The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

31Days Covered- 99 Species

Just two Little Grebe records during the month whilst Great Crested Grebe peaked at thirty on 26th with five nests noted, Cormorant had a maximum of twenty six on 8th whilst Grey Heron had a maximum count of nineteen on 30th.Two Mute Swan were present for most of the month with three birds on 17th and 30th. A new bird for the year list occurred on 22nd when an Egyptian Goose flew straight through, whilst a Common Scoter on 16th was a welcome addition to the year list with seven birds present on 27th. The resident Canada Geese had at least fifteen young, which were all well grown by month end. Single Shelduck was present on 3rd and 5th with three birds on 4th and the drake Scaup was last noted on 3rd. The 'aythya hybrid' although seen earlier in the month also seems to have disappeared as have the majority of Tufted Duck. A single drake Teal was present on 19th.

Quite a good month for raptors with six species noted with the best being the Red Kite seen on 28th and 29th, single Peregrine record. Common Buzzard was noted on six dates with three a maximum on 26th and 31st. There were at least nine sightings of Hobby with two birds on 29th, fifteen of Kestrel with three a best count on19th and nine Sparrowhawk records all of single birds.

Fourteen wader species were recorded species recorded with Little Ringed Plover again the most prominent; the first chick was noted on 22nd with two more on 23rd and four in total on 24th, one Lapwing chick has been seen so far and was well grown towards month end. Ringed Plover seen on at least fifteen dates with three birds present on 8th, Dunlin were noted almost on a daily basis with twenty birds present on 11th, 12th and 13th but reduced to just a single bird approaching month end. Three records of Whimbrel with eight birds together on 8th(an excellent record for Ogston) single Green Sandpiper on 5th whilst Common Snipe was recorded on a daily basis with a maximum of four on both 3rd and 17th. Two additions to the year list were a Sanderling on two dates (11th/12th) and a superb male Turnstone in full breeding plumage from 22nd-29th with two birds present on same date. Oystercatcher was seen on a daily basis with a best count of four birds on 13th and 26th.Another very welcome addition to the list came on 25th when a Greenshank was present for most of the day but sadly could not be located next day. Redshank, Curlew and Common Sandpiper made up the list.

Bird of the month was the Arctic Skua, which was present on 27th the first record of this species since 1995, a Kittiwake was also present on same day.

Seven species of warbler could be seen or heard, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat (at least four birds noted in different locations), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff on almost a daily basis and the first Spotted Flycatcher was back in Brackenfield Churchyard on 14th which was eight days later than last year. There have been two records of Cuckoo so far this month whilst Tawny Owl has been noted on five dates with two birds seen together in daylight on 22nd. Just one Kingfisher record on 6th and at least seven Yellow Wagtail sightings with a maximum of four birds on 4th.Fifteen Wheatear sightings during the month with a best count of three birds on 14th and the last sighting of the 'Greenland' bird on the 21st.

Keith Turton.

Top of Page