Kingsbridge and District Natural History Society
(Founded 1989)
If you have any ideas for the contents of the page please let me know and I will incorporate them.
Kelvin Ellis e-mail:-
Programme of Events ¦ Committee Members ¦ Members' Pictures ¦ Journal Articles ¦ Useful Links ¦ Logout
Latest News:-
1) Welcome. To the 2011/12 Programme.
2) The programme of talks is on this page (see below).
3) 'Useful Links' is at the bottom of our website. This has the link to the 'Bird Atlas' sighting and reporting scheme that many KNHS members are taking part in.
4) Don't forget that Martin Catt is as keen as ever to receive details of unusual sightings. You can e-mail him at:-
The Programme of Events is shown below.
Programme.
27th February 2012 Marine World of Torbay. Alex Schofield
26th March The Heat is on! The climate and marine life of the South West. Douglas Herdson
23rd April The Barn Owl Trust's 26 Acres fo Barn Owl Heaven. This talk is to be followed by a visit to the Barn Owl Trust. David Ramsden MBE
25th June Short walk to the 'Lennon Legacy Project' field with a chance to see a Barn Owl hunting at dusk and other sightings (Details will appear here)
If you know of anyone with an interest in natural history,
do please bring them along. As you know we are in need of new members.
Please note that although none of the walks is particularly taxing, it is
advisable to wear good walking shoes/boots. In the event of questionable weather
please contact Gordon on (852570) or Mike (581442).
Meetings are held at West Charleton Village Hall starting at 7:30 p.m. All welcome, to join us just turn up and introduce yourself.
As a result of one member's suggestion a 'printer friendly' version of the programme can be accessed here:- Print Programme
Use the browser 'Back Button' to return here after printing.
The Journal
A reminder to all prospective authors/artists that Society Journal entries for the next edition are always welcome and should be either handed or sent to any committee member. As a Committee we feel the Journal is an important publication from within the Society, pleasing, informative and a link with those unable to attend winter meetings. Also, a chance for aspiring writers to air their views, tell their tales and inform us of their specialist knowledge. We've already established that there's an enormous amount of talent within our Society. If you have something you'd like to impart whether in the Journal or as an evening speaker please contact one of the Committee members. If you have pictures you want to use and need help to put these into an electronic presentation we can provide this. Also, do remember that this website needs material from KNHS members, just e-mail it to the address near the top of this page.
Chairman:- Mike Hitch
Vice Chairman:- Mick Loates
Secretaries:-
Recording:- Martin Catt
Programme:- Paul Bretherick
Minutes:- Gordon Waterhouse
Treasurer and Membership Secretary:- Ian Nicholas
Members:- David Amas, Bryan Ashby, Anne Browse, Jan Ellis, Ken Johnson, Tony Tabb.
Hon. Auditor/Independent Examiner:- Ken Johnson
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Kestrel (feeding and preening). (Photos by K. Ellis)
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Goosander pair
Red Breasted Mergansers
"Swallow bathing"
Three photos above, by Bruce Church
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Preserving the Past
by Kelvin Ellis
Think for a moment about how important the notebooks of naturalists from the past have become. One example would be those of George Montagu. They often form the only record of wildlife that once was taken for granted but which now is gone for ever.
Our pictures, whether prints, slides or electronic media, will similarly become more and more important as time goes by.
It is important to realise that slides, negatives and even glass plates which seem to be faded beyond all recognition can be restored easily using modern technology. Below you will find one example of this. Once the slide had been scanned into the computer it was simply a matter of pressing one button to complete the restoration! The software (Picasa, see 'Useful Links' below) is free to download so no cost is involved.
So a heartfelt request:- Please don't throw out old slides just because they seem beyond use. If you are unsure, unwilling or unable to use the necessary software, help can be given. Indeed if anyone would like to take on the work of scanning and restoring slides for KNHS they will be welcomed with open arms and any training they may want will be provided.
As I am spring cleaning our website I have decided to put in more pictures and remove some of the old text. I would love to put in some new articles from our members so please do submit some to me.
Distilled Wisdom
At one meeting members came up with the following list of sites and sights which help to make South Devon unique:-
1) The Autumn Ladies' Tresses Orchids at the Cemetery near Bowcombe creek. (Around August Bank Holiday.)
2) Cirl Buntings, best sighted at Prawle and Snapes Point.
3) Cetti's Warbler, usually seen around Slapton.
4) Ospreys. Seen at Knap Mill and Slapton. (Whilst these can be seen on their journeys in both Spring and Autumn they remain in the area longer in Autumn and are most likely to be seen then).
5) Peregrine Falcon. Best seen at Cann Quarry on the River Plym, follow the old railway trackbed walk from Plym Bridge. A nearer site is the eyrie above Ballsadle Rocks, Lannacombe. Also breeding on private land at Torr Quarry.
6) Buzzards, can be seen on almost any telegraph pole but especially on the road from Kingsbridge to the A38.
7) Little Egret, closest view at low tide at the head of Kingsbridge Quay.
8) Spring Flowers. Primroses, roadside verges especially around Sorley Cross. Early Purple Orchid, Heddeswell Cross. Bluebells, Start Point and Avon Woods. Also Wild Daffodil, Teign Valley. Wild Garlic Avon Woods.
9) Heath Lobelia, Andrew's Wood.
10) Basking Shark, usually seen from Bolt Tail, Gara Rock to East Portlemouth and Burgh Island around May.
11) Migrating Salmon. Jenkin's Quay on the River Avon when there is a South or West Wind during Spring Tides between September and November.
12) Sea Trout. River Avon
13) Grey Mullet. River Avon, Kingsbridge Quay and Batson Creek around the pontoons on an incoming tide.
14) Grey Seal. Peartree Point at low tide and on the fish storage boxes in the Salcombe Estuary, across from Snapes Point near East Portlemouth.
15) Otter. River Avon and also River Dart at Buckland Bridge.
16) Nightjar, Bovey Heath and Bellever Woods at dusk from May to September.
17) Dormice, Andrews Wood, Avon Woods and Woodland on Southern slopes of Dartmoor.
18) Owls. Barn Owl. Usually seen at dusk around villages such as Loddiswell. Tawny Owl, woods such as those along the Avon.
19) Humming Bird Hawkmoth. Usually seen in gardens and frequently mistaken for a humming bird (which does NOT reside here!).
20) Finally, the star of the show the Kingsbridge - Salcombe Estuary itself!
Andrew's Wood:- http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/index.php?section=places:reserves&reserveid=234
Aune Conservation Association:- http://auneconservation.org.uk//
BBC Videos of Dormice:- http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Muscardinus_avellanarius/
Bird Atlas Project:- http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/
RSPB:- http://www.rspb.org/
Life of George Montagu:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Montagu
Live webcam of Devon Barn Owls:- http://www.thewebbroadcastingcorporation.com/barnowlcam.html
(If you just get a black square in the picture area, right click your mouse on it and select play/pause from the menu that appears)
Nigel Mortimer's Estuary records:- http://www.marlin.ac.uk/rml/sightings_who.php?nme=Nigel%20Mortimer&nmeid=143
Picasa Download:- http://picasa.google.co.uk/
Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve:- http://www.slnnr.org.uk/
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