October 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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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 October 2009
  • Ogston Res. (SK3759) Water Pipit
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) Ring-billed Gull,
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Little Grebe, Water Rail, 4 Common Gull, 77 Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail
  • Marsh Lane (SK40793) 25 Golden Plover
  • Willington PS (SK3028) 6 Pintail, Goosander, Red Kite, 3 Dunlin, Ruff, 19 Snipe, 30 Herring Gull
30 October 2009
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3734) 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 2 Gadwall, 12 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 50 Coot, Snipe, 250 Black-headed Gull
  • East Moor (SK3073) Hobby reported sitting in the middle of newly sown crop
  • Willington PS (SK3028) 180 Wigeon, 40 Gadwall, 90 Teal, 40 Shoveler, 35 Pochard, 2 Buzzard, Water Rail, 180 Lapwing, Ruff, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Gull, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Woodpecker
29 October 2009
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Jack Snipe, 9 Snipe
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, Caspian Gull, 3 Yellow-legged Gull,
  • Hartshorne (SK3419) 300 Golden Plover
28 October 2009
  • Uppertown (SK3265) 7 Bullfinch
  • Ogston Res. (SK3759) Cattle Egret am at least
  • Windley (SK3045) 5 Crossbill SW
  • Old Whittington (SK3974) 2 Grey Heron, 4 Teal, Buzzard, Peregrine, 3 Bullfinch
27 October 2009
  • Kedleston Park (SK3140) 6 Grey Heron, Goosander
26 October 2009
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 6 Shoveler, 2 Water Rail, 15 Snipe, Stonechat
25 October 2009
  • Willington PS (SK3028) 2 Red-crested Pochard
  • Grindleford (SK2477) 6 Mandarin, Kingfisher
  • Kedleston Park (SK3140) 3 Buzzard, 53 Starling, Greenfinch
  • Chaddesden (SK3737) Sparrowhawk
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 334 Mallard, 62 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, Goldeneye, 2 Water Rail, 11 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, 25 Blackbird, Willow Tit, 2 Siskin, 2 Raven
  • Carr Vale NR (SK4669) Cattle Egret
24 October 2009
  • Milton (SK3226) 41 Red-legged Partridge, 175 Black-headed Gull
  • Grindleford (SK2477) 3 Dipper
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 3 Little Grebe, 4 Teal, 5 Common Gull, 120 Collared Dove
  • Willington PS (SK3028) Peregrine
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Jack Snipe with 11 Snipe
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Pintail, 2 Red-crested Pochard, Rock Pipit
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Shelduck
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4229) 10 Goldeneye, 300 Golden Plover, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Yellow-legged Gull
23 October 2009
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Caspian Gull, 10 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Shipley Country Park (SK4444) 14 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 5 Pochard
  • Bentley's Plantation (SK4544) Great Spotted Woodpecker
  • Shillito Wood (SK2874) Tawny Owl
  • Stanage Edge (SK2384) 80 Redwing, 150 Siskin
22 October 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Swallow over
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Pintail, 73 Golden Plover, Curlew
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Caspian Gull, 8 Yellow-legged Gull, 30 Common Gull, 30 Herring Gull, 3 Great Black-backed Gull
21 October 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern again showing well, Egyptian Goose, 4 Water Rail, 21 Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Caspian Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gull
20 October 2009
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 300 Pink-footed Goose NW, 4 Wigeon, 94 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Water Rail, 27 Snipe, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Linnet
19 October 2009
  • Pride Park (SK3735) Chiffchaff singing
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Egyptian Goose, Woodcock
  • Church Wilne Res (SK4632) 109 Cormorant, Goldeneye
  • Derwent Res (SK1790) 60 Siskin
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) 2 Yellow-legged Gull
18 October 2009
  • Ticknall (SK3624) 150 Redwing
  • Hartshorne (SK3121) 6 Grey Partridge
  • Big Moor (SK2776) Merlin, 6 Fieldfare, 10 Corssbill, 8 Reed Bunting
  • Greave's Piece (SK2977) 30 Siskin, 6 Bullfinch
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Glossy Ibis am. See Rod Key's page for full details and photo on Photo Gallery page
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 3 Little Egret in the roost, 4 Goosander, Goldeneye, 2 Water Rail, 10 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 2 Lapwing, 3 Kingfisher, 10 Skylark frolicking like it was a Spring morning, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, 2 Willow Tit
17 October 2009
  • Leash Fen (SK2973) 70 Pink-footed Goose east
  • Upper Loads (SK3169) 500 Fieldfare, 2450 Redwing west
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 5 Whooper Swan, following species on Canal Scrape: 3 Pintail, 2 Red-crested Pochard, Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper
16 October 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Common Scoter (sixth record for the Reserve and the first since 1990)
  • Shipley Country Park (SK4444) 9 Mandarin, 14 Pochard, Buzzard, Herring Gull, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker
  • Thulston (SK4031) 2 Buzzard, 100 Lapwing, Jay, 1000 Starling
  • Carr Vale NR (SK4669) Chiffchaff
  • North Wingfield (SK4165) 11 Grey Partridge, 2 Little Owl, 2 Jay
  • Ramsley Pools (SK2874) 10 Redwing, Jay, 35 Crossbill
  • Shillito Wood (SK2974) 50 Lapwing, 10 Goldcrest, 10 Long-tailed Tit, Yellowhammer
  • Vicar Wood (SK3239) Little Egret flying over
15 October 2009
  • Pride Park Sanctuary (SK3734) Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 10 Meadow Pipit
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Red-breasted Merganser
14 October 2009
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) 5 Pintail, 5 Common Scoter, Dunlin, Yelloe-legged Gull, 2 Shoveler, 55 Cormorant, 4 Snipe
13 October 2009
  • Littleover (SK3132) 80 Redwing
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 3 Water Rail, Snipe, Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 12 Snipe, 135 Redwing
12 October 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern showing again
  • Stanley Common (SK4142) 2 Buzzard
11 October 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Bittern, Peregrine, 2 Water Rail
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 4 Little Egret in the roost, left to SW at 07:40, 2 Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, 200 Redwing dropped down during heavy drizzle, 50 Blackbird, Chiffchaff, 12 Siskin
  • Greave's Piece (SK2977) 4 Stonechat, 60 Redwing, 40 Greenfinch, 30 Siskin, 6 Bullfinch, 5 Reed Bunting
  • Leash Fen (SK2973) Hen Harrier, Peregrine, 30 Crossbill
10 October 2009
  • Kedleston Park (SK3140) 3 Buzzard, Nuthatch, 2 Reeves's Pheasant
  • Derby (SK3235) Red-legged Partridge
9 October 2009
  • Mapperley Wood (SK4343) 9 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Coal Tit
  • Shipley Country Park (SK4444) 4 Pochard, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Tawny Owl
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull
8 October 2009
  • Cotmanhay (SK4643) 2 Buzzard, Kingfisher, 2 Raven
  • Chapel-en-le-Frith (SK0680) 86 Pink-footed Goose NW
7 October 2009
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) 19 Goosander, Mediterranean Gull, 10 Comnmon Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull
  • Smalldale (SK0977) Fem/imm Black Redstart
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) 5 Buzzard, Yellow-legged Gull, Rock Pipit, Raven
  • Melbourne (SK3826) 61 Pink-footed Goose over SW
6 October 2009
  • Findern (SK3129) 2 Barn Owls hunting alongside railway tracks
  • Chaddesden Park (SK3836) Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Wagtail, Jay
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 4 Ruff, Yellow-legged Gull, Goldeneye
5 October 2009
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Yellow-legged Gull
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) Mandarin
  • Calke Park (SK3622) 5 Mandarin, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) 59 Little Grebe, 47 Great Crested Grebe, 45 Cormorant, 32 Mute Swan, 3 Whooper Swan, 214 Canada Goose, 282 Wigeon, 24 Gadwall, 139 Mallard, 51 Pochard, 500 Tufted Duck, 150 Lapwing, 3 Kingfisher, 51 Robin
4 October 2009
  • Heage (SK3750) Osprey passing over
  • Church Wilne Res. (SK4632) 58 Cormorant
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) 68 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Yellow-legged Gull
  • Leash Fen (SK2973) 100 Lapwing
  • Big Moor (SK2776) Hen Harrier
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 4 Little Egret in the roost, 11 Goosander, 2 Water Rail, 2 Green Sandpiper, 30 Lapwing mobbing a Buzzard, 3 Kingfisher, Tawny Owl, 3 Green Woodpecker, 33 Meadow Pipit S/SW, 3 Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Redpoll
  • Hilton GP (SK2531) Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay
3 October 2009
  • Doveridge (SK1333) Barn Owl
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4229) 2 Little Egret, Garganey still present, Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper - view this site from the A50 gate only
2 October 2009
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Common Sandpiper, Tawny Owl, 4 Siskin
  • Shipley Country Park (SK4444) 17 Pochard, 5 Jay
  • Shipley Lock (SK4444) A Goshawk reported, 2 Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail
  • Bentley's Plantation (SK4544) Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 11 Meadow Pipit
1 October 2009
  • Loco Park (SK4038) 4 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 80 Greylag Goose, 50 Canada Goose, 4 Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, 2 Raven
  • Aston-on-Trent GP (SK4229) 5 Little Egret, Garganey, Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpiper - view this site from the A50 gate only
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Hobby, Dunlin, Yellow-legged Gull
30 September 2009
  • Normanton, Derby (SK3433) 2 Redwing over
  • Carsington Water (SK2553) Kittiwake roosting
  • Avenue Washlands NR (SK3966) Green Sandpiper, 8 Teal, Cormorant, 3 Meadow Pipits
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Mediterranean Gull, Ring-billed Gull briefly
  • Staunton Harold Res. (SK3323) 100 House Martin

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

September was an excellent month, in terms of both the number of species recorded and the quality of the rarer sightings. The latter included Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Phalarope and a Ring-billed Gull which formed part of a lengthy list of gulls and terns. Perhaps even more surprising was the report of a live Manx Shearwater found in a Derby suburb.

There was an impressive suite of raptor species and the first touch of winter with the arrival of Pink-footed Geese, a single Brambling, a Bittern, winter thrushes and a good mix of wildfowl. The ducks including both Scaup and Common Scoter.

The notes also contain some impressive counts (such as Collared Dove and Meadow Pipit) and more ringing detail that we are normally able to provide. There are some real surprises in the latter and cause me to again realise just how many birds must pass through the county without ever getting into our records.

Bryan Barnacle