No1 / February 2009

 CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

Maybe a bit late – but a happy new year to everybody.  I hope 2009 is your best year ever for birds and I’m sure many of you are already well under way with lists of birds seen inDerbyshire,UKor worldwide.  If so, can I remind you of the value in sharing your knowledge by publicly recording what you’ve seen, no matter how ‘routine’ you might think it is.  The RSPB’s national Big Garden Bird Watch, for example, with 900,000 entries in 2008, is a valuable repository of records.  Many other organisations, like Derbyshire Ornithological Society and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, need raw data – as does Carsington Bird Club itself.  There are log books in the hides and, if you forget to use those, there’s nothing easier than doing so when you get home, on the club’s wonderful website, run so ably by Richard Pittam.  Expanding our records is a very worthwhile new year’s resolution – give it a go!

Our AGM in January reported an impressive list of achievements for such a small club – including two trips, speakers for six indoor meetings and five outdoor walks led by committee members, together with regular bird feeding, consistent recording, plus our annual report and four newsletters.  Our stock of bird boxes increases and our relationship with Severn Trent remains strong and mutually beneficial.

Not so positive is our own credit crunch, with a steady decline in members and a smaller-than-ideal committee.  My hope for 2009 is extra resources – more members and funds and a few extra committee volunteers!  Please renew your subscription as early as possible (a renewal slip was enclosed with the last newsletter, but there are still many yet to renew) and try to encourage friends and relations to join up.

My next writing task will be the 2008 Chairman’s review for our annual report – a useful and impressive document, I’m sure you’d agree, which is widely recognised for its valuable content and polished appearance.

As it won’t be out for a while yet, I’d like to pre-empt my review by mentioning those who put so much into our club.  Roger Carrington’s recording expertise is well known, but his survey work, bird feeding activity and his important liaison work with ST are also crucial.  Paul and Steph Hicking not only keep our meetings in order but liaise with other organisations on our behalf; they led what is becoming an annual nightjar hunt for members around Clumber Park, and Paul has also instituted an impressive bird box scheme.  Gary Atkins efficiently edits and distributes our quarterly newsletters, and looks for opportunities to promote CBC.  This quartet also provides the arrangements whereby people can enjoy the rich experience of the Dawn Chorus walk each May.

Peter Oldfield, despite a hip operation, organised two trips (it would have been three but for lack of demand). All of the club’s trips offer the chance of seeing birds in a variety of habitats (see application form for the next trip – to Bempton Cliffs in June).  Richard Pittam ensures the website gets better each year, while membership is efficiently administered by Maria Harwood, and Pat and Brian Wain.  Thanks to all of you.

Peter Gibbon

 

DIVERS MAKE IT A LONG STAY – AND WATERFOWL, GULL NUMBERS SWELL

Winter visitors have included up to four Great Northern Divers, a record number for the site, while Scaup and Common Scoter have also been regular between November and February.  A Great White Egret was noted in December, and its cousin the Grey Heron surprised onlookers the following month by swallowing a rat whole!

There have been sizeable flocks of water birds, waders and gulls keeping the counters busy.  Up to 545 Lapwings in January was gratifyingly higher than in the same month last year, while maximum counts of ducks include 844 Tufted, 406 Wigeon, 308 Pochard, 152 Mallard and more than 50 Teal and Gadwall, with Pintail, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser and good numbers of Goosander and Goldeneye also on show.  Over 60 Cormorants and Great-crested Grebe were recorded in November, and a month later Little Grebes totalled 105.  Coots, meanwhile, were numerous once again, reaching a maximum of 2,175 on 16 November.

Cold weather and the use of hawks at a nearby refuse tip drove down the numbers of large gulls, but there was still an impressive roost on 13 January, when 3,000 Black-headed, 600 Common and 500 Lesser Black-backs were seen along with 30 Herring, three Greater Black-backed and two Yellow-legs.  Caspian, Ring-billed,Mediterraneanand Glaucous Gulls have also been noted over the winter so far.

Raptors were less prolific, but Buzzards and Peregrines are regular, with November highlights including a Merlin and a Red Kite noted in late January.  An impromptu path is being beaten to the door of a pair of Tawny Owls but as this threatens a traditional breeding sight, please try to resist the temptation and stick to the main path! Up to 80 Redwings and 50 Fieldfares were recorded, with Siskin, Long-tail Tits and Lesser Redpoll seen in smaller flocks.  Kingfishers delight observers most days, while four Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff over-wintered.

 

VISITING DARWIN’S TREASURE TROVE IS JUST MAGICAL

Last October, my wife Lilian and I enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to mainland Ecuadorand the Galapagos Islands. Putting the experience into words isn’t easy, but the current media focus on the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin – and the recent receipt of a 45-page report from the trip leader, with comprehensive lists and photographs – have encouraged me to attempt a brief summary.

Galapagos wildlife is truly magical and its total indifference to humans allows leisurely observation at amazingly close quarters.  Be reassured, though, strict rules exist to ensure the animals are not disturbed. Visitors can only arrive by boats on specified routes and timescales, on specific islands, accompanied by an official guide, walking restricted paths for an allotted period of time, and there are vast areas where no access is allowed.

I stress these restrictions since media coverage suggests tourism is damaging the island environment – and while the local population increase to service tourism is having an impact, the funds earned are improving human lives and financing scientific research.  That said, the animals dictate the pace and, with a sea lion giving birth on the path in front of you, a detour is the only option!  Sea lions and penguins seem to enjoy swimming around these very clumsy humans, shoals of very colourful fish seem to laugh at our ineptitude, and flat-footed Boobies manage to perch on narrow branches while flipper-wearing people find it difficult even to stand up.

The “tameness” of the birdlife was exhilarating and we had magnificent views of over 70 species, missing just two of the rarerDarwinfinches. Frigate Birds were ever-present over, and on, our 16-berth boat, and petrel species were a constant identification challenge in varied weather conditions. Dolphins led the way, bow-riding on several occasions, and pilot whales also escorted us. Apparently both species enjoy our high-pitched sounds of excitement as we hang over the bow to improve our view of their gymnastics.

Having been fascinated by iguanas as a schoolboy, I was thrilled to see them in such close proximity and the giant tortoises lived up to their name. Turtles could clearly be heard breathing among the atmospheric mangrove swamps, where sharks and rays were also seen but the birds were always the focus of attention.

Where Galapagos lived up to, and exceeded, our expectations, our 11 days in mainlandEcuadorwas an experience we simply had not anticipated.  Over 300 bird species presented themselves in glorious, fabulous and, at times, unreal colour: Unimaginable, even with the time spent on research before the trip.

At 12,000 feet above sea level – so, walking very slowly – we saw two Andean Condors and two rare Black-faced Ibis.  Between there and the Amazon basin we saw 50 hummingbird species, one with a bill longer than its body, another with a tail twice its body length.  Among many surreal moments, one dawn walk took us to the only street-lamp in the area to witness the influx of birds feeding on an accumulation of moths and insects while local buses and trucks gathered to take people to work. The ‘Cock-of-the Rock’ lek was spectacular but almost eclipsed by a forest trek with our guide calling out the normally shy and elusive Antpittas (Yellow-breasted, Giant and Moustached) by pet-names and many endearments – with the added help of some worms!

In the Amazon, we stayed at the Napo Wildlife Centre, owned and run with understandable pride by the local population.  Access requires a five-hour journey by motorised, then paddled canoes, but the location is idyllic – so remote yet so comfortable, with wildlife never far away.  “Gunshots” heard in the night proved to be territorial tail-slapping on the water by a giant fish, while the loss of the fresh water supply one day was caused by a Cayman chewing through the supply pipe.

A scary but satisfying morning on a small platform above the rainforest canopy yielded a procession of colourful parrots, vultures, hawks, numerous small songsters and rather noisier Howler Monkeys.  A silent canoe trip at dusk revealed Caymans, Fishing-bats, Night-monkeys, large flying insects and moths.  Two huge snakes dangling from a tree resulted in rapid reverse paddling, and an increasing frog chorus and illumination by glow-worms lent further magic to the experience.  Sadly, we missed out on Giant Otters and saw only the tracks of Tapirs.

Be warned, airports are boring places, insects bite, sun burns and wildlife identification is tricky with no European counterpart – but for a truly exciting experience and 400 bird species in three weeks, this would be hard to beat!

Roger & Lilian Carrington

 

ATTENTION ALL HOT SHOTS!

The diversity of Carsington Water in spring and summer time is the focus of a photographic competition being organised by the RSPB and Severn Trent with support from several sponsors, including the Bird Club, offering three memberships and a Collins field guide as prizes.  Entries must be created and submitted between 1 May and 30 June, and in one or more of five categories – Birds and Wildlife, Flora, Landscapes, Water and under-16s.

An overall winner will be drawn from the category winners.  There is a fee of £2 per entrant, and the panel of judges will sit to select their winners on 17 July.  For queries or more information, contact the RSPB’s ABB representative at Carsington, Chris Johnstone (chris.johnstone@rspb.org.uk).

NEST BOX SCHEME EXTENDED TO CARSINGTON CHURCHYARD

For the past 12 years CBC and Severn Trent have recorded and added to the nest box scheme around the reservoir, during which time we have been able to record some important species such as Redstart, Nuthatch and our signature bird, Tree Sparrow.  Happily, we have now been able to expand our recording area by taking up Carsington village’s offer of setting up a new nest box scheme (which is dedicated to the memory of one of our members, Betty Walker) within the churchyard.

On8 February 2009 the first seven new boxes were placed within the grounds at the rear of the church – an exciting area as its sits against the mature woodland on the hillside; it will be interesting to see which species takes advantage of the new boxes.

Paul Hicking

WORK UNDER WAY TO MAKE A BETTER HABITAT FOR ‘RATTY’

Water voles are one of Carsington Water’s wildlife highlights.  This delightful creature – which lovers of literature as well as wildlife know, courtesy of ‘Ratty’ from Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows – is relatively rare these days, but can be found living along the banks of Carsington Water and at ponds and streams around the site, where tall grasses or emergent vegetation, such as sedges and rushes, provide cover and much needed sources of food and nesting material.

With increased tree growth along watercourse banks, however, the quality of water vole habitat has declined.  Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s (DWT) water vole project, which is funded by the SITA Trust, has highlighted the importance of Carsington Water for the species and DWT staff has been working with Severn Trent Water ranger and volunteer ranger teams to enhance water vole habitat at the site. In February, a number of trees along the Henmore Brook and around the settlement ponds were coppiced to let in more light, which in turn will encourage the growth of vegetation along banks.

Fencing on adjacent farmland along the brook is in a poor state of repair and the Trust’s project will also fund replacement fencing which will protect water vole habitat from grazing livestock. Some additional new ponds are also planned to create further water vole habitat.

Water vole populations along the Henmore Brook and at Carsington Water are some of the last remaining populations in the Dove catchment.  Protecting these populations is essential for water vole recovery in this
catchment.  If you do see a water vole at Carsington Water please inform one of the rangers.  Records can also be sent to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust via their website www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

Helen Perkins, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

DID YOU KNOW?

A possible future option for members with computers is to receive the newsletter by e-mail, which would reduce the club’s postage bill and may be a preferable way of storing it.  Can you inform editor Gary Atkins (see contact box below) if you would prefer to receive it ‘electronically’ or if have any thoughts on the proposal.

The wildlife centre has a new high-resolution camera/CCTV to make wildlife sightings that little bit easier and clearer for visitors to Carsington Water.  This camera – with its ‘punk’ hairdo of long spikes to keep larger birds from roosting on it – can be operated by joystick from the centre.  High-resolution colour cameras fitted to bird boxes feed live nesting-time images to visitors to the visitor centre restaurant.

The well-regarded CBC website was ever more popular in 2008, with 64,710 ‘hits’ – 13,635 (or 22 per cent) more than 2007.  Virtually every area was visited more often, the biggest gain being the definitive bird list up 176 per cent.  Over a third of the hits were for the online sightings board, and a box of chocolates went to Margaret and Ray Perry for the most sightings (49) posted (apart from the collective efforts of RSPB/ABB volunteers).

No4 / November 2008

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

I imagine many of you feel, like me, that the year has once more flown by, and the weather as I write is decidedly wintry – but there are plenty of compensations in the bird world.

I have read on our website that Great Northern Divers are back again (read the reservoir report below for a lot more highlights over the autumn).  It’s also great to see flocks of winter passerines moving in – like Redwings, Fieldfare, Siskin and Redpolls – and there are signs that it may prove to be another Waxwing year, which would be fantastic.  Does anyone recall the large Waxwing flock opposite the Whitworth Institute in Darley Dale some years ago, the same year, I think, when I went on to Carsington to see the long-staying Great Grey Shrike.

There is also Cromford’s Hawfinch bonanza, which gives it national status, and there definitely seem enough large flocks of Starlings for another Kirk Ireton-like show this year!  And finally, with the clocks going back, I have been able to combine dog walking with Barn Owl watching around 5pm; on one evening an owl fly just ten feet above my entranced dog … definitely one of the benefits of the shortening days!

After such cheer I will come down to earth and mention our own continuing credit crunch.  I have never been good at creative accounting but I have had one revenue-raising idea (that my fellow committee members usually pass off with a laugh or two), which I am bringing up now – during the pantomime season!  I am serious, though, when I say I’d like to see a CBC team on the TV quiz show, ‘Eggheads’?  I’ve not watched it that often, but there’s always one of the resident ‘experts’ whose face carries a smirk I’d love to wipe off!  And on the rare occasions the challengers are successful, they do walk off with thousands of pounds.

It would seem appropriate for a club of birdwatchers to take on the ‘Eggheads’, so would any members fancy joining me in assembling a team to see if we can put some additional finance back into our coffers?  !  If I can find another four members who would like to give it a go, I can investigate what’s involved.  And even if we didn’t win, it would give the club some great publicity.

Finally, I hope to see you at our Christmas Party night on 16 December, which will feature Nick Brown (an officer with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust) talking about the Derby Cathedral Peregrines.  But if I don’t see you then, may I wish you all a happy Christmas and good New Year on behalf of all the committee.

Peter Gibbon

 

SUMMER VISITORS DEPART, WHILE OTHERS (DIVERS INCLUDED) START WINTER HOLIDAY

The best September species total for several years included a Honey Buzzard flying over Sheepwash car park – part of a large movement throughEnglandaround that time – a Grey Phalarope which touched down briefly and a pair of juvenile Shags that stayed around for 2-3 weeks.

A single bird made it three months in a row for Black Tern, and 41 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying north-east on 23 September.  The highest count of Coot reached 1,292 on the 14^th.

Another bird displaying large movements from the continent is Waxwings, and while only one has been noted at Carsington – on 16 November – we can hope for a treat if they increase their numbers in Derbyshire.

Among long-staying migrants, the prize goes to two Chiffchaffs on 21 October, though House Martins, Swallows and Wheatear were all noted earlier that month, and two Willow Warblers were recorded as late as 19 September.  The autumn/winter movements brought both Yellow and White Wagtails to their favoured spot – the dam wall – along with Rock Pipit, Lesser Redpoll, Brambling, Linnet and Siskin, while the flocks of roosting Starlings are steadily growing in size (recalling memories of the massive roost at Kirk Ireton two years ago).

Great Northern Divers seem to pop up at Carsington most years, and they duly returned in October.  They often stay around a fair while, too, and between two and four were noted at various times right through to late November.   A juvenile Gannet – not recorded since 2000 – flew through on 29 October, and winter visiting ducks have so far included Common Scoter (up to eight in early November), Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser, while Gadwall, Pintail and Shoveler are recorded regularly among a good variety of waterfowl.

Waders seen during this period included Ruff, Curlew, Knot, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank and, during October, both Golden and Ringed Plovers.  The sizeable gull roost (up to 3,000 Lesser Black-backed and 1,200 Black-headed) has included some rarities, including an adult Ring-billed Gull on several evenings in November, when five Yellow-Legs were also recorded and a Mediterranean Gull twice reprised a single appearance in October.

After an excellent raptor month in September – when Merlin, Osprey and Hobby joined the more regular Kestrels and Buzzards – October was quieter, though Peregrines were often seen and are joining the ‘regular’ band.

 

CLUB MEMBERS ‘TRAVEL’ THE WORLD TO SEE FANTASTIC BIRDS!

Club events have seen both real and virtual journeys around some of the most interesting birding territories.  The real one was just a few days ago – to the Wildlife and Wetland Trust’s Welney site in The Fens, when 20 members were rewarded after enduring six hours on the road and a bitterly cold day with 48 species including one of Welney’s stars, the Whooper Swan, plus two glimpses of a more unexpected visitor, a Hen Harrier.

The virtual trips to more exotic locations were made during the first three indoor meetings of the year.  Firstly, Paul Bingham took us toSouth Africain September, and then Andrew Sherwin came along to Hognaston Village Hall in October to describe – and show – the wide diversity of bird life on show inGoaonIndia’s west coast.  And earlier this month, Susan and Allan Parker displayed their considerable photographic talents with a thorough look at the birds encountered on the nearer-to-home (and slightly less exotic) northNorfolkcoast.

Further south inNorfolkis where to find Welney.  Snow had fallen overnight on 23 November when the travellers set off, but not enough to affect the trip, which turned out to be something of a ‘curate’s egg’.  While it was disappointing that three of the main hides were out of commission due to flooding (including one at the far end of the reserve, the area where Bewick Swans were most likely to be found), there were some interesting wetland (and other) birds on show – including Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Pintail, Pochard, Goosander, and Stonechat, not forgetting the harrier and swans in good numbers.  And the day was topped off with the sight of a collection of ducks and swans in a feeding frenzy at dusk in front of the main observation hide.

 

CLOSE DOS LINK BOOSTS WINTER FEEDING FOR BIRDS

Derbyshire Ornithological Society (DOS) are the county bird club and are one of the organisations with which we work closely.  Many CBC members are also members of DOS and, likewise, several DOS committee members have been CBC members since the club’s earliest days.  As well as holding an annual joint meeting, we have a nominee (Paul Hicking) on the DOS Committee and both clubs are represented on the Carsington Water User Liaison Committee.

In 2006, DOS allocated some funds to a winter feeding programme and ran a successful pilot scheme at Hilton Nature Reserve (a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust site). Last winter, they extended the pilot to include similar arrangements at Carr Vale, Drakelow and here at Carsington Water.  We utilised their grant of £75 towards our feeding station adjacent to the Paul Stanley hide.

In the present economic situation, any and all funding is most welcome and we are delighted that DOS would again like to assist us during the coming winter.  CBC and DOS share the view that conservation bodies stand a much greater chance of making a difference for wildlife and wild places by working together – and this is a good example of the benefit of such collaboration.

 

SLEEP WELL, HEDGEHOGS!

With a duty of care to wildlife around the site – and hedgehogs now officially listed as a species needing greater protection and conservation – Severn Trent Water’s ranger team has launched enthusiastically into a programme to provide houses in which these endearing mammals can successfully hibernate and breed.

The work began at the suggestion of Rose Day who, after a ‘hog’ sighting on StonesIsland, co-opted the help of volunteer rangers to fill the gap in the hedgehog housing market by building some starter homes for the delightful creatures that do so much good as natural pest controllers.  However, starter homes were not good enough either for Carsington Water’s Erinaceus europaeus population or for the volunteers.

Instead, they believed what was needed was a design for an up-market, insulated, air conditioned home, of wooden construction, suitable for hibernation and family life that would attract even the most particular of potential occupants!  This was Rose’s cue to trawl the worldwide web for best-practice advice: each box (she read on expert websites) should be positioned ideally facing south or south-east, to avoid cold winter winds, and sitting on roofing felt to stop rising damp. It should be provided with newspaper, straw and leaves inside for insulation and comfort and finally covered with straw and leaves topped with a layer of felt to keep it dry.

The result was a high-quality solution, well in advance of the original starter-home concept.  And five of these boxes have now been made and placed in various ‘hidden’ locations around Carsington Water to encourage safe sleeping for hedgehogs wintering on site.

If you happen to see any hedgehogs while visiting Carsington Water please report sightings, either to Rose Day via reception in the visitor centre, or by calling 0121 702 5040.

Hog Log:  What you need to know…

There are about a dozen species of hedgehog spread through China, south-east Asia (including New Zealand where it was introduced), Africa and Europe. The hedgehog we see in Britain is the European species which, like its cousins, is part of an ancient family going back perhaps as much as 15 million years.

An adult hedgehog is between 20-30cms long and weighs up to 650g. Their surprisingly long legs (about 10cm) allow them to run as fast as we can walk, and their defining feature is, of course, the spines – actually modified hairs around 3cm long – of which they have between 5,000 and 7,000!

They are mostly nocturnal and eyesight is poor, so they rely on excellent senses of smell and hearing during night-time sorties of up to 3km searching for beetles, caterpillars and earthworms (though slugs, snails, insects and even birds eggs feature in a broad diet).  During exceptionally bad weather humans can supplement a hedgehog’s diet with cat or dog food and fresh water – but, remember, never cow’s milk.

Apart from the mating season, hedgehogs lead solitary lives and the female has to raise her 2-6 hoglets by herself from May to September; when they are about six weeks old they leave the nest and go their own way.  Life expectancy is around 4-5 years but they may grow as old as 10.

Winter conditions and the increasing lack of food triggers hedgehog hibernation (anytime from November to April) when they breathe only once every few minutes, their heart rate drops from about 190 to just 20 beats per minute and body temperature plummets from a normal 35ºC down to 10ºC – clearly the most dangerous time for hedgehogs.

Anyone wanting further expert information or advice, or details on making your own hedgehog box, should contact The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 3PL … Tel: 01584 890801)

 

WHAT’S ON …?

Carsington Bird Club’s programme of indoor meetings programmes at Hognaston village hall will continue with our Christmas party on 16 December, when a buffet is being provided and guest speaker will be Nick Brown of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, describing Derby Cathedral’s nesting Peregrine Falcons.  The club’s AGM (followed by a talk) follows in January, with a very varied programme of illustrated talks then continuing through to the spring. The full programme (all at Hognaston village hall, starting at7.30pm, unless otherwise stated) is as follows:

16 December    Christmas party (Inc buffet and talk by Nick Brown – entry £2.50)

20 January ‘09  CBC Annual General Meeting (followed by talk on the birds     Hognaston Village Hall (7pm)

                         of Poland by Peter Gibbon)

27 January        Committee Meeting                                                                   Visitor Centre (8pm)     

17 February       Talk by Phil Straton (Severn Trent’s fishery officer at Carsington)

on ‘Life Under The Surface’

17th March       Talk by Danny Green (2007 International Bird Photographer of

the Year): ‘Going North’ – a Journey fromScotlandto theArctic’

Booking often proves essential (c/o  01629 540696) for Severn Trent Water’s busy schedule, which is as follows:

Every Tuesday   Aren’t birds brilliant! at Carsington Water:  Learn about the site’s         Wildlife Centre (10.30-15.30)

and Sunday      exciting wildlife; just turn up and use the scopes/bins provided            

29 Nov-24 Dec  Christmas lunch is served! (call 01629 540363 for more details)   Mainsail Restaurant

6-7 December   Christmas at Carsington (family fun: watch out for Santa, along          Visitor Centre

with Sheepwash Spinners, festive food, crafts + more – charge)

7 December     Birdwatching for Beginners (free guided tour; first come, first    Visitor Centre (10am-noon)

served; bring boots, suitable clothing, binoculars + notebook)

4 January ’09    Birdwatching for Beginners (see entry above for more details)

17/18 January   RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (join in this national project – free) Wildlife Centre (10.30-15.30)

1 & 15 February Birdwatching for Beginners (see entries above for more details)

8 February         Trees without leaves (free guided walk to identify trees in winter)          Sheepwash car park (10.30)

15 February       National nest box weekend (make your own nestbox – drop-in            Visitor Centre (11.00-15.30)

workshops, various charges)

 

ABB! UPDATE: GOOD LUCK, AMANDA – AND WELCOME, CHRIS

RSPB Aren’t Birds Brilliant! project officer Amanda Lynnes recently left to have a baby – and her replacement, Chris Johnstone, is now getting his feet wet (often literally) in this challenging role.  Here are his initial thoughts …

It’s true what the rangers told me: The sunlight reflected off the water does make you smile each morning – even if you are heading to work! I’ve been the ABB project officer barely a month, but I’m already getting hooked.

As a youngster, I set up nature trails in my (modest sized) back garden and would show neighbouring kids of about my age around, pointing out worms and beetles, moths and spiders’ webs I’d previously noted the locations of.  Telling my visitors interesting facts I’d gleaned from books and magazines gave me real pleasure. (that, and the income I made from a 5p entry fee!).  Now, part of my job is to show people wildlife and to inspire them about the partnership between the RSPB and Severn Trent Water at Carsington. A stroke of luck if you ask me!

With an extensive number of species to show visitors, it is difficult to find yourself without something to talk about during an ABB event. What’s more, local birders bring a wealth of knowledge that I’m just beginning to tap into. Carsington Water seems to have a definite air of magic and rarely disappoints, no matter what the weather.

What makes this fantastic occupation so rewarding is my genuine belief of the value in working in conservation. Describing the RSPB’s campaigns and associated conservation work never gets boring; I’ve never had a job in which I have believed so strongly in the topics and issues at hand – both locally and globally. Local environments depend on thousands, if not millions of tiny interacting factors. These, in turn, link into global environments and it quickly becomes apparent that working to save a species in a far-off country is something to care about.

In the meantime, I intend to be humbled by the ever-changing wildlife and the work carried out at Carsington Water and the input from volunteers and local groups.  I must thank Amanda, of course, from whom I’ve inherited a strong foundation and partnership ethos.  Her team of award-winning volunteers have ensured the ABB! project here at Carsington has moved from strength to strength.  I know how much time she dedicated to her work and how lucky the project is to have so many active volunteers and supporters. It’s my aim to maintain this momentum and to increase awareness of this fabulous site and its wildlife.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

The club website, administered so ably by Richard Pittam continues to make great strides, with ‘hits’ during the three months from August to October totalling more than 14,000 – up 17 per cent since the same period last year.  Most popular is the current sightings board, which rose 26 per cent to reach 5,404 – people really want to know what’s around before they trek to the reservoir itself – and the other highest percentage increases were the newsletter (up 56 per cent, and now being accessed online by members and non-members alike) and the definitive bird list – up a massive 72 per cent (due, Richard believes, to increased awareness of the page and links provided to bird descriptions).

*                              *                       *                       *

At this hungry time for birds, one of our members is recommending Johnson-Ladygrove Ltd of Two Dales, near Matlock as an outlet from which to buy bird food economically (and even more so with the 10 per cent discount available to CBC members).  Peanuts, fat balls, sunflower hearts and a range of seeds are available, we are told, at prices up to 50 per cent cheaper than most on-line stores.  To enquire, call 01629 733342.

*                              *                       *                       *

And away from Carsington, national papers reported a concern by experts at St Andrews University that songbirds living in cities may die out because they are having to compete with deafening noise, or opting to sing after dark when they become more ready prey to predators: singing (too loudly or at night), it seems, can damage your health … if you’re a Robin, that is!  Meanwhile, a female Goshawk is going against the grain and saving birds’ lives: a very lifelike robot UAV (or unmanned air vehicle) with a six-foot wingspan is proving successful in scaring birds away at airports, thereby saving any birds that may get sucked into aircraft engines – and, more importantly, improving safety for the travelling public, too!

No3 / August 2008

 CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

In this edition, I’d like to report back on an important wildlife issue – the appeal lodged by Carsington Wind Energy Ltd (formerly West Coast Energy), which is looking to overturn an initial rejection by Derbyshire Dales District Council of its proposal to site a wind farm on the pastures above the reservoir.

The company’s appeal was heard atMatlockTown Hallon 1 July, and I attended with the intention of underlining information on birdlife in and around Carsington Water.  On the first day the names of those wanting to speak were taken, with any written evidence submitted for printing on that day.  I gave a two-page document showing bird movement statistics recorded over 15 years by Carsington Bird Club members.  While clearly I was not empowered to speak on behalf of the whole CBC membership (many of whom may well be in favour of green energy initiatives such as this), the committee felt someone should speak on behalf of the birdlife in and around Carsington, so that’s how I approached it.

This seemed even more important after both English Nature and the RSPB withdrew their objections as a result of an ornithology report commissioned by the energy company and undertaken by Atmos Consulting. It summarised 72 hours’ monitoring (over eight months from September 2007) to assess the probable impact on birds of the proposed wind turbines, and was evidently considered thorough enough by other expert bodies.

The appeal opened with the two sides agreeing on areas of ‘common ground’ – including impact on wildlife.  So, with the respective briefs working for the council and the company agreeing up front not even to debate this topic, so long as certain guidelines were followed, the subject of birdlife was already deemed to be of no further concern.  As no-one else seemed set to put up a case for bird conservation, I (encouraged by nods of support from local citizens) asked if I could return on the Friday to put my point of view.

On the day, even though I had been recognised as a speaker, the Inspector then almost overlooked me – signalling he was about to adjourn for the weekend – but I intervened and was allowed to give my presentation.  My essential argument was that surely 15 years of detailed records kept by CBC members – and published in comprehensive form in the club’s annual report – were likely to be of more value in judging the impact on birdlife than a 72-hour survey.  I also aired three papers, presented to a BOU conference in 2005, about renewable energy and birds.  These had to be printed off for all parties, so a coffee break was called, after which I was rather disappointed that the council’s barrister failed to return and listen to my testimony.

I presume he felt I was dealing with a ‘dead duck’ as the issue had already been jointly sidelined as incontestable ‘common ground’.  Yet I felt the Atmos report was selective and, in parts, misleading, with conclusions such as “given the wildfowl resource at Carsington Water and the small numbers recorded it’s unlikely any development would have a significant impact on the integrity of the local population”!

My evidence included several observations each year over the period in question of large skeins of geese flying north of the reservoir and in the vicinity of the proposed turbine site.  I also highlighted raptor evidence, the height at which different species fly, the different types of migration patterns and the impact of variable meteorological conditions.

But I still had one important final point to raise, as I had noticed that the addresses of the wind farm company and Atmos were virtually identical – and found a satellite image showing them as part of the same isolated farm complex – which meant the company hired by the wind energy company to do the ornithological surveys was right next door!

I felt this brought the report’s impartiality into question and said as much, at which point the barrister for the company went on the defensive and asked who was I to challenge something that was good enough for English Nature and the RSPB, suggesting that surely it was beyond suspicion!

We now await the appeal result on 12 September.  If the initial decision was to be overturned I would convey my concerns to both English Nature and the RSPB regarding the apparently close working relationship between the energy company and Atmos Consulting.  I would also query why they didn’t think our comprehensive records over more than 15 years were worth looking at!

Peter Gibbon

 

SPOONBILL ‘FIRST’ IS SNAPPED BY VOLUNTEER RANGER

Perhaps the single highlight of the last three months was yet another Carsington first – a Spoonbill, which dropped in for just half-an-hour on 29 May, but was ‘shot’ (by the camera of volunteer ranger Jim Craw) in that brief time … and the resulting pictures can be found on the website (www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk).

May’s total of 113 species seen was the best since 2004, and also provided the surprise of a Turtle Dove, spotted on feeders at the wildlife centre – the first Carsington record of this increasingly rare UK species for 12 years, and a cuckoo, once a common sight and sound in spring but not seen since 2004.

The focus in June and July was breeding, which saw variable success.  The number of Moorhen and Little Grebe broods was lower, and waders had difficulty because of the high water levels, while broods of geese (including five Barnacle broods totalling 18 young), ducks and Coot were closer to usual.  Twenty House Martin nests were counted in and around the Visitor Centre buildings, while a pair of Swallows successfully bred – twice – in the stone shelter beyond Millfields.  A Reed Warbler was singing at Hopton Pond for most of the spring and early summer, and may well have bred, while a family group of Spotted Flycatchers was viewed in Hall Wood.

Up to 27 juvenile Black-headed Gulls were counted in mid July, and it has been a good period for terns, though only two Common Tern chicks were raised at the Wildlife Centre – and only one of those remained by late July.  Black Terns were seen in both July and August, while Common Terns numbered as many as 26 on 29 July.

More recent wader sightings include Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwin and Greenshank, while the ‘local’ Oystercatchers and Redshank had mostly moved away from the reservoir by mid-late July.  A Little Egret was recorded on 23 August, and Shelduck were seen in both July and August.

Among raptors, the most exciting records have been an Osprey in late August, a Red Kite (which seem to be seen increasingly regularly in Derbyshire), and each month there are several sightings of Peregrine Falcon.  After the close-up views of a Long-eared Owl in the spring, there were also clear sightings in June of a Tawny Owl on the memorial at the end of the dam wall and a Barn Owl carrying prey at dusk around Sheepwash.

NB: It’s worth noting that many of the passerines visiting Carsington (like the Turtle Dove above) are tempted to come – and to return – by the bird feeders positioned strategically around the site, so thanks (from us and on behalf of the birds!) should go to the Derbyshire Ornithological Society and to Severn Trent Water for ensuring the feeders are well stocked.

 

SOUTH AFRICA PICKS UP WHERE NIGHTJARS LEFT OFF!

As we reluctantly leave the summer (did we actually have one?!) behind, the club’s events programme moves back indoors in September with the 2008/09 series of illustrated talks at Hognaston Village Hall.

Kicking off with Paul Bingham’s look at the wildlife of South Africa, another talk destined to warm our blood, in October, will be Andrew Sherwin’s view of Goa, the attractive province on India’s west coast.

A highlight of the recent outdoor season was the sparsely-attended trip to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire to view one of the UK’s most elusive and best camouflaged birds, the Nightjar.   Expertly led by Paul and Steph Hicking, the few other members who attended in July were entranced to see several Nightjars on the wing and one that landed on a tree branch only 30 yards from the observers and, even though it was dusk, offered fantastic detailed views.  A small group of Woodcock were also seen at close quarters as they sped past, too fast to train binoculars on but so near identification was easy.

Unfortunately, the only planned trip during the last quarter – targeting two sites in East Anglia – had to be cancelled due to the lack of people applying to go, which made it uneconomical.  Another trip is, however, planned for November to see wetland wildfowl (see ‘What’s On’ below and the cut-off slip at the end of this newsletter).

 

NEW FEATURES RAISE GAME FOR CBC WEBSITE

For those who are not regular visitors to the Carsington Bird Club website, be assured it’s well worth a ‘surf’ – with an increasingly mature content and new features appearing regularly, courtesy of webmaster Richard Pittam.

In recent months, Richard has added a CBC Forum page, where people can exchange information and comments; just register online and join in the conversations.  An impressive and well-ordered image gallery has over 100 photographs arranged into five categories – Birds, Flora, Fauna, Insects and Landscapes.  A CBC Blog page is where the committee can inform members of updates, stories and information relating to Carsington Water, and there’s another ‘blog’ link that keeps a diary of events and sightings at the nearby Derbyshire Wildlife Trust site at Wyver Lane, Belper.  Richard also encourages us to step out of our parochial setting from time to time, with UK Bird News and World Bird News pages that speak for themselves.

Another new feature is the Definite Bird List that presents the bird records from 1991 to 2007 in a range of digestible ways.  It includes links to web pages describing identification and factual information on common species and is, says Richard, another resource that’s meant to be of educational benefit – particularly for the younger bird-watcher.

All this is in addition to the well-established pages that keep any keen member right up-to-date with sightings and happenings around the reservoir – including site’s biggest “hit” register, the sightings page (and the opportunity to post your sightings), and also club recorder Roger Carrington’s monthly report, back copies of the CBC newsletter, and a range of background information on both the Carsington Bird Club and the reservoir itself.

From April to July this year, there were more than 23,000 ‘hits’, around 9,500 of which were for the basic index, but another 9,000-plus wanted to investigate the latest sightings, and over 1,000 to look at the Definitive Bird List.

 

CARSINGTON VOLUNTEERS BOOST BENEFITS OF AREN’T BIRDS BRILLIANT!

The past year has been another incredibly successful one for the RSPB’s Aren’t birds brilliant! (Abb!) project, thanks largely to the team of outstanding volunteers.

The main benefit is the number of visitors who have had a fantastic experience at Carsington Water, been inspired by the wildlife and learned about the conservation work undertaken on site.  Through the Abb! initiative I, as project officer, and volunteers have been able to change opinions about Severn Trent Water and raise awareness and support for the RSPB.

This excellent work is underpinned by help from Carsington Bird Club by way of the club’s precise wildlife recording, its informative annual reports, with planning proposals, and by guiding Abb! volunteers on walks and providing public information (particularly through the excellent CBC website).  We greatly appreciate this support, so a big thank-you from both Severn Trent Water and the RSPB!

Many visitors to the Wildlife Centre said they felt it had been brought to life by the presence of volunteers and many more reported that while they had visited Carsington Water many times, they had never been to the Wildlife Centre until directed there on an event day.

Forty-five per cent more people were met by the volunteer team in the past year than had been during the first, and the number of Abb! events held grew by 36 to 126.  There were more guided walks and illustrated talks, and the volunteers logged 30 per cent more hours ‘on duty’.  All this helped increase RSPB membership, which is good for conservation, and the only area not increasing was name gathering (which helps in STW/RSPB marketing), and an extra effort is to be made during 2008/09 to ensure as many visitors as possible sign the visitors book.

The third year of the project will also seek to build on the increasingly-solid foundations by maintaining its strong presence at Carsington Water, increasing the number of event days where possible and expanding activity to other sites where relevant.  Abb! children’s activity sessions will be introduced, with encouragement to families to take part in fun, hands-on educational sessions aimed at learning more about wildlife on site.

As for me, I am due to go on maternity leave in early November and will, in the meantime, be replaced by someone brimming with enthusiasm and fresh ideas … Watch out for that new face!

Amanda Lynnes, Abb! Project Officer

 

WHAT’S ON …

Carsington Bird Club’s indoor meetings programme is almost upon us: beginning next month, the talks take place at Hognaston Village Hall and all begin at7.30pm.  Anyone wanting to pop along to a CBC committee meeting (dates listed below) to get a flavour for what activities the committee undertake, feel free to do so.  After the last coach trip was cancelled, hopefully the current offering will prove more popular. Full event details:

16 September     First indoor meeting: talk by Paul Bingham on South Africa               Hognaston Village Hall

23 September     CBC committee meeting                                                    Visitor Centre (8pm)

21 October         Talk by Andrew Sherwin on Goa                                                      Hognaston Village Hall

18 November      Talk by Susan and Allan Parker – Birding the North Norfolk Coast     Hognaston Village Hall

23 November      Trip to the WWT Welney Wetland Centre reserve (see cut-off slip on page 4)

25 November      CBC committee meeting                                                    Visitor Centre (8pm)

16 December      Club’s Christmas Party (entertainments to be arranged)                    Hognaston Village Hall

Booking is often essential (c/o  01629 540696) for Severn Trent Water’s busy events schedule, which is as follows:

Every Tuesday    Aren’t birds brilliant! at Carsington Water:  Learn about the site’s       Wildlife Centre

and Sunday        exciting wildlife; just turn up and use the scopes/bins provided           (10.30am-3.30pm)

6 September       Wateraid Raft Race (charity donations; cheer on STW staff and         Visitor Centre (11am-3pm)

contractors  – also family activities/barbeque)

7 September       Birdwatching for Beginners (first come, first served to maximum         Visitor Centre (10am-noon)

of 25; bring boots, suitable clothing, binoculars and notebook)

5 October           Birdwatching for Beginners (see September’s details above)

Carsington Duathlon (contact James Cresswell 01332 513299 or www.punishingevents.com)

 

11/12 October     Honey Fair (Derbyshire beekeepers explain why bees are                  Henmore Room (from1pm

declining in number and how honey is made; free entry)                    Saturday, 11am Sunday)

25/26 October     RSPB Feed the Birds Day (fun ideas for how to help birds survive       Visitor Centre and Wildlife

                         the winter; also view some of our autumn/winter visitors)                    Centre (10.30am-4pm)

30/31 October     Aren’t birds brilliant! children’s activities (hands-on sessions,             Education Rm (10.30-12.30)

                         outdoor if possible; bring willies/waterproofs … £3.50 per child)

2 November        Birdwatching for Beginners (see earlier entries above for more details)

8/9 November     Car washing for Children in Need (min £4 donation, please!)  Visitor Centre main car park

 

LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS AMONG LATEST CBC MEMBERS!

While membership hovers around the 170 mark (some of those families, of course), one of the more satisfying recent developments is that two schools have joined under the newest CBC membership category.   Since the brainchild of Chairman and former teacher, Peter Gibbon, was advertised,BonsallPrimary SchoolandBrassingtonPrimary Schoolhave both joined – and hopefully will generate an active interest in birds among both the pupils and their parents, as well as give teachers the potential to include the subject in schoolwork.