The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

Ogston Bird News December 2007- 31 Days Covered-77 Species

When the first day of the month presents the bird of the month then most of which follows is something of an anti-climax. A Great Northern Diver, which spent a short time at the reservoir, was such a bird. A very welcome addition to the year list, and the first record since 1989, sadly although the news was put out by the Birdnet Pager System, the bird was seen by only a very few fortunate observers.

Twelve Great Crested Grebe were noted on 17th, whilst sixty-one Cormorant on 11th was the second highest total of the year. Normally Pink-footed Geese are only observed flying over, so the forty birds which flew in over the dam wall on 13th and landed in fields opposite the west bank and which were still present at dusk caused some interest. There was also a further passage on 31st with circa one hundred birds north west at 11.40 and circa one hundred birds south east at 12.30 The two dark bellied Brent Geese seen on 4th constituted the first record of this species since 1998 and were another addition to the year list, sadly the birds did not stay long and were seen by just one fortunate observer. The maximum for Wigeon during the month was twelve, single Shelduck, two Gadwall, thirty-eight Teal, seventy-five Mallard, five Shoveler, twenty-six Pochard, one hundred and eight Tufted Duck, seventeen Goldeneye and eight Goosander.

There were eight sightings of Common Buzzard with two birds on 2nd,four of Sparrowhawk all singles, eleven of Kestrel, again all singles, a single Merlin on 18th with Peregrines observed on four occasions including a male and female on 27th.A Lanner Falcon observed on 20th was assumed to be the same bird which was seen during November.

Three Grey Partridge noted in the vicinity of Moorwood Quarry were a very good record and the first for some time. Water Rail was noted on at least twelve days with two birds on 16th, Lapwing peaked at five hundred and thirty on 25th, Common Snipe were recorded on eleven dates with a maximum of sixty five on 3rd with a single Redshank on 30th the only other wader.

The gull roost continued to cause a great deal of interest with adult Mediterranean Gull present on 4th, 7th and 8th though to be the same bird, 1st winter Caspian Gull on 16th and 24th, 1-1st winter Yellow-legged Gull on 7th and 2-1st winters on 12th. At least twelve records of Iceland Gull involving both 1st and 2nd winter birds., with the 2nd winter bird showing characteristics of Kumlien's Iceland Gull. Records of Glaucous Gull have been more slightly more numerous with at least sixteen all of 1st winter birds with three birds present on 17th.

Other species worthy of mention were Willow Tit recorded on fifteen dates with two birds on five occasions, Raven were noted on six days with two birds on five of those days, three Fieldfare on 21st, three Redwing on 28th, fourteen Brambling on 6th was an excellent record, Lesser Redpoll noted on four dates with four birds a best count on 29th, last but not least four Crossbill records with two birds a maximum on 9th.

Keith Turton.

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