peregrine – Carsington Bird Club

Aug 2011 Newsletter

No 3 / August 2011

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

As I write this, the sun has come out again after a heavy shower of rain. We keep being told it’s been a poor summer, but it certainly seems to have been pretty dry – as demonstrated by the low water levels at Carsington Water. The bonus of this has been an extended, deeper shoreline attractive to a wider than usual range of waders and Little Egrets.

A whiff of autumn is already around and the first birds are back on the reservoir in the form of Pochard and Teal. I read recently an estimated quarter of the world’s bird species migrate – and we have abundant chances of seeing this avian strategy working on the reservoir. That same article also revealed some ‘weird demises’ that came to light as a result of research through ringing: BTO recoveries included a Mute Swan killed by tigers at Chester Zoo, a Reed Warbler found dead in a spider’s web and an Osprey ringed in Strathclyde that was found in the stomach of a crocodile in the Gambia!

Nothing so dramatic at Carsington Water, hopefully, but this year sharp-eyed bird-watchers there have seen rings that unmasked a real ‘wild’ Barnacle Goose among our escapee flock and an Osprey that was a Scottish bird (explaining why it chose not to stay long, dashing our hopes of breeding on the new platforms dashed). Behind such sightings there might be an interesting story, so keep watching our site and recording what you see.

Moving on, do you know when the first non-folding telescope and tripod combination became available to birdwatchers or when the first Act of Parliament was passed fully protecting birds and their nests? If not, may I recommend that you come along to our first indoor meeting of the new season – on Tuesday 20 September – and hear about ‘The History of Birdwatching from 1939 to the Present Day’. The following month (on 18 October) the BTO’s Graham Appleton will be talking about ‘Four Years of Atlas work’, which was completed this year and details the most up-to-date information on wintering and breeding birds of theBritish Isles.

We were on tenterhooks this summer after an Osprey threatened to stay on the new platforms built to entice them to breed. It didn’t happen but it gives us hope! If you want to know more about this project come along to Hognaston Village Hall on 15 November to hear David Bennett talk about ‘The Osprey Project’.

In December, I’m hoping our Christmas party can be ‘home-grown’. I have recently been to ‘Pecha Kucha’ evenings at the Quad in Derby. This is a new worldwide phenomenon that challenges speakers to put up 20 slides and talk about each for 20 seconds: that’s a six-minute 40-second presentation. Could we interest a handful of members in doing this at our party? Let me know soonest (but certainly by November) if you’re up for it, then send me 20 pictures – on any subject of your choice – and I’ll put them on my computer, ready for a quickfire presentation though my projector. We wouldn’t stick rigidly to the time limit, though it might be fun to do so!

Peter Gibbon

IMPORTANT NOTICE: TRIP CANCELLED

For anyone who booked or was planning to do so, please note that our proposed September club trip to the Wash and Frampton Marsh reserve has been cancelled. This was due to a misunderstanding with the company organising the Wash cruise. This would have been the centrepiece of the event for most people, so club officials decided it would not be sensible to rearrange it on any lesser basis.

Peter Oldfield has returned monies to those who had already booked, and notification of the cancellation appeared on the website some weeks ago – but we realise not everyone has a computer so this is to flag it up to anyone not ‘online’.

LOW WATER MEANS LOTS OF WADERS – AND IT’S A RECORD JULY

As autumn approaches, with the usual build-up of waterfowl and gull numbers, Carsington Water can look back on a productive breeding season, and unusually high species records during the summer months. The 95 species logged in June was the best for that month for several years, and 105 the following month was the best July tally ever since records began at this rich birding site in 1992.

Breeding had its ups and downs. Coot, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Gt Crested Grebe were well down on the previous year, but six Lapwing broods represented an increase, two three-strong broods of Little Ringed Plovers was excellent to see, and two Oystercatcher and three Redshank pairs also successfully bred. Black-headed Gull nests failed at Sheepwash – possibly due to fox predation – but there were 19 chicks from several nests on the tern raft andHorseshoeIsland, with further young possible onFlatIsland.

Eighteen House Martin nests were counted around the perimeter of the Visitor Centre, where Swifts were also seen feeding young. Over in the Hall Wood area, at least two Raven and two Buzzard young were raised.

The very dry conditions saw the reservoir water levels sink which was, at least, good for waders and no fewer than 20 species had been seen during August alone – including Whimbrel, Curlew, Turnstone, Dunlin, Knot, Little Stint, Ruff, Sanderling, Greenshank, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Common and Green Sandpipers, and Black-tailed Godwit.

Peregrines seem to be getting more and more regular, with sightings on many days and as many as three seen at any one time. Two Red Kites were viewed at the end of July, an Osprey kept up this species’ excellent 2011 attendance record with another sighting in June, while there were two Hobby sightings in late August. One or more Sparrowhawks were observed carrying prey into the same piece of woodland on several dates throughout June and July, and as many as six Buzzards were seen aloft at one time. Similar numbers of Ravens were also seen soaring on warm days.

One of the highest numbers of Yellow Wagtails seen at one time at Carsington – 19 – were noted in late August, a family group of Grey Wagtails (hard hit during the last tough winter) were singing on Stones Island in June, while as many as 91 Pied Wagtails were recorded on the same day. Redstarts have been a rare sight at Carsington in recent years, but a family group was regularly noted, often near the Wildlife Centre. Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Tit pairs bred as, for the first time, did a pair of Reed Warblers.

Little Egrets have become a more regular sight since June, and as many as four were seen together in August. Gull numbers are now on the rise, with up to 800 Lesser Black-backs counted in mid-August.

One far less welcome visitor is the predatory Yellow-legged Gull that seems to find plenty of warm-blooded food around the reservoir: already this year it has been seen to take a rodent and another Little Grebe, seemingly and sadly its favourite prey last year.

BIRD OF THE ISSUE: LITTLE EGRET

The sight of these beautiful small white herons is becoming increasingly common around the coasts and now also inland in the UK. Yet there is evidence to show that Little Egrets (Egretta Garzetta) were relatively common inBritain up to mediaeval times, even in territories much further north than Derbyshire. Overhunting and a mini ice-age saw them disappear, and for a long time they were considered a ‘continental’ bird.

They eat fish, insects, amphibians, crustaceans and reptiles – so Carsington Water is a good hunting territory for them. And with the lower water levels, widening the wading area and making some stretches of water much shallower than usual, this summer has been a good time for Little Egrets (as reported above).

They are distinctive birds of the heron family, with attractive white plumes on head, back and chest, jet black legs and yellow feet – quite different from anything other than the Great White Egret (or Heron), which is much larger, and Cattle Egret, with lighter legs and orange-buff crest and back, which is a much rarer sight in the UK.

Little Egrets have only been reappearing in theUKin good numbers for around the last 20 years, with the first pair breeding inDorsetin 1996. There are now around 150 pairs breeding in the UK, with another 1,500 overwintering, so they’re becoming a much more familiar sight as they spread around the coasts and estuaries of southern England, Devon, Cornwall, Wales and East Anglia, and gradually push further north. Long may it continue.

NEW LOOK TO CBC WEBSITE

The website has been completely re-written, for easier maintenance and to enable web postings to be pre-prepared and then scheduled to appear at specific dates and times. It will also enable a more flexible approach to editing of web content.

Despite its new look, it continues to provide all the familiar features people seem to enjoy, such as the on-line sightings board and Roger Carrington’s excellent monthly round-up of bird sightings at the reservoir. It also has the ability to allow users to catch-up on any content missed at publication time, such as newsletters or features, which are stored as ‘blog posts’ – so, if you missed a post, or would just like to look at previous postings, simply click on ‘Archives’ and review them month by month, or find them by the online search facility.

Selecting the “Categories” link on the right allows users to focus the content to a particular subject matter, such as Newsletters or News. There are over 12 categories ranging from CBC information, to special features, to details of where to stay and what to do when visiting Carsington Water.

There is also a word “tag” list down on the right-hand-side. This allows users to find a page or pages which have a particular word or phrase: for example click on “Osprey” to locate some content containing that word.

Wherever you find yourself on the website you can always return to base by either clicking the “Home” button at the top, or by clicking the “Carsington Bird Club” header text.

The website has also been written to be accessible by most Android Smartphones, Apple iPhones and iPads, and the like. The web pages automatically format themselves for the mobile you are using, so you need never be far from the information you require!

Have a look round and if you’ve any questions, please ask (via the ‘contact us’ page) – we value your feedback.

Richard Pittam – Webmaster

CLUB WALK BAGS 48 SPECIES

For the club’s June walk – a more ambitious effort than usual – leaders Roger Carrington and Peter Gibbon set a target of 50 species, but fell just tantalisingly two short. After meeting at Millfields car park, the small group was ferried up to Hopton Arm and then took three hours to meander back to their vehicles along the eastern shore of the reservoir, assembling plenty of highlights on the way.

These included a close-up and personal view of a female Sparrowhawk preening, a Willow Tit group going about their family business, an Oystercatcher on a nest, and two families of Moorhens.

The other species recorded were Gt Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

There were no walks in July and August, reflecting the invariable shortage of both birds and people to spot them!

HELPING TO HALT THE MALTESE SLAUGHTER

We are lucky enough to have somewhere inMaltawhere we can work and stay, so we usually visit two or three times a year. The island is located on the central Mediterranean migration flyway betweenEuropeandAfricaand should be a great place for birding, but in fact it is notorious for the annual slaughter of thousands of birds by shooting and trapping – not for locally important economics or profit; but simply for amusement.

The sound of distant – and often not so distant – illegal gunfire signals the reality of what is happening. Walking around the hunting grounds, as they are called, with literally thousands of spent shotgun cartridges at your feet is one of the most depressing sights imaginable. As was the long-eared owl we came across when walking with friends: it had been shot and had a badly-damaged wing.

We were surprised to discover an Important Bird Area existed right in the centre of the capital, Valletta. This winter roost of white wagtails could, we read, contain as many as seven thousand overnight in the mature ficus trees by the cathedral. It was difficult to believe, so we decided to watch the next day. As we headed for the location in the late afternoon we saw birds coming in from all directions, largely unnoticed by the tourists and shoppers. The noise level grew as the trees filled with birds, and we sat until it grew dark when the calling finally subsided.

When we visited in March this year we were horrified to see that the trees had been cut back. We discovered that they had been were pruned without a permit and that the workers continued to cut the trees, even while police were asking them to stop. In November the birds were observed trying to land on what foliage was left and flying around looking for an alternative site. We have not yet been able to find out just how successful they were.

All is not bleak, though, and there are many people working to change the culture, and educate the future generations to appreciate nature, and not seek to destroy it. After all, things have not always been so good here in theUK.

There are now two wetland nature reserves, one of which is right opposite the largest tourist beach in Mellieha. This year Black-winged Stilts bred successfully there – a first forMalta. At the weekends the reserves are open to the public and we have spent many happy hours there. Dedicated volunteers work in their own time to run, maintain and, importantly, protect the reserves, which also provide a focus for education.

One of the most important tasks is taking school parties around and showing them how the birds live – and this is working. One of the volunteers told us that children are now putting pressure on their fathers and uncles to stop hunting, and that he personally knows of at least one hunter who has given up. More will follow.

It’s refreshing to see that most of the Maltese you meet in the hides are young. One day we were watching a lone drake swim slowly into view: neither of us reacted to the bird as we recognised it, but a group of teenagers in the hide exploded with excitement – yelling ‘Pochard, Pochard!’, taking pictures and calling their friends to come and see this rare bird.

It was a touching moment, and one that shows the tide is turning. We were more excited by our first, fleeting view of a Little Bittern from the same hide. The teenage wardens obviously learn fast, too, for as we spoke to one about what we’d seen he was at first very cautious about confirming the known presence of the bird.

As we chatted, he then told us about a website he and his friend were building on birding in Malta. We checked it out and were really impressed. It’s well worth a look – www.birdinginmalta.com

Meanwhile, the key organisation on the island is BirdLife Malta(www.birdlifemalta.org) which, among other things, manages the two reserves and holds spring and autumn camps to record both the migrations and the illegal activities of the hunters.

Sue and Dave Edmonds

WHAT’S ON

Our Chairman Peter Gibbon will be first up during our 2011-12 indoor season, at Hognaston Village Hall, when he delivers ‘part two’ of his History of Birdwatching on Tuesday, 20 September. The full CBC events programme up to the end of the year is as follows:

20 September – Indoor meeting: ‘The history of birdwatching (1939-present day) by Peter Gibbon – Hognaston Vill Hall (7.30pm)

18 October – Indoor meeting: ‘Four years of Atlas work’ by Graham Appletonof the BTO – Hognaston Vill Hall (7.30pm)

15 November – Indoor meeting: ‘The Osprey Project’ by David Bennett, STW volunteer ranger – Hognaston Vill Hall (7.30pm)

20 December – CBC Christmas party – Hognaston Vill Hall (7.30pm)

For most Severn Trent Water events at Carsington Water, it is advisable to book through the Visitor Centre reception (01629 540696).

The programme for the rest of 2011 is as follows:

First Sunday of each month – Birdwatching for Beginners (enjoy a gentle two-hour walk led by experienced STW volunteer David Bennett) – Meet Visitor Centre 10am

2 September – Wildlife Discovery Room with STW and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – Wild Fridays (fun-packed day for families with young children in Visitor Centre (11am-4pm)

3 September – Bat Safari (£2.50 – book; bring stout footware and warm clothing) – Millfields car park (8.45pm)

14 September – Optics demonstrations (guidance on binoculars/telescopes) – RSPB shop (10am-4pm)

8-9 October – Derbyshire Beekeepers Association annual honey show and sale – Visitor Centre (1.30-4pm)

14-15 October – Optics demonstrations (see earlier entry for details)

30 October – Halloween family fun day in Wildlife Discovery Room – Visitor Centre (evening)

16 November – Optics demonstrations (see earlier entry for details)

20 November – Learn about wildlife in winter, and make a garden bird feeder at the Open Door Day in Wildlife Discovery Room – Visitor Centre (11am-4pm)

2-3 December Optics demonstrations (see earlier entry for details)

CBC Newsletters

Nov 2010 Newsletter

No.4 – November 2010

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

As Autumn Watch winds up and Britain is apparently being invaded by Waxwings, the first Great Northern Diver of the winter has arrived back at Carsington. That reminds me this is the last communiqué of 2010 and urges me to reflect on the past year – one of extreme weather (which currently sees the reservoir at as low a level as one can remember for some time) but also one of some success for birds and for our club.

It was a good breeding season for most birds, and late on, two new birds – Wryneck and Bearded Tit – were added to Carsington’s growing definitive list. Our presence at the September ‘Derbyshire Day’, run by BBC Radio Derby and attended by a range of wildlife organisations, gave a strong reassurance of the crucial importance and vitality of Carsington Bird Club as the body providing nearly all the recording and much of the conservation work for the birds of the area. Take a look at our website to see how much we as a club take part in and achieve – all of which should make next year’s report a pleasure to compile.

On the other hand, we still struggle in terms of members’ engagement. We just hosted a truly excellent speaker – Paul Hobson, one of Britain ‘s top wildlife photographers – at our November meeting, yet had only 20 in the audience. Among them was one non-member who took the trouble to log an observation on the web pages asking how we could possibly run such high-quality meetings with such a small audience and such a modest entrance fee?

Well, the fact is for another year we have, but the truth is we were lucky: two talks were undertaken by friends of mine, who wanted no fee, two merely asked for small donations to their society or reserve, and only one charged ‘the going rate’ plus expenses. But the longer-term future of this core club activity, running from September to March, will depend on a higher attendance at the indoor meetings. Only then will we be sure to fund both the hire of the hall and the best speakers. I must also thank the Derbyshire Ornithological Society for paying the hall-hire fee at the October meeting. So with subjects like the islands of St Kilda and Lesvos on the agenda, and speakers like the fantastic bird photographer John Gardner to look forward to, we expect the 2011 programme to contain plenty of pleasure and entertainment. Come along and see!

I spoke in October on ‘The Birds of Carsington Water’ to an audience of 40 Staffordshire Wildlife Trust members, most of whom I’m glad to say had visited Carsington at least once. The talk was held at the ‘Rambler’s Retreat’ cafe/restaurant – a lovely place in an idyllic setting, with great food if the fridge containing various tempting puddings was anything to go by! The wooded river valley runs down to Alton (of ‘Towers’ fame) and in the restaurant gardens Pied Flycatchers nest in boxes, and evidently are easy to photograph. So, if you’re looking to combine a beautiful walk with good food and drink, this could be the place for you.

And finally, talking of food and drink – don’t forget our Christmas party on 21December, when a buffet will be available and the theme of the evening will be “Twitchers”, the entertainment including a rare view of this extreme end of the bird-watching community!

Peter Gibbon

FORMER CLUB TREASURER, PAM LEVERS, PASSES AWAY

Pam Levers, a long-time member of Carsington Bird Club, who worked a number of years on the committee as club treasurer, passed away in hospital on 4 November. She was 66.

Pam learned earlier this year that she had cancer and had recently also suffered a stroke. She was cheerful in the face of these illnesses, however, and was still attending club events as recently as late September when she joined family members at the first meeting of the club’s indoor season. Pam will be sadly missed by her many friends in CBC and other wildlife organisations of which she was a member including the Ogston Bird Club, the Mid-Derbyshire Badger Group and the Chesterfield branch of the RSPB.

Her funeral took place on 15 November at St John’s Church , Walton Back Lane , Chesterfield , and our thoughts go out to those Pam leaves behind – husband Richard, also a long-time CBC member, son Tim and daughter Christina, and two grandchildren.

LOW WATER – HIGH NUMBERS!

Despite the very low water level over autumn – or perhaps because of it – the number of bird species seen at Carsington has been near record levels. InSeptember, 116 species were seen, while the following month it was 109 – equaling the best October total since records began in 1992.

Two new species were also added to the reservoir’s definitive list during this rich period. A Wryneck, only the 40 th county record in more than half a century, turned up on 13 September and stayed for two days when it was seemingly happy to be a media star (the CBC Gallery has some lovely images of it, including one taking a drink of water off a leaf).

The second ‘first’ was a Bearded Tit (see ‘Bird of the Issue’ below) that stayed around just long enough on 1 November to allow several birders to dash to the scene for an unexpected Derbyshire ‘tick’.

Other highlights since the last newsletter included two unusual buntings – a Snow Bunting found on Stones Island on 25 November (at the time of going to press it’s not certain whether this could be another Carsington debut) and Lapland Buntings seen on 22 and 30 September. A Black Redstart has been in residence since 18 November and a Great Northern Diver turned up in early November, disappeared for a week but was then seen several times. This is the fourth consecutive winter we have had these handsome birds visiting Carsington.

The volume of some species has been quite high, too. In the gull roost, there have been up to 4,000 Black-headeds and 3,500 Lesser Black-backs, and as many as 282 Common Gulls. Mediterranean, Little and Herring Gulls were also recorded, along with a consistent compliment of Yellow-legs – including one particularly voracious bird that is often witnessed taking waterfowl for its meals.

The WeBS count in November logged 1,330 Coot, 578 Tufted Duck and more than 200 each of Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Lapwing. Four Common Scoters were spotted at the end of September, and in recent weeks Goldeneye have returned, along with Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard and Shelduck.

The wader passage was impressive with Ruff, Knot, Dunlin, Little Stint, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and its ‘Spotted’ cousin, Greenshank, Common and Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed and Golden Plover and Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits all featuring along the wider-than-usual mud fringes. Meanwhile, overhead 130 Pink-footed Geese flew by on 18 November.

An encouragingly wide range of raptors have been recorded during the autumn: Ospreys visited in both September and October, a Red Kite called in on 19 October, three days after a Goshawk was spotted in the wood in Tail Bay . Merlins were viewed twice in October, Hobbys three times in September, and Peregrines and Sparrowhawks were seen regularly. A Barn Owl perched within three feet of a lucky observer in the Sheepwash hide after quartering rough terrain nearby.

Late-staying summer visitors included up to four Chiffchaffs seen and heard on 6 October and, much more surprisingly, two Swallows on 18 October.

Among passerines, the highlights included Bramblings on Stones Island and around Sheepwash feeders, a Firecrest – only the third record of this tiny bird for Carsington – on 14 October, and a Great Grey Shrike that stayed a matter of hours, unlike the last visitor of this species that stayed five months in 2005. Kingfishers were another regular sighting, while the winter visitors have included flocks of up to 50 Redwings and smaller groups of Fieldfares. No waxwings, however … We can but hope!

BIRD OF THE ISSUE: BEARDED TIT

A Bearded Tit sighted (Panurus biarmicus) in the small reedbed to the left of Sheepwash hide on 1 November was a first for Carsington Water. These attractive and elusive birds are rarely seen in Derbyshire with the 500-plus breeding pairs in the UK being mainly found in the reedbeds of eastern and southern England, though a few are also found in Lancashire.

Elsewhere in Europe larger numbers – up to half a million – are known to breed.

They have a long tail and are generally tawny in appearance, though the male has a blue-grey head and striking black ‘moustaches’ rather than ‘beards’.

In summer they eat spiders, insects and are particularly partial to aphids, while in the winter they rely on seeds – and they have a digestive system that actively changes to suit the seasonal diet.

They are sociable, but not always easy to see among the reeds – and often the first clue to their presence is their “ping” calls. If they are spotted, it will often be their undulating flight just above the reeds.

They are principally a resident bird, and vulnerable to cold winters, and certainly their population has declined in recent years, placing them on the Amber List.

They may move away from breeding areas in the winter – which was good for us, as they became the 221st species at Carsington.

ON ALERT FOR THE ‘KILLER SHRIMP’

Severn Trent Water staff at Carsington are keeping a closer focus than ever on the water in the reservoir for evidence of Dikerogammarus Villosus – an invasive species of shrimp, fast becoming known as the ‘killer shrimp’, that had never been found in Britain until two keen-eyed anglers spotted it at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire in September.

It is not known how it arrived, though one possibility is the most natural way of all – via birds. In this case it could theoretically turn up anywhere that water birds thrive, and affect the habitat there as its voracious nature means that it predates native shrimp species and other water-borne species such as water boatmen, damselflies, insect larvae – even small fish – that both wildlife that birds eat and birds themselves feed upon.

In short, it could quickly alter ecosystems, which is why STW’s manager at Carsington, Ben Young, and his staff are keeping such a close monitor. So, if you happen to see a freshwater shrimp that’s much bigger than you’ve seen before (the ‘killer’ species is 30mm long), has large mandibles or appears striped, report it to Ben or one of the Ranger team.

Dikerogammarus Villosus could equally have arrived via watersports hulls, angling or fish stocking (though Carsington is not stocked from the same source as Grafham). Anglers in particular have been warned to be on the look-out, and are being asked to keep kit and boats clean, drain bilge water from boats, disinfect kit and make sure no water or bait is transferred between bodies of water.

The unwelcome visitor naturally inhabits the Black and Caspian Seas , but has in the last ten years spread across most of Europe . At Grafham Water, the Environment Agency worked with local managing authority Anglian Water to put precautionary measures in place, and to check out other local lakes and the River Great Ouse.

TALKS FOCUS ON HADDON ESTATE, WILDLIFE ART AND FARMING

The indoor programme of events at Hognaston village hall began in September with an illustrated talk by Warren Slaney of the Haddon Estate, who ended a 150-year tradition of fish farming in favour of an award-winning scheme to create self-perpetuating wild fish stocks, which touched many other elements of the natural environment at Haddon.

Chairman Peter Gibbon stepped into the breach himself in October to give a passionate talk on the life of wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe. Then it was the turn of Paul Hobson, one of the UK ‘s top wildlife photographers. Paul showed a wide selection of his own work around the theme of farming, how it has shaped Britain ‘s natural development and the wildlife therein, and the radical changes this industry has undergone since World War II.

GET YOUR NAMES DOWN FOR THE WAGTAIL AND DAWN CHORUS WALKS

Before detailing the next few months’ events, we need to alert CBC members to two events a little further out that this year may require advance booking.

Severn Trent Water are including two of our annual walks as part of its 2011 events at Carsington Water, so, should there be a heavy response, we are keen to ensure our own members get first bite at securing their places on the Wagtail Walk (6pm on Tuesday, 19 April) and the Dawn Chorus Walk (4.30am on Saturday, 7 May). For both the meeting point will be outside the Visitor Centre.

If you are particularly keen to ensure being on these walks, register your interest with the Visitor Centre reception (01629 540696).

CBC Newsletters

Aug 2010 Newsletter

No.3 – August 2010

CHAIRMAN’S THOUGHTS

It is mid-August and I have just completed the monthly wildfowl count, which reflected the changing seasons. The first two Wigeon have appeared heralding the approach of winter, yet at the same time I saw two tiny Great Crested Grebe young hiding on the back of one of their parents. Many of you may, like me, be about to go on holiday; on our return, autumn will be upon us and we will see more changes on the reservoir. At this exciting time for birders, we should be looking to submit records every week.

It is also the last winter to participate in tetrad counts for the British Trust for Ornithology’s Bird Atlas that started in 2007, finishes next year and will be the most phenomenal census of birds (or any other wildlife group) ever undertaken in the world. Interim conclusions have already shown some dramatic changes in bird species populations. The impressive number of amateur birders taking part is evidence of how important bird-watching has become in the daily life of the UK . Add to this the huge numbers of people submitting records for the Big Garden Birdwatch and we must be the world’s number one birding nation.

I like to think that CBC is a small but significant part of this nationwide activity. Already records are being checked to confirm that this breeding season has been an excellent one for many species; current observations, for example, suggest record numbers of Tufted Duck broods. This is important information that will be recorded and published. Following the timely publishing of our 2009 annual report early in the year, we have already discussed content and production of next year’s report with a goal to issue it as early as possible. So, even if you don’t take part in any national record scheme, now is the time to be involved with our own modest club effort.

“Visit, watch and record” should be our motto. Certainly we appreciate all records – no matter how unimportant you may think they are – which are logged in the books in the hides or on the CBC website. Share what you see and help us build up an even fuller picture of Carsington and its birds: this will then be shared with the Derbyshire Ornithological Society, who in turn will pass appropriate records on nationally. Some birds returning to Carsington this winter may be the earliest on record – here, in Derbyshire or even in Britain. Equally, you might see the very last Swallow seen in Derbyshire this year, so why not pass them on yourselves to the BTO, as what are called ‘roving records’, for the Atlas. Then you can say you’ve taken part as an active member of the largest group of birdwatchers in the world!

Peter Gibbon

BUSY BREEDING BRINGS PLENTY OF SUCCESSES – BUT A FEW FAILURES

As adult birds begin to take a breather after bringing their new broods into the world, we can reflect on a largely successful breeding season at Carsington Water.

During June family parties of Nuthatch, Willow Tit and Tree Sparrow were recorded, while a pair of Great Tits ignored a bird box labelled with their species name, choosing instead an unmarked one! No less than 24 House Martin nests were in the vicinity of the Visitor Centre. Both Sedge and Reed Warblers were heard singing, as was a Pied Flycatcher in June, but his efforts remained unrequited and there was no sign of him later in the month.

Of eight pairs of Oystercatchers, four seem to have raised young, and a Redshank chick was noted as late as 13 July. While only one brood of Little Grebe was noted by the end of July, there was more success for its Great-Crested cousin (8 broods), and Tufted Duck (29), Mallard (20) and Coot (12) did well, while three broods of Mute Swan contained 12 cygnets.

Common Terns were kept off the rafts by Black-headed Gulls, but a pair did nest on Flat Island before moving – with two flighted young – onto the Watersports pontoon. Barnacle Geese were less successful: breeding on Horseshoe and Sailing Club islands failed, and the birds seem now to have left the site altogether.

An unusual sight greeted recorder Roger Carrington one July day when he witnessed an adult pair of Black-headed Gulls marching three downy chicks all the way from Flat Island , in front of Sheepwash, down to Horseshoe Island – an enforced exercise regime, perhaps!

Wildfowl numbers are beginning to rise as autumn approaches: Up to 500 Canada Geese have been counted, while 422 Coot were recorded in late July, and a combined total of 300 Mallard and Tufted Duck were noted on the same day. Much fewer numbers of Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal and Pochard have been spotted among these crowds, along with a single Red-Crested Pochard.

The gull roost is also developing, with an influx of Lesser Black-backs (1,500 by 20 August) joining the Black-headed Gulls. Meanwhile, a Yellow-legged Gull (and maybe the same one recorded performing similar dastardly deeds last year) was seen displaying carnivorous tendencies when swallowing a Tufted Duck chick.

The optimum time for waders is yet to come, but there were four Ruff on site on 17 August, several Black-tailed Godwits flew through on passage during July, and on 22 June a Spotted Redshank dropped in (at a time they were being seen at several locations) – the first recorded at Carsington for five years.

It’s been a relatively quiet time for raptors, though a Hobby was seen chasing hirundines on 17June and, three days later, two Peregrines and a Hobby were recorded. Two Little Owls were seen on 25 June, when two groups of young Tawny Owls were also recorded.

Three Stock Doves were spotted flying high over the reservoir on 28 July, and the day before could have been christened ‘corvid day’ since 150 Jackdaws, 18 Magpies, 9 Rooks and 4 Ravens were logged. All in all, though, the June and July records were relatively sparse – with the fewest species totals since the early ‘noughties’.

BIRD OF THE ISSUE: HOBBY

Just occasionally, the heart will beat a little faster as a dark spot flashes across in front of you and, raising the binoculars, you realise you’re looking at an elegant Hobby (Falco subbuteo) doing what it does best – performing high-speed aerobatics to catch its prey, which can be anything from insects such as large beetles and dragonflies, which they eat on the wing, to birds that also eat insects and are very nimble themselves, like Martins, Swallows and Swifts … and even bats at dusk.

They are a summer visitor to our shores, arriving late April/early May and are beginning to increase both in terms of numbers and range, having once been confined to the south of a line running roughly from the mouths of the Humber and Severn rivers. They often nest in old crows nests – and their rising population (reckoned now to be around 2,200 pairs) is thought to be partly down to a northerly movement of dragonflies and partly to more crows, so more nest sites. They leave the UK in September/October.

The Hobby is a small, dark falcon of around 30-36 centimetres that itself looks like a large swift, with long narrow wings spanning up to 90 centimetres and a relatively short tail to aid their aerobatic capability. They can accelerate in flight to speeds believed to be around 100mph. Like many of its closer falcon cousins, it has white chin and cheeks with a prominent moustachial stripe. Adult plumage is slate grey above, with dark stripes below and red under-tail coverts. They unsurprisingly prefer warm locations that attract large quantities of flying insects (or the birds and bats that hunt flying insects) such as heaths, wetlands, gravel pits and farmland with a scattering of hedgerows and woodland. They are seen with increasing regularity at Carsington Water.

CBC WEBSITE REVIEW: GETTING TECHNICAL BRINGS REWARDS!

Last year our website simply recorded visits or hits to various pages. This year we are utilising the power of the internet – courtesy of registering free with Google Analytics, which collects information anonymously without identifying individual visitors – to monitor traffic and visitor trends. This allows us to focus our effort on those areas of the website most people like to visit and try and work out why certain other pages are never or rarely visited.

From January-July 2010, the number of hits to the CBC website was around 32,000 which translated into 15,900 unique visits. For a club as small as ours, this is very good, equating to 184 hits/day or 90 unique visits/day – slightly more than in the same period last year.

Interestingly, on average visitors looked at two pages each visit. The ‘bounce rate’ (percentage of visitors who left the website on the same page they arrived at) was 45%. This is higher than the average website, mainly because many birdwatchers visit the website for one thing only – the Sightings page. It would difficult to lower this rate without making it difficult for visitors to reach the Sightings page, which would be counter-productive.

The average time spent on a CBC website visit, was one minute. This doesn’t sound much but, think of how quickly you browse websites at home, and a minute is a long time. This figure is also affected by the number of birders who just simply scan the latest sightings, then exit. Encouragingly, 26% of hits were from new visitors – and they averaged over two minutes on the site before leaving. Hopefully they will have got the information they required during this time and will be back for more!

Visitors landed on the website from 51 countries during this period. Most were from the UK , followed by the Netherlands , United States and Canada . I must admit, I’ve seen lots of Dutch birders in the UK this year! More unusually, we had visitors from Brazil , Papua New Guinea , Taiwan and China .

Apart from trying to provide pages that visitors want, it is also important that the website is clear and readable. Knowing the types of browsers used and the different screen resolutions, means that almost no-one should have difficulties accessing information on the site. While screen resolutions are really high these days, there are still those who have older gear, with smaller screens – we have to cater for them all. It’s also important to ensure that the website functions with all the types of browser used, not just Internet Explorer (83% of users). There was in fact 1% who visited the website from their Blackberry!

CBC website visitors arrive from various sources – 55% direct, suggesting they’d previously book-marked the Home or Sightings pages as favourites. Interestingly, 13% of visitors came via Derbyshire Ornithological Society website link – not surprisingly, since they also have an online sightings page for Derbyshire birds. I wonder how many DOS site visitors originated from the CBC site.

Finally, let’s have a look at examples of what the visitors came to see during this 6-month period:

• 14,000 hits for the “Latest Sightings” page

• 11,200 hits for the “Home” page

• 2,000 hits for Roger Carrington’s excellent “Monthly Bird Notes” page

• 1,000 hits for the “Where is Carsington Water?” page

Such techno-garb may not appeal to everyone, but it is starting to reveal lots of useful information, allowing us to maintain the website, keep it fresh and up-to-date and cater for all visitors’ demands and preferences. Thank to all of you who continue to visit www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk .

Richard Pittam – Webmaster

NEW TIMES, PLACES REFRESH CLUB WALKS PROGRAMME

Our series of indoor meetings gets under way next month (see “What’s On” below) following an enjoyable outdoor programme of walks that was a little more varied than usual in terms of both timings and location.

The first walk, our traditional ‘wagtail walk’ around Stones Island on 20 April, started at 6pm to make the most of the natural light. We always hope to see passage Yellow and White Wagtails in among the usual Pieds, but this year were out of luck, though the group was treated to a large number of Swallows, Sand and House Martins flying low hawking for insects. There was also a distant view of the Great Northern Diver, which stayed around for several weeks further until developing summer plumage and later, from the Wildlife Centre, Dunlin, Curlew and Common Sandpiper were spotted as dusk settled over the reservoir.

Anyone looking out of the window at the downpour in the early hours of the day of the annual Dawn Chorus walk could be excused for deciding against it – and that was just about everybody! Only two hardy souls – together with three leaders – turned up at 4.30am on 8 May, but they were rewarded by numerous phlegmatic bird species whose enthusiasm was barely dampened by the rain. Breakfast for the humans was, though, cancelled!

There was a rather better turnout when we moved away from Carsington for the evening walk at Coombes Valley , an RSPB reserve near Leek. Again beginning at 6pm , 12 members turned up on 18 May, when woodland species were the main target. Patience was rewarded with good views of a pair of Pied Flycatchers on their final feeding foray of the day, and a fleeting glimpse of one Redstart. Other birds among the 31 species noted that evening included Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Goldcrest – while a Blackcap and Garden Warbler obligingly sang from neighbouring trees, displaying the difference in their readily confusable songs!

The next test of members’ adventurous spirit and flexibility was a morning walk from Millfields car park taking in the dam wall and a footpath below the dam wall, as well as a segment of the reservoir bank. Twelve members gave a thumbs-up to the 9am start, and were rewarded by the sight and sound of 38 species – among them singing Sedge Warbler, two Spotted Flycatchers and a flight of four Grey Herons.

On 20 July, we reverted to a 7pm start for a walk beginning at Sheepwash and taking in a short section of the new perimeter path as well as Paul Stanley/Sheepwash hides. Just six members braved the damp but humid conditions. In this often quiet month, though, they were able to enjoy Chiffchaff, Blackbird and Song Thrush all singing in the woods, plus views from the hides of Tufted Duck and Gt Crested Grebe families, Teal and Pochard among the more numerous Mallards/Tufteds – and a single Yellow-legged Gull polishing off a dead fish.

NEW PARTNERSHIP TO TEACH YOUNGSTERS ABOUT NATURAL WORLD AT CARSINGTON

A three year project in the form of an education partnership between Severn Trent Water and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) has been established with the aim of delivering classroom and outdoor education to up to 5,000 pupils each year.

Severn Trent Water has offered the use and upkeep of the education room, and agreed to provide safe areas for outdoor learning such as pond dipping pools, streams and river surveys and a range of learning resources, while DWT has agreed to fund the education officer and use the resources to offer a leading education centre for use by schools and colleges.

Site manager Ben Young expects the partnership to inspire and educate groups of all ages about the natural world – and our place in it: “I would like to welcome Kathy Clarke who has become the new partnership education officer, based at Carsington Water. The partnership’s prime aim is to run an environmental education programme that will complement our existing activities at the reservoir and DWT’s wider work – focusing on water conservation and the environment and wildife here at Carsington Water and in Derbyshire as a whole.”

Kathy will be taking advantage of Carsington Water as a safe as well as stunning location with a wide variety of habitats for children to experience wildlife. She will run various events in the wildlife discovery room in the visitor centre courtyard as well as delivering the education programme to schools, colleges and groups around the region.

Main reception at the Visitor Centre will post more details about the partnerships activity programme – both inside and outside the classroom.