{"id":497,"date":"2009-11-01T20:11:12","date_gmt":"2009-11-01T19:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/?p=497"},"modified":"2011-07-17T21:35:57","modified_gmt":"2011-07-17T20:35:57","slug":"nov-2009-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/nov-2009-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Nov 2009 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

No 4 \/ November 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHAIRMAN\u2019S THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>
\nI would like to start by reporting a successful response to our plea in the last newsletter for support for our club\u2019s
\ncommittee activities. We have now acquired a new joint membership partnership \u2013 Dave and Sue Edmonds \u2013 to take over
\nfrom the existing triumvirate of Maria Harwood, and Pat and Brian Wain. Firstly may I congratulate Maria, Pat and Brian
\nfor the impeccable service they have given to the club over a number of years; their organisation invariably worked like
\nclockwork, and helped me enormously in my role as treasurer. By way of thanks, I intend to pass on a token of our
\ngratitude at our next committee meeting.<\/p>\n

On taking over their new duties, Dave and Sue have told me how easy the transition has been due to the previous good
\npractice and high standards. I now look forward to working closely with Dave and Sue, and must thank them for
\nvolunteering to help.<\/p>\n

Less positively, Peter Oldfield\u2019s efforts to drum up enough interest in the planned coach trip to Slimbridge in mid-
\nNovember fell on stony ground, and we had to cancel the event. Can we apologise to those regular travellers who had
\nbooked up again for this trip, but the economics simply did not make sense. In fact, the last two trips were also on a knifeedge
\nin terms of numbers, but Peter managed to salvage those visits by making last-minute rearrangements with bus
\ncompanies. This time there were simply too few applying to go.<\/p>\n

Peter is now quite rightly questioning the feasibility of running full-day trips and we are having to consider their future. If
\nanybody has any views on this subject, please feel free to forward them on to me. One member has already suggested
\nshorter trips closer to home; meanwhile, our well-established programme of summer walks may also benefit from a little
\nvariety in terms of locations and timings.<\/p>\n

The number of members joining our indoor meetings at Hognaston Village Hall has also been dwindling in the last year or
\ntwo. The 30 that attended the November meeting was our best for a while \u2013 which might sound surprising. Certainly the
\nfigure of 21 people at our October evening was especially disappointing as it was our joint meeting with Derbyshire
\nOrnithological Society. Those that did turn up enjoyed an expert talk on the history of bird-ringing, which is marking its
\n100th anniversary this year.<\/p>\n

After the talk, Bryan Barnacle (Chair of DOS) and I compared notes on the problems in attracting more people to our
\nrespective and collective evenings. I think I convinced him that our joint venture was worth continuing \u2013 and I have
\nalready booked the speaker for next October (the Secretary of the Charles Tunnicliffe Society formed in 2005 to celebrate
\nthe life of one of the great bird and natural world artists). I have also managed to fill all other speaker slots for 2010, so we
\nhave a full programme for members to enjoy; please make an effort to get along to one or two during the coming year.
\nWILDFOWL AND GULL NUMBERS RISE AS AUTUMN TAKES A GRIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the last newsletter, the summer birds have departed, and the autumn migration has, as usual, produced the
\nunusual. Rounding off 2009 breeding, the disappointing year for grebes was offset to some extent by two late Great-
\nCrested broods in August, and two even later Little Grebe broods in September.
\nThe latest records for our summer visitors included a Wheatear on 2 October, a House Martin two days later, and both
\nBlackcap and Chiffchaff recorded as late as 7 October.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, wildfowl numbers rose steadily as autumn\u2019s influence strengthened with maximum counts of 1,008 Tufted
\nDuck and 170 Mallard in September, and 1,770 Coot, 590 Wigeon, 148 Pochard, 123 Teal and 39 Gadwall in October,
\nwhen 12 Red-crested Pochard, 10 Goldeneye, 5 Common Scoter and 5 Pintail were also noted. A picture taken of a firstwinter
\nGarganey \u2013 a good sighting in itself \u2013 was later found also to contain a Green-winged Teal. This was only the third
\nrecord for Carsington, and the first since 2006.<\/p>\n

Arctic and Black Terns flew through as part of the autumn movement, while a Gannet was recorded on two consecutive
\ndays, so probably roosted with the gulls. Roost numbers have also been climbing, with up to 3,600
\nLesser Black-backs recorded in September, and a number of rarities spotted within the throng \u2013 among them
\nMediterranean, Greater Black-back, Yellow-Leg and Herring Gulls, plus Kittiwake.<\/p>\n

Also on show was a Ring-billed Gull, which is believed to be visiting for its ninth consecutive year. Other regular winter
\ntravellers returning to Carsington are the increasingly regular Great Northern Divers, three of which noted in November
\nwere believed to be separate individuals.<\/p>\n

The wader passage has been poor, but did include up to 160 Lapwings, plus much smaller numbers of Dunlin, Curlew,
\nWhimbrel, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Green and Common Sandpiper, and Grey and Golden Plover. Two Little Egrets and
\nthree Whooper Swans made very brief visits, but a Black Redstart stayed long enough to delight a few local birdwatchers
\nin November \u2013 the first sighting of this species for 13 years.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been heaven, too, for raptor lovers with no fewer than eight species noted since early August. Ospreys migrating
\nsouth to warmer winter climes passed through Carsington on four occasions in August, three in September and another in
\nOctober. Marsh Harriers were seen on two separate occasions, while a Red Kite was mobbed by another of our local
\nraptor regulars, a Buzzard. Several sightings of Hobbys were recorded in August and early September, while their bulkier
\ncousins \u2013 Peregrines \u2013 were noted regularly every month, as were Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.<\/p>\n

Another delightful species has been putting on an excellent show all around the reservoir: up to four Kingfishers are
\nbelieved to be responsible for the rash of sightings, with fine views from the hides. On one occasion, a lucky onlooker
\nwitnessed six fish caught in a single session from a rock island close to the Paul Stanley Hide.
\nSTAY IN BRITAIN \u2013 AND LET THE SKUAS AND DIVERS COME TO US!<\/strong><\/p>\n

On my recent trip to the Arctic our group was rewarded with sightings of three varieties of Skua – Great, Arctic and Long-
\nTailed. But there\u2019s just no satisfying some people: a Yorkshire man with very long bird lists for both the UK and Europe
\nwas desperate to see three particular birds, one of which was another Stercorarid \u2013 the Pomarine Skua. It became a bit of
\na joke within the group when neither his efforts nor our guides\u2019 knowledge came to anything, though our Finnish guide
\nadmitted it would have been a \u2018long shot\u2019, anyway.<\/p>\n

I thought nothing more about this failure until I was sitting on a beach at Dornoch on the Black Isle in northern Scotland in
\nAugust with my wife and dog (obviously not a dedicated birding holiday) when two Pomarine Skuas (one dark phase and
\none light phase) drifted by, bathed in sunlight and flying so close to the beach that identification \u2013 notably by the \u2018spoons\u2019
\non their tales \u2013 was simple. I suppose I should have felt just a bit sorry for our Yorkshire friend!<\/p>\n

In the Arctic I also saw three types of diver including 21 white-billed\/yellow-billed ones, all in top breeding plumage, which
\nsurprised even our Finnish guide. We spent some time beside a huge lake looking for the fourth diver species that had
\nbeen reported but eluded our party. Ironically, this was the Great Northern Diver, so frequent at Carsington Water in
\nrecent years \u2013 and, lo and behold, a specimen of which turned up yet again this autumn, still in summer plumage. To
\nhave seen all four divers in their finest attire isn\u2019t bad going for one summer!<\/p>\n

I hope you don\u2019t get the impression I\u2019m always travelling … but I was also lucky enough in 2009 to manage a week in
\nTuscany though expected nothing exceptional by way of bird life, knowing that food, wine and culture would make up for
\nthat. Yet each morning just after dawn at the place we were staying, I heard the sound of Bee-eaters as between 250 and
\n300 swarmed above our heads moving up the valley before coming back to roost later on. What could be better to see as
\nyou watched sunrise over Siena!<\/p>\n

Peter Gibbon
\nRINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR NEW SEASON OF INDOOR TALKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the early talks in our 2009-10 indoor season was an excellent and lively review of the history of bird ringing, which
\nis marking its 100th anniversary this year, by the British Trust for Ornithology\u2019s ringing officer Mark Grantham in October.
\nMark was keen to stress the benefits that ringing has brought to ornithology over the last century by way of scientific
\nknowledge and analysis \u2013 boosting our understanding of birds\u2019 habits and habitats, migration patterns and life spans.
\nAmong numerous illustrations, he showed one picture of a Fulmar ringed and recorded several times in its life, proving it to
\nbe around 50 years old and a parent several times over.<\/p>\n

A month earlier, regular presenter Paul Bingham talked about the stunning wildlife of the Galapagos Islands \u2013 a highlight
\nfor a number of members who themselves had visited this unique location off South America\u2019s west coast, with its high
\nproportion of endemic species found nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n

Then, in November, it was Ian Dainsley\u2019s turn to show some of his excellent studies of nature to be found much closer to
\nhome \u2013 in and around his home village of Bonsall. Ian told us that he\u2019d spent many years as a keen amateur, but
\neventually gave up his \u2018day job\u2019 some years ago to concentrate on professional photography … clearly to very good effect.
\nCARSINGTON \u2013 IDEAL VENUE FOR A \u2018DATE WITH NATURE\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

During 2009, the Aren\u2019t Birds Brilliant! initiative morphed into a \u2018Date with nature\u2019, though the name change does not affect
\nthe basic principle of creating events to introduce these natural feathered wonders to the general public. As we approach
\nthe end of the year, the incoming winter wildfowl are providing the injection of interest and colour to help keep people
\nexcited about what they can see right in front of them at Carsington Water. It is good that our hosts Severn Trent Water,
\nsupported by the enthusiasm of both the RSPB and Carsington Bird Club, are able to create and maintain such an ideal
\nbirding venue.<\/p>\n

As winter draws in, large numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall and other ducks have flown in to provide good views close to the
\nWildlife Centre. Many of our Date with nature visitors are familiar with bird-watching, but not all are ready for the
\nastounding diversity of species on and around the reservoir.<\/p>\n

On a wider stage, the RSPB supports and promotes any number of campaigns, key messages and national events \u2013 the
\nBig Garden Bird Watch and Feed the Birds Day being two of the biggest. Working in partnership with Severn Trent also
\nmeans integrating their messages, too, and all this hype can sometimes deflect us from the essential ingredients that are
\nright there in front of us all. After all, if it wasn\u2019t for thousands of migrating ducks visiting the reservoir at this time of year \u2013
\nor the bird populations changing with each season \u2013 there wouldn\u2019t be anything to get hyped up about.<\/p>\n

The RSPB\u2019s long-running and popular Bird of Prey campaign is set to finish at the end of the year and in its place will be
\n\u2018Letter to the Future\u2019. This will probably be familiar to those RSPB members among you, but it\u2019s worth underlining its
\nsimple message \u2013 enjoy nature and protect it. How this can be applied to specific species or habitats is an additional layer.
\nWhat\u2019s fundamental is that there is so much to be gained from enjoying familiar wildlife \u2013 what we often see in front of us.
\nPerhaps this is often overlooked, but nowhere is it more obviously the case than the reservoir, where it is accessible to
\nevery user.<\/p>\n

Chris Johnstone, RSPB\/STW Date with nature Project Officer
\nVOLUNTEERS TAKE A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following hard on the heels of last spring\u2019s successful Soil & Earthworm Survey run in partnership with the Natural History
\nMuseum and Nottingham University, Severn Trent Water Volunteer Rangers were keen to continue their scientific studies
\nby taking part in the Air Survey being conducted under the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) initiative of the Natural History
\nMuseum. The STW group is being joined by volunteers from the Carsington Bird Club, all of whom will take part after
\nreceiving training.<\/p>\n

The aim of this latest survey is to discover more about the way the natural environment is affected by air pollution and its
\nimpact on local areas as well as helping to build up a national picture of the distribution and abundance of lichens and
\nfungi that can be affected by pollution.<\/p>\n

These species will be used as environmental indicators of air quality. The Carsington volunteers will survey trees around
\nthe reservoir for lichen species that are tolerant and intolerant to nitrogen in the air and also count the fungal \u2018tar spots\u2019
\nfound on sycamore leaves. Dr Amy Rogers, OPAL community scientist came to give several volunteers a training
\nworkshop on 20 October enthusing all to go and hug\/survey trees for results, so the survey will commence shortly!
\nFor more info on the study, go to www.OPALexplorenature.org on your internet and click on Surveys. Anyone interested
\nin getting involved can get advice from STW Ranger Rose Day, or contact CBC committee officials.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a milestone arrived at the \u2018Bird-watching for Beginners\u2019 walk on 6 September, which was the 50th occasion of
\nthis increasingly popular monthly event. Led by Volunteer Ranger David Bennett, 25 \u2018customers\u2019 enjoyed not just the
\nthree-hour walk \u2013 to Sheepwash, visiting all 4 hides in between \u2013 but also a free draw to mark the milestone. Prizes were
\ngenerously donated by Carsington Clothing, Water Rail; RSPB Shop; Severn Trent Water, and the RSPB\/Severn Trent
\nWater Date with nature team. Anyone not winning one of the main prizes received one of the popular RSPB pin badges.
\nDavid Bennett was presented with a commemorative shield by Head Ranger Dan Taberner.
\nWHAT\u2019S ON<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bird Club is now into its winter programme (when all events take place at Hognaston Village Hall, beginning at
\n7.30pm). This series of talks continues until March, after which we switch to outdoor events. Below is a full list of
\nupcoming CBC events:<\/p>\n

15 December Christmas party, including talk by club secretary Paul Hicking Hognaston Village Hall
\non biodiversity
\n19 January 2010 Annual General Meeting, followed by talk by club chairman Hognaston Village Hall
\nPeter Gibbon: \u2018Arctic Wonderland\u2019
\n25 January Committee meeting Visitor Centre (8pm)
\n16 February Talk by Eddie Hallam: \u2018My life with nature\u2019 Hognaston Village Hall
\n16 March Talk by Neil Glenn: \u2018Valley Parade \u2013 the Wildlife of the Lower Hognaston Village Hall
\nRio Grande\u2019
\nWith the Christmas\/New Year holiday, Severn Trent Water can expect a busy time as visitors try to reduce their
\nwaistlines after the seasonal excesses … What better place for some exercise! Watch, too, for the start of the Compose
\nCarsington\u2019 photographic competition, due to get under way in March (shots from 1 July 2009 are eligible). Here\u2019s a full
\nlist of organised events \u2013 and be aware that booking is often essential (c\/o 01629 540696):
\nMon-Sat to Three-course Christmas lunches are available at the Mainsail Visitor Centre
\n24 December Restaurant (call New Leaf Catering, 01629 540363, for details)
\nFirst Sunday Bird-watching for Beginners (min age 13+, bring boots, binoculars Visitor Centre (10am-noon)
\neach month notebook and suitable clothing … booking advisable)
\nEach Tuesday RSPB\/STW \u2018Date with nature\u2019 (access for all, free … learn about Wildlife Centre
\nand weekend wildlife at Carsington Water; use scopes\/binoculars provided) (10.30am-3.30pm)
\n5-6 December Christmas at Carsington (festive activities for all the family) Visitor Centre
\n23-24 January RSPB\u2019s Big Garden Birdwatch weekend (join the world\u2019s biggest Wildlife and Visitor Centres
\nbird survey, quiz plus crafts for children … donations welcome) (10.30am-3.30pm)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

No 4 \/ November 2009 CHAIRMAN\u2019S THOUGHTS I would like to start by reporting a successful response to our plea in the last newsletter for support for our club\u2019s committee activities. We have now acquired a new joint membership partnership \u2013 Dave and Sue Edmonds \u2013 to take over from the existing triumvirate of Maria […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cbcnewsletters","tag-slimbridge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk\/cbc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}