The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

Ogston Bird News August 2007-31 Days Covered -97 Species.

Little Grebe was quite easy to find throughout the month with a maximum of twelve birds on 8th and two records of juveniles on 26th (two very small young on Carr Pond) and a parent bird was feeding fish to three young in front of members hide on 27th. Cormorant numbers stayed around average for the month but a group of seventy were observed flying northwest on 5th. A Little Egret was present for a short period on 18th, the resident flock of Canada Geese had a best count of one hundred and eighty on 28th, two Shelduck were present on 23rd and Teal was recorded on seven days with a best count of five on 27th whilst a single Gadwall was present on 23rd. Two Common Scoter were present on 29th and eleven Wigeon and thirteen Pintail flew through to the north west on 30th.

Eight raptor species were noted during the month with single observer records of Osprey (24th), Goshawk (13th) and Peregrine (8th). Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were recorded on almost a daily basis with a best count of four and three respectively. Common Buzzard once again was the most recorded with a maximum of ten birds in the air simultaneously on 29th seen by three observers and obviously a new site record for Ogston. Hobby was recorded on at least thirteen dates with a single juvenile on 8th, 26th and 27th, the maximum being four birds on both 26th and 27th in different locations. A Merlin passed through on the 30th.

Although the water levels have again been at maximum throughout the month nine wader species were noted, Oystercatcher on eight days (the family left on 8th), Common Sandpiper on ten days with a maximum three birds on 2nd, Lapwing peaked at one hundred and twenty on 24th,single records of both Redshank (14th) and Greenshank (16th) and five Common Snipe were noted flying through on 30th, Curlew was noted on three dates and a Green Sandpiper gave excellent close views from the public hide for most of the day on 6th.Two Turnstone on the dam wall on 28th were an excellent find.

Terns were only been recorded on four days with three a maximum on 11th, whilst a juvenile Mediterranean Gull (although only a fly through) was an excellent find on 5th.

Little Owl was seen on a regular basis, with juvenile birds noted on at least six occasions, ninety-four Swifts passed through southwest on 15th with a Hobby as a very unlikely escort. Kingfisher was noted quite frequently but no juveniles have yet been reported, Green Woodpecker was noted on five dates and the first record for the year and a very welcome addition to the list was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on 1st.

Juveniles of Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Spotted Flycatcher have all been recorded and a Reed Warbler was singing near the yacht club on 12th, whilst the third record of Whinchat was noted on 10th. Raven was recorded on at least nine dates with a best count of five birds on 29th.

Birds of the month had to be two Crossbills seen flying through on 28th, the first record since 2005.

Keith Turton.

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