rooms. The shop is open on Thurs/Fri/Sat from 10am to 4pm, and their contact is Simon on 01225 447622. Jeff Hazell
Question: What is the situation regarding Cattle Egrets this year? Last year and this year there was a ban on even reporting the sighting of the species in the breeding season but last year at least we got some news of breeding success. This year I have not seen anything despite the reporting of juveniles at Chew Valley. Regards Simon Tidswell
Answer: The situation concerning breeding Cattle Egrets in Somerset this summer is not as clear cut as it was in 2008. Two birds, presumably a pair were present in fields adjoining one of last years sites at the start of the breeding season. Nothing more was heard until three summer plumaged adults were seen on one of the nearby levels a few weeks later . This was earlier than they started appearing away from the nest site in 2008 and perhaps indicates they were breeding. After this nothing else has been reported until the family turned up at Chew, it is presumed that these may have originated from one of our sites. Shortly after this an adult was seen at Meare Heath and Catcott Lows, it is thought that this was the third adult from earlier in the summer. As far as I am aware there have been no further sightings this year. Brian Gibbs