January 2016 Guided Walk Report

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Nikki M

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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Work Party report from Fri 4th Dec

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Martin Kaye

The ramp to the main hide was made safer by covering some of the exposed timber with wire mesh.
The path and steps to the Alders Wood hide were massively improved but please note that parts of the path are still slippery.  In addition, emerging willow was cut down from in front of the hide. In the same area but courtesy of Severn Trent, a swanky new gate has been installed so there’s no longer any danger of it falling on top of you.
Keen gull watchers will now get a pretty much unobstructed view of the roost from the road along the west bank after a lot of willow was cleared.
Many thanks to the nine members who took part.

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December 2015 Guided Walk Report

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Nikki M

Storm ‘Desmond’ failed to deter 12 people from setting off for the Brackenfield loop under the guidance of Paul Beard. Poor light and a strong breeze made some of the more distant identifications challenging, but at least the weather stayed dry and relatively mild. Thirty three species were recorded, the highlights being a Shelduck (regrettably seen by just one person) and a female Goldeneye (seen by everyone).
Full list: Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Coot, Cormorant, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Lapwing, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Robin, Shelduck, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.

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Subscription Reminder

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Steve Slack

Dear Members – It’s that time of year again – a time for giving! We hope that you have enjoyed your year at Ogston and plan to renew your membership with the Club for 2016. The rates remain the same, and we have lots of new things planned for 2016. The renewal form can be downloaded from the website. Please use the new form as we have included a tick box to ensure you are happy for us to apply for the Gift Aid benefit with your subscription – https://ogstonbirdclub.co.uk/how-to-join/

Thank you in anticipation of your continued support. Happy birding!
Julia, Membership Secretary, Ogston Bird Club
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Cancelled – Trip to Langford Lowfields 6th Dec

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Martin Kaye

This trip has been cancelled simply because the starlings have ‘disappeared’.  A few weeks ago numbers had but up to over 20,000 but since then, they’ve relocated.  Whether it’s due to the mild weather????
If the situation alters, the trip will be re-scheduled.

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Ogston work party – Fri 4th Dec

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Martin Kaye

There will be a work party at Ogston on Fri 4th Dec 09:30 – 12:30.  Jobs to do include clearing the path to the Alders Wood hide, removing large stones from the island and the scrape in front of the main hide and cutting scrub on the west bank to improve the view of the forthcoming gull roost.

If you have them, please bring shears, sickles/similar, loppers, tough gloves, rake.  Also hot drink and a bite to eat.

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Blacktoft Sands trip report – 23/11/15

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Martin Kaye

The attraction of the possibility of seeing Hen Harriers wasn’t enough to woo members away from Derbyshire and so in the end only three of us went.  Arriving at mid-day with the intention of staying until last light, Blacktoft delivered the goods.  The weather was calm and mild but rather depressingly overcast. Undeterred, we started at the most westerly hide and then worked our way eastwards arriving at the last hide in time to watch the raptors returning to the reed bed to roost for the night.

In all we saw 35 different species which in itself, doesn’t seem very impressive.  However, many common birds seemed to be absent, so we didn’t ‘clock’ a single coot or mallard, non of the tits were present and there were few waders.

The highlights of the show were a roost of 51 Common Snipe, a Ringed Tail Hen Harrier which gave us good views as it circled the reed bed at about 13:30 (in good light) and then towards evening we saw up to 13 Marsh Harriers at any one time and also had wonderful sightings of a hunting Barn Owl, which, on one occasion, flew very close to the hide.

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JMNR – 21st November 2015 work party report

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Nikki M

Despite the blue sky, just three members were enticed from the comfort of their homes to enjoy a crisp and sunny morning at the reserve. Lopping, raking and burning went on around the brook without a break until 1pm, when it was reluctantly conceded that the task was not going to be finished until energy levels had been replenished. So we departed for lunch, safe in the knowledge that we had tried our best, and that no one had fallen into either the brook or the fire.

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Trip to Blacktoft Sands RSPB – Tues 24th Nov 2015

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Martin Kaye

The aim of this trip (see Trips Diary section for details) was to see the Harriers returning to roost in the reed bed, thus the late start at 11:00 a.m. at Blacktoft.  Reports from the RSPB Blacktoft website, have recorded the recent return of a male Hen Harrier in addition to lots of Marsh Harriers.  On top of this, they’ve been getting close views of a male and female barn owl.  For further details of the goings on at the Sands have a look at:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/b/blacktoftsands/sightings.aspx

Provided that the weather isn’t too evil, this trip will run but just in case, if you wish to go, email Martin Kaye with phone contact details so if needs be, it can be cancelled at late notice.  (He will have some spare seats in his car).

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JMNR work party – 21st November 2015

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Nikki M

The next work party will be the last one of 2015. As befits the recent weather we will be concentrating on matters watery. Operation Dipper will target the banks of the brook, starting with the area between the downstream bridge and the hide weir, with the aim of improving the habitat for Dipper, Kingfisher, Water Vole and Banded Demoiselle. Should enough people turn up we may be able to move on to clearing the north and west ditches.

To help out at the work party, meet at the reserve on Saturday, 21st November, 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. Loppers, secateurs and a spade would all be useful tools to bring for removing bramble runners. A couple of Cromes will be made available to aid removal of vegetation from the water. If anyone is keen to play in the brook then waders are advisable.

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 ([email protected]) or by telephone (0784 214 8888).

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