The Reading group’s new season of indoor meetings started on Tuesday, September 13, with a talk by Glenn Duggan on the hugely colourful Tanager family of birds richly illustrated by Glenn’s excellent photographs.
This family of birds contains more than 200 species spread throughout South and North America and thanks to DNA analysis is the subject of a major reclassification exercise.
Most are found in fairly restricted areas which means that habitat loss is affecting some of these birds.
Indeed, one of the rarest birds in the world, the beautiful Cherry Throated Tanager is estimated to have dropped to a population of between 10 and 20 individuals.
The talk was well attended and much appreciated.
On Tuesday, October 11, the group will welcome Steve Magennis, who will give a talk entitled Wings over Wales and then on November 8, there will be a talk by Andrew Cleave on the Bermuda Petrel.
Unfortunately, the planned minibus trip to the coastal reserve of Keyhaven on Sunday, September 18, had to be postponed as it was not possible to hire a minibus, many companies having sold their buses during the COVID lockdowns.
It is hoped that this trip may be able to go ahead on Sunday, October 16, please see the website for updates.
Instead, the group went to Dinton Pastures for a morning walk and, on September 20, a group of members met at Thatcham Discovery Centre, a local BBOWT reserve for a sunny morning walk.
In addition to warblers, highlights included a treecreeper, green sandpiper and a hobby.
The group were very excited to see an otter in the reedbeds.
In addition to October 16, when we hope to go to Keyhaven, there will be a local trip on Tuesday, October 18, to Hosehill Lake, a BBOWT reserve near Theale. On November 15, there will be a midweek trip to Port Meadow and on Sunday 20 a minibus trip to the coastal RSPB reserve of Pagham Habour.
All indoor meetings are held in Pangbourne Village Hall starting at 8pm. Visitors are very welcome.
There is an entrance fee of £5 for non-members, juniors half price. New members are always welcome with annual membership set at a modest £15 (£10 for juniors).
For more information visit www.reading-rspb.org
