Clive A
Well-known member
Don't be having too much home made brew mate. You'll be seeing all sorts
Maybe I should bring down some of mine next time, we could crack the 100 species barrier?
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Wyver Lane Nature Reserve (DWT) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DaveN
- Start date
Maybe I should bring down some of mine next time, we could crack the 100 species barrier?
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Spent a few damp and dreary hours down Wyver this morning. The best bird was a 3rd winter Herring Gull around the main pool. Most will know that Herring Gulls are rare down Wyver. I only did the hide because of the rain. On the main pool was 2 Little Grebes, 6 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 16 Tufted Ducks, 3 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers, 31 BH Gulls and 3 Common Gulls. A couple of Chiffchaffs on the lane and a couple of Reed Buntings at the feeders.
One bizarre incident in front of the hide. There's been a pair dodgy looking Mallards around the hide and under the feeders for a while. This morning the pair walked up towards the hide and the female sat down and laid an egg right out in the open. They then walked away and left the egg to the elements where no doubt something will find and take it.
One bizarre incident in front of the hide. There's been a pair dodgy looking Mallards around the hide and under the feeders for a while. This morning the pair walked up towards the hide and the female sat down and laid an egg right out in the open. They then walked away and left the egg to the elements where no doubt something will find and take it.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
A steady few hours down Wyver this morning if not spectacular. The pair of Mute Swans that were nest building on the main pool have relocated to the top pool. A single Pink-footed Goose with Greylags. Wildfowl numbers are certainly starting to dwindle. Just 8 Gadwall, 14 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 4 Tufted Ducks. Looks like all the Wigeon have gone.
The pair of Oycs were joined by a third bird. Possibly their youngster from last year wasn't welcome and was soon seen off.
45 BH Gulls and 7 Common Gulls on the pool. 2 Buzzards, a Sprawk and a Kestrel all up enjoying brief sunny spells.
Chiffchaff numbers are up to at least 6. Still no Blackcaps.
A single Meadow Pipit on the old tip.
3 Stock Doves, Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays and a couple of Ravens the best of the rest.
The pair of Oycs were joined by a third bird. Possibly their youngster from last year wasn't welcome and was soon seen off.
45 BH Gulls and 7 Common Gulls on the pool. 2 Buzzards, a Sprawk and a Kestrel all up enjoying brief sunny spells.
Chiffchaff numbers are up to at least 6. Still no Blackcaps.
A single Meadow Pipit on the old tip.
3 Stock Doves, Green Woodpecker, 2 Jays and a couple of Ravens the best of the rest.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
I thought some hirundines would be a nailed on certainty today at Wyver but not a sniff. Not even a Blackcap yet....just 6 Chiffchaffs.
The highlight was 2 Pink-footed Geese grazing to the left of the hide. I thought all the Wigeon had gone but there was a pair on the top pool. There was also 7 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 10 Tufted Ducks.
A single Little Grebe on the main pool. A Grey Heron on the top pool. The 2 Oycs, 10 Lapwings and a single Snipe.
There were 3 Buzzards including a pair mating in the Cormorant tree. And singles of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. 51 Black-headed Gulls with quite a few fighting for space on the raft.
The highlight was 2 Pink-footed Geese grazing to the left of the hide. I thought all the Wigeon had gone but there was a pair on the top pool. There was also 7 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 2 Shoveler and 10 Tufted Ducks.
A single Little Grebe on the main pool. A Grey Heron on the top pool. The 2 Oycs, 10 Lapwings and a single Snipe.
There were 3 Buzzards including a pair mating in the Cormorant tree. And singles of Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. 51 Black-headed Gulls with quite a few fighting for space on the raft.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
I was thinking about calling it a day down Wyver around lunchtime when a few gulls started dropping in. Mainly BH Gulls and a good count of 15 Common Gulls. But as I scanned through them I picked out a cracking adult Little Gull flying around. Get in!
Luckily it hung around for about an hour and a half enabling a few to get down and see it. This is the first record of Little Gull at Wyver since 11/09/2005. An immature bird which I also found
Makes all those hours of local patch work and getting nothing all seem worth while.
Prior to that the best bits were a Tawny Owl sitting at the entrance to the owl box in the ash tree. The first Blackcap of the year down the lane. At least 8 Chiffchaffs. 13 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 7 Tufted Ducks, 4 Oycs and a single Sand Martin.
Luckily it hung around for about an hour and a half enabling a few to get down and see it. This is the first record of Little Gull at Wyver since 11/09/2005. An immature bird which I also found
Makes all those hours of local patch work and getting nothing all seem worth while.
Prior to that the best bits were a Tawny Owl sitting at the entrance to the owl box in the ash tree. The first Blackcap of the year down the lane. At least 8 Chiffchaffs. 13 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 7 Tufted Ducks, 4 Oycs and a single Sand Martin.
Clive A
Well-known member
I was thinking about calling it a day down Wyver around lunchtime when a few gulls started dropping in. Mainly BH Gulls and a good count of 15 Common Gulls. But as I scanned through them I picked out a cracking adult Little Gull flying around. Get in!
Luckily it hung around for about an hour and a half enabling a few to get down and see it. This is the first record of Little Gull at Wyver since 11/09/2005. An immature bird which I also found
Makes all those hours of local patch work and getting nothing all seem worth while.
Prior to that the best bits were a Tawny Owl sitting at the entrance to the owl box in the ash tree. The first Blackcap of the year down the lane. At least 8 Chiffchaffs. 13 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 7 Tufted Ducks, 4 Oycs and a single Sand Martin.
Like I said mate, bet we find it up at Carsi tomorrow... that's if we can see through the mirk!
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
I went up Carsi with Chris but didn't see any Gulls of note. MAP was also there and hadn't seen anything. We did have a White Wag on Stones though.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
I really didn't think things could get any better than finding the Little Gull the other day...but I was wrong. I didn't have long this morning as I had dentist but went down for a couple of hours. I had a quick scan from the lane but didn't pick anything of note. I made my way to the hide for a more thorough scan when there just to the left of the hide was an adult Kittiwake!
Holy shit an absolute mega for Wyver. I couldn't believe it after finding the Little Gull just 2 days ago. It only stayed for a couple of minutes and after a quick bathe it flew off NE with some BH Gulls. This is a first for me at Wyver and the first record since March 1997.
Holy shit an absolute mega for Wyver. I couldn't believe it after finding the Little Gull just 2 days ago. It only stayed for a couple of minutes and after a quick bathe it flew off NE with some BH Gulls. This is a first for me at Wyver and the first record since March 1997.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
A visit late afternoon between showers had the bonus of 4 Golden Plover through to the north without stopping. Roy Frost had over 100 at Tibshelf 2 days ago.
Also on site -
2 Buzzard
Male Peregrine over
Kestrel
Female Sprawk
18 (north marsh) + 6 Teal on main pool
9 Gadwall
1 male Goosander flew through
2 Oycs on island
2 Mute Swans looking like nest building
2 pairs BH Gull on the raft. Will be interesting to see if they can successfully nest side by side. Also 40+ BH feeding on north marsh.
4 Tufteds on main pool.
3 Pink Feet with Greylags past the cottage.
1 Chiff on the lane near the hide
4 Reed Bunt singing
8 Brambling and 1 Redpoll over.
Still a sizeable Tit flock in the field near the stream, mainly LT's, with Blue Great and 2 Goldcrest.
Scanning north from the farm produced 2 Ravens.
The place was like the M1 at times with lots of coming and going, and also someone shooting in the fields up the hill didn't help.
Also on site -
2 Buzzard
Male Peregrine over
Kestrel
Female Sprawk
18 (north marsh) + 6 Teal on main pool
9 Gadwall
1 male Goosander flew through
2 Oycs on island
2 Mute Swans looking like nest building
2 pairs BH Gull on the raft. Will be interesting to see if they can successfully nest side by side. Also 40+ BH feeding on north marsh.
4 Tufteds on main pool.
3 Pink Feet with Greylags past the cottage.
1 Chiff on the lane near the hide
4 Reed Bunt singing
8 Brambling and 1 Redpoll over.
Still a sizeable Tit flock in the field near the stream, mainly LT's, with Blue Great and 2 Goldcrest.
Scanning north from the farm produced 2 Ravens.
The place was like the M1 at times with lots of coming and going, and also someone shooting in the fields up the hill didn't help.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
A visit today produced the first Common Sandpiper of the year. A pair of Mandarin, 6 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swans and 81 BH Gulls spread around both pools. The 2 Oycs on the island. 3 Buzzards and a Kestrel the only raptors.
I had a walk to the top marsh and sat down for a while just watching and waiting. Patience paid off when a Water Rail scurried across one of the channels.
A walk around the whole reserve produced 9 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps. At least 5 Reed Buntings inc several singing males. 45 Swallows and 9+ Sand Martins through.
I had a walk to the top marsh and sat down for a while just watching and waiting. Patience paid off when a Water Rail scurried across one of the channels.
A walk around the whole reserve produced 9 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps. At least 5 Reed Buntings inc several singing males. 45 Swallows and 9+ Sand Martins through.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
A flying visit tonight produced a Common Sandpiper in front of the hide. 12 Teal, 7 Gadwall, drake Shoveler and 3 Tufties. c25 Swallows and a few Sand Martins feeding around the main pool. A couple of Chiffies on the lane. I got a call from Dan last night about a Red Kite over Broadholme. As it happens I was just coming through Blackbrook after a trip to Carsi. So I nipped down to Wyver and picked it up between Dunge Farm and Crich Lane Woods just floating around and briefly settling in a field.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
Not much to shout about today down Wyver but here goes anyway. Wildfowl is still well represented with 2 Mandarins, drake Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 16 Teal and 9 Tufteds. Female Mallards with broods of 2 and 5.
Several Moorhens and Coots sitting. As are at least 3 pairs of BH Gulls. 3 Buzzards, a Kestrel and cracking views of a female Sprawk.
Looks like the female Oyc is finally sitting. 9 Chiffchaffs and 6 Blackcaps on the lane.
A Grey Wagtail, 2 Jays, a Linnet, and 5 Reed Buntings the best of the rest.
R Spowage had a singing male Redstart up near Wyver Woods yesterday. The same date as the first one last year. I had a look today but saw and heard nothing.
Several Moorhens and Coots sitting. As are at least 3 pairs of BH Gulls. 3 Buzzards, a Kestrel and cracking views of a female Sprawk.
Looks like the female Oyc is finally sitting. 9 Chiffchaffs and 6 Blackcaps on the lane.
A Grey Wagtail, 2 Jays, a Linnet, and 5 Reed Buntings the best of the rest.
R Spowage had a singing male Redstart up near Wyver Woods yesterday. The same date as the first one last year. I had a look today but saw and heard nothing.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
A quiet amble through Belper to Wyver Lane this afternoon
A male Redstart was flitting along the hedgerow by the viewing mound, with plenty of Swallows and a couple of House Martins over the water, Sedge Warbler singing from the flash, Curlew in the fields nearby and, most unexpected, a brief snatch of Wood Warbler song from further up the hill.
At East Mill, a lot of noise coming from the Peregrines, with two birds chasing around low over head. I initially took them to be a (‘the’) pair, but it became apparent that lots of the calling was coming from the Mill whilst the two flying birds were still overhead: presumably, the resident female calling out support for the male who was interacting with a large immature female, dive bombing and grappling and generally encouraging the younger bird to move on.
Philip
Belper
A male Redstart was flitting along the hedgerow by the viewing mound, with plenty of Swallows and a couple of House Martins over the water, Sedge Warbler singing from the flash, Curlew in the fields nearby and, most unexpected, a brief snatch of Wood Warbler song from further up the hill.
At East Mill, a lot of noise coming from the Peregrines, with two birds chasing around low over head. I initially took them to be a (‘the’) pair, but it became apparent that lots of the calling was coming from the Mill whilst the two flying birds were still overhead: presumably, the resident female calling out support for the male who was interacting with a large immature female, dive bombing and grappling and generally encouraging the younger bird to move on.
Philip
Belper
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Martin
13 arctic terns over Wyver just
Just to add a little more, the weather was ok early on but started to rain hard at 9ish. I retired to watching from the car and started counting duck - 9 Gadwall, 12 Teal, drake Shoveler, drake Mandarin. At about 9.30 I looked up and saw the Arctics circling quite high over the pool and eventually drifting off NE. Everyone I tried was either on hols or offline! There had been 13 at Shustoke early on but it soon became clear there was a big movement going on in the midlands.
I had heard the Wood Warbler that was first heard two days ago singing from up near the farm, along with Redstart. Other warblers included Sedge, Blackcap, Willow, Chiffs. Loads of Swallows and Martins all morning grounded by the weather. Oycs were present with 2 Lapwings.
Bramblings x4 flew over as did a pair of Jay and 1 Greater Pecker.
Buzzard, Kestrel and the male Peregrine twice were over the reserve.
Originally Posted by Daniel Martin
13 arctic terns over Wyver just
Just to add a little more, the weather was ok early on but started to rain hard at 9ish. I retired to watching from the car and started counting duck - 9 Gadwall, 12 Teal, drake Shoveler, drake Mandarin. At about 9.30 I looked up and saw the Arctics circling quite high over the pool and eventually drifting off NE. Everyone I tried was either on hols or offline! There had been 13 at Shustoke early on but it soon became clear there was a big movement going on in the midlands.
I had heard the Wood Warbler that was first heard two days ago singing from up near the farm, along with Redstart. Other warblers included Sedge, Blackcap, Willow, Chiffs. Loads of Swallows and Martins all morning grounded by the weather. Oycs were present with 2 Lapwings.
Bramblings x4 flew over as did a pair of Jay and 1 Greater Pecker.
Buzzard, Kestrel and the male Peregrine twice were over the reserve.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
A visit after work tonight in the damp weather produced my first reeling Gropper of the year on North Marsh. It was late for singing birds but Chiffchaff and Sedge were still hard at it and Green Woodpecker was calling on and off from behind the mound.
Wildfowl were much as you were -
10 Teal
3 pairs Gadwall
2 pairs Mandarin
5 Tufties (4 drake) with another drake on the river.
Drake Shoveler
One hybrid female with 11 new ducklings
2 Oycs and 2 Lapwing.
Wildfowl were much as you were -
10 Teal
3 pairs Gadwall
2 pairs Mandarin
5 Tufties (4 drake) with another drake on the river.
Drake Shoveler
One hybrid female with 11 new ducklings
2 Oycs and 2 Lapwing.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
A few hours at Wyver produced first Whitethroat (1 in the layby and 1 in front of the mound), Lesser Whitethroat by the shooting wall and Garden Warbler singing quietly in hawthorn by the car this morning. 2 Sedge singing. Several Buzzards up, lots of Swallows, Sand and House Martins through. Redstart still singing but no sign of Wood Warbler. Male Peregrine knocking about and duck numbers keep reducing - only 3 Teal this morning, no Shoveler, 1 drake Mandarin, no Tufties but still plenty of Gadwall. The hybrid family down to 7 young already.
4 Bullfinch on the lane back out before the houses was a nice record.
4 Bullfinch on the lane back out before the houses was a nice record.
DaveN
Derwent Valley Birder
What's this hybrid female look like, Dan? Although I've not been down for a week and a half I can't remember seeing any hybrids before I went away. There was a domestic type female which had paired with a domestic type male though. But these were just Mallards with domestic genes and not hybrids.
Daniel Martin
Well-known member
Hybrid as in "the offspring of two birds of different species or varieties".
They have some Mallard parentage no doubt. Call em what you like they don't look destined to get many young to adult hood! Talking to a guy there the other day who had seen a sizeable Pike.
They have some Mallard parentage no doubt. Call em what you like they don't look destined to get many young to adult hood! Talking to a guy there the other day who had seen a sizeable Pike.
