The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Carsington Water News

Highlights: Northern Diver and Bewick's Swan

Last month's adult Great Northern Diver stayed all this month, usually found off Stones Island. Two Bewick's Swans were in front of the Wildlife Centre briefly on the 5th before flying around the site to mid-water. They left site late morning. Five Pink-footed Geese flew high south west over Tail Bay at 1100hrs on 11th and 60 were reported over the north side at 1050hrs on 20th. Site counts this month included 58 Little Grebe on 29th, 40 Great Crested Grebe on 29th, 34 Cormorant on 13th, 14 Mute Swans on 13th, 13 Greylag Geese on 7th, 40 feral Barnacle Geese on 12th and 27th, 1 escapee Cackling Goose on 7th and on other dates with Barnacles, 2 Shelduck appeared on 21st and 27th, 229 Wigeon on 13th, 70 Gadwall on 13th, 162 Teal on 13th, 237 Mallard on 13th, 1 female Pintail on 2nd and other dates, 2 Shoveler on 19th, 113 Pochard on 13th, 495 Tufted Duck on 13th, 16 Goldeneye on 29th, 30 Goosander on 19th and 1880 Coot on 13th.

Peregrines have been active again this month, using the pylon seen from the Wildlife Centre as a perch, and 2 were noted from Paul Stanley Hide on 3rd. Oystercatchers are gradually returning to their breeding islands, with 1 on Millfields Island from 21st, 2 at the Wildlife Centre on 27th and a total of three seen on 29th. Lapwings have been roosting in front of the Sailing Club, numbering 350 on 19th. Seven Snipe were noted on 7th and 6 were flushed from Sheepwash Spit by a Heron on 8th. Five Redshank were at the Wildlife Centre on 27th and singles have been noted at various locations around the site all month.

An adult Mediterranean Gull was in Millfields Bay at 1100hrs on 3rd and probably the same bird was in the roost on 12th. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost on 2nd and 19th. The gull roost visible from Lane End Hide on 31st included circa 3000 Black-headed, 200 Common, 1500 Lesser Black-backed, 150 Herring and 30 Great Black-backed Gulls.

The Little Owl has been seen several times from the Wildlife Centre with 2 showing on 27th, and elsewhere, a pair of Tawny Owl was reported on 14th and 29th. A Kingfisher at Paul Stanley Hide was one of the only birds recorded on the very misty 1st day of the New Year. The Kingfisher has since been seen at various shoreline locations throughout the month. A Green Woodpecker on 6th was a welcome record of this scarce visitor. Two Skylarks flew over Millfields on 27th, calling as they went northwards. Other records included 80 Redwing in the Oldfield Lane area on 16th, 4 Goldcrests at the Wildlife Centre on 27th, 90 Jackdaw on Flat Island on 27th, a flock of 60 Siskin in Shiningford Creek on 4th and 5 Lesser Redpoll on Stones Island on 2nd. Reed Bunting are occasionally using the feeding stations at the Wildlife Centre, Lane End and Sheepwash and 2 birds were noted on 6th and 21st.

Just 85 Species in what has turned out to be a relatively dull birding month. This 85 is compared with 89 in January 2007, 89 in 2006, 95 in 2005, 91 in 2004, 87 in 2003 and 75 in 2002.

Roger Carrington

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