Derbyshire County Birding (1 Viewer)

[Steve Dunn]

Apparently it circled the res for some time before I arrived this morning and then again tonight, no doubt getting ready for the off.....

Dan
Yesterday when we were there, the bird circled the reservoir for a short period but soon settled again.
By the way, thanks for the comments on the pix, the bird was actually past half way out, almost on a par with a moored boat on the far side. The pix I took were taken by holding a Sony Ericsson C905 camera phone up to a kowa TSN 883 at 60x.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Daniel Martin]

Gannet at Foremark

Hi Steve

Richard Taylor phoned for details tonight and went straight there - he had the bird all to himself as it circled and flew past...see attached pic.

Re year list, Mark Pass got the record last year with 203, and he and Martin are "doing it together" this with identical scores. Both need Slav, Spotshank, Water Pipit, Honey Buzzard, RN Parakeet for example, and with these in the bag should break the record......Gannet wasnt on the radar so just shows that "bonus" birds make a big difference!

Dan

 

[ColonelBlimp]

Two hobby over Lathkill Dale yesterday.

Today, no hobby, but lots of whitethroat, tawny owl, sparrowhawk, etc.

 

[mooskibaby]

Hi all,

There are fantastic views at the moment of a family of Barn Owls at Ogston Reservoir. I have seen one youngster, yet there may be more. If you would like details on where to find them I can give you the details.

By the way Dan, fantastic photo of the Gannet, well done!

Anna

 

[michael23]

hi anna could you let me know where exactly they are?

 

[DaveN]

Little Egret still at Carsington around Stones Island area. It often roosts on the far side of Sailing Club Island. The pair of Common Terns have successfully raised one young and all three birds were in front of the Sailing Club today. Not a lot else apart from 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Willow Tits and a Kingfisher.

 

[Daniel Martin]

WHISKERED TERN, OGSTON

found 6.45am this morning and flew off NNE at 7.20 am

keep your eyes peeled!

 

[DaveN]

Female/immature Marsh Harrier flew ESE at 08.40 at Carsington this morning. Also a Wood Sandpiper flew over Willington GP's.

 

[DaveN]

A Bittern at Willington GP's this morning flew to the back reedbed viewed from the third platform, also 8 Black-tailed Godwits.

 

[Clive A]

Decent few hours up at Carsington yesterday morning:
Little Egret,Shelduck, Shoveler, Common Sand,2 Raven,Juv Peregrine and at least 1 Hobby.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Drake Common Scoter at Ogston. Thanks for the comments Anna. Great news about Barnies - they are really making a comeback locally.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Osprey fishing over Wyver Lane now!! Dave N has just called, so anyone nearby may get it! Unfortunately I am not..............
Hes taking pics so I am sure they will be on the Wyver thread later - nice one Dave, great result!

 

[Clive A]

For anyone in the Belper area, Dave is currently watching an Osprey fishing over Wyver Lane hide.Apparently it is hovering over the Tern raft as I write.

 

[Clive A]

Ah, beat me to it Daniel.

 

[michael23]

well, i keep looking out from my garden if it decides to wander my way!
There was an arctic tern at carsington on thursday, which the commons didnt like, both of them were dive bombing it like mad, the barn owls were stunning at ogston, saw 4.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Did you watch the Barnies from the West Bank?

 

[DaveN]

One word...stunning. Got down Wyver around 09.30 to find some DWT volunteers on the reserve. If it had not been for the fact I had to write some bird notes down for July then I would probaly have left.

Not a lot around for obvious reasons apart form some Hirundines moving through, 3 Stock Doves, Kestrel and some Greylags and Canadas.

Around 10.40 I looked out of the small hide window to the left and saw a Raptor heading straight towards me. Seeing a light colured head I initially thought Marsh Harrier. It then came closer and I realised It was an Osprey (my first in Derbyshire).

It then swooped down over the pool skimming the water but not really going for a fish. It then hovered several times over the pool and made several plunges into the pool without success. One attempt was made just in front of the hide giving me absolutely stunning views. After about 15 minutes it caught the attention of a Corvid who chased it around for a further 5 minutes before the Osprey drifted west.

Amazing to see and probably my best ever birding experience.
Attached are several not too good photos as it flew towards me and then one or two over the pool.

 

[michael23]

hi dave, nice to see you got some pics, an amazing experience i would have loved to have seen,

Daniel, first saw one flying around the field directly behind members hide, started to walk out of the car park and walked down the road, and looked to the left, but saw them flying on both sides of the road

 

[DaveN]

hi dave, nice to see you got some pics, an amazing experience i would have loved to have seen,

Cheers, Michael. It would have been great for more birders to have been there to witness it. There were 4 volunteers down there who seen the bird so I hope they was in awe like I was.
An Osprey was also seen at Chatsworth at 17.30 so I wonder if it was the same bird?

 

[michael23]

i was willing it to fly over my house, but ah well, maybe tomorrow....

Have you seen any buzzards recently? Not seen any for about 2 weeks i should think, normally i see at least 1 every other day, if not daily, over here