Derbyshire County Birding (1 Viewer)

[arniemonkey]

just driving back from carsington ..dipping on the smew again...i saw a great grey shrike in the tree in a small layby heading back to middleton 6o yds before the brassington and stone works sign spun the car it was still there then after texting a few birders no sign

 

[Daniel Martin]

Anyone off to London this weekend for Slaty Backed Gull??

 

[arniemonkey]

its not confirmed yet is it ..a long way to go if your not sure

 

[Daniel Martin]

its not confirmed yet is it ..a long way to go if your not sure

Looks pretty good so far and a real land mark bird. Gulls do divide opinion but I am a fan and enjoy anything like this, even if it proves unidentifiable (which I dont think it will).

 

[Gomphus]

Bu****d for the SBGull this weekend it seems, plus not fit to drive any distance just at the moment... I got a call at 1.30am this morning giving heads up on the bird and giving me time to get down there.... sadly didn't I didn't react, should have tho', never mind. Sounded hard to connect with though early on at least. Will have to try in the week if it sticks and I can drive.

Looks good but the mantle shade is a bit pale perhaps, but off photo's very hard to judge?

GGShrike near Middleton by Wirksworth this pm apparently EDIT I see arniemonkey found it Well Done!:t::t:

ATB

Steph'

 

[Daniel Martin]

R L Buzzard from Windy Corner again this morning (had a message this am whilst at footy).
Apparently male Hen Harrier showed twice too.

 

[DaveN]

A steady if not spectacular day at Carsington today. Started as usual at Millfields where there was a Kingfisher and a Redshank. Had a good look for the Smew along the Dam Wall but to no avail although It was seen near there later in the day.

Very quiet on the Dam itself but plenty of Wildfowl just off it including 25 Goldeneye. On to Stones Island where there was 2 Shelduck on the back of the island, a single Meadow Pipit, Snipe, and a Curlew flew over calling. Also 65 Lapwing in front of Sailing Club.

Not a lot at the Wildlife Centre so I walked round to Sheepwash. Presumably the same 2 Shelduck was now here together with a pair of Pintail. A couple of birders had seen a flock of c10 Waders fly past presumed to be Dunlin but I only had one, also another couple of Redshank. Only one GN Diver was seen and the last time 2 were seen was on Thursday.

The usual Yellow-legged Gull was there including at least a dozen Herring Gulls, 1 adult GBB Gull and lots of BH Gulls and Lessers. The only Raptors was a Kestrel and then a very tatty looking Peregrine flew past the hide mid afternoon.

 

[DaveN]

Both GN Divers present today at Carsington from Lane End hide. The female Smew was at first near the Sailing Club then at Sheepwash a little later.

2 Pink-footed Geese on Stones Island with the Canada Geese. 144 Lapwing with most in front of Sailing Club and some at Sheepwash. 3 Redshank around Wildlife Centre.

3 Pintail and 4 Goosander at Sheepwash. Also c25 Goldeneye, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 5 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel caught what I think was a Pied Wagtail. 2 Grey Herons and a Meadow Pipit.

 

[tvmr_birder]

Hi all,

Little Egret, 2 Redshank, 2 Goosander & 1 Goldeneye (the latter down from a whopping 25 during the worst of the Xmas weather) at Newton Solney this morning - though the high 3 figure counts of Wigeon & Canadas of New Year are all gone now.

Happy Birding,

Matt.

 

[ChrisLuv]

I had six Hawfinch at Cromford today (opposite side of the canal from the church on the trees there), had decent but distant views. Apparently there were 7 in the Yews in the churchyard later.

Had 60 pink-feet over while I was there.

Later at Carsington had both GN Divers from Lane End hide, a pair of pintails from sheepwash, and a fem Goldeneye but couldn't track down the redhead smew. Plenty more goldeneye (at least 3 drake and 2 fem) and a Goosander down by the dam wall later.

 

[Daniel Martin]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=190609

interesting thread here on a poss Franklins in Lancs (following the Derbyshire bird).

A pair of Siskin in the garden this morning with Brambling are a welcome addition to the new list.

 

[DaveN]

Half decent day at Carsington today. Female Smew near the draw off tower and 3 female Goosander nearby. 2 juv Great Northern Divers seen from Lane End and Sheepwash. Around 30 Goldeneye in total. 315 Lapwing, 4 Redshank. Walking to Sheepwash and 43 Pink-feet flew west and another 170 west just over an hour later.

Pair of Pintail still in front of Sheepwash. 24 Barnacle Geese and a possible Cackling Goose....looked good but too distant to be sure. 1 Buzzard and a female Sparrowhawk. Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 15 Pheasants near the hide.

Not a massive Gull roost but a good count of c350 Common Gulls, c10 GBB Gulls, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Med Gull.

 

[DaveN]

Just received a text that there are 3 GN Divers at Carsi.

 

[Adam M]

I had six Hawfinch at Cromford today (opposite side of the canal from the church on the trees there), had decent but distant views. Apparently there were 7 in the Yews in the churchyard later.

I am thinking of going to look for the hawfinches on Wednesday. Can anyone help me out with best places to park and directions from there to the church (or other places where they might turn up?) Thanks in advance.

Adam

 

[DaveN]

I am thinking of going to look for the hawfinches on Wednesday. Can anyone help me out with best places to park and directions from there to the church (or other places where they might turn up?) Thanks in advance.

Adam

Hi Adam, the best place to park is in the Matlock Rugby Club car park. From the A6 go past the pay and display car park in the link at Cromford Wharf and turn right and over the cattle grid. All being well you wont have to walk far once you get out of the car. Just scan the trees that are around the car park to see if there are any there. And if that fails look towards the river and scan the tall trees on the horizon above the castle.



http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=de4+3rq

 

[Daniel Martin]

I am thinking of going to look for the hawfinches on Wednesday. Can anyone help me out with best places to park and directions from there to the church (or other places where they might turn up?) Thanks in advance.

Adam

In addition to Daves spot on directions, I have succesfully photographed them in the church yard opposite where you park. They get in the Yews and if you get lucky and there is no one about you can view from the car park and watch them quite easily (but this does depend upon a quiet period which arent easy to come by).

Got to the office this morning and a colleague said "what are all these pink birds??" - yes, 30+ Waxwings on berries, Barlborough Links - good start to a monday!

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Recommendations?

Hello,

A friend & I are thinking of heading up from Norfolk to look for some upland specialites in April & would like to know if anybody can recommend sites for Ring Ouzel, Dotterel & Black Grouse? We are thinking of visiting the upper Derwent Valley area as this area has been recommended for various raptors. Does anybody any areas nearby for the above species?
Cheers
Daniel

 

[Gomphus]

According to pager a Coues's Arctic Redpoll was photographed with Mealy's at Carr Vale (I think on Friday) and was possibly still around yesterday.

ATB

Steph'

 

[Daniel Martin]

10:47 01/02/11 Black-throated Diver Derbys Willington GPs
in area with no general access though may possible be viewable from the public footpath on Repton side of River Trent

Per BGuides - interesting record. Just trying to piece together exactly where it is. Some time since I have seen a Derbyshire BT.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Hello,

A friend & I are thinking of heading up from Norfolk to look for some upland specialites in April & would like to know if anybody can recommend sites for Ring Ouzel, Dotterel & Black Grouse? We are thinking of visiting the upper Derwent Valley area as this area has been recommended for various raptors. Does anybody any areas nearby for the above species?
Cheers
Daniel

Hi Daniel - PM me nearer your visit. Dotterel will be passage birds and unlikely in early April. Black Grouse are reintroduced and lek in S Yorks, but can be seen in the area. Ring Ouzel are getting more difficult but there are a couple of well known spots in the area you mention.

As for raptors, not quite the place it once was. Goshawk and Peregrine are much easier at lowland sites that I wont broadcast. Both have suffered enormous persecution in the Upper Derwent recently.