Guest Editorial ...................................................................... Gi Grieco

The Harrier

Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group

Guest Editorial

Welcome to this edition of The Harrier, 191. I enjoyed putting the last Harrier together and as we’re still looking for someone to take on the role, I’m remaining as guest editor for the time being. Many thanks to Alex for assisting in its production with the proof-reading again. I’d also like to thank Lester Bennett of Printing For Pleasure who, over recent years, has printed The Harrier for SOG. He does great work and members have really enjoyed the magazine since we’ve gone over to using colour photos, enabled by digital printing. In the last edition we promoted the Derek Moore Memorial Lecture and we’re glad to say it was well attended, with nearly 150 present to hear Mark Avery talk about conservation issues, particularly driven grouse moors and raptor persecution. The evening also raised £480 towards The Suffolk Broads Appeal to increase the broads around Carlton and Oulton Marsh. There is an article on this super project in this edition. We’re also pleased to see an article on Swifts. But this time of a great project in Germany where a lot of studying has been undertaken to monitor breeding Swifts on a bridge. Monitoring of a different kind, this time by colour-marked birds, is the subject of another article and it

is fascinating to find out the life history and movements of some of the birds once details are relayed. We have another Cormorant article, following on from the one in the last edition plus information from volunteers, both from the pleasures of the role and some rewards afterwards. We had a nice selection of birds this autumn as detailed in the bird review along with a few accounts of some SOG field trips during this period. Last, but not least, another fascinating article on poetry and birds. Please note that in 2018 SOG will be at a new venue for some of the indoor talks. We will still have two a year in Stowmarket but in Ipswich the talks will now be at the University of Suffolk. Details can be found on the events card. Well done to Adam for sourcing a new venue at such short notice! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and good birding for 2018. Gi Grieco Photo: Ian Goodall Barn Owl