The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

Ogston Bird News November 2007-30 Days Covered-95 Species.

Eight Little Grebe on 1st was a good count with fourteen Great Crested Grebe on 11th, whilst forty-seven Cormorant were noted on 6th. Two Whooper Swan were present on 6th with a single bird noted on 9th,forty Pink-footed Geese were observed moving south west on 1st, a further sixty on 3rd, thirty five south east on 11th together with a single White-fronted Goose (the first record since 1999) and a very welcome addition to the year list, three hundred and fifty Pink-feet were noted on 12th with another forty-eight moving east on 25th and a single Greylag Goose was present on 8th.

A drake Mandarin was noted on 3rd, there were three Wigeon records with a best of seven birds on 5th, two Gadwall on both 6th and 14th, a best count of forty-eight Tufted Duck on 22nd and seven Goosander records with a maximum of three birds on 11th.

A female Shoveler was new on 27th and Goldeneye was noted almost on a daily basis with a maximum of sixteen birds on 27th.

Eight records of Common Buzzard during the month with two on both 8th/11th/ 25th and 30th, twelve Sparrowhawk records, and a single adult Peregrine noted on 21st. An apparently escaped 2nd winter male Lanner Falcon was seen to kill and eat a Moorhen on 19th.There were four records of Goshawk during the month with birds seen on 6th/9th/24th/ and 27th.

There were nine wader species noted during the month including the first Grey Plover of the year, single Golden Plover on 11th, Dunlin noted on five dates with two birds on 19th, Lapwing peaked at two hundred and forty eight in 8th, single Knot on 19th and 22nd, single Redshank on 4th and 19th, two Woodcock on 13th/15th and 22nd, eleven Common Snipe records maximum being forty-two on 27th, and Jack Snipe seen on four dates.

The second Arctic Skua of the year passed through on 5th and the first " White Winged Gull" a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was present on 12th, another 2nd winter was present on 17th, single 1st winter birds were present on 15th and 29th.Single adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost on 1st, two birds on 2nd/ single on4th/10th and 12th with another adult on 15th.1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls were noted on 1st/4th/8th/17th and 24th. 2-1st winter Caspian Gulls 1-1st were in the roost on 17th with another noted on 30th. A 2nd winter type Mediterranean Gull was recorded on 22nd and 23rd. There were single 1st winter Iceland Gulls on 26th and 30th.

The bird of the month for many people was the Short-eared Owl, which was reported first on 21st,( thought to be present from 20th), the bird gave excellent close views on both 21st and 22nd but sadly was not seen after that date. The most recent record of Short-eared Owl was in 1996.

Water Rail was recorded on almost a daily basis (giving many excellent photographic opportunities) and two birds were seen on 4th and 21st.

A single Water Pipit flew over the "Oak tree" on the west bank calling on the 11th and represents the first record of the species since 2003, when a bird was present in front of the members hide. A maximum of Sixty-five Siskin on the 20th was a good count, and fourteen Brambling on 4th were an excellent record.

Keith Turton.

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