7 miles at Whisby, climbing Padley Gorge.. no wonder I've lost weight!

I know I mention Pat and Amanda from time to time, and of course Chris and John, and Tony, but I’ve probably missed out Mike, Mac, Michael or whatever current name he is answering to - I tend to call him Mac. (Michael MacDonald – comprendi?). Mac is one of the regular Carsington wildlife centre volunteers, who it would appear is making concerted efforts to get into the (Bennett sponsored-) 200 club for 2017.  

I see Mac regularly at Carsington, but the week before last we bumped into each other at Attenborough, and this week it was Padley Gorge that we met. Small world eh?, but useful to share knowledge of what is around, and this time he told us where he had seen and heard Tree Pipits.

Tuesday 2nd May and Chris and I met at 9.30am at Whisby Country Park near Lincoln, normally a good location for Nightingale. Chris got there first(early) and by the time I arrived she had ticked off Nightingale and Mediterranean Gull. But we duly re-located the Nightingale at the same place, with a lot of effort and help from another birder. We learnt that the number of Nightingales were sadly down this year, but in the afternoon we found another pair which appeared not to have been reported, at Teal Lake, the other side of the A46, and this was a good reward for the 7 miles that we walked round the nature reserve. 

Swifts and a male Garganey were also at Teal lake, and before lunch we had a long session tuning into a melodious Garden Warbler.

Although I think I do quite well with my species count on some birding days, we were told about a chap who had been birding the previous (full-) day at Frampton Marsh and saw…………………………………….. 104 species.   Where am I going wrong?

Wednesday 3rd May was a day for Chris and I to explore Padley Gorge, near Grindleford, a well-known Flycatcher site. We left John to do some photography, and set off up the gorge, using a less arduous route that Amanda had shown me in 2016. After the initial steep approach had levelled out, we zigzagged upwards until I spotted a stationery birder, aiming his lens at some branches, and we sidled up to get excellent views of 2 male and one female Pied Flycatcher. The males were very active and we sensed that there was an air of competition going on!

Very soon after a repetitive call made us search the trees, to be rewarded by a nice male Redstart. Unfortunately when we reached the ridge, the wind was so strong that birds were nowhere to be seen, so we left the gorge to follow the stream up to Burbage. We had a lunch break in a sheltered spot by the stream, and enjoyed close up views of Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail, and a female Mallard 2 inches from the tip of my boot! Plus a close up view of Mac (See above!!)

The Tree Pipits were duly found, on rocks north of the Gorge, and that was enough to make us decide to head down to the Longshaw visitor centre for a nice cup of Tetley. Incidentally, a nice bonus, but not a new bird for me, was to get VERY close up views of Siskins on the feeder in front of the caf!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Tuesday and Wednesday saw the new hide erected at Carsington, and we await the comments and opinions from birders and visitors. I promise you, it is not conventional, but I think it works. I’ve provided the name plate, and THAT’s different as well!

                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                              

Some of us have been getting text messages from Amanda and her husband Noel who last week had 6 days birding with Heatherlee, including 4 nights on the remote island of North Ronaldsay.(Max 6 on the aircraft to get there!!) Not only did they got caught up in a mega twitch, but Amanda finally had close up views of a species she had been longing to see – a Wryneck.   With 22 additions on the trip to add to her life list, and now making her total 188, the 200 target seems an absolute doddle for her this year.

As I am now on 177 in comparison my 200 is looking distant. I did have the temerity to suggest that island sightings should not count, or even be handicapped. I won’t make that mistake again! (I was reminded that I was including Anglesey in my figures, and my claim that it was linked by road to the mainland, did not cut the mustard.    Graceful in defeat I will have to remain!)

Sunday 7^th May………. A brilliant report from our Bird Watching for Beginners Walk…… you’ll have to wait until next week!

PS: No Markeaton walk this coming third Sunday, 21^st May, we are in Majorca.

B F N