 Carr Vale Nature Reserve News
February 2008
It goes without saying that continuous daily visits were maintained throughout the month during which we recorded an average 82 species. However the year list rose to 91, a new end of February record for the reserve. Highlight of the month was the sighting of two Bitterns simultaneously (5th record and first multiple sighting for the reserve). Other notable records included Pintail, Red Kite (7th record), Peregrine (multiple sightings), Woodcock (two sightings), Black-tailed Godwit (earliest ever record) and Raven (two). It was generally a mild month but there was a cold spell at the end of the third week which resulted in the pools being mainly frozen.
A Great-crested Grebe was present daily until the 7th after which two birds were present until the 16th when the ponds froze over. They returned on the 22nd and were then seen daily until the month end. Cormorants were seen daily between the 1st and 17th and again from the 22nd with a maximum count of 11 on the 24th whilst ten were seen on the 12th and 23rd. After a gap of a month a Bittern was seen on the 15th and again on the 20th but amazingly two were seen simultaneously on the 19th, the first time for quite some years that there has been a multiple occurrence in the county. Herons were logged daily with a high of ten on the 6th and 23rd.-MAB whilst Mute Swans were also logged daily with a maximum count of six on 8th. A Pink-footed Goose was with the Canada Geese between 6th and 13th and a Grey Lag Goose was present on the 8th and 12th with two on the 14th. Canada Geese numbers dropped further peaking at 81 on the 2nd.-MAB.
The Wigeon flock remained in three-figures throughout the month peaking at 175 on the 20th and Gadwall were recorded in double-figures on 15 dates with a maximum count of 22 on the 13th. Teal peaked at 96 on the 17th but numbers had dropped below 50 by the month end whilst the highest count of Mallard was 70 on the 18th. A male Pintail was present very briefly on the 4th and a pair of Shoveler was seen on the 2nd and 19th. Up to five Pochard were seen daily apart from between the 17th and 21st whilst Tufted Ducks peaked at 19 on the 28th. Two male Goosanders were seen on the 2nd and one was seen the following day.
A Red Kite, which was seen on the 3rd, was probably the same bird seen over Grassmoor on the same date and Sparrowhawks were logged on 11 dates. Common Buzzards were very scarce with two on 6th and single birds on the 2nd and 11th. One or two Kestrels were recorded on 21 dates and single Peregrines were seen on the 2nd, 13th, 17th with a pair together on the 22nd. A pair of Red-legged Partridges was seen just south of the recording area at Sutton Scarsdale Flash on 6th and the only record of Grey Partridge concerned a pair on the 26th.
A Water Rail was heard on the 3rd and 4th and Coot peaked at 44 on the 17th. An Oystercatcher was seen on eight dates between the 1st and 22nd after which a second bird was present daily with a third bird noted on the 26th. Golden Plover were recorded on ten dates with a maximum count of 350 (flying south) on the 12th. Lapwings were recorded in three-figures on ten dates with a peak count 330 on the 13th. One or two Snipe were logged on nine dates between the 11th and 28th but more unusual was a Woodcock on the 9th and 21st. A Black-tailed Godwit that flew north-west on the 12th was a rare Derbyshire winter record (just the 4th February record since 1997 and there is also just one January record, all from the Trent Valley). Single Redshanks were seen on the 16th-7th and between the 27th and 29th.
The highest count of Black-headed Gulls was 225+ on 6th and one or two Common Gulls were seen on three dates between the 13th and 25th, otherwise gulls were particularly poor this month despite the excitement further north along the valley. Wood Pigeons were around in large numbers with a peak count of 2000 viewable from the observation mound on 13th and 15 Stock Doves on the 17th was the highest count of the winter. Two Kingfishers were seen on the 27th with further single birds on eight other dates, a Green Woodpecker was noted on four dates between the 12th and 27th whilst a Great-spotted Woodpecker was seen on the 10th.
One or two Grey Wagtails were seen on six dates and 42 Pied Wagtails were counted on the 3rd. 22 Fieldfares flew east on the 24th, which was just one of three records for the month whilst Redwings were only recorded on one date. Willow Tits continued to be recorded at the feeding tables with up to five seen on many dates and Coal Tits were seen on seven dates with three on the 10th. Single Jays were seen on the 16th, 19th and 21st and on the 4th 30 Magpies were counted into roost. Two Ravens also flew south on the 13th.
Siskins were recorded on five dates with all records being in single figures apart from count of 25 on 24th and a similar situation prevailed with Lesser Redpoll with single birds on four dates plus ten on the 15th. Bullfinches were another species that frequently attended the feeding stations with up to six regular plus seven on the 10th and 16th. 24 Yellowhammers counted into roost on the 16th represented the highest count of the winter and one was singing the following day. Up to 30 Reed Buntings were at the feeding stations during the month but a more accurate assessment of the numbers present was gleaned from counting the roosts where 34 came into one roost on 19th and 15 flew into a second roost on 20th. Taking the two roosts together the winter population is estimated at a respectable 50.
A few mammals were noted during the month including a Water Vole on the 14th, a Fox on the 16th and a Weasel in front of the mound on the 11th and 13th. A brave (or foolish) Common Frog was seen on the 5th but perhaps the most important mammal record concerned the numbers of Hares that were seen from the observation mound. Although not within the recording area up to ten were seen regularly in the large field below Sutton Scarsdale Hall, a good number nowadays.
Mark Beevers
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