CBC Newsletters – Page 16 – Carsington Bird Club

May 2010 Newsletter

No.2 – May/June 2010

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

One of our normal highlights in May, the Dawn Chorus walk, was a wet and windy affair this year. Despite the weather, the birds sang well for those that did turn up – though the only two members who did were outnumbered by the three pre-arranged walk leaders, Roger Carrington, John Bradley and myself.

One of the hardy souls who braved the unseasonable weather was John Matkin, on whose property four Buzzards were found dead after eating poisoned bait (see item later in this newsletter). His sadness and anger were obvious and the tale he told was particularly poignant to anyone who loves birds. Let’s hope that events such as he witnessed do not happen again.

During the dawn walk we did see the remaining Great Northern Diver, albeit it at some distance. How wonderfully elegant a bird can be with just white, black and grey feathers. Equally stunning with such plumage colours is one of our latest summer migrants, the Pied Flycatcher, which we can all hope will stay and breed this year at Carsington.

That is the excitement of this time of year. It is also a time to examine what effect the hard winter had on the numbers of birds left to breed. We have heard from some national surveys like the Great Garden Birdwatch that there could be some decline with certain species. That is why we continue to do breeding surveys for Hall and Middle Woods and that the trends we will see from the Bird Atlas will be so valuable. Already, however, it looks like a bumper year for Oystercatcher with young already seen.

We must thank Severn Trent Water for opening up the final part to a track that now goes all the way round the reservoir without having to cross the road. The safety factor was paramount, of course, but now it’s also easier to observe wildlife along that stretch of the water; with Big Island and its diverse breeding population (including Oystercatcher) so close, binoculars may become superfluous.

STW has asked us to monitor the effects on bird life close to this path and we have volunteered to do so, though at this point, and over the winter when it was being built, there seems to have been little or no impact.

I am sure all these trends will be part and parcel of the 2010 annual report, which brings me to our latest report, which you should all now have received. I’d like to thank everybody who took part in creating and distributing (several months earlier than last year) the 2009 issue, which I hope you agree was as comprehensive and informative as ever.

Peter Gibbon

RAPTOR HEAVEN … RAPTOR HELL!

Those enchanted by birds of prey encountered highs and lows during the period March-May. While there were plenty of raptors around, there was also the discovery of six dead Buzzards, believed poisoned, within a short distance of Carsington Water (see following report).

On a more positive note, however, the stately Osprey was seen twice at the reservoir – and on each occasion, in March and May, was viewed either catching or eating fish. The first incoming Hobby was seen 2 May, the same day that a Red Kite was spotted, Peregrines were seen each month, and up to four Sparrowhawks were seen on the same day. Buzzards, too, had their high points with up to 14 seen aloft on the same day; though there is no evidence yet of breeding Buzzards.

A Raven nest seems to have yielded three young, however, and on the water’s edge waders have been busy, with five Mallard broods, three broods of Lapwing noted, and a pair of Redshank with two young. Twelve Oystercatchers have paired up, but only one brood of three has so far been recorded. More disappointingly – though we all hope it’s because of the late arrival of spring – there were no grebe, Coot, Moorhen or Barnacle Goose broods by the end of May.

Spring and early summer visitors kicked off with four Sand Martins noted on 18 March, but by the following day Chiffchaff, Wheatear and Rock Pipit had been noted. Before the end of March, up to 500 Swallows had arrived, and in the first week of April Yellow and White Wagtails dropped in.

It was later in the month before some of the others made their debuts, with Swifts on the 19 th , and the 24 th being a particularly busy day as Redstart, Tree Pipit, Sedge and Reed Warblers Warblers were recorded (the latter the earliest on record at Carsington). A Pied Flycatcher was heard singing on 29 April, but it was almost three weeks before its ‘Spotted’ cousin turned up. One sure signal of spring, the call of the Cuckoo, was heard on 19 May.

The long-staying adult Great Northern Diver, having developed its full summer plumage, finally ended its winter holiday on 8 May. A juvenile was also at the reservoir until 5 March, while a Red-throated Diver called in briefly on the 22 nd of that month.

Up to 350 Tufted Duck have been on the water, and among the more unusual ducks, Common Scoter and Scaup have figured, and a very early Garganey was noted on 2 March, five days before a few lucky observers recorded 24 Whooper Swans that dropped onto the middle of the reservoir.

Passage waders included up to 15 Whimbrel, Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, Dunlin, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers and Turnstone. Terns were also on the move with Sandwich and Common moving through in April, and Arctic and Black recorded in May. Up to four Common Terns have been seen, and one pair seems to have settled on Flat Island – since, as usual, the Black-headed Gulls have commandeered the raft in front of the wildlife centre, with potential parents jostling on no fewer than eight nests.

Other gull highlights include Mediterranean recorded twice during March, and as many as six Little Gulls in a day in April. A maximum of 242 Common Gulls were counted among the ever-thinning gull roost.

BIRD OF THE MONTH: SWIFT

It’s not a particularly big or colourful bird, but it still manages to inspire awe and many birders count it as their favourite bird: the Swift is something of a miracle. In the UK we see chiefly the Common Swift, but around the world there is a sizeable family that includes larger species such as the Alpine Swift, often seen elsewhere in Europe, or, farther afield, needletails and a number of smaller swiftlets and tree swifts.

They appear similar to swallows and martins as they, too, feed off the plentiful summer stock of airborne insects, but in fact the swifts’ most closely related genus is the hummingbird.

The reason it is so admired is that it is such a master of the air – some would say THE master. Once born it is continually in flight, even sleeping and mating on the wing, and will only leave the air briefly to raise their young. They fly 200,000km per year – around five times around the world. They never perch on wires like swallows or Martins.

The UK gets around 85,000 breeding pairs of Common Swifts: they arrive from their African wintering grounds around late April/early May and stay until August, taking advantage of the mass of airborne insects on which they exclusively feed. They often fly very high in search of prey, particularly on fine days, but they are more noticeable when heard screaming their high-pitched calls as they career madly around rooftops and houses – yet the flight itself is silent, even if they seem to fly quite close to you. Actually sooty brown, they look like black scimitars sweeping through the air.

If you ever find a swift on the ground, it will die unless it gets help as its short stiff wings and short legs will not enable it to take off unaided. If it seems otherwise fit and well it can be released from an upstairs window, after first moving your hand up and down to get the feel of air under its wings. If all’s well, instinct will take over and it will take to the air … and quite simply remain there until it returns to breed the following year.

LET’S HELP ERADICATE WANTON POISONING OF WILDLIFE!

One of the club’s newer members, John Matkin, was shocked to discover the farm at which he lives, near Kirk Ireton, was used to lay poisoned bait that caused the death of four Buzzards. Derbyshire Police were brought in to investigate after a total of six Buzzards – these four plus two others on a farm at nearby Idridgehay – were found near the carcasses of a Pheasant and a Hare, which were poisoned bait. The Police are working their enquiries with the help of the RSPB and Natural England.

John says: “I live on the farm upon which the dead birds were found, so I felt it was important to make all lovers of wildlife, particularly Carsington Bird Club members, aware of the incident which took place at Callow Moor Farm – directly above Fishtail Creek – in a field very close to the reservoir boundary.”

John says he has seen Buzzards over the farm since the incident and, with 44,000 breeding pairs, the Buzzard is one of the great recent wildlife success stories. Buzzards are, nevertheless, a protected species. Poisoning needs to be stamped out and anyone caught harming or killing them could face a £5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.

John adds: “If any CBC members do spot any dead birds of prey or corvids or pheasants in the area I would urge them firstly not to handle them and secondly to contact either Derbyshire Police or the RSPB.”

CREATING THE RIGHT SORT OF BANK FOR ‘RATTY’

Most bird lovers have an inherent general interest in the natural world, and creatures like Water Voles are part of this broader panorama. These charming rodents have become something of a success story at Carsington Water, and now, to further boost their numbers, three new ponds have been created at the north end of the reservoir, with funding assistance from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

Conservation practice shows that there are some key principles behind a good habitat for Water Voles. Carsington Water ticks some of those boxes, and where it doesn’t we can create the other required features.

Water voles need sites where there is water all year round, where there are stepped, well vegetated banks to provide refuge areas when water levels rise, and where the water is of a sufficient depth immediately in front of the bank to allow them to escape quickly and enter burrows unseen.

Bank faces need to be stable comprising soils that are friable and loam-rich, as Water Voles won’t use sites where the substrate is too stony or difficult to dig into.

It is hoped the new ponds will also benefit water shrews, and that the margins will attract birds such as Water Rail. There are now three stages of pond succession: the reed bed ponds are now seven years old; the pond on the other side of the track is four years old; and now we have the three new ponds. Each pond area is at a different stage of development, meaning each is suitable for a range of different species, which boosts our potential gains in Biodiversity.

A new stone island has also been created at the north end. Its primary aim is to take out the wave action on the reed bed, allowing it to extend further out in to the reservoir. It is also hoped over time that the island will be used for breeding waders such as Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher and, if we are lucky, Little Ringed Plovers.

Ben Young , Carsington Water Site Manager, STW

THE MAGIC OF LESVOS IN THE SPRING

The brochure read: ‘For Spring birdwatching in beautiful surroundings, Lesvos is hard to beat …’ and it was right! Despite volcanic ash and Greek strike scares we made it there and back on schedule – on Thomson flights that seemed 75 per cent full of birdwatchers and the rest walkers. I saw over 150 species with 12 new ones for me – or 14 if you believe in splitting species up into western and eastern races.

Lesvos is the third biggest Greek island, just five miles off the Turkish coast. We stayed in a hotel frequented by birders: it has a log at reception to fill in what has been seen where, which is fed daily into a website by Steve Dudley, author of the most comprehensive guide to the island.

Having never been to the Scilly Isles in autumn or whisked off to a ‘mega-twitch’, the experience of seeing so many birdwatchers all together in one place was new to me. We were almost tripping over each other!

Near the hotel, we found great areas of wet marsh and salt pans (before they dry up) where we were sometimes almost within touching distance of Glossy Ibis and Whiskered Tern. Here, too I saw my first new bird with stunning Ruddy Shelduck standing side by side with its ‘common’ cousin. Flocks of White-winged Black Terns and some Gull-billed Terns were seen, along with all herons. Squacco was most common and Great White Egret outnumbered Little; meanwhile, there were large numbers of Flamingo and good numbers of Black Storks yet only one White Stork. Among the many waders, there were big numbers of Avocet, while a few Pratincoles were watched by Red-footed Falcons on telegraph wires. In a small lake nearby both Baillon’s and Little Crake obliged onlookers by posing together in the open on a partly submerged tree trunk. Identification heaven for our two leaders, Bernie and Neil!

We watched Kruper’s Nuthatch feeding young in a tree trunk and at one stage male and female posed together for the many photographers, though a male Masked Shrike tried to steal the limelight by sitting on top of a nearby tree. Buntings were everywhere: Most common was the stunning Black-headed, joined by the nostalgic Corn, smart-looking Cretzschmar’s and Cirl and the totally unspectacular but rare and localised Cinereous. The latter was found around the beautiful Ypsilou monastery where we saw three wheatears – the Northern upstaged by the spectacular display of Isabelline and then the stunning Black-eared Wheatear that could possibly be the most ubiquitous bird on the island.

But then I’m forgetting the skulking Olivaceous Warbler that also seems to be everywhere though it’s more often heard than seen, as are the many Nightingales. Apparently one of the hardest birds to see is the Olive Tree Warbler, and after waiting some time at one site (and berating two selfish birders who’d crossed a fence to see them), we got good views of one and felt very pleased to see such a drab bird. It would be a ‘little brown job’ if it wasn’t such a big warbler! More often seen, and more startling, were Orphean and Subalpine Warblers, yet even these were eclipsed by Ruppell’s Warbler, which is just about as dashing as a warbler can get, particularly in such a beautiful setting overlooking the stunning Aegean sea.

In the hills allowed we watched Rock Sparrow, Blue Rock Thrush and Crag Martin and, passing on to the coast, added Rock Nuthatch and Lesser Kestrel. Nearby, among olive groves and fig trees we were thrilled to see flycatchers, black and blue headed wagtails, Golden Oriole, Cuckoo and Icterine Warbler. A dung heap was the stage chosen by a Spur-winged Plover, which we watched excitedly until one of the leaders said turn round and, in a bush, was one of my main targets – a very smart Lesser Grey Shrike.

With Long-legged Buzzards, Short-toed Eagles and Eleonora’s Falcon fairly common, it’s easy to see how wonderful Lesvos is – yet special memories tend to come from those unexpected moments like the time we stopped to view an ancient and fragile bridge and I found a nesting Sombre Tit while somebody else in our party found a nesting Middle Spotted Woodpecker. In the same groves were Turtle Dove and Hoopoe. Even our experienced leaders showed their excitement at viewing a Purple Heron twisting its neck to keep its beady eyes on a Marsh Harrier flying above it. And while viewing a reasonably common Little Bittern a snipe was spotted. Big deal? Well, yes – this was a Great Snipe … All part of the ‘Magic of Lesvos’!

Peter Gibbon

PLENTY OF BIRDS – BUT FEW PEOPLE AT DAWN CHORUS

After the final talk of the winter season – Neil Glenn’s ‘Valley Parade: Wildlife of the Lower Rio Grande ‘ – and a disappointing ‘wagtail walk’ on 20 April, which produced only Pied and no Yellow or Blue-headed Wagtails this year, we arrived at one of the club’s better-attended events of the year, the Dawn Chorus Walk.

Well, usually well-attended! This year the weather was atrocious, and most people must have taken one look out of their bedroom windows at 4am and, after a quick look at the rain and windswept landscape, decided to give it a miss. In the event, two members turned up and were led around the usual route from the Wildlife Centre by no fewer than three expert birders – club recorder Roger Carrington, John Bradley, and chairman Peter Gibbon. Most of the usual birds were either seen or heard, so the conditions did not keep them away!

Next on the agenda – and another new departure – was a short trip to the Coombes Valley reserve, near Leek, which is run by the RSPB. This is a specialist woodland site, nestling low between the lush folds of Staffordshire countryside. The dozen members who came along on a beautiful evening in mid May were rewarded with good views of Pied Flycatcher – including a pair on their final feeding foray of the day, when the male offered a juicy fly as a gift before leaving his mate to adjourn to other duties in the nest box.

Redstarts were elusive, but one did pop obligingly onto the top of a hawthorn bush, and Roger Carrington took advantage of the proximity of a Blackcap and Garden Warbler, to point out the subtle differences in their song. Among summer visitors, there were also plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, and a couple of Whitethroats, plus typical woodland species including Goldcrest, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Few raptors were seen, just one Buzzard getting onto the list, but the distant ‘kronk’ of a Raven was heard and, looking up, several of the group saw a soaring black bird with a tell-tale wedge-shaped tail.

The next walk is from Millfields on 15 June – and it’s yet another attempt to make our 2010 events programme a little different, as it’s a morning walk starting at 9am . We appreciate it may be difficult for some, but do try to get there as it’s traditionally our ‘warbler walk’ where many of the reservoir’s summer visitors are spotted or heard.

CBC Newsletters

Feb 2010 Newsletter

No.1 / February 2010

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

As I write this it is snowing once more – hopefully winter’s last throw despite being only February. If it’s been testing our resolve, then it’s been a bigger challenge still for the birds. Evidence will probably come from the recently-completed Big Garden Birdwatch, but certainly my ‘tiny’ garden in Holloway has attracted a bigger variety and greater number of birds this winter than any other in recent times – and you just know they’re hungry when eight blackbirds eye up the single garden table with bread on it and await their turn! Jackdaws always come for scraps but even a Rook and Treecreeper turned up this year!

While it’s nice to see birds close by, the weather made it difficult to get around to other places, including Carsington, and both John Bradley and I were snowbound on the day we had set aside for the December WeBS count. When we finally carried out the January count the Wigeon seemed already to have gone and small numbers now remain. Roll on Spring!

Among my books, I was recently leafing through the Atlas of Wintering Birds of 1986, and the Atlas of Breeding Birds for 1976 and 1993, and reflected on the fact that even the ‘latest’ issue was being prepared before Carsington Water existed. Roger Carrington and I have been participating in survey work for a new issue of the Atlas, and have already sent in figures for this area. On publication, I expect it to show what a massive difference Carsington Water has made to the birdlife of mid-Derbyshire. Looking at maps in the 1976 issue, it is extraordinary to see only two Raven breeding sites in the High Peak and Staffordshire borders; compare that with today. And in 1986 there were no wintering Gadwall sites barring two in the north and two in the far south of the county. Now we get dozens of these handsome ducks in the winter months. It’s important to do as much survey work as possible for the latest issue – and the comparisons will be worthy of an article when the new Atlas emerges.

We are now well into our 2010 indoor meetings programme, and earlier this month were treated to a fascinating look at wildlife through the eyes of Eddie Hallam ( see later report for a little more on this ). We have just one left before the spring/summer outdoor season gets under way, so can I urge you to attend next month’s talk which will be presented by Neil Glenn – a Notts birder, writer of bird guides like The Best Birdwatching Sites in Norfolkand a leader of tours to all quarters of the globe. The wildlife of one of these farther-flung spots – the Lower Rio Grande in the US – will be Neil’s subject on 16 March ( 7.30pm ). I look forward to seeing you there. And finally, can I remind you that 2010 subscriptions are now due – and a renewal form should also be in the envelope.

DIVERS PASS THE WORD ON – AND RED-NECKED GREBES GIVE CARSINGTON A TRY!

The freezing weather conditions has prevented much activity from non-water birds, though Barn Owls were seen hunting near the Wildlife Centre and Fishtail Creek, and other highlights have included Crossbill, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. And before the really bad weather arrived, a Water Pipit – the first winter record and only the fifth ever for Carsington – was viewed on Stones Island on 19 December.

Our seemingly annual pilgrimage by Great Northern Divers has continued this winter, with at least two individuals – often an adult and juvenile – seen regularly since the first arrived on 1 December. This ever-welcome sight was augmented this month with the arrival of two Red-necked Grebes, last seen in 2006.

A Little Egret was a late Christmas present for a number of birders, arriving the day after Boxing Day and staying around until 24 January. The following month, a Jack Snipe was seen near the reed bed in Hopton Arm. Two Bewick’s Swans graced the reservoir on 2 December, a day after an Egyptian Goose popped up near both Sheepwash and the Wildlife Centre, and 150 Pink-footed Geese flew east at a low altitude on 8 January.

Coot numbers recorded during a WeBS count in January were well down on the same period last year – 1,424 as against 1,844 in 2009. Other wildfowl maximum counts included 596 Tufted Duck, 232 Pochard, 116 Wigeon, 36 Gadwall, 49 Teal, 20 Goosander, 12 Goldeneye and, respectively, 79 and 50 Little and Great-Crested Grebes. Pintail and Shelduck also featured, while a first-winter female Scaup was sighted in December and January.

Anyone spotting ducks with unusually coloured bills might like to know they are marked this way in France and Spain , generally with numbers added, for identification purposes. During December, a female Teal was seen with a pale green nasal saddle, proving it had been marked in Normandy , while a pair of Tufted Ducks sporting bright turquoise bills were also noted.

The gull roost has seen peaks of 4,000 Lesser Black-backed, 600 Common and 500 Black-headed in January, with relative rarities including an adult Mediterranean Gull and Ring-billed Gull in December and adult Caspian Gulls in both December and January, when a Kittiwake was also recorded. Meanwhile, an apparently ‘resident’ flesh-eating Yellow-legged Gull has been witnessed eating Little Grebe and dead fish.

Raptor records have been rather thin on the ground, but Peregrines were seen in both December and January, when one was witnessed mobbing a Buzzard. As many as six Buzzards have been seen in one day in February, when two Ravens were also logged.

WHAT’S THAT BIRD? … JACK SNIPE (see image above)

A Jack Snipe was one of the more unusual sightings at the reservoir in recent months – and arguably a lucky one since these small waders are highly secretive in the winter. Hopton Arm reed bed, where it was spotted in February, is a typical habitat, though, along with other wetland sites such as lagoons, river edges and muddy ditches, where its slim bill probes for insects, earthworms and plant material.

Lymnocryptes minimus is the world’s smallest snipe, and actually in a genus of its own, though very similar in many ways to other snipes in the Gallinago family. Jack Snipe has a shorter bill than the Common Snipe, and lacks the central crown stripe of its larger cousin, instead having two pale lateral crown stripes that a separated from the supercilium by an area of dark plumage. Its upper body is mottled brown, pale underneath, and yellow back stripes are clearly visible in flight; its wings are narrow and pointed.

Another difference from its close cousins that may help in identification is that Jack Snipes will keep still until an intruder is only a metre away, then fly low only a short distance when flushed before dropping back into cover, while Common Snipe will fly some distance in a high, zig-zagging flight path.

Jack Snipes are migratory, preferring the tundra/taiga of northern Europe to breed (laying 3-4 eggs in a well-hidden ground nest), but wintering in locations such as the UK and Atlantic coastal Europe and travelling as far as Africa and India . While silent in winter, they are easier to see and hear in the breeding season, with the male performing an aerial courtship display, incorporating a sound like a galloping horse! When feeding, a Jack Snipe has a distinctive bobbing motion, rather like it’s attached to a spring!

Groups of snipes have an odd array of collective nouns – including a walk, leash, whisper and volley!

NEW PLANS FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS

In the ‘What’s on’ section later in this newsletter, you will notice some subtle differences in our spring and early summer outdoors programme. These reflect the experience of the last couple of years, with diminishing numbers of people attending events and signing up for trips, and the demographic shift of the overall membership.

We plan to begin some evening walks a bit earlier, introduce one morning walk (as well as the annual Dawn Chorus walk), stage one walk away from Carsington, and eliminate the August walk altogether, since it’s a poor time for birds and, as it’s also prime holiday time, few people have historically turned up.

It’s a similar picture with club trips. Traditionally, we have undertaken around two each year – usually all-day affairs to far-flung locations involving the hire of large coaches. For the last couple of years filling seats (even enough to break even) has been an increasing struggle, to the point where a trip last year had to be cancelled altogether. This was disappointing – particularly for the ‘hard core’ of around 15 people that did still want to go, but couldn’t because of the economics and inflexibility of booking a large coach.

Though no trips have yet been arranged for 2010, those that are may well prove to be half-day trips, or involve more flexible transport, such as our own cars, mini-buses or community buses (possibly self-driven), to locations nearer at hand … anything that allows us to keep trips on the diary however many – or few – people want to go.

Please give us feedback ( call the committee, or comment via the ‘forum’ on the website ) if you have any thoughts on these planned changes.

EDDIE HALLAM – A WILDLIFE STAR IN EVERY SENSE

The amazingly varied life of Eddie Hallam was the entertaining focus of the club’s February indoor meeting at Hognaston Village Hall. This remarkable man held his audience in thrall as he used virtually no ‘props’ (in fact he almost forgot to show the few slides he’d brought along to help illustrate some of his many activities) to describe the central core that wildlife had played in his long, busy and clearly very fulfilling life.

He has been to university twice, gaining degrees in biology and wildlife conservation, he has been assistant curator at Chester Zoo, managed a wildlife collection at Riber Castle, which boasted an exemplary breeding record for various animals – notably his favourite, the Lynx – led numerous wildlife expeditions to all corners of the globe, and is now a wildlife artist who produces stunning and much sought-after studies in bronze. Not only that he owns his own nature reserve near Lea and Cromford Canal , which (partly by keeping human visitors to a minimum) has one of the highest concentrations of grass snakes and dragonfly species in the county.

Earlier, two of the club’s committee stepped into the breach to give fascinating illustrated talks to those hardy members who braved the freezing weather conditions to turn out for December and January’s indoor meetings. Secretary Paul Hicking’s subject was biodiversity, and he explained how elements of nature had interacted over centuries and millennia to produce the world we know today – and the delicate balance required to maintain that world and the mind-boggling animal, vegetable and mineral diversity of the planet. Chairman Peter Gibbon then called on pictures and experiences from a recent trip to some of the most northerly territories of Europe for a look at the wildlife inside the Arctic Circle .

WEBSITE SHOWS VALUE IN FACE OF EVER-ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY

Seems like each year flies by faster than ever: Technology never pauses for breath and the way birdwatchers get their information changes, too. We have pagers, email and text alerts, online alerts, mobile-to-mobile calls, iphone apps, Blackberrys … you name it, birders have them! However, there is still some good old-fashioned word of mouth news. Against all that pressure, the Carsington Bird Club website still held its own.

Over 2009 we had almost 63,000 hits on the website. Apart from the UK, visitors came from the US, France, China, Ireland, Spain, India, Malta, South Africa, Australia, Russia, Canada, Malaysia, Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Singapore, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Greece, Taiwan, Colombia, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, Israel and New Zealand.

‘Latest Sightings’ continues to attract the highest level of traffic (25,000 hits) – thanks go to those who submit sightings online. It’s really easy, so why not try it out during 2010. Another success story is Roger Carrington ‘s ‘Bird Notes’, which saw an increase of 75 per cent (nearly 3,000 hits) in 2009. They are published monthly on the web page for viewing or download, and are available all the way back to 2004.

During 2009 we sought to save on postage with an experiment to see how many members would be prepared to receive their quarterly newsletters as a download from the website. Though the newsletter had been reproduced online for over two years, the new initiative resulted in visits to the ‘Newsletter’ rise above 3,000, an increase of 75% on 2008. Thanks to all those members who opted to take the electronic newsletter!

Our online ‘Definitive Bird’ List has been available from the website for some years, but extra features have added to make it more interesting and informative – sorting data to show which birds were at Carsington for the same month the previous year and links revealing more information about individual bird species. It is a valuable resource for teachers wanting to have some information for a school visit, and its popularity was reflected in 2,500 hits in 2009.

Two “static” pages – “What is Carsington Water” and “Where is Carsington Water” – saw a 200% increase in visits. Hopefully all these virtual visitors became real visitors – and maybe led to one or two new members!

The site still tries to provide diverse articles and items to browse: Bird of the Month, UK and World bird news, ads for CBC events, quizzes, items for sale/wanted and links to other websites and holiday destinations. The forum (which is moderated) was quiet in 2009, but hopefully some visitors will find it useful in sharing information or engaging others in debate or conversation. Picture galleries were changed to make it easier for photographers to upload their own images and to review and rate others. There are a few regulars using this facility – so why not upload some of your own images for 2010 [ follow the instructions from the gallery link ].

Site development will continue this year, aiming to keep the content fresh for all visitors – but the important thing to remember is that it is your website and you determine how it grows. So please, if you have anything you wish to submit to the website, we welcome all suggestions. Here’s to an exciting 2010!

Richard Pittam – Webmaster, Carsington Bird Club

NEW BRIDLEWAY LINK CREATES SAFER ROUTE FOR CARSINGTON VISITORS

For more than two years Severn Trent Water has been developing a proposal to create a new link along the Carsington Water bridleway. Currently when visitors come to the two road crossings over the B5035 at the north end of the reservoir, they could either cross the road and walk through Carsington and Hopton villages or walk alongside the busy B5035. After several near misses were reported along this stretch, and accidents occurred further on up the road, the team at Carsington Water began to plan how it could offer a safe alternative.

Middlemarch Environmental Consultancy was commissioned to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to see what effects on wildlife would result from the creation of a new link to the path along the reservoir side of the B5035.

After a wide-ranging consultation – including detailed surveying with all interested parties such as the Carsington Bird Club, Natural England, RSPB, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Carsington/Hopton Parish Council and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – a way forward was found and it was put to planning in July and finally passed in November 2009.

The proposed new pathway is currently under construction using traditional methods and natural materials such as recycled rocks, crushed aggregates and topsoil taken from the site. All these materials will be sourced locally to blend in naturally with the surrounding area and existing paths. The rocks will be used on the steepest slopes of the north shore to stabilise the embankment retaining the new path in a similar way to the rocks used on the reservoir’s dam wall. The new track will be screened at several key points as outlined in the EIA report.

Construction began at the beginning of 2010, and major works should be completed by mid March. It is hoped to be open for the summer 2010 season. The new link will offer excellent views of the stunning water and wildlife, and offer a safe and enjoyable alternative to the existing roadside route. The path through the villages will remain an option for visitors preferring that route.

I would like to personally thank members of the Carsington Bird Club committee for their valuable input and support throughout this project. The committee has been instrumental in monitoring the wildlife during work and helping to ensure little to no disturbance takes place to the wildlife at Carsington Water.

Ben Young – Site Manager, Severn Trent Water

CBC Newsletters

Nov 2009 Newsletter

No 4 / November 2009

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

I would like to start by reporting a successful response to our plea in the last newsletter for support for our club’s
committee activities. We have now acquired a new joint membership partnership – Dave and Sue Edmonds – to take over
from the existing triumvirate of Maria Harwood, and Pat and Brian Wain. Firstly may I congratulate Maria, Pat and Brian
for the impeccable service they have given to the club over a number of years; their organisation invariably worked like
clockwork, and helped me enormously in my role as treasurer. By way of thanks, I intend to pass on a token of our
gratitude at our next committee meeting.

On taking over their new duties, Dave and Sue have told me how easy the transition has been due to the previous good
practice and high standards. I now look forward to working closely with Dave and Sue, and must thank them for
volunteering to help.

Less positively, Peter Oldfield’s efforts to drum up enough interest in the planned coach trip to Slimbridge in mid-
November fell on stony ground, and we had to cancel the event. Can we apologise to those regular travellers who had
booked up again for this trip, but the economics simply did not make sense. In fact, the last two trips were also on a knifeedge
in terms of numbers, but Peter managed to salvage those visits by making last-minute rearrangements with bus
companies. This time there were simply too few applying to go.

Peter is now quite rightly questioning the feasibility of running full-day trips and we are having to consider their future. If
anybody has any views on this subject, please feel free to forward them on to me. One member has already suggested
shorter trips closer to home; meanwhile, our well-established programme of summer walks may also benefit from a little
variety in terms of locations and timings.

The number of members joining our indoor meetings at Hognaston Village Hall has also been dwindling in the last year or
two. The 30 that attended the November meeting was our best for a while – which might sound surprising. Certainly the
figure of 21 people at our October evening was especially disappointing as it was our joint meeting with Derbyshire
Ornithological Society. Those that did turn up enjoyed an expert talk on the history of bird-ringing, which is marking its
100th anniversary this year.

After the talk, Bryan Barnacle (Chair of DOS) and I compared notes on the problems in attracting more people to our
respective and collective evenings. I think I convinced him that our joint venture was worth continuing – and I have
already booked the speaker for next October (the Secretary of the Charles Tunnicliffe Society formed in 2005 to celebrate
the life of one of the great bird and natural world artists). I have also managed to fill all other speaker slots for 2010, so we
have a full programme for members to enjoy; please make an effort to get along to one or two during the coming year.
WILDFOWL AND GULL NUMBERS RISE AS AUTUMN TAKES A GRIP

Since the last newsletter, the summer birds have departed, and the autumn migration has, as usual, produced the
unusual. Rounding off 2009 breeding, the disappointing year for grebes was offset to some extent by two late Great-
Crested broods in August, and two even later Little Grebe broods in September.
The latest records for our summer visitors included a Wheatear on 2 October, a House Martin two days later, and both
Blackcap and Chiffchaff recorded as late as 7 October.

Meanwhile, wildfowl numbers rose steadily as autumn’s influence strengthened with maximum counts of 1,008 Tufted
Duck and 170 Mallard in September, and 1,770 Coot, 590 Wigeon, 148 Pochard, 123 Teal and 39 Gadwall in October,
when 12 Red-crested Pochard, 10 Goldeneye, 5 Common Scoter and 5 Pintail were also noted. A picture taken of a firstwinter
Garganey – a good sighting in itself – was later found also to contain a Green-winged Teal. This was only the third
record for Carsington, and the first since 2006.

Arctic and Black Terns flew through as part of the autumn movement, while a Gannet was recorded on two consecutive
days, so probably roosted with the gulls. Roost numbers have also been climbing, with up to 3,600
Lesser Black-backs recorded in September, and a number of rarities spotted within the throng – among them
Mediterranean, Greater Black-back, Yellow-Leg and Herring Gulls, plus Kittiwake.

Also on show was a Ring-billed Gull, which is believed to be visiting for its ninth consecutive year. Other regular winter
travellers returning to Carsington are the increasingly regular Great Northern Divers, three of which noted in November
were believed to be separate individuals.

The wader passage has been poor, but did include up to 160 Lapwings, plus much smaller numbers of Dunlin, Curlew,
Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Green and Common Sandpiper, and Grey and Golden Plover. Two Little Egrets and
three Whooper Swans made very brief visits, but a Black Redstart stayed long enough to delight a few local birdwatchers
in November – the first sighting of this species for 13 years.

It’s been heaven, too, for raptor lovers with no fewer than eight species noted since early August. Ospreys migrating
south to warmer winter climes passed through Carsington on four occasions in August, three in September and another in
October. Marsh Harriers were seen on two separate occasions, while a Red Kite was mobbed by another of our local
raptor regulars, a Buzzard. Several sightings of Hobbys were recorded in August and early September, while their bulkier
cousins – Peregrines – were noted regularly every month, as were Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.

Another delightful species has been putting on an excellent show all around the reservoir: up to four Kingfishers are
believed to be responsible for the rash of sightings, with fine views from the hides. On one occasion, a lucky onlooker
witnessed six fish caught in a single session from a rock island close to the Paul Stanley Hide.
STAY IN BRITAIN – AND LET THE SKUAS AND DIVERS COME TO US!

On my recent trip to the Arctic our group was rewarded with sightings of three varieties of Skua – Great, Arctic and Long-
Tailed. But there’s just no satisfying some people: a Yorkshire man with very long bird lists for both the UK and Europe
was desperate to see three particular birds, one of which was another Stercorarid – the Pomarine Skua. It became a bit of
a joke within the group when neither his efforts nor our guides’ knowledge came to anything, though our Finnish guide
admitted it would have been a ‘long shot’, anyway.

I thought nothing more about this failure until I was sitting on a beach at Dornoch on the Black Isle in northern Scotland in
August with my wife and dog (obviously not a dedicated birding holiday) when two Pomarine Skuas (one dark phase and
one light phase) drifted by, bathed in sunlight and flying so close to the beach that identification – notably by the ‘spoons’
on their tales – was simple. I suppose I should have felt just a bit sorry for our Yorkshire friend!

In the Arctic I also saw three types of diver including 21 white-billed/yellow-billed ones, all in top breeding plumage, which
surprised even our Finnish guide. We spent some time beside a huge lake looking for the fourth diver species that had
been reported but eluded our party. Ironically, this was the Great Northern Diver, so frequent at Carsington Water in
recent years – and, lo and behold, a specimen of which turned up yet again this autumn, still in summer plumage. To
have seen all four divers in their finest attire isn’t bad going for one summer!

I hope you don’t get the impression I’m always travelling … but I was also lucky enough in 2009 to manage a week in
Tuscany though expected nothing exceptional by way of bird life, knowing that food, wine and culture would make up for
that. Yet each morning just after dawn at the place we were staying, I heard the sound of Bee-eaters as between 250 and
300 swarmed above our heads moving up the valley before coming back to roost later on. What could be better to see as
you watched sunrise over Siena!

Peter Gibbon
RINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR NEW SEASON OF INDOOR TALKS

One of the early talks in our 2009-10 indoor season was an excellent and lively review of the history of bird ringing, which
is marking its 100th anniversary this year, by the British Trust for Ornithology’s ringing officer Mark Grantham in October.
Mark was keen to stress the benefits that ringing has brought to ornithology over the last century by way of scientific
knowledge and analysis – boosting our understanding of birds’ habits and habitats, migration patterns and life spans.
Among numerous illustrations, he showed one picture of a Fulmar ringed and recorded several times in its life, proving it to
be around 50 years old and a parent several times over.

A month earlier, regular presenter Paul Bingham talked about the stunning wildlife of the Galapagos Islands – a highlight
for a number of members who themselves had visited this unique location off South America’s west coast, with its high
proportion of endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

Then, in November, it was Ian Dainsley’s turn to show some of his excellent studies of nature to be found much closer to
home – in and around his home village of Bonsall. Ian told us that he’d spent many years as a keen amateur, but
eventually gave up his ‘day job’ some years ago to concentrate on professional photography … clearly to very good effect.
CARSINGTON – IDEAL VENUE FOR A ‘DATE WITH NATURE’

During 2009, the Aren’t Birds Brilliant! initiative morphed into a ‘Date with nature’, though the name change does not affect
the basic principle of creating events to introduce these natural feathered wonders to the general public. As we approach
the end of the year, the incoming winter wildfowl are providing the injection of interest and colour to help keep people
excited about what they can see right in front of them at Carsington Water. It is good that our hosts Severn Trent Water,
supported by the enthusiasm of both the RSPB and Carsington Bird Club, are able to create and maintain such an ideal
birding venue.

As winter draws in, large numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall and other ducks have flown in to provide good views close to the
Wildlife Centre. Many of our Date with nature visitors are familiar with bird-watching, but not all are ready for the
astounding diversity of species on and around the reservoir.

On a wider stage, the RSPB supports and promotes any number of campaigns, key messages and national events – the
Big Garden Bird Watch and Feed the Birds Day being two of the biggest. Working in partnership with Severn Trent also
means integrating their messages, too, and all this hype can sometimes deflect us from the essential ingredients that are
right there in front of us all. After all, if it wasn’t for thousands of migrating ducks visiting the reservoir at this time of year –
or the bird populations changing with each season – there wouldn’t be anything to get hyped up about.

The RSPB’s long-running and popular Bird of Prey campaign is set to finish at the end of the year and in its place will be
‘Letter to the Future’. This will probably be familiar to those RSPB members among you, but it’s worth underlining its
simple message – enjoy nature and protect it. How this can be applied to specific species or habitats is an additional layer.
What’s fundamental is that there is so much to be gained from enjoying familiar wildlife – what we often see in front of us.
Perhaps this is often overlooked, but nowhere is it more obviously the case than the reservoir, where it is accessible to
every user.

Chris Johnstone, RSPB/STW Date with nature Project Officer
VOLUNTEERS TAKE A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

Following hard on the heels of last spring’s successful Soil & Earthworm Survey run in partnership with the Natural History
Museum and Nottingham University, Severn Trent Water Volunteer Rangers were keen to continue their scientific studies
by taking part in the Air Survey being conducted under the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) initiative of the Natural History
Museum. The STW group is being joined by volunteers from the Carsington Bird Club, all of whom will take part after
receiving training.

The aim of this latest survey is to discover more about the way the natural environment is affected by air pollution and its
impact on local areas as well as helping to build up a national picture of the distribution and abundance of lichens and
fungi that can be affected by pollution.

These species will be used as environmental indicators of air quality. The Carsington volunteers will survey trees around
the reservoir for lichen species that are tolerant and intolerant to nitrogen in the air and also count the fungal ‘tar spots’
found on sycamore leaves. Dr Amy Rogers, OPAL community scientist came to give several volunteers a training
workshop on 20 October enthusing all to go and hug/survey trees for results, so the survey will commence shortly!
For more info on the study, go to www.OPALexplorenature.org on your internet and click on Surveys. Anyone interested
in getting involved can get advice from STW Ranger Rose Day, or contact CBC committee officials.

Meanwhile, a milestone arrived at the ‘Bird-watching for Beginners’ walk on 6 September, which was the 50th occasion of
this increasingly popular monthly event. Led by Volunteer Ranger David Bennett, 25 ‘customers’ enjoyed not just the
three-hour walk – to Sheepwash, visiting all 4 hides in between – but also a free draw to mark the milestone. Prizes were
generously donated by Carsington Clothing, Water Rail; RSPB Shop; Severn Trent Water, and the RSPB/Severn Trent
Water Date with nature team. Anyone not winning one of the main prizes received one of the popular RSPB pin badges.
David Bennett was presented with a commemorative shield by Head Ranger Dan Taberner.
WHAT’S ON

The Bird Club is now into its winter programme (when all events take place at Hognaston Village Hall, beginning at
7.30pm). This series of talks continues until March, after which we switch to outdoor events. Below is a full list of
upcoming CBC events:

15 December Christmas party, including talk by club secretary Paul Hicking Hognaston Village Hall
on biodiversity
19 January 2010 Annual General Meeting, followed by talk by club chairman Hognaston Village Hall
Peter Gibbon: ‘Arctic Wonderland’
25 January Committee meeting Visitor Centre (8pm)
16 February Talk by Eddie Hallam: ‘My life with nature’ Hognaston Village Hall
16 March Talk by Neil Glenn: ‘Valley Parade – the Wildlife of the Lower Hognaston Village Hall
Rio Grande’
With the Christmas/New Year holiday, Severn Trent Water can expect a busy time as visitors try to reduce their
waistlines after the seasonal excesses … What better place for some exercise! Watch, too, for the start of the Compose
Carsington’ photographic competition, due to get under way in March (shots from 1 July 2009 are eligible). Here’s a full
list of organised events – and be aware that booking is often essential (c/o 01629 540696):
Mon-Sat to Three-course Christmas lunches are available at the Mainsail Visitor Centre
24 December Restaurant (call New Leaf Catering, 01629 540363, for details)
First Sunday Bird-watching for Beginners (min age 13+, bring boots, binoculars Visitor Centre (10am-noon)
each month notebook and suitable clothing … booking advisable)
Each Tuesday RSPB/STW ‘Date with nature’ (access for all, free … learn about Wildlife Centre
and weekend wildlife at Carsington Water; use scopes/binoculars provided) (10.30am-3.30pm)
5-6 December Christmas at Carsington (festive activities for all the family) Visitor Centre
23-24 January RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch weekend (join the world’s biggest Wildlife and Visitor Centres
bird survey, quiz plus crafts for children … donations welcome) (10.30am-3.30pm)

CBC Newsletters

May 2009 Newsletter

No 2 / May 2009

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

As I write this in early May, a Great Northern Diver was still popping up around the reservoir. It will already have seen
many summer migrants arrive and by now will probably have made its own exit. This period of comings and goings – when
changeable weather can send some unusual migrants our way – is possibly the most exciting period for birdwatching at
Carsington. Sightings come thick and fast, but don’t assume that everyone else makes the effort to record them, so you
don’t need to … please keep recording what you see!

It is also the time when members tend to go on holiday most regularly and with the credit crunch, maybe we’re beginning
to see a trend towards more holidays taken in the UK and less abroad. Passenger numbers at the three major London
airports are down, and the recession does seems to be taking effect. Personally, I’ve experienced the disappointment of
trying to book a birdwatching trip to the Arctic with two companies that ultimately had to conclude they simply didn’t have
enough clients to run them economically.

These are probably two of the best known and most important carriers, one stating the trip was their ‘Blue Riband’ holiday
that had previously run consistently for 17 years. So perhaps the scene is set for more birdwatching ‘within these shores’
– yet nowhere in the world can offer more opportunities, and more guides to help you find the birds. There is a plethora of
books detailing ‘Where to watch …’ and ‘Best Birdwatching Sites’, local ornithological logs (our own excellent annual report
included) and information leaflets from reserves covering widely differing birding habitats.

Add to this the latest ‘what’s about?’ information on the internet (or even pagers) and nowhere on the planet can it be
easier to find birds than here on our own doorsteps. This, of course, also means more visitors to Derbyshire in general
and Carsington in particular so we in turn can help those strangers to our area. All we need is good weather (and I believe
this summer’s long-range forecast is favourable) to make the most of birding in the UK …. so much so, in fact, that I’ve
convinced myself and my family to pull out of a holiday to the Algarve and book a week in Scotland and another in Devon!
Two different ends of our fantastic country – and, with luck, two good lists!

Peter Gibbon
SUMMER ARRIVALS SWARM INTO CARSINGTON

It’s that exciting time of year when early spring weather may blow in just about anything as birds begin their migration
journeys, and when the date-stamp comes out to log the earliest arrivals of those birds choosing this area as their summer
retreat and, hopefully, breeding ground.

First across this imaginary finish line were Sand Martins on 12 March, the same day the first Chiffchaff was heard (though
up to five were singing just three days later). A Wheatear arrived on the 22nd, followed by the first Swallow a day later, and
a Blackcap on the 30th.

A Swift lived up to its name by turning up 8 April, a week earlier than the species had ever been logged before at
Carsington Water, and beating House Martins to the site by three days. Other April arrivals included Common and Lesser
Whitethroats, both recorded on the 19th, a Pied Flycatcher that was heard singing in Hall Wood on the 20th, and a Garden
Warbler noted the following day.

Both Rock and Water Pipits were recorded in March on the dam wall, a favourite with White Wagtails, though they also
took a liking to Stones Island. A maximum of only eight Yellow Wagtails were seen this year. One of the latest migrants
logged was a Cuckoo, noted on 18 May.

By contrast, two Hobbys had turned up earlier than usual on their migration, on April 15, but a Honey Buzzard was
perhaps the star raptor turn that month, making only a fleeting visit before being escorted away by two Common Buzzards.
Common by name and nature, up to 13 Buzzards were seen in the air at the same time a month earlier, when a pair of
Peregrines was also spotted over Hall Wood. Meanwhile, Red Kites – an increasingly regular sight at Carsington – were
seen four times during May.

April’s wader passage was poor, but a total of six Avocets made up for the lack of variety – though Black-tailed Godwits
were seen in both March and April, their Bar-tailed cousin cropped up in April, and a Woodcock was flushed near Paul
Stanley Hide in March, when the largest Curlew flock seen numbered 44.

By May, easterly winds brought in Turnstone, Sanderling and Ringed Plover, but this month also saw the final departure of
the long-staying Great Northern Divers – by this time in their summer plumage. Two months earlier, they had been joined
by a single Red-throated cousin (divers must be giving Carsington a good travel report!) which gave little chance of views
as it stayed just 50 minutes.

May highlights also included the arrival of Spotted Flycatchers and a Mandarin seen regularly at Penn Carr. After a good
tern passage, with Common, Arctic, Black and Sandwich varieties all logged, a determined Common Tern remained on
the Watersports pontoon having had to watch Black-headed Gulls take over the tern raft. Nevertheless, it again looked
unlikely Carsington would be able to claim any tern chicks.

By mid-May breeding was under way elsewhere, however, with five broods of Mallard, two of Moorhen, one, maybe two
Oystercatcher broods and one successful Redshank nest all being monitored, along with active nest boxes containing
apparently successful Great and Willow Tits.
BIRD IN FOCUS: RED KITE

Milvus Milvus – or Red Kite – was seen several times at Carsington in May, which is a reflection of an astounding
conservation success story that brought this beautiful bird of prey back from the brink of extinction in Britain. In the Middle
Ages it was one of the commonest birds in towns and villages, and protected by Royal Decree for its value as a
scavenger, the refuse collector of its day. Ironically, it is today once again protected by law and, thankfully, seems to be
thriving with what’s reckoned to be over 1,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

Wales remains this graceful species’ main stronghold, but there are growing populations in England – notably in the
Chilterns, Yorkshire and Oxfordshire – and in Scotland, mainly in Dumfries and Galloway. Non-breeding kites, though,
could be seen just about anywhere – including reservoirs in Derbyshire!

It’s been a long road back following a Europe-wide wave of persecution, especially in the late 19th century, as landowners
wrongly viewed kites as game-hunting vermin: this saw its extinction in England and Scotland, with just a few pairs
remaining in the ancient oakwoods of mid-Wales. Active protection to redress the decline began in 1903 but progress was
painfully slow for various reasons.

Apart from persecution (usually poisoning) by gamekeepers, as kites became rarer they became a target for egg collectors
and taxidermists. Also, the specific area inhabited by the sparse remaining population had relatively poor food availability
– particularly during and after the myxomatosis outbreak that devastated the rabbit population – which in turn resulted in
limited breeding success.

Furthermore, genetics were playing a part as it was later proven (by DNA analysis!) that the entire Welsh population was
descended from a single female! Consequently, the population did not exceed 20 pairs until the 1960s, but as they spread
to new territories at lower altitudes it became clear more productive habitats were behind their accelerated success – and
re-introduction programmes began in England and Scotland.

Anyone who has seen this majestic bird in flight will agree that the programme has enriched our natural environment …
those that have not should head for Wales, or the M40 that runs through the Chilterns, or Yorkshire’s Harewood estate, or
the Galloway Kite Trail in Scotland. It would be well worth it!
DANNY ANSWERS ARCTIC CALL … BUT BIRDS KINDLY STAY PUT AT CARSINGTON!

Prizewinning photographer Danny Green should have given the last indoor talk in March but at the last minute had to step
in for a business partner as guide for a trip to the Arctic. Apologies to those who turned up especially to see him, but it
could not be helped. Instead, CBC Chairman Peter Gibbon stepped into the breach with a talk on a trip to Shetland/Fair
Isle. Some of the audience had been there and one couple had a son living on the most northerly Shetland isle, so there
was plenty of interest in the striking scenery and huge birding interest of this remote corner of Britain. When the indoor
meetings begin again in September, the subject will take us even further, to the most famous wildlife islands of all, the
Galapagos.

So to the big outdoors nearer to home – and those attending the first summer walk on 21 April had fresh, dry conditions
and found there was more insect life than birds on display on and around Stones Island – though two of the long-staying
Great Northern Divers were seen clearly along with a single Shelduck. Yellow Wagtails are often a feature of this walk,
but only Pied showed themselves this time, while summer migrants included House and Sand Martins and Swallows in
good numbers. Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew were also on view, and a Snipe and Common
Tern were seen by some.

The Dawn Chorus walk, braved by 16 club members prepared to rise in the middle of the night to make a 4.30am start,
brought the usual early spring arrivals – including Chiffchaff, Garden and Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Whitethroat –
plus an excellent view of an early-morning fox trying his luck on the shore just opposite the Wildlife Centre. Whimbrel and
Dunlin were among the waders spotted over breakfast in the centre.
May’s walk, from Millfields, is commonly called the ‘warbler walk’ and it lived up to its name though again it was another
species that was the real star when a Tawny Owl was spotted being mobbed by four smaller birds – a Blackbird, Wren,
Long-tail Tit and Willow Tit.
FINAL MONTH TO SUBMIT THOSE PRIZE-WINNING PHOTOS!

May heralded the start of ‘Compose Carsington’ – a nature photography competition to highlight the beauty of the reservoir
and its wildlife. As we enter June any competitors have only a few weeks left to submit their entries.
The competition is open to amateurs as well as professionals so don’t waste any time getting out and about to find those
winning shots. Knowledge of the area will definitely be a huge advantage to entrants who know where to find the most
popular spots for wildlife.

There are a number of exciting prizes being awarded in several categories, and judging will take place soon after the
competition closes on 30 June. Our star judge, Ben Osborne, will be casting his eye over the entrants to help pick the
best of the best. His spellbinding shot that won the 2007 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award was a rich mixture of
movement and abstract composition so bear this in mind for the water category.

Project assistant Michaela Hancock and I are also planning some photographic tuition workshops to complement the
competition. Keep an eye out for these in order to pick up some tips for any late entries to the competition. I’d one again
like to thank the Carsington Bird Club for their generous donations to the prize-list and wish any entrants the best of luck.
All the details are on www.rspb.org.uk/composecarsington.

Chris Johnstone – Aren’t Birds Brilliant! Project Officer
VOLUNTEERING PROVIDES TWO-WAY BENEFITS

Severn Trent Water’s band of volunteers do, we hope, get fulfilment from the activities they are able to undertake for us at
Carsington, and certainly it’s a two-way street for us as the volunteer rangers play an invaluable role in helping to maintain
and develop all of our public access sites. In 2008, 649 duties (totalling 3,205 hours) were performed by STW volunteers
at our sister Derbyshire reservoirs – Carsington Water and Ogston.

In July 2008 we began recording and compiling data to assess the financial savings that volunteer rangers help Severn
Trent Water to achieve, and in the succeeding six months the volunteer rangers’ time amounted to an equivalent value of
£10,941. That’s almost £ 2,000 per month, or £60 every day – valuable in every sense.

Rangers carry out a number of important tasks at our sites including conservation work and site maintenance/
improvements to assisting at special events and open days. Conservation takes in the widest range of activity – from
woodland and island work, and grassland management to collecting seeds and building objects as varied as bird feeders,
hedgehog boxes and dry-stone-walls. Volunteers are involved in vital maintenance tasks such as erosion control,
vegetation control and dead hedging, and maintaining the miles of track around the site.

As well as helping out with open days, and serving as well-informed guides on wildlife walks (not forgetting the twiceweekly
duties alongside the RSPB project officers managing the Aren’t Birds Brilliant! initiative), volunteers even found time to raise some charity cash themselves – by staging a car wash in aid of Children in Need. Yes, variety truly is the spice of life for the Carsington volunteer ranger.

Rose Day, STW Ranger
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

The club has had a number of new members over the last several months. We hope they are enjoying the outdoor
activities at such an excellent ‘home’ venue, will join some of the club’s forthcoming coach trips and will enjoy the fabulous
insight into the natural world we get from local speakers during our winter indoor season.

Those new members for 2008/09 include: Kay Billings, Quarndon; S Daffin and S Mason, Chesterfield; Roger Jaques of
Somercotes; David and Sue Edmonds, Ashbourne; Don Newing, Belper; Bill Samson, Matlock; Ed Whiting of Cheddleton
in Staffs; Peter Wright, Darley Dale and S Wright of Mansfield … Welcome one and all!