Summary

It was a beautiful sunny day for our regular April visit to Strutt’s North Mill and Wyver Lane.  A male Peregrine was catching the sun on a central window ledge of the top storey of the mill.  We had a scope set up enabling us to enjoy close-up views of it.  Several pigeons were also perched on the mill but keeping their distance.  Down below at ground floor level a Grey Wagtail was perched for a while on a sign board.  There wasn’t much to see at the weir so we moved on to Wyver Lane where we were greeted by House Sparrows flitting in and out of bushes or up to the eaves of the cottages.

Once again we were surrounded by bird song as we headed along Wyver Lane.  From the DWT hide we could see a number of the commoner waterfowl, including a Shoveler.

Further down the lane, as the woodland gave way to more open fields, a few geese were grazing, along with members of the crow family.  Higher up, above the tree line, 3 Buzzard were seen soaring and a Raven sighted.  Across to the right, towards the River Derwent, we had good views of a Kestrel.  Each time it settled, it went to the top of one of the few spindly trees sticking up above the scrub.

Members participating:    13

Bird list (39 species seen and/or heard)

Male Peregrine Falcon – Martyn Grandy

Peregrine through telescope – Martyn Grandy

Wood Anemone – Chris Byrne

Greylag Goose – Chris Byrne

Buzzard – Martyn Grandy

Kestrel – Martyn Grandy

Kestrel – Chris Byrne

Peacock Butterfly – Chris Byrne

Summary

Situated on the south bank of the River Ouse where the waterway widens into the Humber estuary, this reserve is renowned for its reedbeds. It was a rather grey day and many of the birds were only seen well through binoculars or scope.  Flocks of Redwing and a few Fieldfare and Tree Sparrows were seen near the Visitor Centre, as were a group of three Roe Deer.  Otherwise, most sightings were from the six hides, each with views over one of various lagoons with their reedbeds.  A Marsh Harrier was seen frequently, sometimes perched in an isolated small bush or tree that broke the skyline.  Snipe were seen from several of the hides, skulking, half-hidden in tussocky grass.  Towards the end of our stay, Stewart Abbott, our minibus driver, identified a Bearded Tit that flew rapidly across a water channel in the reeds.

Members participating:    11

Bird list (32 species seen and/or heard)

Lagoon and reedbeds – Martyn Grandy

Roe Deer – Martyn Grandy

Gadwall – Martyn Grandy

Mute Swan (immature) – Chris Byrne

Wigeon – Martyn Grandy

(possibly) White Fibrecap mushroom – Chris Byrne

Yellow Fieldcap mushroom – Martyn Grandy

Summary

Willington Wetlands is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and situated in the Trent Valley.  It hit the headlines 4 years ago when beavers were released.  There was a chilly northerly wind when we started but by noon it had warmed up sufficiently for us to eat our lunches at the top of the tower. Afterwards a giant owl pellet on the floor was broken open to reveal the tiny jaw bones of sundry rodents. A small group of us made the trip but we all enjoyed it despite a lack of passerines. No beavers were spotted.

Members participating:    5

Bird list (32 species seen and/or heard)

 Photos by Martyn Grandy.

Lapwings

Grey Heron and Coots

Marsh Harrier (juvenile)

Great White Egret

Summary

It was a long-overdue visit to this amazing “Seabird City”, otherwise known as RPSB Bempton Cliffs.  It was 7 years since our previous visit.  Even though it was busy in terms of people, the sheer numbers of sea birds seen far out-numbered the human visitors.  The sight and sound (and even smell!) of thousands of birds in flight or sitting in close company on the cliff top, on cliff ledges, or on exposed rocks was an unforgettable experience.

Jackdaws were particularly showing off by the Visitor Centre; they are not everyone’s favourite but very handsome when seen close up.  Tree sparrows were also nearby, perching in the trees by the Centre, with some making use of the nest boxes mounted on the building.

An Arctic Tern was spotted early on although not seen subsequently but it was the Gannets that kept our attention the longest.  One group of them was collecting grass at the top of the cliff as nest material.  It was hard to imagine how they managed to weave that into their nests as the breeze was so strong but they were very persistent in the activity.  They were just feet away as they swept in, often hanging almost stationery in the air for a few seconds, facing into the wind, before dropping down to perch or pick up more grass.

Puffins, Razor Bills and Guillemots were also very active; the Kittiwakes a little less so. We probably missed a few “land” species by sticking to the coastal path but the temptation to look seaward was too great.

Finally a shout out to Michael, our very helpful driver from Slacks, who got us safely there and back.

Members participating:    10 (+ 7 guests)

Bird list (21 species seen and/or heard)

“Seabird City” – Martyn Grandy

Members and guests at Bempton Cliffs – Eden Edwards

Jackdaw – Chris Byrne

Tree Sparrow – Martyn Grandy

Gannet – Martyn Grandy

Gannet on nest – Chris Byrne

Razorbills with Puffin – Chris Byrne

Puffin – Martyn Grandy

Herring Gull – Martyn Grandy

Kittiwake – Martyn Grandy

Guillemot – Chris Byrne

Rock Doves – Chris Byrne

Razorbills – Martyn Grandy

Summary

The promised rain held off until 11.45 enabling ten of us to complete the walk to the bridge over the conduit before cutting back to the car park. A very grey day made bird spotting difficult but Merlin helped identify some very faint calls which many of us found difficult to hear. Like last year the reservoir was full to overflowing making life difficult for the Common Sandpipers but we did see one skimming across the water. Two families of Grey Lag Geese provided some photo opportunities before we set off along the conduit. Lapwings were well down on the 23 seen last year and only one chick was spotted – very worrying. A pair of Curlews feeding in the field accompanied by three leggy chicks was probably the highlight of the day. Meanwhile great views were being had by some of the group of a handsome male Linnet on the path. Several Skylarks were singing overhead and a pipit with food in its beak was photographed which at the time was identified as a Meadow but may have been a Tree. No peeping Golden Plovers were heard so perhaps we were too early for chicks but eventually one adult was spotted on a tussock. No Red Grouse were seen or heard – very surprising on a Grouse moor – but we had a good view of a Cuckoo flying low over the ground pursued by at least four pipits.
We arrived back in the car park just as it started to pour.

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Summary

We last visited this reserve in January 2020, just before covid struck.  This time round the species list was similar, despite the difference in season and, once again, the almost total absence of waders was noted.  On this latest visit the exception was a solitary Lapwing (plus an Oystercatcher only identified subsequently from one of Martyn’s photos).  There is a good visitor centre and café and, for those interested in buying a new pair of binoculars, there is a modest range on sale that you can try before you buy.  The main paths are good and there are several hides available, mostly overlooking one or more of the lagoons.

There was plenty of bird song as we made our way from the Visitor Centre along a wooded path to pick up the ‘Blue’ route round the main lagoons.  As at Coombes Valley earlier in the month, actually spotting the birds was tricky.  However, from the hide at Piper Marsh we then had clear views of a Grey Heron, Little Egret and Pochard among other species.  Further on we saw a Marsh Harrier over the reeds and a number of Black-headed Gulls circling around but rarely landing. After a while we spotted a Coot with 6 chicks, braving exposure as they moved into a less dense area of reeds.  All of a sudden, the adult Coots started squawking furiously as one of the gulls swooped in and then flew off with one of the chicks.  A sobering moment!

Having heard from other birders which hide might give us views of a pair of Black Terns we pressed on towards the Duchess Hide and were not disappointed.  They were flying backwards and forwards the far side of the lagoon and then settled on a wooden stump jutting out of the water; a surprise sighting that made a good day’s birding in the sunshine even more enjoyable.

Members participating:    5
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Summary

The day began cool with mist and grey cloud but the sun soon came through.  It then became pleasantly warm and sunny – a good Spring day for lingering and listening.  The birds were definitely singing as we followed paths through this RSPB reserve in Staffordshire.  Seeing them was more tricky and we perhaps ended up with a higher proportion than usual of birds heard but not seen.  Clearly in view, though quite high in the sky to the East, at least four Buzzards were circling.

Our early views of Pied Flycatchers were fleeting but sightings improved as the walk progressed.  We were somewhat surprised to see young Grey Wagtails being fed by their parents where the path passes over Coombes Brook at a bridge; it seemed rather early in the year to see juveniles so developed although they were much paler than the parents and their tails rather shorter.

Bluebells were showing well and a few butterflies were around, mostly Orange Tip.  There was no sign of Redstarts at Clough Meadow Cottage on this visit but we did get good views of one on the Valley Woodland Trail before we stopped for a lunch break.  It was also on this trail that we had the best sightings of Pied Flycatchers – a pair that had occupied a newly-erected nest box were particularly active.

As the visit came to an end, a Red Kite came down low over the Visitor Centre, probably looking for more than the ice creams that were being consumed by our members below.

Members participating:    8

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Summary

Our regular April visit to Strutt’s North Mill and Wyver Lane did not disappoint.  The day was dry and sunny, especially early on.  A Peregrine was conveniently perched in the sunshine below one of the curved balconies at the right end of the mill.  There was little to see around the weirs and even around the cottages at the top of the lane.  It was only at the end of our trip that a couple of Grey Wagtails were seen on the tarmac in front of the mill.

Further down Wyver Lane there was plenty to see and hear.  A few species were heard but not seen, including Raven, Green Woodpecker and Pheasant.  The Merlin app was useful in confirming some of the birdsong.  From the hide we could make out a Grey Heron, half-hidden in the reeds.  A pair of Mandarin Duck were grazing in one of the grass fields to the left as we walked down the lane.  The field boundary was wooded and a Song Thrush was spotted there, apparently attempting to sing, but no sound came out whenever it opened its beak.

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Summary

The Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve comprises a mosaic of wetlands, meadows and woodland in the Tame valley, near Tamworth.  The morning was cloudy with a few spots of rain but the cloud broke up and there were some brief sunny intervals in the afternoon.  Most of the group travelled there with Stewart Abbott of Derbyshire Bird Tours; others by car.  Parts of the reserve were quite muddy following the rain of recent months.

There was plenty of activity around the feeders near the entrance, including Greenfinch, Goldfinch and House Sparrow.  The heronry was busy too, with both Grey Heron and Little Egret present.  More noisy was the rookery a little further on.

A pair of Treecreepers were busy nest-building in a crevice behind bark that had partially peeled away from the trunk of a tree.   Their hard work was being partially negated by a Great Tit that was throwing out nest material stored in the same crevice.  A lone Red-breasted Goose (normally a winter visitor) was seen feeding among a flock of Canada Geese in a field and a Bittern was heard booming occasionally, hidden somewhere in the reeds.

Overall there was a good selection of species, though we were somewhat short on waders – perhaps because water levels in the lagoons were higher than usual.
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