Carsington Bird Club – Page 3 – Carsington Bird Club

Roger Remembered as New Hide Formally Opens..

As part of a formal opening of the new Sheepwash hide at Severn Trent’s Carsington Water, Roger Carrington was honoured for his huge contribution to birding on site and to consistent recording of birdlife at the large reservoir. Roger, who passed away in 2022, was Carsington Bird Club’s Recorder for more than a decade.

A very old picture of Roger with what now, would be called an ‘ancient’ scope…

He spent many happy hours at the previous hide, binoculars and ‘scope at the ready, and on 23 July a ribbon-cutting for its replacement was undertaken by Roger’s widow, Lilian, accompanied by daughter Helen. They were able not only to read the plaque on the door of the hide, describing Roger’s key role, but also enjoy the nearby bench that has been dedicated to Roger’s memory.

When it became clear the old hide had had its day, plans were put in place to design and build a new hide. Though Roger never saw these plans come to fruition, he would have been very happy with the successor – reckoned by birders to be located in the optimum position for scanning much of the reservoir.

Roger served as a core member of the Carsington Bird Club committee, advising on all aspects of birding including breeding surveys, bird boxes and where to locate them, habitat improvements – often working hand-in-glove with the Severn Trent – and editing and producing many of the detailed annual reports that serve as a permanent bird-related history across three decades at what is one of Derbyshire’s top wildlife and public engagement sites.

Many people learned a great deal from Roger, whose calm personality and quiet demeanour encouraged them to ask questions (even obvious ones!) and take on board a little of his large fund of knowledge.

Carsington Bird Club

Bird Notes May 2023

May 2023 BIRD NOTES

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Northern Diver, Osprey, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wood Sandpiper, Turnstone, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher and Pied Flycatcher.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 21^st unless dated otherwise. 1 Great Northern Diver reported every day until it was last seen on 12^th, 1 Little Grebe 21^st, 29^th and 30^th, 47 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Cormorant 3^rd, 2 Little Egret 16^th, 2 Grey Heron reported on 8 dates this month, 6 Mute Swan 1^st, 25^th, 29^th and 30^th, 38 Greylag Goose, 182 Canada Goose, 4 Barnacle Goose 26^th, 3 Shelduck 8^th, 1 Mandarin 10^th and 11^th, 1 Wigeon 1^st and 12^th, 17 Gadwall, 2 Teal 30^th, 51 Mallard, 2 Shoveler 24^th, 52 Tufted Duck 23^rd, 2 Goldeneye 1^st, 1 Goosander 26^th, 4 Moorhen 7^th, 23 Coot, 1 Kingfisher 20^th.

Raptor sightings included 2 Red Kite reported on 6 dates this month, 1 Sparrowhawk on 11 dates, 14 Buzzards 3^rd,1 Osprey 5^th and 13^th with a possible 2 on 12^th, 2 Kestrel reported on 7 dates, 1 Hobby 4^th, 13^th and 19^th, 1 Peregrine 3^rd, 12^th, 17^th and 31^st.

Sixteen species of waders through this month with 13 Oystercatcher 4^th, 1 Avocet 9^th and 28^th, 2 Ringed Plover 23^rd, 1 Grey Plover 4^th, 3 Lapwing 19^th, 25^th and 26^th, 1 Sanderling 12^th and 27^th, 2 Dunlin 4^th, 5^th and 8^th, 1 Snipe 1^st and 8^th, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit 11 dates this month, 5 Whimbrel 5^th, 2 Curlew 14^th, 4 Redshank 5^th, 6^th, 10^th and 30^th, 1 Greenshank 15^th, 2 Wood Sandpiper 5^th, 2 Common Sandpiper 5^th, 1 Turnstone 26^th and 28^th.

Maximum Gull numbers were 1 Little Gull 19^th, 250 Black-headed Gull 20^th and 21^st, 3 Common Gull 19^th, 74 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 30^th, 2 Great black-backed Gull 19^th.

18 Common Tern 31^st, 6 Arctic Tern 10^th, 3 Black Tern 31^st.

Along with the other species were 1 Cuckoo 4^th and 13^th, 1 Tawny Owl 20^th and 23^rd, 50 Swift 13^th, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker reported on 6 dates this month, 100 Sand Martin 2^nd and 13^th, 100 Swallow 13^th, 50 House Martin 13^th and 31^st, 1 Yellow Wagtail 6^th and 7^th, 2 Grey Wagtails 10^th, 11^th, 20^th, 23^rd and 26^th, 123 Wren 20^th (from a perimeter count), 104 Robin 20^th, 6 Redstart 20^th, 1 Cetti’s Warbler 29^th, 14 Sedge Warbler 20^th, 5 Reed Warbler 9^th, 2 Lesser Whitethroat 20^th, 1 Whitethroat 2^nd, 10^th, 17^th and 20^th, 22 Garden Warbler 20^th, 60 Blackcap 20^th, 72 Chiffchaff 20^th, 26 Willow Warbler 20^th, 2 Spotted Flycatcher 20^th, 2 Pied Flycatcher 7^th, 9^th and 13^th, 1 Marsh Tit 14^th, 5 Willow Tit 26^th, 150 Jackdaw 6^th, 7 Raven 6^th, 11^th and 23^rd, 2 Tree Sparrow 7^th and 11^th, 3 Greenfinch 20^th, 27 Lesser Redpoll 4^th, 15 Bullfinch 20^th, 4 Reed Bunting 20^th,

The total 115 species noted compares to 113 in 2022, 111 in 2021, 87 in 2020, 108 in 2019, 104 in 2018.

Carsington Bird Club

March Bird Sightings

March 2023 BIRD NOTES

HIGHLIGHTS: Black-necked Grebe, record Skylark numbers, Sand Martin, Swallow, Stonechat, Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 12^th unless dated otherwise. 1 Great Northern Diver reported most days till the end of the month, 4 Little Grebe 3^rd and 8^th, 40 Great Crested Grebe 8^th, 8 Black-necked Grebe 8^th 6 in summer plumage and 2 in winter plumage a record number for Derbyshire, 15 Cormorant 4^th, 2 Little Egret 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd, 5 Grey Heron 7^th, 20^th and 22^nd, 3 Mute Swan 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd, 20 Greylag Goose 7^th, 200 Canada Goose 7^th, 20 Barnacle Goose 8^th, 3 Shelduck 6^th, 3 Mandarin 12^th and 13^th, 100 Wigeon 12^th, 56 Gadwall, 210 Teal, 145 Mallard, 6 Pintail 13^th and 22^nd, 2 Shoveler 7^th, 26 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Scoter 16^th (immature male), 12 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander 12^th and 20^th, 6 Moorhen, 126 Coot, 1 Kingfisher 12^th and 13^th.

Raptor sightings included 4 Red Kite 21^st and 22^nd, 3 Sparrowhawk 12^th, 18 Buzzards 17^th, 2 Kestrel 4^th and 16^th, 2 Peregrine 5^th and 13^th.

Ten species of waders through this month with 12 Oystercatcher 11^th and 12^th, 1 Little Ringed Plover 21^st, 28^th and 31^st, 1 Golden Plover 17^th, 78 Lapwing 6^th, 4 Dunlin 21^st, 1 Jack Snipe 15^th, 11 Snipe 12^th, 2 Woodcock 5^th, 43 Curlew 8^th, 6 Redshank 29^th.

Maximum Gull numbers were 2 Mediterranean Gull 22^nd, Black-headed Gull present all month but not in significant numbers, Common Gull also present this month, 130 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 5^th, 17 Herring Gull 4^th, 1 Caspian Gull 4^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th, 2 Great black-backed Gull 8^th, 11^th, 22^nd, 29^th and 30^th, 1 Kittiwake 13^th seen off Stones Island for around 15 minutes before departing.

Along with the other species were 966 Wood Pigeon 17^th, 1 Barn Owl 12^th, 16^th and 21^st seen in the Sheepwash/Tail Bay area early in the morning, 2 Tawny Owl 18^th, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th, 130 Skylark 12^th, 40 Sand Martin 30^th, 40 Swallow 30^th, 65 Meadow Pipit 17^th, 4 Grey Wagtails 17^th, 1 Stonechat 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, 15^th and 18^th, 3 Wheatear 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd, 44 Fieldfare 16^th, 100 Redwing 3^rd and 6^th, 13 Chiffchaff 20^th, 1 Willow Warbler 31^st, 1 Marsh Tit reported on 7 dates this month, 6 Willow Tit 2^nd, 8^th and 16^th, 6 Raven 19^th and 21^st, 200 Starling 3^rd, 5 Tree Sparrow 8^th, 4 Greenfinch 3^rd and 17^th, 10 Siskin 8^th, 50 Linnet 7^th,11 Lesser Redpoll 23^rd, 10 Bullfinch 15^th, 8 Reed Bunting 2^nd.

The total 102 species noted compares to 106 in 2022, 102 in 2021, 95 in 2020, 100 in 2019, 102 in 2018.

Carsington Bird Club

Bird Notes – February 2023

February 2023 BIRD NOTES

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Northern Diver, Whooper Swan, Water Rail, Jack Snipe and Marsh Tit.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 12^th unless dated otherwise. 1 Great Northern Diver reported most days till the end of the month, 8 Little Grebe, 24 Great Crested Grebe 27^th, 19 Cormorant 2^nd, 1 Little Egret 5^th, 9^th and 24^th, 4 Grey Heron 9^th, 2 Mute Swan 3^rd, 15^th and 27^th, 14 Whooper Swan 27^th only on site for the single date first group of 4 adults and 6 juveniles left at 08:08 and the remaining 4 left at 08:25, 151 Pink-footed Goose 27^th, 35 Greylag Goose 1^st, 260 Canada Goose 27^th, 35 Barnacle Goose 24^th, 4 Shelduck 6^th, 1 Mandarin 20^th, 161 Wigeon 27^th, 84 Gadwall 12^th, 733 Teal 6^th, 277 Mallard 6^th, 1 Pintail 6^th, 10^th and 12^th, 2 Shoveler 7^th and 20^th, 1 Pochard reported on 7 dates this month, 25 Tufted Duck 16^th, 1 Common Scoter (drake) 12^th, 10 Goldeneye 12^th and 27^th, 4 Goosander 5^th, 1 Water Rail 22^nd and 26^th, 10 Moorhen 22^nd, 135 Coot 27^th.

Raptor sightings included 4 Red Kite 1^st, 4 Sparrowhawk 3^rd, 10 Buzzards 26^th, 2 Kestrel 20^th, 1 Peregrine reported on 11 dates.

Eight species of waders through this month with 12 Oystercatcher 14^th, 16^th and 27^th, 150 Lapwing 1^st and 9^th, 1 Dunlin 10^th and 22^nd, 1 Jack Snipe 6^th, 14^th, 20^th, 22^nd, 23^rd and 26^th, 10 Snipe 16^th, 3 Woodcock 2^nd, 15 Curlew 26^th, 4 Redshank 12^th.

Maximum Gull numbers were Black-headed Gull present all month but not in significant numbers, Common Gull also present this month, 500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 5^th, 20 Herring Gull 10^th, 2 Yellow-legged Gull 9^th, 1 Caspian Gull 6^th, 3 Great black-backed Gull 2^nd.

Perimeter counts were conducted on 7^th and 28^th along with the other species were 1 Tawny Owl heard calling 3^rd and 12^th, 2 Red-legged Partridge 1^st and 5^th, 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker 7^th with 4 drumming, 8 Skylark 15^th, 40 Meadow Pipit 7^th, 4 Grey Wagtails 7^th, 9^th and 21^st, 54 Wren 28^th, 156 Robin 28^th, 93 Blackbird also 28^th, 70 Redwing 28^th, 33 Long-tailed Tit 28^th, 1 Marsh Tit reported on 9 dates this month, 8 Willow Tit 7^th, 15 Coal Tit 7^th, 175 Blue Tit 28^th, 86 Great Tit 7^th, 14 Treecreeper 28^th, 40 Magpie 28^th, 1000 Jackdaw 10^th, 18 Raven 22^nd, 8 Tree Sparrow 16^th, 38 Chaffinch 7^th, 8 Greenfinch 28^th, 75 Siskin 6^th, 80 Linnet 2^nd and 3^rd, 6 Lesser Redpoll 2^nd and 21^st, 24 Bullfinch 7^th, 9 Reed Bunting 22^nd.

The total 93 species noted compares to 92 in 2022, 90 in 2021, 93 in 2020, 92 in 2019, 87 in 2018.

This is the joint second highest total for February only beaten by 96 way back in 2004.