Local birding in South Derbyshire. A very dull grey spring morning was brightened up by the courtship dances of the Great Crested Grebe. This pair were really putting on a show at Foremark Reservoir.
A pity they were just a little distant for my camera lens. No luck with Lesser Pecker this morning but
did manage several Grey Partridge. At least 6 singing Chiffchaff and several singing Yellowhammer. Once common birds locally, Grey Partridge & Yellowhammer are now getting exceedingly difficult to find. The woodlands around Ticknall were also unproductive for Lesser Pecker, another species that is very difficult and very unpredictable. However, there were still small numbers of Redwing though.
Willington Gravel Pits produced my first Little Ringed Plover of the year, several Sand Martin,
2 Goosander & 6 Goldeneye, 12 Shoveler, several Willow Tit and another 6 singing Chiffchaff.
There were many Queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bees about to-day looking for suitable nest sites.
Year List moves on to 150.
