Andy Potter 26th February 2017. R I P

Oh I really did not want to be writing this, but I hope you’ll understand that in my small way, this is my tribute to a Gentleman who died of cancer on Sunday, and I know this tribute is shared by my colleagues at Carsington Water.  This is about the BBC Radio Derby presenter Andy Potter, who announced to his audience on his radio show at the end of January 2017 that he had incurable cancer.

I was diagnosed with stomach cancer last May, and I was a lucky one - the brilliant team at the Royal Hospital Derby got to me soon enough and removed my cancerous cells, and nine months later I am here to write this tribute.   

So, I do have some understanding of the trauma of Cancer, but Andy was only 55 and that makes it so unfair.

I met and was interviewed by Andy 4 times, all in connection with the Osprey project at Carsington Water. Andy often visited Carsington incognito, with his family, and charged me with letting him know when there was an Osprey that he could come and interview. I am so sad that I did fulfil his wish.

He first came when we erecting the nest posts in 2012, and he told me that this photo taken during his visit, was on the wall in the Derby studio.

He came again in 2013 for a progress report, and due to the inclement weather, John Matkin and I were interviewed underneath scaffolding at the main centre.

The next time we met was in the Studio, probably to talk about the additional Osprey nest that we were erecting, and I can just see him sitting as the sound console in that distinctive pose of his, hands behind his head.

                                                                    

I said “I’m sorry I’m going on a bit” to which he replied, “I’m thoroughly enjoying listening to you talking…I’ll tell you when to stop!”  

The last time we met, at Carsington in 2016 was to talk about Ospreys and the Beginners Bird walks, which had been running for 10 years, and which had just booked in the 1,000^th person keen to learn about birding. I drove him to the tip of Stones Island in our work buggy, and we chatted about our plans, and the new hide that the Volunteers were installing. 

He then chatted to Pat Spencer, a regular bird watching volunteer at the Wildlife Centre. Pat told him what the public enjoyed, and some of the excitement that we engendered with children when they looked through quality telescopes and binoculars.

Andy was so easy to chat to, and he had the skill of relaxing interviewees very quickly.. (well he certainly did with me) and he listened without interrupting or imposing his opinion.

I used to love Terry Wogan. I had a cousin, Roger Bennett who did a regular morning chat-show programme on BBC Radio Bristol. Now we have lost 3 presenters that the public loved. Three of a kind - they will hit it off together!!

R I P

Oh!, that male Yellowhammer.....Fab - u - lus!

Now how the Castlemaine 4X did I make that mistake in my last post? I can think of no reason for typing July as the days I was out birding, apart from to see if Slim Bridge spotted it. (He did!).   

Anyway, you will be pleased to know that I have some new glasses, and being varifocals, there is now every chance that I when I proof read my blog, I will see any errors. (Well that’s my excuse). Take a bit of getting used to, don’t they? I’m constantly having to look down my nose to get the short sight items in focus. Still, I’m sure it will improve. At least now I can read all the Saturday football results on the TV.

Monday 20^th February and I decided to spend the morning at Idle Valley, specifically hoping to see White Fronted Goose. Despite cruising up and down Chainbridge Lane and walking the length of Hawthorn Lane, I dipped, and nor did I see the alleged Black Necked Grebe.

However, thanks to a tip from a fellow birder, and some compensation from scanning hundreds of Greylags, I did pick up Whooper Swan on Tiln North. So, that saved a possible lengthy trip to Martinmere.

So Tuesday 21^st February, I opted for a visit to one of my favourite sites, Old Moor, just North of Rotherham. It’s a good 55 mile run and door to door in 60 minutes, meant I was walking into a busy Broomhill Flash hide at 10.00am. This first location was hopefully for a Red Legged Partridge, but I dipped again, and I was told by the locals there had been no recent sightings.

But Old Moor was brill!! Within 5 minutes of getting to the Tree Sparrow Farm, there was a gorgeous male Yellowhammer on the feeders, followed by his mate.

When I got to the family hide, Amanda was on duty wearing her RSPB volunteer hat, and saved me the trouble by pointing out the Mediterranean Gull.

In due course I went to Wath Ings hide, the furthest hide along the track, and having counted x number of Snipe in the mud, I spotted a nice group of 3 Linnets enabling me to move my total to date for 2017 to 133. All very encouraging although as happens with birders, there are still easy-to-see 2017 birds, which I haven’t!

Currently I am still looking for, Redpoll, Grey Wagtail, Siskin and Jay, but I’m hoping that I may get the first 3 at High Peak Junction on the Cromford canal next week. The water treatment plant there is good for Wagtails, and I have found the Greys there, and there is always the chance of a Dipper on the Derwent at the same location.  

And I have plans to go to another favourite, Attenborough GP, as Bittern is still on my o/s list, and Muscovy Duck does crop up there as well.

Sunday February 26^th I had an hour at Carsington, and arrived at the Wildlife Centre just as a flock of c16 Curlew landed on the far tip of Horseshoe Island. Unfortunately, with the low water level, giving a steep water’s edge, and the camera not working, they became invisible, a shame for visitors who would have been able to get good views from above, but didn’t even know they were there.

I dropped in to Allestree Park lake (not literally) on the way to Carsington, just timing it right to see a pair of Great Crested Grebes move apart, dive, and re-emerge swimming towards each other, and rearing up on their legs in their famous courtship dance. It did not last long, but long enough to know what was happening!

Many people have told me how they wish they could see that display, and I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Keep Birding

PS Unless the next 7 days are eventful, my legs will be the topic next week ??!!