It is with great sadness that we report the sudden death of our former indoor meetings organiser Dorothy Evans. Over the years Dorothy has taken on many roles within our committee, her tremendous support will be greatly missed. We send our sincerest condolences to her family, not least to her grandson David who continues to give us his help hosting and updating this website. Alongside her unstinting involvement with Bakewell Bird Study Group she had also been treasurer of the Mid Derbyshire Badger Group, and was a founder member and some years earlier a committee member of Carsington Bird Club.

Her funeral will be held at 11.10am on Wednesday 27th September at Chesterfield Crematorium.

Many of us feed the birds in our gardens, latest estimate is that we spend 200 to 300 million pounds each year on bird food and this has had a remarkable effect on bird populations. We are used to hearing about the difficult times birds are having, particularly farmland birds, so it is encouraging that gardens are increasingly important for birds and the number of species visiting gardens has increased dramatically over the last 40 years. In the 1970’s bird tables were dominated by house sparrows and starlings but now thanks to the increasing variety of foods available there are many more species, siskin, long tailed tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches to name but a few as well as the more common chaffinches, robins and blue and great tits.

People often ask what the birds are in their gardens and a good way of finding out more is to come to our meetings on the second Monday in the month from September through to April.  We start with a call over of sightings of local birds and then a guest speaker entertains and informs us on a subject close to his or her heart.   In recent years we have had talks on migration, conservation and reports of visits to exotic locations from northern Norway to Sri Lanka. The talks are always accompanied by digital slides of very high quality. Definitely a good night out! In addition we organise field trips on the third (or fourth) Saturday in the month e.g. to RSPB reserves and other interesting locations, sometimes coastal, where more experienced members can assist with identification of both birds and birdsong.

We meet at the Friends Meeting House at the end of Chapel Row off Matlock Street in Bakewell next to the Methodist Church DE45 1EL. Park in the market square. Our autumn programme commences at 7.30 on Monday September 9th with Nick Martin ‘Secret Wildlife of the Cairngorms’.  He reveals some of the special animals and birds of the Scottish Highlands from elusive Pine Marten to cryptic Ptarmigan and finds out how these highland specialists exist in the most remote yet beautiful parts of Scotland. The Cairngorms recently featured in Springwatch.

Why not come to our first meeting and join the group?  It’s only £15 per annum and for that you get seven talks and a similar number of field trips. Alternatively it’s £3.00 on the door for non-members.  Meetings are listed in the Peak Advertiser and at Bakewell Tourist Information Office, this website, or call 07768 928432.

The event in Youlgrave on Tuesday night drew 23 people, a great turnout considering it had been pouring hard all day, just ceasing as we assembled at 7.30.

The walk round the village visited several properties where Swifts (and house martins) were nesting. At the property shown in the photo, where the owners clearly loved their swifts, parent birds flew in and out just above our heads as we stood watching, presumably feeding their chicks.

The walk was followed by a talk in the reading room and a display of boxes and literature.

(Many thanks to Ian Weatherley for organising this event and to Bakewell Bird Study Group for their support.)

Nick Brown

Many of our birds will have had a difficult time this summer, especially those newly fledged youngsters, coping with the record breaking temperatures and dry conditions we have all been experiencing. Only time will tell what effect it has had on them. It is good that a great many of us feed the birds in our gardens, helpfully putting out both food and water.

Are there times you wish you could identify some of the less common birds that visit or when hearing one singing hidden from view amongst foliage have wished you could tell what it is from its song? The Blackcap shown in our photograph is one of those birds that is often heard but not often identified. Or maybe you regularly walk in the countryside observing the birds as you go and can identify most of them, or are already a seasoned birder.

Whatever the depth of your knowledge Bakewell Bird Study Group is sure to have something in their programme to interest you.

On the second Monday evening of each month from September through April members and interested visitors meet at the Friends Meeting House off Matlock Street in Bakewell for presentations on bird related subjects. These are given by invited individuals, experts in their fields, accompanied by beautiful photography.
Walks and trips are organised throughout the year to interesting locations, sometimes coastal, where the more experienced members will assist with identification of both birds and birdsong.

Our autumn programme of meetings commences at 7.30 on Monday September 10th with Nigel Slater giving a talk on Bird Migration. Nigel gave us a very entertaining and informative talk in 2017 and he is back by public demand. He will explain how birds know where they are going when they haven’t been there before and how they find their way. He looks at record breakers and the recent developments in technology which allow individual birds to be monitored continuously even when in Africa. Not to be missed!

Why not come to our first meeting and join the group? It’s only £15 per annum and for that you get seven talks and a similar number of outdoor walks. Alternatively it’s £3.00 on the door for non-members. Meetings are listed in the Peak Advertiser and at Bakewell Tourist Information Office or visit the BBSG web site at www.bakewellbirdstudygroup.org.uk or call 07768 928432.

Do you feed the birds in your garden, listen to their songs and sometimes wish you knew the names of some of the less common ones that visit? Perhaps you enjoy walking in the countryside, observing the birds as you go and can identify most of them, or are already a seasoned birder.

Whatever the depth of your knowledge, if you appreciate and enjoy the richness of the birdlife around us, then Bakewell Bird Study Group is sure to have something in their programme of meetings to interest you.

On the second Monday evening of each month from September through April members and interested visitors meet at the Friends Meeting House, the group’s regular venue, for interesting presentations on bird related subjects. These are given by invited individuals, experts in their fields, accompanied by beautiful photography.

Walks and trips are organised throughout the year to interesting locations, sometimes coastal, where the more experienced members will assist with identification of both birds and birdsong.

Our autumn programme of meetings commences on Monday 11^th September at 7.30 pm, with a presentation by local naturalist Paul Bingham, ‘Namibia and Its Wildlife’, which concentrates on spectacular landscapes and wildlife. Although mostly desert, the variety of landscapes and wildlife makes this one of Africa’s most impressive countries. A 3,500km drive visits deserts, the world’s highest sand dunes (350m high), the spectacular Skeleton coast before returning inland through rugged landscapes to Etosha, one of Africa’s most famous national parks rich in mammals and birds. Our photo shows a rather scary looking Secretary Bird.  Future presentations this season will include Alaska, Norfolk, Varanger Fiord and Shetland with a talk on water voles in Derbyshire thrown in for good measure.

Why not come to our first meeting and join the group?  It’s only £15 per annum and for that you get seven talks and a similar number of outdoor walks. Alternatively it’s £3.00 on the door for non-members.

Meetings are listed in the Peak Advertiser and at Bakewell Tourist Information Office or visit the BBSG web site or call 07768 928432.