The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

   Carr Vale Nature Reserve News

June was an excellent month where once again we maintained our daily coverage. A number of records were broken, not least the number of species seen during the month, which came in at 93 smashing the previous record of 87. The end of month total for the year was also the highest ever at 129, beating the record set as long ago as 1996. Finally two periods of very heavy rain in quick succession produced the worst ever flooding in the area with an estimated rise in water level of eight to nine feet on the Reserve Pond and well over six feet on Meadow Flash. Indeed the water level was so high in Meadow Flash that the river was flowing over the Millennium Bridge, something that I have never seen before in 30 years of watching the area. The birds of the month were a couple of Shags, only the second record for the reserve, the last being as long ago as November 1982. The high monthly species total was helped by an impressive (for June) total of eight species of duck and 11 species of wader. Other notable species included the first June record of Wigeon, Grey Lag Geese, Pochard, Hobby, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit (2nd June record), Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Little Owl, Barn Owl (11th record) and Red-veined Darter. The first half of the month was fairly dry but the things went downhill with several periods of heavy rain from the 15th culminating in almost 24 hours of heavy on the 25th.

Following a single Little Grebe on the 6th birds at last became more noticeable from the 17th with one or two adults on six dates and a juvenile from elsewhere from the 21st with all three seen on the 23rd. Up to three Great-crested Grebes were present daily until the 26th and just as the pair on Meadow Flash decided to start nest-building they were flooded out (on the 15th). After the big flood just a single bird was seen on the 30th. Single Cormorants were recorded on the 1st, 19th (N), 22nd and 26th whilst on the last date two near adult Shags, which had earlier been seen over Pleasley Pit Tip, flew north through the reserve. Herons were recorded daily with a peak count of nine on the 18th whilst Mute Swans were recorded daily with a peak count of 12 between the 25th and 27th and double-figures on eight other dates from the 14th. The breeding pair also hatched three young on the 13th, all of which were doing well at the end of the month. Six Grey Lag Geese were seen on the 20th but they flew off south and were probably the ones that were seen at Ogston the following day. Canada Geese peaked at 53 adults on the 8th on which date a hybrid Barnacle / Canada Goose was also present. The last brood hatched on the 14th taking the total for the breeding season to seven broods totalling 30 young with 25 surviving at the end of the month.

A male Wigeon on the 21st was the first record for June and during the month a total of five Gadwall broods (37 young) were located whilst the peak count for adults was 17 on the 6th. The first returning Teal were two males on the 4th rising to four birds on the 6th and 7th with a single male remaining until the 15th. Another five broods of Mallard were found during the month but the highlight amongst the breeding wildfowl was the successful breeding of Shoveler, which was confirmed on the 19th when a female with three ducklings was found, the first successful breeding since 1996 although breeding attempts have been made in four years since then, most recently in 2005. Four Shoveler (three males) were present on the 3rd and one or two birds were seen on 13 dates during the month with the brood still present on the 30th, although it had reduced to two. A male Pochard was present on the 10th whilst Tufted Ducks were logged daily with a peak count of 25 on the 3rd. Additionally broods of eight and two were found on the 17th and 19th respectively.

Sparrowhawks were recorded on just four dates and one or two Common Buzzards were recorded on seven dates (eight bird / days) all but two of which were south of the area. Kestrels were logged on 11 dates (a total of 13 bird / days) and single Hobbies were seen on the 2nd, 12th, 18th and 22nd. A Peregrine flew over the reserve on the 5th and another was seen on the 24th when it was seen to take a Stock Dove. A pair of Red-legged Partridges was seen on the 5th and two pairs of Grey Partridges were seen on the 8th and 26th. 59 Coots were counted on the 18th on which date the 12th brood of the year hatched.

Oystercatchers were a daily feature and the breeding pair fledged two young at the end of the month. Additional birds were present on the 6th-7th, 23rd - 24th and 27th with an extra pair present on 28th-29th. Little-ringed Plovers were present daily until the 21st and again from the 27th with a peak count of six adults on the 14th whilst three Ringed Plovers were seen the 1st with two on the 2nd and single birds on a further six dates until the 13th and again on the 26th. A Dunlin was present on the 14th and again on the 16th with two seen on the 15th. Three Black-tailed Godwits were present all day on the 13th and a Curlew was down on the 20th. Redshanks were recorded on 25 dates with a peak count of five on the 3rd and 28th whilst a long-staying Greenshank was present on six dates between the 5th and 13th and it or another was present daily between the 17th and 19th. A Green Sandpiper was present on the 18th and another was heard on the 27th and single Common Sandpipers were recorded on the 17th - 18th and 30th.

The only gull of any note was a 3rd summer Herring Gull that flew north on the 26th. Common Terns were seen daily and peaked at seven on the 1st but they had a bit of a traumatic time breeding. The pair on the raft hatched two young on the 18th, both of which were doing well at the end of the month. A second pair had a nest on the point but this was flooded out on the 15th. They re-layed in a better location and had two eggs by the 24th but the following day severe flooding engulfed what in a normal summer would have been a safe nest. This nest was most unusual in that it was actually on the mainland rather than an island or a raft. A third pair attempted to nest on the second raft and at this time it is not known whether the nest is active or not. (Impossible to see onto the raft).

A Parakeet Sp (thought by the observers to be Ring-necked) flew south-east on the 30th, on the 29th a Barn Owl flew into the recording area near Windy Ridge, a pair of Little Owls was discovered on the 20th and a Tawny Owl was reported near Mill Farm on the 1st. Kingfishers remained scarce with single birds on seven dates and two were seen on the 30th, a Green Woodpecker was recorded on the 4th and 8th and Great-spotted Woodpeckers were seen on four dates including an adult and juvenile together on the 12th. It is thought that the latter bred within the recording area this year. Sand Martins were very scarce with a peak count of six on the 19th, whilst Swallows didn't fare much better peaking at 30 on the 26th.

Yellow Wagtails were logged on 15 dates and two pairs were found during survey work on the 5th whilst single Grey Wagtails were seen on five dates with two on the 11th and 22nd. All the usual Warblers were present during the month with 11 Common Whitethroat territories located along with two Lesser Whitethroat territories. A Garden Warbler was still singing on the 28th. Unusual June records included a Coal Tit on three dates between the 18th and 23rd, a Goldcrest on the 29th and a Jay on the 1st. A total of seven singing Reed Buntings was found on the 5th and three further Yellowhammer territories were found on the 7th.

It was a poor month for Dragonflies and Butterflies but a male Red-veined Darter was seen on the 11th whilst on the 19th four Emperors, six Four-spotted Chasers and two Black-tailed Skimmers were seen. The only Butterfly of note was a Painted Lady on the 13th.

Four Hares were seen the 4th with one or two on a further 11 dates, a Fox was seen on the 18th and 20th the Red-eared Terrapin was seen on the 1st, 4th, 17th and 19th.

Mark Beevers

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