Well, here we are barely a month away from Christmas, and I’m tempted to say where has the year gone – and yet, when I looked back at the equivalent newsletter last year we had only just begun to get back to ‘normal’ post-Covid.  There was a trip to Frampton Marsh in the autumn (which does feel a long time ago!) and we had just resumed our ‘in-person’ meetings, albeit caution led us to stage them in the New Leaf restaurant, which offered plenty of scope for spacing (remember that phrase) in case of continuing nervousness about the Covid bug. 

I’d like to thank New Leaf Catering heartily for providing that alternative, but 12 months on we are back in our traditional ‘home’ – the Henmore Room – having made the decision over the summer to move back.  This meeting room has been upgraded and can take 30-35 people which is generally ample for our needs, and we are once again using the annexe next door to set up the refreshments table.  We’ve now had the first three meetings of the 2022-23 indoor season there and it’s worked well, even accommodating the elevated numbers at the joint meeting with DOS in October.  You can read more about those meetings later in the newsletter.

As many of you will be aware, we have recruited a new club secretary this year: Louise Sykes has thankfully taken on this role, but with the extra string to her bow as chief promoter and fund-raiser (not an official title!).  She has participated in a number of public events under the CBC banner, where table sales and tombolas have generated generous amounts of cash … so when we hold our AGM in the new year, John Follett will be able to report a healthy financial position.

We have, however, since the last newsletter, sadly lost a member of the committee: Roger Carrington passed away after a short illness. He was an incredibly valuable long-time member of the club, for many years holding the post of Recorder, when he produced the current information-packed template of annual report, put solid processes in place for detailed recording at the reservoir and, in his subtle advice on managing habitat for wildlife, forged strong relationships with the senior staff of Severn Trent and its complement of rangers.  Roger’s quiet and unassuming expertise is greatly missed.

We hope to be able to mark the part he played in the club’s development by using some of the aforementioned financial reserves to create a lasting and meaningful tribute that will, of course, involve supporting the local wildlife.

Our membership levels are much the same as 12 months ago, having acquired several new people or households, which is encouraging set against the rather challenging times in which we’re living.

Gary Atkins

 

JOIN US AT OUR REMAINING INDOOR MEETINGS

Now back in the Henmore Room, remember all meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month, and begin at 7.30pm ……

20 December:  Dr John Reilly reflects on life in the far north – in Svalbard

17 January:  Jack Perks shows us ‘Birds of the Water’

21 February:  David Parkin describes the miracle of bird migration

21 March: Moroccan Spice – from the Atlas Mountains to Sahara Desert by Neil Glenn

GET TO KNOW THE BTO AND BOOST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Early next month, CBC members and those of other birding organisations in the county will have a rare opportunity to find out more about the British Trust for Orthithology (BTO) by meeting some of its staff and local representatives on a Zoom call that will also outline how bird populations are faring across Derbyshire. 

The Zoom session is free and will take place between 7pm and 8.30pm on Monday, 5 December.  All you need to do to participate in this online meet, or simply to observe is to book onto the session via this link:  https://www.bto.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1295 

Please note that registration for this session will end at 9am on Friday, 2 December.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact the BTO’s Engagement and Surveys Officer for England, David White – by e-mail at david.white@bto.org.uk or by phone on 01842 750050.

 

AND TALKING OF BTO – ANYONE FANCY DOING A WEBS COUNT?

In a recent edition of the DOS Bulletin, Phil Hampson put out an appeal for volunteers to take on a monthly WeBS (Wetland Birds Survey) count.  Simon Roddis and Jon Bradley undertake one at Carsington each month, but there are several dozen vacant sites that are not currently being surveyed.  Some of these are classed as large (sizeable reservoirs like Foremark) – but many are rated as medium-sized (eg Flash Dam, Osmaston Lakes) or small (eg Toyota Pool or Mercia Marina).

Surveys gather, for the BTO, valuable information about the status of waterbird populations, including ducks, geese, swans, waders, rails, divers, grebes, cormorants and herons. 

There is more information on the BTO website, though Phil Hampson, who is the local organiser for Derbyshire, is more than happy to explain the background via his e-mail address: btowebspjh@icloud.com or on the phone (07545 465069).

 

LOW WATER LEVELS HINDER BIRDING … BUT NOT THE BIRDS

Despite much of the past three months seeing very low water levels in the reservoir, which makes a telescope virtually essential for any serious water bird watching, the variety of birds visiting Carsington has remained impressive.  September’s 120 species was the second highest ever for that month, while the 111 species noted the following month was an October site record.

Whether November will prove similar is difficult to say right now, but certainly the surprise appearance of a juvenile Common Crane on Stones Island on 21 November – only the second record for Carsington, and the first for 20 years! – can only help.

Wintering waterfowl have still been around in reasonable numbers: 950 Canada Geese were counted in early September, while other maxima have been 480 Teal, 238 Wigeon, 83 Gadwall and an impressive 57 Shoveler.  In smaller numbers, scarcer ducks have included Red-crested Pochard, Goosander, up to 9 Pintail, Red-breasted Mergansers recorded on three dates and Garganey on five occasions.

The advance of the Great White Egret seems to be continuing, as four were seen on 10 October and single birds logged on no fewer than 18 dates across the late summer/early autumn period.  Little Egrets are also regularly on recorders’ lists.

September was a good wader month with 16 species recorded including Avocet, Ruff, Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstone, Spotted Redshank, Golden Plover and Ringed Plover, 28 of which were counted on 23 September.  A Little Stint was moving around in a flock of up to 20 Dunlin for several days, and the highest Dunlin count of the year – 40 – was made on 20 November.  The maximum Lapwing count in this period was 300.

The wide-open shoreline off Lane End hide has afforded good gull-watching.  Numbers have been impressive and, though difficult to gauge, over 10,000 has been estimated, mostly Lesser Black-backs, Black-headed and Common Gulls.  Dedicated and patient watching – and good-quality telescopes – have nevertheless found some scarcer species among the masses including a Ring-billed/Lesser Black-backed hybrid, some Yellow-legs, a Caspian Gull on several dates, and winter-plumage Mediterraneans were particularly tricky to find among the Black-headeds.  A Kittiwake was also spotted on 10 November, and a fairly late Arctic Tern drifted through on 9 October.

As many as nine Red Kites on one day spearheaded the raptor highlights, though there was generally good variety in October when Merlin, Hobby and Marsh Harrier joined the more regular roster of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard, while Peregrines were seen on 14 days that month with another seen tucking into a snack on the Lane End shore in early November.  Up to four Tawny Owls have been heard calling at dawn or dusk.

If 5 November is Bonfire Night, then the day before should henceforth be called the Day of the Woodpigeon, as a mammoth 62,600 individuals were noted flying south during a three and a quarter hour vigil.  The arrival of winter thrushes also heralded large flocks, particularly on 19 October when even the 286 Fieldfares counted were dwarfed by the phenomenal stream of 29,190 Redwings that passed through over a six-hour period.  Up to 1,000 Jackdaws were witnessed leaving their roost one morning, and flocks of Starlings were up to 500 strong.

Other passerines seen more readily over autumn-winter began arriving in decent numbers as Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Brambling became regular sightings.  Whinchat and Stonechat were each seen twice during both September and October, up to three Wheatears were observed and double-digit numbers of Skylarks were noted overflying the site. 

Meanwhile, most of the summer visitors departed during the first half of September, though the final Swallow was recorded on 5 October and House Martins, still numbering 60 on the 3^rd, were not seen after 7 October.  Blackcaps were still being observed in October, and at least one Chiffchaff looks like it’s decided to overwinter as it has been heard or seen on or around Stones Island in recent days.  The recently-discovered Marsh Tit also seems set to stick around among its ‘Willow’ cousins and is often seen or heard around Paul Stanley hide or Sheepwash areas.

Lastly, an ‘oops’ is required for failing to mention in the last issue a Pomerine Skua – only the third record for Carsington – that called in on 2 August.  Sorry!

 

WILLOW TIT SURVEY SHOWS DERBYSHIRE BUCKING NATIONAL DECLINE

A national survey focusing on the Willow Tit has confirmed Derbyshire to be one of the strongholds for this species which has, nevertheless, seen a population decline nationwide of 86 per cent between 1995 and 2020.

Described as our fastest-declining resident bird, the Willow Tit survey was deemed essential to gather data, gauging its numbers and range, to underpin future conservation efforts at both the local and national level.

The survey was undertaken between 2019 and 2021, with county-level surveys undertaken by Willow Tit study groups, county bird clubs, other conservation organisations and volunteers.  It was organised by RSPB, with support from the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Ornithological Society, and drew data from 1,900 tetrads.

Results show that the Willow Tit population in Britain is estimated at just short of 5,700 breeding pairs, of which 76% were in England, 21% in Wales and 3% in Scotland.  North Yorkshire and County Durham as well as Derbyshire were found to have the highest populations in England, while in Wales, most Willow Tits were in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Breconshire and Montgomeryshire. Almost all of Scotland’s Willow Tits were in Dumfries and Galloway.

At Carsington, as in other Derbyshire spots, Willow Tits abound, and it is the Marsh Tit (much more prolific nationwide than its similar-looking cousin) that is more scarce.  Indeed, a gap of several years went by without any Marsh Tit records at Carsington – until one was heard, ironically during a Willow Tit survey.  Since then, and keeping an extra special eye out, at least one Marsh Tit has been noted fairly regularly around Paul Stanley and Sheepwash areas. 

If you’re keen to add a species to your site list, one way of differentiating between these species is their respective sounds, which do differ.  An excellent website for checking these (and any other bird songs/calls) is https://xeno-canto.org/ … and use the search box.

 

BACK IN THE HENMORE ROOM FOR MORE FASCINATING TALKS

For the first indoor meeting of our 2022/23 programme in September we welcomed back renowned wildlife photographer Paul Hobson. As always, Paul treated us to stunning images of wildlife in the changing seasons of the year, visiting some amazing places around the world on the way.

In October we made the long journey down to the colder climes of the South Atlantic in the company of Tony Davison to hear about the birds and other wildlife of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica. This was our traditional annual joint meeting with members of the Derbyshire Ornithological Society (DOS), who joined us for the evening.

Returning to a location much closer to home for our November meeting, Tim Sexton from the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust described the wildlife year at Rutland Water.  He gave us a truly interesting insight into the depth of scientific research work which goes on behind the scenes at this excellent reserve.

For our final meeting of 2022 in December, and perhaps fittingly for our pre-Christmas get-together, we head up to the Arctic Circle and Svalbard to experience a mixture of travel, birds, mammals and evolution presented by Dr John Reilly.

Looking ahead to the new year, our indoor meetings continue with talks ranging from birds of the water, the miracle of migration and the birds of Morocco (see box on front page for details).

 

BURTON MERE ONCE MORE PROVES A HIT FOR CBC TRAVELLERS

On Saturday, 1 October a group of eight CBC members journeyed over to Cheshire to visit the Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB Reserve on the Dee Estuary. This is a site we have visited before and it always offers a good mix of wetland and woodland birds.

Starting off with a welcoming cup of coffee in the Visitor Centre with its panoramic views over the reserve, we spent some time checking through the large flocks of ducks and geese which were starting to gather on the lakes.   Teal were by far the most numerous, with smaller counts of Shoveler and Shelduck and a single Pintail adding to the variety. A lone Pink-footed Goose was spotted hanging out with the many Canada Geese.

Sadly, the effects of avian flu were very much in evidence with one or two wildfowl corpses seen out on the water. Hopefully, species most affected by this terrible disease will in time recover their numbers.

Relatively small counts of waders were seen, mostly Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwings, but a single Curlew Sandpiper was a notable find as well as a solitary Avocet.  Late in the day a Ruff was spotted to complete our tally of waders.  Marsh Harriers were often observed during the day quartering the reedbeds, and a pair of Buzzards, along with a Kestrel and a Peregrine Falcon, added variety to our haul of birds of prey.

As we walked round the reserve, at least 3-4 Cetti’s Warblers announced their presence but, as usual, none were seen.  A pair of Stonechats did show well atop some bushes, and a flock of 15-20 House Martins were hawking for insects, no doubt building up fat reserves ready for their long migration flight south.  Returning to the Visitor Centre later in the day, the blue flash of a Kingfisher was briefly seen by some as it darted along the stream, but then quickly disappeared from view.

It was a very enjoyable day, with the weather turning out to be much dryer and brighter than at first forecast, and a collective total of 40 species were recorded by the group:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Pintail, Teal, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Pheasant, Avocet, Lapwing, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Kingfisher, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Martin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch 

 

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
Treasurer / Membership	John Follett		01332 834778
Recorder	Rob Chadwick		07876 338912
Events co-ordinator	Chris Lamb		01629 820890
Secretary	Louise Sykes		01335 348544
…..and the website address is:   http://www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk
Webmaster	Richard Pittam	n/a		Contact Richard via the website

 

Welcome to the latest newsletter covering the summer period that has, at times, been uncomfortably hot – for us and our local wildlife (certainly the birds in my garden have been bathing and drinking more often than usual).  As the May issue caught up with most of our events, including the final meetings of the 2021-22 indoor season, our warbler walk and a trip to Fairburn Ings, the summer is usually a quiet time. 

We have, however, been keeping relatively busy, mainly through the efforts of our Secretary, Louise Sykes, who has kept the CBC ‘flag’ flying with a few fund-raising events and a presence at the launch of a wildlife art exhibition at the Courtney Gallery in Ashbourne, which has been running throughout most of August.  Looking ahead, we also plan to get our name and activities out and about among the local communities in an effort to boost membership and raise engagement levels within the club.

And now we are about to step into a busier autumn period with another club trip in early October and the start of our 2022-23 season of indoor meetings, which kicks off on 20 September.  These events are highlighted below and described in more detail in an article on page three by Chris Lamb.

For our indoor meetings, we do plan to return to the Henmore Room/Annexe which is better suited for us – so long as numbers do not suddenly climb any higher than usual – and for our speakers, as much of the audio-visual equipment required is already in place.  Use of the restaurant last year was quite important, with Covid still a concern, and very much appreciated – so thanks very much to New Leaf Catering – but we feel it is time for a return to our pre-Covid home.

You should have received your annual report, which was issued several weeks later than usual due to a few editorial changes and logistical challenges.  I hope you nevertheless enjoyed reading (bits of) it!

Gary Atkins

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Below are the dates of upcoming events.  Don’t forget that all indoor meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month in the Visitor Centre’s Henmore Room – and begin at 7.30pm:

** TUESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER ** – Talk: A welcome return by award-winning photographer Paul Hobson, who will show us wildlife through changing seasons in a wide variety of wild locations.

** SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER ** – Outing: our planned autumn trip is to the RSPB’s Burton Mere reserve on the Wirral, overlooking the Dee estuary, but with a mix of woodland and farmland, offering excellent variety of birdlife.  Meet 10.30am in the reserve car park; light refreshments are available at the visitor centre.  If you plan to attend, or have any queries, contact Chris Lamb either by phone, on 01629 820890, or by e-mail at cflamb@yahoo.co.uk.

** TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER ** – Talk: Our annual joint meeting with DOS will feature another old favourite, Tony Davison, showing us the birds and more general wildlife of the south Atlantic and Antarctica.

** TUESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER ** – Talk: Tim Sexton brings us home to the UK with a look-back over his first year working at Rutland Water with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

 

 

HERON AND WADER-FEST AS WATER LEVELS DROP

It had been a while since we’d notched our last new species for the site, but when a Purple Heron flew over Stones Island for 3-4 minutes on 28 July it became the 237^th species recorded during Carsington Water’s 30-year existence.  This particular bird – a juvenile – was also thought to be the first of its kind in Derbyshire for 11 years, though what was probably the same bird has popped up in a few locations since, notably Willington.

In fact, the dry conditions of late summer has prompted something of a heron and wader ‘fest’ as the water receded and the open areas of mud grew – ideal for such species to probe the shallows and damp mud.  Double-figure counts of Grey Herons have been common, and the site record for Little Egrets was broken three times in quick succession in August, from 15 seen on the 11^th to at least 20 noted on the 21^st.  Great White Herons have also been in evidence, with two on 29 July, a single two days later and another on 11 August.

Moving down considerably in size, another highlight was the identification of Marsh Tits on site for the first time since 2013.  The very similar Willow Tit enjoys Carsington as something of a stronghold, and an RSPB researcher was doing a survey of this species when he heard a wheezing ‘pitchoo’ call that he immediately identified as Marsh Tit.  Two birds were in the area of Lane End hide, and their presence was confirmed the following day by Simon Roddis … so none of us can now assume we’re seeing Willow Tit when we see that neat little bird with a black cap and bib!  Look AND listen.

Another exciting moment for Simon was spotting a juvenile Grasshopper Warbler, a scarce visitor to the site, on 20 August. 

While June produced a modest total species count, July’s 110 species was the highest ever for that month at Carsington.  Waders were particularly prolific in contributing to this mammoth month’s total, as 15 species were recorded including three Knot on the 21^st, eight Black-tailed Godwits on the 14^th, two Turnstones on three dates and up to double-figure counts of Ringed Plover and several Little Ringed Plovers in July, along with Curlew, Whimbrel, Ruff, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.

It’s been a busy time for breeding, of course, with ducks, geese, swans and a wealth of smaller passerines all proving to have produced plentiful broods this year – including the Kingfisher that was noted with two young on 12 June.

Black-headed Gull numbers were swelled by numerous young birds, and 630 of this species were counted in mid June, when just 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were counted, but this species breeds on the coast and by 20 August their numbers had boomed as 4,500 entered the gull roost.  The 30 Common Terns observed in late July was the third highest daily total for the site, and around the same time six Arctic and six Black Terns were also recorded.

Three Garganey ducks were first noted in the Lane End/Sheepwash area at the end of July and at least two have been seen on several days since.  Other waterfowl have been steadily growing their numbers – again in part down to breeding successes – and 650 Coot, 476 Tufted Ducks, 394 Mallards, 143 Teal and 58 Gadwall were logged during the August WeBS count.  Meanwhile, in June, over 1,000 Canada Geese were recorded, 28 Common Scoter were grouped together on 31 July, and Ruddy Shelduck have been noted at a few Derbyshire locations over the past several weeks – including Carsington.

Osprey sightings have been sparse over the late summer, with one in each of June, July and August, but Red Kites have continued to become a more regular sight overhead with up to five birds spotted on 24 July and 21 August.  Buzzards and Kestrels are seen most days, Sparrowhawks generally on several days each month and Peregrines less often, and the seasonal Hobby has made just three appearances over the period.

Summer visitors and resident passerines have showed well all around the site, many having bred successfully.  ‘Warbler corner’ on Stones Island is particularly well watched with several species – Sedge, Willow and Garden Warbler, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff – all seen on one day.  A Tree Pipit over Middle Wood early on the morning of 13 August was the first of the year.

While maximum hirundine numbers have varied: 230 Sand Martins on 25 June, 150 Swallows on 22 August but only 35 House Martins on 14 August – Pied Wagtail numbers have begun to grow again as up to 150, including plenty of young, have been counted with the odd Yellow ‘cousin’ among them.

 

BIRD OF THE ISSUE: PURPLE HERON

The site’s 237^th species was a tantalisingly short visit, as the juvenile Purple Heron flew in from the east, moved over and around Stones Island for just three minutes or so before disappearing behind trees, heading south-east.

Purple Herons are slightly smaller than their ‘Grey’ cousins, with darker grey backs and other plumage a reddish-brown.  They inhabit the same habitats and have roughly the same diet, so can easily be mistaken for Grey Herons, though its established territories are Africa, Asia and central and southern Europe.

Perhaps following the trend for heron species to edge northwards as the climate warms, however, the Purple Heron could become a more regular sight in the UK, just as Little and Great Egrets and Spoonbills have.

 

COME ALONG AND ENJOY OUR INDOOR MEETINGS AND AUTUMN TRIP

We aim to keep members busy over the autumn and winter period with our usual offerings of fascinating wildlife talks from some of our finest local photographers and naturalists, and we hope a reasonable number will also be attracted by our autumn trip – to a prime site on The Wirral.

Our programme of 2022-23 indoor meetings kicks off on Tuesday 20^th September, when we welcome back renowned wildlife photographer Paul Hobson. Paul takes us through the changing seasons of a wild year, visiting some amazing places around the world on the way, including Yellowstone National Park, Hungary, Bulgaria and the UK.

At our next meeting on Tuesday 18^th October we make the long journey down to the South Atlantic in the company of Tony Davison to hear about the birds (not just penguins!) and other wildlife of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica. This will be our traditional annual joint meeting with members of the Derbyshire Ornithological Society (DOS), who will join us for the evening.

Returning to a location much closer to home for our November meeting, Tim Sexton tells us about his first year working for the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at Rutland Water. It will be interesting to hear more about this very popular nature reserve, which many of us have often visited, from the point of view of someone who works there.

Perhaps fittingly for our pre-Christmas meeting in December, we head up to the Arctic Circle and experience a mixture of travel, birds, mammals and evolution presented by Dr John Reilly. John has led several bird and wildlife tours to Spitsbergen and has tracked down and photographed species which have important and interesting evolutionary stories to tell.

Our autumn trip for members will take place on Saturday 1st October, when we head over to the Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB Reserve on the Dee Estuary in Cheshire.  With its mix of freshwater wetlands, farmland and woodland habitats, Burton Mere always offers a great variety of birdlife and by the time of our trip many of our winter visitors will have started to arrive.

We will meet at 10.30am at the reserve visitor centre. The address is Puddington Lane, Burton, Neston, CH64 5SF.  Light refreshments and toilet facilities are available at the reserve. If you are intending to make the trip please let Chris Lamb know, either by phone on 01629 820890 or by email at cflamb@yahoo.co.uk.  More information can be found on the RSPB website at:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/dee-estuary-burton-mere-wetlands/

 

 

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