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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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

30 December 2008
  • Dronfield (SK3579) 29 Waxwing on Green Lane
  • Holmbrook Valley Park (SK3572) 11 Goosander
29 December 2008
  • Sapperton (SK1934) 2 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 100+ Linnet, 250 Chaffinch, 500 Fieldfare, 500 Redwing, Sparrowhawk, 500+ Wood Pigeon
  • Cromford Church (SK2957) 5 Hawfinch Willersley Castle entrance (elusive)
28 December 2008
  • Kedleston Park (SK3140) Little Egret
  • Chellaston (SK3830) Goldcrest, Blackcap
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 25 Fieldfare, 35 Redwing, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, 26 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Heron
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Little Egret, Jack Snipe
26 December 2008
  • Swadlincote (SK2919) Female Blackcap in observer's garden
  • Chellaston (SK3830) Female Blackcap in observer's garden
  • American Adventure (SK4444) 3 Goosander, 10 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 12 Pochard, 80 Lapwing
24 December 2008
  • Monsal Dale (SK1871) 4 Dipper, 2 Red-breasted Merganser
  • Matlock (SK2960) Raven over observer's garden
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 44 Wigeon, Goldeneye, 16 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 2 Water Rail, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Reed Bunting, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 12 Snipe, Reshank, 200 Lapwing
23 December 2008
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3933) 3 Goosander, 10 Mute Swan, 150 Canada Goose, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Shoveler, Grey Heron, 24 Tufted Duck, 500 Black-headed Gull, 4 Robin
  • Shelton Lock (SK3631) 11 Waxwing at the corner of Cantley Close at 15:00
22 December 2008
  • Uppertown (SK3264) Barn Owl
  • Wheeldon Mill Lock (SK3974) Kingfisher, Goosander
  • Markham Vale recycling centre (SK4571) Little Owl, Woodcock, 4 Bullfinch, Kestrel, 5 Grey Partridge, 3 Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipit
  • Taddington (SK1471) Barn Owl
  • Somercotes (SK4253) 20 Waxwing am
  • Derby (SK3535) 4 Waxwing in trees at junction of Green Lane and Babbington Lane
  • Derby (SK3434) 10 Waxwing on grounds of St Chad's School, St Chad's Road
21 December 2008
  • Beeley Triangle (SK2967) Short-eared Owl
  • Clay Cross (SK3963) 13 Waxwing
  • Stanton-by-Bridge (SK3727) 2 Little Egret
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Little Egret, 2 Jack Snipe, 21 Herring Gull, 6 GBB Gull, 72 LBB Gull, Common Gull
  • Alvaston (SK3832) Raven
20 December 2008
  • Swarkestone Causeway (SK3727) Little Egret
  • Chellaston (SK3449) Goldcrest
  • Swadlincote (SK2919) Female Blackcap in observer's garden
19 December 2008
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 13 Goosander
18 December 2008
  • Glossop (SK0394) Female Blackcap in observer's garden
  • Chaddesden Brook (SK3836) 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 Long-tailed Tit
  • Ogston Res. (SK3760) 6 Waxwing
  • Penguin Wood (SK2615) 2 Stonechat, 8 Tree Sparrow, 73 Goldfinch, 28 Linnet, 5 Yellowhammer, 8 Reed Bunting
  • Thompson’s Wood (SK2416) 6 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
17 December 2008
  • Shardlow (SK4131) 300 Golden Plover, 150 Lapwing
16 December 2008
  • Kedleston Park (SK3140) Little Egret by the lake
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 15 Common Gull, Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, Mistle Thrush, 3 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit, 68 Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove
  • Hathersage (SK2380) 20 Siskin, 50 Fieldfare
14 December 2008
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) Goosander, 300 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing,
  • American Adventure (SK4444) 9 Goosander, 5 Shoveler, 10 Wigeon
  • Mapperley (SK4343) Stonechat, 2 Tawny Owl
  • Beeley Triangle (SK2967) Short-eared Owl
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Pintail, Water Rail
  • Cubley (SK1637) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
  • Kedleston Park (SK3040) 2 male Reeve's Pheasant
13 December 2008
  • Glossop (SK0393) Hawfinch visiting observer's garden from 9th (see Photo Gallery page)
  • Mackworth (SK3136) A male Blackcap in observer's garden
10 December 2008
  • Ashford-in-the-Water (SK1870) 2 Raven, 70 Fieldfare
  • Wessington (SK3757) Another male Blackcap
  • Mickleover (SK3235) A male Blackcap at a garden feeder
9 December 2008
  • Wirksworth (SK2853) 15 Waxwing viewable from the Wood Street outside Anthony Gell School (do not enter the school grounds!!!)
  • Arleston (near Merry Barrow Farm) (SK3329) 57 Mute Swan, Black Swan, 250 Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, Kestrel
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) Little Egret (may be the same bird as the one at Stanton), Kingfisher, Shoveler, 2 Common Gull, 15 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, Reed Bunting
  • Stanton-by-Bridge (SK3727) Little Egret still present
7 December 2008
  • Westhouses Engine Shed (SK4257) c70 Redwing, 30 Fieldfare, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Willow Tits & 4 Bullfinches
  • Blackwell Colliery (SK4357) 2 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher
  • Doe Hill Lake (SK4259) 1 Stonechat
  • Aldercar (SK4547) Barn Owl, Tawny Owl
  • Belper Market Place (SK3547) Still 2 Waxwing, male Blackcap
  • Hilton GP (SK2431) 2 Bullfinch, Willow Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Teal
6 December 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Pink-footed Goose
  • Mickleover Sewage Works (SK3133) 5 Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting
  • West Hallam (SK4242) Ring-necked Parakeet at a feeding station
  • Etwall Farm (SK2729) Female Merlin, 130 Carrion Crow
5 December 2008
  • Chatsworth Park (SK2569) 180 Mallard, 30 Siskin, 150 Wood Pigeon, Goosander, 13 Teal
  • Cromford Church (SK2957) 2 Hawfinch
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Now 4 Great Northern Diver
  • Belper Market Place (SK3547) 5 Waxwing
  • Swarkestone Bridge (SK3727) Little Egret on ponds at Stanton end
  • Risley (SK4635) Barn Owl
3 December 2008
  • Erewash Canal, Cotmanhay (SK4643) Water Rail
  • Etwall (SK2933) Kestrel, Lesser Redpoll
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Snipe, 6 Lapwing, Common Gull, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, Little Grebe, 60 Black-headed Gull
1 December 2008
  • Cromford Meadows (SK2957) The Hawfinch now at Cromford Church at 09:00
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Snipe, Kingfisher, 3 Common Gull, Song Thrush, Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan

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Previous months
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
All of 2007
November 2008 highlights

Another excellent month in terms of the range of species, albeit that keen birders would have had to be very mobile to catch up with some of the rarer ones. A Blue-winged Teal was arguably the best of the lot, but stayed only briefly and showed to just one observer.

Details are eagerly awaited on reports of Bean Geese and a Lapland Bunting since both are very scarce species for us. More expected was Great Northern Diver but four on one water is quite something and another Shag, this time at Ogston, was well received.

Wader species were well represented and eleven species of gull was very impressive since it did not include either Kittiwake or Glaucous Gull. Winter swans and a few Waxwings also reminded us that we are heading for winter once again.

The Eastern Moors “show” continued with some lucky observers catching up with Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier and Great Grey Shrike. Sadly, another of the latter species was found dead in Bakewell.

Bryan Barnacle