Carsington Water Bird Notes October 2014
October Highlights: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Brent Goose, Merlin, Great Skua, Baltic Gull? and Rock Pipit.
Quite a mixed bag this month weather wise with rain, wind, sun, and above average temperatures to finish the month off. And 98 species is the lowest since 2008. Maximum waterbird counts this month were on the WeBS count on 23rd unless stated: an adult Great Northern Diver on 28th only, 24 Little Grebe on 20th, 46 Great Crested Grebes on 20th, the Black-necked Grebe from last month present until the 29th at least, 25 Cormorants on 5th, 4 Grey Herons on 5th, 36 Mute Swans on 7th, 5 Whooper Swans on 22nd and 3 on 29th, 170 Pink-footed Geese through on 24th, and three skeins totalling 119 birds through on 29th, 11 Greylag Geese on 5th, 355 Canada Geese on 5th, 28 Barnacle Geese through high on 12th (wild birds?). A Brent Goose on 27th reported of the race Pale bellied would be only the second record for Derbyshire of this race, however, the bird was associating with Canada Geese so could be destined to fall into the category ‘escapee’. 342 Wigeon, 15 Gadwall on 22nd, 173 Teal on 17th, 117 Mallard, 5 Pintail on 5th, 3 Shoveler on 5th and 16th, 1 Red-crested Pochard on 9th, 136 Pochard, 290 Tufted Duck on 17th, the first returning Goldeneye was on 18th with 2 on 31st, 6 Goosander on 22nd-23rd and 1318 Coot. A presumed escapee Snow Goose present on 5th and 9th.
Raptors include 2 Sparrowhawks on 14th, 19th and 28th, 5 Buzzards on 3rd, 2 Kestrel on 14th, 29th and 31st, a Merlin on 15th and 27th and a Peregrine seen on several dates. Waders this month include: 4 Ringed Plover on 4th, 6 Golden Plover through west on 27th, 139 Lapwing on 28th, 3 Dunlin on 31st, 8 Snipe on 31st, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits on 23rd, a single Redshank throughout most of the month, a Green Sandpiper on 4th and the last Common Sandpiper was on 19th.
A Great Skua was found flying near Lane End hide on 14th and was still present up until 12.00hrs the following day. This is the second record of ‘Bonxie’ this year and continues the enigma of Great Skuas at Carsington where over half the county records come from this one site alone. A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull on 17th and 21st and an adult on 28th, c6’000 Black-headed Gulls on 23rd. A ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull on 15th was traced back to being ringed in Cumbria, and another on 18th traced a little further afield to Rotterdam. A Lesser Black-backed Gull type on 27th and 30th showed many characteristics of Baltic Gull (Larus Fuscus Fuscus). However, without a ring identification is difficult to prove. 3 Yellow-legged Gulls on 29th.
Autumn movement saw a massive 5430 Wood Pigeons through south on 20th. There were 3 Stock Doves on 31st, 25 Collared Doves on 24th. Skylark passage included 38 through on 5th, the last Swallows were 7 on 5th, 48 Meadow Pipits on 27th, a Rock Pipit on 15th and another on 22nd, 45 Pied Wagtails on 22nd, 2 Stonechats on Wildlife Centre creek from 26th. Winter thrush passage include 352 Fieldfare on 31st and 1352 Redwings also on 31st. 7 Song Thrush on 24th, 3 Chiffchaffs on 7th, 4 Goldcrest on 22nd, 424 Jackdaws going to roost on 5th, a Raven on 31st. 320 Starlings on 31st, 25 Chaffinch on 23rd, a Brambling on 26th, 6 Greenfinch on 28th, 120 Goldfinch on 22nd, 2 Siskin on 20th, 8 Linnets on 7th, a Lesser Redpoll on 28th and 29th, 6 Bullfinch on 7th, a Yellowhammer on 5th and 19th and 4 Reed Buntings through on 5th.
98 species recorded this October compared with 103 in 2013, 104 in 2012, 103 in 2011 and 109 in 2010.