Saturday, 26 January 2019

Report on Louth Watch Meeting at Spout Yard 20th January 2019


The meeting began with a quiz for the  children.  They identified twenty pictures of British birds which had been arranged on the walls. The answers were discussed and the children did  very well. We talked about which birds you might see in your garden and which birds are most common in the UK. Also we talked about the Big British Birdwatch which would be the following weekend.

Everybody then walked around Spout Yard Park together and managed to spot several different birds in the area.

The digital microscope and optical microscope were set up so that  children were able to view various bird feathers and a bird skull.

Each child was able to chose to play a bird game, either bird bingo or snap with a set of bird cards. They  all enjoyed the games. They then could chose to colour a bird picture.

The children each had a biscuit and a drink of fruit juice which had been donated by Louth
 Co-op.

They finally were able to get very messy whilst making bird feeders. String was tied to each pine cone and a loop made so that it  could be hung up. They then mixed soft lard, muesli, cheese etc and covered the pine cones with the mixture. They also filled half coconut shells with it.

The children took bird feeders home to hang in their gardens. They also hung some of the bird feeders on trees in Spout Yard Park.

It was a very busy afternoon which everybody seemed to enjoy.


Friday, 18 January 2019

CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS JANUARY 2019

Good day and a belated Happy New Year,
Our first Speaker Meeting of 2019 will be given by Geoff Lea on the History and Wildlife Areas of the Norfolk Broads. The meeting on Friday 25 January will commence at 1930 hrs in the Nichol Hill Methodist Church, Louth. The entry fee, including refreshments, is £2.50. Children are most welcome and have free entry.
I am particularly looking forward to this talk. I spent the first 25 years of my life in Hunstanton on the edge of the Wash but rarely visited the ‘other side’ of the county’.
 
The last seals have left the foreshore at Donna Nook although some can still be seen lingering on the off-shore sandbanks. There has been a record number of pups born; 2066 had been recorded by 21 December. Geoff Mullett made a video of a seal giving birth which may be viewed on You Tube:

 
The great event for me at this time of year is the Great Garden Bird Watch on 26-28 January. Please take part and let me have a copy of your results and post code on lag2014@aol.com. I can then ascertain the number of species that have been seen LAG area.
I enjoy looking at and recording the birds in our garden for this national task and hope that there will be as many species as we had at various times on 15 January; 27 sparrows, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Collared doves, 3 Wood pigeons, 2 Coal tits, 2 Great tits a Blue tit, a Wren and a Robin. A few scraps of meat on the lawn attracted 2 Common gulls, 7 Black-headed gulls and for the first time a huge Herring gull. It is interesting to note that one of the Common gulls has been a regular visitor for the last 3 years. It has a badly deformed left foot but looks in good health and is usually the first gull to hit the food.
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50 YEARS OF LAG – LONG TERM PLANNING
In January 2020 the Louth Area Group will reach its 50th year of existence. I am seeking ideas as to how the half century should be celebrated – possibly with some sort of exhibition. The LAG archives only consist of copies of programmes and some committee minutes. Consequently, I shall be delighted to hear from: -
1.    Long standing LAG members who have pored over photograph albums of the period 1970- 2010 to see whether they have pictures that they would permit to be used in a display.
2.    Members who have ideas for a low-key event or events that could mark this 50-year point.
3.    A person or people who would be prepared to research documents held at LWT HQ, Horncastle.
4.    A volunteer or volunteers who would be prepared to manage any planned event or events.
 
Best wishes
Ray Woodcock Chairman Louth Area Group