Burbage Bird Club Monthly Meeting 10/4/17

Dear Members,

The speaker at our next meeting 10th April will be Mark Hope-Urwin on Butterflies and Moths. This should prove to be an insight at the start of the season for these insects, which provide a large part of the diet for many birds and thus greatly affect the food chain.

This is a change from the talk previously advertised for this month, but you won't be missing out on Jim Almond as he will be with us in May.

I'm sorry that I can't be there at either meeting. However, you will be in the capable hands of Lee, who will make sure that all runs smoothly. Please don't forget that this will be one of the last opportunities to bring in tombola for the Burbage Common Open Day on Sunday May 7th. We have already collected 60+ prizes, but if we can get to 100+ we will hit our fundraising target. A big thank you to all those who have contributed so far. Julie Brown will be there to collect any new tombola. We would also welcome any volunteers to help with the stall or bird walks on the day.

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One more thing, can there be a short discussion after the April meeting or feedback via email by then to the following suggestions please? 1. Is anyone interested in full days out on a Sunday going farther afield?

May - Either Lake Vrynwy, Powys for Spotted and Pied Flycatchers & Redstart.

117 miles. 2hrs 15 min. If not, then Eyebrook Reservoir.

June - Kelling Heath, near Sherringham Norfolk for woodlark and Dartford warbler.

140 miles. 2 3/4 hrs. If not, then Bagworth Heath and Thornton Reservoir

2. Also, have we got members prepared to drive and give lifts to these more distant sites?' Enjoy your birding and I'll see you on Open Day,

Madeleine

First Loveridge Family Walk of 2017 - Coombe Abbey

Pair of Egyptian Geese

Nesting Swan

Great Tit

Grey Heron

The onset of the glorious spring sunshine on the first Sunday of April prompted my Wife, Son and I to go for our first family walk of the year.

This first walk was a later start than last year, but this was necessitated by our young Son who is harder to protect from the elements.

The venue for our walk was local favourite Coombe Abbey and Grounds situated just down the road a stones throw from Brandon Marsh.

Whilst this is a typically busy venue, early risers will find that the crowds do not appear until around midday.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, plenty of species to be seen including a breeding pair of Egyptian Geese. The hide was good for a few fishing birds including Egrets, Cormorants and the odd Heron. Due to its proximity I would recommend this venue for a stroll and stop of around 2-4 hours.

This site does charge for parking, 1-2 hours is £2.00 and 2-4 hours is £3.80.

Anyone else who would like to write pieces, please contact me and let me know.

See you all soon!

Lee Loveridge.

Cropston Reservoir and Swithland Woods Walk

Dear Members,

We began at Cropston Reservoir with 13 members and Graham Deeping leading. It started as a grey, windy day. Unfortunately there was very little to see there apart from some grey wagtails, a hybrid mallard, great crested grebe and a fleeting view of a sparrowhawk. Next we moved onto Swithland Woods, where we found two more members. We could hear plenty of birds including goldcrests and chiff chaff, but they were proving elusive, due to poor light and their tendency to be high in the trees or masked by shrubs, apart from the numerous blue tits and chaffinches. However, the sun eventually appeared and so did the birds. We were then treated to good views of bullfinches, nuthatches, chiff chaff, long-tailed tits and, for the lucky ones, a pair of tree creepers. This was also an interesting location as few of us knew that we would be walking through dark green painted caravans and wooden chalets on bijou plots from 'Fantasy Land'. And then when the Green Goddess appeared - and I do mean war time fire engine - we wondered what could we find next. It was a white plastic swan in an ornate fountain with 8 stone horses! Swithland Reservoir was a return to birding with 11 different species of waterfowl and excellent views of a female sparrowhawk. Finally a goldcrest, goldfinches and a lone female redpoll in the shrubbery of the Water Board's gardens.

We should thank Graham for organising and leading what proved to be a gem of a morning. Our next walk is at Middleton Lakes on 23/4/17.

A bientot, Madeleine

Pied Wagtail

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Buzzard

Gadwall

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Wagtail

Bullfinch