My last introduction spoke of the damp and cool weather we had been experiencing; well, the last couple of months couldn’t be more different.  Virtually no rain, usually sunny and often warm with it – great conditions for getting out and enjoying nature in general and, for we bird fans in particular, the steady flow of arriving migrants.

And that’s what we have done a few times over the spring period.  Read about our trips to Brandon Marsh and, closer to home earlier this month, to Drakelow.  We also staged our annual ‘songsters walk’, which last year was undertaken in a deluge, this year conditions were pretty much ideal.

Since the last newsletter we concluded our 2024-25 series of indoor meetings, with two further fascinating talks peppered with wonderful photographs, and we’re now amid our usual hiatus of late spring and summer which urges us to get outdoors, explore pastures new and enjoy family holidays.  Don’t forget, though, that the new season will get under way in September – on the 16^th to be precise – with a talk by Gary Hobson on the Birds and Wildlife of Turkey.  There will be six more meetings after that, always in the Henmore Room at the Visitor Centre and usually on the third Tuesday of the month, though in October for a couple of specific reasons, it will be on the second Tuesday, the 14^th.  More details and dates will follow in the next newsletter.

By now you should have received your 2024 annual report; while we’d not expect most of you to read it cover to cover, it does contain a wealth of useful information detailing an excellent birding year at Carsington – and represents a fantastic effort by our posse of regular recorders.  Its front section also carries reports by the officers of our committee, reflecting a club that is in generally good health.  We have thankfully retained most members and gained a few new ones, though one of the following articles here tells of the sad passing of former Chairman Tony Jackson and his wife Sheila. 

Meanwhile, we on the committee hope we’re offering enough information and activities to retain your interest for another year.  So, for now, get out there and enjoy the good weather while it lasts.

Gary Atkins

 

SPRING SEES A CHANGING OF THE AVIAN GUARD AS USUAL

In February birders were arriving in good numbers to boost their year (or even life) lists by spotting our two over-wintering divers and some scarce ducks.  Three months later those ‘trophies’ have all moved on, and the usual arrival of a steady stream of migrants has all but concluded, with breeding activity and success across many species now in evidence.

The regular Great Northern Diver was last seen on 24 April after its usual long stay, but this year it was joined for much of that period by a Red-throated ‘cousin’ that headed back north 17 days earlier.  Meanwhile, the pair of Scaup, a Ring-necked Duck and its American counterpart, a Lesser Scaup (an early ‘first’ for Carsington), all disappeared but not before offering good views on many days. 

March turned out to be a particularly rich period with 115 species recorded – a site record for that month – boosted by ducks such as two Garganey, a Red-crested Pochard that stuck around for much of March and April, good numbers of Goldeneye that remained until late March, plus less frequent but welcome visits by Shelduck, Mandarins and Common Scoter.  Meanwhile, the county record number of Pochard, which reached 1,032 around Christmas, plummeted to single figures by April but the fact up to nine remained might signal a repetition of their breeding success in 2024.

Great Crested Grebes have blossomed in recent times, and over 90 have been counted a number of times during March and April, and the slow but sure lowering of water levels, exposing more of the shoreline, has seen a bit more activity from herons and egrets, and from waders.  Only six wader species were logged in February but that number was up to 13 in April, including two Avocets (also seen in March), two Common Sandpipers on five dates, 16 Curlew on the 1^st, a Greenshank on the 25^th and, on the 13^th, a Whimbrel, which appeared more regularly in early May, when a Bar-tailed Godwit and two Sanderling also turned up.

Delicate Little Gulls are always a delight to see, and 27 provided an overkill of pleasure on 4 April.  A Caspian Gull was noted on a few occasions in February and March, two Kittiwakes popped in during the last week of March and three Mediterranean Gulls were observed in mid March, with two more on consecutive days in April.  Common  and Arctic Terns were passing through as usual, but the star terns were Sandwich Terns in both March and May and a Black Tern that was spied on 14 April.

Raptors have not produced any major surprises during the spring, though it’s always encouraging to be part of the Ospreys’ return to Britain, as they were with singles logged at the reservoir on 24 April and the 9^th, 11^th and 20^th of May.  An impressive total of 20 Buzzards were aloft in late February, and the evermore regular sight of Red Kites continued as up to four were counted on three dates in April.  Otherwise it was the usual mix of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine.

But the last three months has been most noteworthy for spring migrants as they settle back into their breeding territories.  In March, Wheatear on the 20^th sparked the rush of incomers, followed by Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Sand Martin on the 22^nd, then Swallow on the 23^rd.  April continued the changing of the guard as the final Redwings departed on the 8^th, while House Martins arrived on the 4^th, Redstart on the 9^th, Pied Flycatcher three days later, then Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers announced their arrival over four days from the 14^th.  Later in the month, a Lesser Whitethroat was identified and by early May Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat were present, with 22 Swifts speeding in on the 4^th.

Not forgetting the resident species which included Red-legged Partridges seen or heard fairly often, as were Tawny Owls, while three Barn Owls sightings were noted in April, and four Great Spotted Woodpeckers were recorded on the last day of March,

The healthy status of both migrants and residents was reflected in a perimeter walk on 26 April, which noted 164 Wrens, 150 Chiffchaffs, 124 Blue Tits, 115 Robins, 103 Blackbirds, 56 Blackcaps, 47 Great Tits, 37 Dunnocks, 34 Song Thrushes, 32 Goldfinches and double-figure hauls of Chaffinch, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Bullfinch.

 

THE SAD STORY OF THE DECLINING WILLOW TIT

Willow Tit has long been one of Carsington Water’s main attractions, being one of the species that visiting birdwatchers were particularly keen to see.  Nationally, Willow Tit is faring badly: according to the BTO, it ‘has suffered the worst population decline of a resident UK bird in recent times’. Until recently we could say that Carsington was apparently bucking this trend, but it now seems that we too are witnessing that decline.

Derbyshire Ornithological Society has this year run a survey of sites previously known to hold Willow Tits, including Carsington.  The picture is very disheartening, with many surveyors failing to find any Willow Tits at all, and at Carsington it would seem that the population has roughly halved in the last five years.  We do at least still have some, perhaps around eight territories this year, mainly in the southern half of the site.

The RSPB are also involved, and have installed three sound-recorders on site, in areas where I found birds this spring. The aim of this is to determine how families of Willow Tits behave and interact, particularly once young birds have fledged. Apparently artificial intelligence will be used to analyse the recordings – cutting edge stuff indeed!

In due course we will know more about Willow Tits at Carsington and in the wider area. However, it seems safe to say that the picture is far from rosy.

Simon Roddis

 

MOVING FROM INDOORS TO OUT

The final two indoor meetings of our 2024/25 programme took us to sharply contrasting locations. Costa Rica was the destination for February’s talk, delivered by Derby RSPB Group leader Max Maughan, who showed us a country renowned for its rich biodiversity, beautiful scenery and differing habitats, together with photos – taken by his talented wife Christine – of some of the amazing variety of birds and other wildlife to be found there.

We returned much closer to home for our meeting in March, with Chris Galvin describing a North West Year. Chris’s talk concentrated on the part of the country from North Wales up to north Lancashire and southern Cumbria, an area with three internationally important estuaries and a surprising diversity of bird species.

For our first members trip of the year we headed down to the Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve near Coventry on Sunday 23 March.  We had not visited this Warwickshire Wildlife Trust reserve before as a group, but the eight CBC members who made the journey were rewarded with a good variety of birds seen or heard.

Meeting up in the visitor centre café we spent some time enjoying a hot drink and watching the bird feeders. A Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and a pair of Reed Buntings provided some variety to the steady stream of the more common birds, but the highlight was a Marsh Tit, which made a number of fleeting visits.  This is becoming an increasingly rare bird to find across the country, so it was a very good start to the day.

The East Marsh Pool held most of the wetland birds we saw, with a number of Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck visible on the water, along with Cormorants, Coots and Moorhens. Lapwings were the most numerous wader, along with a pair of Oystercatchers and a group of seven Snipe, which were picked out against the edge of the reeds.

A Water Rail’s characteristic squealing call was briefly heard in the reedbeds, but true to form it stayed well hidden. Also in the category of heard, but not seen, were several Cetti’s Warblers and a Green Woodpecker, whose ‘yaffling’ call was picked out a couple of times in the distance.  Singing Chiffchaffs provided a welcome reminder that spring was on its way, and by the end of the day a very fine total of 50 species had been recorded – namely:  Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

In stark contrast to the wet weather which curtailed last year’s Springtime Songbird walk the 13-strong group who pitched up on Sunday 11 May for this year’s slow stroll at Carsington Water were treated to a very sunny morning. We are once again extremely grateful to Simon Roddis, one of our expert bird recorders, who led the walk.

Ironically the warm weather and clear skies kept most hirundines at higher altitudes, but a few Swallows were spotted soon after our arrival, along with a couple of Swifts flying away into the distance.  Setting off along the causeway to Stones Island, the first songster we came across was a Garden Warbler, which is often hard to see, but we did eventually get a good view of it.  Sedge Warblers on the other hand are usually more visible and quite a few were noted singing on the top of bushes. The descending cadence of a Willow Warbler was soon heard, and Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps were also spotted.

Probably the star bird of the morning was not a songbird at all – as an Osprey was spotted flying over the northern end of the reservoir, initially chased by a pair of Oystercatchers before a number of Black-headed Gulls took up the pursuit.  We enjoyed a good look at this very handsome bird of prey as it circled back over the water before disappearing from view.

Moving round to the Wildlife Centre, we spent a short time looking at the various ducks and geese, while taking in the cacophony of noise and activity of the Black-headed Gulls nesting on Horseshoe Island. Finishing off at Wildlife Centre Creek, Simon’s sharp ears picked out the song of a distant Redstart, but it remained elusive and could not be seen. By the end of the morning 33 species had been collectively recorded by the group.

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Drakelow was the destination for our latest walk on Sunday 18^th May.  Most of the 10 CBC members who came along had not been there before, so it was a good experience to visit a fairly local reserve for the first time.  As we met in the car park a distant Cuckoo was calling, a sound we heard again, but never near enough to try and see it.

Drakelow is well known for its breeding Cormorant colonies and from the hide nearest the car park we counted at least 65-70 on nests in the trees around the lake. Ducks and geese were far less plentiful though, and the only waders on show were a pair of Oystercatchers.  Two juvenile Grey Herons were patrolling the water’s edge, later joined by an adult, and both a Great White and a Little Egret and were spotted during the morning.

Walking around the reserve we picked out the songs of many of our summer visiting warblers, with Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff the most numerous.  We enjoyed especially good views of a Garden Warbler, singing from an exposed tree branch, and a Whitethroat sat obligingly for some time on top of a nearby bush. Reed Warblers were singing from within the reedbeds, and the scolding sound of a Cetti’s Warbler was heard two or three times but, as is often the case for this species, it was not seen.

In total 29 species were recorded. It was perhaps mildly disappointing that there weren’t a few more on the list, particularly raptors and hirundines, and also no waders apart from Oystercatchers.  You can only see what’s on offer though, and all birds are a delight at the end of the day.

Chris Lamb

 

OBITUARIES: TONY AND SHEILA JACKSON

One of the saddest things I discovered recently – when ringing around a few folks to double-check membership renewals for 2025 – was the passing of two of our long-standing members: former club chairman Tony Jackson, and his wife Sheila.  Though we’d not seen much of them for the past couple of years, they had previously been regular attendees at our indoor meetings (often accompanied by Catie, who had inherited their grandparents’ love for birds and nature) and before that Tony had served on the CBC committee in a number of roles.

The couple, who lived in Mickleover and had been married for 56 years, passed away within months of each other last year, both having been ill for a while, which is why I found out the way I did.  Winchester-born Tony’s interest in birdwatching began at a very early age – and helped him with his academic studies.  He was not expected to get his English O-level, but on the day of the exam the essay challenge was to “write about something that interests you”; Tony launched into a passionate piece about bird watching and scored an ‘A’.

Various jobs brought him further north via Bristol, Coventry and Nuneaton.  He worked many years for Courtaulds, latterly in Derby where his interest in natural history again rose to the surface when his employer allowed him to set up a wildlife reserve in their capacious grounds, thereby creating SWANS – the Spondon Wildlife and Nature Society.

He left Courtaulds in 1989 but stayed in the area until his retirement in 2004, when nature again came to the fore and he redesigned his own garden – until then a vegetable patch – into a wildlife haven, complete with pond and waterfall!  By this time he had long been a member of Carsington Bird Club, serving as both Chairman and Treasurer during his time on the committee, when Sheila was a rock supporting Tony on various administrative tasks.

During Tony’s terms of office, he was responsible for commissioning the Paul Stanley hide, and I know he also launched the club’s newsletter, as I inherited that particular role in around 2001 after a short stint on the committee, relieving him of one of a number of tasks at that time.  He and Sheila fondly remembered the occasional wildlife strolls around the reservoir, and most particularly the Dawn Chorus walks that took place for many years.  On leaving the committee, he and Sheila continued to be active members, coaxing Catie along to talks and walks for many years.

Gary Atkins

 

KNOW YOUR COMMITTEE – Here are the club officials and their contact details……..
Committee Post	Name		Telephone	Email Address
Chairman and Publicity	Gary Atkins		01335 370773	garysatkins@aol.com
Treasurer	John Follett		01332 834778	johnlfollett@virginmedia.com
Membership secretary	Dave Horsley		07900 597230	daveat2602@hotmail.com
Recorder	Rob Chadwick		07876 338912	rob.chadwick322@gmail.com
Events co-ordinator	Chris Lamb		01629 820890	cflamb@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary	Louise Sykes		01335 348544	louise.sykes5065@gmail.com
…..and the website address is:   https://www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk
Webmaster	Richard Pittam	n/a		Contact Richard via the website

 

 

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS — IT’S ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TIME!

It’s been a pretty damp, cold and dark start to 2025, so hopefully it can only get better from here.  We have a few events in our programme to brighten things up, including the last couple of talks and three activities in the open air (so it had better warm up!).

As usual at the start of a new year, we have to remind members about renewal of memberships, but this year we can report we are further ahead than usual, with all but a handful of members signing up for another year.  This is down in no small measure to the welcome appointment of Dave Horsley as our new membership secretary; this has relieved the workload of John Follett who remains as Treasurer and has been working hand-in-glove with Dave to ensure a smooth handover. 

The birdlife at the reservoir has been pretty good, despite the water levels continuing at (or even above) 100 per cent, which means no mud for waders.  As well as our usual over-wintering Great Northern Diver, we have had a Red-throated Diver that arrived before Christmas and looks set to stay a while yet.  Some scarce duck breeds have been visiting, too, so we’ve had plenty of birders dropping by to get some more unusual species on their year list.  Read on to the reservoir report, which gives more details of what’s been around.

We have a busy few months ahead (see below and get those dates in your diary): after our February and March talks (the latter getting under way half an hour earlier to cater for our Annual General Meeting), we are setting off on an outing to a new destination for CBC – Brandon Marsh, a 92-hectare wildlife haven run by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Then in May we have, on consecutive Sundays, firstly our perennial springtime songster walk, with Simon Roddis helping us to keep our ears as well as our eyes open for visiting migrants which will be in fine song by then … followed by a local trip to the always-interesting Derbyshire Wildlife Trust site at Drakelow, a former power station.

Further on in the newsletter there is also a provisional warning that Bird Flu is on the rise again in some areas; while not in our region yet, it’s always worth all of us remaining vigilant to ensure it can’t get a grip in Derbyshire.

I shall say no more for now – but do look at the diary dates below and try to get along to one or other of our events … and do make Dave’s life a bit easier by paying your subs on time.

Gary Atkins

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY …

18 February – talk by Max Maughan on Costa Rica’s super-rich wildlife, as usual at 7.30pm

18 March – talk by Chris Galvin entitled a ‘North West Year’ (note this talk will be preceded, at 7pm, by our AGM)

23 March – trip to Brandon Marsh, the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust reserve on the south-eastern fringe of Coventry (see article on page 3 for more background).  Meet at the reserve car park 10.30am.

11 May – Spring Birdsong Walk at Carsington Water, led by Simon Roddis (meet 9am, Visitor Centre)

18 May – Drakelow  DWT Reserve, meet at 10am in the reserve car park, DE15 9TE

 

KEEN BIRDERS TARGET DIVERS AND SCARCE DUCKS AT CARSINGTON

As 2024 ebbed away and the new year began, a cast list of TWO wintering divers and three scarce species of duck have proved attractive to visiting birders keen to get some of the more unusual species on their year lists.  This ‘big five’ was jokingly dubbed the Carsington safari!

As well as our perennial Great Northern Diver – now approaching two decades of wintering at Carsington – which arrived on 15 December, a Red-throated Diver turned up a day later to begin a long stay at the reservoir.  Meanwhile, a Ring-necked Duck spent three days here in early December, then another (or likely the same bird) turned up on 28 January and has been seen ever since.

Two Scaup were spotted on New Year’s Eve, but have also been at the reservoir over the several weeks since … and the prime target of late has been a female Lesser Scaup, which has been quite tricky to pick out among the Pochard or Tufted Duck – though not for Jon Bradley who picked it up on 2 February.  This is a first for Carsington, and only the second ever record for Derbyshire.

Winter duck numbers have been increasing, with Wigeon and Teal counts of over 50 in January, and an impressive total of 32 Goldeneye on 4 February.  The 1,032 Pochard counted on Christmas Eve is believed to be a county record, and Coot numbers approached 1,400 in January.  Great Crested Grebes were increasing, too, as 74 were counted on 22 January.

Geese numbers have been a little more modest, but an Egyptian Goose was recorded on five dates during November and December, while a Brent Goose on 12 December was the first at Carsington for almost six years, and 700 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west in six skeins on 6 February.

During the last quarter, Little Egrets have been outnumbered by their ‘Great’ cousins, which were viewed on 10 dates between December and February.  The best swan sighting came on 11 January when 49 Whoopers dropped in.

Gull numbers reached their winter peak, with over 4,000 Common Gulls on Christmas Day being a site record, 3,200 of the ever-present Black-headed Gulls counted in mid January and 800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on 6 February, when over 30 Herring Gulls were also among the roost.  Scarcer gull species in evidence lately have been a Kittiwake on 4 December, Caspian Gulls on five dates in December/January and a Mediterranean Gull on two dates in February.

If gulls displayed good variety, quite the opposite can be said of waders which, with water levels constantly at or over 100 per cent, have had no expanses of mud to attract them.  Golden Plover was one of just four wader species in December, and 104 Lapwings the highlight of only five waders in January.  But there was a mini wader-fest on 5 February when Lapwing were joined by small quantities of Curlew, Snipe, Woodcock and Oystercatcher; numbers of the latter hit eight on 6 February.

Raptors have also been fewer and farther between, with a maximum of six Red Kites and seven Buzzards in the air on any one occasion.  The other regulars are Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Peregrine, usually in ones and twos.  Two Barn Owl sightings have been noted in the early weeks of 2025, and Tawny Owls were located on five dates in January.

A perimeter walk on 15 January, in search of smaller resident birds, found a phenomenal 239 Blue Tits, along with 98 Blackbirds, 85 Robins, 68 Great Tits, 39 Wrens, 34 Dunnocks, 21 Magpies and 19 Coal Tits.  Also making themselves known were 18 Meadow Pipits and Long-tailed Tits, 8 Goldcrest and Greenfinch, 7 Nuthatch and Treecreeper, 4 Willow Tits and a Chiffchaff that has been around throughout the winter.

Among the winter visitors, Redwings and Fieldfares have been seen on occasion, along with up to 60 Siskin and 10 Lesser Redpolls, plus a similar number of Reed Buntings.

 

AN INDOOR TOUR OF THE WORLD – AND MORE TO COME

Looking back at our recent indoor meetings, the world-famous Kruger National Park in South Africa was the destination for our meeting in the Visitor Centre’s Henmore Room, with David Tolliday describing some of the remarkable mammals, birds, insects and people who live in and around the park.

Unfortunately, our speaker booked for the December meeting sustained an injury a couple of weeks beforehand and had to cancel at short notice. Our own Chris Lamb kindly stepped into the breach at extremely short notice and spoke of the birds of the Algarve and southern Portugal.

We welcomed back Paul Bingham to kick off the new year at our January meeting with a journey through some of Britain’s most spectacular landscapes, savouring the diversity of wildlife on the way. Illustrated with superb photographs, which Paul has taken over many years in all seasons of the year, we experienced just how much we have to enjoy within relatively easy reach of our homes.

Looking forward, on 18 February Max Maughan takes us to Costa Rica, a country renowned for its rich biodiversity, beautiful scenery and differing habitats. Max, who is the RSPB’s  group leader in Derby, will display the amazing variety of birds to be found here, many of them endemic, and some truly spectacular, such as the brightly coloured hummingbirds and the iconic Resplendent Quetzal.

‘A North West Year’ is the title for our final meeting of the 2024/25 programme on Tuesday, 18 March. This talk by Chris Galvin concentrates on the part of the country from North Wales up to the north of Lancashire and southern Cumbria, an area with three internationally important estuaries and a surprising diversity of bird species to be found.

 

THE DARLING BIRDS OF MAY – AND MARCH!

For our first members trip of the year we will be heading to the Brandon Marsh Warwickshire Wildlife Trust reserve on the outskirts of Coventry on Sunday, 23 March.  This is a location we have not visited before, but it has a variety of habitats from wetlands to woodland and promises to offer a good selection of species.  Facilities there include a visitor centre, cafe and toilets, as well as nine hides.  Entry is free for Wildlife Trust members, otherwise it’s £4.50 adults/£3.50 concessions.  We’ll  meet at the reserve car park on Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW, at 10.30am.  More info: https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/BrandonMarsh

May is particularly busy.  Do join us on Sunday, 11 May for our ever-popular annual Springtime Birdsong Walk at Carsington Water.  This walk will once again be led by Simon Roddis, one of our very experienced bird recorders, who will help us to identify the birds we encounter by sound as well as sight.  The walk will last about two hours starting from outside the Carsington Water Visitor Centre at 9am.

The following Sunday, 18 May, we will be visiting the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Drakelow, near Burton upon Trent, for a morning walk.  The reserve consists of five hides dotted around a variety of habitats which attract a wide range of resident birds and summer visitors.  We plan to meet at 10am; parking is on the site of a former power station, off Walton Road, Burton, DE15 9TE.  Please DO be prompt as access is via a normally-locked gate, which will be opened for our group (though DWT members could well be aware of the combination).  For more information visit the DWT website here: https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/drakelow

 

CARSINGTON WATER’S BIRDING PEDIGREE – IS IT CHANGING?

I have been watching Carsington Water on a regular basis since 2016, recording every species seen or heard on every visit, amounting to more than 200 ‘complete lists’ on BirdTrack per year since then.  At the end of each year I have used BirdTrack data to work out my average number of species per visit, and during the years 2017–2022 arrived at figures of 65 to 66 species each time I birded here.  As most regulars will know, Carsington has the advantage of a range of different habitats and that helps contribute to those numbers.  The late Roger Carrington used to say that there were always 70 species on the site, regardless of the time of year, and I think my figures back that up pretty well.

Numbers dipped in 2023, when my average was just over 61 species per visit, and this downward trend continued in 2024, when my average dropped to 57.5.  Perhaps counter-intuitively, I recorded my highest annual species counts for the site in those two years, 160 and 162 respectively.

So what has changed?  On the face of it the habitat is broadly similar, although fluctuations in the water level do have a small impact, particularly in the number of wader species that are recorded here.  It is easy to identify a few changes in some species: Willow Tit has certainly suffered a large drop in numbers and can no longer be taken for granted; my last Tree Sparrow – another one-time ‘banker’ – was in June 2024; Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Grey Wagtail are scarcer than they used to be; among migrants, Common Whitethroat is now like gold dust, House Martin no longer nests, and Yellow Wagtail has become much more noteworthy.  There are species which are faring better: Pochard numbers in recent winters have been exceptional; Gadwall is an established breeder; Chiffchaff is almost resident and numbers in the breeding season have risen hugely; and Pied Flycatcher is now more regular than it used to be.

It seems to me that my numbers probably reflect the ongoing decline in our native birds, a very sorry state of affairs.  Perhaps other regular patch-watchers in the region have (or not) noticed similar patterns.  It would be interesting to know.

Simon Roddis

 

BIRD FLU ON THE (DISTANT) HORIZON AGAIN

There has been a lot in the news in recent weeks about the resurrection of bird flu in certain areas, though presently it seems to be mainly confined to commercial operations such as poultry farms, with relatively few cases involving wild birds.  Nevertheless, the spring migration and the return of ‘resident’ Black-headed Gulls could raise the risks at Carsington.

Site Manager John Matkin tells us that DEFRA are taking no chances this time around – and are asking for any dead birds to be reported.  There is an online reporting tool that can be used … or people can call DEFRA on 03459 335577 with any such sightings.

John has briefed his team of rangers and the various tenants who have access to the water’s edge and islands.  With the divers and scarce ducks around at the moment, he is confident that the site is currently very well watched.  He urges all bird club members to be aware – and to follow the DEFRA guidance, as above.

 

DERBYSHIRE BIRDING – NEWS SHORTS

A few items of potentially broader appeal, beyond the shores of Carsington Water, have been circulating in recent weeks, so here goes ……

Swift cash from the Lottery coffers: A grant of over £215,000 has been awarded to the Derbyshire Swift Conservation project aimed at conserving the population of this iconic bird in the Derbyshire Dales.  The project will take on three staff and undertake survey work to establish where Swifts are nesting and where to install 800 external Swift nest boxes and 200 internal church boxes … as well as urging local companies and institutions to embody swift bricks into new building developments.  The project will also seek to recruit and train local volunteers and community groups.  So, keep your eyes peeled.

Gauging scarce populations: the RSPB’s Richard Winspear is urging people to help out with a survey during the early part of this year to assess the status of two bird species of considerable conservation concern – Willow Tit and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.  This will mirror the methodology used in tetrads surveyed as part of a national Willow Tit survey in 2019-20, since when their populations are suspected to have nose-dived.  While the main focus is on Willow Tit – and the locations thought most likely to give relevant results are Carsington Water and Carr Vale – any site with potential or proven LSW activity is also something Richard (at richard.winspear@rsbp.org.uk) would be keen to know of and can provide survey methods for.

Notts wins regional New Year Bird Race: this recent event, aimed to get teams out and about birding on New Year’s Day was expanded this year, adding four additional awards to the main county total award that went to Nottinghamshire with 119 in the 24 hours; Derbyshire pipped Leicestershire & Rutland to second place with 114.  The extra prizes were for ‘Team Effort’, won by the Rutland Lockdowners who amassed 87 species; ‘Individual Effort’ that went to Notts’ Nick Crouch with an amazing 94 species; ‘Best Bird’, adjudged to be the Green-winged Teal picked up by Notts’ Alan Clewes at Blotts Pit; and largest ‘Green List’ (for those using purely public transport, bike or shanks’s pony!) which went to Derbyshire’s Margaret Phillips, whose 20-mile cycle route around the south of the county netted 58 species.

 

KNOW YOUR COMMITTEE – Here are the club officials and their contact details……..
Committee Post	Name		Telephone	Email Address
Chairman and Publicity	Gary Atkins		01335 370773	garysatkins@aol.com
Treasurer	John Follett		01332 834778	johnlfollett@virginmedia.com
Membership secretary	Dave Horsley		07900 597230	daveat2602@hotmail.com
Recorder	Rob Chadwick		07876 338912	rob.chadwick322@gmail.com
Events co-ordinator	Chris Lamb		01629 820890	cflamb@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary	Louise Sykes		01335 348544	louise.sykes5065@gmail.com
…..and the website address is:   https://www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk
Webmaster	Richard Pittam	n/a		Contact Richard via the website

 

As I launched into this introduction, I was afraid the four inches of snow that fell overnight might puncture the good start we’ve had to our indoor meetings season – but no, it was a close thing but Severn Trent opened their car parks, and the speaker was keen to come, so our latest talk, on the Kruger National Park, was able to go ahead.  Fourteen attended, which was gratifying, and sizeable audiences had turned up for the first two topics – Extremadura, then the successful reintroduction to the UK of the iconic Osprey. It was a particularly good job we’d bought some extra cups to cope with refreshments at October’s joint meeting with DOS when nearly 30 turned up for the Osprey talk.

Since the last newsletter we have also undertaken two trips – a long-range one to Frampton Marsh and one closer to home at Willington Wetlands (see report on pages 2/3).

We have been conducting quarterly meetings with some of Severn Trent’s ranger team to identify where we, as a club, can help out with habitat development at the reservoir – most particularly by investing some of the additional funds we’ve accumulated over the past couple of years thanks largely to the fund-raising efforts of Louise and John Sykes at various events across the county.

These meetings with Severn Trent have been productive in mutually apprising us of our respective goals and where these might coincide.  One thing we had been targeting was some improvements and additions to feeding stations in and around the hides; however, these plans have been put on ice by concerns for the welfare of the Red-listed Willow Tit, which a scientific study indicates is suffering wherever thriving species such as Great and Blue Tits compete fiercely for food and breeding sites.  Bird-feeding therefore may become more selective on site and large feeding stations may for the time being not be encouraged by our hosts.  We will continue these quarterly sessions to discuss habitats and how CBC can practically help.

With the next newsletter not out until February, I should tell you that membership renewals will be due in January, and for the first time in over TWO DECADES we are raising the subscription rates – from £7.50 to £8 for single and £10 to £12 for family memberships.  Still pretty good value, I hope you agree, bearing in mind, the events programme, the newsletters, the website and the annual report that we make available to members each year.

 

JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING INDOOR MEETINGS

Our 2024-25 season of indoor meetings is well underway, and below is the list of remaining scheduled talks, all of which are on the third Tuesday of the month, in the Henmore Room, beginning at 7.30pm except for the March meeting when a 7pm start will allow for our AGM:

17 December:  David Parkin will talk to us about ‘Birds and Islands’

21 January:  ‘‘Wild Britain – landscapes and wildlife’’ – with Derby Photographer Paul Bingham

18 February:  Max Maughan shows us highlights from that global wildlife gem, ‘Costa Rica’

18 March:  ‘North West Year’ sees Chris Galvin describe birdlife to be found in major estuaries

 

WHAT A CAST LIST – EAGLE, DIVERS AND GANNETS AT CARSI

Over the past three months some big surprises turned up at the reservoir – none bigger than a juvenile White-tailed Eagle, a sighting people may have doubted but for a splendid photograph provided with the record.  White-tailed Eagles have been reintroduced in discrete parts of Britain over the past couple of decades but being discreet is no part of a young bird’s make-up and, cruising well away from their home patch, they occasionally pop up in unusual places – like Carsington Water.

We also had a very early Great Northern Diver, on 21 October, but it was another wanderer and did not stay long, and the previous month another rarity – a Black-throated Diver – turned up, the first of this species on site since 2011.  Gannets are another species that don’t usually stray too far from their source of food, the sea, so visits to Carsington are scarce; the previous showing of this elegant species was 2021 but we had one turn up on 24 September, then three more a week later.

In recent days a female Ring-necked Duck was identified.  This was only the second record for the site, the first having been 19 years ago.  A Red-crested Pochard has taken a liking to the reservoir, recorded 30 times during late summer/autumn, and the visiting winter ducks have been building their numbers nicely including up to three Pintails and four Goosanders and the first Goldeneye in October.  Coot is always a good indicator and their numbers exceeded 1,100 during the November WeBS count, while Greylag numbers have bloomed recently reaching 743 by late October.

Grebes have been doing well, with a maximum of 73 Great-crested counted, while four Black-necked Grebes were a nice surprise on 12 October, and the following day saw 23 Whooper Swans touch down.  Great White Egrets have been seen each month, albeit sparingly, and a still-scarce Cattle Egret was around on 29/30 August. 

A dozen wader species were logged in August and September, including Golden Plover, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Green and Common Sandpiper, yet only two were noted during October.  It was a fairly light Osprey passage, with several individuals in August and just one in September; a single Marsh Harrier in late August and a Merlin a month later added variety to the raptor haul, which included 11 Red Kites on 26 October … but the star bird of prey has to be that White-tailed Eagle.

The gull roost has also been large – ‘uncountable’ at times, according to our top gull spotter, Richard Lowe.  In among the 5,000-plus roosts of mainly Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Common Gulls, Richard and our other sharp-eyed recorders have picked out Mediterranean Gulls on three dates, Caspian Gulls on ten dates and regularly a small number of Yellow-legged.  The tern passage included two Black Terns in September.

Autumn’s the time when many of our smaller birds return to warmer climes for the winter.  One species that stayed much longer than usual was Pied Flycatcher, last noted on 2 September, nearly a month later than its previous latest timing.  Other latest dates for some of those summer visitors included Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Sedge Warbler and Sand Martin in September, Blackcap, House Martin and Swallow in October.  Meanwhile, winter arrivals were more numerous as Redwing arrived in early October, a flock of 1,914 logged on the 17^th, smaller numbers of noisy Fieldfares and also Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and a flock of 11 Brambling in early November.

Large movements of our more common species also mark this time of year: the maximum daily count of Woodpigeons, moving south, was 11,500 on 13 October, while 3,150 Starlings were counted two weeks later.

Carsington did not miss out on a couple of westerly influxes from Europe, recording Yellow-browed Warbler in October, the first example of this delicately marked warbler since 2021, and a few more Hawfinches than usual flying over in recent weeks.  Meanwhile, a site record 46 Reed Buntings flew out of Hopton Reedbed on 25 October, and Rock Pipits were noted on four dates that month.

 

GOOD NUMBERS OF MEMBERS ENJOY TRIPS, NEAR AND FAR

Double-figure groups of members have attended the two club trips arranged over the past two months – most recently, on 17 November, to Willington Wetlands, and at the end of September to an old favourite, Frampton Marsh.

Following a membership survey indicating a liking for some trips to be closer to home, we decided on the DWT reserve at Willington for our autumn outing – and it attracted a very healthy turnout of 14 CBC members who were rewarded with a morning of fine weather – just before the rain began – and variety of birds to enjoy.

Not surprisingly, wildfowl and other water birds were the most plentiful, with Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Canada Geese seen in good numbers, along with Cormorants and Great Crested Grebes. A pair of Shoveler were spotted later to add to the list.

Spotting and identifying three different species of egrets present at the reserve became a theme for much of the morning.  First was a Little Egret, spied from a heightened viewing platform; that was followed by a pair of Great White Egrets. Later on four Cattle Egrets were picked out on the far side of the lakes, three of which were showing their typical behaviour moving busily between the feet of the resident cows. Not to be outdone by their white cousins, several Grey Herons were also seen.

Smaller birds were proving much harder to find though. At least three Cetti’s Warblers were heard as we walked along the path, along with Bullfinches and a small flock of Redwings which flew over.  A single Buzzard and a Kestrel swooping down to catch its prey were the only birds of prey to be seen.

Unfortunately we were unable to spend any time in the hide as it was already full to capacity when we got there, but we completed a full circuit around the reserve – taking in a number of other gravel pits and wetland areas – via the newly opened circular walk, adding the odd species to our group total of 34 species, which were as follows: Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Buzzard, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Blackbird, Redwing, Bullfinch, Robin, House Sparrow and Linnet.

Another fine turnout of 12 CBC members made the journey to the Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve on the Lincolnshire coast on Sunday 6 October.  This is a favourite destination, which we have visited a few times before and always offers a good selection of wetland birds and an occasional rarity.

Meeting up in the Visitor Centre with its panoramic views over the reserve, we spent some time checking through the ducks and waders on show.  The unmistakeable sight of a pair of Spoonbills on one of the islands was an early highlight of the day. Always an exciting bird to see, Spoonbills are being seen more commonly and have now successfully bred in a number of UK locations.

With the arrival of autumn the numbers of ducks and geese were starting to build up. Wigeon and Teal were by far the most numerous, with smaller counts of Shoveler and Shelduck. Later on a small group of Pintail added to the variety and Brent Geese were feeding on the tidal marshes. A lone Whooper Swan, believed to be an injured bird which has remained at the reserve throughout the year, was also spotted.

Apart from the many Lapwings and a flock of Golden Plover seen early on in the day, relatively small numbers of other waders were present. A handful of Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits were logged, along with a single Bar-tailed Godwit.  Some keen eyes in the group picked out a pair of Snipe in the edge of the reeds, with one then obligingly moving out into the open.  About 20 Avocets were also dotted around the various pools.

Moving on to birds of prey, a Marsh Harrier was often observed during the day quartering the reedbeds, along with at least one Kestrel hovering over the fields. A distant Peregrine sitting on a fence post in the fields behind the Visitor Centre was seen by a few of us, and a Red Kite was also spotted flying above the road leading into the reserve.

Smaller birds were in fairly short supply though, with the exception of flocks of Goldfinches and a few Linnets.  A single Stonechat and a Wheatear were good finds to add to our list and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard near the car park.

With the weather turning out to be much dryer and brighter than forecast, it was a very enjoyable day. Bird-wise it did seem to be quieter than on our previous visits, though the following total of 47 were recorded collectively, both on the reserve itself and from the approach road:  Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Pheasant, Avocet, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Redshank, Ruff, Dunlin,Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Red Kite,Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Peregrine, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Cetti’s Warbler, Stonechat, Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch, Linnet

Chris Lamb

 

REPORTS OF FUTURE RESERVOIR EXPANSION FAR FROM CERTAIN

A rather startling article appeared in the Ashbourne News Telegraph several weeks ago indicating that the capacity of Carsington Water may be increased, raising the level by several metres, which would see a major change in the topography of the area and a need to build a new visitor centre and associated facilities.

This followed a briefing by Severn Trent on its Draft Water Resources Management Plan (every water company has to have one) that sets out long-term future requirements for ensuring its customers’ water supplies.  The plan lists many options, many much more straightforward – measures to reduce water loss by leakage, advising customers on minimising water usage, increasing the connectivity of water sources and expanding water treatment facilities to allow greater reusing of water supplies.

Only then would much more expensive capital schemes – such as new reservoirs or increasing the capacity of existing ones – be considered.  Should Carsington figure in this latter option, nothing would happen before about 2045, and numerous surveys and assessments would have to be done … so, in essence, there will be no imminent changes in the habitat for wildlife at the reservoir; indeed, no material changes in many of our lifetimes!

 

CBC – PLUS ÇA CHANGE!

Some documents have recently come to light that illustrate the earliest days of the bird club and its formation following the opening of the reservoir in 1992, thus creating a major new site in the county for wildlife in general and birds in particular.

The general principles of the organisation have hardly changed since the first general meeting of Carsington Bird Club was held on 21 October 1992.  Key proposals were (and remain!) to: monitor birdlife around the reservoir; maximise potential for birdlife on site; provide associated information and activities for club members, and to promote a wider interest in birds and birdwatching.

Sound familiar?  It’s pretty much what we do today.  And even some of the names at that first meeting and, subsequently, on the nascent CBC committee are familiar.  Jonathan Bradley still visits the reservoir and helps Simon Roddis out with the monthly WeBS counts.  Eddie Walker, though living in Spain for much of the year, makes sure Carsington is on his list of sites to visit when he returns to the UK for long spells to escape the continental heat.

Another name there is Paul Stanley, now sadly deceased, after whom one of the hides is named.  Derek Beech, No 1 on our existing membership list, was seconding a motion at the first committee meeting, and indoor meetings began surprisingly early in the club’s life, too; the first talk being ‘Birds of California’, by Andrew Sherwin on 24 November 1992.

And the first ever monthly ‘Birds Notes’ sheet was produced in January 1993 (seen here, right – the species makes interesting reading) – a discipline still undertaken by today’s Recorder, Rob Chadwick.

Membership numbers have ebbed and flowed over the last three decades, but for the club as a whole, it’s a case of ‘plus ça change’.

 

KNOW YOUR COMMITTEE – Here are the club officials and their contact details……..
Committee Post	Name		Telephone	Email Address
Chairman and Publicity	Gary Atkins		01335 370773	garysatkins@aol.com
Treasurer / Membership	John Follett		01332 834778	johnlfollett@virginmedia.com
Recorder	Rob Chadwick		07876 338912	rob.chadwick322@gmail.com
Events co-ordinator	Chris Lamb		01629 820890	cflamb@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary	Louise Sykes		01335 348544	louise.sykes5065@gmail.com
…..and the website address is:   https://www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk
Webmaster	Richard Pittam	n/a		Contact Richard via the website