September 2008 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 Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)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

30 September 2008
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Yellow-legged Gull - adult and 2 third-winters, juv Arctic Tern, Kingfisher, 3 Swallow, Grey wagtail, Wheatear.
  • Carver's Rocks (SK3322) Marsh Tit, 40 Siskin, 20 Lesser Redpoll
28 September 2008
  • Long Eaton (SK4833) Tree Sparrow in observer's garden
  • Baslow (SK2472) Two Litle Owl
  • Ambaston (SK4232) Yellow-browed Warbler copse by T-junction entrance to Ambaston village across the road from the village name/sign SK428 323.
  • Foremark Res (SK3323) 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull and juvenile Arctic Tern
27 September 2008
  • Codnor (SK4364) Three Osprey moving SE
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Female Ruddy Shelduck, Pochard, 2 Water Rail, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, 2 Kestel, 3 Hobby, 600 Lapwing, 4 Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat, Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Raven, Siskin
26 September 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Female Ruddy Shelduck, Pochard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 3 Hobby, 3 Water Rail, 400 Lapwing, Ruff, Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sedge Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Tit
24 September 2008
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 3 Raven, 195 Canada Goose, 125 Greylag Goose
  • Hathersage (SK2281) 3 Mandarin
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3724) Great Crested Grebe, 10 Mute Swan, 24 Black-headed Gull, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Grey Wagtail
  • Carr Vale 780 Pink-footed Goose thru SE by 1130
  • Foremark Res Wigeon, 206 Tufted Duck, male Common Scoter, 34 Cormorant, 257 Coot, Kingfisher, 5 Chiffchaff.
  • Staunton Harold Res 74 Mute Swan, 39 Greylag Goose, 9 Mandarin, 50 Wigeon, 19 Gadwall, 217 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 87 Great Crested Grebe, 23 Cormorant, 560 Coot, 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, 10 Siskin.
  • Willington GP 60+ Teal, 2 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, Buzzard, Hobby, 1st winter Common Gull, 2 Raven
23 September 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 41 Pink-footed Goose flew NE, female Pintail, Merlin, Ruff, 12 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, adult Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile Arctic Tern, Kingfisher, 3 Swallow, 6 Chiffchaff
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, Little Egret, Goshawk, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, Hobby, Common Gull, 2 Chiffchaff
21 September 2008
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 8 Goosander, Peregrine, Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 60 Greenfinch, 8 Siskin
  • Aldercar (SK4447) Barn Owl, Buzzard, Wigeon, 6 Teal,
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Hobby
  • Bakewell (SK2168) Hobby
  • Cromford Canal (SK3056) 14 Little Grebe, 24 Moorhen
  • Wessington (SK3857) Kingfisher, Hobby, 3 Buzzard
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Pintail, 14 Wigeon, Shoveler, 3 Water Rail, 400 Lapwing, 141 Snipe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 14 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, 14 Goldfinch, Blackcap, 2 Bullfinch
20 September 2008
  • Hardwick Park (SK4663) Hobby, 8 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel
19 September 2008
  • Willington GP - Canal Scrape (SK2827) 3 Pintail, 4 Buzzard, 25 Wigeon, Shoveler, 6 Teal, 2 Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Hobby, 3 Golden Plover, 90 Lapwing, 6 Teal, 2 Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellowhammer
  • Locko Park (SK4038) Hobby south, 10 Siskin, 5 Meadow Pipit south
18 September 2008
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) 11 Buzzard in 30 mins, Chiffchaff, 25 Swallow, Gadwall
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) Female Ruddy Shelduck to 14:05, 5 Siskin, House Martin west
  • Caldwell (SK2517) 570 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 330 Herring Gull, 34 Pied Wagtail
  • Jeff’s Wood (SK2823) Meadow Pipit 184 S/SE, Pied Wagtail 1S, Swallow 14 SW.
  • Penguin Wood - Botany Bay (SK2615) Tree Sparrow 14, Meadow Pipit 20 S, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk
  • Locko Park (SK4038) Raven, Cormorant, Kestrel, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron
  • Alvaston Lake (SK3724) 2 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, 10 Mute Swan, 20 Black-headed Gull, 14 Tufted DUck, 2 Cormorant, Grey Heron, 4 Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker
17 September 2008
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Hobby, Wheatear, Snipe, 100 Lapwing, 6 Teal, 2 Jay
16 September 2008
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) 5 Wigeon, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 3 Raven, 45 Siskin, 4 Goldcrest
15 September 2008
  • Barbrook Pools (SK2777) 2 Peregrine
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 2 Shag still present, Knot
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 3 Raven, 45 Siskin, 4 Goldcrest
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Juv Garganey, 6 Pintail, Water Rail, Hobby, 53 Snipe, Reed Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Tit
  • Foremark Res. (SK3323) 3 Common Gull, 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull
14 September 2008
  • Thurvaston (SK2438) Osprey
  • Carsington Water (SK2451) 2 Shag still present
  • Brailsford (SK2541) 4 Buzzard
  • Kedleston (SK3040) 6 Buzzard
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) 36 Meadow Pipits SW, 4 Kingfisher
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 5 Pintail, 40 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, Hobby, 12 Snipe, Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap
  • Mackworth Park (SK3236) Whinchat, 2 Green Woodpecker, Jay, 30 Goldfinch
13 September 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) Little Egret, Hobby, 70 Wigeon, 23 Teal, 30 Greylag Goose, 24 Swallow, 180 Canada Goose, 220 Lapwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Shoveler
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) 2 Whinchat
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Whinchat, 2 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker
12 September 2008
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 11 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 3 Pochard, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail S, 2 Wheatear, 7 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler
  • Foremark Res/Carver's Rocks (SK3322) Ringed Plover, 10 Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 10 Whitethroat, 20 Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, 15 Siskin
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 3 Wheatear
11 September 2008
  • Willington GP (SK2827) 2 Little Egret, 9 Snipe, 3 Green Woodpecker
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Whinchat, 4 Meadow Pipit, Buzzard, 32 Lapwing, 2 Linnet, Kingfisher, 6 Grey Partridge, 9 Grey Heron, 3 Great Black-backed Gull
10 September 2008
  • High Well (SK1470) Barn Owl
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Whinchat, Tree Pipit, 9 Meadow Pipit, Hobby
  • Beeley Moor (SK2968) 2 Peregrine, 3 Buzzard
9 September 2008
  • Wyver Lane (SK3449) Hobby
  • Moorway Lane Pond (SK3232) Little Owl, Kestrel, 2 Buzzard
8 September 2008
  • Westhouses Engine Shed (SK4257) Buzzard, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Willow Tit plus 4 Butterfly sp inc Small Copper & Comma
  • Nadins Pond (SK2719) Short-eared Owl
  • Locko Park (SK4038) 73 Mistle Thrush, 118 Greylag Goose, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Little Owl, 6 Buzzard, 5 Great Crested Grebe
7 September 2008
  • Etwall Farm (SK2729) 4 Wheatear
  • Milton (SK3227) Hobby
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) 2 Hobby, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Grey Partridge, 370 Black-headed Gull
  • Aldecar (SK4447) Common Sandpiper, 6 Gadwall, 5 Teal
  • Allestree (SK3540) Ring-necked Parakeet
6 September 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2450) Grey Phalarope briefly from Millfields Car Park at 14:35, Osprey SW at 17:00
  • Drakelow NR (SK2220) 5 Wigeon, 44 Shoveler, 2 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 30 Swallow, 150 House Martin, 2 Wheatear, Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 60 Greenfinch
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) 3 Curlew, Snipe, 30 Lapwing, 650 Black Headed Gull, 22 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail
5 September 2008
  • Shelton Lock (SK3731) Swift
4 September 2008
  • Belper (SK3549) 15 Redwing and 3 Fieldfare east
  • Melbourne Pool (SK3824) 2 Little Egret
  • Carsington Water (SK2450) Osprey
  • Etwall Farm (SK2729) Golden Plover SW, 357 Lapwing, 135 Stock Dove, 40 Linnet, 6 Meadow Pipit, Kestrel
  • Baslow (SK2572) 4 Tawny Owl
  • Bennerley Marsh (SK4743) Whinchat, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Grey Wagtail, 7 Grey Partridge, 29 Swallow, 70 House Martin
3 September 2008
  • Ogston Res (SK3760) The Wryneck still showing well at the entrance to Brackenfield Church
  • Allestree (SK3540) Ring-necked Parakeet
2 September 2008
  • Carsington Water (SK2450) 2 juvenile Shags on roof of draw-off/control tower from 6pm to dusk
  • Eggington (SK2528) 3 Yellow Wagtails, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel
1 September 2008
  • Ogston Res (SK3760) Wryneck (see Rod Key's page for details)
  • Allen Hill, Matlock (SK2960) Jay
  • Manners Wood (SK2367) 8 Buzzard, 2 Raven

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

August was a fairly quiet month with a nice sprinkling of good birds. A juvenile Black-necked Grebe graced Long Eaton GP on 28th and an eclipse drake Garganey was found at Willington GP on 13th; it remained for the rest of the month.

A Honey Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier and up to three Ospreys were noted at Ogston Res. Other Marsh Harriers were at Foremark Res with up to five over the eastern moors along with a very early ringtail Hen Harrier. Quail were still being heard in two localities.

After the ‘wader-fest’ in July, August was poor with highlights being Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Wood Sandpiper and Turnstone. Aston-on-Trent continued to pull in the gulls with Mediterranean Gull and Caspian Gull being the best. Five species of tern were noted with a Sandwich Tern at Long Eaton GP, Arctic Terns at Ogston and Foremark, two Little Terns at Foremark and Black Tern at Ogston, Carsington Water and Long Eaton GP.

The highlight of the passerines was a Ring-necked Parakeet seen over Mickleover Golf Course. Most of the summer visitors were still being recorded although Pied Flycatcher, Turtle Dove and Cuckoo seem to have melted away.

It was an exceptional month for some species, with Little Egrets continuing to show well with a record total of 12 at Willington GP. Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper were also well represented.

Rod Key