osprey – Page 4 – Carsington Bird Club

Apr 2011 Bird Notes

APRIL 2011 BIRD NOTES

April Highlights: Great Northern Diver, Sacred Ibis! Red Kite, Osprey and Common Migrants.

Works to isolate Sheepwash Spit and use the spoil to form a protective spit and small island were completed at the beginning of the month. Although the spit is now an island it will retain its historic name ‘Sheepwash Spit’, and the partly submerged spoil spit and island nearer to Sheepwash Hide, already attracting passage waders and terns, will be referred to as Sheepwash Island.

The 3 Great Northern Divers stayed all month, the adult attaining full summer plumage by 27^th. The ‘wild’ Barnacle Goose, ringed ADZ, was daily with the feral flock and there were at least 3 pairs with nests by 27^th. A Sacred Ibis was at the Wildlife Centre from 1530hrs on 25^th, origin unknown but most likely an escapee. Wildfowl counts were; only 2 Little Grebe all month, 42 Great Crested Grebe on 19^th, 5 Greylag Geese on 7^th and 17^th, 59 Canadas on 19^th, 32 Barnacles on 4^th, 5 Shelduck on 21^st, 2 Wigeon on 10^th, 2 Gadwall on 17^th, 55 adult Mallard on 19^th, a pair of Shoveler on 10^th, 126 Tufted Duck on 19^th, 2 Goldeneye on 20^th, 3 Goosander on 15^th, and 67 Coot on 19^th. Eight broods of Mallard (size; 13-17-7-6-11-7-19-3) were noted by the end of the month. Two Red-legged Partridge were flushed from a path in Fishtail Creek on 2^nd.

There were 3 sightings of Red Kite; on 3^rd, 6^th and 26^th during a month when many individuals were noted in Derbyshire. An Osprey delighted many observers from 0832 to 1530hrs at least on 2^nd and again on 3^rd and probably involves the same bird. A Hobby was seen from the Wildlife Centre on 19^th and a Peregrine was noted on 3^rd, 7^th and 11^th.

Wader passage included a maximum of 7 Little Ringed Plover on 14^th, 1 Ringed Plover on 1^st, 20^th and 21^st, 3 Dunlin on 9^th, 1 Black-tailed Godwit on 19^th, 1 Whimbrel on 20^th, 23^rd and 28^th, 4 Curlew on 15^th, 2 Greenshank on Sheepwash Island on 28^th, 1 Green Sandpiper on Sheepwash Island on 17^th and 4 Common Sandpiper, also on Sheepwash Island, on 29^th. Most breeding pairs of Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing were settled and sitting tight.

Very few gulls were around, and the noisy Black-headed Gulls vacated their raft breeding base at the Wildlife Centre and moved to the new island at Sheepwash, but no signs of breeding, yet! An immature Mediterranean Gull was at Sheepwash on 25^th, 120 Lesser Black-backed were noted on 4^th and an immature Yellow-legged Gull was at Sheepwash on 1^st. The first tern through was a Common Tern on 1^st, with a maximum of 3 on 27^th. An Arctic Tern on 26^th was followed by a flock of 46 straight through in the evening of 28^th. Early Black Tern this year, with 5 off Stones Island from 1800hrs on 20^th.

All 3 woodpecker species this month, with Green on 18^th and 26^th, Lesser Spotted on 9^th and Great Spotted daily. Sand Martin passage reached 100+ on 3^rd, Swallows 100+ on 13^th, House Martins stuck at 2 on 4^th and 12^th and Swift did not come until 1^st May. A Tree Pipit flew over Stones Island on 10^th, the first Yellow Wagtail were 2 on 13^th, with a maximum of 6 on 18^th, only 1 White Wagtail on 13^th, Common Redstart on 12^th, 13^th and 19^th, 4 Wheatear on 2^nd and a late Fieldfare flock of 50+ flew over Sheepwash on 1^st. A Song Thrush pair was feeding fledged young on 28^th. Warblers kept arriving with blackcaps everywhere, seemingly outnumbering all others this year. The first Sedge was on 19^th, Lesser Whitethroat on 17^th and 5 on 27^th, Whitethroat on 19^th, Garden on 19^th and 7 on 27^th, 28 Blackcap between Millfields and Hopton via WLC on 27^th, 22 Chiffchaff on 4^th and 19 Willow Warbler on 27^th. A Pied Flycatcher was singing in Hall Wood on 22^nd and 3 Tree Creepers were also singing in there on 19^th. Horseshoe Island attracted a flock of 15+ Linnet on 11^th and 6 Bullfinch were around Sheepwash car park feeder on 18^th.

111 Species were recorded compared with 116 in April 2010, 110 in 2009, 118 in 2008, 103 in 2007, 118 in 2006, 117 in 2005, 116 in 2004, 120 in 2003 and 107 in 2002.

CBC Newsletters

Feb 2011 Newsletter

No.1 – February 2011

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

I would like to wish all members a Happy New Year even though it was almost two months ago! I won’t mention the improving weather because that is tempting fate, but I hope everybody is well into their new bird watching year: maybe Waxwing has been ticked or, at least, Smew and Great Northern Diver from trips to the reservoir.

The 2010 annual report is well on the way to being finished as we enter our 20 th year as a club. We remain a strong group with a valuable role to play in Carsington Water’s future – especially in light of the demise of the local partnership between Severn Trent and the RSPB.

To maintain and build our strength and vitality, however, we need to consolidate membership numbers, so if you have not already renewed please do so as soon as possible. There is a renewal form included with this newsletter that you can fill in and post back to our membership secretaries. Also, why not encourage other people – friends and relations – to join up and join in our programme of indoor meetings and regular walks. We need more support at the meetings to be able to afford the top photographers and experts that guarantee a memorable night; so if anyone has any thoughts about speakers or topics, I’d love to hear from you. The walks – not all now in the evenings, and not even all at Carsington – are a simple way for you see and learn more about birds.

Our trips have been a bit thin on the ground, but we have a fantastic one organised for later this year – ending in a boat trip on the Wash ( see cut-off slip for details and a chance to get your booking in early)!

You really don’t need to do much to be practically involved. First of all, every record is important, so add your observations to the logs kept in the hides – or on the sightings board on the website. Some of you may not even be aware of this site ( www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk ): if not, log on and see what an excellent job our webmaster Richard Pittam has made of it. There’s a mass of useful information and pointers there for you to browse. It regularly figures around the 270 mark in the 1,000-strong list of most used bird-watching websites.

I hope you also took part in the world’s biggest collective bird watching experience – the RSPB’s big garden birdwatch. This summer sees the conclusion of an even bigger recording endeavour: the Bird Atlas is run by the BTO, SOC and Bird Watch Ireland ; starting in 2007, it will prove the most comprehensive survey – over a longer period than ever before – of bird life anywhere in the world. Every part of the British Isles has been split up into 10 km squares, within which are 2x2km tetrads that undergo two-hour visits twice in winter and twice in summer.

A massive number of volunteers have been involved and summer 2011 is the last period to be done, after which the Atlas of British wintering and breeding birds will be assembled. Provisional results already show losses and gains in our birdlife – yet some gaps remain and the organisers are happy to receive ‘roving records’ from anyone who notes birds during their regular outings. In particular, they are keen to get evidence of breeding, such as parents carrying food to nest and sightings of fledglings. If you have such records – from 2007 to the present day – then submit them, or let me know the details and I can do it for you. The more birding you do, the better, so have a great 2011!

Peter Gibbon

SNOW BUNTING – THEN JUST THE SNOW!

The Carsington Water bird species total reached 222 when a Snow Bunting dropped in on 25 November. This seemed appropriate as just a week or two later a very large amount of snow dropped onto the area – two feet at its deepest – and plummeting temperatures as low as -17C saw the reservoir gradually ice over until all but five per cent was frozen. December was an understandably quiet month, with the lowest number of species logged since 2005. In January the volumes away from the water were down as some birds drifted south in search of milder conditions and easier-to-find food.

Nevertheless, our now regular group of visiting Great Northern Divers have dropped in: the first arrived in early November, a fellow juvenile arrived the following month, then a third joined the party on 29 January. Meanwhile, the site’s first Slavonian Grebe since 2005 spent 11 days at Carsington in December, affording excellent views for excited observers.

The reservoir saw a little of this winter’s influx of Waxwings when, after several fly-overs, a group of five was finally spotted with landing gear down stripping a hedge of its berries on 21 January. Siskin have showed well this winter, with flocks as large as 50 noted, Kingfishers were seen on three occasions during December and January, as many as eight Willow Tits were recorded in a single day, and two Mealy Redpolls were spotted in January, only the second record for Carsington.

Away from the water, maximum daily counts included 180 Jackdaws and four Ravens, 75 Redwings, 23 Fieldfares, 16 Blackbirds and six Song Thrushes. While five Skylarks in the air in mid-February signalled that spring is maybe not too far around the corner, raptor traffic has been very light. Peregrines were noted on several occasions – including one mobbed by a pair of Ravens on 15 December – but Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel made only occasional appearances. A Little Owl was seen in January, and a Barn Owl gave excellent views quartering the ground near Sheepwash hide as dusk approached on 11 February.

Another long-staying water bird this winter is a female Smew which first arrived a week before Christmas, seemed to have gone but then, a week or so later, was spotted again and has remained ever since.

Duck species have been around in good numbers, with counts registering 70 Gadwall, 41 Goldeneye, 210 Mallard and 110 Teal, and smaller numbers of Shoveler, Mandarin, Pochard, Pintail and Goosander. On 21 December, the highest counts were recorded for Tufted Duck (728) and Wigeon (325) as well as Coot (1,783), and two days later the largest ever count – of 95 – was noted for Great Crested Grebe.

Meanwhile Little Grebe numbers have been relatively low – partly due to the predatory activities of a certain Yellow-legged Gull. The gull roost has been up to around 3,000 birds, the majority being Black-heads with a maximum count of 2,500, and up to 350 Commons and 200 Lesser Black-backs. A possible third winter Caspian Gull was noted on 11 February.

Other recent rarities have included dark-bellied Brent Geese on 8 February and, two days later, two Egyptian Geese. Pink-footed Geese have also been seen, 240 overflying in December, when six Whooper Swans also flew over without touching down.

Waders have been thin on the ground, with only Redshank and Lapwing seen regularly, but encouragingly flocks of up to 350 Lapwings have been counted. Knot was recorded twice in December, and Dunlin and Snipe were seen, while Curlew were, unusually, seen several times during December and January, their presence perhaps signalling a search for food and a safe roost during the ice and snow.

BIRD OF THE ISSUE: SMEW

Carsington Water has been graced with a single Smew for much of the deepest winter period. The visitor this year is a female ‘redhead’ which has a chestnut crown extending below the eye, which has the potential to confuse with Ruddy Duck or winter plumage Slavonian Grebe. The male is a spectacular black and white bird that has a ‘cracked ice’ appearance at rest, but with more black in evidence when flying.

Smew – as its Latin name Mergus Albellus suggests – is most closely related to the Mergansers and its delicate bill does have the same serrated ‘sawbill’ that helps it catch fish when diving. It also eats larvae and other insects.

They are scarce winter visitors to the UK , generally seen between December and March on fish-rich inland freshwater lakes and reservoirs, often singly. Only around 400 are thought to visit in a typical winter, many more favouring Netherlands winters, with reasonable numbers also found in Eastern France and Switzerland .

They nest in northern Europe and Asia , usually finding holes in trees such as discarded woodpecker nests, and laying between six and nine cream coloured eggs in May.

See link to RSPB website – click here

OSPREYS OFFERED A NEW HOME

From one beautiful black and white bird to another – the Osprey. An exciting development at Carsington Water sees Severn Trent Water trying to attract this iconic raptor by building nesting platforms at two locations around the reservoir’s perimeter. This in turn is the first step in a broader project by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to erect Osprey platforms around the region and particularly in the Trent Valley .

Encouraged by the success of the Osprey breeding programme at Rutland Water – and the increasingly regular site of this stately bird passing through the Trent Valley on its way to other breeding grounds – Severn Trent’s volunteer rangers have used generous sponsorship and volunteer funds for the project that aims to coax Ospreys to stop off at Carsington Water.

One platform has been erected in front of the brick tower between Sheepwash and Lane End, with the second stationed at Penn Carr on the opposite side of the reservoir. Both are in the water near the shore, and each incorporates two poles, one supporting a nest platform, the other with a perch. They have been prepared well in advance of the birds’ return from their winter home in South Africa – and with brown trout on the menu, Carsington will hopefully prove irresistible to Ospreys looking for new breeding grounds as numbers increase at Rutland Water.

Ospreys have been spotted catching and eating fish there in 2009 and 2010 – and last year’s nine sightings gave Carsington the highest Osprey count in Derbyshire. Notices will be placed in hides to encourage visitors to report any sightings of this magnificent bird.

David Bennett, STW Volunteer Ranger

COLD WEATHER HITS EVENTS PROGRAMME

Our recent programme began with wildlife photographer Paul Hobson’s talk on farming in November, and would have continued with the Christmas party but for having to cancel it due to the freezing conditions that threatened to continue. We were able to inform most likely attendees – via website, emails and phone calls – but chairman Peter Gibbon took the ultimate ‘hit’ by turning up to inform anyone else who had not caught the news.

Peter returned to the limelight in January when, immediately after chairing the AGM, he moved behind a projector to show off the brilliant birdlife found on the island of Lesvos – the third largest Greek island which lies just a few miles off the coast of Turkey . Its population of 90,000 is swelled for much of the year by holidaymakers, including a fair number of birders who go for the huge variety, particularly (but not exclusively) during periods of migration. His slide show whetted members’ appetites both for sunshine and some wonderful and rare birds.

Earlier this month, another local top photographer, John Gardner, was our guest and gave us a look at some of his images and an insight into how he captured them. Our indoor season ends in March, and then the big outdoors beckons (see ‘What’s On’ below).

LOW WATER LEVELS EXPLAINED

The question I have been asked most of all over the last six months is why is the water level so low?

Well, there are a number of reasons, some more complex than others. Firstly, we have had a very dry year and, as a storage reservoir, Carsington Water comes into its own when other reservoirs are struggling to maintain water supplies. In these circumstances, STW sends water down 11 kilometres of pipes from Carsington into the River Derwent for abstraction or directly into Ogston treatment works.

In an average year, Carsington Water will capture 10 per cent of its catchment from the various streams and brooks that enter the reservoir, but to fill it, water has to be pumped back up the pipes from the Derwent, which in turn has to be full enough for the Environment Agency to allow us to abstract this water.

In what’s been a very dry winter, Carsington Water has naturally filled up only one per cent, which isn’t much considering all the snow that fell. The dry ground soaks up what little rain we have had, and the trend seems to be towards quick heavy downfalls rather than prolonged showers: this washes all the ‘nasties’ from the roads, farms and industry into the water, making it almost untreatable; this simply adds further pressure to the water treatment and supply process. Heavy rain also brings an increased risk of flooding, while being much harder to catch as it drains through the catchment very quickly; and ice and frost of the ultra-cold period this winter caused ground movement, which burst water mains and increased leakage.

A growing population means we are using more and more water – but there are simple measures we can all take to save water and help protect the environment. Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

• Turn off taps when you brush your teeth, only use your washing machine for full loads, and only fill/boil your kettle with the quantity of water needed for your drink

• Water your garden from a water butt, from your sink bowl – or even capture the water when you wait for your tap to run hot, try not to waste good drinking water

• Water plants once and heavily, not little and often

• Dripping taps are wasteful – and annoying: fix it and save several litres a day

• After washing out paint brushes, do not poor the paint, stains, and oils down the drain as they could pollute your local water source since drains are not always connected to the sewage system

• For more ideas, visit the Severn Trent Water website ( www.stwater.co.uk ), where you will be able to find out everything from receiving a free water-saving kit to reporting leaks in the road (or call 0800 783 4444)

Ben Young , STW site manager, Carsington Water

Carsington Bird Club

Oct 2010 Bird Notes

OCTOBER 2010 BIRD NOTES

October Highlights: Whooper Swan, Red Kite, Osprey, Firecrest and Great Grey Shrike.

Following September’s near record month, this month has matched the biggest October ever with some quality birds among the 109 species recorded, and November is looking good with a Bearded Tit on its first day. The formal Wildfowl Count on 17^th included: 47 Little Grebe, 49 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Mute Swans, 781 Wigeon, 38 Gadwall, 89 Teal, 103 Mallard, 91 Pochard, 741 Tufted Duck and 972 Coot. Seven Whooper Swans were near the dam at 0800hrs on 22^nd and 3 flew south on 28^th. Pink-footed Geese movements included 300 west at 1440hrs on 11^th, 45 on 13^th and 46 west at 1730hrs on 30^th. Other wildfowl maximum counts were 61 Great Crested Grebe on 28^th, 62 Cormorant on 6^th, 26 Barnacle Geese on 30^th, 5 Shelduck on 12^th, 5 Pintail on 28^th, 7 Shoveler on 19^th, 2 Red-crested Pochard on 21^st, 4 Common Scoter on 25^th, 4 Goldeneye on 25^th and 17 Goosander on 28^th.

Raptors included a Red Kite drifting below the dam at 1015hrs on 19^th, a male Goshawk in the wood in Tail Bay on 16^th, 2 Sparrow Hawk on 11^th and 19^th, 8 Buzzard on 4^th, a late Osprey on 2^nd, a Merlin on 5^th and 18^thand Peregrine on several dates. A hunting male Sparrow Hawk flew through the open door of the Wildlife Centre at 0930hrs on 27^th. He was quickly caught and released outside before he sustained any damage from his attempted exit through closed windows.

A good range of wader sightings included 2 Ringed Plover on Stones Island up to 6^th, 17 Golden Plover on Stones Island on 23^rd, 2 Grey Plover flying over calling on 3^rd, 182 Lapwing on 17^th, 1 Knot flying north on 10^th, 6 Dunlin on 5^th, 2 Snipe at the Wildlife Centre on 4^th, a Woodcock on 27^th, 1 Curlew on 22^nd, a Redshank from 27^th, a Common Sandpiper attacked by a Sparrow Hawk on 6^th and a Turnstone on Stones Island from 1705hrs on 14^th.

The Gull Roost held an adult Mediterranean Gull from 16^th, a second winter Little Gull on 12^th, 4000 Black-headed Gull and 3500 Lesser Black-backed Gull with one showing characteristics of ‘Fuscus’ on 28^th, a site record 20 Yellow-legged Gull and a Caspian Gull on 16^th and 3 Great Black-backed Gull on 20^th.

Autumn movement brought a few surprises this year and included 13 Skylark over on 27^th, 2 late Swallow on 18^th, big numbers of Meadow Pipit with 80 on 28^th, 3 Rock Pipit on 5^th and lesser numbers on other dates, a White Wagtail on 9^th, 1 Fieldfare on 19^th and 30 on 27^th, 50 Redwing on 10^th and 23^rd and 4 Chiffchaff on 6^th. A Firecrest was found on Stones Island at 1730hrs on 14^th and was calling until 1800hrs. At this time of year many firecrests move south, mostly down the east and south coasts. There have been two previous records of this species during 1996 (see annual report for details) and 1997. A week later and a Great Grey Shrike was observed from the Wildlife Centre at 1500hrs on 21^st. The bird was on top of the large ash tree to the right of Shiningford Farm for 5 minutes before flying into the wooded creek and lost to sight. This is the third record of the species at Carsington; the second stayed for 5 months and was last seen in April 2005. The first autumn Brambling was on Stones Island on 17^th, 20 Siskin were near the Sailing Club on 4^th, 8 Linnet and a Lesser Redpoll on 4^th and a Yellowhammer flew over on 16^th.

109 species recorded this October compared with 108 in 2009, 94 in 2008, 109 in 2007, 99 in 2006, 99 in 2005, 91 in 2004, 94 in 2003 and 103 in 2002.

Carsington Bird Club

Sep 2010 Bird Notes

SEPTEMBER 2010 BIRD NOTES

September Highlights: Osprey, Waders, Wryneck and Lapland Bunting.

August found only a mundane 94 species, but September has produced an exciting 116 Species. The wide shoreline and muddy water’s edge attracted a variety of waders, and migrant passerines have been showing well. Common wintering wildfowl numbers are increasing and maximum counts totalled: 35 Little Grebe and 47 Great Crested Grebe on 21^st, 67 Cormorant on 6^th, 8 Heron on 21^st, 28 Mute Swans on 21^st, 22 Greylag, 450 Canada Geese and 26 Barnacle on 15^th, 1 Ruddy Shelduck between 21^st to 30^th, 406 Wigeon and 45 Gadwall on 29^th, 81 Teal and 166 Mallard on 21^st, 7 Pintail on 22^nd, 3 Shoveler on 2^nd, 26 Pochard on 29^th, 879 Tufted Duck on 21^st, 4 Common Scoter on 29^th and 1009 Coot on 21^st. An Osprey was around, occasionally fishing, to the delight of many observers, from 12^th to16^th. A Hobby was noted on 14^th, 23^rd and 28^th and a Peregrine on 7^th and other dates.

Wader passage has been good with 2 Oystercatcher on 15^th, a maximum of 4 Ringed Plover on Stones Island on 27^th, 87 Lapwing counted on 23^rd, a juvenile Knot on Stones Island on 10^th, a juvenile Little Stint on 26^th, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 22 Dunlin on 22^nd, 3 Juvenile Ruff 3-8^th, 1 Snipe at the Wildlife Centre on 13^th, 2 Black-tailed Godwit on 29^th, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Wildlife Centre on 9^th and 2 on 27^th, 1 Curlew on 2^nd and 23^rd, an adult Spotted Redshank briefly on 28^th, 11 Redshank on 22^nd, 4 Greenshank on 7^th and maximum of 4 Common Sandpiper on 8^th. The gull roost held 2800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on 2^nd and 17 Yellow-legged Gulls on 20^th. An adult Kittiwake flew east over Millfields on 15^th and 3 Common Tern were noted on 3^rd.

A Barn Owl used Sheepwash Hide as a hunting post around 1800hrs for 35 minutes on 15^th, at one stage perching just 3 feet away from the observer behind glass. Two Kingfishers were at Sheepwash on 11^th. A Wryneck was found at Millfields at 1740hrs on 13^th, attracting many observers and photographers throughout the 14^th, but it had gone on 15^th. This is a new species for Carsington and there have been only about 40 records for Derbyshire since 1954. Amazingly, this was one of three county records this year. A Green Woodpecker was calling from the wood below Millfields in Tail Bay on 20^th, 4 Skylarks flew over southwards on 30^th, 2 Sand Martins were noted on 8^th, 102 Swallows on 20^th and 10 on 29^th, 2 House Martins on 24^th and a maximum of 50 Meadow Pipits on the Dam Wall at dawn on 14^th. A Rock Pipit was located on Stones Island at 1715hrs on 29^th. Minutes later 3 observers were looking at it, each observer struggling with the others’ descriptions of position and actions. Astonishingly, all 3 were looking at different birds, all 3 birds being Rock Pipits among Meadow Pipits. A Yellow Wagtail was noted on the dam on 14^th, 23^rd and 25^th and 122 Pied Wagtails were there at dawn on 1^st. A Redstart on 21^st, a Whinchat on Horseshoe Island on 7^th, a Stonechat at Paul Stanley Hide on 17^th and a Wheatear on 5^th and 16^th added to passerine totals. Warblers noted were a Sedge Warbler on 14^th, a Lesser Whitethroat on 20^th, a Whitethroat on 13^th, a Blackcap attempting singing on 20^th, 12 Chiffchaff on 20^th, a Willow Warbler singing on 23^rd, and 2 Spotted Flycatcher were in Wildlife Centre Creek on 20^th. During the past month many Lapland Buntings have been moving into and down Britain, mainly on the coast, and birders have been eagerly listening for them flying over. Success occurred on the dam at 0830hrs on 22^nd with a bird calling and then briefly perching on the ground before disappearing. Another was seen on 30^th flying aroundStonesIsland continuously calling before heading high northwards.

116 Species were recorded this September compared with 104 in 2009, 108 in 2008, 108 in 2007, 101 in 2006, 101 in 2005, 94 in 2004 and 104 in 2003.