Derbyshire is blessed with some terrific birds. We may not have the coastal areas, mudflats and sea cliffs, but we make up for that with wild rugged moorland, peak dales and river valleys. These habitats harbour some excellent birding opportunities. With patience, local knowledge and a little bit of luck, Derbyshire’s specialists will eventually give themselves up. What a treat…. The weather looked perfect for a morning’s “Gos” watching but before that, Hawfinches had been showing well during the week at a traditional site. The “Crack of Sparrows” is the best time to see them, before the […]
2011 has been one of the best years in memory to see American Waders in Britain. At least 17 species had been seen up to 28th November. The only species not found at this time was Western Sandpiper. So it was inevitable that one would be discovered somewhere!. Cley NWT Reserve was to be the host site for this rare wader. It was first identified as a Semi-palmated Sandpiper but as the bird was eventually seen and videoed at close range, the finer points of the bird’s plumage could be seen and it was eventually re-identified as […]
March 13th 2011 – Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire. My second attempt for the Great White Egret, eventually paid off. Seen in flight briefly before disappearing from view in dense willow scrub. Also my first spring migrant for 2011- 2 parties of Sand Martin – 1 off 11 birds and 1 of 6 birds. Nice to see and a sign that spring is on the way. Year list now on 146 March 19th 2011 – A fresh male Brimstone flying in warm spring sunshine, Melbourne, Derbyshire. My first butterfly for 2011. March 20th 2011 – A superb morning watching raptors from an […]