April Bird Watching walk - finally no snow!

Having cancelled the walks for January and March 2018, it was good for the walk to get back to normal in April.
 11 people enjoyed a pleasant walk with 22 species sighted. Highlights included..
 A pair of Mallards with 8 ducklings the first noted breeding report for 2018.
 As happens at Markeaton, Nuthatches were very much in evidence and quickly scavenged the bird food we placed at strategic places.
 Summer migrants are starting to arrive, including a single male Blackcap, and a Chiffchaff.
 At the end of a 90 minute walk, we returned to find a pair of Mandarin Ducks on the duck pond by the craft village.
The 30 new nest boxes made at the recent FOMP nest box making session, have been erected around the park, with a Robin nest box and a Blue Tit nest box in the walled garden. We watch with interest!! 
Happy Birding
David Bennett   The Allestree Birdman blog.

February Bird Walk Report

The January 2018 Bird walk having been cancelled due to a surprise snow storm, 11 people turned up for the first “happening”, in February. This was the highest number of people on the walk and show that the Derby Live advertising is helping us.
Sadly the birds did not read the publicity and were quite thin on the ground. Pamela, coming as usual, heavily laden with bird foot brought out a good variety at the feeding table, and for a shear show of numbers, Nuthatches ruled the day.
Bird of the Day (BOD to fellow birders), was a perching Kestrel, visible for just long enough for us all to see before it went hunting.
Happy Birding
David Bennett   The Allestree Birdman blog.