The Derbyshire Ornithological Society

Ogston Reservoir News

Ogston Bird News September 2007-30 Days Covered - 104 Species.

Little Grebe were very conspicuous during the month with eleven birds a maximum on 12th including 3 juveniles, Great Crested Grebe had a best count of eighteen on both 1st and 23rd whilst Cormorant figures peaked at forty four on 18th. Circa one hundred and fifteen Pink-footed Geese were observed moving east on 26th and a further one hundred and ninety on 27th (four separate skeins), in same direction, with a further two hundred on 28th. Single Mute Swan was present on seven dates, Wigeon had a best count of eleven on 27th, Teal fifty nine on 26th, two Gadwall on 23rd, ten Shoveler records, all singles except for two birds on 23rd and a Pintail was present for a short period on 27th

Seven species of raptor during the month with two very welcome year records of Honey Buzzard on 4th and Marsh Harrier 17th. Common Buzzard was again the most recorded bird and for the second consecutive month ten birds were observed in the air simultaneously, Sparrowhawk was noted regularly with four a maximum on 21st, Kestrel had a best count of five birds on 2nd. There were three records of juvenile Hobby and two of juvenile Peregrine.

Nine wader species were noted including single Dunlin on two dates with two birds on 28th,single Golden Plover on 6th, Lapwing maximum one hundred and thirty on 1st and 12th, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Curlew and Common Snipe maximum fourteen on 21st.A Jack Snipe feeding just in front of the members hide on 27th was only the second record this year. Two Black-tailed Godwit were noted for a few minutes on 27th before flying off to the east.

Tawny Owl was heard on at least three dates; with Little Owl noted on noted four days. A candidate for bird of the month would have to be the Long-eared Owl found in Brackenfield Churchyard on 10th, it would be only the third record the last one being in 1984, a full description will be forwarded to D.O.S. Two more additions to the year list were a Rock Pipit on 29th and four Tree Pipits on 24th.

Visual migration watches from mid month have yielded House Martin six hundred and sixty seven on 19th, Barn Swallow two hundred and eighty on 23rd, Meadow Pipit two hundred and thirty seven on 25th. Six hundred and seventy Redwing on 27th were the first of the year. Brambling, Skylark, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll have all been recorded during the watches.

Although we are almost a month from the start of the" gull roost season" there have been records of Mediterranean Gull (two 1st winters) and Yellow-legged Gull (two 1st, 1- 2nd winter. There were also one record of Common Tern (adult) on 28th and four of Arctic Tern single on 10th, two birds on 14th, three 1st winters on 28th and two more on 29th.

Keith Turton.

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