DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE REPORT 2013
This is the sixth year that the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT) has administered the Reserve.
During 2013 the Reserve was visited on 319 documented dates with the writer making 196 visits. In all 1102 visitors were recorded during the period. On one date 60 visited the Reserve and were guided by DWT volunteers (not included above). Included are 68 Cormorant Roost counts made by the writer with the bulk carried out September to December. AG made National Wildfowl Counts in all 12 months of the year.
Working parties were present on a dozen or so dates that I was aware of (they are not included with the visits in the second paragraph) carrying out varying tasks that incorporated scrub clearance, stock proofing fences and attempting to fill potholes along the entrance route. An attempt was made to introduce Water Lilies to the Bamboo pool, a previous effort having failed. Additionally this pool is earmarked for a possible pond-dipping site. A small pond was dug immediately in front of the Education Hide that may be useful to observe the emergence of aquatic insects. In December several sculptures of various animals and birds were erected over the site with education in mind. Voluntary work carried out by K. Walker, R. Williams and M. Williams amounted to some 227 hours and involved the making of a new screen, scrub clearance in various areas with The Strip one of the larger undertakings and running repairs to the two-man hide. RW and MW also cut several channels through the reeds in both Scott’s Lagoon and Crake Pool thus enhancing the viewing in these areas. Individual efforts were 102 hours by RW, 97 hours by MW and 28 hours by KW. These efforts are appreciated and very much improve a visit to the Reserve.
It may be judged, from the systematic list, that many counts were made, particularly of ducks and geese, over the year. Records were kept of dragonflies and butterflies with the latter being sent to the Butterfly Conservation Recorder – Ken ORPE. Due to various circumstances ringing visits were not on par with previous years. Weather was the main factor in this and, similarly, moth trapping suffered. MW and RW, both on the Reserve and the defunct nature trail, carried out nest box maintenance and recording with an analysis contained in the report. In addition nest record cards were submitted to the BTO.
Visitors will, no doubt, surmise that little has been done to improve the standard of road surface leading from the entrance gate to the Reserve car park. These deficiencies increase annually in both size and depth as each winter’s frost and floods take their toll. The Trust has attempted to rectify some of the worst of these imperfections. Flooding is a significant factor in the reduction of visitors to the Reserve as the area affected takes some weeks or even months to clear. Another problem that increases year by year is the growth of poplar suckers and brambles that are now encroaching onto the roadway thus reducing the width, and safety, considerably.
Trespassing continues to blight the site, particularly involving the fishpond. It got so bad that complaints from the fishermen resulted in an area of razor wire being introduced at the point of entry. This was found not to be insurmountable as one trespasser, when asked how he got beyond the wire said, ‘with some difficulty’. Another case involved a gentleman who was casually asked which society he was a member of quite glibly replied, ‘none’, and that he was given the number by a friend. Over the year none of these acts of trespass have resulted in damage.
The feeding station was in operation from January to April and again from November to the end of the year. Once again there were substantial donations by way of money from the Derbyshire Ornithological Society, generous gifts of food from R & J Searle, Mike Deakin and Andy Large, together with other, usually anonymous, donors.
In 1980 ten Beech trees were planted to commemorate the first ten years of the Reserve’s life. Sir Peter SCOTT planted the ceremonial tree and a plaque denoting the event was placed to the front of the tree. At the time the choice of species led to some mild criticism, as the site was considered unsuitable for this particular variety of tree. Sadly, thirty-four years on, the critic has been proved right. The ravages of Rabbits and poor growth have taken their toll with four of the trees now dead (one uprooted) and three others showing somewhat serious signs of distress with a sickly yellow foliage. Is this, perhaps, now the time to put the remaining trees out of their misery and cut them down? The tree planted by Sir Peter SCOTT could be retained and the plaque renewed as this tree seems somewhat healthier than the rest although it is unlikely to thrive.
Whilst on this subject of trees, it must be obvious to visitors, that the growth of birches over the area of the old ash lagoons and Hairpin has been phenomenal. Behind the car park Grey Poplars now abound due to their prolific suckering. The introduction of cattle has gone a little way to keep down new encroachment but they can do little about older growth. It is accepted that much of the site is off the Reserve but this rapid change will do little to enhance the bird life in the area, as the hinterland is just as important in the grand scheme of things.
RECORDING AREA: Where possible the locations of sightings are shown. In the main these are on the Reserve but, for recording purposes, anywhere from the entrance gate to the Reserve has been held as Drakelow Gravel Pits/Wildfowl Reserve/Nature Reserve. Generally, if a visitor can see it, it can be recorded. As such birds seen on the riverbanks of the Trent are held to be in Derbyshire.
Thomas Cockburn Senior Warden (Hon).
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BIRDING YEAR
Theyear opened with a count of 57 species of birds with all but two (Rook and Meadow Pipit) on the Reserve. The pick of the bunch was probably a flock of 15 Goosanders and, not to be sniffed at, some 150 Great Black-backed Gulls moving across the Reserve from the flooded fields in Staffordshire. The following day a wintering Chiffchaff was noted. Two notable wader species recorded during the month were Dunlin on the 20th and six Golden Plovers on the 27th.
On 9th February a skein of some 80 Pink-footed Geese crossed the Reserve from SE to NW suggesting movement from Norfolk to Lancashire. It is some years since this type of passage was noted. The next day a Barn Owl was an excellent find and six days later two roosting Tawny Owls were located. The 17th provided another wading species seldom recorded these days by way of a Ruff.
A Chiffchaff found on the 3rd March may have been the wintering bird or might have been a genuine migrant. A Little Egret recorded on the 9th March was the vanguard of an exceptional year for this species. A visit to a snow covered Reserve on the 24th provided the stalwart visitor with the superb find of a male Marsh Harrier; the first time a male has been recorded on site. A Chiffchaff was in song on the 29th and a female Pintail, located on the 31st of the month, was the sole record for the first winter period of the year by this elegant duck.
April is generally the month for arriving migrants and there was a record of four Oystercatchers in the Main Lagoon on the 3rd. A White Wagtail was a lucky find as it briefly visited the Strip on the 6th and the following day a male Wheatear was on the roadway near the fishpond. On the 8th the first Swallow, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler and Blackcap were logged. An excellent find on the 11th was a Ring Ouzel with another on the 19th that made its way from the perimeter fence down to the Reserve area. On the 17th the first Sedge Warbler was seen and heard and the first House Martin appeared. The first Common Sandpiper was noted on the 18th whilst the 19th saw the arrival of Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail then on the 20th the first Cuckoo. Reed Warbler and Swift appeared on the 21st and on the 23rd Whinchat and Wood Warbler was logged. A Hobby arrived on the 25th, as did another Ring Ouzel. On the 26th a ‘reeling’ Grasshopper Warbler and a singing Garden Warbler were heard. The 28th was a memorable day as a singing Cetti’s Warbler (the first since 1999) was heard, as was the first Lesser Whitethroat and another White Wagtail was logged.
On the 2nd of May a pair of Greylags that appeared with four goslings was the second Reserve breeding record. A Wood Warbler was mentioned on the DWT web site but the record was not logged or submitted to the D.O.S. A pair of Garganey graced the Secondary Lagoon on the 17th/18th and on the latter date a cream crowned Marsh Harrier was identified as it crossed the Reserve. On the 24th the presence of both Water Rail and Grasshopper Warbler raised hopes of breeding, as did the singing Cetti’s Warbler on the 25th.
June saw the first Mallards going into eclipse plumage but there was no post-breeding Lapwing flock to speak of. The exotic species list was increased when a Cape Barren Goose or Cereopsis attached itself to the goose flock. The bird was seen off and on to the end of the month. Another, or the same, Marsh Harrier appeared on the 21st and Little Egret was again logged. The presence of male Goosander on the river on the 27th kindled hopes of breeding as, on the same date, a redhead’ was on the Reserve. However the male appeared to be injured in some way.
On the 6th July a re-used Cormorant nest held young for the second time and the following day five juvenile Goosanders were seen on the river near the car park. On the 8th a Peregrine ‘stooped’ at a Cormorant, the second time this has been noted here, but whether it was a serious attempt was debatable. Little Egrets were becoming more regular with eight on the 20th and 12 on the 28th counted as they left their roosting site. The first returning Common Sandpiper was recorded on the 21st and two Green Sandpipers were logged on the 26th. On the 28th an adult male Peregrine was seen, with two young birds, over the station site indicating successful local breeding once again.
Little Egrets were recorded on several dates in August with nine seen on the 30th. Raptor records throughout the month included Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine and, on the 26th, another cream-crown Marsh Harrier. A Whimbrel recorded flying south on 4th August was the only record for the year.
September opened with seven Crossbills, a Greenshank and a colour-ringed Little Egret. Enquiry revealed that the egret had originated from Norfolk. There was an intriguing record of an adult and first-winter Water Rail in the Secondary lagoon on 1st September. Did they breed here or were they just migrants? The Little Egret numbers increased throughout the month with a record breaking 18 counted out from the roost. This was also a county record. Other high scoring species included the Canada Goose with 390 on the Reserve and 1150 across the river in Staffordshire whilst Greylag numbered four on the Reserve with 230 opposite. The attraction was the stubble across several fields in Staffordshire. The number on the Reserve increased to 765 on the 11th and on the 16th the Reserve total was in the region of 1500. The Cape Barren Goose was present on several dates. For some reason the Greylags steered clear of Drakelow. By the end of the month goose numbers were declining.
In October the Little Egret roost count increased to 19 on the 6th but few were seen after the 9th with 12 on the 27th an exception. A Stonechat on the 6th was a rare find and a pair of Pintail joined a female in the Main Lagoon the next day. Two Whinchats appeared on the 20th – a late date for the species – and one on the 24th was our latest date ever. On this same date the second Barn Owl of the year was seen.
The first Jack Snipe to be recorded since March 2010 was flushed on the 3rd November. On the same date Snipe numbered 11 and a Curlew was logged. A Merlin reported on the 5th November was the first since 2008. Two roosting Tawny Owls were located on the 9th. The first Goldeneye of the winter appeared on the 19th. The appearance of two Ruddy Shelducks on the 22nd broke the tedium of the Cormorant counting whilst earlier that day another Merlin was logged. On the last day of the month a skein of 21 Pink-foots moved NE – SW.
In December another, or the same, Merlin was seen on the 9th. A Great White Egret was a surprise arrival during the late afternoon of 12th. The bird was seen several times as it flew round and, eventually, appeared to come down in the area of Scott’s Lagoon where it may have roosted. The Cormorant count of 189 on the 14th of the month was the highest December count to date. On 20th December, surprisingly, a Cetti’s Warbler was seen. Could this be the same bird from the summer?
In all 131 species were identified.
MAMMALS AT DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE 2013
The list is, in the main, based on the writer’s own observations, and a comprehensive list submitted by MW and RW included an excellent series of records obtained by trail cam in December. Other records are derived from log entries.
WESTERN HEDGEHOG: So far as I am aware no animal was reported, living or dead. Either this mammal has learned to avoid our roads or, more likely, is in serious decline.
NORTHERN MOLE: Evidence of this mammal’s existence is usually confirmed by noting fresh molehills. Normally these are seen in the fields rather than on the Reserve. Fresh molehills were noted in January, June, August and December. On 9th December three areas were found. So far I have yet to find any activity on the old ash lagoons.
COMMON SHREW: The only record was of one found dead on 9th December.
PYGMY SHREW: One was recorded on 22nd February.
NOCTULE: One identified on 29th June.
PIPISTRELLE: At least five were identified on the 29th June.
RABBIT: Animals were recorded throughout the year but in declining numbers. Kits were noted from 29th April to 30th July. There was a marked decrease (from general observations) from the high numbers of a few years ago. Towards the end of the year, October to December, a note was made when entering or leaving the site of any animals seen on the roadway. Numbers were ten or, more usually, fewer with three to six the norms at any one visit. Very few have been seen on, what I call the triangular field (first field on left on drive), which I have put down to waterlogging during last winter. Even the ‘bowling green’ areas in the main field have become overgrown this year. It may be that that the slaughter within the station area is responsible for this decline. The normal predators that rely on the Rabbit for a food supply may well be suffering with, now, an abnormal number of predators chasing a dwindling food supply – a knock on effect from the station killings. Several years ago it was normal to see some 20 Rabbits in the car park and 80 to 100 by the RWPH. I wonder if this has something to do with the original farm being named Warren Farm? There was no evidence of myxomatosis.
BROWN HARE: Unbelievably there were only two sightings this year, 30th March and 7th April. The decline of this animal is alarming to say the least.
GREY SQUIRREL: Recorded throughout the year and breeds on the Reserve. A notorious scourge of the nest boxes both by damaging the contents (eggs and young birds) and by taking over the boxes for their own purposes. Commonly visits the feeding station at all times of the year. Whenever possible this animal is discouraged.
BANK VOLE: Records of these animals are usually made at the feeding station area. Noted on 1st January, 4th February, 9th March, 27th October and 26th December. Away from the GFH one was found under a tin with four young in September.
FIELD VOLE: Not recorded.
WOOD MOUSE: Four were disturbed from a winter nest under a traffic cone on 2nd November and three were still there on the 30th.
HARVEST MOUSE: Not recorded.
HOUSE MOUSE: Not recorded.
BROWN RAT: One was recorded on 28th August.
RED FOX: With the exception of November was recorded/reported throughout the year. Recorded on six dates in January but only one in February. Was seen twice in March and one was found dead on the 30th. In April was logged on three dates and once in May. In June was seen on three dates and in July twice – one on the 22nd was a dog as it cocked it leg on the Purple Loosestrife before continuing along the Strip. Three dates in August and again in September with two in October. In December one was recorded by trail cam on nine dates from 12th to 31st. Two on the 21st was the only claim of more than one animal. No family groups were seen this year although several records related to young animals.