Derbyshire County Birding (1 Viewer)

[ChinaBirds]

Hi all,

Should be doing Allestree Park tomorrow morning; first light. I realise Daniel has had Lesser Pecker near the lower lake, but are there any favoured areas?

Also hope to do Willington GPs after; does anyone know which of the many pits the 'Canal Pit' is, and how to get there?

Cheers

Dan

Hi Dan,
Was in Allestree yesterday, best bet is to walk the wood that goes up the hill from bottom lake to the car park at the top of the hill, I found the birds about half way up the hill feeding and drumming at the top of the trees. Good luck

Cheers
Nick

 

[dan pointon]

Hi Dan,
Was in Allestree yesterday, best bet is to walk the wood that goes up the hill from bottom lake to the car park at the top of the hill, I found the birds about half way up the hill feeding and drumming at the top of the trees. Good luck

Cheers
Nick

Cheers Nick. Whereabouts is the Car Park? Off Main Avenue somewhere?

Cheers

D

 

[dan pointon]

Nailed um at about half seven this morning, superb views of both a male and a female, drumming and calling. They were in the wood you directed me to, cheers Nick. Had a male down to less than 20ft drumming and calling on a dead stump, if anyone wants exact directions don't hesitate to PM me.

Cheers

D

 

[John Eaton]

Hi Dan,

Did you 'do' Willington as well?

I've been birding Willington for years and never heard of "canal pit" - neither have some other regulars. I can only assume it is the pit found by walking up the canal from Willington. From the DWT you need to walk around the back and go over the green footbridge (passes over the rail line) then turn left at the canal tow path. Walk the tow path for about half a mile or so. You'll see a big pit on the left. Near the far end of the pit you can climb a gate and view the very large pit from the bank. Good place for waders. Not been up there for a while, but the last time I was up they appeared to be levelling part of the pit.

 

[dan pointon]

Hi Dan,

Did you 'do' Willington as well?

I've been birding Willington for years and never heard of "canal pit" - neither have some other regulars. I can only assume it is the pit found by walking up the canal from Willington. From the DWT you need to walk around the back and go over the green footbridge (passes over the rail line) then turn left at the canal tow path. Walk the tow path for about half a mile or so. You'll see a big pit on the left. Near the far end of the pit you can climb a gate and view the very large pit from the bank. Good place for waders. Not been up there for a while, but the last time I was up they appeared to be levelling part of the pit.

Hi John,

Yes, I 'did' Willington

The Canal Pit as such is the one you describe; and I found it ok. A couple of Green Sandpipers where nice, as were 3+ LRP, and good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Redshank. No sign of yesterdays Barwit. Also had a wander down the lane towards the viewing points, not too much doing down there just a single Willow Tit and some Sand Martin. Heard that there's been surveyors on site all week, as there is talk of building a new housing estate on the area closest to Willington? I really like this site, it seems to have brilliant potential, so hopefully this is not true as it could spoil an excellent nature reserve.

Cheers

D

 

[mooskibaby]

There are 2 common Scoters at Ogston reservoir at the moment, a male and a female.

 

[ChinaBirds]

A lone Swallow spent about 2 minutes flying around the Visitor Centre at Carsington Water today before heading off north

Cheers
Nick

 

[Richard Powell]

I'm really going to have to find this Canal pit at Willington! Birdguides.com have reported three Avocets there this morning.

 

[dan pointon]

I'm really going to have to find this Canal pit at Willington! Birdguides.com have reported three Avocets there this morning.

Hi Richard,

I can try and direct you; here goes nothing! Go down the usual entrance track, and park by the sign with the map of the sight. Go through the gap beside the metal gate with the huge concrete blocks, on your right. Follow this track round, past two pits on your left, and you come to a conveyer belt type thing on your left, and an open area on your right. Follow this conveyer belt round to join a path that runs round the edge of a large rectangular field. Follow this path and you will see a path running parallel to the railway, turn right on to this, but walk south, towards a large green footbridge over the railway. (if ever you can't follow these directions just aim for the footbridge). Take the footbridge, and you come out on the Canal towpath. Walk left down this, and under a lane bridge. The scrape is on your left from here- you can view the scrape from there but you might do better walking a bit further down the towpath as views are better.

Good luck

D

 

[Richard Powell]

Thanks Dan. I'll give it a try soon.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Lesser Peckers

Hi guys

Glad you got a result - the area Dan describes is def best in my experience this spring. My mate went Wed and phoned me from there for directions - a good, sunny morning which makes a difference.

If anyone hasnt been I would park on Evans Avenue and just walk through the gate past the lake.

With foilage ready to bloom they wont be easy for much longer..........

Regards, Dan.

 

[dan pointon]

Hi guys

Glad you got a result - the area Dan describes is def best in my experience this spring. My mate went Wed and phoned me from there for directions - a good, sunny morning which makes a difference.

If anyone hasnt been I would park on Evans Avenue and just walk through the gate past the lake.

With foilage ready to bloom they wont be easy for much longer..........

Regards, Dan.

Indeed. When you get the concrete hut thing on your left, head diagonally right up hill along the wood that stretches north away from the wood. Take the central path up here and the birds were drumming on a very large Y shaped dead stump. Here's a map link, the birds were in the area at the top right of the red circle:

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse....table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=1&scale=25000

 

[lesf]

Cannot believe it...I missed the two Avocets at Carsington by 5minutes...had to go shopping and apparantly they came back about 10mins after I left, Oh well you cannot win 'em all! Was hoping they would be there today but no news so far!
3 Shelduck, 3 drake Shoveler and the GN Diver were nice but not much compensation, still it was my own fault for giving up so quick!!!

Cheers

For someone who is rather disappointed with Carsington (but still visits often) I must hold my hand up for it was I who first spotted the Avocets on 15th March at 11-13am from the Paul Stanley Hide ironic really the first time I have been in the hide alone and the first time I needed another birder to confirm my sightings, had to run around to the Sheepwash Hide to drag a birder round. Thanks Dave

 

[Richard Powell]

Anna

I read your letter in April's Birdwatching magazine this evening. I don't think anyone on this website would think you were strange! I was in the same position when I was 17, so keep it going!

Richard

 

[Daniel Martin]

2 Common Scoter still sleeping left of the dam wall at Ogston this afto. Also female Scaup and at least 2 House Martins in with a dozen or so Sandies. Several pairs of GC Grebes dancing to each other.

Dan.

 

[James_Owen]

So... does anybody know whether it'll be worth me nipping up to Carsington this weekend to see the owl, or is it really a lost cause now?

 

[geordie121]

Hi,
i never see any reports from pleasley pit. I like it, the volenteer group has done a lot of good work up there. This morning there was a few tufties,mallards,1 grey heron, 1 ruddy duck, 2 great crested grebes, little grebes,coots,moorhens, 5+snipe,3 redshanks,1 kestrel but of real note was the 3 wheatears and 1 little ringed plover.

Cheers

geordie:t:

 

[mooskibaby]

Over the last day or so there have been reports of 2 Redshank, and a Goshawk at Ogston Reservoir, I have failed to see these so far. I went to Ogston today and saw 2 Oystercatchers, and 3 Reed Buntings, and I also heard a Chiffchaff.

 

[foxwood]

Anna

I read your letter in April's Birdwatching magazine this evening. I don't think anyone on this website would think you were strange! I was in the same position when I was 17, so keep it going!

Richard

Me too, Anna! You've had a previous letter published as well, haven't you? About the walk round Osmaston? Well done! :t:

Don't worry, none of us on here think you in the least strange, just very keen and enthusiastic. A breath of fresh air!

Keep on enjoying your bird watching and don't worry about what those people say. Hope you find a job where you can put your obvious love of nature to good use!

Regards

Mike

 

[James_Owen]

For what it's worth, I had a brief scout at Carsington for the LEO on the way home from the Derby Dales today, and nada. Guess it had hardly chosen the best location.

Hi,
i never see any reports from pleasley pit. I like it, the volenteer group has done a lot of good work up there. This morning there was a few tufties,mallards,1 grey heron, 1 ruddy duck, 2 great crested grebes, little grebes,coots,moorhens, 5+snipe,3 redshanks,1 kestrel but of real note was the 3 wheatears and 1 little ringed plover.

Cheers

geordie:t:

The pit is covered by some local birders, but many avoid it because of the disturbance from kids and dog-walkers. It's good cycling country so I'm there fairly often. On and off it was good for Yellow Wagtail last year, Barn and Little Owl are associated with the place, and last year I had my first local Ruff there. You can't miss the Green Woodpecker.
Haven't seen any Kingfisher yet though, despite the recent addition of sticks over the water whuch I assume have been placed there with them in mind.