Friday 2nd September.
For various reasons, and except for Mike D, none of the Allestree Bird Club birding enthusiasts appeared. In fairness, most of the 8 people who had been before did let me know.
With the help of a fellow library volunteer, we had made arrangements for some cars to be parked on a private drive, but as the lady was on holiday, she will not know that we did not use her drive! We will save Markeaton for another day.
Anyway, Mike and I had a good chat about our mutual experiences, some of which oddly overlapped, like both having been to Grimsby to see the American Robin in February 2004. In my case, the 28th, but both of us before a Sparrowhawk killed the Robin. Birders had congregated for some days, to see the Robin underneath a spreading tree on an industrial estate and where food had been thrown to keep the Robin fed. Sadly, the Sparrowhawk got the same message.
Reverting to our next birding meeting, most of the good birding sites are outside of Allestree, so I suggest we make more use of the Friday morning, by extending the walk from meeting at the library a bit earlier at 10.15 so that we can be away by 10.30, at the birding site by 10.45, and we can then have a good 90 minutes to 12.15, and you can be back in Allestree by 12.30. (Or stay longer if you wish.)
So with that timetable, the next meeting, will be 1015am on Friday 7th October. We will go to Willington Gravel Pits, and may also be lucky and see the Beavers. Parking at Willington is free, the parking space under the barrier off the little triangle on the right, on the Willington > Bretby road, and just BEFORE you cross the River Trent.
I look forward to seeing you on the 7th at 10.15am
David
