Trip Report - 2012

The Field Trips Report for earlier years are still available.

Clumber Park
8th January 2012

Seven members gathered for a pleasant walk on this calm, dry, mild and sunny day. Our primary "target" was Hawfinch - sadly, despite them having been seen earlier around the chapel and our prolonged search for them, we failed to find them. However, we found plenty of other woodland species, such as Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Goldcrest. There was a very good selection of wildfowl on the lake, including Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Gadwall and Shoveler. The highlight was probably the handful of Goldeneye. Gulls were represented by Black-headed Gulls, Common Gull, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. A skein of 200-250 Pink-footed Geese flew over in a westerly direction at about 11AM. Just before this, we saw a Green Woodpecker, after first hearing its "yaffling" call. Around the ford, we found a solitary Reed Bunting, and at Hardwick village there were flocks of House Sparrows and Chaffinches feeding on spilled grain. At the feeders across the Classical Bridge, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were feeding. Finally, 3 of us walked around the Carburton end of the lake, discovering several Goosander and hearing a flock of Siskin. Altogether we saw or heard 56 species.

Old Moor Wetland
23rd January 2012

We were pleasantly surprised by the new extension to the garden hide which improves opportunities for photography considerably. The light today was perfect for this and also to study the pristine new plumage of the wildfowl on show! On the garden feeders were several Bullfinches and a Willow Tit although the Tree Sparrows were missing. A new screen and feeder area has been set up along the hedges in an area called "tree sparrow farm". In addition to the Tree Sparrows there were several Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers. It was good to see Yellowhammers back at Old Moor, they seem to have been missing for some years. In addition to the usual winter wildfowl – Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler and Gadwall - we also found a splendid male Pintail, a female Goldeneye, a Shelduck and several Goosander. At lunch time, a covey of at least 17 Grey Partridge dropped in and swiftly disappeared into long grass near the Wath Ings hide. Other highlights included a Little Egret, a large flock of Linnets and loads of Stock Doves. One of the surviving Ruddy Ducks was keeping a low profile on the main lake. A total of 53 species were recorded. After lunch we spent an interesting 1/2 hour at Broomhill flash where there was a Green Sandpiper, 5 Goldeneye (including a displaying male), another male Ruddy Duck and a Red-legged Partridge.