Derbyshire County Birding (3 Viewers)

Afternoon at Carsington. 2 Whimbrels off Stones Island on the next rocky island (don't know what it's called), they were flying over Stones Island calling for a while then settled at 3.45 and were still there when we left after 4. Little Gull at the Wildlife Centre. Both divers between Sheepwash and Lane End, and 3 Lesser Whitethroats between Sheepwash and the Wildlife Centre. 3 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover flying about as well.

Nice afternoon, and clearly the entire population of the East Midlands decided to visit as well.

tom mckinney said:

Afternoon at Carsington. 2 Whimbrels off Stones Island on the next rocky island (don't know what it's called), they were flying over Stones Island calling for a while then settled at 3.45 and were still there when we left after 4. Little Gull at the Wildlife Centre. Both divers between Sheepwash and Lane End, and 3 Lesser Whitethroats between Sheepwash and the Wildlife Centre. 3 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover flying about as well.

Nice afternoon, and clearly the entire population of the East Midlands decided to visit as well.

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Tom, if you mean the one with the hut on to the right of Stones Island then it's called Sailing Club Island.

Wyver Lane Bird Notes
April 2013

Highlights include: Bittern, Egyptian Geese, Marsh Harrier, Yellow Wagtail,
Redstart, Whinchat, Wood Warbler, and common migrants (eventually).

An unseasonably cold and wintry month held back a lot of our migrants, but some
high quality birds more than made up for it.

With one Bittern having departed in early March the second bird stayed on into
April and was last seen on 11th ending its stay of 112 days. Maximum counts for
the month include 9 Cormorants on 11th, 3 Grey Herons on 16th and 20th, 2 Mute
Swans on 16th, 70 Greylag Geese on 18th, the first young of the year was 9 on 30th,
23 Canada Geese on 14th, 5 Egyptian Geese flew over Southeast on 20th, 2
Shelduck most of the month, 3 Mandarin on 16th and 25th, 23 Wigeon on 1st and
the last record was 12 on 9th, 7 Gadwall on 25th, 45 Teal on 11th, 4 Shoveler on
11th, 2 Pochard on several dates, 16 Tufted Ducks on 11th, 4 Goosanders on 1st.

A cream crowned Marsh Harrier flew around the main pool then departed North on
the afternoon of 9th. The bird was wearing green wing tags and was subsequently
found to have been tagged in Northwest Norfolk. 7 Buzzards on 13th, 2 Sparrowhawks
on 13th and 16th, the first Hobby of the year was on 27th, both Peregrine and Kestrel
seen on many dates.

13 Moorhens on 16th, 15 Coots on 16th, 4 Oystercatchers on 21st and 25th, 172 Black
headed Gulls on 13th, 5 Common Gulls on 1st, 3 Herring Gulls on 16th, 2 Stock Doves
on many dates, the first Swift of the year was 1 on 21st followed by 2 on 29th, a Skylark
over on 1st, 3 Sand Martins on 4th and 18 on 11th, 120 Swallows on 27th, 20 House
Martins on 28th, a Yellow Wagtail on 14th and 15th, 2 Grey Wagtails on several dates,
2 Whinchats on 26th and 1 on 28th are the first records since September 2008, a male
Redstart near Wyver Woods on 18th was joined by a female on 20th, the first Sedge
Warbler on 20th with 2 on 24th and 30th, Whitethroat on 25th, a Lesser Whitethroat on
28th, a Garden Warbler on 28th, 5 Blackcaps 30th, 5 Chiffchaffs on 16th, a Willow
Warbler on 16th with 4 on 18th. A singing male Wood Warbler was in trees at the
southern end of the reserve on 30th. It was present all day to the delight of around 20
birders who came down. It's the third record for Wyver and the first since 1/05/1988.
2 Nuthatch on 23rd, 2 Treecreepers also on 23rd, 2 Ravens on 25th, a male Brambling
at the feeders on 24th and 5 Reed Buntings on 18th.
__________________

Last night at WGP - 1 Grey Plover (in winter plumage), 4 Dunlin, 11 Common Terns, 2 Groppers, 3 Yellow Wags, 2 LRP.

This morning Richard P had a Little Tern briefly at 07.10 . Just 1 Dunlin and 2 LRP still around.

Spent the afternoon at Doveridge yesterday. Wasn't really birding but as we approached the river we disturbed a female Goosander with at least 20 young. Never seen so many young with what looked like just one female. Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff in song. A few House Martins gathering mud from the river bank for their nests. In previous years it used to be good for Sand Martins nesting in the river bank but no sign of any.

Papa 10 said:

Please see
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46473
and then both sign up and encourage as many of your friends as possible to do similarly.

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Signed Dan thanks :t: Ro[/QUOTE]

Also signed

Not a great deal to report from Wyver today but Greylag young seem to be increasing almost daily. Today there was 43 adults and 27 young. Only wildfowl was 8 Gadwall, 2 drake Mandarin and 15 Mallard and surprisingly no young of the latter yet.

Not sure what's happening with the Oycs. One day she seems to be sitting then the next day she isn't. This time last year they were 3 days away from hatching out young but that seems a long way off. Unusually for this time of year there is some mud around the edges but the only other wader we are getting is Lapwing.

Male Redstart singing up near Wyver Woods but couldn't see it. Blackcap and Chiffchaff in good numbers. Also a few Whitethroats, 2 Sedge and a Willow Warbler.

Quite a few Butterflies out in the glorious early spring sunshine including my fist Holly Blue of the year. Also a Comma, Green Veined White, Peacock and a few Small Torts.

The Mandarins have been coming under the feeders for a while now giving good photographic opportunities. Also one of the Wood Warbler last week.

Already signed petition. Live near grouse moors and have been saddened by repeated 'failiure' of Hen Harrier nests.

Had a fair fe hours around Carsington today, (6th) As it was stupidly busy we went towards the dam wall to go onto millfields. As we walked past the sailing club a Water Shrew went shooting through the undergrowth! Nothing much on the dam wall, just a handfull of pied wags, I was hoping for a white but no look.
Got to millfields and there seemed to be Blackcaps everywhere. 2 Common Sandpipers were around there too. A good few whitethroats were also singing. Walking round produced more blackcaps, and good numbers of chiffchaff and willow warbler too. I had 4 Willow tits at the bottom end of fishtail creek. I did pick up on another warbler that was not a willow or chiffy, it was noticeably smaller and it wasn't a goldcrest, a rather loud mooing from a herd of cows spooked it and of it shot. A great spotted was calling in the fishtail creek area as well as a very vocal raven. Just got round the corner and the pushchair wheel ran flat on us, quite fortunate actually as we made a phonecall to family back at the vis centre saying we will be taking a while to get back, Phil the ranger was talking to my mum and dad and came and picked us up in the landrover, which gave me chance to walk round stones, walking in to Black Terns! 1 appeared first and I moved as quickly as I could, and there were 7 in total. Dropped a text to Dave incase he was near by. They were still there when we left at 20:30. What a cracking way to end the day with both divers just sitting beyond the terns.

Still the 2 G.N.Divers at Carsington yesterday. Both the adult and the immature bird had a brief fly around so maybe they are ready for leaving....it's that time anyway. There was a single Turnstone present in the morning which was joined by 2 more birds later on.

Also a Dunlin, 4 Common Sands, 5+ Oycs, 5 LRP, 7+ Redshank, 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Common Terns, 2 Yellow Wagtails and good numbers of Warblers especially Whitethroats, Gardens and Sedge.

http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/

Derbys first Peregrine egg has hatched.

Had a new garden bird at the weekend...........a Red Kite circled high above Crich Lane woods for a few mins and then drifted off towards Holbrook side of Belper. It was on view long enough to get a neighbour on to it who has seen this several times over the past couple of years, but Ive always been out.
Another straggler or a sign of a more resident bird that is following the same routine? The valley there is certainly very productive nowadays.

Yesterday both Chris and myself did the alldayer down Wyver. We always do 10 hours and last year we did 10.30-20.30 but yesterday we did 06.00.16.00.
We managed 56 species which is 1 better than last year and equals the autumn count from last year.

Full list as follows with counts in brackets: Cormorant (3), Grey Heron (1), Pink-footed Goose (1), Greylag Goose (32 adults and 61 young), Canada Goose (adults with 8 young), Mandarin (1), Gadwall (7), Mallard, Tufted Duck (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Buzzard (2), Kestrel (1), Hobby (1), Pheasant (4), Moorhen (5), Coot (11), Oystercatcher (2), Snipe (1), BH Gull (6), LBB Gull (1), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl (1), Swift (10+), Green Woodpecker (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Sand Martin (1), Swallow (30+), House Martin (50+), Pied Wagtail (1), Wren (16), Dunnock (1), Robin (11), Redstart (1), Blackbird (3), Song Thrush (1), Mistle Thrush (1), Sedge Warbler (3), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Whitethroat (3), Blackcap (7), Chiffchaff (6), Long-tailed Tit (2), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit (12), Great Tit (5), Nuthatch (1), Jay (1), Magpie (12), Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch (5), Goldfinch (2), Bullfinch (1), Reed Bunting (6).

We then had a couple of hours at Carsington. Highlights were a Turnstone, 2 Whimbrel, several Redshanks, Oycs and LRP's and 2 Common Terns, Earlier in the day there had been a Sanderling. It looks like the G.N.Divers have now gone. Roger watched the remaining juvenile fly around and gaining height early on Thursday morning and there has been no sign of the adult for a few days now.

Anyone know any more about the Lesser Kestrel that has had a full submission from Burnaston over the past few weeks? Looks good apparently.

Also a full description of WTE over Mansfield on 30th April has gone in too. Must have been close to us........

Daniel Martin said:

Anyone know any more about the Lesser Kestrel that has had a full submission from Burnaston over the past few weeks? Looks good apparently.

Also a full description of WTE over Mansfield on 30th April has gone in too. Must have been close to us........

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No, but I would liked to have known.

Been meaning to post a few photos from Carsi, but not had time.

Grey Plover at Carr Vale this morning. Never a common Wader to catch up with in the county.

DaveN said:

Grey Plover at Carr Vale this morning. Never a common Wader to catch up with in the county.

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Couldn't find it just after dinner:-C Then the rains came......

Steph'

just seen on rba ..the funeral of john eaton today??? I take it its a different one to ours??

arniemonkey said:

just seen on rba ..the funeral of john eaton today??? I take it its a different one to ours??

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I bloody well hope so as I'm not in a box at the moment, or am I o ?

he s back ! arghhh walking dead!!!