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

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

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

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

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

 

JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING INDOOR MEETINGS

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

GOOD NUMBERS OF MEMBERS ENJOY TRIPS, NEAR AND FAR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Lamb

 

REPORTS OF FUTURE RESERVOIR EXPANSION FAR FROM CERTAIN

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

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

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

 

CBC – PLUS ÇA CHANGE!

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

No 3 / August 2024

Welcome to the third newsletter of the year, where we look at what’s been happening over the summer period … summer, that is, once it finally arrived.  The weather was far from perfect during the first half of the year, but in recent weeks the sun’s been out and temperatures have improved.

Club activities are relatively quiet over the summer – recognising that the holiday season is in full swing (if you have managed to get away, I hope you had a great time – and enjoyed good weather – wherever you’ve been).  As you can see below, however, we have a busier programme of events as summer slips into autumn. 

The indoor season of talks begins next month, with Steve Lovell taking us into the intense heat and wildlife-rich Extramadura on 17 September, and we’re also planning a longer-range club trip – to the ever popular Frampton Marsh – in October, then a more local trip to the Wildlife Trust’s Willington reserve the following month.

Something that did happen over the summer was the formal opening of the new Sheepwash hide, which Severn Trent kindly allowed us to link to the club by way of a dedication to the memory of Roger Carrington … and we invited Roger’s widow, Lilian, and daughter Helen along to cut the ribbon on the new hide.  Read on for a more detailed report on that.

As a club, we also joined a number of other organisations in supporting the annual Hen Harrier Action day, and that, too, is described in a little more detail later.

As ever, there’s a report on what’s been around at the reservoir, which invariably throws up some interest, with most of the recent highlights surrounding the feverish breeding activity that has seen juvenile birds popping up in all corners of the site.  Read on – and I hope we’ll see you at a forthcoming indoor meeting or trip.  Meanwhile, happy birding.

Gary Atkins

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Below are the dates of upcoming events.  Remember – all indoor meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month in the Visitor Centre’s Henmore Room, beginning at 7.30pm:

** TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER ** – Talk: Extramadura.  Steve Lovell explores this distinctive unspoiled region with its natural beauty and wealth of fabulous wildlife and spectacular birds.

** SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER ** – Club trip to the ever-popular and productive Frampton Marsh; arrive at the visitor centre 10.30am.  Contact Chris Lamb (see details at the end of the newsletter) if you wish to come along.  It’ll be a convoy of cars, and a lift could be available for those not wishing to drive.

** TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER ** – Talk: Reintroducing the Osprey.  Simon Curtin describes this outstanding UK conservation success story, also describing its reproductive, feeding and migratory behaviour.

** SUNDAY, 17 NOVEMBER ** – Local Club trip to Willington, the DWT reserve that usually has plenty on display, often including a rarity or two.  Again, contact Chris Lamb if you’re interested in going.

** TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER ** – Talk: Kruger National Park.  David Tolliday will detail the range of mammals, birds, insects and people who live in South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary.

FIRST EVER SHOVELER BROOD AS THE BIRDS GET BUSY OVER SUMMER

Carsington’s birds have been busy breeding over the summer; those away from the water keeping a low profile, some species almost disappearing, while those on it have been a bit more evident.  One of the highlights without doubt was the site’s first ever brood of Shovelers, with five young noted on 18 June.

At the end of July, wildfowl brood numbers were mostly quite impressive: Tufted (14), Mallard (24), Gadwall (10), Gt Crested Grebe (29) and Little Grebe (3).  More than a dozen Coot broods were evident and several Moorhen broods represent a big improvement in this species that was only being counted in low single-digits a few years ago.  Seven Oystercatcher pairs bred, Greylag and Canada Geese were both well into double-figure broods and a pair of Barnacle Geese had three young.

There was plentiful evidence of breeding by the passerine population – both summer visitors and residents.  Successful species included Willow Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Redstart, and juvenile Tawny Owls, Nuthatch and Jays were all recorded.  It’s not quite over yet, of course, so more young birds will appear at the reservoir in the coming days and weeks.

Another successful species was Black-headed Gull, with 100 juveniles counted at the end of June.  That cohort was reduced by one, though, as a Peregrine was seen eating one on 30 July.  Peregrines have been quite active, in fact, with another just three days earlier spotted mobbing a Honey Buzzard – a species not seen since 2011, yet producing two records in July.

A single Osprey on 8 July was the only recent record for this iconic migrant, while Hobbies were seen on three dates in June, a single date in July and two more in August; on at least one occasion Swallows were their target.  Four Red Kites and eight Buzzards were flying high on 28 July.  The site’s other resident raptors, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, were logged more regularly.

A Black-necked Grebe was another highlight during July, and the more unusual ducks noted were a Scaup on 17 July, and Common Scoter, two of which were spotted on 20 June and three on 17 July.  Boosted by breeding, Canada Geese numbers topped four figures, at 1,088, in late June.

Herons have not been around in great numbers, the maxima being two Little Egrets on 11 July and a single Great White Egret on 17 July, while no more than four Grey Herons have been seen on any one day.  Waders, after a sparse showing in June, were more populous in July when 12 species were recorded, including two Knot on 11 July, two Whimbrel and seven Common Sandpipers on 22 July, a single Sanderling the following day and single Turnstone on the 25^th.

It’s been relatively quiet on the gull front, with Kittiwake, Mediterranean and Caspian the most noteworthy.  The Caspian Gull was reported on seven dates in July and maintained its presence on site into August.  A roost of 1,500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on 19 July hinted at the larger numbers to come over the winter, while two Yellow-legged Gulls have also been seen quite regularly in recent weeks.  Meanwhile, Common, Little, Black, Arctic and Sandwich Terns have passed through in relatively small numbers.

The influx of hirundines, beginning with Sand Martins in March which built to a maximum count of 300 in early May, continued with 100 Swallows and the same number of House Martins on 24 May.  Pied Wagtail numbers blossomed over the summer, hitting 80 on 25 July, and other highlights around the dam wall were the occasional Whinchat and Wheatear, and more regularly seen Yellow Wagtails which were moving north in May, then south in late July and August.  Pied and Spotted Flycatchers have graced the site this year, with the six ‘SpotFly’ recorded on 25 July including three adults and three juveniles.

As many as 10 Willow Tits have been counted – on 29 May – yet no Tree Sparrows (previously one of our most robust species) were reported during July.  Warblers have had a decent year, despite as ever getting quieter and more difficult to see after breeding … so it was good to see a site scarce Grasshopper Warbler on 20 July.

ROGER REMEMBERED AS NEW SHEEPWASH HIDE OPENS

The formal opening of the new Sheepwash hide in July provided the perfect backdrop for both CBC and Severn Trent to honour Roger Carrington for his huge contribution to birding in general and recording in particular at the reservoir over many years.

Roger, who sadly passed away in 2022, was the club’s designated Recorder on site for more than a decade, and spent many happy hours at the previous Sheepwash hide, binoculars and ‘scope at the ready.  While he never got to see the construction of its replacement, adding his name to a plaque on the door seemed entirely natural and appropriate when the new Sheepwash hide was opened in late July.

Roger’s widow, Lilian, and daughter Helen officiated at the ribbon-cutting, and were doubly pleased to see (and sit on) a bench seat that also bore an inscription dedicated to Roger.

The old hide had been built on stilts and while there was no imminent hint of danger, a safety study reflected concern at its longer-term integrity, so it was decided to condemn the old hide and design and build a new one.  That took longer than anticipated, for a number of reasons, but Severn Trent worked steadfastly to clear these obstacles and the Sheepwash successor has already been given a thumbs-up by the birding fraternity that reckons it’s located in the best place for scanning the reservoir.

Roger served as a core member of the Carsington Bird Club committee, advising on all aspects of birding including breeding surveys, bird boxes and where to locate them and habitat improvements, also editing and producing many of the well-regarded CBC annual reports that have created a permanent record of birdlife across three decades at Carsington Water. 

In addition, importantly, he forged a purposeful relationship with our hosts, Severn Trent, who often took his advice on the birdlife and habitats key species are happiest inhabiting.

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

CLUB SUPPORTS ACTION DAY FOR HEN HARRIER

For the second time in five years, the Hen Harrier Action Day (HHAD) was staged at Carsington Water – and for the first time Carsington Bird Club joined the numerous wildlife organisations supporting the annual event, thanks in the main to Louise and John Sykes, who regularly attend events with a ‘pop up’ display table that serves to both advertise the club and raise money through a wide range of sales items.

The HHAD itself aims to educate the general public about the plight of this iconic species (and other raptors) that are persecuted due to the skewed perception that they are a nuisance and deplete the ‘stocks’ of game birds on sporting estates.

Chris Packham was in attendance, though on this occasion did not give a speech.  Others that did included Jo Smith, CEO of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Olivia Blake, the MP for Sheffield Hallam, Dr Rose O’Neill of the Campaign for National Parks, author Mark Cocker and Mark Thomas of the RSPB Investigations Team.  Representatives of Protect the Wild and Wild Justice also appealed for common sense in the public’s dealings with and perception of Hen Harriers.  A gospel choir and folk singer Martin Simpson added music to the activity mix.

As well as this programme of high-profile speakers, who addressed the crowd during the afternoon, each supporting organisation also took the opportunity to promote its own goals and activities. 

The hard-working Sykes put on an excellent display, as ever, and had a little help from neighbours and a few other club members in manning the stand.  They raised over £150 on the day, which the club will plan to spend on helping wildlife projects around the site.

BTO LAUNCHES APPEAL TO BOOST BIODIVERSITY

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is appealing to all nature lovers to help out with their current focused campaign to slow down the biodiversity crisis that most wildlife organisations agree is affecting local, regional and global eco-systems.

If ‘crisis’ sounds dramatic, then some of the statistics backing this claim are indeed frightening.  The 2023 State of Nature report, which corralled data and expertise from more than 60 nature conservation and research organisations, including the BTO, revealed that nearly one in six species in the UK are threatened with extinction … joining the 151 species that already went out of existence since the 16^th century.

Many factors are combining to create the crisis, many driven by human influence such as habitat destruction, pollution, radical changes in agricultural practices, the spread of invasive species and climate change.  The impact on certain species in the UK has been devastating – and birds have certainly not escaped those effects.

Just one example is the Turtle Dove, which has reduced by 99 per cent between 1967 and 2020, and is now only seen at all in half of its previous habitats, while overall populations of 46 per cent of bird species declined in the five years to 2021.  The UK ‘Red List’ addresses species considered to be of greatest conservation concern – and while that list contained 36 species in 1996 it now comprises 70 including familiar species such as House Martins, Greenfinches, Lapwings and Skylarks as well as Nightingales and Puffins.

Click the link below, or cut and paste it into your URL box, to learn more about the vital importance of biodiversity and how the BTO, its members and its scientists can help to arrest its decline, further assisted by the practical and financial support from the general public.

https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/biodiversity-loss-and-uk-birds

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

 

The winter period was a particularly wet and miserable time, and while it’s still raining outside as I write this, there has at least been some brighter and warmer weather in recent weeks to enjoy amid the showers.  Whatever the weather, though, it seems the birds take very little notice and just get on with things as the reservoir report below details.

The bird club, meanwhile, has completed its indoor winter season of talks and undertaken a couple of trips and a ‘springtime songster’ walk, which turned out to be hardly that as it coincided with a particularly wet day; there were compensations, though, as species like Arctic Tern, Red-crested Pochard and Hobby made their way onto people’s year-lists from the warmth of the Wildlife Centre!

There are reports on all of this activity on the following pages.  The trips we’ve undertaken have been disappointingly undersubscribed, although the weather again had a part to play in at least one of them.  Hopefully everything will conspire to make the next one (which will be in the autumn now) a more well-populated success.

Hopefully you’ve now renewed your memberships for the current year, as we have a number of plans for events and activities over the coming months – and you should by now also have received your annual reports, which details the birding highlights and statistics for 2023.

Talking of ‘subs’, at our AGM at the March indoor meeting, we announced that membership fees will be rising from £7.50/£10 (single/family) to £8/£12 from 2025.  Also agreed at the AGM was the removal from the Club’s constitution of the £500 limit on a single item of expenditure, which could have proved a hurdle to our spending some of our funds to support habitat improvements at Carsington.

The new Sheepwash hide, as many of you may have experienced, is now open for business, offering a different (and for those who can remember) and well-loved perspective of the reservoir.  The committee is also working with our Severn Trent hosts to utilise a proportion of our club funds (happily growing in recent times with the injection of funds from John and Louise Sykes’ promotional and sales events) for habitat improvements in certain areas of the site aimed at aiding and abetting certain species.  We can hopefully update you more fully on these activities in future issues of the newsletter.

Gary Atkins

 

SPRING BRINGS SCARCITIES, REGULARS AND RECORDS

Comprehensive observation at the reservoir continued to help high counts, with the total species count for March of 110 being the highest ever for that month, while 123 seen in April was the third highest since records began over 30 years ago.

Our Great Northern Diver departed a little earlier than usual, on 22 April, after its usual test flights, but that was not the end of the visiting Gaviaforms for this ‘winter’ as a Red-throated Diver called in and offered good views on 5 May.  Sawbills also starred over this period, with a Smew that appeared on 7 March being the first of this striking species for 13 years, and a Red-breasted Merganser seen in April the first since 2022.

A Grasshopper Warbler found on 20 April was also the first of its kind at the reservoir since 2022, and represented the swathe of visiting migrants arriving this year – some passing through and some who will remain and raise new families.  Sand Martins turned up on 13 March, followed by the first Wheatear on the 16^th, then Swallows on 28^th, Blackcaps on 29^th and Willow Warblers on the 30^th.

During April, the new arrivals came thick and fast, starting with Redstart on the 6^th, then Yellow Wagtails (8^th), Reed Warbler (10^th), Pied Flycatcher (12^th), Sedge Warbler (16^th), quickly followed in the latter half of April by Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler.  We had to wait until May for the first Swifts (on the 5^th) and Spotted Flycatcher (9^th).

Populations of both arriving and resident small birds were particularly evident as territorial behaviour, nest building and singing pinpointed their presence, and a perimeter walk at the beginning of May found 126 Blue Tits, 122 Chiffchaffs and Robins, 118 Wrens, 103 Blackbirds, 65 Blackcaps, 46 Great Tits and 39 Dunnocks, double-figure totals of Willow and Garden Warblers and nine Sedge Warblers.

Other passerine highlights included Brambling, still being seen regularly in late April, a single Hawfinch noted on 31 March, and a site-scarce Green Woodpecker on the first day of March.

An Osprey was recorded on 26 March, with four sightings of this iconic raptor during April.  A single Marsh Harrier on 24 April was nice to see, while up to three Red Kites were noted on several dates.  As noted in a later article, a Hobby was seen on 28 April, and Barn Owls were observed on two dates in March, and up to four Tawny Owls were calling on some mornings.

The high water levels have not left many margins or much exposed mud for waders, but still up to 11 species were noted in both March and April, highlights being as many as 15 Oystercatchers, 11 Golden Plover (albeit overhead!), 10 Black-tailed Godwits and two Bar-tailed Godwits on dates in late April and early May.  As many as 29 Curlew were recorded during March, and Whimbrel have been showing up more regularly during April and May.

A nationwide inland influx of Arctic Terns was reflected at Carsington with up to 17 counted pausing at the reservoir to feed, along with lower numbers of Common Terns, two Sandwich Terns on two dates in April, but an impressive 11 Black Terns showed up on 11 May.

Kittiwakes are a pleasure to see, showing up in March, April and May, as are Little Gulls, up to three of which were noted in March and April, when at least one Mediterranean Gull was around on 10 separate dates.  A roost observation in March produced over 500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2,000 Black-heads and a massive 2,650 Common Gulls.

 

TALKS SEASON ROUNDS OFF FAR AWAY – THEN RIGHT AT HOME

Southern Africa was the destination for the talk at our February meeting.  The rich biodiversity of this part of Africa makes it home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna and our speaker – Nigel Slater – took us on a journey to Botswana and Zimbabwe, showing us some of the amazing birds and other wildlife he has experienced there.

Our final meeting of the 2023-24 programme, in March, had a much more local theme.  Andy Broadhurst was our guest, describing the work of the Derbyshire Swift Conservation project, which was formed in response to the massive decline of Swifts across Derbyshire. His talk covered everything from the basics of the Swift’s lifecycle and breeding cycle, to the various theories of why Swifts are declining so much, together with suggestions of what people can do at a local level to help this iconic species.

At the end of the meeting, we decided to do ‘our bit’ by purchasing two of the Swift boxes Andy had brought along to demonstrate how easy it is to provide nest sites among our communities.

 

REWARDING BIRDING TRIPS – NEAR AND AFAR

The jury is still out on whether CBC’s membership prefers trips closer to home or those farther afield, exploring new territories, since both recent trips attracted fairly small groups of participants.

The wet start to the day may have been the reason for only eight well-wrapped-up souls turning up for our walk, in March, to Wyver Lane, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust site on the outskirts of Belper.  It certainly did not look promising for seeing many birds, but the weather slowly cleared up and the the group was rewarded with a good variety of species seen or heard.

Setting off from the East Mill car park, a quick look from the bridge over the fast-flowing River Derwent for the chance of Goosanders or Grey Wagtails, proved unproductive, but the walk along Wyver Lane towards the reserve produced several common birds, including Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Dunnock and House Sparrow.

Reaching the wetland area we picked out a number of Tufted Duck, Teal and Gadwall on the water, along with a male Mandarin Duck which added a splash of colour with its bright plumage.  A female Goosander and a pair of Shoveler were observed from the hide, then as we left it a pair of Snipe were flushed and flew briefly before dropping out of sight.

A single Great White Egret was spotted creeping along inside the reeds, before flying away over the river. A couple of Grey Herons were more obliging, staying in full view on the water’s edge.

The sound of singing Chiffchaffs became almost a constant backdrop to our walk, with probably at least 10 individuals heard and in some cases seen high in the trees.  From the fields behind the hide and the observation ramp, the ‘yaffling’ of a Green Woodpecker was heard several times, but we were unable to find it.  Similarly, the distant drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker was picked out, but again the bird was not seen.

We spent some time watching the feeders towards the end of the lane and were very pleased to see a Marsh Tit, scarcer than its similar ‘Willow’ cousin in this part of the country, as well as Nuthatches, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits and, of course, numerous Blue and Great Tits.  A Water Rail was briefly spotted by one of the group in the reeds near the feeders, but couldn’t be located again.

By the end of the morning a total of 44 species had been recorded by the group, which was a far better result than could have been anticipated under the laden skies at the start

Our focus shifted further afield for the next trip – to the RSPB’s St Aidan’s reserve, near Leeds, earlier this month.  We had planned to go there last autumn, but the succession of storms left the site waterlogged.  In much nicer conditions on Sunday, 12 May, we were very fortunate to have the services of Paul Morris, brother of one of our members John Morris, as our guide for the day.  Paul is a very experienced bird recorder at the site and has extensive knowledge of the birds there.

Having started the day with a welcome drink in the aptly named Little Owl café, we set off and almost immediately spotted one of the resident Little Owls sitting on one of the girders of the dragline (a huge machine that was also home to a pair of Kestrels, Paul told us).  This massive structure, a famous landmark of the reserve, is a reminder of the site’s industrial past as an opencast coal mine. 

The sound of various songbirds filled the air as we continued our walk. A Cetti’s Warbler announced its presence with its scolding song, and the descending cadence of a Willow Warbler and the repetitive notes of a Chiffchaff were heard often. Reed Warblers sang unseen in the reedbeds, but Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers were more obliging, singing from the tops of bushes next to path.

In the distance the unmistakable booming of at least two Bitterns could be heard, but we were not lucky enough to see one.  The network of lakes which make up the reserve held a variety of ducks, with plenty of Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard in evidence.  Thanks to Paul simply knowing where to look, another highlight came in the form of two male Garganays, just visible on the grassy shore of one of the lakes.  Later on, a handful of Shelduck were noted, as well as a few Wigeon and Teal still present.

Large numbers of Black-headed Gulls were nesting on the islands on the lakes, with their raucous calls providing a constant backdrop.  Smaller counts of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen, along with a single Great Black-backed Gull, but more notable still was a Mediterranean Gull which was identified as it flew past us.

One of the star species at St Aidan’s is the Black-necked Grebe, and it was a delight to see four of these smart looking grebes, now resplendent in their breeding plumage.  The Black-necked Grebe is a very rare breeder in the UK, but they have bred successfully at this reserve in recent years.

By the end of the day we had recorded a total of 52 species, namely: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Garganay, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Cormorant, Bittern, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Little Owl, Buzzard, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting

Our most sincere thanks again go to Paul for spending his time with us and sharing his extensive knowledge of the reserve. 

Chris Lamb

 

RAIN TURNS SPRINGTIME SONGBIRD WALK INTO A TERN-FEST

Unfortunately the very un-springlike wet weather experienced recently continued to make its mark on Sunday 28 April, the day of our annual Springtime Songbird walk at Carsington Water.  Nevertheless, our hardy (or perhaps foolhardy?) seven-strong group, led by Simon Roddis – having met up in heavy rain outside the Visitor Centre, but quickly choosing the haven of the Wildlife Centre – were rewarded for dipping on warblers with great views of a busy group of terns and a distant Hobby.

Traditionally we would start off with a walk around Stones Island to look for, and listen to, the many songbirds advertising their presence at this time of year.  Instead, from the warm and dry Wildlife Centre, it was a variety of wildfowl that filled our notebooks.  Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, a pair of Gadwall, male and female Common Pochards were seen, along with a very fine looking male Red-crested Pochard.  On the bank on the far side a Greylag Goose with gosling was noted, and later two Barnacle Geese flew across the water.  With water levels obliterating most of Horseshoe Island, waders were in short supply, with just a couple of Redshanks seen and an Oystercatcher sitting on a nest.

Taking advantage of the rain were large numbers of hirundines flying low over the water feeding on the abundant insects.  Swallows made up the vast majority, with smaller numbers of Sand Martins present and a couple of distant House Martins to add to the mix.

A group of nine Arctic Terns flying over the reservoir soon grabbed our attention.  In recent days there had been a steady influx of these passage birds across Derbyshire, with the weather no doubt holding up their journey north to their breeding grounds.  A single Common Tern was also picked out and it obligingly sat on top of the camera pole, despite the repeated attempts of a Black-headed Gull to displace it.  Through a scope it was possible to see the black tip of its more orangey-red bill, which helps to differentiate it from its Arctic cousins.

Thanks to the keen eyes and identification skills of both Simon and Jon Bradley, who we met in the WLC, we were also able to find a distant Hobby perched high in a tree on the north side of Shiningford Creek. Sightings of this summer visiting falcon are always scarce at Carsington, so this was an excellent bird to add to our list.

As ever, we were indebted to Simon Roddis, one of our expert bird recorders, who even with the paucity of singing warblers helped us hoist our walk list to an unlikely grand total of 35 species in the hour and a quarter we were together. 

Chris Lamb

 

 

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

 

*****  ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS – IT’S TIME TO PAY YOUR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS  *****

I’ve elevated the annual reminder about renewing annual CBC membership subscriptions – apologies to all who have already remembered to do so. 

For those that have not, we like to give a gentle nudge!  Treasurer and membership secretary John Follett will be delighted to hear from anyone wanting to renew (at the long-standing rates of £7.50 for single and £10 for family membership); either send him a cheque to 8 Buckminster Close, Oakwood, Derby DE21 2EA or you can pay by bank transfer if you contact John first either by phone on 01332 834788 or e-mail at johnlfollett@virginmedia.com. 

So, come on!  Where were all those folks who loudly proclaimed in last year’s trips survey they would attend our club outings if they were a bit closer to home? ???? … We staged just such a trip last month – to the Wildlife Trust Attenborough reserve just 10 miles or so from the centre of Derby – and a grand total of seven people turned up! 

We realise the weather forecast could have been a factor, but it turned out to be a glorious morning, with 45 species seen.  You can read Chris Lamb’s report a little later in the newsletter – and find out about another pretty local trip planned for next month, to DWT Wyver Lane on the outskirts of Belper.

We are delighted to see that work is now under way on construction of the new hide at Sheepwash.  The access path has been widened to allow access and the first phase is to install a stone base – impervious to the water during periods of high levels – onto which the wooden structure will be assembled.  It could be ready for use by or before the middle of the year.  This is great news as the location of this hide has always been regarded as one of the best for observing the reservoir’s birdlife.

Please note, among the diary dates below, that our Annual General Meeting (when a new proposal for spending Club funds will be presented to the membership) will precede the March indoor meeting, so if you’ve anything else you wish to raise or comment upon, please turn up half an hour earlier – at 7am – for that opportunity. 

Something else that should be complete by the time the next newsletter comes out, in May, is the Annual Report, which several people (including me) are beavering away on presently.  As ever, it will contain a comprehensive overview and detailed record of the birding year at Carsington Water in 2023, along with club officials’ reports and some interesting articles.

Gary Atkins

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY …

20 February (7.30 pm) – talk by Nigel Slater on the wildlife of Botswana and Zimbabwe

17 March – local Club trip to the DWT’s Wyver Lane reserve, meet Bridge Foot car park in Belper (9.30am)

19 March (7pm) – talk by Andy Broadhurst on Derbyshire Swift Conservation; the earlier start is due to accommodate our AGM to which all are welcome

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

 

DIVER RETURNS – AND SITE BAGS COUNTY COMMON GULL RECORD

The annual return of the Great Northern Diver got off to a false start on 23 November, when a bird flew in but it was found to be a juvenile, and did not stay around for long.  Eventually, it was over a month later – on 28 December – when ‘our’ bird flew in; an adult that did not seem inclined to go anywhere else, and within a few weeks had lost its flight feathers so definitely was not.

Winter ducks arrived in decent numbers, particularly the diving ducks like Pochard that registered 551 individuals on 1 February and 25 Goldeneye, which was a good return, though there were fewer ‘dabblers’ around than usual with just 72 Wigeon and 51 Teal being the maximum counts.  Coot exceeded 1,000 on 17 December, when 386 Canada Geese, 232 Mallard and 138 Gadwall also boosted the waterfowl presence.  Up to four Red-crested Pochards added to the variety and Mandarins were noted on six dates in December, January and early February.

Seven Egyptian Geese on Boxing Day represented a site record, and Whooper Swans graced the reservoir in both December and January, when a group of 10 were recorded.  With high water levels, waders were at a premium and only four species were logged in December, including three Woodcock and Snipe, though numbers edged up in January when Curlew were noted on four dates, 110 Lapwings were seen and the first Oystercatcher arrived back on 26 January, growing to 12 by 11 February.

As usual, gull numbers remained healthy during the late autumn/early winter period, most particularly Common Gulls that reached an outstanding 3,250 on 10 December – a record not just for Carsington but for Derbyshire.  A Caspian Gull was seen several times each month, a Yellow-legged was found on 30 December, then three times in January and a single Great Black-backed Gull, recorded no fewer than 18 times in December must have called his friends along as seven were seen on 30 January.

Diligent recording by our regular contingent was reflected in the number of species registered in November, which at 102 was the joint second highest ever for that month, while in January 98 species equalled the previous year’s highest ever January species total for Carsington.

Raptors were unspectacular during this damp and cold period, though there were seven Red Kites aloft on 30 December.  Owls on the other hand were more evident than usual, with up to six Tawny Owls recorded on individual days and a Barn Owl noted on six dates in January and early February.

Among the smaller birds on site, the highlight had to be the Shore Lark found on 29 November, which was the first of this attractive species at Carsington for 20 years.  Winter visitors were around in fair numbers, 250 Fieldfares being seen on 16 December, and up to 200 Redwings the following two days, while a healthy 245 Siskin were around on 29 January, Lesser Redpoll were noted in twos and threes and single Bramblings were logged on 11 December and 19 January.

The decline of Tree Sparrows continues with a maximum count of just five in December.  Willow Tits are regularly seen, as is a Marsh Tit recorded on 14 dates across December and January.  A Stonechat was a good find on 16 January and, while Pied Wagtails don’t seem to be enjoying the high water levels, two Grey Wagtails were recorded on several dates.

 

YEAR LISTS UNDERWAY WITH TRIP TO ATTENBOROUGH

A group of seven CBC members made the relatively short journey to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserve at Attenborough on Sunday 21 January for our first outing of the year.   It literally was a case of the calm before the storm, as we enjoyed a dry and bright morning before the strong winds and heavy rain of Storm Isha swept across the country later in the day.

Given the recent rainfall, it was no surprise that all the lakes were very full, though some still had ice around the edges from the cold snap of the previous week. Ducks, geese and swans were naturally seen in numbers, including Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and a couple of male Pochards.  At least 10 Goosanders were noted during the morning, some affording very good views close to the paths, and several Goldeneyes were also seen.

Our collective gull identification skills were put to the test as we tried to pick out the adult Caspian Gull (successfully we think), which had been present on the reserve for a while. In among the large numbers of Black-headed Gulls a handful of Common Gulls were identified, and from the Tower hide, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull were also found.   Waders were in short supply given the water levels, with just a handful of Lapwing present and later in the morning a single Curlew flew over the path by the river. A couple of Grey Herons were spotted in the distance on the edges of the lakes, but perhaps surprisingly no egrets were seen.

Apart from the ubiquitous Blue and Great Tits, it seemed to be a relatively quiet morning for passerines, though a pair of Reed Buntings did show well near one of the feeding tables. A couple of Redwings perched obligingly on the tree tops, and a lone Fieldfare was seen later on the cricket pitch in Attenborough village.  Still in the village, a Goldcrest and a flock of Long-tailed Tits were observed in the churchyard towards the end of our walk.

By the end of the morning 45 species had been recorded by the group, namely: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Lapwing, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Caspian Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Redwing, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting

 

… AND OTHER EVENTS PLANNED ON THE HOOF

For our next walk on Sunday, 17 March we will once again be closer to home, so let’s give it a try.  We will be visiting the Wyver Lane Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve in Belper, lying alongside the River Derwent.  This is one of DWT’s most important wetland reserves and has a good variety of resident birds, as well as winter visitors which should still be around on the day of our visit.  We will meet in the East Mills car park, Bridge Foot, Belper at 9.30am, then walk along Wyver Lane towards the reserve.

Then, the following month, you can join us on Sunday, 28 April for our ever-popular annual Springtime Birdsong Walk at Carsington Water.  It will once again be led by one of our very experienced bird recorders, Simon Roddis, who will help us to help identify species we encounter by their songs and calls.  Most of our summer visitors will have returned to the site by this date and should be present in good numbers.  The walk will last a couple of hours or so, starting from outside the Visitor Centre at 9am.

Chris Lamb

 

IT’S BEEN A FULL HOUSE AT RECENT INDOOR MEETINGS

So many members and guests flocked in to our last two indoor meetings in December and January that we almost ran out of chairs – and did struggle to find enough cups during the refreshment breaks – but all agreed it was well worth it with some fabulous photos in stunning locations around the world

For our final meeting of 2023, in December, award-winning Derbyshire-based wildlife photographer Andy Parkinson described a year in his life as a well-travelled wildlife photographer.  Andy’s work appears frequently in magazines such as National Geographic and BBC Wildlife, and we were treated to some stunning photographs he had taken of birds and animals on his travels around the world.

We kicked off the new year at our January meeting with a tour of the Scottish highlands and islands in the company of professional birding and wildlife guide Craig Round.  Craig has been leading tours in Scotland on behalf of Speyside Wildlife for many years, and his talk featured the spectacular scenery and many of the specialist species only to be found in that area.

Looking forward to next week, we will travel down to warmer climes – to southern Africa for our next meeting on Tuesday, 20 February.  The rich biodiversity of this part of Africa makes it home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna and our speaker, Nigel Slater, takes us to Botswana and Zimbabwe to show us some of the amazing birds and other wildlife he has experienced there.

Our final meeting of the 2023-24 programme is on Tuesday, 19 March and has a much more local theme.  Andy Broadhurst tells us about the Derbyshire Swift Conservation project, which was formed in response to the massive decline of Swifts across Derbyshire.  These iconic scimitar-winged summer visitors are in trouble and need our help, and Andy explains how we can get involved.

 

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