All members are advised to follow the latest government advice about unnecessary travel, social distancing etc. so please avoid visiting our hides until further notice. Also please resist the temptation to travel to see a rarity or any species that you may have heard about.
News
Eden Centre Closure
Please see below from Ranald Strachan:
“Apologies to all but we will be closing the centre from 5pm on 13th March. This is potentially for up to 4 weeks however we will monitor public health advice and manage. The Evans hide will also be locked down.
We all need to do what we can to flatten the curve of infections and protect the most vulnerable. There is increasing evidence that ‘social distancing’ is the most effective way to do this, so by the Trust closing public buildings we endeavour to reduce the likelihood of any of our sites being the centre of an outbreak’.
The wee wooden hide by the centre is still available and of course, it’s not ‘Avian flu’ so there are still birds out on the estuary, which never closes”.
January Outing Report
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International Swan Census 2020 (Whooper and Bewick’s Swans) – 11th and 12th January 2020.
Members are encouraged to contribute to the International Swan Census 2020 (Whooper and Bewick’s Swans) taking place on 11th and 12th January 2020. Please see the following message from Allan Brown, WeBS co-ordinator Fife (inland):
Most sites will be covered by WeBS counters but obviously many Whooper Swans feed in fields away from their roost so any counts of these on or around the count weekend will be very welcome as will any counts undertaken during January 2020. The information required is date, location (with 6-figure grid ref), number of adults and juveniles (with brood size if possible), activity and habitat.
Although Mute Swans are not included in the census it would be very useful to have these counted as well, including number of juveniles if possible, as this will be of value to the on-going Mute Swan survey in Fife (since 1991) and for local recording purposes.
Details can be found at (https//monitoring.wwt.org.uk/recording/).
Any counts should be emailed to swansallan@gmail.com unless submitted for WeBS or if the observer has registered for the survey with the WWT.
December Outing Report
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October Outing Report
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Driven Grouse Moor Shooting
PETITION NOW CLOSED DUE TO ELECTION
Many members will be aware that there is a current petition to ban driven grouse moor shooting. In case you haven’t heard about this, it was started by Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and Mark Avery (Wild Justice) and details can be found via the following link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/266770
Nuthatches Across the Border
Nuthatch sightings are becoming more regular in Fife so it’s interesting to note what’s happening just over the county border in Perth and Kinross. Check the link below.
Annual General Meeting
Just a reminder that the 2019 AGM will take place in the Dean Park Hotel on 4th July at 7.30pm.
Next Outing
The next FBC outing will be to the Angus Glens on Sunday 23rd June. We will meet at the car park at the RSPB Loch of Kinnordy reserve at 10:00. Would all intending participants please contact Ron McNab in time to make travel arrangements.