We will be having a stand at the Wildlife day at the Pleasley Pit Country Park, a Local Nature Reserve. 10am to 4.00. Free entry
Pleasley Pit Country Park Derbyshire NG19 7PH
Sunday 5 Jun 2016
Contact telephone: 01623 818928 (10.00 – 14.00 hours)
Call to check latest times or cancellations.
www.pleasleypitnaturestudygroup.co.uk
Sadly, this trip has had to be postponed. It will be rescheduled if the opportunity arises.
We met at 8:30am in bright sunshine and we had excellent weather all morning. A good morning’s birding followed having good views of all the key Padley species including Wood Warbler. We finished at Grindleford Station around noon for the customary brunch.
A full list of species seen was as follows:-
Common Crow, Jay, Jackdaw, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Wood Warbler, Robin, Wren, Whinchat, Dunnock, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Goldcrest, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Cuckoo, Redstart, Whinchat, Pheasant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Tree Creeper, Mallard.
40 species
Despite the dire forecast, four members turned out for the work party and were rewarded with a pleasant mix of sunshine and just a few light showers. Willows for withies were planted, the willow screen weeded, grass cuttings removed from the paths and a bonfire lit to clear the fire-pit. Many thanks to those who came.
Once again a mixed bag of jobs to attend to. The Membership Secretary will be arriving fresh from the Scottish trip to personally oversee the (possibly challenging) ground preparation and subsequent planting of a line of young willows near the Hide Pond. Once established these will be coppiced to maintain a regular supply of withies for new and renovated fedges at both Ogston and at the Jim Mart reserve. This is also your opportunity to hear at first hand what really went on during that fabled outing to the north, before there has been much time for decoration, embellishment and almost unbelievable exaggeration to creep in.
Ancillary works will involve attending to any necessary weeding of the North hedge and to the bank below the partly finished fedge near the hide, trimming back brambles at the Middle Pond, and repositioning the bolt and keep of the access gate between the Hide and the Hide Pond. Time should be available to check out the spring wildlife whilst all this is going on.
To help at the work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 21st May at 9:30 am. We will finish around lunchtime. All members are welcome and no previous experience is necessary. Please wear appropriate work clothes, stout shoes, boots or wellies, and gardening gloves or equivalent. Most tools are available on-site but bring along anything you think might help with the above tasks.
Organised work parties take place at the Jim Mart reserve on the morning of the third Saturday in every month, except in December. For further information about the reserve visit the Jim Mart NR pages on the Ogston Bird Club website, or contact Peter Faulkner by email ([email protected]) or on 0784 214 8888 nearer the date.
This month’s walk got off to a disappointingly chilly start and the “moderate” air quality didn’t give the best viewing conditions over the reservoir. Nevertheless the morning gradually warmed up, and with 22 pairs of eyes available the all-time May walk record was at risk. Or it would have been if anyone could remember what it was (61?), and if the walk recorder had been actually noting down all of the species reported to him.
The final tally was fifty-six species, not including the local Peacock: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Buzzard, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, House Martin, House Sparrow, Kingfisher, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mandarin, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pink-footed Goose, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Sedge Warbler, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
The greatest excitement was raised by the Kingfisher, at least amongst the few who glimpsed it as it shot past. Oohs and Aahs were reserved for the brave Mandarin family cruising through the reeds in the heronry, our thoughts were with them when it was noted that just three chicks accompanied the adults (the average clutch size is around 9). The Buzzards seem to be having more success with five being seen close together.
Also in the air were butterflies: Comma, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Speckled Wood.
Many thanks to Paul Beard for leading such a large group at a very pleasant pace around the Brackenfield loop.
Gorgeous weather had been booked for this trip and it duly arrived. Nine club members had a great time exploring (some for the first time), the hidden treasures of this reserve. In all, 44 different species of bird were identified and at least six different types of butterfly. A healthy discussion was had on the finer differences between Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and it was pointed out to one member that reliance on song would be inadequate as he experienced increasing deafness with advancing years. Typical of this time of year was the bird song with all in fine voice.
The stars of the show for most folks included the large numbers of Yellow Hammers and Linnets, a Kingfisher spotted by a particularly alert Pete Birley, a Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail and for many of us, sightings of the first Swifts of the season. The raptors also put on a good show with frequent views of buzzards including a pair that were demonstrating courtship behaviour, three occasions when a Sparrowhawk circled the reserve, a Kestrel put in a late appearance and finally fabulously close views of a Peregrine which cruised on a thermal above our heads.
Butterflies included Brimstones, Peacocks, Orange Tips and a Speckled Wood.
Note from DOS to its members
Members will have read in recent bird notes that more than 50 Whooper Swans have used Middleton Moor as a staging post during February and March as they headed back northwards. Most moved on successfully leaving around a dozen behind but by midApril we were alerted by DOS member Mick Lacey that not all was well with these birds. Continue reading
|
|||
|
Eight members enjoyed fabulous weather and an excellent days birding with 59 species of bird seen. We started optimistically by visiting the Reedbed Screen hoping for Bittern and Bearded Tits but as is generally the case, we were unsuccessful. Back tracking into the main part of the reserve, the abiding memory was of ‘wall to wall’ bird song with the warmth of the sun on ones back just adding to the enjoyment. While most of the sightings we made were of fairly common birds, we did see a Mediterranean Gull, a blackcap and Willow Warblers which were readily spotted throughout. In addition to the birds, a stoat was seen and also peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies along with a single orange tip. After lunch optimism levels were still high so we tried the Reedbed Screen again but to no avail.
At about 14:30, the group moved to the neighbouring reserve of Broomhill Flash. Sadly, the new double decker hide is not yet complete and even more disappointing was the lack of any avian interest.
At that point, the majority called it a day, leaving 3 stalwarts to visit nearby Wombwell Ings. Although prone to disturbance by dog walkers, we nonetheless saw 28 different species of which a Wheatear, House Martin and Skylarks were new to our list on top of which we also had good views of 5 Little Ringed Plovers.
