The club had a fabulous trip to this wonderful reserve but sadly enjoyed by only 4 members.  The weather was good except for a couple of showers which at Blacktoft, with its 6 hides, didn’t ‘interrupt play’.

All in all, 56 species were identified of which the stars were numerous:
several Spotted Redshank and Black Tailed Godwits in breeding plumage, Bearded Tits, a Water Rail, a Peregrine carrying a large item of prey, a Hobby hawking for insects over the river, and a juvenile Barn Owl that we suspect had only just fledged.  We were also entertained by the antics of the juvenile Marsh Harriers along with a courting display and a food drop between two of the parents.
We also had the opportunity to do a bit of swotting up on the eclipse plumage of Mallards, Shovelers, Gadwall and Wigeon.

Some digiscoped snaps below give a flavour but for the rest, go to the Gallery.

A second fully subscribed joint Ogston/DOS trip to Clumber Park this time had a delightfully warm, still evening.  Surprisingly, we were unable to fully capitalise upon this and  identified (saw/heard) only 35 different species.  However, early on we had excellent views of Linnets and were able to watch one or more families of Sedge Warbler hopping around on a large green mat of algae floating on the water surface at the base of the reeds looking for invertebrates. We also got good, close views of 4 female mandarins and a magnificent 3 foot long Pike which stationed itself under the bridge next to the ford near to Hardwick village. At about 21:15 we arrived at the clearing where we had seen Nightjars previously.  On this warm still evening we expected great things.   The resident Hobby did a couple of flies past and the Tawny Owls and Song Thrushes gave their usual background musical accompaniment.  Rather surprisingly Woodcock put in very few appearances although one of these was excellent with the bird wheeling above us uttering its distinctive squeak.  The warm evening however, did encourage the bats to come out and as the light faded they got progressively closer until they were wheeling around our heads.

As if operated by a time switch, the Nightjars again, began churring at 21:55 when 3 males started singing.  However, this time, sightings were limited and brief but on the positive side, we were were entertained to their full range of calls and song starting with the traditional rapid churring, a variety of yelps and squeaks and finally, a very slow churr sounding a bit like a motorbike slowing to tick over.  One lucky observer, did however, see three Nightjars in the air at once.

We will repeat these trips next year but may opt to schedule them for earlier in the year when the males might be more visible as they compete for mates and territory.

A fully subscribed joint Ogston/DOS trip to Clumber Park braved the dubious weather forecast and while the evening started off with the odd rain shower, the weather did turn fine later on when it really mattered.  All in all we identified (saw/heard) 37 different species.  Early on these included Linnet, Stock Dove and Reed Bunting which we saw around Hardwick Village.  At about 20:30, we set off for the clearing where we hoped to see the Nightjars.  In the cold still evening, listening to Tawny Owls and Song Thrushes made for a magical occasion.  The stars of the show though were undoubtedly the sighting a Hobby flying across, numerous good views of squeaking Woodcock and finally some impressive views of Nightjars in the gathering gloom.  The latter first made themselves known at 21:55 when 3 males started churring.  Not long after that we were lucky enough to get some quite close views of the birds flying.  All in all an enjoyable evening.

Weird goings on, on what was supposed to be a birding trip