2 Carsington bird walk lifers...in one day!!.. and an Osprey bonus

My daughter Sarah, and her husband Julian, did the Hoodwinked Robin trail round Nottingham over the bank holiday. They managed to find 28 out of the 33 robin statues and learnt a lot about Nottingham history at the same time. The birds are around until the end of September, so if you like your bird’s static this art trail is for you!

All sorts of characters are portrayed, and at the end of September the Robins will be auctioned off for a Hospice charity.

In 2009 (Ed: He’s not having flashbacks, please?) I completed 80% of the design of a leaflet about the bird life in Markeaton Park. Derby City Council had produced and published the like for the trees in the park particularly because there are some unusual and unique trees, and the leaflet matched up with notices on each of about 18 significant and rare species.

I met one major problem in submitting a draft document to my contact in the City Council central parks dept. Each e-mail I sent, probably 5 in total, failed to arrive at my contacts workstation. After checking cables, e-mail addresses etc etc, it transpired that there was no communication problem, but there was just one word in a Council e-mail scanning programme which I had used which prohibited the Derby CC computer receiving my e-mail.

The computer did not like just one word….. Tit. This word was enough to deny the recipient receiving the whole message.

You will appreciate that a guide about birds, including many woodland birds, and including a bird check list, used this word appear about 10 times, clearly enough to blow the most powerful of computer gaskets. Subterfuge was designed to get around this problem, and I agreed with the prospective recipient that I would always type Tat, and she would alter her received copy accordingly!!

Some very substantial work has been undertaken in the park over the last 4 years which has now finished, but that work meant that my original route and key points had changed (like the tennis courts have moved!).  I am therefore going to have to update and complete a bird watching leaflet Mark II version for the park.

When I visited Carsington last Sunday, much of the talk was about the Stilt Sandpiper that came into Frampton Marsh on Wednesday 22^nd August and was still there according to the RSPB site at the end of August. Now, is that worth a trip next Tuesday? It would be a lifer for me, and as a bonus, at the end of the week they were also reporting Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Billed Dowitcher, Garganey & Whinchat… that’s 6 I’ve not seen this year…. Tempting, eh?

Sunday 2^nd September  15 people joined the Carsington beginners walk on Sunday. Despite the noise of horns, alarms and bells from the Rescue Day event, all was peace and calm on Stones Island, and whilst a good number of Ringed Plovers were seen running along the waters edge, it was the far shore near Fishtail creek that scopes were searching. And as a new bird on the bird walk life list, everyone saw the Great White Egret. In fact, later on at the windsurfers launch point near Horseshoe Island, we all had the best views, with the huge Egret getting very frisky and at one stage looked as though it was coming across the reservoir towards us, but once again it settled back on the far shore.

Then as we left the wind surf area most of us saw, and heard a very active Jay close by, another addition to the Carsington BwB life list which incidentally is now 132 species, quite respectable for the limited area of our bird watching walks.

My mobile went into overdrive at 1.30, with news that an Osprey had been seen cruising up and down the reservoir, and despite a bit of emergency rescue activity on the far shore including the air ambulance, did not appear phased, finally flying off in a northerly direction.

200 club members, with Christine in the club-house!,  Amanda has started her Autumn surge and is on 196, and with some goodie bird tours yet to come (India will not count!). Lorna, a 200-achiever last year is on 155.

Once again to mention October 14 when I am spending the day at Old Moor, and anyone interested in joining me, needs to be in the Old Moor car park, READY TO BIRD, at 10.00am. Let me know if you are coming, so that we do not lose anyone. We will go to 2 other local reserves after lunch.

Happy birding.

Ease me back in to the bird scene slowly!!!!

Sunday 19^th August Normal service has been resumed, with today being the longed for and achieved target, of being out of hospital for a super family meal for Mary’s XX Birthday. Darleys is a very good restaurant over-looking the weir at Darley Abbey, so I could thrill at the sight of x-breed Mallards, Canada Geese and Moorhens, whilst the 6 of us sat down for a relaxed lunch.

The family saw it as being a double celebration with me coming out as well!! (Not in that way!!!!)

Bird wise.     Great news that broke this week, is that Red Kites have actually had a chic at Kedleston Hall which is the first time they have bred in Derbyshire for 150 years, in fact since 1863.

Sightings have been on the increase around Derby in recent months, and there was a comment on my blog from Onyx Opteryx about a local sighting in July.  If you look at the increase in numbers, and the extended range of the Chiltern Kites, (Originally around Stokenchurch Cutting, now from Oxford to the M25!) a similar increase in Derbyshire could make Red Kites a wonderful regular raptor.

Add to that our cathedral Peregrines, the passing Ospreys and the Buzzards over Quarndon, this could become an excellent raptor area…. Oh and of course I am not forgetting the hovering Kestrels, and the Sparrowhawks that race through gardens…. Wonderful birds.   

I should of course include Owls in that grouping, but as I have not seen any owls, anywhere in 2018, they continue to be my bogey bird(s), and I am assuming they have vacated my area.

Sunday 26^th August Popped into the wildlife centre at Carsington this morning, and it seemed to be full of an unusual high number of scope toting birders.   The water level has dropped quite a bit, but as you will know, we have to keep Ogston flowing as they do supply customers in S. Yorks and Chesterfield, so the Carsington level is in the low 90% region.

In addition, it had rained all day and the water edge was moist, so Snipe were probing, and pied wagtails seemed to be running and flying everywhere. In fact, a female Yellow Wagtail was spotted, and there were also a good number of Hirundines catching food. A Blackcap, Willow Tit and a couple of other warblers helped make up the 30 species seen by 12 Noon.

By the way, plans are afoot to create a pool in front of the Sand Martin bank in the hope that next year, Martins feeding over the water may be tempted to use the adjacent nest holes.   We continue to listen to suggestions and if they seem worth a try, and we can afford it!!, we will try anything.  We know that a couple of the Osprey nests need make-overs for 2019 following the drone survey, and it is all cost, with the Volunteers not having much in the way of incoming funds.

Volunteer Amanda told me that she has got her skates back on, and her UK year count has now moved on to 193. That disappoints Mac, because he is trailing somewhat, and even below this time last year. (Me too!!)

I’m currently considering my problems with the weight of a scope, tripod, rucksack and bins, and I am considering changing the lot to a new Cannon IS (with powered Image Stabiliser). Trouble is, so far, there are no optics dealers in the area where I can have a good look, so it will need a bit of research.

The IS is a computer programme that stops the camera image vibrating and is said to be particularly good on boats. So, as I say, it is a matter of try it and see.

Anything else?   Next BwB will be next Sunday 2^nd September at 10.00am as usual.

That’s about it for this week.  Happy Birding.

David