Twelve months ago, when the first CBC newsletter of 2020 was being prepared, there were already distant warnings about Coronavirus, but in the same breath we continued talking optimistically about the events \u2013 talks, walks and trips \u2013 the club had got planned for the year.\u00a0 Well, as we now know, the situation soon became grave on a global scale and virtually all those things we had hoped to do were cancelled.<\/p>\n
Now, in early 2021 there is a ripple of optimism as the vaccination programme is rolled out across the various age groups and we might now hope, with a little justification, that some walks and trips might be possible at some point later in the year.\u00a0 The traditional indoor season \u2013 with speakers visiting us to talk on a wide range of wildlife topics \u2013 was decimated but, with the emergence of Zoom as a social media outlet linking many people in real-time sessions, we have been able to \u2018piggy-back\u2019 online talks provided by two of our local wildlife peer groups, DOS and RSPB Derby.<\/p>\n
Indeed, a small handful of these online talks remain to be staged in the next several weeks, so there will be more opportunities to join these enjoyably varied presentations, generally packed with fine photos.\u00a0 We would, nevertheless, hope to be back to \u2018normal\u2019 for the 2021-22 indoor season, beginning in September, with real-time in-person presentations at the Visitor Centre … with tea, coffee and biscuits provided!<\/p>\n
As Covid restrictions (hopefully) loosen over the spring and summer, we could also expect to be able to support wildlife walks at the reservoir and perhaps stage club trips farther afield (as we all strive to expand our annual bird lists, even if overseas travel remains very difficult, as seems likely).\u00a0 With luck, our next newsletter in May will contain some better news in this area.<\/p>\n
As for the club itself, we are currently at \u2018that time of year\u2019 when we ask existing members to renew their subscriptions.\u00a0 Somewhere around half of last year\u2019s membership have already, but if you\u2019re one of those still to do so, please contact Treasurer John Follett.\u00a0 The membership fee remains unchanged, as it has for very many years, at \u00a37.50 for an individual and \u00a310 for a family.\u00a0 John is happy either to receive a cheque (sent to him at 8 Buckminster Close, Oakwood, Derby DE21 2EA) or via a bank transfer (contact him for details on 01332 834778 or by e-mail at johnlfollett@virginmedia.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n As a member, of course, you will continue to receive four monthly newsletters plus the annual report that reviews club activities, the Carsington site and, in fine detail, what species were recorded \u2013 where and when and in what numbers \u2013 in 2020.\u00a0 \u00a0The report should arrive before the next newsletter, hopefully in April.\u00a0 And, as touched on above, we also hope to be able to organise walks and trips as the weather \u2013 and Covid conditions \u2013 improve.\u00a0 Watch the website, online notices and the newsletter for updates.<\/p>\n Things are, however, not in such good shape administratively, where we are skating on very thin ice.\u00a0 We lost two committee members late last year, when our Secretary and Recorder stood down from their roles.\u00a0 That means there are only four of us now conducting the club\u2019s affairs … so, please, if you think you can help out in any capacity, do let us know.\u00a0<\/p>\n One area of immediate deterioration is the non-appearance of the monthly bird notes.\u00a0 We hope to be able to reintroduce some form of regular round-up, but it may not be in the same form or level of detail as before (and may only be a wrap-up in the newsletter).\u00a0 Looking to the future, a recorder is very important; if we remain without one, the depth and richness of real-time data will be reduced and the information in the annual report may also be considerably diminished.\u00a0<\/p>\n Similarly, with the lockdown and far fewer visits to site by either casual or regular recorders, recent sightings have been incomplete.\u00a0 For a number of reasons, sightings have not been appearing on our own website, though again we hope this will resume when the lockdown eases.\u00a0<\/p>\n But in the meantime, those who do visit the reservoir and have a decent list \u2013 particularly any unusual species \u2013 please ensure you report it via the DOS website on their \u201creport a sighting\u201d page (https:\/\/www.derbyshireos.org.uk\/cgirecord2.php).<\/p>\n Meanwhile, I hope you are all keeping well and most of you have had at least your first Covid jab, the first step to a return to something like normal life.<\/p>\n Gary Atkins<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n FEWER RECORDS \u2013 BUT STILL PLENTY OF BIRDS ON DISPLAY<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the Carsington site\u2019s car parks and paths have been open, the lockdown that began in early January has meant that visits to the reservoir have been necessarily much fewer and farther between.\u00a0 Some reports have nevertheless been received \u2013 and the regular WeBS count (which is undertaken for the BTO\u2019s statisticians) was completed in February \u2013 so the report below is a short summary of what was around in January and February.<\/p>\n Before lockdown, there was growing concern that our annual star winter visitor \u2013 the Great Northern Diver \u2013 may not be turning up as two birds, an adult and junior, had briefly dropped in during November only to disappear and not return … then nothing for the following month.\u00a0 Until 25 December, in fact, when another adult, thought likely to be our regular traveller, gave at least one observer a Christmas present.\u00a0 This bird looked very much at home and at the time of writing was still around, often seen far out towards the centre of the reservoir.<\/p>\n A bird present every month last year was Red Kite but apart from a single sighting on New Year\u2019s Day, this attractive raptor has been keeping a low profile, while other regular birds of prey Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine have all been observed, and as many as six Buzzards have been seen overhead at any one time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tawny Owls have been located several times, up to four on a single day, and a Barn Owl has been seen at least three times recently around Tail Bay and over the road between the sailing club and main entrance.<\/p>\n Water Rails are often heard rather than seen and there have been five records this year, the most recent being on 13 February.\u00a0 This skulking species was an absentee the following day, however, when the monthly WeBS count was carried out.\u00a0 Another absentee on the 14th<\/sup> was Pochard, which had been seen in very good numbers \u2013 up to 267 \u2013 during January, but sightings rapidly dropped to single figures in February.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coot was unsurprisingly the most numerous species on display across the site, with 476 individuals, but there were also good numbers of Tufted Duck (211), Wigeon (184), Canada Goose (172), Mallard (119), and Teal (105) plus exceptionally good turnouts by Gadwall (121) and Great Crested Grebe (70). \u00a0Fifteen Goldeneye were still around and the Great Northern Diver duly turned up on parade.<\/p>\n Only 29 Lapwings were spotted on the WeBS count, but this was clearly an aberration and contrasted sharply with the maximum of 590 that had been seen ten days earlier.\u00a0 Otherwise, just 2 Oystercatcher, a single Redshank and a long-staying Ruff represented the wader community.\u00a0 On other days, Woodcock, Snipe and Curlew were observed.<\/p>\n An overwintering Chiffchaff was noted in mid-January, and the ever popular Kingfisher was recorded only once during the first two months, though other passerines were not in quite such short supply.\u00a0 Up to 200 Redwings and Starlings were counted in a day, as were other winter favourites including 55 Fieldfares and 60 Siskins and single figure counts of Lesser Redpoll.<\/p>\n Common residents look to be in good shape, as 65 Blackbirds, a remarkable 93 Robins, 79 Blue Tits and 38 Great Tits were healthy daily counts, along with 43 Skylarks and a dozen Willow Tits.<\/p>\n Overall, during January and (most of) February, 89 species were recorded, which is not far short of the typical species counts at Carsington for those individual months in recent years.\u00a0 Hopefully we\u2019ll be back up to full speed once the lockdown eases in the coming weeks and months.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n BIG THANKS TO DOS AND RSPB DERBY FOR \u2018SHARING\u2019 THEIR SPEAKERS<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the big disappointments over the last several months has been our inability to meet up in the cosy environment of the Carsington Water Visitor Centre, enjoying the company of our fellow members, over tea and coffee, and marvelling at wonderful photographs as a succession of talented speakers tell us about their wildlife experiences.<\/p>\n Our usual venue, the Henmore Room, was never going to be big enough once key Covid restrictions like social distancing became a way of life and even our alternative plan of using the much larger New Leaf restaurant fell foul of the rules once group sizes were limited.<\/p>\n But while we have been unable to stage any of our own planned programme, a welcome substitute (for those with the will and patience to adopt Zoom online technology, at least!) has been a succession of \u2018virtual\u2019 talks arranged by those larger local organisations \u2013 DOS and RSPB Derby \u2013 who have been kind enough to allow us to link in to their programmes.\u00a0 Each of them has been staging a talk every month since late autumn, actually enabling CBC members potentially to access twice as many talks as usual!<\/p>\n The subjects on offer have been quite varied \u2013 from Tony Davison\u2019s exciting hunt for the elusive Snow Leopard (and brush with Covid) in Mongolia to Peter Holden\u2019s review of the \u201cGood News, Bad News\u201d of UK wildlife and environment, using detailed case studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the meantime, we\u2019ve also enjoyed the pin-sharp specialist photography of Michael Leach, and have travelled twice to Africa \u2013 firstly to Tanzania in December, with CBC members John and Louise Sykes who showed many of their huge list of birds and mammals recorded there, and then to Morocco, a key migration point with its surprising range of both common and less recognisable birds, in the company of Neil Glenn.<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, a few more talks will be available before the end of DOS\u2019s and the local RSPB group\u2019s respective seasons.\u00a0 On 28 February Keith Offord will be talking about \u2018Magical Merlins\u2019 and in early March Mark Cocker will describe the birds and wildlife of Lake Prepsa, and Dr Martin Sullivan will speak on \u2018Tropical Forests in a Changing World\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0 Finally, on 14 April, Nick Martin (who is due to give the club a talk next October, hopefully in person) will be showing \u2018A Photographer\u2019s Wild Britain\u2019.<\/p>\n As usual, you will be e-mailed information and links enabling access to these talks nearer their scheduled times.<\/p>\n