January 2008 Bird News

These reports are unchecked.

30 January 2008
  • Alvaston Park Lake (SK3734) 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 7 Song Thrush, 5 Shoveller, Grey Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Willow Tit
29 January 2008
  • Darkey Abbey (SK3438) Male Blackcap on garden feeder
28 January 2008
  • Doe Hill Lake (SK4259) 2 Stonechat
  • Westhouses Engine Shed (SK4257) 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 1 Meadow Pipit & 5 Yellowhammer
27 January 2008
  • Hayfield (SK0585) 2 Snipe
  • Kinder Lodge (SK0486) 3 Treecreeper
  • Doe Hill Lake (SK4259) 6 Grey Partridge
  • Westhouses (SK4257) 2 Stonechat
  • Kirk Langley (SK3770) 2 Lesser Redpoll
  • Muggington (SK2842) 60 Pink-footed Geese heading west
  • Queen's Park, Chesterfield (SK3770) 2 Goosander
  • Shipley Lake (SK4444) The Ferruginous Duck still present see Rod Key's page for full details)
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 2 Greylag Goose, 66 Gadwall, 54 Shoveler, 133 Wigeon, 2 Mandarin, 17 Goldeneye, 7 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, Water Rail, 7 Snipe, Woodcock, Green Sandpiper, 4 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 40 Robin, 2 Song Thrush in song, Treecreeper in song, Jay, 2 Raven, 17 Redpoll and 10 Siskin
  • Monk's Dale (SK1374) 50 Redwing, 100 Fieldfare, Dipper, 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel, 6 Pied Wagtail
26 January 2008
  • Pride Park (SK3735) Goosander
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, 10+ Shoveler, 5+ Goldeneye, Pochard, Wigeon, 5+ Reed Bunting, 4+ Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Snipe, Gadwall
24 January 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Severe floods now subsiding but access still difficult. 1 Oystercatcher, 11 Shelduck, c90 Pochard, c260 Wigeon, 9 Pintail, 34 Shoveler, 16 Goldeneye & 1 Peregrine
  • Ambergate (SK3451) Blackcap on garden feeders
23 January 2008
  • Markham Pit (SK4571) 2 Juv Iceland Gulls
  • Poolsbrook CP (SK4373) Yellow-legged Gull
22 January 2008
  • Doe Hill CP (SK4259) 2 Stonechat, 5 Skylark, 14 Goldfinch, 4 Reed Bunting, Tufted Duck, 4 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 2 Pheasant, 100 Lapwing
  • Pride Park Sanctuary (SK3735) 2 Green Woodpecker, Snipe, Little Grebe, 2 Stock Dove
20 January 2008
  • Longshaw Lodge (SK2679) Brambling
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) male Pintail, 17 Goldeneye, 69 Shoveler, 47 Gadwall, Water Rail, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Stonechat and a Goldcrest
19 January 2008
  • Allestree Park (SK3540) Mandarin and a Wood Duck (escape)
  • Linacre Res (SK3372) 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Little Grebe, 6 Mandarin, 8 Jay
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) 6 Goosander
18 January 2008
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) a Green Sandpiper, a Jack Snipe, 8 Common Snipe, 2 Stonechat,150 Fieldfare and 900 Starling
  • Queens Park, Chesterfield (SK3770) 4 Goosander
16 January 2008
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Stonechat
14 January 2008
  • Abbey Hill Flash (SK3639) 9 Golden Plover with Lapwings
  • Pride Park (SK3735) Peregrine (most likely from from the Cathedral Pair) low over the business park at 15:00
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) a second-winter Glaucous Gull went through SW with two Lesser Black-backed Gulls at 15:20, also in today were 2 Shelduck, a Little Egret, 40 Gadwall, 57 Shoveler, a Mandarin, Water Rail and at least 1000 Starling on the field whilst c2000 went through north to join a large roost in Burton
13 January 2008
  • Allestree Park (SK3540) 30 Mandarin on upper lake
12 January 2008
  • Linacre Res (SK3372) 7 Goosander
  • Williamthorpe Ponds (SK4366) the Long-tailed Duck still present, up to 6 Water Rail
  • Alport (SK2464) 50 Pied Wagtail, Cormorant, 4 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 7 Goosander, 9 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 35 Black Headed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Water Rail
11 January 2008
  • Westhouses (SK4255) 2 Stonechat, 3 Reed Bunting, Pochard, Green Woodpecker, grey Partridge, Peregrine, possible diver species flying over
10 January 2008
  • Swadlincote (SK2919) Blackcap
  • Rolls-Royce Learning and Development Centre (SK3631) Buzzard
9 January 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Great Northern Diver off Stones Island
  • Cromford (SK2957) One Hawfinch at entrance to Willersley Castle
7 January 2008
  • Bakewell (SK2168) 4 Brambling in observer's garden
6 January 2008
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) Black Swan
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 3 Buzzard, 4 Water Rail, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Grey Wagtail
  • Hilton GP (SK2531) Barn Owl just north of A50/A516 Junction at 01:10, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Buzzard
  • Tapton Grange (SK2531) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Treecreeper, 3 Coal Tit, Jay, Kestrel, Song Thrush, 20 Long-tailed Tit
5 January 2008
  • Ogston Res (SK3760) 2 Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Great Northern Diver, 18 Goosander
  • Williamthorpe Ponds (SK4366) the Long-tailed Duck still present
  • Meteor Centre, Derby (SK3638) Peregrine
3 January 2008
  • Caldwell (SK2516) A Black Redstart reported from the business units at the rear of Blackenhall Farm (access uncertain, please do not trespass)
  • Cromford (SK3057) 4 Lea Road/Willersley Castle area, Siskin, Buzzard, 2 Dipper
  • Ogston Res (SK3760) 2 Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Caspian Gull
  • Alvaston Park Lake (SK3734) 11 Pochard, 29 Shoveler, 4 Goosander, Green Woodpecker, 4 Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail
2 January 2008
  • Allestree Park (SK3440) 25 Siskin
1 January 2008
  • Cromford (SK2957) 5 Hawfinch along the Canal
  • Swarkestone GP (SK3527) 2 Grey Partridge, 700 Fieldfare, 10+ Redwing, 15 Wigeon
31 December 2007
  • Alvaston Park Lake (SK3734) 10 Pochard, 12 Shoveler, 3 Goosander, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, 3 Song Thrush (in song)
  • Pride Park (SK3735) 45 Pink-footed Geese moving SSE
  • Hilton GP (SK2531) Willow Tit, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk

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Previous months
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
December 2007 highlights

Arguably the most popular bird this month was the splendid first-winter male Long-tailed Duck at Williamthorpe. It was present all month and had many birders returning to see it on 1 January as a starter for 2008 lists. Another long stayer was the Great Northern Diver at Carsington, although that could take a little more finding on occasions.

Two Brent Geese were all too brief and the reappearance of what was presumably last month’s Great White Egret was equally frustrating and made one wonder where it had been hiding in between. Later in the month, a Bittern was discovered at Carr Vale and began to show on a regular basis.

At Carsington, the Ring-billed Gull was last seen on 6th but contributed to a total of 11 gull species for the month. Indeed, those waiting to connect with Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull need only to have been a little patient to see one at Ogston.

Winter visitors included many more Siskin than usual, more Lesser Redpolls than have been reported in recent times (a few Common Redpolls were also discovered), the now familiar influx of Stonechats and more Bramblings. There was an impressive list of waders for the last month of the year and a further passage of Pink-footed Geese saw a few decide to linger with local goose flocks.

A pretty good month overall.

Bryan Barnacle