| Indoor Meetings (7:30pm Start unless otherwise stated). Entrance: ₤2 members, ₤2-50 non-members | Field Trips (Provisional) |
Leader: Richard Winspear. Meet at 8:30am. Autumn migrants at the Gravel Pits. Meet at the entrance Lane (Grid reference SK295280) just off the B5008 before the River Trent as you drive towards Repton and should last around 4 hours.
William Newton - "Wildlife at the High Bridge Cemex Plant"
Bill is the manager at the High Bridge Cemex plant and will be coming along to discuss his role, and the role that wildlife plays at the site. A great opportunity to speak to someone who has the difficult job of balancing nature in a tricky commercial environment.
Leader: Carol Evans Meet at 8:30am
Anyone wishing to go MUST email Alan Wragg at alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.uk for precise meeting point
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust's 'Rewilding Our Senses' 11am to 3pm
Come and meet us at the DOS stall at the DWT day of discovery, hands-on activities, interactive experiences, storytelling and moments of reflection, inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to explore new ways of connecting with nature, their community and each other.
Denis Bohm - "Spring migration along the Adriatic flyway"
Denis grew up in Mostar, Bosnia, and has been a guide with Wild Herzegovina for over 10 years. This talk will take us on a journey to Herzegovina, a region in southern Europe which lies on the Adriatic Flyway migratory route and where some of the most endangered European species still thrive. Twice a year, millions of migratory birds use this route to fly between their wintering and breeding grounds, stopping over in Herzegovina's diverse scenery which ranges from wetlands, alpine meadows, deep canyons and crystal-clear rivers to karst landscapes. Denis will introduce us to many of the species commonly seen in Herzegovina, including Rock Partridge, Sombre Tit, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-footed Falcon, Levant Sparrowhawk, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Western Rock Nuthatch, Golden Oriole, Nightingale and a most spectacular colony of Sand Martins - 5000 breeding pairs in one place, possibly the largest colony in the world!
Leader: Alan Wragg/Steve Thorpe. Meet at 8:00am in the main car park TF357390. Join us at this excellent site overlooking the Wash.
Peter Garrity - "Barn Owls: The Inside Story". "In the summer of 2023 I thought to myself - why not put an owl box up? I might get a Tawny Owl or Kestrel nesting in the following breeding season and that would be interesting! I set about designing and constructing a box and eventually put it up in a large oak tree at the end of my garden. I also installed cameras inside and out to record any activity - and then I waited. I never realised what incredible events would occur over the next two years. There were depressing lows but also euphoric highs along the way - every emotion-packed moment recorded on camera with some never witnessed before footage. This is the story of natural selection and survival. Was all of the effort, stress and time worth it? I will let you decide!" Peter will dig deep into the history of one of the UK's most popular and yet mysterious birds. He will share his own two year intimate story spent monitoring and filming these iconic creatures.
Oliver Smart - "The Science and Beauty of Birds"
Ever wondered why a raptor has an orbital ridge or what the purpose is of a tubenose on a petrel? Well, in this talk, Oliver guides you through some fascinating insights to the science of birds, their adaptations, evolution and physiology. Oliver's talk is split into four sections covering the science of birds, the photography, the aesthetics of bird photography and the rewards
Please contact Steve Thorpe our Membership Secretary for the Zoom link a couple of weeks beforehand - click here
AFTERNOON TRIP Put what you learned at last night's Zoom meeting into practice. This site attracts a fairly large number of gulls during the afternoon as they come down to bathe before heading to the Ogston roost. The lake is quite small so it provides some really good opportunities to get closer views of the birds than we did at Ogston last year. We will meet at 1.30pm in the main car park (which is free) where there are toilets and a cafe, which closes at 1430. Obviously wear plenty of warm clothes and boots, although the paths are pretty good. The car park can be found here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qgPypQq24AEXZfAh6. What3words location: https://what3words.com/yoga.loads.grows. OSMaps: SK 43486 73701
Leader: Alan Wragg/Steve Thorpe - Prior booking required (Alan Wragg: alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.uk) as numbers strictly limited. Meet at 09:00 at the entrance to the site just off the westbound A50 at the gate and you will directed to the parking area
Mark Mallalieu - "Hawfinches"
After his excellent talk on the Honey Buzzard in 2025, we've invited Mark back to share his in-depth knowledge on Hawfinches with us
Leader: Alan Wragg - Twitcher's Special
A nine-seater bus so first come, first served (cost £5-£10). Contact Alan Wragg for details and booking at alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.ukJack Baddams - "Filming Springwatch in Derbyshire"
Jack will join us to share all the behind the scenes details of filming Springwatch with the BBC at Longshaw and in wider Derbyshire/Yorkshire in 2025
Speaker: Oliver Slessor who's' talk 'Birds, Birding and a Career in Ornithology' will cover his incredible life working with birds in Britain and around the world over the last 20 years - ranging from finding exciting rarities undertaking Bird Observatory work, to rewarding seabird protection of the rare and elegant Roseate Tern, not to mention tracking down elusive Antpittas whilst bird guiding in Ecuador as well as finding five species of Vulture whilst surveying in remote Zambia. The talk will show many of the fabulous birds he has had the delight in seeing as well as other wildlife.
AGM followed by the Tri-county Bird Race Awards. Our speaker Sally Oakes will then take over with a talk on her second trip to the Pantanal and Amazon Basin in Brazil. Sally will discuss her sightings, highlighting the special birds of the area with superb images taken on the trip
Leader: Andrew Sherwin (01246 221070) Annual Goshawk hunting trip. Meet at 8:00am. Loads to see but expect it to be cold and wet!
Leader: Barrie and Anita Staley - Meeting point to be decided after reconnaissance nearer the date. Target species are Woodlark, Raven, raptors, woodpeckers and possibly Crossbill.
Places limited to 12, to book please e-mail barriestaley@outlook.com stating the number of places you would like (places will be allocated on a first come basis). Please also supply a telephone contact number.
Joint meeting with Bakewell Bird Study Group. Speaker: Simon Curtin - "An Update on the Belvoir Osprey Project"
Leader: Keith Lievesley - Meet at 07:30. Castor Hanglands is situated 3km North of the village of Ailsworth, 7km NW of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire (TF1101). If you would like to attend then please contact Alan Wragg alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.uk for information on meeting point and logistics
Leader: Barrie Staley - Meet in the car park at 07:00, access over northbound A38. If arriving from north on the A38 turn around at the Barton Turn exit. The trip will take in the Water Park and most of the gravel pit complex in a circular walk that will take all morning. There is a good pub/food at the start/finish point for anyone who is withering at the end! All participants should contact me prior the the trip so I can confirm the final details and send a map of the meeting point. Limit is ten people.
Places limited to 10, to book please e-mail barriestaley@outlook.com stating the number of places you would like (places will be allocated on a first come basis). Please also supply a telephone contact number.
Will run two trips to see Nightjars in Central Derbyshire this year on 28th May and 11th June. Both will be by prior arrangement only so we don not overload the birds too much, places limited to 15 and first come first served. Please get in touch with Alan Wragg alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.uk for information on meeting point and logistics. Bring your bug spray
We will run two trips to see Nightjars in Central Derbyshire this year on 28th May and 11th June. Both will be by prior arrangement only so we do not overload the birds too much, places limited to 15 and first come first served. Please get in touch with Alan Wragg alan.wragg@mypostoffice.co.uk for information on meeting point and logistics. Bring your bug spray
Check back in September for the new season
Some meetings will be via Zoom. if you do not have a Zoom account, or never used it before, you will be asked to download the app to your system - do this. When you enter the meeting please do so with your camera on (of you have one) and microphone muted. The chairman will then tell you what to do. One of the the things is to click on an ask a question button which the chairman will see and invite you to turn on your microphone to ask it
Methodist Church Schoolrooms, Market Place, Buxton, SK17 6HX
Henmore Room, Visitor's Centre, Carsington Water, DE6 1ST
Friend's Meeting House, Chesterfield, S40 4AG
Evergreen Club, Allestree, Derby, DE22 2FT
Changes will be avoided if at all possible, but please note that the committee reserves the right to change the programmes due to unforeseen circumstances
DISCLAIMER: In attending any of our events you acknowledge that certain risks of injury and other risks e.g. COVID are inherent. These types of injuries may be minor or serious and may result from your actions, or the actions or inaction of others, or a combination of both. You understand that Indoor Meetings and Field Trips are designed for the safety and protection of the participants and hereby undertake to use care and watch out for yourself and others. You understand that a level of fitness and health (physical, mental and emotional) is required and that each person has a different capacity for participation
Some of the information given is preliminary so you can get the dates into your diaries and more information will be published later e.g. Zoom links
