December 2009 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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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 December 2009
  • Pride Park, Derby (SK3659) 2 Goosander
  • Chellaston (SK3730) Blackcap
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 153 Teal, 57 Golden Plover, Jack Snipe, Chiffchaff
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Bittern pm, Egyptian Goose
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull
30 December 2009
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret still present
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329)
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 10 Yellow-legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull
29 December 2009
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Little Egret still present
  • Markeaton Park (SK3337) 3 Goosander
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 4 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull
28 December 2009
  • Chellaston (SK3830) Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 18 Redwing, 4 Bullfinch
  • Littleover (SK3233) 2 Blackcap
  • Dove Valley Lake (SK2031) 54 Greylag Goose, 160 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 26 Pochard, 31 Tufted Duck
  • Hatton (SK2129) 20 Mute Swan
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Water Rail, 56 Lapwing, 6 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove, 77 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail
  • Freebirch (SK3072) 6 Grey Partridge, 49 Golden Plover, 18 Lapwing, 60 Fieldfare
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) Smew (please view this site only from the A50 entrance)
27 December 2009
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 45 Lapwing, Jack Snipe, 60 Black Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, 30 Redwing
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
  • Willington GP (SK2827) NOTE: very slippy at the moment, please take care. 5+ Bullfinch, Bittern from platform 3, 4 Goosander, 250 Canada Goose, 250 Lapwing, Willow Tit, Greenfinch
26 December 2009
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 40 Lapwing, Snipe, 60 Black Headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull
  • Shipley CP (SK4444) 3 Wigeon, 9 Gadwall, 4 Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Little Egret still present in front of Lumford Cottages
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 10 Egyptian Goose, Water Rail, 10 Snipe, Redshank, Green Woodpecker, 40 Skylark
24 December 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Shelduck, 60 Teal, 22 Pochard, Buzzard, Kestrel, 8 Bullfinch
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Little Egret still present
  • Caldwell (SK2517) 45 Golden Plover
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Garganey (last year's bird back again?), 5 Shoveler, Water Rail, 2 Snipe
23 December 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Brambling still present
  • Bakewell (SK2268) Little Egret - pretty unusual here
  • Poolsbrook (SK4473) 50 Golden Plover
22 December 2009
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 141 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Raven, 7 Bullfinch
  • Weston-on-Trent (SK4027) 7 Bewick's Swan with Mutes, Water Rail, Kingfisher and Willow Tit (SW along canal towpath from Weston Lock)
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Pintail, 2 Buzzard, 10 Red-legged Partridge, Water Rail, 4 Snipe, 5 Willow Tit, Brambling (feeding station)
  • Abbey Hill Flash (SK3639) 150 Canada Goose, 2 Teal, Merlin, 15 Snipe, 4 Meadow Pipit
  • Loscoe Dam (SK4247) 3 Green Woodpecker, 17 Meadow Pipit
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 3 Goldeneye, Goosander, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff,4 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit
21 December 2009
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5033) 30 Greylag Goose, 202 Wigeon, 35 Gadwall, 31 Shoveler, 130 Pochard, 188 Coot, Snipe, 100 Fieldfare
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 2 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Greylag Goose, 119 Canada Goose, 30 Lapwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, 108 Rook
  • Golden Valley (SK4251) 2 Kingfisher
  • Hathersage (SK2381) 8 Goosander
  • Shardlow (SK4230) 30 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 6 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull
20 December 2009
  • Ogston Res. (SK3760) 36 Cormornat, 5 Goldeneye, Buzzard, 4 Great Black Backed Gull
  • Kirk Langley (SK2838) Brambling
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull
  • Alsop Moor (SK1657) Peregrine
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) 80 Lapwing, Jack Snipe, 25 Snipe, 5 Meadow Pipit, 30 Goldfinch, 25 Yellowhammer
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Woodcock
  • Chaddesden (SK3737) 2 Blackcap in observer's garden
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) 3 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, 65 Herring Gull (view this site only from the A50 gate
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 32 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 35 Redwing, Willow Tit, Coal Tit
  • Shipley CP (SK4444) 15 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 35 Shoveler, Water Rail
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 511 Mallard, 249 Teal, 3 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, 10 Goldeneye, 11 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, Water Rail, 10 Snipe, Woodcock, 2 Redshank briefly, Green Woodpecker (yaffling), Willow Tit. Main and North pools 85-95% iced over. Visitors are asked not walk along the path on the east side of the main pool (causeway) to minimise disturbance to waterfowl on exposed areas of open water/ice near this path.
19 December 2009
  • Linacre Res. (SK3372) 2 Crossbill
  • Bakewell (SK2169) Dipper
  • Ingleby (SK3427) 90 Greylag Goose
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 10 Cormorant, 2 Goosander, Snipe, 2 Redshank
  • Barrow (SK3528) 81 Mute Swan, 9 Egyptian Goose
18 December 2009
  • Staunton Harold Res (SK3723) 40 Wigeon, Goldeneye, 12 Tree Sparrow
17 December 2009
  • Calke Park (SK3622) 3 Mandarin
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 10 Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Caspian Gull
  • Barlborough (SK4777) Grey Wagtail
16 December 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Black-tailed Godwit still present, 7 Goosander
14 December 2009
  • Calver (SK2474) 5 Bullfinch
13 December 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 41 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Buzzard
  • Cromford (SK2956) Hawfinch near entrance to rugby ground
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 10 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) 625 Pink-footed Goose NW, 125 Teal, 25 Goldeneye (view this site only from the A50 gate)
  • Allestree (SK3439) Blackcap
  • Mill Dale (SK1355) 2 Buzzard, 30 Fieldfare, 2 Dipper, Coal Tit, Green Woodpecker
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Black-tailed Godwit still present, 3 Water Rail, Woodcock, Jack Snipe 14 Common Snipe, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Willow Tit, Treecreeper
12 December 2009
  • Weston-on-Trent (SK3928) 2 Corn Bunting, 50 Yellowhammers, 120 Skylark
  • Spondon (SK3963) 455 Jackdaw S/SW to roost
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 31 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thruash, 9 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch
  • Kedleston Hall (SK3140) 4 Mandarin, Goosander, Buzzard
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Goosander, Water Rail, 85 Collared Dove
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 5 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Caspian Gull
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 110 Pink-footed Goose NW, Green Woodpecker, 8 Bullfinch, Kingfisher, 2 Reed Bunting, Buzzard
11 December 2009
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 50 Redwing, 2 Coal Tit, 14 Greenfinch
  • Shipley CP (SK4444) 7 Little Grebe, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 49 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 13 Shoveler, 47 Pochard, 3 Goosander, 32 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, Woodcock, 120 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, 4 Siskin
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 29 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Water Rail, 15 Golden Plover, Song Thrush (singing)
10 December 2009
  • Cromford (SK2956) Hawfinch in trees by entrance to Willersley Castle
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Cormnorant, 64 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 52 Tufted Duck
  • Barrow (SK3528) Kingfisher (canal)
9 December 2009
  • Littleover (SK3233) 2 Kingfisher, Blackcap, Raven
  • Chellaston (SK3730) Blackcap arriced on same day as in 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 28 Gadwall, 134 Mallard, 24 Pochard, 12 Goldeneye, 5 Water Rail, 400 Lapwing, Kingfisher (canal), Grey Wagtail, Raven, 35 Goldfinch, 6 Bullfinch
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 2 Water Rail, Black-tailed Godwit still present (photo on the gallery page), 2 Kingfisher, 2 Willow Tit
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3734) 4 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 5 Mute Swan, 14 Pochard, 4 Goosnader, 12 Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Muscovy Duck
8 December 2009
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 4 Little Grebe, 27 Great Crested Grebe, 21 Cormorant, 334 Tufted Duck, 334 Coot, 30 Tree Sparrow, 22 Lesser Redpoll, 11 Bullfinch
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Little Grebe, 71 Wigeon, 24 Pochard, Water Rail, 30 Blackbird, 100 Redwing, Willow Tit, 35 Goldfinch
  • Carver's Rocks (SK3322) Marsh Tit, Siskin
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3734) 6 Goosander
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Great Northern Diver, 2 Goosander
  • Mapperley Res. (SK4343) 5 Shoveler
  • Shipley Lake (SK4444) 5 Shoveler, 9 Pochard, 2 Goosander, 10 Siskin
6 December 2009
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 4 Buzzard, 6 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) Smew, 2 Redshank, 2 Raven (please note that this site is private and no access, please view only from the A50 gate)
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 7 Goldeneye, Goosander, Peregrine, Water Rail, 9 Lapwing, 28 Golden Plover SW, 2 Woodcock, 7 Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit still present, 300 Black Headed Gull, 300 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Great Black-backed Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 2 Kingfisher, Willow Tit, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin
5 December 2009
  • Swarkestone Bridge (SK3627) Peregrine
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Water Rail, 2 Common Gull
  • Bradley Dam (SK2245) Moorhen, Teal, 47 Mallard, 4 Mandarin
  • Chesterfield (SK3871) Peregrine on the "Crooked Spire"
  • Linacre Res. (SK3372) 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Mandarin, 13 Tufted Duck, 2 Lesser Redpoll
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) (Paul Stanley Hide): Redshank, 3 Raven, 10+ Siskin, 2 Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Coal Tit, 2 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Common Gull, 5+ Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 200 Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Tree Sparrow, Bullfinch
4 December 2009
  • Millstone Edge (SK2480) 100 Fieldfare, Brambling, 50 Siskin
  • Ambergate (SK3451) 6 Bullfinch
  • Crich Chase (SK3452) 25 Long-tailed tit
  • Cromford Canal (SK3155) 13 Little Grebe, 43 Moorhen
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Black-tailed Godwit still present, Chiffchaff, 2 Goosander
3 December 2009
  • Morley (SK3940) Cormorant, 8 Greylag Goose, 163 Canada Goose, 36 Lapwing
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Whooper Swan
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 3 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Black-tailed Godwit
2 December 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Possible Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid again, Scaup type hybrid, Raven
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 347 Tufted Duck, 6 Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Pintail, Great Northern Diver, 2 Bewick's Swan, 4 Shelduck, Shoveler, Grey Plover, 3 Redshank, Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Raven, 30 Siskin
1 December 2009
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 26 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 173 Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, 20 Skylark, 48 Fieldfare, Raven, 4 Reed Bunting
  • Barbrook Res. (SK2777) Jack Snipe, 3 Stonechat
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 3 Pintail, Ring-billed Gull
  • Leash Fen (SK2973) Merlin
30 November 2009
  • Shardlow (SK4230) 3 Buzzard, 5 Fieldfare
  • Ticknall (SK3523) 2 Marsh Tit in observer's garden
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 400 Pink-footed Goose to NW, 2 Kingfisher on the dam wall
  • Littleover (SK3233) Little Egret NE over Derby Grammar School at 08:00
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Possible Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid again, 2 Water Rail

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Previous months
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
All of 2008
All of 2007
November 2009 highlights

Another excellent month during which it clearly wasn’t sensible to stray too far from Carsington Water, as one good bird after another turned up. The Great Northern Divers may have been expected and perhaps the return of the Ring-billed Gull had been forecast but an adult Gannet, a Black Redstart and a Green-Winged Teal certainly weren’t. The latter may have been fluked (see species account) but the photographic evidence was still pretty compelling !

Elsewhere, Ambaston GP produced both a Wood Lark and a Water Pipit for the lucky observers, and Carr Vale just keeps piling on new species. This month it was their first Cetti’s Warbler.

The month saw a good mix of waders for the time of year, plenty of interest (and volume) in the gull-roosts and an impressive passage of Ping-footed Geese. Even the Bittern at Willington GP stayed long enough to allow more observers to catch up with it.

Bryan Barnacle