The Derbyshire Ornithological Society
- The first choice for the county's birders since 1954
Bird News - February 2012
This is a news service only and the reports are unchecked. All records submitted via the "Submit record" page will be sent to the Bulletin Bird Notes Compiler and entered onto the DOS database even if they do not appear here. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)
For more reports please see Rod Key's Page
Top of Page
If you want to submit your records to the DOS please click the button below.
January highlights
An excellent range of species despite a comparative absence of rarities.
As usual, January produced far more records than average as mild weather and a new year list tempted many into the field. Happily, last month’s Great Northern Diver and Great Grey Shrikes stayed around to be seen again and the species list was further stretched by the early return of Oystercatcher and Curlew plus passerines such as Meadow Pipit staying locally rather than heading for the coast.
Waxwing were in short supply but Brambling and Common Crossbill were available without too much effort and there were spectacular displays from the Short-eared Owls on Leash Fen.
Winter specialities included Whooper Swans, Smew and Bittern although many of us would like to have caught up with the reported Bean Geese and Snow Bunting. Waders and gulls were in good variety, there was again a big movement of Pink-footed Geese and rather more Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers than in a normal month. There was also a sighting of a Black Grouse from the reintroduction programme.
Bryan Barnacle