The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

Ogston Bird News December 2008-31 Days Covered- 87 Species

Little Grebe had nine as a best count on 24th, Great Crested Grebe had sixteen on 16th, three single Mute Swan records and five birds (1 adult and four juveniles) on 23rd and 27th. The eighteen Whooper Swan present on 1st were the sixth record this year and gave a total of sixty birds, there were four single records of Pink-footed goose, and Greylag Goose was noted on three dates with two birds on 10th and 23rd, four on 18th. Seven Wigeon records with a maximum seventeen on 16th, eleven records of Teal with one hundred and fifty two counted on 14th. One candidate for bird of the month was the Green-winged Teal on 11th, if a description is provided and subsequently accepted by D.O.S. it would be Ogstons fourth ever record.

Two Pintail were noted on 14th with a drake Red-breasted Merganser on 3rd and 13th.

Common Buzzard was noted on at least twelve dates with two birds a best count on three of those dates, seven records for Sparrowhawk with two on 6th, thirteen records for Kestrel with three on 6th, a juvenile Peregrine was noted on at least two dates.

Two Dunlin on 11th were a good record, with Common Snipe noted on at least fourteen dates but only in single figures, there were two records of Woodcock with four birds flying from Carr Wood on 9th and a single bird at Woodcock Plantation during the day.

December 2007 gave us two records of Caspian and Yellow-legged Gull, four Mediterranean Gull records and Iceland Gull on twelve dates, Glaucous Gull on eighteen dates. December 2008 we have logged Yellow-legged and Caspian Gull, with just one record of a 2nd winter Iceland Gull on 21st and no records at all of Glaucous Gull. We are currently at a loss to explain what is happening; Ogston has been the premier site to watch gulls inland during the winter period for many years. Our hope is that the current trend does not continue and that Ogston will quickly retain the number one position.

Whilst both Little and Tawny Owl have been heard, Barn Owl continues to be seen on a regular basis with two birds noted on 1st, five Kingfisher records, Meadow Pipit on two dates and a Stonechat on at least nine occasions.

Another candidate for bird of the month were the Waxwings found near Ogston Lodge on 18th, the birds were a very welcome addition to the year list and gave a great deal of pleasure to the many observer’s who were able to add this most charismatic of birds to their own year list. The birds were Ogston’s first record since 4th December 2005 when a single bird flew over the southern end of the reservoir but was not located after that date.

Other records worthy of a mention were Raven which was noted on four dates with four birds together on 17th, single Marsh Tit on two dates and four records of Lesser Redpoll with eight birds a best count on 19th.

Keith Turton

Recording Secretary

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