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LATEST NEWS FROM OGSTON
 
WELCOME TO THE NEW LOOK WEBSITE
It seems fashionable nowadays to get a "makeover" and the Ogston website is no exception. Welcome to the new look Ogston website.
On the site you'll find most of your old pages and a few new ones too. Just take a look around by clicking on the navigation buttons at the top and the bottom of the pages. The site will be developing over the next few months so at the minute it's still a work in progress.
As this "Front Page" is meant mainly for news items, anyone that would like anything of interest added, please let the Web Team know. If you have anything for sale, please get in touch. I doubt if we'll ever be a rival to eBay but you could have something other members are looking for and make yourself a few bob as well.
OGSTON DAILY REPORT
All the latest sightings at Ogston will be updated and can be found by clicking on the Ogston Daily Report button at the top of the page.
LOCAL NEWS
All sightings from other parts of Derbyshire can be found by clicking on the Local News button at the top of the page.
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER
As mentioned in the recent Newsletter, some members are still trespassing on Severn Trent land by going out onto the feeder areas.
Club members are only allowed onto the paths and in the hides. Anywhere else at Ogston is out of bounds. We have keyholders who feed the birds regularly so there is no need for anyone else to go onto the feeder areas. Our Landlords, Severn Trent have made it very clear that any encroachment onto their land could be taken as a breach of our lease conditions. It is also an Ogston Bird Club ruling.
As a reminder, anyone seen or reported to be on the banks or on the areas in front of or around the hides will have their Ogston membership reviewed.
4th February: WORKS PARTY CANCELLED
Due to the current adverse weather conditions, both the works party and site meeting afterwards scheduled for the 5th February, HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.
Weather permitting, we intend to have this work party on Sunday 26th. February. Along with the site meeting at 12.30.
2nd February: WORK PARTY SUNDAY 5TH FEBRUARY
At the current time there is some doubt regarding the weather on Saturday into Sunday.We do not want to cancel the scheduled work party, or, the site meeting afterwards. It may be necessary though as all will appreciate. However, should any volunteer be unsure in the event of bad weather they phone John Parlby on 01773861262 or 07767652036.
In the event of having to cancel it is intended to try to rearrange in a couple of week's time. This for both the work party and the site meeting.
Please watch this space.
John Parlby
2nd February: GUIDED BIRD WALK
Next Saturday 4th February is the first Saturday of the Month Ogston guided bird walk. Read More....
31st January: SOME AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
Club member Dave Simmons has just returned from his trip to Australia and he has added a few images of the Australian birds he'd like to share with everyone to his website. Great sounding names that include a Fairy Wren, a Silvereye and the Red Wattlebird
Just visit Dave's Site and then click on the "Australia 2012" link.
30th January: BIG SCHOOLS BIRDWATCH
Over the three days that included Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last week, Nikki Mahadevan and the children from Handley school took part in the Big Schools Birdwatch and Read More....
27th January: SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT OGSTON
Late last year, the Club announced their decision to close down the feeder station adjacent to the new hide. Since that time there has been a lot of discussion about feeders in particular and club facilities in general.
To capture member's enthusiasm for this we have agreed to hold a Site Meeting on Sunday 5th February at 12.30 pm where improvement possibilities can be identified. The meeting is being attended by a cross section of members who will consider such ideas as the possible addition of extra windows in hides, natural feeding areas and fencing amongst others. If you wish to air your views please get in touch with Des Haslam on 07932 752973 or e-mail him at desassessor@yahoo.co.uk Des will collate all your views and share them with us at the site meeting. Watch this space - we will keep you posted about our progress.
Steve Slack, Publicity Officer
26th January: BIG SCHOOLS BIRDWATCH - BINOCULARS
Nikki Mahadevan has asked if we can help and was wondering if anyone has any old spare binoculars that they could donate to Stretton Handley Primary School for children to use for birdwatching activities.
Preferably in time to take part in the Big Schools's Birdwatch next week. The school is in the hamlet of Woolley Moor and within walking distance of Ogston Reservoir. Please contact the Web Team if you can help.
26th January: BINOCULARS APPEAL
Do you have any old binoculars that would enjoy a new lease of life? Former Trust education officer Carole Beavis is appealing for donations of old binoculars for the Bharaptur Bird Sanctuary in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. This important wetland reserve offers refuge to a huge number of migratory birds and other flora and fauna.
If you'd like to help, please email Carole on c.hockey@virgin.net
12th January: NEW PAGES ADDED TO WEBSITE
If you navigate to the bottom of each page on the website, you will see two new buttons have been added. These are Bird Report Index and Bird Report Archives.
The Bird Report Index page shows a list birds seen at clubs during 2012 and these include, Carsington Water, Carr Vale, Ogston and Wyver Lane.
The Bird Report Archives shows all the above club reports for earlier years. A complete mine of birding information.
11th January: JIM MART WORKS PARTY
The next organised work party at the Jim Mart lower reserve will be Saturday, 21st January, Read More....
9th January: ITEMS ADDED TO FOR SALE PAGE
Items of Canon photographic equipment have been added to the FOR SALE page....
6th January: ITEMS FOR SALE - PRICE REDUCTION
The Olympus camera on the FOR SALE page has now been reduced in price....
29th December: LATEST NEWSLETTER ADDED
The latest December 2011 Newsletter has now been added and is available to download on the Newsletter page.
30th November: FEEDERS AT OGSTON
At the meeting on November 23rd, the committee decided that the bird feeder adjacent to the new Sue Worsey hide should be removed and planted as per the original intention. Feeders have to be filled and it has proved very difficult to control access to the bank area on which it is sited. Additionally, access to the hide has, at times, been difficult as the hide door opens against the viewing window. Severn Trent have stated that, in accordance with the terms of our lease, reservoir bank areas are 'out of bounds' and we are obliged to comply.
24th November: OGSTON BIRD WALK
Saturday 3rd December is the first Saturday of the Month Ogston guided bird walk. Read More....
14th November: BIRD FOOD DONATIONS
A big thankyou to those who have kindly left donations of food and seed for the birds at Ogston. Your help and kindness is greatly appreciated.
14th November: JIM MART WORKS PARTY
The next organised work party at the Jim Mart lower reserve is this Saturday, 19th November, Read More....
8th November: PLEASE CLOSE THE DOORS AND GATES
There's been a problem recently with members leaving either the hide doors or the path gates wide open. Can everyone please remember to close and lock the path gates and, if you're the last to leave the hides, close and lock the doors and windows.
7th November: THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP
A big thank-you to those members who gave up their time and took the trouble to make themselves available for the works party on Sunday. Quite a bit of work was completed and a good start was made in cleaning up the area. Thank you very much, your help is greatly appreciated.
4th November: A GENTLE REMINDER
It is the first of the Ogston works parties this Sunday the 6th November, we desperately need your help. Starting at 09.30 at the hides, every contribution however small will be most welcome.
3rd November: OGSTON "FEED THE BIRDS" FUND
With the Winter months just around the corner and, if the weathermen are to be believed, it could be another bad one. Read More....
1st November: WORKS PARTY NOTICE
A few days ago we had notices up in both hides asking members to let us know if they would be attending the works party on Sunday. Unfortunately, due to the notices being removed for no understandable reason, we no longer have a list of the names that were on there.
If you had put your name on either of the notices, could you please contact John Parlby on 01773 861262 or by E-mail so we can work out the number to cater for.
27th October: NEW IMAGES ADDED TO GALLERY
A few more new images have been added to the Ogston Gallery
26th October: OGSTON BIRD WALK
Next Saturday 5th November is the first Saturday of the Month Ogston guided bird walk. Read More....
23rd October: NEW LINK AND IMAGES ADDED
A new link to birding holidays and more images have been added to the site.
19th October: YOUR HELP NEEDED
The vegetation in front of the hides and surrounding areas has grown considerably this year. Read More....
18th October: A BIG THANK YOU
As the work on the upgraded feeder area near the new hide is almost finished, the Ogston Bird Club would like to say a big thank you to all those who have helped. Their hard work in getting the area cleared, the feeder poles and fittings made and all the hard work that has been done is much appreciated.
The new area can now be enjoyed by all club members whether they have a camera or a pair of binoculars in their hands. It is hoped that as the birds come back and the colder weather draws nearer we can all make use of the hard work that has been carried out over the last few weeks.
There are still a few moss covered logs to go in along with a number of dead branches to make the area look more natural.
Hopefully we will also be sent a few more photographs for the Website Gallery to add to those already there.
16th October: OGSTON TRIP REPORT
On Sunday 9th October the OBC trip took place to Frampton Marsh, Read More....
16th October: NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
The next OBC committee meeting is on the 23rd November. If anyone would like to discuss anything to be brought up at the meeting, committee member Diane Haynes will be at Ogston on Saturday 19th November from 9.30am till 12.00 noon. Or she can be contacted by phone on the evening of the 18th.
15th October: JIM MART RESERVE
A big thank you is due to all the club members who came on Saturday's work party at the reserve. We had perfect autumnal weather and everyone really knuckled down to the tasks in hand. Our key objective for the day was completed on time and the work-site, which was largely on our neighbour's land, was left clear of debris - a credit to the club.
14th October: OGSTON WEASEL HITS THE BIG TIME
If anyone happens to see a Weasel that seems to be strutting around more than they normally do, it's because he's hit the big time, the Countryfile Calendar.
During a cold, early morning session in the big hide along with yours truly, Ogston member Mark Blake took a photo of the Weasel as it ran over the frozen, snow covered pond to the left of the hide. He then sent it off to the Countryfile Calendar competition where it was eventually chosen as one of the 12 finalists.
This gives us all the more reason to go out and buy the calendar and support the Children In Need cause at the same time. Well done Mark.
Mike Swain
12th October: OGSTON BIRD WALK
The next Ogston Bird Club guided walk will take place next Saturday 5th November Read More....
11th October: JIM MART RESERVE WORKS PARTY
The next organised work party at the Jim Mart lower reserve is this Saturday, 15th October Read More....
9th October: BIRD REPORT ARCHIVES ADDED
The Bird Report Archives have now been added to the new look site. The button can be found at the bottom of the pages.
6th October: ITEMS FOR SALE & MORE NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES ADDED
More of the old Newsletters have been added to the Archives and a new item has been added to the For Sale page.
5th October: NEW IMAGES & LINKS ADDED
A new link and new images have been added to the site. Click on the Links and Gallery pages to see the new items.
2nd October: DATES FOR WORK PARTIES
We now have confirmed dates for the Ogston works parties Read More....
30th September: WELDING HELP URGENTLY NEEDED
One of the projects we're current working on is improving the feeder area to the South of the new hide. New feeders will be put up and mounted on metal poles to keep the rats and squirrels at bay.
We will be buying the metal from Twiggs in Matlock but we urgently need help to get the metal foot plates welded onto the poles. If anyone can help or advise where we can get welding done locally, we would like to here from you. Please contact Mike Swain E-mail
26th September: VOLUNTEERS DESPERATELY NEEDED
We're sure it has not gone unnoticed that the vegetation in front of the hides and surrounding areas has grown considerably this year.... Read More....
OGSTON BIRD WALK
The next Ogston Bird Club guided walk will take place on Saturday 1st October. Meet at 9:30am. Click here for more details
OGSTON BIRD CLUB OUTING
There will be a coach trip to Frampton Marsh on Sunday the 9th October. The cost of the outing will be £10 per person.
For further details please click on the Events Diary button at the top of the page or contact Diane Haynes on 01332 757710 after 4pm.
OGSTON BIRDS OF PREY WORKSHOP
On Saturday, the 7th of May this year, 10 members took part in the Ogston Birds Of Prey photographic workshop. A full day's workshop taken by Sheffield based professional photographer Paul Hobson with help from yours truly.
The venue for the workshop was Grange Farm, which is situated in the picturesque village of Unstone on the outskirts of Chesterfield. Grange Farm is made up of a very old, listed farm house and a number of outbuildings. These and the surrounding areas were used as a backdrop for the birds which included Barn Owl, Peregrine, Tawny Owl and Kestrel. With Paul Hobson making full use of all the natural looking settings to show the beautiful birds at their very best.
Although the early morning rain left the ground and grassy fields a bit on the wet side everyone taking part had a really excellent and most enjoyable time. The only problems met were photographers running out of memory cards for their cameras, one very busy photographer coming away with over 1200 images.
There is a similar event planned for early next year and a further workshop for those with a wider taste in wildlife which will include, snakes, frogs, newts and other reptiles. It is hoped this event will also take place in the grounds of Grange Farm.
A big thank you from me to all those who took part and for making it such a great day out.
Mike Swain
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