This is a text only version of the latest Newsletter. Members of Cleveland Local Group receive a paper copy of this newsletter that also contains images, a quiz and some other details. If you are not a member, why not consider joining so that you too can receive the full paper copies of our newsletters, and come and join us on some of our days out and nights in!
Hello, and welcome to your newsletter,
As members of Cleveland Local Group, we are all blessed to be living in an area surrounded by nature and wildlife. This quiet kind of blessing reveals itself in small, everyday moments. It’s in the sound of birdsong drifting through an open window in the morning, the rustle of leaves in an evening breeze, and the sight of wildlife moving freely through fields, hedgerows, and woodland. These are the moments that remind us how connected we still are to the natural world.
In many parts of the UK, nature sits right on our doorstep. A short walk can lead to green fields, winding footpaths, ancient trees, and open skies. Deer sometimes appear at the edge of a woodland clearing, foxes slip quietly through hedges at dusk, and rabbits scatter across grassy banks. Overhead, birds circle and call, filling the air with life. These encounters might seem ordinary at first, but they are incredibly special.
Living close to nature also changes the rhythm of life. The seasons become more noticeable and meaningful. Spring arrives with fresh leaves and nesting birds, summer brings long evenings filled with the hum of insects and the warmth of the sun, autumn colours the landscape in gold and red, and winter quiets everything beneath crisp air and frost. Each season brings its own beauty and reminds us that nature is always moving, always renewing itself.
There is also a sense of peace that comes from being surrounded by wildlife and green spaces. In a busy world full of noise and distraction, stepping outside into a place where the loudest sound might be the wind in the trees can feel grounding. Nature has a way of slowing us down and helping us appreciate the present moment.
Perhaps the greatest blessing is the reminder that we share our home with countless other living creatures. Watching birds build nests, spotting a hedgehog crossing a garden at night, or seeing a butterfly resting on a wildflower brings a quiet sense of wonder. It reminds us that the natural world is not something separate from us — it is something we are part of.
To live in a place rich with nature and wildlife is to live with constant reminders of beauty, balance, and life itself. It encourages gratitude for the simple things: fresh air, open landscapes, and the quiet companionship of the natural world just beyond our doors.
It has been a privilege to add this short piece as an editorial. As a fairly new member of this group, and indeed a new member of the local community, I remain in awe of the Expertise of the longstanding members of this group.
We live in such a wonderful area and may we all continue to enjoy our moments in nature.
Jo
Trees – What do you know?
I was asked recently to look at some trees. At first, it seemed a peculiar request, to identify the trees in the park. That’s quite a few trees in a small park. The ultimate goal would be a map of the trees in the park, that school children could utilise in their studies. I identified about 30 trees with only about six different species. There were so many more interesting trees (like Black Locust and Red oak) I could have included, but this was their plan. Eventually this has led to a meeting at a local school with me providing drawings and identification pointers to help with their nature studies.
Having spoken with a few people since that time, I realised that not many people I know could identify the trees around us. I personally found tree ID an invaluable tool to aid birdwatching. When your eyes are pressed into a pair of binoculars, squinting at a bird, you need to relay its whereabouts to your colleague. “It is in that tree” just doesn’t cut it when there are six trees in view. Whereas – “it’s in the taller Sycamore tree on the right” can put you in touch with the bird straight away.
When we are birdwatching, we can usually see the leaf shapes up close. It can be easy to tell the multi-leaves of the Ash tree, against the palm shaped sycamore. Sycamores are a good one to get to know, as so many rare birds seem to favour them at migration times. The horse chestnut’s five or seven (usually) large-lobed leaf is often well known to many from our childhood. The simple leaves of Hazel, Elm and Lime may be less easy to pin down to the beginner.
It is a good idea to get a tree ID guide and try to learn the general shape of trees, along with the shape and size of the buds, as well as the appearance of the bark and leaves.
Personally, I learned a lot about trees while exploring the local countryside with my brother, my dad and granddad, and nature lessons at school stuck with me. Some trees prefer water, such as willow and alder, The London Plane tree manages to deal with pollution in its own special way.
Now is a good time to look at the buds appearing on the trees. The sticky buds of the Horse Chestnut, the hard pointed gingery buds of the beech trees, and Ash trees have those coal black buds. Lots of trees have catkins now. Hazel, alder, willow to mention just a few. It’s a good time to look closer. Take photographs to study later, if you want to take specimens, you will need a press, ideally, otherwise you will end up with a pocketful of withered rabbit food.
I am still learning, for example I recently learned that some catkins are edible. If cooked and treated correctly. I’ll give it a miss. So, trees – what do you know – am I preaching to the converted, or would you like to know more?
Steve
Over to you!
It’s always great to welcome new members to the group, regardless of their experience of birds and nature. If you had to pass on some interesting facts about birds, what would you come up with? Let’s start with one interesting fact that not everyone may know….
The loudest bird in the UK is usually considered to be the Eurasian Jay. The Eurasian Jay has a very harsh “screeching” alarm call that carries a long distance through woodland. When it spots danger—like a fox, cat, or human—it often lets out a loud “SKREEE!” call to warn other birds.
News
Ringed Bewick’s Swan recorded after 20 years
A ringed Bewick’s Swan has been recorded in the UK for the first time in 20 years. The bird, known to researchers as Galina, was first ringed two decades ago on its Russian breeding grounds as part of the Europe-wide monitoring effort co-ordinated by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and partner organisations. Galina was re-sighted at Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire, in the UK in January 2026.
First British visit for two decades
Kane Brides, Senior Research Officer at WWT, said: “Because Galina carries a colour ring, WWT researchers know she has been sighted in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Estonia. Her arrival at Slimbridge offers valuable insight into how Bewick’s Swans rely on a network of protected wetlands across Europe. “Her return to Slimbridge after 20 years is extraordinary and highlights how vital wetlands are for birds like Galina, even later in life.” Galina’s arrival is remarkable given the typical lifespan of Bewick’s Swan is approximately 10 years.
Thousands back call to end controversial gannet harvest
More than 25,000 people have signed a petition calling on NatureScot to stop licensing the harvest of Northern Gannets from a remote Hebridean island. Each autumn, a group of men from the Isle of Lewis travels to the remote uninhabited island of Sula Sgeir for the ‘guga hunt’, which involves the capture and slaughter of flightless gannet chicks for food. The activity is part of a historical tradition and is carried out under authorisation from NatureScot, which decides whether to grant a licence every year subject to conservation tests. The guga hunt took place again in 2025 for the first time in four years.
Controversial killings
Protect the Wild – which created the petition – argues that NatureScot is failing to meet evidential thresholds when issuing these licences and should not continue authorising the hunt. Mounting public pressure recently prompted NatureScot to issue a public statement, acknowledging the “strong feelings” about the guga hunt and confirming that its board is considering the concerns raised. In its statement, NatureScot said: “We understand there are strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place. The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act… our role is to make licensing decisions based on the most recent scientific evidence.”
Reduced take
NatureScot confirmed that in 2025 it had reduced the permitted take from 2,000 birds to 500 following survey data collected after avian-flu outbreaks, and that a licence was granted on the condition that birds be killed humanely. But Protect the Wild argues that the Sula Sgeir gannet colony is still in decline and that allowing even a reduced harvest risks further damage. It has also been questioned how NatureScot can guarantee the killing is humane when it does not directly monitor the process. “Sula Sgeir is now the only Special Protection Area for gannets in Scotland that has fallen below its official citation level,” said Devon Docherty, Scottish Campaigns Manager at Protect the Wild (from BirdGuides.com).
News from RSPB
Crimes against Hen Harriers
In just five years (2020-2024), over 100 Hen Harriers were confirmed or suspected to have been illegally killed in the UK. A total of 89% of these incidents were recorded in England where the Hen Harrier population is currently just one tenth of its potential. The majority of these incidents took place on or near land managed for grouse shooting. Crimes against these birds include the shooting, trapping or poisoning of young and adult Hen Harriers, the destruction of their nests and eggs, and also the killing of chicks whilst still in the nest.
Did you know, in the last 25 years, only three people have ever been convicted with Hen Harrier persecution related offences in the UK. Two took place in Scotland in the early 2000s, and one – the first ever case in England – happened in January 2026 in Yorkshire. In all three cases the person guilty of committing the crime was a gamekeeper employed on a grouse shooting estate.
Hen Harriers in the firing line – Read the latest report on the illegal killing of Hen Harriers in the UK at:
www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-crime-and-investigation/hen-harrier-report.
Great news for one of the UK’s rarest birds, the Capercaillie!
Numbers of Capercaillie at our RSPB Abernethy nature reserve have increased by 50% since 2020.
A history of declines
Capercaillie are a large grouse, only found in Scotland’s Caledonian pine forests. Across Scotland, their numbers have been declining significantly for a number of years. This is due to a decline in their habitat, predation of their eggs and chicks, colliding with deer fences, and human disturbance. Sadly, the species is at serious risk of extinction. The most recent survey, in 2021–2022, estimated that just 532 Capercaillie remain – the lowest recorded numbers since records began in 1992–1994.
Our work at Abernethy
Abernethy is one of the last remaining Capercaillie strongholds, so we’re doing all we can to secure this species. Here, we’re using a remote-controlled mower to remove the heather in difficult terrain. This encourages Blaeberry to grow, which is an important food source and hosts moth caterpillars that are an important food for Capercaillie chicks. The mower also helps create open bare areas, where the chicks can stay warm and dry after rainfall.
Get to know Corn Buntings
Corn Buntings are dumpy, ground-dwelling birds that you’d be forgiven for confusing with a sparrow. In the UK, we have five regularly occurring species of bunting including the brightly coloured Yellowhammer, and there are many more around the world. However, our very own Corn Bunting is the largest of them all. The sight and sound of Corn Buntings perched atop wires and posts, singing their metallic-sounding trill, used to be common across the UK’s arable or mixed farmland. Sadly, that’s no longer the case.
Why are Corn Buntings in trouble?
After historical losses, Corn Bunting numbers crashed between the mid-1970s and 80s, leading to local extinctions across much of the UK and Ireland. This decline continued until 2000, when numbers became relatively stable. The species’ decline is largely due to changes in farming practices and the loss of their preferred habitat.
For example, Corn Buntings have a late nesting season, so early harvests can destroy nests and heavily impact breeding success. In addition, the lack of cover provided by uniform, monoculture crops, and loss of over -winter stubble has increased predation and reduced the amount of food available during the colder months. Between 2013 and 2023, the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) recorded a 38% increase in Corn Bunting numbers, driven by strong increases where direct intervention has been implemented. However, the species is now extinct in Northern Ireland and restricted to small pockets of habitat in England, Scotland and, very rarely, Wales.
Local Group Outings
I do hope that you have noticed an enhanced schedule of outdoor events with our group. We have included some evening walks which we have tried in recent years, and to help with numbers, we have also created some joint events with the Cleveland Naturalists Society. We will be visiting Scaling Dam, South Gare, Saltburn beach, and Square corner, near Osmotherley to search for Nightjars.
Also on the programme is High Batts, which is a private reserve, which means we must wait for the outing leader to take us in. Portrack Marsh is also on our list of summer outings. Oh, and don’t forget the coach trip! Hopefully there is a walk that suits you and we can meet up at one – or all – of the events. Fingers crossed for some good birdwatching and observing other wildlife.
MUCH ADO……….…. BIRDING IN LANZAROTE
Much ado about what? Much ado about nothing, or a worthwhile experience: birding in Lanzarote? I leave you to make up your own mind.
I had visited Tenerife and Madeira and not found many birds there. On the other hand, I hadn’t looked very hard. So, when I booked a holiday in Lanzarote I decided to do a bit of research. A company called Viator offered half-day bird tours, but when I enquired further, they had been cancelled. There were various trip reports on the internet and there were birds to be seen. One particular report from 2012, centred on a stay in Costa Teguise, gave the prospect of waders at the end of the promenade. I was staying in Costa Teguise; so some optimism. Second day of hols I enquired if birding trips were available. I was given contact detail of Eco Insider. An email, followed by a phone call, followed by a WhatsApp gave me information about a four-hour tour of the “desert” starting at 9.00am on 14th February 2026. On the phone, Carmen from Eco Insider, told me that the first substantial rainfall for a number of years had brought the desert into bloom and I would be very lucky to be seeing this rare beauty.
I met Joachim, driving a Land Rover, which was to be our mobile hide, at 5 to 9 on the edge of the desert, on a farm track – all of the 4-hour journey was on farm tracks except for one short stretch. A ten-minute chat explained some of the geology, history, archaeology and ornithology of the island, including the likelihood of seeing the birds listed on Eco Insider’s advert. The day was very windy, almost a gale. Would the birds be keeping their heads down? Initially it appeared the answer was “yes”. Then Lesser Short-toed Larks were popping up, taking short flights in the wind. Hardly an exultation (or does that collective noun apply only to skylarks?) Still very nice to see a life-tick for my first “desert bird” and I saw many more LST Larks in the course of our trip. After about half an hour a surprise!
A Houbara Bustard shot out from almost underneath our vehicle, disturbed by us. After a short flight it settled to strutting around, still very close. It was a spectacularly beautiful bird, the one I most wanted to see. It is beyond my descriptive powers to describe the pattern and colour of the back and wings. Look up the photos on t’internet. On the back of the neck was a thick black band with a thinner white stripe in the middle of the band. I believe that these black and white feathers are used for display at the lek (think black grouse). Joachim said that it was most unusual to have seen one fly. Next, we saw a Canary Raven fly across our path; a good view, its “fingered” wing tips clearly visible. The “Canary“ refers to the home of the species not a cross with the little yellow job. (I hope you share my sense of humour). After that nothing much else other than LST Larks. We spent a lot of time circling the area where Joachim usually found Cream Coloured Courser. None came out to play today; presumably too windy.
We travelled on to the goat farm in the hope of seeing Red-crested Pochard. Dipped again. I did very briefly see three Pied/White Wagtails; so brief that Joachim did not “tune into” them and was unable to confirm my sighting. Next to a site where Joachim put out water for Trumpeter Finch. Four Trumpeter Finch were undeterred by the near gale and showed well, displaying their distinctive red beaks. All the while we were looking out for Cream Coloured Courser. We came to a village called Soo and drove for about a quarter of a mile along the only bit of tarmacked road which we covered in the whole four hours trip. In Soo was a field where Joachim usually saw Stone Curlew.
After a short wait one did appear. Again, usually, when one appeared it would be followed by others, but not today. Still, one was better than none and I had only ever seen Stone Curlew once before on a visit to Norfolk. On our wandering around the desert, we saw 3 more Houbara. I was told that in the local language Houbara means Bustard, so – Bustard Bustard. They were not as bright and beautiful as my first sighting but still very welcome on this slow day for birds and compensation for the lack of Cream Coloured Courser. I have seen one, and only one, in Israel. It was another spectacular sighting, and it was disappointing to dip today.
I did see many beautiful wildflowers and strange desert plants. Joachim described the sparse agriculture taking place in the desert and many other aspects of the ecology of the island and the threat from ever increasing tourism and numbers of visitors to the island. Which made me feel a bit of a hypocrite. So, at the end of the tour that was not a good bird count. On a better, less windy day, I might have seen Southern Shrike, Hoopoe, Barbary Partridge, Canary Kestrel, and Bertholet’s Pipit. I told Joachim that I had seen many Bertholet’s Pipits on visits to Tenerife. He frowned and said they were more likely to have been Tawny Pipits. I will never know if that was another of my triumphs of misidentification. On an even better day Barbary Falcon and Egyptian Vulture might be added to the list. Was the tour worth it? Definitely. The Houbara Bustard was worth the “entrance money” alone. Meanwhile what about Costa Teguise?
On a walk along the promenade towards Aricife I saw Little Egret and on focussing on that bird I picked up Grey Plover and Dunlin searching along the edge of the lava rock coast. Yellow-legged Gull also stood on the rocks. Four Cattle Egret were scuttling around a field behind the promenade. On two walks in the other direction along the prom I saw Yellow-legged Gulls and Little Egret.
A test of my identification skills occurred when I saw a large wader with a down-curved beak. Was the beak long or short? How can you tell when there is nothing to compare it with? The eye stripe sorted it – Whimbrel. On roughly the same stretch of rocky shore were four Turnstone and a Ringed Plover. Around the pool of my hotel were Collared Dove and Sparrow which flitted from dense foliage to dense foliage so quickly that it was difficult to see what kind of sparrow. On one of my walks, I got a really good view of a sparrow – Spanish Sparrow. Black throat, white cheeks, chocolate cap.
So, my visit to Lanzarote was better than Tenerife or Madeira – bird-wise, and I have the feeling that if I had been able to get out at dawn, for a walk along the prom, I would have seen more waders and even a different species of gull but I fear my days of early rising and walks are over.
A Land Rover as a mobile hide; now that’s a great idea!
Keith Robson