May 042023
A wonderful turnout of 27 people came along to our Springtime Songbird Walk at Carsington Water on Sunday 30th 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