January 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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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 January 2009
  • Formark Res. (SK3324) Mediterranean Gull
  • Leash Fen area (SK2874) Great Grey Shrike
  • Eastern Moors Hen Harrier
  • Swarkestone Lake (SK3627) 50 Grey Lag Goose, 110 Canada Goose, 2 Gadwall, 55 Tufted Duck, 2 Scaup, Goosander
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) 40 Wigeon, 55 Teal, 5 Goldeneye, Buzzard, 2 Raven
  • Rose End Meadows Cromford (SK2856) 23 Waxwing
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Garganey still present
30 January 2009
  • Pride Park Sanctuary (SK3735) 2 Shoveler
  • Old Tupton (SK3865) Marsh Tit in observer's garden
  • Allestree (SK3539) 13 Waxwing Lambourn Drive/Derwent Avenue
29 January 2009
  • Locko Park (SK4038) Treecreeper, 4 Buzzard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Moorhen, 70 Canada Goose
  • Ogston Res. (SK3760) Pintail
28 January 2009
  • Church Wilne Reservoir (SK4632) Red-necked Grebe still present
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Jack Snipe, 106 Snipe
  • Shipley View (SK4443) 35 Waxwing remain at corner of Pentridge and Barling Drive
27 January 2009
  • Calke (SK3622) 3 Mandarin on Betty's Pond
  • Belper (SK3547) 16 Waxwing rear of St Peters Church
  • Wyver Lane (SK0382) Stonechat, 2 Skylark, 9 Pochard, 8 Goosander, 38 Wigeon, 7 Stock Dove, 10 Reed Bunting
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 23 Waxwing on Ebenezer Street
26 January 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Little Egret in to roost
  • Wingerworth Lido (SK3767) 7 Goosander
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Treecreeper, 8 Dunnock, 15 Long-tailed Tit
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 3 Great Northern Diver, Scaup, Pintail, Yellow-legged Gull, 12 Goldeneye
  • Steeples Grange (SK2855) 4 Hawfinch 09:43 flying towards Black Rocks car park
  • Shipley View (SK4443) 212 Waxwing at corner of Pentridge and Barling Drive at 13:30
  • Cromford Rugby Club (SK4360) 29 Waxwing at 11:45
  • Tibshelf (SK4360) 5 Waxwing Alfreton Road (nr Primary School) SK434600
25 January 2009
  • Mickleover (SK3235) Blackcap in observer's garden
  • Windley (SK3145) Peregrine
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Garganey, Pintail, 2 Mandarin, 80 Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 13 Goldeneye, 3 Goosander, Jack Snipe
  • Thulston (SK4031) 2 Grey Partridge
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Redshank, 2 Pintail, 229 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 43 Pochard, Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 650 Lapwing, Great Black-backed Gull
  • Shipley View (SK4443) 50 Waxwing Corner of Pentridge and Barling Drive am
24 January 2009
  • Dethick (SK3358) 2 Raven, Little Owl, Barn Owl (mobbed by Kestrel), Tawny Owl
  • Beeley Moor (SK3067) 50 Brambling, 2 Short-eared Owl
  • Bradley Dam (SK2245) 23 Mandarin
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) 15 Lesser Redpoll, Peregrine
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Garganey, Pintail, Goosander
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 86 Snipe
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 4 Lesser Redpoll
  • Shipley View (SK4443) 84 Waxwing - sorry no exact location
  • Cromford (SK2956) 29 Waxwing in gardens on Tor View Rise veiwable from Bedehouse Lane (please respect the privacy of home owners!)
23 January 2009
  • Allestree (SK3439) 1 Waxwing
  • Formark Res. (SK3324) 62 Goosander at roost (40 males)
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Little Owl, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Pochard, Little Grebe, 2 Common Gull, 18 Magpie, 14 Pheasant
  • Littleover (SK3233) 3 Siskin in observer's garden
22 January 2009
  • Bradwell Moor (SK1480) 15 Golden Plover
  • Locko Park (SK4038) Woodcock, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 100 Greylag Goose, 25 Canada Goose, 10 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 30 Black-headed Gull
  • Littleover (SK3233) 2 Siskin and a female Blackcap in observer's garden
21 January 2009
  • Cressbrook (SK1772) 1000 Pink-footed Geese west
  • Formark Res. (SK3324) minimum of 38 Goosander coming in to roost, maybe as high as 45
  • Harland Edge (SK2968) 3 Buzzard
  • Upper Loads (SK3169) mixed flock containing: 400 Starling, 250 Fieldfare, 150 Redwing, 100 Lapwing
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Tree Sparrow, 8 Teal
  • Littleover (SK3233) 5 Siskin in observer's garden
20 January 2009
  • Cromford Wharf area (SK3056) 16 Little Grebe, 26 Moorhen, Tufted Duck
  • Shardlow (SK4131) 100 Golden Plover, 30 Lapwing, 200 Wood Pigeon
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 2 Mute Swan, 2 Pochard, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Gull, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk
  • Alvaston Park (SK3833) 6 Goosander, 5 Pochard, 10 Mute Swan, 2 Shoveler, 2Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Common Gull, Cormorant
19 January 2009
  • Willington Power Station (SK3128) Peregrine on the cooling towers
  • Froggatt (SK2475) 2 Mealy Redpoll just south of Froggatt bridge, 60 Siskin
  • Screetham Lane (SK3065) 2 (probably many more) Brambling in the fields
18 January 2009
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 3 Waxwing on Ebenezer Street
  • Alvaston Park (SK3833) 8 Goosander, 2 Pochard, 8 Mute Swan
18 January 2009
  • Leash Fen area (SK2874) a Hen Harrier moving SW
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 32 Gadwall, female Pintail, 31 Shoveler, 61 Wigeon, 20 Pochard, 15 Goldeneye, 5 Gossander, Kestrel, Buzzard, Woodcock and a Common Gull. In the Power Station area on a flash pool; 40 GBB Gulls, 20 LBB Gulls, 6 Herring Gulls, 160 BH Gulls
17 January 2009
  • Linacre Res. (SK2220) 6 Goosander, 8 Mandarin
  • Chesterfield (SK3872) 50 Waxwing Tesco car park A61
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 17 Red-legged Partridge
  • Thulston (SK3931) 500 Golden Plover
16 January 2009
  • Abbey Hill Floods (SK3639) 2 Siskin, 70 Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Shoveler, Little Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 90 Canada Goose, Buzzard, Kestrel
  • Darley Dale (SK2763) 6 Waxwing
15 January 2009
  • Toyota Site (SK2929) A Barn Owl seen on the A50 island
  • Draycott (SK4332) The Whooper Swan still present viewable from the Ambaston side, 40 Goldfinch
  • Chesterfield (SK3871) 76 Waxwing split into several flocks
14 January 2009
  • Cromford (SK2957) Hawfinch Rugby Club in tree by the club house
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 2 Great Northern Diver still present, Kingfisher
  • Williamthorpe (SK4366) Green Sandpiper
  • Eckington (SK4279) 120 Pink-footed Goose WNW at 10:38
  • Morton (SK4060) A Waxwing still feeding on berries by Holland Close
13 January 2009
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 2 Mute Swan, 2 Teal, 3 Pochard, 9 Tufted Duck, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, Skylark, 11 Magpie, 11 Moorhen, 2 Fieldfare
  • Alvaston Park (SK3833) Kingfisher near Raynesway Bridge
  • Carr Vale NR (SK4569) Over-wintering Bittern at dusk
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 2 Water Rail, 7 Pochard, 6 Goosander, 3 Shoveler, 500 Black-headed Gull, 5 Reed Bunting
  • Morton (SK4060) A Waxwing feeding on berries in Holland Close
11 January 2009
  • Baslow (Wheatlands Lane) (SK2372) 25 Yellowhammer, 7 Lapwing, a very pale Buzzard
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) female Pintail, 420 Mallard, 13 Goldeneye, 12 Goosander, Water Rail, 2 Woodcock, 12 GBB Gulls, 67 LBB Gulls, 20 Herring Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 14 Siskin
  • Avenue Washlands (SK3966) Bullfinch, 15 Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, 8 Fieldfare, Teal
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Ruff Canal Pit
  • Allestree, Ferrer's Way (SK345389) 14 Waxwing Darley Abbey end of the road
10 January 2009
  • Milltown (SK3561) 30 Waxwing in observer's garden
  • Willington GP (SK2220) Goosander, 2 Snipe
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5031) 4 Bewick's Swan briefly flew in from Nottinghamshire before returning, 2 Goosander
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) 3 Bullfinch, Siskin, Grey Heron
9 January 2009
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5031) Whooper Swan , 5 Goosander, 19 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 250 Wigeon
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Water Rail, Shoveler, Wigeon, 3 Pochard, Common Gull, 2 Mute Swan, mixed flock of c 60 Redwing/Fieldfare
  • Cromford (SK2957) Hawfinch feeding in tree by canal c.0.5 miles from the wharf, 3 Goosander, Peregrine, 30 Redwing, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 15 Little Grebe, Dipper on river
8 January 2009
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) Caspian Gull, 2 Pink-footed Goose
  • Darley Dale (SK2763) 5+ Waxwing eating apples fixed to a small tree by local birders on the footpath parallel to the railway at approx SK269629, 40 more in trees between Rowan Close and the railway line
7 January 2009
  • Kedleston Park (SK3141) White-fronted Goose still present
  • Church Wilne Reservoir (SK4632) Red-necked Grebe still present
  • Church Wilne Ski Pit (SK4532) male Smew
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) male Scaup
  • Calke Park (SK3622) Raven
  • Sinfin Golf Course (SK3531) Sparrowhawk, 22 Moorhen, Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Bittern on the main pool am, female Pintail
6 January 2009
  • Cromford Church (SK2957) 2 Dipper on river near Railway Station
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) 2 Pochard, 30 Yellowhammer, 30 Reed Bunting
  • Radbourne Hall area (SK2935) Buzzard, Woodcock, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Red-legged Partridge
5 January 2009
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 3 Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter, Scaup, 2 Raven, Sparrowhawk, 80 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Grey Heron
4 January 2009
  • Hell Bank (SK2868) 2 Stonechat
  • Chatsworth Park (SK2570) Brent Goose with Canadas
  • Hilton GP (SK2531) 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, 2 Bullfinch, 13 Long-tailed Tit
  • Willington GP (SK2220) 82 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 38 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 26 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 9 Goosander, Buzzard, 7 Snipe, 6 Bullfinch
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) Little Egret
  • Allestree Park (SK3540) 4 Mandarin, Grey Wagtail, Siskin
  • Bretby (SK2822) 4 Waxwing on Geary Lane
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Little Egret, 40 Shoveler, 12 Goosander, Woodcock, Raven, 8 Siskin
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Great Northern Diver still present
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3723) 10 Tree Sparrow, male Smew, Pink-footed Goose, 127 Greylag Goose, 155 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, Raven
  • Kedleston Park (SK3141) White-fronted Goose still opposite Golf Club
3 January 2009
  • Darley Dale (SK2763) 55 Waxwing commuting between berry bushes on Lime Grove and an apple tree by the railway line at the end of Yew Tree Close
  • Kedleston Park (SK3141) 12 Bullfinch, Treecreeper, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) 30 Waxwing in two flocks, 12 Goosander, 2 Bullfinch, 10 Siskin, Nuthatch, Cormorant, 2 Tufted Duck
  • Stanton Hill, Ticknall (SK3523) 10 Golden Plover
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5031) Stonechat, 13 Great Crested Grebe, 35 Wigeon, 16 Gadwall, 60 Shoveler, 25 Pochard, 83 Tufted Duck, 2 Goosander, 196 Coot, 3 Snipe, 180 Black-headed Gull,
  • Cubley (SK1638) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, Nuthatch
  • Thulston (SK4031) 12 Golden Plover
  • Thulston (SK3931) 60 Golden Plover
  • Elvaston Castle CP (SK4033) 2 Stonechat, 25 Siskin
2 January 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 6 Goosander, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard, Woodcock, Raven
  • Holmebrook Valley CP (SK3572) 21 Waxwing near the top car park, 2 Bullfinch, 12 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, Nuthatch, 2 Cormorant, 2 Tufted Duck
1 January 2009
  • American Adventure (SK4444) 6 Goosander, 15 Shoveler, Stonechat,
  • Barrow-on-Trent (SK3528) 10 Waxwing flew off north at 10:00
  • Alvaston (SK3933) 2 Goosander on R Derwent
  • Bradley Dam (SK2245) 25+ Mandarin, 150 Mallard on nearly frozen lake
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Great Northern Diver still present, Common Scoter, Scaup
  • Cromford Church (SK2957) 2 Hawfinch, 2 Goosander, Grey Wagtail, 2 Dipper

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Previous months
December 2008
All of 2008
All of 2007
December 2008 highlights

The highlight for many was the welcome influx of Waxwings and some proved fairly easy to see. Indeed, a number of observers seemed to click for both that species and Hawfinch on the same day.

Red-necked Grebe, the elusive Ring-billed Gull, Great Grey Shrike, Common Redpoll and Water Pipit would all have been more popular had they stayed around longer; and the Short-eared Owl show finally came to an end just before Christmas.

The Great Northern Divers did remain and drew a good number of birders, many of whom saw at least one of Scaup and Common Scoter which were also at Carsington. Claims of Great White Egret and Green-winged Teal will have to pass the 'assessment test' but notes have already been received on the former.

An impressive eleven species of gull hid the fact that “white-winged” gulls were very scarce this month. Wintering Blackcaps graced a good number of gardens but Chiffchaff were again much scarcer. All-inall, a pretty good mix with which to end the year.

Bryan Barnacle