Reports of Previous Walks 2021/2022
Tucklesholme SWT Reserve - 19 August 2021
7 Members attended the first walk since lockdown on a bright morning with variable cloud cover. It was great to get together again after so long.
This is a new reserve and the first time the group has visited it.
There was very little variety of species on the main lake apart from large numbers of Coot, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese, but two Great-crested Grebes were showing well and there were small numbers of Mallard, Tufted Duck and a few Gadwall. A Little Egret was also spotted several times and a Cormorant flew over. Swallows, House and Sand Martins were also hawking over the water. Two Common terns were flying noisily over the lake, an adult and a juvenile.
On reaching the River Trent it was good to see a female Goosander resting at the side of the river and later swimming along it. However, the highlight was brilliant views of at least two Kingfishers flying up and down the river, and one going into a hole in the bank.
A number of insects were noted during the walk, including the following butterflies: Large and Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, and Speckled Wood. Bees seen were Red-tailed Bumblebee, Early Bumblebee and Common Carder. A Common Green Grasshopper was also noted. There was an abundance of dock plants, and we have since identified a bug we saw on the path as a type of squashbug called a Dock Bug.
It was a good morning and we managed to reach the cars before it began to rain.
The reserve shows good potential, and may be even better in the winter with more duck species possible, so we shall have another visit in January.
The total number of bird species seen was 22.
Pleasley Pit Country Park - 23 September 2021
We had a good attendance of 12 members on a blustery but warm morning.
It was fairly quiet walking up the hill to the viewpoint across to the lake which was occupied mostly by Canada Geese and Black-headed Gulls, plus Tufted Ducks, Coots, several Little Grebes and a couple of Cormorants fishing in the water.
The scrape on the opposite side of the track was very dry, but a big flock of mostly Linnets with a few Goldfinches were taking advantage of the tiny pools of water left to bathe and drink.
A quite astonishing sight was scores of tiny iridescent blue/black Alder leaf beetles devouring the leaves of the alders and even birch saplings.
Instead of taking our usual route we explored the northern loop through an area of blackthorn where a colony of Brown Hairstreak butterflies had been recorded earlier this month. It is debatable whether these are a natural colony or an unauthorised introduction. Unfortunately we were right at the end of the flight period and the only butterflies seen were lots of Speckled Woods and one Meadow Brown. There was however a very colourful caterpillar, which on later investigation was identified as a Grey Dagger moth larva. Its foodplant, along with the Brown Hairstreak, is blackthorn. The adult moth, as the name implies, is grey with black dagger marks.
We then made our way to the hide overlooking the lake, and there were closer views of more duck species, including Teal and Gadwall. No waders, other than a couple of Lapwings, were recorded.
On the return track there were a number of Common Darter dragonflies settling on the bare ground, and in the grass we found another interesting caterpillar, again later identified, this time as a Broom moth larva.
The dragonfly pools were very overgrown and nothing was seen apart from a brief glimpse of a Reed Bunting.
We returned to the new café/toilet block – a very impressive building, and a much posher replacement of the old huts!
The total number of bird species seen was 24.
Carsington Water - 21 October 2021
We had a good attendance of 11 members on a crisp bright morning.
There were a few common birds on the feeder in the Sheepwash car park as we started our walk, but it was very quiet walking westwards towards Lane End Hide. Viewing from this hide was difficult because it faces into the sun in the morning, but we managed to pick out lots of Coot, some Tufted Ducks and Pochards, and a few Great Crested and Little Grebes. It was entertaining to watch one of the latter trying to swallow a fish. A Raven also flew in front of the hide.
We arrived at the second feeding station where there were a couple of Willow Tits, now considered to be the UK’s most threatened resident bird due mainly to the lack of decaying standing timber for nesting. There was also Nuthatch, as well as the usual Great, Blue and Coal Tits, but no sign of any Bullfinches which are normally seen at this feeder.
We continued to the viewpoint over Shiningford Creek where there were more duck species. The good light provided really nice views through the telescope of Pochard, Wigeon and Gadwall.
Having retraced our steps to the car park we walked towards the Paul Stanley Hide (the Sheepwash Hide was closed for maintenance), noting lots of Common Darters flying over the meadow, some settling on the fence posts to bask in the sunshine. In the wood leading down to the hide there were small groups of fungi along the path, identified as Glistening Inkcaps (in their various stages of maturity) and a Common Funnel.
From the hide we spotted lots of Lapwings on the opposite island, well camouflaged amongst the rocks, and added Teal to our duck list.
The total number of bird species seen was 28.
Shipley Country Park - 18 November 2021
We had a good attendance of 10 members on a mild bright morning.
On the way up the hill towards the ruins of Shipley Hall we saw a number of Coal Tits in the conifers and a Nuthatch showed well, flitting between the trees. On reaching the house a Fieldfare was perched at the top of a tree and another tree yielded a Magpie and a Mistle Thrush. On the way to the tea room there were a number of Redwing flocks flying over and landing briefly in the trees. Further down the road to Osborne’s Pond two Mistle Thrushes were observed feeding on hawthorn berries.
Osborne’s Pond was occupied by the usual Mallard, Coot and large numbers of Black-headed Gulls, but there were also Moorhens and a single Cormorant on one of the small islands.
As we returned to Mapperley Reservoir there were Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe, a single Wigeon and two young Cormorants with their white fronts and an all-black adult and good views of Redwing in the Trees.
There were several fungi at various points along the route, but we were only able to identify one of the species as possible Chanterelles.
The total number of bird species seen was 20.
Attenborough SWT Reserve - 16 December 2021
We had a good attendance of 12 members on a bright morning.
We started by viewing the area near the Visitor Centre. There were lots of Mallard, Tufted Ducks, a couple of nice male Pochards and a distant male Goldeneye. The Canada Geese and the Greylags were squabbling amongst themselves and making quite a racket. Interestingly there was also a group of five Stock Doves looking for food.
From the bridge between Coneries pond and Tween Pond we spotted Great-crested Grebes, lots of Cormorants and a pair of Goosanders. A single Shelduck was on Tween Pond, and a Little Egret was showing well on the wet grassland area.
Reaching the Tower Hide it was very quiet on the water. Work was being carried out on one of the islands on Clifton Pond and this may have disturbed the birds, so we did not see the Redhead Smew (female or immature) that had been reported. However we were lucky enough to get good views of the adult Caspian Gull which was still present on Clifton Pond. This looks similar to a Herring Gull but it is very white on the head and has white edges to the primaries, seen well when it was flying around being mobbed by the other gulls. It is a scarce winter visitor from Eastern Europe. This was a life species for everyone in the group.
There was very little seen along the river, but on reaching Main Pond there were more ducks, including Wigeon and more Goosanders. On Church Pond there was a male Shoveler and more male Pochards.
The total number of bird species seen was 38.
Tucklesholme SWT Reserve - 20 January 2022
A really good turnout of 15 Members (including some new ones) attended on a sunny cool morning.
This is a relatively new reserve and the second time the group has visited it.
There is now a feeding station by the car park and Robins were plentiful along with Dunnocks, Blue and Great Tits and a single male Reed Bunting. A Marsh Tit also made a brief appearance.
There was a reasonable variety of species on the main lake including large numbers of Coot, a Great-crested Grebe and Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Pochard and Teal. In the right light conditions the colours on the male ducks were quite spectacular. On the spit were Cormorants and a large flock of Lapwings.
While walking around the lake, perching on seed heads and fences were two pairs of Stonechats and several Goldfinches.
There was little seen along the River Trent.
It was a really good walk in very nice conditions and the total number of bird species seen was 26.
Cromford Canal - 17 February 2022
We had a record turnout of 17 members and were very lucky to have a calm, sunny morning in-between the two storms.
The major highlights were really close views of several pairs of Little Grebes, Coot and Moorhen, large numbers of Pied Wagtails on Cromford Meadows and a smart Stock Dove perched up in a tree. Some members also spotted some Siskins and a Marsh Tit. A Buzzard was also seen.
Some fungi were also spotted including Scarlet Elf Cup and Shaggy Ink Cap.
It was a pleasant walk with a total of 23 bird species recorded.
Wollaton Park - 17 March 2022
15 members attended the walk on a sunny, clear morning.
We first walked down towards the golf club and spotted some Red Deer relaxing amongst the trees. Further on along the avenue of really old lime trees we had good views of several Stock Doves which nest in holes, of which there are plenty in these veteran trees. Several Nuthatches were calling loudly, and there were a number of late Redwings.
We then retraced our steps back to the Hall and walked through the ornamental gardens but it was fairly quiet.
It was also very quiet walking down to the lake where we hoped to find a Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker but without luck, but we did hear a Green Woodpecker calling. On the water itself were the usual waterfowl species including Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck and lots of Black-headed Gulls, with a few Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A pair of Great-crested Grebes were already beginning their courtship display on the far side of the lake.
Reaching the end of the lake, we heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the trees very close to the path, but we couldn’t actually get on to it. We then heard and saw quite a number of Ring-necked Parakeets around the conservation area, as well as two Little Egrets, a nice group of Teal and three Mandarin ducks on one of the small ponds. There was a lot of activity in the heronry with some of the nests already containing youngsters. We also spotted a male Pochard and another male Mandarin duck.
As we made our way back up the hill to the carpark we also spotted several pairs of Egyptian Geese. It turned out to be an enjoyable morning with a total of 34 species of birds recorded.
Elvaston Castle - 21 April 2022
We had a reasonable turnout of 10 people on a dry morning, with sunny intervals.
We walked round the lake which was fairly quiet, with only Mallards and Canada Geese with some goslings. As we walked through the woodland Blackcaps were singing, though quite difficult to spot. Nuthatches were also seen and a nice Goldcrest was observed foraging in a nearby conifer.
When we reached the bridge over the stream there was a Jay perched and Nuthatches getting bird food. We also saw several Heron nests with young in the tall trees.
In the nature reserve the main highlights were a Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming and the call of Green Woodpeckers, eventually spotting two in nearby trees, but they were quite elusive and difficult to get really good views. Two more Jays were also seen. Several butterflies were spotted, namely Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Speckled Wood.
In all a quite good total of 30 bird species were recorded.
Padley Gorge and Burbage – 19 May 2022
The weather was quite cool to begin with, but by late morning the sun had broken through the cloud and the rest of the day was very warm with bright sunshine.
The group first of all walked down to the pond in Longshaw Estate where there were a number of Mandarin Ducks, one pair posing very nicely on a nearby rock.
Reaching Burbage Brook we had brief views of Grey Wagtails, and some members saw a Dipper flying upstream. The gorge was fairly quiet to begin with, but there were a number of Treecreepers as we walked up the path to the higher area, and soon a few Pied Flycatchers were also spotted. The highlight of the morning, though, was a superb singing male Wood Warbler in the area around the old ammunition building. This is an uncommon migrant only found in sessile oak woodlands.
Climbing out of the gorge to the area of birches, we didn’t manage to find any Tree Pipits, but Green Hairstreak butterflies were seen on the bilberry, the food plant for their caterpillars. A Cuckoo was heard calling in the distance.
After lunch we walked below Burbage Edge, hoping to see Whinchat and Ring Ouzel, but the only birds evident were Stonechats and Meadow Pipits, with a Kestrel flying overhead.
On the way back to the Visitor Centre a Jay posed in a nearby tree.
The total number of bird species recorded was 35.