CRAVEN and PENDLE

2009

Summer break

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
Wednesday 1930

A Life of Ospreys

Roy Dennis

Since this is a talk by a highly popular speaker, it will be an all-ticket event. Tickets, at the normal price, will be available by calling 07792-501691.

Roy Dennis is a field ornithologist and wildlife consultant who has worked in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland since 1959. He directed Fair Isle Bird Observatory from 1963 to 1970 and is its current Chairman. From 1970 to 1990 he was the RSPB's senior officer in Northern Scotland. Since 1991 he has been a wildlife consultant and in 1996 set up the Highland Foundation for Wildlife. He is a specialist in raptor conservation and reintroduction having been involved with Osprey, Red kite, Golden Eagle and Sea Eagle and his recent satellite tracking of migratory raptors has broken new ground and given great interest to the public via his map based website.
This illustrated talk tells the story not only of the Osprey but also the Osprey watcher, following the bird's fortunes in Scotland from that single pair in the 1950's to 210 pairs today. It also covers the ecology and conservation of the Osprey including migration stories of well known individuals which have become famous through Roy's website. It is not surprising that Roy was awarded the MBE for services to nature conservation in Scotland. His latest book "A Life of Ospreys" will be on sale during the evening.

OCTOBER 14, 2009
Wednesday 1930

From Mitilini to Antalya... My Quest for the Balkan 10

Mike McKavett

Mike has been photographing birds for 40 years, especially abroad and is regarded as one of the best bird photographers in the business, to which those of you who saw his first talk to our group in 2007 about India's "Jewel in the Crown" will testify.
This talk could almost be called "The Birds of Lesvos". Mike first visited Lesvos in 2005 and his quest to photograph 10 special birds with an eastern Mediterranean distribution has taken him back there every year since. However, one species eluded him, necessitating a trip to Turkey and hence the talk title.

NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Wednesday 1930

The RSPB in Northern England

Laurence Rose

Laurence has worked for the RSPB since 1983, including 10 years running the society's European programme, before becoming director of the Northern England Region. He sees the region as one of the most beautiful and diverse in the country, offering a contrasting and stunning variety of landscapes and important wildlife habitats. From the fells of Cumbria and the Pennine hills, to lowland farmland and important wetlands associated with major river valleys, it is an area full of interest and variety. Laurence will tell us what the RSPB is doing to safeguard the birds and their habitats in this wonderful area.

DECEMBER 9, 2009
Wednesday 1930

Ethiopia... The Roof of Africa

John Mather

John has been involved in ornithology since boyhood and has held many posts in both local and national organisations. This includes having been President as well as Ornithological Recorder for the Yorkshire Naturalists Union and has served on the "British Birds" rarities committee and the British Ornithologists' Union records committee including three years as Chairman. John has travelled widely in Africa. His talk is an account of a visit to this less well known birding destination in February 2005, seeing 380 species of bird including many endemics. 42 birds of prey and 26 mammals including Ethiopian Wolf and Mountain Nyala. He visited the Rift Valley Lakes, the Bale Mountains, Awash National Park, the source of the Blue Nile and the deep gorges for Gelanda Baboons.

2010

JANUARY 13, 2010
Wednesday 1930

Birding around Filey

Ian Robinson

This presentation follows Filey through the seasons, looking at birds, butterflies, flowers, dragonflies and mammals. Following the progress of FBOG (Filey Brigg Ornithological Group and Bird Observatory Ltd,) over the last 30years, it includes the creation and management of local nature reserves at Filey Dams, Parish Wood, The Old Tip, Totem Pole Field and East Lea.
Ian says he has no regrets moving to Filey from Huddersfield in the late 1970s and his recent retirement has allowed more time for his 3 main interests - birding, photography and travel. He is heavily involved in FBOG serving as Secretary, Chairman and now as Director, and also Site Manager at Parish Wood and the Old Tip Nature Reserves.

FEBRUARY 10, 2010
Wednesday 1930

Aren't Birds Brilliant

Stuart Meredith

Stuart, who is regarded as one of the most humorous speakers on the circuit, has in the past worked for the RSPB, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Lancashire Wildlife Trust. He currently runs the Fylde based bird watching tour company Ribble Bird Tours.
This is an entertaining talk where you learn why birds sing, why woodpeckers don't get headaches, why it pays to have a white collar if you're a Ruff, why Gannets don't get concussed when they dive into the sea, how far round an owl can actually turn its head, how fast a Hummingbird can beat its wings and many more fascinating avian facts

MARCH 10, 2010
Wednesday 1930

An Evening including RSPB films "Waterlands" and "Silver Meadows"
and
Long Preston Deeps update

Adrian Shepherd

"Waterlands" is the latest RSPB DVD which was filmed over three years by the RSPB's award winning film unit. It offers a privileged view into the lives of many thousands of birds, mammals and insects that make their home in the reedbeds, salt marshes, and flower-rich wet meadows of the UK. Panoramic vistas of flocking wading birds reveal the vast extent of wetland needed for species to survive.
After the interval there will be a 10 minute update on the work at Long Preston Deeps by Adrian Shepherd, the Long Preston Wet Grassland Project Advisor outlining the work done so far, and the ongoing proposals, including a full breeding wader survey during 2010. This will be followed by the short RSPB film "Silver Meadows" which actually features the Ouse Washes, but the wet water meadow habitat is similar to Long Preston Deeps and, therefore, fits in well with the theme of the evening.

APRIL 14, 2010
Wednesday 1930

Birding the Florida Coast

Alan Gladwin

Alan and Arleen Gladwin live in the Peak District and when Alan took early retirement in 1991 they started a part time picture library, supplying photographs to many organisations such as local authorities, museums, the advertising media as well as private individuals. They are experienced naturalists who have travelled widely in Europe and made extensive trips farther afield including the USA. Alan has two talks on Florida. Part 1 covers the interior. Part 2, which is mainly coastal, is his talk on this visit.
The content is mainly birds but an attempt has been made to include several other aspects of the natural history of this wonderful place.

MAY 12, 2010
Wednesday 1930

The Birds of Teesmouth

James Monroe

This is a DVD transferred from the original 16 mm film taken in the 1960's. It was filmed by James Munroe with sound by John Kirby, the same team who made the film "Where the Curlew Calls" which thrilled us last year. It shows Teesmouth before the large scale industrial development of today. It is, however, none the worse for that and shows some very interesting bird activities. A bit of nostalgia for those who knew Teesmouth of old and a good reminder to the rest of us that we still don't know all there is to know about bird behaviour.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Summer break

SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
Wednesday 1930

To be announced

OCTOBER 14, 2010
Wednesday 1930

Life Over 1,000 Feet

Keith Offord

More details later

NOVEMBER 10, 2010
Wednesday 1930

To be announced

DECEMBER 8, 2010
Wednesday 1930

To be announced