Bird News for September 2007

These reports are unchecked. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover (unless obvious migrants) during the breeding season

30 September 2007
  • Willington GP (SK2827) - Marsh Harrier west, 2 Whooper Swan west, 50 Swallow, 11 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, 4 House Martin south, Stonechat
  • Beeley Moor (SK3068) - Green Woodpecker, Peregrine, 2 Raven
  • Harewood Moor (SK3167) - 5 Stonechat, 4 Red-legged Partridge
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - 2 Little Egret, 37 Mute Swan, 24 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 36 Wigeon, 36 Pochard, 16 Buzzard spiralling overhead and drifting SE, 37 Moorhen (perhaps the highest September count ever here), 5 Snipe, 2 Common Gull, 3 Green Woodpecker, 16 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 12 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 41 Robin, 23 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff (two still singing), a Blackcap and a Reed Warbler trapped, Willow Tit and a Treecreeper singing
29 September 2007
  • Longshaw Estate (SK2678) - 60 Redwings in trees near the lodge
  • Williamthorpe (SK4366) - 4 Reed Warbler, Water Rail
28 September 2007
  • Heatherton Village (SK3233) - Possible Marsh Harrier over
27 September 2007
  • Bakewell (SK2168) - 32 Redwings over town centre west at 08:10 (first report of the Autumn)
  • Pleasley Colliery NR (SK4964) - 33 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Pochard, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, c20 Meadow Pipits & 14 Goldfinch
26 September 2007
  • Pride Park, Derby (SK3735) - 600 Pink-footed Geese heading south at 08:50
  • Locko Park (SK4038) - 200 Pink-footed Geese south, 3 Siskin
25 September 2007
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) - Hobby, 800 Swallow, 100 House Martin all heading south
24 September 2007
  • Dethick (SK3358) - A Quail flushed by a dog along with 4 Grey Partridge
23 September 2007
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) - Osprey south-west
  • Matlock (SK3060) - 60-70 Siskin
22 September 2007
  • Milton (SK3227) - Hobby, Kestrel, 2 Buzzards, 52 Red-legged Partridge, Chiffchaff
20 September 2007
  • High Edge Raceway (SK0669) - 3 Grey Partridge
19 September 2007
  • Matlock Golf Course (SK3161) - Red Kite
17 September 2007
  • Milton (SK3227) - Short-eared Owl, 26 Red-legged Partridge, Buzzard
  • Willington GP (SK2827) - 2 Green Woodpecker, Hobby
15 September 2007
  • Chatsworth Park (SK2569) - Spotted Flycatcher
14 September 2007
  • Beeley Moor (SK2968) - Peregrine
13 September 2007
  • Dove Valley Lake (SK2031) - Snipe, 15 Greylag Goose, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 6 teal, 9 Wigeon, Pochard, 22 Canada Goose, 2 Stock Dove
  • Jeff's Wood, Bretby - 148 Meadow Pipit S/SW, 31 Swallow SW, 3 Stock Dove SW and 1 E, and 295 LBBGull SW
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - 2 Hobby, 4 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and 6 Chiffchaff
12 September 2007
  • Willington GP (SK2827) - Whinchat, 2 Hobby, 4 Buzzard, Kestrel Sparrowhawk, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, 8 Wigeon, 8 Little Grebe
11 September 2007
  • Dunston, Chesterfield (SK3673) - 2 Swift
  • Beeley Moor (SK2968) - Peregrine seen eating prey
  • Locko Park (SK4038) - Peregrine, Hobby, 7 Buzzard, Chiffchaff, 7 Buzzard, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Little Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
9 September 2007
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - 2 Kestrel, 2 Hobby, 3 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover SW, 16 Pied Wagtail leaving roost (harassed by a Sparrowhawk) and 40 later on the old sidings area, 21 Meadow Pipit S/SW, Whinchat, 28 Robin, 6 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and a Jay
8 September 2007
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - 2 Hobby, 3 Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker
7 September 2007
  • Willington GP (SK2827) - 3 Hobby, 3 Dunlin, 3 Snipe
  • Locko Park (SK4038) An Osprey early pm heading south, Hobby, 7 Buzzard, Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Little Owl, 57 Mistle Thrush
  • Avenue Washlands NR (SK3966) 6 Snipe, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Mute Swan, 2 Yellowhammer, 6 Swallow & c15 Linnets
5 September 2007
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - Little Egret, an eclipse drake Pintail, 5 Wigeon, 2 Mandarin and a Hobby
4 September 2007
  • Ogston Res (SK3760) - A Honey Buzzard through west plus a Goshawk circling over Carr Wood at 13:40, then went south
  • Barrow GP (SK3527) - Hobby, Raven, 4 Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 100 Lapwing, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 90 Tufted Duck, Sand Martin
  • Ramsley Pools (SK2874) - 4 Stonechat, 25 Lesser Redpoll
3 September 2007
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - Cuckoo again present
  • Willington GP (SK2827) - Pintail, Common Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, Hobby, 3 Green Woodpecker, 8 Buzzard soaring together, Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 5 Kingfisher
2 September 2007
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) - 17 adult Little Grebe (one still on nest) with two new broods of 3 and 4, 8 Little Egret left roost SW at dawn, 9 Goosander on river, Kestrel, 3 Hobby, Peregrine, 4 Buzzard, 1 Great BB Gull west, 12 Lesser BB Gull, Cuckoo, 2 Whinchat, 2 Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and 187 Greenfinch left roost

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Previous months
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
All of 2007 so far
August 2007 highlights

As is often the case, August produced no out and out rarities and much of the pleasure within the record slips was sorting out relative breeding success and which species were more or less numerous than usual.

Both Black-necked Grebe and Garganey put in brief appearances, there was an excellent passage of Osprey, a good mix of waders and some unseasonable sea-duck. On top of that, the gull watchers were quickly into their stride with impressive results in terms of turning up some of the more unusual species at this time of year.

Perhaps the most significant event of the month, was the first ever double-figure count of Little Egrets. With so many reaching the county these days, it may only be a matter of time before we have a breeding record and they start to outnumber Grey Herons at some locations.

Bryan Barnacle