No 14 Attenborough Gravel Pits Friday 30th June

 Just a quick reminder of the Library bird walk at Attenborough next Friday at 10.00am. 

Head for the visitor centre, over the level crossing, and gather near the parking meter on the mini roundabout; plan is for 3 hours to 1.00pm, but if you have to get away earlier, that's fine.    Or you can stay all day for the same £3 parking fee.

Little birding story for you...

From my study window over the last two weeks, I have been following the antics of a Feral Pigeon and a Magpie, and the solar panels on the roof of a neighbour’s house.

Earliest observations were the Pigeon repeatedly harassing the Magpie to leave the roof, a protective action that was repeated every time the Magpie returned.

Protecting a nest was the most likely scenario, and just the other day, this was confirmed by seeing a single Pigeon carrying dry grass or sticks, landing on the roof, and always disappearing underneath the solar panels at the same spot.

I don’t know if there would be any warmth, but a nest would be dry.   I’ll keep watching for any further developments.

Regards

David

No 13. Change to date Attenborough bird walk... from 7th July

 Hello fellow birders,

 Change of plans!!!!!!!

 

It has been something of a priority to get some recouperation for Mary and myself, after my hospital treatment so I propose to alter the planned date for the next walk.  

 We are going to Majorca for 7 days and the earliest date we could get was 3 > 10 July so I’m moving the bird-watching date back 7 days to the previous Friday, FRIDAY 30^th JUNE….10.00am Attenborough gravel pits.

 The post code is NG9 6DY and we can meet in the furthest visitor centre  car park, having crossed the level crossing,  in Barton Lane.

I trust this is OK, and if you have any questions or want to join some car sharing, 01332 557942.

 Plan is 10.00am > 1.00pm. It takes me 20 minutes from Allestree to the car park.

 I will put this change on the blog.

 

Thanks for your understanding

No 12 Back to the Bird World of Allestree Bird Club... and worth waiting

 Friday 2nd June 2023 at 10.00 saw four of us enjoying a pleasant couple of hours up and down the lane in the middle of Willington Gravel Pits.

Before my medical sabbatical, we had visited 7 locations, and our life list was a satisfactory 57 species.

Thanks to the remedial path work by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, coupled with the dry weather, the hitherto muddy Willington pathway was now much easier (and cleaner!) to negotiate. 

The first addition to our life list was a Kestrel, way, way high up and still climbing as we watched.

We weren't disappointed with the main attraction at the Pits, Warblers - they were everywhere.  The bird song was non-stop, confused and loud.  With a lot of patience, amongst the Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchafs and Whitethroats,  we managed to tick off a new listing Sedge Warbler. But the trip highlight was a pair of Reed Warblers near the hide, very visible and at the wrong place, at the TOP of the reeds!!

 Nor surprisingly, Reed Warblers were universally agreed as the Bird of the Day, and the year/life list has moved on to 63.

Dates for diaries 

 Friday 7th July.        Attenborough Gravel Pits  10.00am > 1.00pm

look forward to a good count. If anyone does not want to spend a full 3 hours, we will never be far from the car park.   Parking is £3 a day, apart from Wildlife Trust members ( I think!!)

Friday 4th August.   Wyver Lane, Belper        10.00 am > 12.30pm. 

A very close local location, well known for Snipe. Free parking

Car sharing would be a good idea whenever possible.

Happy Birding          David