News – Carsington Bird Club

News Items

********** Membership News **********

From 1st January 2025, membership joining fees have changed – see link here.

CBC Meeting Schedule for 2025/26 commences in September

Indoor meetings are held in the Carsington Water Visitor Centre – starting at 19.30h.

2024/25 remaining events:

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

Other Activities

– First Sunday of the month – Birdwatching for Beginners – Meet Visitor Centre (10am-12 noon)

Please Note:

Almost invariably held on the first Sunday of the month (meet in the courtyard at 10am – but please book with reception if you intend to come).

Outdoor Activities

For Severn Trent’s spring programme, it’s often sensible to book a place with the visitor centre (on 01629 540696).

Carsington Bird Club News

March Bird Sightings

March 2023 BIRD NOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carsington Bird Club CBC Monthly Bird Notes News

Bird Notes – February 2023

February 2023 BIRD NOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carsington Bird Club CBC Monthly Bird Notes News

Bird Notes December 2022

December 2022 BIRD NOTES

Wishing everyone a Prosperous New Year

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Northern Diver returns, Marsh Tit, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 11^th unless dated otherwise. 1 Great Northern Diver seen most days after its return on 8^th, 4 Little Grebe 10^th, 37 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Cormorant 8^th, 1 Little Egret noted on 12 occasions, 1 Great White Egret reported from various parts of the reservoir 13 times in total this month, 3 Grey Heron 3^rd and 6^th, 6 Mute Swan 19^th, 8 Whooper Swan 3^rd, 250 Pink-footed Goose 12^th, 200 Greylag Goose 22^nd, 374 Canada Goose 3^rd, 34 Barnacle Goose 24^th, 3 Shelduck 13^th, 134 Wigeon, 110 Gadwall 21^st, 548 Teal, 192 Mallard, 3 Pintail 19^th and 24^th, 3 Shoveler, 12 Pochard 16^th, 64 Tufted Duck 21^st, 10 Goldeneye 7^th, 7 Goosander 21^st, 1 Water Rail, 6 Moorhen 2^nd, 11^th, 21^st and 31^st, 94 Coot 21^st, 1 Kingfisher 5^th, 7^th and 8^th.

Raptor sightings included 7 Red Kite 29^th, 2 Sparrowhawk 4^th and 21^st, 4 Buzzards 20^th and 21^st, 2 Kestrel 1^st, 5^th, 21^st, 24^th and 26^th, 1 Peregrine reported 11 times within the month.

Seven species of waders through this month with 550 Lapwing 25^th, 39 Dunlin 1^st and 2^nd, 11 Snipe 4^th, 3 Woodcock 3^rd, 1 Black-tailed Godwit 2^nd, 3 Curlew 8^th, 9^th and 12^th, 3 Redshank 6^th and 7^th.

Maximum Gull numbers were 1 Mediterranean Gull 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th, 6000 Black-headed Gull 8^th, 2800 Common Gull 8^th, 250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 30^th, 5 Herring Gull 27^th, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls 2^nd (3 adults and 1 first winter), 2 Caspian Gull 7^th, 1 Great black-backed Gull reported 14 dates within the month.

Among other species were 1580 Wood Pigeon recorded flying North East 26^th, 4 Tawny Owl heard calling 1^st, 4^th and 25^th, 2 Red-legged Partridge 6^th and 8^th, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 5^th, 17^th and 19^th, 75 Meadow Pipit 6^th, 3 Grey Wagtails 21^st, 177 Fieldfare 3^rd, 725 Redwing 3^rd, 1 Chiffchaff 2^nd and 16^th, 8 Goldcrest 1^st, 2 Marsh Tit 30^th, 7 Willow Tit 1^st and 21^st, 70 Carrion Crow 5^th, 15 Raven 20^th, 7 Tree Sparrow 5^th, 1 Brambling 27^th, 100 Siskin 25^th, 5 Lesser Redpoll 30^th, 9 Bullfinch 7^th, 1 Yellowhammer present on 25^th.

The total 98 species noted compares to 97 in 2021, 94 in 2020, 93 in 2019, 87 in 2018, 92 in 2017.

This is the second highest total for December only being beaten by 99 in December 2006