August 09 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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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

31 August 2009
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Little Gull
  • Press Res. (SK3565) 53 Goldfinch
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 4 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swan, 30 Greylag Goose, 160 Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 60 Carrion Crow
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Goosander
30 August 2009
  • Markeaton Park (SK3337) 19 Mistle Thrush
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 3 Dunlin (Canal Scrape), 492 Canada Goose, Hobby, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, 100 Goldfinch
29 August 2009
  • Ingleby (SK3427) Swift
  • Lees (SK2636) 3 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk
  • Mappleton (SK1647) Kingfisher, 7 Long-tailed Tit, Goosander, 16 Goldfinch, 2 Wheatear
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 12 Common Tern, 3 Buzzard, Kestrel, Willow Tit, Common Sandpiper, Sparrowhawk
28 August 2009
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Yellow-legged Gull
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Common Gull
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 2 Little Egret, 4 Greylag Goose, Wigeon, 8 Teal, Pochard, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, 4 Hobby, Green Sandpiper, Swift, Jay
  • Carr Vale NR (SK4669) Water Rail
27 August 2009
  • Stubbing Court (SK3567) 35 Goldfinch
  • Hassop (SK2272) 2 Peregrine over
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Black Tern, 2 Snipe, Hobby
26 August 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Black Tern, 16 Common Tern, Buzzard, Snipe, 3 Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk
25 August 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern in front of platform 3, Wigeon, 16 Teal, 300 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, Water Rail, 250 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, Whimbrel flew S, 2 Common Sandpiper, juv Black Tern, 18 Common Tern, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, several Lesser Whitethroat
  • Kirk Langley (SK2838) 2 Garden Warbler
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 3 Mandarin, Gadwall, 20 Teal, Shoveler, 4 Buzzard, 3 Stock Dove
24 August 2009
  • Staunton Harold Res. Res. (SK3723) 4 Shelduck Mediterranean Gull
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 3 Yellow-legged Gull
23 August 2009
  • Mickleover (SK3034) Osprey low over Mickleover Court Hotel at 10:10 (and later at Foremark Res.?)
  • Wirkesworth (SK2652) 19 Crossbill
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 7 Little Grebe, Osprey, Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) Swift
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) Snipe, Green Sandpiper
  • Youlgreave (SK2064) 5 Pied Flycatcher reported
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Black Tern
22 August 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 3 Little Egret in the roost, Wigeon, Mandarin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 3 Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail flew SW, Wheatear, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch
  • Staunton Harold Res. Res. (SK3723) 2 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Elvaston Castle CP (SK4032) 2 Hobby
  • Twyford (SK3228) Little Egret flying west along the R Trent
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Wigeon, 2 Hobby
21 August 2009
  • Staunton Harold Res. Res. (SK3723) Yellow-legged Gull
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull
  • South Wingfiled (SK3755) 2 Raven
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Spotted Redshank Canal Scrape
20 August 2009
  • Calke Park (SK3622) Mandarin
19 August 2009
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) 4 Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Raven, Swift
18 August 2009
  • South Wingfield (SK3755) Hobby
17 August 2009
  • Pride Park Derby (SK3735) 12 Oystercatcher east along R Derwent
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 5 Dunlin
  • Linacre Res. (SK3372) Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 8 Mandarin, Grey Wagtail
16 August 2009
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) 5 Little Egret, 4 Green Sandpiper (only view this site from the gate off the A50)
  • Willington (SK2928) 2 over A38/A50 junction
  • Rowsley (SK2827) Osprey next to A6
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Common Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 51 Greylag Goose, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 3 Moorhen, Coot, 20 Lapwing, 20 Goldfinch
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 4 Little Egret in the roost (flew off at 05:30 NE towards Burton, and Willington?), Mandarin, eclipse male Wigeon, 2 Peregrine, Greenshank, 10 Reed Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, 5 Garden Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 11 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 8 Tree Sparrow (the first record since 1999)
15 August 2009
  • Chaddesden (SK3737) Hobby
  • Kirk Langley (SK2838) Lesser Whitethroat, Hobby
14 August 2009
  • Alvaston (SK3833) 26 Collared Dove
  • Harland Edge (SK2868) Family group of 5 Kestrels
13 August 2009
  • Alvaston (SK3833) 10 Swift
  • Coombs Dale (SK2274) 4 Buzzard, Willow Tit, 6 Jay, 4 Bullfinch
11 August 2009
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) Teal, Green Sandpiper, 150 Swallow
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) Common Gull
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern reported flying across then disappearing into reeds on NW side of main pit at 10:40, 4 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 22 Shoveler, Pochard, 9 Little Grebe, 8 Grey Heron, Golden Plover, Ruff, 13 Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, 18 Common Tern, 11 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroat
10 August 2009
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK2161) 4 Little Grebe, 15 Mute Swan, 9 Moorhen, 5 Reed Warbler
  • Mackworth Park (SK2161) Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Gratton Dale (SK2161) Osprey flew in from the east
  • Chaddesden (SK3737) 3 Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, 13 Starling
9 August 2009
  • Alport Height (SK3051) 4 Wheatear, 2 Raven
  • Leadmill Bridge (SK2380) 27 Mandarin
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 4 Little Egrets in the roost, 2 Peregrine, 2 Common Tern, Wheatear, 6 Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, Willow Tit
8 August 2009
  • Leadmill Bridge (SK2380) 13 Goosander
  • Staunton Harold Res. Res. (SK3723) Yellow-legged Gull
  • Foremark Res. (SK3324) Osprey
7 August 2009
  • Foremark Res. (SK3324) 2 Shelduck, Osprey, 3 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Willington GP (SK2827) (mostly Canal Pit) Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 24 Geat Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 5 Common Tern, Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpecker, Willow Tit, 2 Jay
5 August 2009
  • Staunton Harold Res. Res. (SK3723) 49 Mute Swan, Hobby, Common Dandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, 60 Goldfinch
  • Carsington (SK25563) Little Egret
  • Tibshelf (SK4360) Red Kite over motorway services
  • Rowsley (SK2565) 10 Sand Martin, Dipper
4 August 2009
  • Chatsworth Park (SK2668) Osprey perched in a tree 200m from bridge at south end of the park at 17:30
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Osprey tried to catch a fish then drifted off west (same bird as above?)
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 11 Shoveler, Pochard, 5 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, juv Marsh Harrier, Hobby, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 350 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 11 Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper, Redshank, 7 Common Tern, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Raven
3 August 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 3 Shoveler, Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, juv Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Water Rail, 3 Oystercatcher, 5 Little Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, 7 Common Sandpiper, Green sandpiper,3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Willow Tit
3 August 2009
  • Baslow (SK2572) Hobby
  • Bottom Moor (SK3162) 20 Crossbill
2 August 2009
  • Baslow Edge (SK3041) Hobby
  • Biggin Dale (SK3041) Buzzard, Peregrine
  • Coombs Dale (SK3041) 2 Buzzard, 2 Spotted Flycatcher
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern am at least.  See photos on Photo Gallery page
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 7 Little Egret in the roost, 4 Mandarin, 3 Kestrel, 6 Buzzard, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, 7 Meadow Pipit, juv Wheatear, Goldcrest, 2 Crossbill SW just above tree line, calling
31 July 2009
  • Kedleston (SK3041) Wheatear
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Little Egret flying SW
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Juv. Garganey

Top of Page

Previous months
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
All of 2008
All of 2007
May 2009 highlights

An exceptional month that could only have been bettered if some of the rarer species had stayed around for a little longer of had been available to more of us.

Potentially the rarest sighting is that of the reported Black Kite (there have been only three accepted records to date) although many of us would have loved to add Rose-coloured Starling or Wryneck to our local lists. Both were photographed but declined to stay.

Fulmar, Little Stint and the two Common Cranes were sinilarly too brief for most of us although Black-necked Grebe, Garganey, Osprey, Red Kite, Hobby, Dotterel, Temminck's Stint and Wood Sandpiper were either multiples or lingered somewhat longer to give us a better chance.

There was an excellent list of waders and terns, the last of the Great Northern Divers achieved full summer plumage before departing and the Cetti's Warblers were present all month.

May can be a lively month for birders and this one was certainly no exception.

Bryan Barnacle