No3/August 2007

 CHAIRMAN’S NEWS AND VIEWS

On the evening of 17 July the future of the wind farm scheme at Carsington Pastures was decided.  I was invited to make a representation on behalf of the club at the Southern Area Planning Committee of Derbyshire Dales District Council.  A comprehensive report from the officers recommended refusal from the outset, but I still went along to be seen and heard.  Each speaker was given three minutes to put their case: I was the first to speak, followed by 12 others against – all local residents of Carsington.  It was a chance to repeat how superficial the applicant’s environmental survey was and how the winter and migration seasons – when Carsington Reservoir has its optimum number of birds in residence – had been overlooked.  Three minutes seemed far too short but that was the rule.

Other speakers raised archaeological, geological, geographical, economic, social and political objections to the plan – and the fact that the nearest dwelling would be only 650 metres, where it should be 1,600 metres. This scheme was also recognised as the least favourable of six proposed sites within Derbyshire.

When the sole speaker for Carsington Wind Energy Limited rose to speak he looked very isolated and must have known he was fighting a losing battle.  He suggested there was an obligation for somewhere in Derbyshire to have a wind farm in Derbyshire at some point, but an officer stated this was not a binding rule.  It was also suggested the company had carried out further ecological studies regarding newts and bats but this simply underlined how flimsy was their concept of what really makes up such a study.  After claiming Natural England had signalled approval, the officer again stepped in to say this organisation had reviewed the scheme and changed its mind.

On further discussion, another crucial fact emerged that really sealed the application’s fate: Guidance notes for such an application suggest that applicants should consult with local people from 18 months before submitting plans, yet this company didn’t consult at all – a very strange omission for a professional organisation!

The councillors unanimously rejected the plans and, while the company can appeal this decision, it seems unlikely they will after such an ignominious trouncing, so hopefully this really is the end of the whole affair.

We have mentioned before that club finances are being stretched by increasing costs for printing, postage, Hognaston Hall rental, and charges for speakers and their travel.  At the last committee meeting we discussed this and concluded we will have to increase our revenue.  It was discussed at the last annual general meeting that we would propose to the next AGM, in January 2008, raising membership fees and club meeting entrance fees.  There are four months and two committee meetings left to formulate these proposals.  If any member has any views on this I would be pleased to hear them and air them with the committee.

Peter Gibbon

RARE ALBATROSS TOPS ‘RES’ SIGHTINGS – MUCH TO THE WOODS’ SURPRISE

At around 3pm on 2 July, casual birdwatchers Cyril and Shirley Wood were in the right spot at the right time, and suspected they’d perhaps seen something a bit unusual, but they could hardly imagine they had logged only Derbyshire’s second ever albatross record and the first for 50 years). The rarity committees will now deliberate for up to 12 months before deciding on the Woods’ sighting, believed to be a Yellow-nosed albatross, usually aSouth Atlanticspecies.  Yet their privileged view – of what looked like a large black-backed gull that scattered Coot and even Canada Geese as it flopped onto the water – has independent credence from two other sightings, one several hours before, in Somerset, and another several hours after on a fishing pond in Lincolnshire which indicated Carsington Water could well have been on this errant bird’s flight path!

In fact it was a newspaper photograph of the Somerset bird, which had been rescued and released, that alerted Cyril and Shirley to what they’d seen: a large bird (by albatross standards its two-metre wingspan is relatively small!) with a white head, dark eye, dark back and wings and a black bill – though the thin yellow streak at the top of the bill that lends the bird its name was perhaps not quite so visible.  Below is a profile of this bird, so unusual to be sighted in the northern hemisphere …

“A relatively small albatross, the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross is named after the yellow streak ending in a pink tip along the top of the bill. The head is grey with a white cap; upperparts are blackish-grey. There is a white ring around the neck; this white colouration extends across the underside. The underwings are white, tipped with a narrow black edge.  Sexes are alike, but juveniles have an entirely white head and black bill. This species breeds on Gough Island and the islands of Tristan da Cuhna in the Southern Ocean.”

More recently, a stately Osprey turned up, only to be chased off by Black-headed Gulls, possibly being particularly protective since this species has bred for the first time at Carsington.  Three pairs have each raised two young, which is a notable success in a season when breeding has been decidedly mixed.

It was a case of ‘rain stopped play’ in the early part of the summer, as grebe nests were washed away and the high water line meant potential nest sites were under water.  The resilience of birds is amazing, though, and ultimately there were five broods each for Little and Great Crested Grebes, plus 21 Mallard, 12 Coot, and 7 Moorhen broods – and from just one during the height of the floods, Tufted Ducks ultimately raised 15 broods.

Elsewhere, 23 House Martin nests were counted around the visitor centre complex, Hall Wood has seen both Buzzards and Raven raise young as well as being home to several broods of Spotted Flycatcher.  Peter Oldfield reports that Barn Owls have successfully bred on site, but the hopes raised by singing Reed Warblers have turned out to be false, with no sign of breeding in the reed beds!

 

OUTINGS BRING VARIETY – FROM PUFFINS TO NIGHTJARS

It can’t be, can it – a Hooded Crow onAnglesey?  Well, it was, but it certainly caused a few puzzled looks among Carsington’s birders as they scrabbled for field guides to ensure that Ireland and Scotland, and not Wales, is where ‘Hoodies’ are meant to be resident.  But these birds hadn’t read the same books and certainly meant to stay – the handsome male on a hilltop keeping a watchful eye on his domain, while his mate sat on a nest just 12 feet up in a pine tree nestling in a small valley.

The RSPB’s South Stack reserve, near Holyhead, also delighted with good views of Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes.  Stonechats, Wheatear and pipits were typical of the territory, but the main prize – and surprisingly easy to spot – were the half a dozen Choughs that obligingly hopped around the well-cropped fields or took to the air in front of us for their breathtaking display of aerobatics among the jackdaws, auks and gulls.

Earlier on, after a lengthy drive, 35 Carsington Bird Club members enjoyed a couple of hours at the Conwy reserve, which is flat, pleasantly open and well laid out with several hides overlooking lagoons and scrapes.

In fact, being next to a tidal estuary and with scrubland packing the fringes of the site, separating it from the busy A55 main coast road, it contains several distinct habits within a quite small area inside its perimeters.

That made for some good varied birding: waterfowl, warblers, hirundines and other summer visitors all figured, while Reed Buntings posed nicely for photos, and the reeds held noisy but shy Reed and Sedge Warblers, and both Whitethroats and their “Lesser” cousins were evident.  Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank probed the sand and mud, and overhead several Buzzards and Kestrels soared and hovered. From one hide, and pointed out by local birders, a rare Ringed Teal was spotted.  In all at least 66 species were logged during this club trip in June.

From such variety, it was a complete contrast when a very small group of enthusiasts risked the dodgy ‘summer’ weather to travel toClumberParkin July to see if they could spot just one special species – the nightjar.  Not only did they do so, but they had some really fabulous views of these attractive streamlined flyers, swift-like and hawk-like by turns as they were manoeuvred, hovering up insects, silhouetted against a slowly darkening sky.

A glimpse is often as good as it gets, but there were some excellent extended views, particularly when the humans replicated the clapping of their wings, prompting the birds to make another circuit to check out the action!  But they weren’t fooled for long and were soon lost in the gathering gloom.  Thanks to Paul and Steph Hicking for pinpointing the precise location for viewing them … where an extra bonus was a woodcock in flight.

 

CARSINGTON IS PART OF CRAYFISH CONSERVATION PLAN

A Severn Trent Water Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) parallels a UK BAP that aims to conserve and enhance biodiversity within the UK. One threatened species selected for conservation management in the UK BAP is the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, for which a Species Action Plan (SAP) has been devised.

Severn Trent aims to become involved in the SAP for this crayfish species to protect and enhance their numbers inhabiting bodies of water within its ownership.  As a large landowner – with over 20,000 hectares in around 2,500 separate holdings, many with crayfish – Severn Trent is in a strong position to be instrumental in moving forward the SAP for white-clawed crayfish.

In August 2003, following a feasibility study, David Rogers Associates introduced 432 white-clawed crayfish (61% males and 39% female) into Carsington Water from a donor population in Nanpantan Reservoir.

There were two release sites – one along the dam wall at the southern end of the reservoir, where the large majority were released, the other into Hopton Pond where post-release monitoring would be more feasible in the shorter term; any crayfish migrating from the pond would colonise the northern end of Carsington Water.

Later, in November 2003, a further 270 predominantly female crayfish, many carrying eggs, were released at the north end of Carsington Water’s dam.
Post-release monitoring is important, though it must be said it’s difficult to detect low-density populations in such a large body of water as Carsington Water.

A survey this year aimed to survey the two release points in Carsington Water as part of the post-release monitoring:  On 14-16 May, 50 small-mesh crayfish traps were set overnight at the two locations where crayfish were released in 2003.  They were retrieved the following day, with searches of suitable habitat near the release sites made by turning over suitable looking stones and using a pond net to catch any dislodged crayfish.  A single male (carapace length 45 mm, weight 31g) was caught near the release site in Hopton Pool, though no crayfish were caught in the main reservoir – perhaps not surprising given its size and the relatively small numbers of crayfish introduced.

The conclusion is that although Carsington Water habitat and water quality are good, it’s unlikely large numbers of crayfish will be found by any survey method until a very large population has built up.

To increase the chances of successfully establishing a population, it’s felt further introductions need to be made into reservoir – and on 21August a further 123 crayfish (47 female, 76 male) were duly introduced to Hopton Pond.  More introductions are expected to happen over the next year with the aim of creating an “arc” site where they can establish healthy enough populations to be relocated to other sites to expand populations.

Ben Young, STW Ranger

AN EAGLE (OWL) EYE FOR DETAIL …

This Eagle Owl was drawn by a budding young artist,  Robert Rathbone from Belper.    Amazingly he is only 13 years old!  He has offered to do some work for the Annual Report, an offer that we will gratefully take up in future. We do indeed desperately need new artists, so if you think you can help please get in touch with a committee member!

BIG DRAW – CHANCE FOR KIDS TO FEATHER NEST

A reminder to those members who have children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren – or who ARE children – the more artistic among them can win prizes if they draw a bird while visiting Carsington Water this summer.  But with a deadline for entries of 23 September, the budding artists will have to hurry.

Children living in Derbyshire can enter this new free competition, run by Carsington Bird Club, in three age group categories: 5-8, 9-11 and 12-15 year-olds.  Entrants should fill in an entry form (see CBC website), attach it to their artwork and hand them into the Visitor Centre at Carsington Water.  Local wildlife artist Irene Brierton, who is also a CBC member, will carry out judging in October.

First prize in this art competition, run by Carsington Bird Club, will be a pair of quality binoculars for each of the three age groups, donated by London Camera Exchange and Derbyshire Dales District Council.  Other prizes in each category will include shopping and cycle hire vouchers, cash, books and free bird club membership.

The aim of the contest is to raise children’s awareness of birds and the impact of the modern world on their habitats.

 

No2 / May 2007

CHAIRMAN’S NEWS AND VIEWS

Have you renewed your membership? — As of mid-May, we had 87 single, 64 family and three junior members. This means a total membership of 154, and that includes 12 who were new members, so certainly we are down on the high of around 200 not so long ago. If you have simply forgotten or not got round to renewing your membership yet, please do so as soon as possible. Only paid-up members will receive the newsletter after this issue.  If you know anybody else who would like to join also please encourage them to do so – and reap the benefits of what must be one of the best bargains around!

Wind Farm on our doorstep? – Shortly after news of the proposed siting of a wind farm, with four turbines, 100 yards high on Carsington Pasture I was contacted by a pressure group that planned to oppose it. I offered our experience and knowledge in assisting their submissions to the area council.  Plans show how clearly visible the farm would be from the reservoir, but fail to recognise the likely environmental impact – particularly to birds. The company’s survey talks only of minimal impact, some disturbance to nesting skylarks and great crested newts, but no consideration of other breeding birds, wintering numbers, migration or the reservoir population.

In response I sent the following letter to the local authority:  “As Chairman of the Carsington Bird Club I write with extreme concern about the application to site four wind turbines on Carsington Pasture.  I must admit that available evidence suggests that appropriately positioned wind farms do not pose a significant hazard, though evidence from other countries like Spain and Norway confirms that poorly sited wind farms can cause severe problems for birds, through disturbance, habitat loss/damage or collision with turbines.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has consequently objected to 76 proposals between 2000-2004 and raised concerns about a further 129. The RSPB insists all wind farm proposals are subjected to rigorous environmental assessment before development is permitted and that the effects of any approved developments are monitored before and after construction.

The area suggested for these turbines will be in the flight path of birds regularly using Carsington Water for breeding and wintering, and those on migration. Our bird club has regularly done census work for breeding and wintering populations to show how significant the area is in local and national terms. This year 50,000+ starlings have roosted at Kirk Ireton, the majority of which have been seen crossing over the proposed area twice daily. One could not imagine the devastation a wind farm could cause to such a declining British species. Also flocks of geese use this flight path plus thousands of gulls each winter.  The site is, in fact, right in the middle of a regular migratory route for birds.

Secondly the impact it could have on breeding birds in the immediate area is not quite so clear and, as the RSPB would demand, a scientific study of the area would be needed. This could be undertaken over the next twelve months if started right away with the breeding season upon us or better still over two years to get in a more valid set of results. I am sure members of our club could do such a study for you with your assistance. If you proceeded to accept and pass this application without such an environmental assessment then I would only describe such a course of action as environmental folly.

If, however, the application includes an environmental impact assessment already made by the company concerned I would like to see this to examine its reliability and validity.  I hope we have the chance to talk to you in more depth before this decision is taken.”

The company and local authority were somewhat taken aback by the strength of feelings and reactions of the local people, so the time limit for submissions was put back until early June.  We await the outcome!

It’s farewell and adieu to Matthew Capper, who in his relatively short time as project officer of the RSPB’s Aren’t Birds Brilliant initiative, did much – often in tandem with the Bird Club – to promote the merits of Carsington Water as a birding site.  He often went above and beyond the call of duty, and we wish him well in his new job, based in Yorkshire, which sees him tackle the logistics of ABB activity across the North of England.

… and finally, during the summer we will be sending the Annual Report – our 15^th since the reservoir was established in the early 1990s – out to all current club members.

Peter Gibbon

 

WEATHER HOLDS UP SPRING ARRIVALS BUT DIVER STICKS AROUND!

Carsington Water is becoming a popular venue for Great Northern Divers.  Not only does this relatively rare species turn up, but they stick around – and once again we’ve had long-staying individuals.  Up to three were seen late winter, two regularly since, and one right up to mid-May.  A Black-necked Grebe also showed in the late winter, when arguably a bigger surprise was the presence of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Stonechat.

It’s four years since Bewick’s Swans were present, so 24 on the water nearStonesIslandwas a great sight in early March.  Not to be outdone, 33 Whooper Swans were seen later in the month, by which time the exodus by waterfowl to their breeding ground was reflected by dramatically lower maximum duck numbers.  Meanwhile, a Glaucous Gull, which had been evident the month before along with its Mediterranean cousin, was present again in March.  Immature gulls have been staying longer, and in good numbers, which is bad news for breeding birds as they will scavenge anything edible.

The possibility of terns nesting are minimised by gull numbers, but a pair of Common Terns were seen around the rafts off the Wildlife Centre in May, while Black, Arctic and Sandwich Terns have also been passing through.

Both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits turned up in fair numbers in March and April, and other good wader sightings included up to 22 Snipe, 51 Curlew, and a Woodcock.  By April, seven pairs of Oystercatcher had set up their breeding territories – one per island – and other likely breeding waders include Redshank and Little Ringed Plover.  Turnstone, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel were also showing in April, with the latter also producing a record of four on 22 May.

The avalanche of spring arrivals is always exciting, but it was a bit constrained this year by a period of poor weather in late March.  Sand Martins were seen as early as 16 March, but no more arrived until almost two weeks later, when Swallows were also noted for the first time.

Chiffchaffs were here by the first half of the month, but there were no Willow Warblers until April, when Lesser Whitethoat, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat were finally logged late in the month.  Yellow and White Wagtails were more sparse than usual and it was also the second half of April when the first House Martin, Swift, Wheatear and Redstart were logged.  Spotted Flycatchers decided on their usual leisurely return toBritain, with our first record on 15 May – and a singleton at that!

Raptors blew hot and cold, with Hobby a highlight on 7and 15 May, while Merlin showed near Hall Wood the previous month, when Sparrowhawks, Peregrine and Buzzard also featured.  The Sparrowhawks and Peregrines were also seen to benefit from the assembly of fantastic roosts of up 50,000 starlings at Kirk Ireton: the raptors  were occasionally seen plunging headlong into the swirling balls of starlings.

 

WEBSITE HITS GROW – BUT RICHARD LOOKS FOR MORE NEWS OF SIGHTINGS

The excellent new-look CBC website, maintained by Richard Pittam, continues to attact more and more ‘hits’ from surfers of the worldwide web – the most popular area proving to be the database of online latest sightings, with around 40 per cent of the traffic.  The home page, not surprisingly is the second highest with almost 38 per cent, then at just six per cent the latest photo gallery of reservoir sightings.

The total number of hits from January to mid-May was an impressive 21,142, as the CBC offering steadily rises up the chart of bird-club websites.

With the popularity of the sightings page, and feedback he’s received, Richard believes a lot of people like to have a look at what’s around before they visit the reservoir – so he urges members to log their own observations on the website as well as the record books in the hides.

The website will also be a good place to watch for details of a children’s summer art competition the club is organising.  Entries of pictures/sketches in three age groups, 5-8, 9-11 and 12-15 year-olds will be accepted up to September – with winners/prizes announced in October.  Keep an eye open as arrangements firm up shortly.

 

A NON-BIRDING FAMILY WARM TONEW ZEALAND’S AMAZING SIGHTS

Sharing a car for four weeks with my non-birding wife, daughter, son-in-law and assorted luggage put paid to carrying a telescope – so expectations for this trip were not high.  How wrong I was proved to be.

We started off very well on a far-too-brief two-night stopover in Singapore with a Pacific Swallow on the window sill of the hotel room, a yet to identify kingfisher type species, a Black-naped Oriole in the main shopping street and an Olive-backed Sunbird in the Botanical Gardens.

On arrival in our main target,New Zealand, there was great excitement with the first views of Australasian Harrier, Pukeko, Paradise Shelduck, Red-billed Gull, White-faced Heron, Kingfisher, Tui and Spur-winged Plover. My wife described the latter as a lapwing with yellow plastic stuck on its face!  And although these soon became common sightings – ‘10 a penny round here’, according to one local – we still appreciated them.

TiritiriMatangiIsland, nearAuckland, is a treat and for anyone going a must-do, with endemic species protected from imported predators. The Takahe, like a giant moorhen on steroids, is very impressive … and fearless. Less easily seen was the Kokako, but worth waiting for. First sightings of Bellbird, Stitchbird and Saddleback were obtained on a long walk through the forested area. Some were then easily photographed on the bird feeders at the café!  A pair of rare Brown Teal are resident on a pond near the jetty, and a Spotless Crake brought its young to the same pond.

Fortune really smiled when we called at Miranda that evening in search of the Wrybill – with is wader’s bill turning not down nor up, but sideways!  The tide was well up and there were well over a thousand small waders, which I was astonished to find were Wrybills.  When I’d calmed down I was able to identify other wader species through my bins, confirming them later with the assistance of the warden and his telescope.

Looking for Yellowhead on the mainSouth Island, a ranger advised me that they were now almost, if not completely, extinct in the area.  Several days and many miles later I found out from a motel owner, as we were leaving, that her son protected a breeding population, but there was no time left to find them.  The moral of this tale – talk to locals as guide books can be out-of-date very quickly in this new and changing land.

Better luck came when a comment to my son-in-law, that a very small bird might be found in the forest we were walking through, led him to ask ‘like that one over there?’ – and, yes, it was a Rifleman!  I’ll make a birder out of him yet! On another long walk, or tramp as they’re called in NZ, confusion over which path to take resulted in two good sightings of Weka, well and truly out in the wilds.  With the vast acreage of forests and paucity of roads and people (only around three million in a country the size of the UK), I can understand how this and other species were thought to be extinct in some areas, only to be found later breeding on happily.

Night-time walks produced unforgettable calls and the sounds of scurrying through the undergrowth, but no sightings of the elusive Kiwi.  Disappointing maybe, but these wild sounds were infinitely preferable to the sight of mentally disturbed kiwis on show in a nocturnal house.  We also caught the sound of a small owl species called Morepork, which gets its name from its unforgettable call – ‘more-pork’.

Our visit was timed too late for penguins in quantity but we did see individual Blue and Yellow-eyed Penguins swimming in the sea off the Otago Peninsular, and two of the Yellow-eyed variety were patiently waiting on rocks to complete their three-week moult. These were viewed from a wildlife boat trip we took where we were the only passengers: with such freedom we were able to chase Albatross and Shearwater species out at sea with staff who could confidently identify them. This was a big improvement over the expensive whale trip taken some days earlier at a different site, where the advice on identifying albatrosses from one of their wildlife ‘experts’ went something like “albatross are the large ones and the smaller ones are Mollymawks”.  He was very good with sperm whales though, as they were as big as the boat!

No NZ report is complete without the cheeky parrot style Kea, first seen in a car park guarding the entrance to the toilets and specialising in car aerial and window rubber removal. The similar Kaka were very friendly; we were treated to a display by a group of 17 at Homers Tunnel on the road to Milford Sound.

Scenery, thermal areas, glaciers, volcanoes, mountains and fiords require a report all of their own but, whether you are specifically birding or just looking and experiencing on a non-birding adventure, you cannot fail to see and enjoy both landscape and birds.  NZ is a very rewarding country to visit.  I recorded excellent close views of 106 species and really, only regret not chasing the yellowhead and kiwi species. If you want to see the full list of my NZ sightings it is included in the report that is carried on the website.

 

LIVELY TALKS LEAD INTO LIVELY WALKS

The period since the last newsletter has seen the conclusion of our winter illustrated talks at Hognaston Village Hall, and the start of the spring/summer programme of walks and other outside events.

A change in plans led to Peter Gibbon, our Chairperson, presenting onMallorcain February rather than March. Though this attractive island is the most-visited holiday destination for British tourists, Peter’s talk aimed to convince people that it must also be one of the best places to go for your first birding trip abroad. He has been a dozen times on ‘family’ holidays since the late seventies and his venerable slides were used to show where and when to go and what might be seen. A quick show of hands confirmed how few of the audience had been to the island and that only four had done any bird watching while there. The second part of the talk included a video – ‘Gosney inMallorca’ – which underlined the breadth of birding interest on offer there.

A month later the audience was stunned by the fabulous quality of regular John Gardner’s slides … but perhaps they should have expected this would be the case as the subject of John’s talk was – wildlife photography, and has he’s proved before, he’s one of the best.  He gave the budding photographer an insight into the planning, preparations and patience required to get the best shots of animals, birds and insects – and the landscapes they inhabit.  We can all aspire to better wildlife shots – and this was a good start.

The first time we ventured outdoors was to the UpperDerwentValleyin search of raptors, courtesy of Matthew Capper, until recently Aren’t Birds Brilliant (ABB) project officer and formerly a ranger in this area.  His ‘home’ knowledge was invaluable as we saw Goshawk – the main quarry – together with Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, plus a few other specialities like Raven, Siskin and Crossbill.   Matthew was again at the helm as several club members turned up to support an ABB open day at the beginning of April, which saw a number of visitors calling in on a joint ABB/CBC stand or visiting the Wildlife Centre; a guided walk was also laid on.

The regular season of walks at Carsington began on 17 April, with a circuit from the Wildlife Centre, before just under 20 brave souls braved a 4.30am start on the annual Dawn Chorus walk, on 5 May – to be rewarded by a hot breakfast and drink on their return after logging a fairly regulation list of birds.  Most recently, Millfields car park was the start point for the Warbler Walk on 22 May.

… AND NEXT ON THE EVENTS CALENDAR …

* * * Coach trip to superb reserves at Conwy and South Stack, Holyhead * * *

Places are still available for this trip, on 10 June (starts Carsington Water Visitor Centre at 7.45pm). For details/ bookings please contact Peter Oldfield by phone on 01629 540510 or by e-mail: peter.oldfield@ukonline.co.uk

Other forthcoming Carsington Bird Club events, through to September, are as follows:

19 June             Evening walk, with Carsington’s breeding migrants still a focus       Sheepwash car park(7.30pm)

17 July               Nightjar walk atClumberPark, Nottinghamshire (dusk is the time   Meet main car park8pm

to see these elusive birds)                                                            (check website for changes)

21 August          Evening walk at Carsington Water                                             Meet Wildlife Centre (7.30)

18 September   1^st talk of new indoor season by Mike Swales: Churnet Valley –       Hognaston Village Hall (7.30) ‘Rhineland’ of Staffordshire

Meanwhile, Severn Trent Water has a busy agenda over the next few months, too, with the events listed below.  For enquires regarding most of these – for which booking is often essential – people should ring 01629 540696.

2 June               Introduction to fly fishing (for over 7s, charge/booking a must)             Fishery Lodge (01629 540769)

3 June               Birdwatching for beginners (book; bring boots, bins & notebook)         Visitor Centre (10am-noon)

8-9 June            Festival of the Peak 2007 (Information/tickets from PR Promotions   Visitor Centre / Arena

[www.prpromotions.org.uk] … Ticket Hotline 01773 853428.     Marquee

16 June             Morris Dancing (marvel at the quaintest of English traditions)   Visitor Centre (10am-2pm)

24 June             RNLI Lifeboat Family Fun day (children & families, access for all)            Visitor Centre (from11am)

30 June             Motown Spectacular (access for all, for tickets call 01773 853428          Arena Marquee

or visit the website www.prpromotions.org.uk)

1 July                 Birdwatching for beginners (see details, as 3 June, above)

2 July                 Fly-fishing courses – Introductory / Improvers (details as 2 June)

8 July                 Aren’t Birds Brilliant! partnership Open Day (volunteers will show           Starts 10.30am-til4pm

birds and other wildlife; guided walks and competitions)

4 August           Birdwatching for Beginners (see details above)

11 August          Wateraid Raft Race (free partnership fundraiser, access for all;             Visitor Centre (11am-3pm)

for more information contact Michael Ridger on 07747 118933)

18 August          The Wizard of Oz (£7children under 12, £10 adults; performance            Amphitheatre, Visitor Centre

is outside, so bring chair or waterproof to sit on)                                    (opens6pm, starts7pm)

25 August          Bat Safari: join Bat Conservation Group/rangers (£2 – free parking) Millfields car park (8pm)

 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

We have enjoyed a further influx of new members this spring – with, mysteriously, Staffordshire proving a particularly rich area for recruits!  The full list of those who have signed up is as follows:  T Baggalley, Stoke-on- Trent; Russ Hales, Shrewsbury; Paul Hodgkinson, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent; John and Ann Menzies, Derby; Tim and Rose Morris, Forsbrook, Stoke-on-Trent; Ed Whiting, Cheddleton, Staffs; Celia Wright, Middleton