Summary
Our small group travelled by car to this excellent RSPB reserve on the Dee estuary, on the south side of the Wirral peninsula. There was a chilly breeze and though there were a few showers, the visitor centre and hides gave us shelter. We benefitted from Shirley’s knowledge of the reserve and its bird population and she accompanied us throughout the morning. We had close-up views of Black-tailed Godwit and Pintail and more distant sightings of a pair of Garganey and the Marsh Harrier. Redshank and Godwit were quite numerous; in among them were a few Spotted Redshank with their noticeably greyer plumage. Eventually we spotted the Little Gull bobbing along on the surface of the water in front of the Border Hide. Towards the end of our stay flocks of Pink-footed Geese arrived to graze.

Members participating: 4 + 1 guest and Shirley, our RSPB guide

Bird list (46 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 22 May 2021, 09.30 to 14.00

Summary

The weather was cool and cloudy for our visit to this RSBP reserve to the south-east of Barnsley in the Dearne Valley – a dry day gave a welcome break from the rain of recent days.

Swifts were in abundance, often flying low over the water – almost swallow-like.  We didn’t get a Bittern on our list as the area around where the Bitterns were nesting was closed off.  However, we did manage to see a Little Ringed Plover, a Turnstone and a few Avocet, none of which often feature on our trips.

This was the last of our organised trips for the 20/21 season.  We plan to resume in September when we hope you may be able to join us.  If you live in North Derbyshire and are not already a member, do consider joining us.  Contact details for Committee members can be found elsewhere on our website.

Members participating:    11

Bird list (46 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 24 April 2021, 09.30 to 13.00

Summary

This RSPB reserve in Staffordshire is a delightful place to go for a country walk even if there were no birds, with mixed woodland and more open areas.  In fact there was a good selection of birds.  From the car park, we headed north on the Young Woodland Loop (clockwise direction), branching left on to the Valley Woodland Trail before rejoinning the Loop and returning to the car park.

Bluebells were beginning to show and a few butterflies were in evidence, including Orange Tip and Peacock.  Before we started on the trail a woodpecker was spotted in flight at distance and a Great Spotted was subsequently heard drumming.  We saw a few Pied Flycatchers, including a pair at Nest Box 32 but sightings were brief.  Redstarts were elusive but one was eventually seen after most members had left (from the Woodcock Trail).

Members participating:    10

Bird list (27 species seen and/or heard)

Summary

Although planning for the reservoir got underway in the 1960’s it wasn’t opened until 1992 (by the Queen). Water is pumped into it from the Derwent during the winter months and the level was low for our visit. We parked at the Sheepwash car park and had two groups of six members set off from there, with the second lingering longer at the car park. The list above is a compilation of what the two groups saw.

It was encouraging to have a good number of members turn out. There was a bit of drizzle when we arrived and more towards the end of our visit but for most of the time it was dry with just a brief glimpse of the sun. Lapwing were active over the reservoir and foreshore as we assembled and there was a group of Lesser Black-backed Gulls further out on the water. In one creek we had good views of a flock of 20 or more Goldfinch and towards the end of our stay a flock of Redwing came in and were twittering away in the trees. Some members saw a Willow Tit at the bird table down towards Lane End Hide.

Members participating: 12

Bird list (41 species seen and/or heard)

Event Date: Saturday 26 September 2020, 09.30 to 13.00

Summary
Attenborough Nature Reserve is situated on the northern bank of the River Trent and is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. The hides were closed because of the pandemic but we still managed to get good views over the ponds and River Trent. The sun was in and out and the cool breeze was only felt in the more exposed spots.
It was noticeably quiet on the bird-front in most of the wooded areas. The smaller species were not numerous and only tended to show up where food had been put out for them. Nevertheless, considering the time of year, we were pleased with our tally of 35 species. We had a good view of the Kingfisher (helped by having a scope); it was clinging on to a bent reed over one of the ponds.
Once again we had to compete with cyclists, runners, dog walkers and families enjoying a day out but the reserve is big enough for that not to be a major issue.

Members participating: 3

Bird list (35 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 23 November 2019,  09.45 to 15.00

Summary

The Middleton Lakes reserve comprises a mosaic of wetlands, meadows and woodland in the Tame valley, near Tamworth.  Our previous visit was three years ago, also in November.  Maps were provided by the very friendly and helpful husband and wife team volunteering at the cabin.

The forecast for the day wasn’t brilliant but the weather turned out rather better.  We had a decent dry period for much of our stay although the rather overcast skies and poor light made identification at a distance somewhat tricky.  The woodland paths gave us close up sightings of the tits, nuthatches and chaffinches.  We also had a brief view of a Twite.  Over the lagoons there were numerous Greylag Geese and a Great White as well as Little Egrets – plenty to see while we demolished our sandwiches in the comfort of the Lookout hide.  All in all, it was a most enjoyable day and we look forward to revisiting the reserve in the future.

Members participating:    4 

Bird list (46 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 21 September 2019,  09.15 to 13.30 

Summary

Willington Gravel Pits is situated in the Trent Valley and is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.  There are various viewing platforms and a hide overlooking the flooded gravel workings. The day was warm and sunny for our first visit here since 2016.

The first couple to arrive spotted a Marsh Harrier and we later saw a Peregrine and a couple of buzzards.  We had good, though fleeting, views of Hobbies and Kingsfishers. For most of our time in the hide, we had it to ourselves, keeping our eyes on the channels around the hide in case a Water Rail or Bittern should appear.  It wasn’t our day for those species but, in addition to those seen on and over the gravel pits, there was a steady flow of birds to the nearby feeders and to the wooded area surrounding them, including a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  We also heard a Cetti’s Warbler in the reedbeds.

Members participating:    7

Bird list (41 species seen and/or heard)

Date/Time: Saturday 18 May 2019,  09.30 to 12.30

Summary

Padley Gorge, as its name suggests, is a steep-sided valley, located to the north of Grindleford.  The gorge passes through mature woodland, either side of Burbage Brook.  It is an area well-known in birding circles for its population of Pied Flycatchers.  Several nest boxes have been placed in the trees to encourage these and other species to raise their young.

There were a few spots of rain as we were gathering but they soon cleared and the lack of wind enabled us to enjoy the birdsong unhindered.  We set off from the roadside parking area near the top of the gorge on the B6521 and headed across Burbage Brook to pick up the path that leads down the gorge towards Grindleford.  Before we entered the woodland we spotted a Grey Wagtail on rocks at the edge of the Brook.

There were a number of sightings of Pied Flycatchers and two of the group saw a Spotted Flycatcher.  It was encouraging to hear a Cuckoo and a Redstart, though neither were seen.  However, we had several good views of both Nutchatches and Treecreepers.

We ran out of time to investigate the moorland to the northwest of our start point but there is potential there for exploring a rather different bird habitat.

Members participating:    12

Bird list (22 species seen and/or heard)

Saturday 26 January 2019,  09.15 to 13.45

Summary

Attenborough Nature Reserve is situated on the northern bank of the River Trent and is managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.  There are four hides, including an elevated one that gives good views over the ponds.  The weather was cloudy, cold and mostly dry, with just a little rain as we approached the first hide.

Some of the group had caught the train from Matlock.  Those of us arriving by car couldn’t help but notice a group of birders with long lenses and bins peering into the hedge by the level crossing.  The focus was on a Firecrest although there were other birds flitting around, including a Goldcrest.

There had been reports of a Caspian Gull on the reserve.  We may have seen it but we had to acknowledge that it could have been a Herring Gull!  We had rather better views of a Green Woodpecker, a pair of Bullfinches, a Linnet and a Stock Dove.

Although we had to compete with cyclists, runners and dog walkers, it was a very enjoyable, friendly and worthwhile visit.  A site we shall return to without a doubt.

Members participating:    11 + 1 guest

Bird list (48 species seen and/or heard)