Saturday 21 September 2019,  09.15 to 13.30 

Summary

Willington Gravel Pits is situated in the Trent Valley and is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.  There are various viewing platforms and a hide overlooking the flooded gravel workings. The day was warm and sunny for our first visit here since 2016.

The first couple to arrive spotted a Marsh Harrier and we later saw a Peregrine and a couple of buzzards.  We had good, though fleeting, views of Hobbies and Kingsfishers. For most of our time in the hide, we had it to ourselves, keeping our eyes on the channels around the hide in case a Water Rail or Bittern should appear.  It wasn’t our day for those species but, in addition to those seen on and over the gravel pits, there was a steady flow of birds to the nearby feeders and to the wooded area surrounding them, including a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  We also heard a Cetti’s Warbler in the reedbeds.

Members participating:    7

Bird list (41 species seen and/or heard)

Date/Time: Saturday 18 May 2019,  09.30 to 12.30

Summary

Padley Gorge, as its name suggests, is a steep-sided valley, located to the north of Grindleford.  The gorge passes through mature woodland, either side of Burbage Brook.  It is an area well-known in birding circles for its population of Pied Flycatchers.  Several nest boxes have been placed in the trees to encourage these and other species to raise their young.

There were a few spots of rain as we were gathering but they soon cleared and the lack of wind enabled us to enjoy the birdsong unhindered.  We set off from the roadside parking area near the top of the gorge on the B6521 and headed across Burbage Brook to pick up the path that leads down the gorge towards Grindleford.  Before we entered the woodland we spotted a Grey Wagtail on rocks at the edge of the Brook.

There were a number of sightings of Pied Flycatchers and two of the group saw a Spotted Flycatcher.  It was encouraging to hear a Cuckoo and a Redstart, though neither were seen.  However, we had several good views of both Nutchatches and Treecreepers.

We ran out of time to investigate the moorland to the northwest of our start point but there is potential there for exploring a rather different bird habitat.

Members participating:    12

Bird list (22 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 26 January 2019,  09.15 to 13.45

Summary

Attenborough Nature Reserve is situated on the northern bank of the River Trent and is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.  There are four hides, including an elevated one that gives good views over the ponds.  The weather was cloudy, cold and mostly dry, with just a little rain as we approached the first hide.

Some of the group had caught the train from Matlock.  Those of us arriving by car couldn’t help but notice a group of birders with long lenses and bins peering into the hedge by the level crossing.  The focus was on a Firecrest although there were other birds flitting around, including a Goldcrest.

There had been reports of a Caspian Gull on the reserve.  We may have seen it but we had to acknowledge that it could have been a Herring Gull!  We had rather better views of a Green Woodpecker, a pair of Bullfinches, a Linnet and a Stock Dove.

Although we had to compete with cyclists, runners and dog walkers, it was a very enjoyable, friendly and worthwhile visit.  A site we shall return to without a doubt.

Members participating:    11 + 1 guest

Bird list (48 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 24 November 2018,  09.15 to 13.15

Summary

The Rother Valley Country Park, provides various outdoor activities for the public and includes a nature reserve.  There are no hides but it was a dry day (if rather dull) and not too cold.  We spent most of our time in the reserve but there were several birds to see on the main lake as well.

Early on a skein of some 25 Pink-Footed Geese flew over and we spotted a female Red-Crested Pochard that was hugging the shallows in front of the island on the main lake.  There were good numbers of Cormorant, Lapwing,Tufted Duck and Goldeneye to be seen.

Seeing the range of habitat on offer, there was general consensus to visit this site in early spring next time.

Members participating:       6

Bird list (43 species seen and/or heard)

Summary

Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve borders The Wash in Lincolnshire.  There are reed beds, grassland and salt marsh, giving varied habitat.  In addition to the Visitor Centre, there are three hides.

A chilly, breezy day that stayed dry until lunchtime.  By the time we set out from the warmth of the Visitor Centre we had around 10 species listed and the list grew steadily through the remainder of our visit, culminating in the sighting of a Long-Billed Dowitcher in the afternoon that was busy feeding in the shallows, accompanied by a couple of Redshank.

There were good numbers of Wigeon, Shelduck and Brent Geese. Hightide was over two hours before we arrived and may explain, at least in part, why we saw fewer waders than we might have hoped.  Nevertheless, it was a very worthwhile trip.

Members participating:       18

Bird list (47 species seen and/or heard)

Summary

After a very wet Friday we were blessed with a dry spell for our visit to Middleton Moor.  The sun peeped through occasionally and the light improved towards the end of our circuit of the lagoons.

Middleton Moor is a site with a mixture of habitat, including open water, shallow scrapes, scrub, woodland and moorland edge.  There is a small hide overlooking the main lagoon.

For much of the walk there were Meadow Pipits to be seen in flocks of varying sizes, mostly flying south but some feeding in a field.  A few late swallows passed over too.  We had good views of a Wheatear and a Kestrel, both with the help of Ken’s scope.

Members participating:       7

Bird list (27 species seen and/or heard)

We all met up at Slack’s coach garage at the appointed time and it was nice to see a very near full coachload! The weather wasn’t the best with rain and wind forecast but clearing later in the day.

The journey was smooth and steady with a brief stop at a service station and took approximately 2 ½ hrs. The first bird we saw even before we got off the bus was a surprise, A cockatiel! Obviously someone’s pet that had escaped and found its way there.
The weather as it now seems usual for our trips defied all the odds and remained mainly dry and the wind was actually warm and not at all unpleasant. We left the visitors centre and made our way en mass around the cliff tops. We had a very good 5 hrs to study the cliffs including a stop for lunch and saw 30 different species in total. We don’t expect many at such a site so that was actually quite an impressive number. Stuart was on fine form as ever pointing out different birds and providing specialist knowledge for example correcting myself when I spotted a couple of pigeons tucked in a crack and told me they were actually rock doves and explained that they mated with ordinary pigeons and there were now very few true rock doves left.

The journey home was a mirror image of the journey out and ended at Slack’s garage in unfortunately a downpour!

All in all another great trip out so I am sure all those who attended will join me in thanking Dorothy for her time and effort in making the day a memorable one.

Bird list: Fulmar, Gannet, Cormorant, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Herring Gull, G B B Gull, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Common Crane, Cockateil.

The day started a bit cold and misty and due to good planning everyone was picked up and whisked uneventfully to Frampton in around 2 ½ hrs.

While everyone was sorting out their coats and footwear the keen ones were already setting up their scopes and spotting in the field next to the car park, calling out to Dorothy to note down what they were seeing.

The RSPB site at Frampton is a large coastal wetland reserve with a large reed bed and fresh water scrapes. There is a visitor centre where you can buy snacks and hot and cold drinks and chat to the RSPB guides and find out “what’s about”.

We spent the first 1/2hr in the visitor centre before moving out to scan the reed beds. There are 3 good hides which we availed ourselves of and some of the high lights were sighting a Jack Snipe and a Long Billed Dowicher also a great aerial display by a flock of Finches late in the afternoon.

A few laughs were had over the light hearted argument as to whether a particular group of Godwits we were looking at were black tailed or bar tailed or indeed a mixture of the two!

The weather held out and a very pleasant sunny day was enjoyed with 52 different species being recorded by Dorothy.

A well deserved thank you goes to Dorothy for her organisational skills and to Stuart Slack who as ever called out the different species and pointed us all at their locations.

Species Seen:

Continue reading →