13 members attended on a day of dry, warm weather but with a strong wind from the SW. Frampton had suffered as expected, from the very dry conditions so that the easterly half of the reserve was almost totally without water. In addition, most of the ditches to the south of the road were similarly dry. Obviously, this has had an impact on the variety of

Spoonbills

species of birds but nonetheless, we were able still to see some interesting species but almost all of them were crowded onto the reed bed lagoon. Birds of note included 13 Spoonbill, lots of Black-tailed Godwits in various grades of plumage, 4 Spotted Redshank looking rather ‘mouldy’ as they were shedding their summer plumage. There were also a

Spotted Redshank in various states of ‘undress’

few Avocets including at least one juvenile, some Little Ringed Plover, also with a juvenile and a number of Ruff. However, the stars of the show were undoubtedly, the Black-winged Stilts resplendent in their ‘evening dress’.

Walking up the northern side of the reserve we heard 3 different Quail singing and got a reasonable sighting of a Water Rail and a Brown Hawker dragonfly over the pond dipping area.

After lunch, we walked down to the sea wall where a couple of members spotted a Yellow Wagtail, 4 Marsh Harriers were seen hunting over the salt marsh and we also got a close view of a single Golden Plover.

With plenty of time still left, the majority headed over to Freiston Shore which, while holding more water than Frampton, because the tide on the Wash was low, any waders including the Pectoral Sandpiper which had been reported, were likely to be on the coastal mud. Still the little colony of Common Terns was a pleasant sighting and 4 Redshank dropped in as a final reward.
All told, 46 species – photos courtesy of Rob Simmons, Ian Loasby and Martin Kaye.

14 members enjoyed an excellent trip and in good weather too. A Grey Wagtail in the stream made for an excellent start but Lawrence Field Moor was largely quiet with the exception of omnipresent Willow Warblers serenading us and a Stonechat spotted by the back markers. Upon dropping down to the head of the gorge, we heard then saw a Tree Pipit performing its typical parachute descent into a tree. Traversing the top of the gorge

Tree Pipit showing its finer flank streaks compared to a Meadow Pipit

there were plenty of Tree Pipits singing, but no sight or sound of Redstarts, which indeed was the case during our visit to this area. However, the constant calling of a Cuckoo tempted 2 members to stray to the edge of the birch grove where they were lucky enough to see 2 cuckoos fly past.
Once down in the gorge, there were plenty of sightings of both male and female Pied

Flycatchers and a few Tree Creepers too with one pair nest building.

Scanning for Flycatchers

A reduced group then went to Barbrook where Andrew marched us off to get excellent views of Whinchats. Then followed an argument about the difference between the song of a Blackcap and Garden Warbler with Merlin finally acting as a referee. Finally into the plantation where at long last we had sightings of both male and female Redstarts.

Male Whinchat

28 species identified – photos thanks to A Slater. J Jankinson & M Kaye

12 members enjoyed glorious, still weather for this trip out on to the moors. Our first stop came after less than a 100 m, which, while made a bit unpleasant with the proximity of the noisy A57, gave a good view over the nearby Derwent moorland allowing us sightings of Curlew, Lapwing and for most of us, the first Willow Warbler of the year. Moving up into the woodland, we were extremely surprised to be able to watch a Song Thrush foraging on the ground only a few metres away from the ’crowd’.

Foraging Song Thrush

At the final patch of trees, we got excellent views of 3 or more Goldcrest as well as a single Siskin. Then all was silent except for the huffing and puffing as members made the short sharp ascent to the upper moor. While taking a breather, a very accommodating Wheatear

Male Wheatear posing for the crowd

posed on a rock for minutes on end allowing those with cameras to get their photos. There was also a possible siting of a Redstart – just a brief glimpse of a rusty under-tail but then it disappeared. Also of note was a pair of perched Ravens and a solitary Stonechat.
At this point, the group seemed to split into 3, half the group started the plod up to Stanage Edge, while the other half stayed put, chatting, leaving just Jane Smith paying attention and spotting a pair of Ring Ouzels in the clough. That brought everyone back together. While they were distant, it was easy to see the difference between the sexes with the more subdued colours of the female quite apparent.

The group below Stanage Edge with Win Hill and Kinder Scout on the horizon

Finally, up on the edge, we parked ourselves for a birding lunch and were entertained throughout with closer views of both male and female Ouzels, Wheatears, Meadow Pipits, Red Grouse and Skylark songsters.

Male Red Grouse

An excellent day although with the only raptor sited – a distant Buzzard. This year, no Kestrel, Red Kite or Peregrine as has been the norm in the past. Maybe the lack of wind meant that flying was a waste of energy?

photos thanks to J Hankinson, J Heap and M Kaye

19 folks turned up making this the club’s most attended visit for over a decade. Members from as far away as Whaley Bridge turned up probably because this was the first trip west of Chesterfield and thus nearer to them.
Initially time was spent just beyond the Monsal Trail bridge checking the woodland which delivered, Siskins, Nuthatch and Tree Creeper, while the neighbouring fields had two foraging Mistle Thrushes. A Chiffchaff was also heard but couldn’t be located.
The group then headed slowly up the valley track, the mist dispersed to be replaced by blue sky and then the Ravens began croaking and the first Buzzard was heard. Some of the group then got the briefest of views of a Goshawk but once beyond the farm, we had excellent sightings of 6 or more Buzzards, a few Ravens one of which was harassing a Sparrowhawk and Goshawks. At the top of the valley, we paused to enjoy the view down the Wye Valley to Rowsley where the River Wye joins the Derwent and here we also saw a pair of Sparrowhawks with clear size difference between male and female and got our first Goshawk call from nearby woodland.

part of the group at the head of the valley

Returning by the same route, 3 Jays flew, one after another into the same tree and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across the valley. The Ravens were now in very good voice and one is tempted to rename this route as Ravens’ Valley with their ‘grumblings’ coming from both sides of the valley serenading our descent. Approaching the farm, a Kestrel was spotted making this the fourth raptor out of the anticipated 5, just missing out on Red Kite.

All in all 30 species seen. A superb day out and incredibly lucky with the weather – if we’d been a day later, the mist still blotted out the view as late as 11:30!

13 members enjoyed an excellent trip especially during the morning. After the usual quiet start walking over the moor with very little apparent except the sound of Willow Warblers, things began to look up with a Jay flying past. Near the head of the ramp down into the gorge, a Tree Pipit gave a virtuoso solo, clearly visible

Tree Pipit in full song

at the top of a birch. The sharp eared then picked up the song of a Common Redstart but sadly only a few of the group managed to see it before it flew off. In contrast, everyone managed to get good views of a male Pied Flycatcher and a Treecreeper. After that we had a

Male Pied Flycatcher

spell where little was seen until at the base of the ramp, more Pied Flycatchers were spotted.

The team descending the ramp

A chance meeting with a fellow birder pointed us in the direction of a Wood Warbler. Eventually, this was located singing the first part of it’s song – the spinning coin part, and clearly visible on a bare twig. At this point, the group understandably stalled, not able to get enough of this bird. Indeed, there was not one, but two of them, apparently oblivious of our presence. The members who then dilly dallied also saw 3 Spotted Flycatchers.

Wood Warbler

After that a smaller group moved location to Barbrook while the rest with their birding appetite satiated, turned for home. The afternoon proved to be a bit of an anticlimax with no Whinchats and GardenWarbler and Redstart only heard but you can’t win’em all and we did get to see those fabulous Wood Warblers.

36 species ID’d – photos courtesy of Angela Slater, David Griffin and Martin Kaye