On the evening of 17 July the future of the wind farm scheme<\/strong> at Carsington Pastures was decided.\u00a0 I was invited to make a representation on behalf of the club at the Southern Area Planning Committee of Derbyshire Dales District Council.\u00a0 A comprehensive report from the officers recommended refusal from the outset, but I still went along to be seen and heard.\u00a0 Each speaker was given three minutes to put their case: I was the first to speak, followed by 12 others against \u2013 all local residents of Carsington.\u00a0 It was a chance to repeat how superficial the applicant’s environmental survey was and how the winter and migration seasons \u2013 when Carsington Reservoir has its optimum number of birds in residence \u2013 had been overlooked.\u00a0 Three minutes seemed far too short but that was the rule.<\/p>\n Other speakers raised archaeological, geological, geographical, economic, social and political objections to the plan \u2013 and the fact that the nearest dwelling would be only 650 metres, where it should be 1,600 metres. This scheme was also recognised as the least favourable of six proposed sites within Derbyshire.<\/p>\n When the sole speaker for Carsington Wind Energy Limited rose to speak he looked very isolated and must have known he was fighting a losing battle.\u00a0 He suggested there was an obligation for somewhere in Derbyshire to have a wind farm in Derbyshire at some point, but an officer stated this was not a binding rule.\u00a0 It was also suggested the company had carried out further ecological studies regarding newts and bats but this simply underlined how flimsy was their concept of what really makes up such a study.\u00a0 After claiming Natural England had signalled approval, the officer again stepped in to say this organisation had reviewed the scheme and changed its mind.<\/p>\n On further discussion, another crucial fact emerged that really sealed the application\u2019s fate: Guidance notes for such an application suggest that applicants should consult with local people from 18 months before submitting plans, yet this company didn’t consult at all \u2013 a very strange omission for a professional organisation!<\/p>\n The councillors unanimously rejected the plans and, while the company can appeal this decision, it seems unlikely they will after such an ignominious trouncing, so hopefully this really is the end of the whole affair.<\/p>\n We have mentioned before that club finances<\/strong> are being stretched by increasing costs for printing, postage, Hognaston Hall rental, and charges for speakers and their travel.\u00a0 At the last committee meeting we discussed this and concluded we will have to increase our revenue.\u00a0 It was discussed at the last annual general meeting that we would propose to the next AGM, in January 2008, raising membership fees and club meeting entrance fees.\u00a0 There are four months and two committee meetings left to formulate\u00a0these proposals.\u00a0 If any member has any views on this I would be pleased to hear them and air them with the committee.<\/p>\n Peter Gibbon<\/strong><\/p>\n \n RARE ALBATROSS TOPS \u2018RES\u2019 SIGHTINGS \u2013 MUCH TO THE WOODS\u2019 SURPRISE<\/strong><\/p>\n At around 3pm on 2 July, casual birdwatchers Cyril and Shirley Wood were in the right spot at the right time, and suspected they\u2019d perhaps seen something a bit unusual, but they could hardly imagine they had logged only Derbyshire\u2019s second ever albatross record and the first for 50 years). The rarity committees will now deliberate for up to 12 months before deciding on the Woods\u2019 sighting, believed to be a Yellow-nosed albatross, usually aSouth Atlanticspecies.\u00a0 Yet their privileged view \u2013 of what looked like a large black-backed gull that scattered Coot and even Canada Geese as it flopped onto the water \u2013 has independent credence from two other sightings, one several hours before, in Somerset, and another several hours after on a fishing pond in Lincolnshire which indicated Carsington Water could well have been on this errant bird\u2019s flight path!<\/p>\n In fact it was a newspaper photograph of the Somerset bird, which had been rescued and released, that alerted Cyril and Shirley to what they\u2019d seen: a large bird (by albatross standards its two-metre wingspan is relatively small!) with a white head, dark eye, dark back and wings and a black bill \u2013 though the thin yellow streak at the top of the bill that lends the bird its name was perhaps not quite so visible.\u00a0 Below is a profile of this bird, so unusual to be sighted in the northern hemisphere \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cA relatively small albatross, the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross is named after the yellow streak ending in a pink tip along the top of the bill. The head is grey with a white cap; upperparts are blackish-grey. There is a white ring around the neck; this white colouration extends across the underside. The underwings are white, tipped with a narrow black edge.\u00a0 Sexes are alike, but juveniles have an entirely white head and black bill. This species breeds on <\/em>Gough<\/em> <\/em>Island<\/em> and the islands of Tristan da Cuhna in the Southern Ocean.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n More recently, a stately Osprey turned up, only to be chased off by Black-headed Gulls, possibly being particularly protective since this species has bred for the first time at Carsington.\u00a0 Three pairs have each raised two young, which is a notable success in a season when breeding has been decidedly mixed.<\/p>\n It was a case of \u2018rain stopped play\u2019 in the early part of the summer, as grebe nests were washed away and the high water line meant potential nest sites were under water.\u00a0 The resilience of birds is amazing, though, and ultimately there were five broods each for Little and Great Crested Grebes, plus 21 Mallard, 12 Coot, and 7 Moorhen broods \u2013 and from just one during the height of the floods, Tufted Ducks ultimately raised 15 broods.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, 23 House Martin nests were counted around the visitor centre complex, Hall Wood has seen both Buzzards and Raven raise young as well as being home to several broods of Spotted Flycatcher.\u00a0 Peter Oldfield reports that Barn Owls have successfully bred on site, but the hopes raised by singing Reed Warblers have turned out to be false, with no sign of breeding in the reed beds!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n OUTINGS BRING VARIETY \u2013 FROM PUFFINS TO NIGHTJARS<\/strong><\/p>\n It can\u2019t be, can it \u2013 a Hooded Crow onAnglesey?\u00a0 Well, it was, but it certainly caused a few puzzled looks among Carsington’s birders as they scrabbled for field guides to ensure that Ireland and Scotland, and not Wales, is where \u2018Hoodies\u2019 are meant to be resident.\u00a0 But these birds hadn\u2019t read the same books and certainly meant to stay – the handsome male on a hilltop keeping a watchful eye on his domain, while his mate sat on a nest just 12 feet up in a pine tree nestling in a small valley.<\/p>\n The RSPB’s South Stack reserve, near Holyhead, also delighted with good views of Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes.\u00a0 Stonechats, Wheatear and pipits were typical of the territory, but the main prize \u2013 and surprisingly easy to spot \u2013 were the half a dozen Choughs that obligingly hopped around the well-cropped fields or took to the air in front of us for their breathtaking display of aerobatics among the jackdaws, auks and gulls.<\/p>\n Earlier on, after a lengthy drive, 35 Carsington Bird Club members enjoyed a couple of hours at the Conwy reserve, which is flat, pleasantly open and well laid out with several hides overlooking lagoons and scrapes.<\/p>\n In fact, being next to a tidal estuary and with scrubland packing the fringes of the site, separating it from the busy A55 main coast road, it contains several distinct habits within\u00a0a quite small area inside its perimeters.<\/p>\n That made for some good varied birding: waterfowl, warblers, hirundines and other summer visitors all figured, while Reed Buntings posed nicely for photos, and the reeds held noisy but shy Reed and Sedge Warblers, and both Whitethroats and their “Lesser” cousins were evident.\u00a0 Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank probed the sand and mud, and overhead several Buzzards and Kestrels soared and hovered.\u00a0From one hide, and pointed out by local birders, a <\/strong>rare Ringed Teal<\/strong> was spotted.\u00a0 In all at least 66 species were logged during this club trip in June.<\/p>\n From such variety, it was a complete contrast when a very small group of enthusiasts risked the dodgy \u2018summer\u2019 weather to travel toClumberParkin July to see if they could spot just one special species \u2013 the nightjar.\u00a0 Not only did they do so, but they had some really fabulous views of these attractive streamlined flyers, swift-like and hawk-like by turns as they were manoeuvred, hovering up insects, silhouetted against a slowly darkening sky.<\/p>\n A glimpse is often as good as it gets, but there were some excellent extended views, particularly when the humans replicated the clapping of their wings, prompting the birds to make another circuit to check out the action!\u00a0 But they weren\u2019t fooled for long and were soon lost in the gathering gloom.\u00a0 Thanks to Paul and Steph Hicking for pinpointing the precise location for viewing them \u2026 where an extra bonus was a woodcock in flight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Severn Trent Water Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) parallels a UK BAP that aims to conserve and enhance biodiversity within the UK. One threatened species selected for conservation management in the UK BAP is the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes<\/em>, for which a Species Action Plan (SAP) has been devised.<\/p>\n Severn Trent aims to become involved in the SAP for this crayfish species to protect and enhance their numbers inhabiting bodies of water within its ownership.\u00a0 As a large landowner \u2013 with over 20,000 hectares in around 2,500 separate holdings, many with crayfish \u2013 Severn Trent is in a strong position to be instrumental in moving forward the SAP for white-clawed crayfish.<\/p>\n In August 2003, following a feasibility study, David Rogers Associates introduced 432 white-clawed crayfish (61% males and 39% female) into Carsington Water from a donor population in Nanpantan Reservoir.<\/p>\n There were two release sites \u2013 one along the dam wall at the southern end of the reservoir, where the large majority were released, the other into Hopton Pond where post-release monitoring would be more feasible in the shorter term; any crayfish migrating from the pond would colonise the northern end of Carsington Water.<\/p>\n Later, in November 2003, a further 270 predominantly female crayfish, many carrying eggs, were released at the north end of Carsington Water\u2019s dam. A survey this year aimed to survey the two release points in Carsington Water as part of the post-release monitoring:\u00a0 On 14-16 May, 50 small-mesh crayfish traps were set overnight at the two locations where crayfish were released in 2003.\u00a0 They were retrieved the following day, with searches of suitable habitat near the release sites made by turning over suitable looking stones and using a pond net to catch any dislodged crayfish.\u00a0 A single male (carapace length 45 mm, weight 31g) was caught near the release site in Hopton Pool, though no crayfish were caught in the main reservoir \u2013 perhaps not surprising given its size and the relatively small numbers of crayfish introduced.<\/p>\n The conclusion is that although Carsington Water habitat and water quality are good, it\u2019s unlikely large numbers of crayfish will be found by any survey method until a very large population has built up.<\/p>\n To increase the chances of successfully establishing a population, it\u2019s felt further introductions need to be made into reservoir \u2013 and on 21August a further 123 crayfish (47 female, 76 male) were duly introduced to Hopton Pond.\u00a0 More introductions are expected to happen over the next year with the aim of creating an “arc” site where they can establish healthy enough populations to be relocated to other sites to expand populations.<\/p>\nCARSINGTON IS PART OF CRAYFISH CONSERVATION PLAN<\/h4>\n
\nPost-release monitoring is important, though it must be said it\u2019s difficult to detect low-density populations in such a large body of water as Carsington Water.<\/p>\n
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