The spring 2018 newsletter is now out and the Winter newsletterhttps://cvwg.org.uk/cam-valley-wildlife-group-newsletter/ has been posted on our website – a mixture of business and pleasure including an AGM report and a Spring Mining bee identification piece
Talk with live bats followed by a walk with bat detectors around Wellow village finishing at a greater and lesser horseshoe roost, for the Festival of Nature and the Avon Bat Group. 26th of May at 7pm. Contact Jo McKerr – Mob: 07957 246150; Tel: 01225 833748; joannamckerr@gmail.com
The Cam Valley Wildlife Group Events programme for April to September is now available on our website
The Cam Valley Wildlife Group Winter newsletter 2018 is out and the Autumn 2017 newsletter is now available on our website.
Our first talk of the season is on Wednesday 21st February at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm at SWALLOW – a talk by Dan Cragg of Bristol Zoo on the Zoo’s conservation work. For details, see our Events programme
Saturday 27th January: PORTLAND/WEYMOUTH HARBOUR, Dorset. Joint RSPB/Bath Nats Coach Trip. Booking is essential, by coach booking form and pre-payment. For details, see the Bath Nats website at http://www.bathnats.org.uk
2018 New Year’s Day Walk
Leader: Diana Walker
Meet: 2 pm at the entrance to Grovewood Road, Haydon, Radstock, BA3 3QZ
A gentle walk from Haydon into Radstock and along the valley to Haydon Batch, then back to Diana’s house for tea and cakes at about 3.30 pm. The route will be a bit muddy so she recommends that you wear boots and have a walking stick might be helpful. The steepest part of the walk will be down hill from Haydon
Contact: Diana Walker on 01761 433688 or dianawalker4@gmail.com
Why not check out the natural history books for sale in our Spring newsletter, just posted? The list includes “collectables”. Proceeds go to the group.
If you are attending the supper and bat evening at Judy’s in Welton, don’t forget to tell Judy now so she knows how many to cater for!
The Bath Natural History Society’s June programme is out, starting with a trip to the North Wessex Downs on Saturday 3rd June. For further information , go to the “Field Trips” part of their website (about 12th on the list)
11.00am – Garden visit to Burrow Farm Gardens, Dalwood, Axminster, East Devon, EX13 7ET 13 acre garden with lovely naturalistic planting and views. Tea room and nursery. For further details, see the Events programme
Members of Cam Valley Wildlife Group had a trip out of the area on Sunday 30 April to visit the beautiful Langford Lakes nature reserve in the Wylye Valley near Warminster. For a short report and lovely photos of Great crested grebes, please visit our Events page.
Just a reminder that Phil Hall, who gave the Five-year Buterfly Hunt talk, is leading a live transect survey on Saturday 13th May from Single Hill to Stony Littleton and back (about 1 hour) followed by another site survey. See Events programme for more information.
Red kite seen in Radstock, Holly Blue butterflies on the wing in Carlingcott and Radstock, and those Green-winged orchids at Edford Meadows (see the Sightings page)
Phil Gait reports, “Lots of green winged orchids flowering in the four Edford Meadows fields – have been for over a week – earlier than last year!”
The Langford Lakes birdwatching trip in the Wylye Valley is on 30th April. This Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve has level paths and five hides. Contact Judy for more information/car share.
You might want to check out the Sightings page for updates about local sightings of skylarks, swallows, sparrowhawk, Barn owl, solitary and social bees and bee-flies. The sightings page now has photos alongside some of the entries.
Recent sightings by Judy Hampshire:
Sunday 26 March, 5.30pm above White City, Welton: skylarks fluttering and singing.
Monday 27 March: between 8.30 and 9am: Pair of grey wagtails, and dipper on Wellow Brook at Welton. (One morning last week, I saw a pair of dippers there but usually only see one at a time.) A wren accompanied me up the footpath at back of MN leisure centre car park, then on the broadwalk at back of Sun Chemical I saw a female goldcrest. ( A few weeks ago I saw a male goldcrest at the same spot, who actually hopped towards me along the metal fence, until it was level with my head! A magical moment!)
The 2017 CVWG Botany Walks programme is now available via our Events page. The first walk of the season is in Radstock at Waterside. Park in Radstock and meet at St Nicholas Church (ST688546) for a short walk beside the stream. Start time 7 pm. Lift share is encouraged and all are welcome. Contact details are on the programme.
CVWG event – Chew Valley lake on Sunday 19th March. We hope to see the grebes doing their famous mating dance. Meet outside the “Salt & Malt” café, junction of Walley Lane & Denny Lane, Chew Stoke, BS40 8XS at 11am. Parking costs £2 for the day. Please contact Judy for more information/car share.
