The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

31 Days Covered- 89 Species.

Little Grebe have been very easy to locate with seven birds a maximum on 8th, Great Crested Grebe had a best count of six on 13th whilst Cormorant figures reached thirty-five on 11th, Grey Heron numbers had increased to fifty-one on 5th. Three Mute Swan were present on 16th but only for that day with two more on 24th.Twelve Whooper Swans were present on 24th for a few hours. There were six records of Greylag Goose with five a maximum on 24th, A drake Scaup first seen on 8th was still present at month end, Tufted Duck have been recorded on a daily basis with a best count of eighty-eight on 6th. Goldeneye has also been noted regularly with a maximum of seventeen birds on 25th. Goosander was noted on just three days two birds being the best count on 12th.Two Common Scoter on 29th were a very welcome addition to the year list.

Common Buzzard was recorded on at least eight days with a maximum of five birds on 3rd; Sparrowhawk was seen on just three days with Kestrel being noted on six dates. The first breeding bird survey of this year gave us a Peregrine near the old chapel on the 24th.A male Merlin was seen twice within a few minutes on the west bank on 29th.

Three sightings of Water Rail during the month were welcome, whilst waders were not seen with any regularity there were records of Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe Lapwing and Curlew of which eight were present on 20th.

The gull roost is still a major attraction with white-winged birds being seen almost on a daily basis. During February there were sightings every day and on fifty-two consecutive days from 19th January until 11th March. An adult Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage was in the roost on 4th, with Glaucous Gull noted on at least twenty one days (all 1st winter birds) with three birds present on 10th/15th/16th and 22nd whilst Iceland Gull was recorded on twenty days (again 1st winter birds) with 1-2nd winter bird present on six of those dates and an adult bird on 24th. The only record of Yellow-legged Gull was of a third winter type on 18th.

The first migrants began moving through with the first Chiffchaff noted on 9th (nineteen days earlier than 2006) with Blackcap noted on 13th, the first Sand Martin's were noted on 16th (seventeen days earlier than 2006) and the first Barn Swallow flew straight through on 29th

The bird of the month for the second time this year was the Great Grey Shrike, which was first seen in January. The bird was noted on 14th near west bank car park, it was seen to go to roost on 18th on west bank. The bird gave very good views in fields west of the west bank and on the reservoir side of the west bank and in the hide path area, it was also seen on the east and north banks, it could also be very elusive and was seen until month end. The first Great Grey Shrike record at Ogston was that of a very long staying bird from 8th November 1967 until 3rd February 1968.One on 7th April 1971, one 20th November1971, one 11th and 19th December 1971 and one on 26th November 1972 (Source OBC Annual Report 1991 Author M.J.Stoyle).

Keith Turton.

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