39 
in spring plumage, conducting their elaborate courtship display. We were 
fortunate to see a female Smew swimming with Shoveller, Mallard and Pochard. 
The Smew is the smallest of the "saw-bills" — fish-eating duck whose spike-like 
bills have toothed edges — a genus which includes Merganser and Goosander. 
Mr. Teagle, the Warden of the Studland Nature Conservancy Reserve, took 
us round the Reserve in February, and we were able to study the many interesting 
exhibits in his Observation Hut. 
Also in February Mrs. Angela Hughes brought us her delightful film about 
Hod Hill, the Dorset Trust Reserve, preceded by a short talk, which was of 
interest to the Botanists and Entomologists in the audience as well as to ourselves. 
In the Spring and Autumn, Field Meetings were arranged to various points 
where migrating Passerines build up on their way in or out of this country. 
Although the Spring of 1968 was cold and wet, with snow falling here in the 
South as late as April 3rd, the migration of birds to this country was about 
normal, thus substantiating the present-day theory that it is light rather than 
warmth that governs their movements. The outward Autumn migration seemed 
earlier than usual, being well under way in early September. Possibly this was 
due to the abnormally dull summer, with much less sunlight than usual. On the 
other hand two of our members saw a Swallow at Sandbanks as late as 
November 3rd. 
We visited Hengistbury Head, Stanpit Marsh, Ninebarrow Down and Goat- 
horn Peninsula, and fresh ground was broken with a visit in March to the coastal 
marshes at Keyhaven. We hoped to see Ruffs and Reeves which feed in the wet 
grass near the harbour. Despite near gale force wind, which made using bino- 
culars very difficult, we found a party of 30 — the Reeves (the females) noticeably 
smaller and more insignificant than the Ruffs. These were still in their sober 
winter plumage and the male birds had not yet developed the extraordinary and 
decorative ear-tufts and 'ruffs 1 of different colours, from which they get their 
name. This is seldom seen in this country, but a party of Ruffs displaying in 
the Spring on a breeding ground in, say, a water meadow in Holland, is a truly 
wonderful sight. 
We followed up a most interesting lecture on the Arne Nature Reserve by 
Mr. Bryan Pickess with a visit to the Reserve on May 16th. 
We are fortunate in having a wide variety of habitat within easy distance of 
Bournemouth, and during the summer we visited the New Forest, Stanpit Marsh, 
The Lighthouse Downs at Swanage for cliff-nesting sea-birds, the Forestry Com- 
mission pine woods near Wimborne, and Kingston Common, where Shelduck 
breed. The usual breeding-site of these birds is in the neighbourhood of extensive 
mud-flats at low tide, but very occasionally they choose an inland site, usually 
near open water. In the case of Kingston Common they must be 8 miles from the 
nearest sea. 
One Coach outing was arranged to Abbotsbury Swannery in July. The 
coach was full, the weather was beautiful, and Mr. Lexter, the Swan-herd, gave 
us a most entertaining talk. 
At the suggestion of one of our members, who also most generously contri- 
buted to the cost, we hired the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds" film, 
Birds of Strathspey, for the afternoon of October 30th. I think everyone 
enjoyed this magnificent film about a very beautiful and interesting part of the 
Scottish Highlands. 
A project we have in mind for next Spring is to assist in the B.T.O. Orni- 
thological Atlas Scheme, an undertaking to be carried out on the same lines as 
the B.S.B.I. Botanical Atlas. Unfortunately the Hampshire Organiser did not 
invite our assistance in time for us to make a start this year, but, as the Scheme 
is to run for five years, we shall still be able to help in this valuable project. 
For this, the whole of Britain has been divided into 10-kilometer squares, and 
every breed of nesting bird will be plotted. 
I should like to end my Report by thanking Mrs. Vera Follett for all the 
help she has given me — without which I should not have taken on the Chairman- 
ship. I should also like to pay tribute to the gallant members of our Section, who 
have supported our Field Meetings so enthusiastically, with never a grumble, 
despite the most persistent bad weather. Not a single Meeting has had to be 
cancelled. I hope they have enjoyed them as much as I have done. 
L. M. Maddox 
