Latest Bird News

These reports are unchecked. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)

For more reports please see Rod Key's Page

10 March 2010
  • Chatsworth Park (SK2570) 2 Mandarin, 4 Goosander, 2 Grey Wagtail
9 March 2010
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 2 Mediterranean Gull
  • Baslow (SK2472) Sparrowhawk
  • Willington GP (SK2827) White Wagtail, 5 Water Pipit SW of Canal Pit, 47 Curlew, Little Owl, 45 Pied Wagtail, Goosander
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) 2 Gadwall, Green Woodpecker
8 March 2010
  • Pleasley Colliery (SK4964) Goldeneye, Little Ringed Plover
  • Longshaw Estate (SK2679) Brambling, 2 Lesser Redpoll, Siskin
  • Stanton-in-Peak (SK2363) Barn Owl
  • Church Wilne (SK4431) Oystercatcher, 2 Tree Sparrow
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5033) 2 Egyptian Goose, 11 Gadwall, 20 Pochard, Goldeneye, 2 Goosander
7 March 2010
  • Derby SF (SK3834) Cetti's Warbler
  • Baslow (SK2472) 2 Little Owl
  • Alderwasley (SK3151) Buzzard feeding on the ground
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Whooper Swan, 3 Bittern, 7 Shelduck, 14 Magpie, 20 Pochard, Goldeneye, 4 Buzzard, 2 Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 2 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 25 Greylag Goose, 40 Canada Goose, Pochard, 5 Buzzard, Green Woodpecker
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) the first Little Ringed Plover of the year (Power Station), 6 Great Crested Grebe, 44 Teal, 9 Gadwall, 26 Shoveler, 5 Wigeon, 12 Pochard, 81 Tufted Duck, 16 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, 2 Peregrine, 3 Buzzard, Oystercatcher, 8 Linnet
  • Nut Wood (SK3539) Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, Common Gull, Kingfisher
  • Abbey Hill Flash (SK3639) 23 Greylag Goose, 106 Canada Goose, 22 Carrion Crow
  • Darley Abbey (SK3438) 2 Blackcap (M+F) in oberver's garden
  • Middleton Moor (SK2074) 7 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Bunting
  • Hilton GP (SK3531) 5 Bullfinch, 5+ Buzzard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Willow Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker
6 March 2010
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Whooper Swan, 3 Water Pipit again, 35 Curlew
  • Melbourne Pool (SK3824) Cormorant, 13 Mute Swan, 7 Pochard, 53 Coot, Common Gull
  • Swarkeston Lake area (SK3628) 43 Mute Swan E of the bridge, 5 Gadwall, 2 Oystercatcher
  • Ingleby (SK3427) 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 200 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, Goosander
  • Rowsley (SK2565) 2 Mandarin
  • St Chad's Water (SK4431) Scaup
  • Church Wilne (SK4331) Bewick's Swan still present with Mute Swan flock opposite Ivy House Farm
5 March 2010
  • Aldercar (SK4447) 40 Teal
  • Erewash Meadows (SK4449) 8 Gadwall, 22 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 3 Water Rail
  • Hardwick Hall (SK4663) 2 Raven
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 2 Pintail, 8 Goldeneye, 7 Oystercatcher
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Whooper Swan, 7 Shelduck, 3 Water Pipit again present, Aythya hybrid duck (ferruginous type)
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 8 Buzzard, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 50 Golden Plover
4 March 2010
  • Belper (SK3648) Blackcap in oberver's garden
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern near Platform 1, Whooper Swan, Water Rail, 4 Water Pipit again present in the field with silage bales beyond the Canal Pit
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 41 Whooper Swan flying N (sorry, previously incorrectly posted as Bewick's), 2 Mediterranean Gull, Stonechat, 2 Lesser Redpoll
3 March 2010
  • Pleasley Colliery (SK4964)2 Green Woodpecker, 100 Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll
  • Wirksworth (SK2754) 2 Raven
  • Church Wilne (SK4431) Bewick's Swan, 20 Mute Swan, 4 Egyptian Goose
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Water Pipit again present in the field beyond the Canal Pit, 6 Shelduck, 14 Goosander, 25 Curlew
2 March 2010
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Garganey from the Visitor's Centre briefly
  • Allestree (SK3440) 4 Goosander
  • Willaimthorpe (SK4366) Water Rail
  • Kedleston Park (SK3041) 2 Pink-footed Goose, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Oystercatcher
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Stonechat
1 March 2010
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) Stonechat
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern again
  • Shardlow (SK4230) Buzzard, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Yellowhammer
  • Pride Park (SK3735) Presumably the 2 Cathedral Peregrines displaying to each other at 11:00
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Mediterranean Gull pm
28 February 2010
  • Bolsover (SK4770) 75 Pink-footed Goose NW
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 40 Meadow Pipit, up to 4 Water Pipit in field beyond the Canal Pit (Highbridge SK273273), 50 Pied Wagtail
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 2 Curlew
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Shag, Yellow-legged Gull

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Previous months
January 2010
February 2010
January highlights

In terms of species, an excellent start to the year albeit that the severe weather inhibited travel for many of us. The presence of Bitterns, Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans, plus an exceptional number of Smew, drew many birders to the south of the county whilst year-listers were grateful for fairly reliable sites to see Great Northern Diver, Common Crossbill, Hawfinch and Corn Bunting.

Blackcaps graced a number of gardens, there were a few Chiffchaff to be found and late in the month a Short-eared Owl showed well at Shipley CP. Many species were affected by the weather, either leaving us or moving into gardens and there was a good showing of Pink-footed Geese as they relocated from the east side of the country to the north-west.

Rarer birds included last month’s Twite, a Water Pipit and a putative Velvet Scoter although the last two showed only to single observers.

Sadly, there were no Waxwing or Great Grey Shrike to be found this January.

Bryan Barnacle