The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

   Carr Vale Nature Reserve News

August proved to be an excellent month with several good species recorded out of the total of 99. The consecutive daily visits continued taking us over the 2700 mark and the highlight of the month was the third record of Little Gull. Other notable species included Little Egret (10th record), Wigeon, Osprey (20th record), Hobby, Peregrine, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Ruff (five), Black-tailed Godwit (five), Whimbrel (four), Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull (two birds, 12th and 13th records), Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher and Clouded Yellow. Seven new species for the year took the year list to 138, a record for the end of August and indeed equalling the highest total for the end of September. The dry spell from the end of July continued throughout the month providing good muddy margins round the flashes. As usual during the school holidays minor vandalism occurred and there were occasions when illegal shooting took place. If anyone should come across people shooting illegally please contact the police on 08451233333. We also now have a facility for casual visitors to report their sightings. To do so visit the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust web site (www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk) and click on "latest sightings on reserves". Then click on "Carr Vale Flash". This will open up the Carr Vale Reserve information page and you can input your information as well as see what has been seen on the reserve recently.

Following a juvenile Little Grebe on the 7th this species again became regular from the 20th with birds noted on seven dates with three including a fledged juvenile from elsewhere seen on the 24th. One to three Great-crested Grebes were present daily during the month whilst Cormorants were recorded 27 dates with a peak count of 13 on the 24th. A Little Egret was present briefly on the 18th before it was flushed by dog-walkers and flew off south. Herons were recorded daily but only in single figures, which is unusual for the time of year when double-figure counts would normally be expected; the highest count was only eight on the 9th. Five adult Mute Swans remained all month but one of the cygnets disappeared on the 6th leaving just two. Grey Lag Geese were seen daily amongst the large Canada Goose flock with a maximum of four on ten dates between the 2nd and 18th and the Canada Goose flock increased quickly during the month peaking at 556 on the 31st.

A juvenile Shelduck was present briefly before it flew off south on the 20th and a male Wigeon was present on the 23rd. Gadwall were undoubtedly present daily but accurate counts were only made on 28 dates with a peak count of 34 on the 24th. A new brood of four was located on the 5th, the sixth of the year. Following a female Teal on the 6th and three on the 14th birds were seen daily from the 22nd with a peak count of eight on the 30th and 31st. The first three-figure count of Mallard was 140 on the 6th and a further 16 three-figure counts were made during the month with eight in excess of 200, the highest of which was 250 on the 24th. A female Shoveler was seen daily between the 4th and 9th and a male was seen on six dates between the 24th and 30th. A new brood of six Tufted Ducks was found on the 4th, this being the third of the year but only single-figure counts were made during the month.

It was a good month for raptor sightings with Sparrowhawks recorded on 26 dates (36 bird / days) and a peak count of four on the 20th. Common Buzzard sightings at last became more prevalent with birds noted on 12 dates (30 bird /days). The majority of the sightings related to birds seen from the mound but south of the recording area but five birds were seen over the reserve. The highest counts were four on the 23rd and six on the 27th. An Osprey flew south on the 27th and Kestrels were logged on 25 dates (a total of 40 bird / days) with a peak count of four on the 12th. It was an excellent month for Hobbies with records on 14 dates. All sightings were of single birds from within the recording area apart from two on the 13th and the birds often showed very well as they attacked the Swallow roost. Two Peregrines were seen over the reserve on the 8th and subsequently single birds were seen on seven dates with all bar one of the sightings being from within the recording area.

The first Water Rail of the autumn was heard on the 29th from the Southern Marsh and Coots peaked at 74 on the 9th whilst a new brood of three (a second brood) was found on the 5th. An Oystercatcher was seen on the 5th, a late Little-ringed Plover was logged on the 25th and the only Ringed Plover of the month was seen on the 16th. Lapwings numbers remained low with a peak count of 140 on the 20th whilst single Dunlin were seen on the 2nd and 14th with two present on the 10th. A Ruff arrived on the 22nd and the following day five were present. These remained until the 27th after which they decreased to three. The party of three then remained until the 30th with just a single bird present on the 31st. The first Snipe of the autumn was seen on the 14th with further singles on three other dates and four birds were present on the 19th and 30th. A party of five Black-tailed Godwits circled the flashes briefly on the 15th, a party of four Whimbrel flew north on the 23rd and four Curlews flew west on the 6th with single birds noted on the 26th and 30th. Two Greenshanks were seen daily between the 11th and 19th with one remaining until the 20th and it was a good month for Green Sandpipers with single birds on nine dates and two reported on the 17th-18th. The 13 bird / days logged were more than was recorded in the whole of 2006. A single Common Sandpiper was seen daily between the 2nd and 9th with two birds then present daily until the 20th after which just a single bird was seen on the 22nd and 26th.

A Mediterranean Gull, which was still in juvenile plumage, was found on the 19th and subsequently seen daily until the 22nd. This plumage is still rarely seen in Derbyshire and this bird is now the earliest autumn arrival date. A more advanced bird that had moulted into first winter plumage was present briefly on the 30th. Better still was a juvenile Little Gull, which came in with a flock of Black-headed Gulls early on the 22nd. The bird lingered for about ten minutes and then carried on north. This is just the third record of this species for Carr Vale and the first since December 2000 when the first two birds were recorded. Good numbers of Black-headed Gulls were present mid-month with a peak count of 500 on the 20th and three Common Gulls were present on the 20th and 21st. Common Terns were seen daily until the 6th when six were present after which single birds were seen on three dates until the last on the 15th. Single Tawny Owls were recorded on the 13th and 30th and possibly the last Swift of the year was seen on the 30th. Kingfishers were recorded on all bar one date with two present on the 9th and 26th whilst Green Woodpeckers were recorded on ten dates with two noted on the 2nd. Single Great-spotted Woodpeckers were seen on nine dates.

Sand Martins continued to be very scarce with records on nine dates but a peak of just three on the 21st. One of the spectacles of August was the Swallow roost which was in use for most of the month and which peaked at 2000+ on the 18th and 22nd whilst 120 House Martins were counted on the 22nd. A Tree Pipit was heard on 28th and small numbers of Yellow Wagtails were logged from the 11th with seven on the 23rd and nine south on the 28th. One or two Grey Wagtails were seen on six dates with four present on the 29th whilst 15 Pied Wagtails were present on the 28th. A juvenile Whinchat was a nice find on the 30th and may well have been present since the 28th. All the expected Warblers apart from Grasshopper and Garden were logged during the month and up to three Goldcrests were logged on six dates. A Spotted Flycatcher was reported on the 23rd and single Coal Tits were logged on three dates. A Jay on the 26th was unusual given the date, 500 Starlings were present on the 23rd and the Goldfinch flock reached 80 on the 18th.

Amongst the insects male Banded Demoiselles were seen on the 5th and 24th whilst Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmers were all still about on the 27th but the only notable butterfly was a Comma on the 4th.

A Water Vole and a Hare was seen on the 5th, single Foxes were present on the 19th and 29th and a Mole was found dead on the 10th. The Red-eared Terrapin survived the flooding as it was seen on the 27th and a Grass Snake was seen on the 24th.

Mark Beevers

Top of Page