A quiet week for Birding

Well, that was a slow week for birds. I know I have been romping along in the first couple of months of the year, and whilst I have 3 new lifers for 2017, my high count to date is due to seeing birds earlier in the year than in prior years. In other words, things will soon catch up with me.

So, the next surge will be towards the end of March, through April and into May when we get all the summer migrants. But in the meantime, there is a slight lull!  

A few years ago, I obtained a list of first arrivals, and at Carsington, the month of March included first sightings of Sand Martin, Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow, House Martin and Redstart so that would be a bumper crop all being well. Just in passing, the LAST warbler to arrive, was Spotted Flycatcher, not seen until May.

My next Bird Watching walk (2^nd April 2017) should be good, and coupled with the extra walk on Sunday 9^th April, that’s 2 shots (not the best word!) at seeing an Osprey!

Talking of Sand Martins, the Volunteers have done a great job at Carsington in cutting back some of the reeds so that the Sand Martin bank is readily viewable, both for the public in the Wildlife Centre, and Sand Martins flying by. An experienced birder dropped into the wildlife centre a few weeks ago, and told the Volunteers that from his experience, a Sand Martin bank he was involved with had gone very quiet, and it was only when they cleared the growth in front of the holes, that nesting birds started coming again. So, nothing lost, and I had tried the sand coloured paint the year before, we thought we would give it a try.

Tuesday February 28^th I spent some time round High Peak Junction and the Cromford canal, hoping to see Siskin and Redpoll, and even a Dipper would be nice, or some Little Grebes on the canal. Zippo, Zilch, Nix, but thanks to a tip from a passing birder, I went back to the bridge over the Derwent and found a pair of Grey Wagtails so that was a good end to February, and I’m on 134.

Friday March 3^rd I went to Attenborough possibly to see a Bittern, or Jay. I parked at Attenborough village by the church, preparing to walk down to the Delta area distributing bird feed as required!!, when the rain came. So, plan B - back to the Reserve and down to the Tower hide. Nope, the hide was closed for the repair of the broken steps, so plan C - go to the Kingfisher Hide. Nothing startling, although there were a good number of Goldeneye, both male and female, and a solitary Snipe popped out of the reed bed. A small group of a local U3A came in for an hour - they were not for getting soaked outside. Sadly the large bird feeder has been removed (used to be good for Tree Sparrows) but the increasing rats numbers made the decision inevitable. 

I had a whinge to a lady in the Attenborough café about not finding that the Tower hide was closed until I got there (again). I said a notice at the centre, or even better at the ticket machine, would be appropriate, and she agreed to “let Tim know”.

Sunday March 5^th Blast them, the weather forecasters got it right, and at 10.00am 17 stalwarts for the Bird Watching for Beginners walk were sheltering from the rain at the entrance to the Carsington visitor centre. The Stones Island walk was out, so Chris unlocked the Education Room and we all went in the warm and had a good old chinwag about one bird or another. Worked Ok for ¾ hour (I had my hot choc), and we then went down and steamed up the wildlife centre.  Well 3 residents plus 19 breathing visitors, the outcome was inevitable. 

The main reward was the arrival of a flock of about 50 snipe on Horseshoe Island. Also as we had been debating the difference between Willow v Marsh Tit before we got there, we could see Willows flying to and fro to the bird table. I guess some of the learners got that bit of knowledge cemented in their minds.

Please let’s have some dryer weather in the next 7 days - Mary and I are off to Anglesey for 4 nights, so it’s Chough hunting!

Happy Birding