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.