Trip reports
Field Trip to Carsington Water and Cromford.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Carsington Water is managed by Severn Trent Water (STW) and is located on the B5035 between Ashbourne and Matlock in Derbyshire. It has a large Visitor Centre together with a Watersports Centre and Sailing Club. The area offers a choice of 3 walks ranging from 1 mile to 8 miles. The reservoir was finished in 1991 at a cost of £107 million and provides up to 206 megalitres every day to the populations of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
STW has an ongoing conservation programme and provides habitat in particular for Brown Hare, Water Vole, Pipestrelle Bat, Otter and Tree Sparrow.
We opted to go round the northern side of the reservoir and visit the 4 hides, which overlook the waterside - this end of the reservoir is usually quieter as it is father away from the Sailing Club. Starting at the Wildlife Centre, which is a heated hide with seating, displays and hands-on CCTV cameras to enable the observer to zoom in on the wildlife. On the water we saw several Barnacle Geese among the Canada Geese flock together with other waterbirds such Lapwing, Coot, Little Grebe, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Oystercatcher. Also seen were several duck varieties such as Mallard, Teal, Tufted and Goldeneye. On the islands were feeding Golden Plover, a solitary Ringed Plover and several Snipe. On the nearby bird table Tree Sparrows, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch were frequent feeders.
Travelling northwards round the reservoir we first came across the Lane End Hide from which were spotted 3 Great Northern Divers together with more duck species such as Pochard, Wigeon and Ruddy Duck.
From the other Sheepwash and Paul Stanley hides we discovered Reed Bunting, Redshank, Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls together with more flocks of duck and several Great-crested Grebe - some of the Grebes were already in their summer plumage.
Following lunch at the site we travelled a short distance to Cromford village where we stopped at the church, which is surrounded by Yew trees and overlooks the river Derwent. We spent some time looking for Hawfinches, which had been sighted that day in the immediate area. We had been informed that 3 had been seen that morning but apart from some woodland birds like Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon and Siskin, none were to be seen or heard. Hawfinches have been visiting this area during the winter now for a number of years so a return visit must surely be on the cards. 19 Members.
44 species seen.