Derbyshire County Birding (2 Viewers)

[DaveN]

Talking of Willington, I had few hours there yesterday. The highlights were 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, 5 Little Ringed Plovers although 14 had been reported earlier in the day, Hobby seen on several occasions, 6 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 5 Common Tern and c 200 Lapwing. An adult Water Rail was seen briefly on the far side and evidence of them breeding there with 2 young also seen recently.

 

[michael23]

Bittern???

At around about 21:23 tonight was out in my back garden, and a i saw a bird fly over me, broad winged dark brown/gingery in colour flight was on fairly fast wing beats, only thing that i can think of is bittern, the bird was flying north.
B

 

[DaveN]

Wyver Lane Bird Notes June 2010


Highlights for June include Hobby, Green Sandpiper and Cuckoo.

The first Coot broods of the year was two on 8th, a pair with 3 young on the
Tern raft, and a pair with 2 young on the upper pool. Moorhens showed 7 young
on 21st with another pair showing 4 young on 28th. 2 new broods of Mallard
this month including 9 on 8th, and 11 on 23rd.

A site record of 13 Grey Herons including 6 juveniles was recorded on 22nd.
Another site record was 6 Gadwall on 15th. 48 Mallard on 22nd, 2 female Teal on
22nd and 28th, 7 drake Tufted Duck on 1st, 40 Greylag Geese on 8th, c50
Canada Geese on 10th, 2 Cormorants on 1st.

Hobby was seen on 1st and 23rd, 5 Buzzard on 15th, female Sparrowhawk on
22nd and 23rd, and a single Kestrel seen on several dates.

A Green Sandpiper was on the upper pool on 23rd and c100 Lapwing were on
site on 21st. An Oystercatcher on 4th, 8th and 10th.

A Cuckoo was seen flying south over the reserve on 16th. c30 Swallows on 1st.
c25 Swift on 25th, 4 Black-headed Gulls on 25th, 2 Grey Wagtails on 28th, also
a juvenile on 25th. 2 Pied Wagtails on 28th, 5 Stock Doves on 23rd, 5 Linnet
on 23rd. A Lesser Whitethroat in song on 25th, 2 Blackcaps on 22nd and 25th,
2 Chiff Chaffs also on 22nd and 25th. 7 Whitethroat on 22nd including a pair with
3 young. 6 Sedge Warblers on 28th including at least 1 young. Reed Bunting and
Dunnock both feeding young on 21st. And finally 2 Mistle Thrush on 1st.

 

[DaveN]

At around about 21:23 tonight was out in my back garden, and a i saw a bird fly over me, broad winged dark brown/gingery in colour flight was on fairly fast wing beats, only thing that i can think of is bittern, the bird was flying north.
B

Have you considered an Owl?

 

[michael23]

Hi Dave, forgot to mention in my previous post i did see legs trailing too.

 

[tvmr_birder]

Hi all,

A tantalising record on the DOS site of Red Backed Shrike at Abbey Hill/Nut Wood on June 11th....this site again proving it's potential. A brilliant record so close to the town centre, but not totally unexpected, as Nut Wood (which isn't that wooded) especially would be an excellent habitat for this species.

Patch tick at Moorway Lane Pond yesterday with a.....Common Tern! The slow march to 100 species dawdles on! It was last seen flying over the Heatherton housing estate - perhaps someone's goldfish were about to get a nasty surprise?! Birding in July - it really is the best time for it eh?


Best Wishes,

Matt

 

[DaveN]

I wonder if the Common Tern was the one I had at Wyver Lane in the morning? It left Wyver and flew south at 10.10hrs. I also had a Grass Snake down Wyver yesterday which was basking on the lane. It slithered into the grass a few yards up the lane from the notice board.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Hi all,

A tantalising record on the DOS site of Red Backed Shrike at Abbey Hill/Nut Wood on June 11th....this site again proving it's potential. A brilliant record so close to the town centre, but not totally unexpected, as Nut Wood (which isn't that wooded) especially would be an excellent habitat for this species.

Patch tick at Moorway Lane Pond yesterday with a.....Common Tern! The slow march to 100 species dawdles on! It was last seen flying over the Heatherton housing estate - perhaps someone's goldfish were about to get a nasty surprise?! Birding in July - it really is the best time for it eh?


Best Wishes,

Matt

Hi Matt - there is quite an extensive "lake" at the back of Heatherton that could easily support a Common Tern - I stumbled across it last summer and thought it would be great as a local patch. It had Sedge singing and other bits and bobs at the time.

The RB Shrike could have reappeared a little further on as I know of a claim for Duffield Eyes Meadow just after - again a good little habitat for this species. What a shame it didnt become available for all - its a while now since I have seen them in Derbyshire (2 cracking males - one at Shipley Park and the other at Cresswell).

 

[Daniel Martin]

And someones had Red Kite over the A38 at Little Eaton this morning too.........must have been close to Abbey Hill floods.

 

[tvmr_birder]

Hi Matt - there is quite an extensive "lake" at the back of Heatherton that could easily support a Common Tern - I stumbled across it last summer and thought it would be great as a local patch. It had Sedge singing and other bits and bobs at the time.

The RB Shrike could have reappeared a little further on as I know of a claim for Duffield Eyes Meadow just after - again a good little habitat for this species. What a shame it didnt become available for all - its a while now since I have seen them in Derbyshire (2 cracking males - one at Shipley Park and the other at Cresswell).

Hi Dan,

That is Moorway Lane Pond! I agree with you about the size - I've seen them on tiny ponds in London, but it was one of those birds which had just never coincided with a visit. For something like Terns, the fact this site is not on the Trent Valley was prob what had delayed the appearence of one. There is a miniscule pond at Sunnydale Park in Littleover which had a Pintail on a few years ago - pound for pound the equivalent of a Baikal Teal at Carsington!

I hope the RB Shrike was the same bird (I'm sure it was with the close proximity of the sites to each other and the Derwent) as if there were 2 it means it'll be 10 years til the next rather than 5!!

Common Sandpiper and Little Egret at the Trent/Dove confluence at Newton Solney today and 20 redhead Goosanders between there and Willington along the Trent. There could have been more - but a Bull doing the disney style scraping of it's front foot on sighting me made me think that me finding a county record sumering flock wasn't quite good enough to go on my gravestone, so I retreated in haste!

 

[DaveN]

Spent a few hours at Willington today. Of note was 5 Grey Heron, 24 Mute Swan, Hobby, Sparrowhawk with prey, 2 Buzzards, 2 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank and 5 Common Tern.

Several Red-eyed Damselfies, Black-tailed Skimmers, Southern Hawker and a few Small Skipper Butties.

Edit. Forgot the 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull.

 

[Daniel Martin]

Hi Dan,

That is Moorway Lane Pond! I agree with you about the size - I've seen them on tiny ponds in London, but it was one of those birds which had just never coincided with a visit. For something like Terns, the fact this site is not on the Trent Valley was prob what had delayed the appearence of one. There is a miniscule pond at Sunnydale Park in Littleover which had a Pintail on a few years ago - pound for pound the equivalent of a Baikal Teal at Carsington!

I hope the RB Shrike was the same bird (I'm sure it was with the close proximity of the sites to each other and the Derwent) as if there were 2 it means it'll be 10 years til the next rather than 5!!

Common Sandpiper and Little Egret at the Trent/Dove confluence at Newton Solney today and 20 redhead Goosanders between there and Willington along the Trent. There could have been more - but a Bull doing the disney style scraping of it's front foot on sighting me made me think that me finding a county record sumering flock wasn't quite good enough to go on my gravestone, so I retreated in haste!

Hi Matt - humour me, is it this site -

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=DE23+3zb&countryCode=GB#map=52.88765,-1.52191|18|32&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:52.88824:-1.52191:16|DE23%203zb|DE23%203ZB

My clients live on Brindle Way, and they look over the lake. I can see the road "Moorways" on the map! It all makes more sense now, so I can imagine the place when you post.

When visiting them last time I thought it looked a good spot actually, with reasonably mixed habitat. Not many of these oasis left now..........

 

[Daniel Martin]

I forgot to post that I have seen the Black Stork images and they are very clear indeed, not one of these "could be anything" shots.
They aren't publishable yet as various people using it for submission purposes etc, but I am sure will be in due course.

 

[tvmr_birder]

Hi Dan,

Yes that's it! The White Stork of 2002 (?) was just down Bakeacre Lane from the site.

The habitat of it has allowed 12 duck species to be recorded, though when it was first constructed about 10 years ago, Little Ringed Plover bred when it was all shingle on the island and surrounds (significantly different to how it is today).

Ironically waders are the sites weakness today, as low water levels don't seem to create much by way scrapes or mud. Water Rail remains the site's speciality in winter.

A very knowledgable dog walker has had Barn Owl quartering the field just to the North in March/April, and my brother had this species by the Mickleover Court Hotel in the last year - brilliant to have them literally bordering suburbia.

Green Sandpiper and a brief Curlew at Willington GP today.

Matt

 

[Daniel Martin]

Hi Dan,

Yes that's it! The White Stork of 2002 (?) was just down Bakeacre Lane from the site.

The habitat of it has allowed 12 duck species to be recorded, though when it was first constructed about 10 years ago, Little Ringed Plover bred when it was all shingle on the island and surrounds (significantly different to how it is today).

Ironically waders are the sites weakness today, as low water levels don't seem to create much by way scrapes or mud. Water Rail remains the site's speciality in winter.

A very knowledgable dog walker has had Barn Owl quartering the field just to the North in March/April, and my brother had this species by the Mickleover Court Hotel in the last year - brilliant to have them literally bordering suburbia.

Green Sandpiper and a brief Curlew at Willington GP today.

Matt

I remember the Stork well...............I saw it a couple of miles south of there.
Barn Owls are good news! I went to the Country Fayre held at Osmaston Park nr Ashbourne Sunday and spoke with a lady from the Owl Rescue that I know. She is from Lancs and said they arent doing welll there but was keen to hear about the recovery in Derbyshire.

I strongly recommend the show by the way - superb Owls and Falcons with lots of kids interraction etc. They had Golden Eagle, Bateleur, Gyrs, Lanners , Sakers and loads of Owls. This lady is also a big supporter of the Bowland Eagle owls - see threads on this forum

 

[TonyS]

Great views of 2 Hobbies swooping over whats left of Ramsley Reservoir and eating dragonflies on the wing, reminiscent of the footage on Springwatch of birds in Dorset.
Nearby were good numbers of Small Heath butterflies which allowed close approach.
The picnic was good too.

 

[ChrisLuv]

DWT @ Shipley Park

Just heard that the new DWT reserve at Shipley won't include the lake (a friend spoke to the DWT reserve officer).

Anyone else heard this and have anymore info on possible development at the lake?

It now seems that the DWT reserve isn't really adding much as the site was already doing well as part of Shipley Park anyway. The lake is an important habitat and its a massive blow to hear its not going to be protected.

Chris

 

[DaveN]

Can't help you there, Chris, but there's been 2 Little Egrets and a Green Sand down Erewash Meadows today if you haven't heard.

 

[ChrisLuv]

Cheers Dave, no I hadn't heard - given the time of year I hadn't renewed by bird guides subscription.

 

[BarryH]

Just caught the second half of a programme on BBC2 earlier this evening called Wild Wales. It's the first in a series of three programmes.

There was a whole range of some really good bird images throughout the hour long programme. Next week in part two they promise Black Grouse and Hen Harriers.

If it's of any interest the first part is repeated tomorrow on BBC2 at 7pm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/midwales/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8654000/8654640.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sgg56