AT the Kidderminster branch January meeting, Brian Draper, MBE, continued his illustrated talk of the history along the River Teme, with its bridges, hamlets, villages and the three towns of Knighton, Ludlow and Tenbury Wells.

Along the way are waterwheels, a tithe barn, and the world's first hydro electric power station, at Powick.

Sandmartins and kingfishers were seen, and dippers, and red kites have been sighted above Tenbury. Otters, mink, polecats, salmon and chubb are all part of the river's natural history.

The field meeting was to Upton Warren, where a great bittern and a kingfisher were viewed through scopes and binoculars. In all 39 species were identified.

The next indoor meeting will be on Wednesday at 7.30pm in St Oswald's Church Centre, Kidderminster, when wildlife photograph Mike Lane will present "A Country Lane Returns Again".

The publication The New Birds of the West Midlands will be on sale.