Carsington Bird Club – Page 7 – Formed in 1992 when the construction of Carsington Water Reservoir was completed and opened to the public.

Springtime Songbird Walk – Sunday 30th April 2023

A wonderful turnout of 27 people came along to our Springtime Songbird Walk at Carsington Water on Sunday 30^th April. Formerly known as the ‘Warbler Walk’, this is our traditional spring walk around part of the site to look for, and listen to, the many birds singing at this time of year. We were once again led by Simon Roddis, one of our expert bird recorders, who helped us to identify the birds we encountered by both sight and sound.

As we set off towards Stones Island we noticed the line-up of birds on top of the Visitor Centre roof – a Pied Wagtail, Linnet and House Sparrow, soon to be followed by a female Wheatear.

Setting the tone for what was to follow, the first singing warbler we came across was a Sedge Warbler, which was obligingly perched on top of a bush delivering its song. This was to become a very regular occurrence as we moved around Stones Island, so much so that one of the group suggested it should be renamed Sedge Warbler Island!

Other warblers and songbirds were proving a little harder to see, though with patience we did pick out Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Garden Warblers. A single Reed Warbler was heard singing, but we were unable to locate it. Perhaps a little surprisingly, it wasn’t until later in the morning that we heard and saw our first Blackcap.

The site holds a wide variety of bird species, not just songbirds of course, and looking across the reservoir from Stones Island, several Great Crested Grebes very resplendent in their breeding finery were noted, along with Swallows and Sand Martins hawking for insects over the water. A pair of Oystercatchers and Redshanks were seen on Watersports Island, and we had fleeting views of our winter-staying Great Northern Diver as it flew down towards Millfields. By the time you read this, it will probably have departed and set off on its long journey north to its breeding grounds.

Moving round to the Wildlife Centre, a male Redstart was observed flitting around bushes in the fields to the left of the path. Some nearby Barnacle Geese grazing under the bushes helpfully provided a marker for everyone to locate this fine-looking bird. From the viewing screens by the Wildlife Centre, a single Snipe on Horseshoe Island was spotted, though as is typically the case it proved quite difficult to see unless it moved!

Finishing off at Wildlife Centre Creek, Simon’s sharp ears picked out the calls of a Goldcrest and a Willow Tit to round off a very enjoyable morning. A grand total of 40 species were seen or heard by the group:

Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Great Northern Diver, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit (heard), Sand Martin, Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler (heard), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest (heard), Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Linnet, Goldfinch

Chris Lamb

Carsington Bird Club

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.

Events Member Reports

Members trip to Gibraltar Point, Sunday 12th March 2023

A regular band of CBC members were very pleased to escape the Derbyshire snow and head to the Lincolnshire coast on Sunday 12th March to visit the Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve.

After meeting up for a cup of coffee in the Visitor Centre café, we headed out towards the shore on a path which took us along the edge of the salt marshes. The song of Skylarks could be heard above us as we walked, though the strong winds were clearly making most of the smaller birds hunker down for shelter. A few Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting and a flock of Linnets were seen briefly before they dived down for cover.

Large numbers of Brent Goose were feeding on the grassy areas on the salt marsh, along with a couple of Redshanks and a Curlew probing for food in the mud. In the distance we could also pick out a pair of Roe Deer.

As we reached the beach, the strength of the wind became more apparent and certainly made it hard to keep binoculars and telescopes steady as we looked for possible sea birds. A number of Oystercatchers were feeding on the shoreline, along with a large flock of Sanderling constantly running along the water’s edge like little clockwork toys. The only sea ducks spotted were a group of some 10-15 Common Scoter flying low over the water.

In the afternoon we decided to move to the more sheltered areas of the reserve, where a number of hides looking out over freshwater marshes offered the chance to see more waders and wildfowl. Our wader tally increased with Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwings and Avocets, as well as more Curlews and Redshanks. Wintering Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler were still present in good numbers, along with a handful of Shelduck.

Woodland birds were in fairly short supply during the day due to the terrain of the reserve, though a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was first heard calling then seen as it flew between the trees, was a notable find.

The sightings board at the reserve indicated the possibility of 5 Water Pipits at the Fenland Lagoon, so we set off in that direction and were rewarded with clear views of 3 of them, showing well as they moved about on the mudbanks. The Water Pipit is a fairly scarce winter visitor to the UK, mainly in eastern and southern England, so it provided an excellent highpoint to end the day on before we set off back home.

A collective total of 45 species were recorded by the group:

Greylag Goose, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Little Egret, Pheasant, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Chris Lamb

Carsington Bird Club

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.