Derbyshire County Birding (1 Viewer)

[Gomphus]

Hi all,

Managed to get down to Foremark this evening and the gull was present and viewable albeit restless and mobile and usually fairly distant, sadly in my opinion its a Herring Gull type, not Thayers. RJL also was of this opinion as were several others. Its an interesting bird but just doesn't tick the boxes for Thayer's (Looks rather like several other of this type that I have seen before). I did at first consider "Viking Gull" but that doesn't really fit. It stood on the spit with Herrings and looked as big and indeed bigger than some of the Herrings around it. It has quite a bulky look in flight with quite broad based wings too, looks to my eyes at least fairly bulky too on the ground and water. Head and bill look too aggressive with a pronounced eye "furrow" and a meanish look to me, a more angular head shape than Iceland types too, to my eyes at least.

I got some terrible video... (my old vids finally given up the ghost I think!) Richard took some too and I'm sure that's much better! On mine you can not see much feather detail but the jizz and size seems to come across ok for illustrative purposes.. Youtube seems to have made the video even worse by some degrees (!) but its here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja99GxOF2mk&feature=youtu.be best bit is where the gull is on the spit, you can see the size etc against the Herrings and Greater BB's

Good on Martin for flagging it up though. I'm sure he got shots as he was hiding behind a blind on the spit close to the birds. Be nice to see those with feather detail etc.

A few Mich's were in as was a prob 3rd winter cachinanns.

ATB

 

[Daniel Martin]

Couple of snippets. Adult Rough Leg in a tussle with Merlin at Ladybower yesterday seen by PB (per RT) and a juv male Hen Harrier in the north of the County per BG.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Foremark Gull

Per Martin Roome

 

[Daniel Martin]

Per Martin Roome

 

[Daniel Martin]

Another from Martin

 

[Gomphus]

Martins photos show more why he raised the id issues, much more than our distant views last night! Still don't think its a Thayer's though... but the hybrid thing possibility perhaps looks slightly more in the frame? Its a right weird looking bird!

Oh and I still would like to know if that Lesser Whitethroat has any more pics.... the more I look at that pic in the DOS gallery the more I suspect its an eastern one... maybe blythi (and can you see it from the road at all?)

Sib Chiffy again at Carr Vale (from Pager), oh and 1st Brambling in garden for the winter!

edit :- I see Lou over on the id forum has said he thinks the gull is a 2cy.... I wondered that last night...and Richard also mentioned it. Looking at Martins Pics above you might even be able to see a paler eye (a 2nd winter character) but I'm not really sure, its something I couldn't see at the range last night. I've been considering the hybrid thing again and been thinking what could it actually be a hybrid with? HerringxGlauc would surely look bulkier etc, so I have returned to thinking its a very washed out Herring not hybrid.......
atb

Steph'

 

[melodious]

Got to agree on that Lesser Whitethroat (with all provisos you've mentioned regarding single photos)

 

[Clive A]

Med gull in roost at Carsington again, also 3 YLG.

 

[Clive A]

On another note I see there is a wintering Lesser Whitethroat in a private garden in Eggington, I cannot help having an idle thought that it just might be one of these eastern type birds? Be nice to see a picture

ATB

Steph'

Surely got to be Steph? I am surprised this hasn't been followed up by DOS, much...or perhaps it has?

 

[tvmr_birder]

Hi all,

Had a lovely adult Med Gull at Shipley Lake today at 1200. The gull flock then seemed to disperse to feed on fields SW of Shipley View Lagoons.

Had 24 Goosanders at Kirk Hallam Lake also (a crazy number for such a small site), and a Wigeon, strangely.

Best Wishes,

Matt

 

[Clive A]

Popped up to Carsington this afto, no sign of the Med gull perhaps it has moved on to Shilpley! 3 YL gulls ,and a Kingfisher was performing well from Paul Stanley hide.

 

[Clive A]

This brightened up the day a little.

 

[Clive A]

Now 2 GN Divers at Carsington.

 

[DaveN]

Now 2 GN Divers at Carsington.

About time we got another one. I was just looking back when the other GND's appeared last winter. By Nov 27th a juv had joined the already present adult. On Jan 4th another juv was on site. Then RC thought he had 4 birds on Feb 8th with 4 confirmed on 15th.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Nice Fisher Clive! Bullfinch have been gathering to eat honeysuckle berries at home but taking pictures through glass is a bit crap.

 

[Clive A]

Nice Fisher Clive! Bullfinch have been gathering to eat honeysuckle berries at home but taking pictures through glass is a bit crap.

Thanks Dan, I should have done better though it was very close. Couldn't seem to get a sharp shot, maybe there is too much contrast. Never easy through glass is it? Try opening the window mate.

 

[Clive A]

About time we got another one. I was just looking back when the other GND's appeared last winter. By Nov 27th a juv had joined the already present adult. On Jan 4th another juv was on site. Then RC thought he had 4 birds on Feb 8th with 4 confirmed on 15th.

Thanks for the info Dave, couldn't age either bird today due to range and glare.
Fairly quiet otherwise up there, still loads of Pochard (or Poachard as someone insists on calling them) 2 YLG and a Redshank.

 

[tvmr_birder]

Green Sandpiper in flooded field on Bakeacre Lane in Findern today - the ability of this species to happily find random bits of floodwater well away from obvious navigational points such as Rivers is always impressive.

Best Wishes,

Matt

 

[Daniel Martin]

Had the last hour down Wyver with RT tonight. Not much to report other than 5 Shoveler, 2 Buzzard, 1 Pochard and a drake Goosander briefly before leaving north. The hide was busy so we scanned from the mound. We had a late hunting Sprawk flash past us and then sit on a dry stone wall. A lone Cormorant and several Stock Doves in the dead tree. Few passerines apart from Robin and several Blackbirds. The bird table on the mound seems oddly placed. RT filled it whilst there but nothing fed due to our being there. It would also be hard to view it without disturbing feeding birds.
No Snipe or Mandarin over. However the Corvid roost was a site to behold last thing.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Woke early so decided on a whim to get to Cromford before dawn. Plenty of Redwing and common finches about but Hawfinch were really elusive. Eventually got two above Willersley entrance but two car loads of fishermen turned up, slammed every car door three times and spoke in booming voices............needless to say that was it for Hawfinch.
I decided to nip up towards Beeley and had a good look around Bumper and Wraggs for an hour but no sign of GGS at all. Did get Stonechat there, with Buzzards, Kestrel, Raven and female Merlin nearby.
Had a look around Sitches and had plenty of Common Crossbill there but nothing more exciting.
Darley Dale chippy shut on Sundays Clive?! had to use Matlock Bath instead.....