News – Page 5 – Carsington Bird Club

British Birds magazine – monthly e-newsletter

Some members may already be subscribers to British Birds magazine or may have taken up one of several trial offers available recently. Whether you subscribe or not, however, you may like to join the list of those who receive a free e-newsletter every month. This offers a nice flavour of what has been published recently and what is in the pipeline in areas such as book of the month, news and comment, the rarities section and further special offers.

This is a new initiative from what we believe to be Britain’s’ leading birding publication. It covers the UK and Western Palaearctic and has been the birdwatchers’ journal of record since 1907. It is read and recommended by many well known amateur and professional ornithologists, writers and photographers with Simon King stating that “British Birds is the gold standard of ornithological literature in the UK”.

To receive the newsletters, you merely have to log on to www.britishbirds.co.uk and complete the sign up form at the bottom of the page.

Go on, give it a try!

Sad news to report

DAVE EDMONDS

It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of CBC committee member Dave Edmonds who was until very recently, along with his wife Sue, our joint membership secretary. Dave was a keen birder, who livened up a room with his inquisitive nature and enthusiasm for the subject. He will be sorely missed.

As well as a member of his local bird club, Dave’s wider love of wildlife was illustrated by his commitment to Birdlife Malta, an organisation focused on stopping the annual slaughter of tens of thousands of birds by local hunters. Not only did Dave talk to the club about this, convincing us to become ‘corporate’ members and subscribe much-needed funds, but he and Sue devoted some of their personal holiday time most years on the island to support the cause.

Dave’s funeral is taking place at Ashbourne Bowls Club at 12 noon, on Thursday, 4 December.

Carsington Bird Club News

Driven Grouse Shooting – A Message From Dr Mark Avery….

Below is a letter from Dr Mark Avery, a renowned scientist and supporter of bird and wildlfife conservation. Have a read and sign the e-petition if you feel you want to. [ Ed. ]

"Dear friends,

I have just launched an e-petition on the No10 website calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting in England. At the moment it only has me signed up to it so it needs a bit of support.

I'm not really very keen on banning things so it has taken a lot of thought to launch this petition. However, after 60 years of complete legal protection, the Hen Harrier is rarer than it was (in England at least) when it got that protection! And after at least a couple of decades of talking about solutions with the moorland community, in which I played a part for a while, the Hen Harrier is almost extinct in England. There are times when one can reach an understanding with 'the other side' but this doesn't appear to be one of them. The systematic, illegal, wholesale removal of a protected bird from our countryside is a disgrace.
Of course, I would be rather surprised if this e-petition led to the banning of driven grouse shooting but I hope it will highlight the issues around this land use (which are far wider than a protected bird of prey) and make it easier for some sort of sensible solution to emerge. But if grouse shooting were banned, we really wouldn't miss it at all. I will be giving this e-petition plenty of publicity over the next 12 months.

Please don't sign the e-petition if you don't have some sympathy with it – that would be wrong. And I'm not going to know, whether any of you have signed it or not – unless, of course, the number of signatures remains at just the one.

If I can add another 9,999 signatures in the next 365 days then the government, perhaps a different government, will have to respond. If I can add 99,999 signatures, then the issue may be debated in parliament (it would be interesting to hear what Nigel Farage would say!)."

Dr Mark Avery [ http://markavery.info/about/ ]

This is the link http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65627

Carsington Bird Club Events News

Trip to Bempton Cliffs

CLUB TRIP: BEMPTON CLIFFS – SUNDAY, 1 JUNE 2014

In late spring, this RSPB site on the Yorkshire coast is one of the most exciting, busy, noisy – and smelly – birding sites imaginable. It is particularly noted for up to 200,000 cliff-dwelling birds that call those precipitous ledges home for a few months each year. Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Gannets and Puffins are virtually guaranteed, along with a range of gulls and other sea-going species such as Cormorant.

Raptors are sometimes in evidence, with Peregrine using the cliffs as a useful larder, Red Kite sightings on the increase, and a Short-eared Owl regularly seen patrolling the flat farmland back from the cliffs, where a range of summer visitors are also to be found. On the club’s last trip to Bempton five years ago, Whitethroat, Linnet, Sedge Warbler and Corn Bunting joined resident Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks among the ploughed fields, scrub and hedgerows.

As well as several cliff-top viewpoints, there is a visitor centre with feeding stations that attract the usual seed and nut eaters including various tits, sparrows and finches. While most visitors are content with these viewing stations, the more energetic souls may fancy walking down to Flamborough Head … and don’t worry, we won’t forget you!

Transport will leave from Carsington Water Visitor Centre at 7.45am.

The cost is expected to be around £15-20 (under-16s £10). Please send a £10 deposit per person, along with the booking form, to secure your place.

I/we would like to attend this trip. Please reserve the following number of seats:

Adults ………………… Children ………………

Name ……………………………… Address .…………………………………………………………………………….

Tel No ……………………………… e-mail ……………………………………………………………………………… I enclose a cheque (payable to Carsington Bird Club) / postal order for £ ……………

Please return the slip/deposits by 30 April to:

Peter Oldfield, Owslow Farm, Carsington, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 4DD.

If you have any further queries on this trip call Peter on 01629 540510 or e-mail him at peter.oldfield2011@gmail.com.