June and July 2025 highlights
This month's best find must go to the lucky few who picked up a BLACK STORK circling over Ogston Reservoir on 18th July! But not far behind it was another great find, and testament to a key eye for detail - an eclipse drake RING NECKED DUCK also at Ogston Reservoir from 21st July to month end (and beyond).
Carsington Water had a BLACK-NECKED GREBE on 4th June and then two turned up on 14th-15th June. A GLOSSY IBIS was seen flying around at Willington Wetlands on 3rd June but hasn't been substantiated. The RUDDY SHELDUCK continued in the Trent Valley with sightings from Barrow GP in June before moving to Foremark Reservoir 5th July onwards, with two seen there on 13th July but not reported again. The female RED-CRESTED POCHARD remained at Carsington Water all month, as did birds at Melbourne Pool and the long-stayer at Wingerworth, with additional birds at Shipley Lake, four on 12th July, and an eclipse male commuting between Mercia Marina and Willington Wetlands. Two AVOCET were at Middleton Moor Lagoons on 2nd June. FIRECREST in your garden is a bird to be envious of and one at an observer's in Pilsley on 29th June was a great find, as was one at Youlgreave on 10th July.
A GARGANEY put in a few appearances at Carr Vale NR from 18th June to 2nd July, and another bird was at Carsington Water on 4th June. QUAIL were heard well at Beeley Moor this year with at least two singing between 11th June and last reported on 11th July. There were also birds briefly at Smalley on 11th June, Common Farm NR on 16th June and at the same Breaston site as last year on 10th July. A moulting KNOT was found at Carsington Water on 30th July and a flyover WOOD SANDPIPER calling at Heage, whilst listening for Common Scoter on 21st July, was a surprise find.
Steve Thorpe
