Bird News May 2008

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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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 May 2008
  • Padley Gorge (SK2579) Red Kite, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Dipper
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Avocet on the Canal Scrape for ten minutes pm, Knot
  • Baslow (SK2572) Red Kite, Buzzard
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Grelag Goose, 2 Little Grebe, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Barrow-on-Trent (SK3528) Turtle Dove on wires adjascent to Grange Farm
30 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Black-tailed Godwit Canal Scrape
  • Dovedale (SK1451) 2 Redstart
28 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Canal Pit - 2 Temminck's Stints, 6 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, Lapwings (also a Ruff am which had gone by this afternoon). DWT Reserve spit: 2 Turnstones
  • Wirksworth (SK2754) 2 Redstart, Little Owl
26 May 2008
  • A38 near Ripley (SK3850) A Red Kite on a fence post
25 May 2008
  • Kedleston Park (SK3141) Mandarin, Spotted Flycatcher (near the Saw Mill), 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Anchor Church (SK3327) The imm female Red-footed Falcon still present
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 8 Greylag Goose, 2 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 3 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Common Gull, 6 Common Tern, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Willow Tit
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4329) 12 Shelduck, Wigeon, Sanderling, 3 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 2 Common Tern, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail
24 May 2008
  • Anchor Church (SK3327) The imm female Red-footed Falcon still present
  • Ingleby (SK3526) Red Kite over the village at 09:30, Buzzard, 2 Red-legged Partridge, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Common Tern
  • Ockbrook (SK4235) Red Kite over Brian Clough Way (A52)
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, 2 Shoveler, Buzzard, 6 Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunlin, 7 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 2 Common Sandpiper, Turnstone
  • Padley Gorge (SK2579) Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, Wood Warbler, Coal Tit
23 May 2008
  • Anchor Church (SK3327) The imm female Red-footed Falcon still present and showing well this afternoon
  • Ticknall Limeyards (SK3523) A possible Honey Buzzard reported at 10:45
  • Willington GP (SK2827) On the Canal Scrape: Wheatear, 3 Dunlin, 60+ Swift, 1 Lesser Whitethroat plus Cuckoo heard towards Clay Mills
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) A female Wheatear still lingering
22 May 2008
  • Anchor Church (SK3327) The imm female Red-footed Falcon still present, see Rod Key's page for access details
21 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Hobby
20 May 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Turtle Dove on the Wildlife Centre bird table, 4 Raven, 2 Buzzard, 2 Curlew
19 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 12 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Canada Goose goslings, 2 Common Sandpiper
  • Shiningcliff Woods (SK3352) Pied Flycatcher
  • Barrow-on-Trent (SK3528) A possible female Red-footed Falcon reported by the River Trent for an hour, currently under investigation
18 May 2008
  • Little Longstone (SK1971) Osprey flying towards Monsal Head
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 4 Wigeon, Honey Buzzard flew SE at 1430, 3 Avocet, 3 Dunlin, Wood Sandpiper, Turnstone and 2 Yellow Wagtail
  • Padley Gorge (SK2579) 10 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Redstart, Wood Warbler
  • Lawrence Field (SK2579) Tree Pipit
  • Ogston Res. (SK3760) Grey-headed Wagtail
  • Toyota Lake (SK2930) Green Woodpecker, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 2 Raven
17 May 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Grey Plover still present at 08:45
  • Kedleston Park (SK3141) 3 Mandarin, Spotted Flycatcher (near the Saw Mill), 2 Goldcrest, 3 Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker
  • Stanton Moor (SK2463) 4 Stonechat, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Linnet
  • Ticknall (SK3523) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail
16 May 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) Grey Plover
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3933) Coot, Mallard, Canada Goose, Swan all with young, Grey Wagtail, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Moorhen, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackbird, 2 Robin
15 May 2008
  • Toad's Mouth (SK2680) 3 Crossbill
  • Ogston Res. (SK3760) Black Tern, Osprey NE at 17:50
  • Lathkill Dale (SK2066) 18 Redstart
  • Bradford Dale (SK2063) 3 Redstart, 10 Song Thrush, 5 Dipper, 4 Mandarin
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 3 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler
14 May 2008
  • Foremark Res. (SK3322) Turtle Dove
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Ring Ouzel still present
13 May 2008
  • Walton Dam (SK3670) Mandarin
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Wood Sandpiper for one hour on the top pool
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Redstart, Sanderling, Willow Tit
  • Bakewell (SK2368) Red Kite drifting north
12 May 2008
  • Pleasley Colliery (SK4964) Dunlin, 2 Redshank, Pochard, 3 Whitethroat
11 May 2008
  • Linacre Res. (SK3272) 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wood Warbler
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Ring Ouzel still around, plus Wheatear, 2 Cuckoo, a Grey Wagtail flew east, 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 29 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 9 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Garden Warbler, 16 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Treecreeper
10 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Black Tern, 2 Hobby, 4 Common Tern, 2 Yellow Wagtail
  • Langley Green (SK2738) Red Kite drifting SSE, 2 Buzzard
9 May 2008
  • Pride Park Sanctuary (SK3735) Wheatear, Sedge Warbler
  • Aston Heath Farm, Sudbury (SK1732) A Hoopoe for an hour at lunctime, not seen since
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5032) 10 Black Tern, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 10 Common Terns, several Garden, Reed, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers
8 May 2008
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5032) 10 Black Tern, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, Cuckoo
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Wood Sandpiper, Grey Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin on the Canal Scrape, Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 10 Common Terns, several Garden, Reed, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers
  • Padley Gorge (SK2579) 6 Pied Flycatcher, Redstart
  • Locko Park (SK2579) Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Buzzard, Mandarin, 2 Blackcap, Willow Warbler
7 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Avocet on the Canal Scrape at 15:30
  • Barrow-on-Trent (SK4129) Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Linnet,
6 May 2008
  • Ramsley Res. (SK2874) Cuckoo
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) A female Ring Ouzel all day, the first May record for Drakelow, Hobby, still 7 “Greenland” Wheatear
5 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 17 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 Spoonbill flew E at 1845, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Water Rail, 11 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 8 Common Tern, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Willow Tit
4 May 2008
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Whinchat, 14 Garden Warblers, only 2 Willow Warblers, 4 “Greenland” Wheatears
  • Linacre Res. (SK3372) 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Wood Warbler, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Heron,
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Marsh Harrier, Whinchat, Buzzard, 5 Shelduck, 18 Cormorant, 2 Garden Warbler, 8 Shoveler
  • Barrow-on-Trent (SK4129) Turtle Dove
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5032) 2 Black Tern, 6 Common Tern, 2 Garden Warbler, Shelduck
3 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Goosander, 12 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon
  • Aston-on-Trent (SK4129) Hobby
2 May 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 13 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Buzzard, 2 Hobby, Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 13 Common Tern, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Yelow Wagtail, several Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler
1 May 2008
  • Long Eaton GP (SK5031) 30+ Common Terns, Hobby, Garden Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler plus supporting cast of more common warblers, Trent Meadows - Cuckoo, Whinchat
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Sandpiper, Stock Dove, 50 Swift

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Previous months
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
All of 2007
April 2008 highlights

An interesting month produced a huge volume of records, close to our best-ever. Some semi-rarities like the Great Northern Diver, Waxwings and Common Redpolls hung on from last month, while the tail end of the wintering species overlapped with the arrival of most of the expected migrants.

A Ring-billed Gull, Fulmar and Garganey were all too brief but two Common Scoter were far more obliging and very much easier to study at Carsington than in their normal habitat. There was an excellent mix of waders and the last flurry of gulls produced Little Gulls and a Kittiwake in addition to the Ring-billed Gull.

As we enter the breeding season, a month without Red Kite and only one Little Egret is somewhat disappointing but the arrival of Avocets may have raised alternative hopes, whilst a singing Corn Bunting is in itself a cause for celebration these days.

A Marsh Harrier was still present in early May and there was an excellent passage of Ospreys. Water Pipit and/or Rock Pipit may have been a highlight for county listers but there was no problem in sorting the bird of the month for the Ogston team who celebrated their first ever Ring Ouzel.

Bryan Barnacle