19/3/16 Derwent Trip report

Eight members assembled beside the dam wall on a dull and decidedly chilly morning to be greeted by an absolute dearth of birds.  In addition to us, a group of birders from DOS were being similarly disappointed.  Suddenly the misery was dispelled by a shout of Goshawk!  Overhead planed the distinct shape with its long tail with rounded corners, broad waist and bulk.  Still frozen but now elated, we travelled to the north end of Howden reservoir and walked up through the forest to Slippery Stones getting few sightings of birds but hearing chaffinch, coal tits and wrens. Beyond the woodland, the valley was sheltered and walking was pleasant.  The birding also improved with good views of a male peregrine combing the hillside for breakfast followed shortly afterwards by a Dipper.  After that our labouring uphill to the lunch spot was rewarded by a well earned ‘sit’, a Red Grouse, Mistle Thrush, possible Raven but little else.  Returning to the cars, three of the party extended the day by walking up the river Westend and suffered the same paucity of birdlife though another Dipper and a Tree Creeper could be added to our meagre list of 16 species.  There was also the small bonus of good views of mating frogs – probably later here because of the cold.

In conclusion, a trip of mixed fortunes with views of Goshawk, Dipper and Peregrine being the highlights.  Our hoped for afternoon attempt to see Ring Ouzels was cancelled as they don’t seem to have yet migrated into the UK.  However, when they do, we may arrange another trip to see them – keep an eye on the website.

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JMNR – 19th March 2016 work party report

A decent turnout of 5 members saw all of the advertised tasks completed, with the exception of cleaning out the west ditch, which somehow got forgotten about. Some additional tasks were completed, including raking old vegetation off the drier part of the marshy area (C6a) and pruning the big Buddleia. A small willow was coppiced and suitable cuttings used to form the framework of the short ‘fedge’ which is under construction on the corner of the bank in front of the Hide Pond.
Amongst all this activity, four of the butterfly transect team held a pre-season session to refresh their memories on the finer points of procedure and on the survey route round the reserve, and to admire the conservation work carried out over the winter.

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JMNR work party – 19th March 2016

For those members not heading off to the Derbyshire moors on the first of this year’s club meets, the alternative is to come and help out at this month’s work party at the Jim Mart reserve. The accumulated ash in the fire-pit needs to be shovelled up and away, an area of cut grass needs a second raking to lift any remaining litter, and we need to rake leaves from the length of the west ditch that wasn’t completed last month. There are other general tidying jobs to do, but there will be time to watch the frogs ‘in action’ and generally soak up the sights and sounds of spring.

To help at the work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 19th March 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 thorn-proof gardening gloves or equivalent.

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 (jimmart@btinternet.com) or on 0784 214 8888 nearer the date.

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Osprey Platform

DWT visited our Osprey platform in January. There was no sign of any use or activity on the nest. It was felt that some re-furbishment was necessary. The whole process is a learning curve and our friends at DWT decided to add some rings of twigs they had built. Our thanks go to all involved at The Trust and to Ann Hufton and Mike Walsh who climb the 30 foot structure. Without them we could not do this. The first three photos show the visit in January.

The remaining five being taken Friday March 11th.

John Parlby

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March 2016 Guided walk report

No mad March hares were seen on this month’s walk, though we did get muddy and muddled as our magical mystery tour headed off to either Milltown Quarry or Highoredish. Or, as it turned out, to neither. The weather changed more frequently than the anticipated route, being an early spring mix of warmish sunny intervals, a very light shower and a cold breeze.
A good turnout of 23 participants marched (pun) over the fields to Milltown Farm, up and over Ashover Hay, returning to the West Bank car park via Clattercotes Farm. A few flowers added to the views: Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Green Alkanet, and there was a good display of Daffodils and Snowdrops at Revel Farm.
Thirty-eight species were recorded: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Buzzard, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

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JMNR – 20th February 2016 work party report

Two members turned out for this month’s work party. The priority task in the advertised list was cleaning out of the twenty nest boxes in Liz’s Wood, so it was indeed fortunate that this had already been attended to by a couple of mid-week volunteers. The morning was therefore devoted to gathering up all of the cut vegetation, from compartments C1 and C2, and piling it up in the north-west corner of the reserve. Part of the west ditch was also raked out before the light rain convinced us that it was time for an early lunch.

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JMNR work party – Saturday 20th February 2016

This month’s work party will be finishing work on the area around the Hide Pond, removing old typha and willowherb stems from the shallows and island. There is recently cut vegetation in the grassland nearest Press Lane to be raked up and formed into a stack, and the nearby ditch to be raked out. If it has not been completed in advance of the work party, the survey and cleanout of the nest boxes in Liz’s Wood (on our neighbour’s farm) will also need to be attended to. So, there is plenty to do.

To help at the work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 20th February 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 thorn-proof gardening gloves or equivalent. Bring a rake or a pitch-fork if you can.

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 website or contact Peter Faulkner by email (jimmart@btinternet.com).

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JMNR – 16th January 2016 work party report

A sunny, though cold, winter’s morning greeted four members, all keen to get started on the list of jobs. Much was achieved, but there is still plenty needing to be done over the next month.
All of the reserve’s bird boxes, bar one, had the contents recorded and were then cleaned out. Hawthorn and Blackthorn saplings were culled on the sunny bank above the Hide Pond, and a start made on clearing brambles and Sycamore regrowth in the same area. Debris from recent hedge-laying work near the reserve entrance was removed to the fire-site and added to a good bonfire.

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JMNR work party – 16th January 2016

January’s work party will be focusing on the area around the Hide Pond, and in particular removal of bramble regrowth on the sunny bank above the pond. There is also the job of removing old typha and willowherb stems from the shallows and island. For members hoping for a more ornithological-oriented task, the annual survey and cleanout of the reserve’s nest boxes awaits you. The weather is forecast to be cooler than of late so wrap up well.

To help out at the work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 16th January 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 thorn-proof gardening gloves or equivalent. Your favourite secateurs and a spade or fork would all be useful tools to bring, though some are available at the reserve. Recording materials for the nest box survey will be provided.

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 https://ogstonbirdclub.co.uk/ , or contact Peter Faulkner by email (jimmart@btinternet.com).

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January 2016 Guided Walk Report

This month’s report was provided by Jenny Johnson:

“I see from my birding diary that dark and wet has been the order of the day for the past two January walks, 2016 proving to be no exception, however who would mind the finger – numbing chill that eventually set in, the gloom being pierced by the pink plumage of Bullfinch, red rump of Great Spotted Woodpecker and azure shimmer of Kingfisher. The latter showed really well atop Reedmace and then Phragmites where it successfully launched itself to catch fish. A flock of Lapwing and several Snipe flying over the reservoir also enlightened the scene.

“Most species were spotted from the main hide (30) with a few extras added from a very quick sortie along the West bank by a couple of folk towards the end.

“Participants 10; Species 37: Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Snipe, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Robin, Sparrowhawk, Tufted Duck, Wood Pigeon, Wren.”

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