During the late autumn, a large number of Short-eared Owls arrived into Britain from Northern Europe. They appeared to be pushed across by unprecedented storms and probably a shortage of rodents in Scandinavia. Short-eared Owls are a regular winter visitor to our shores, but some large numbers were counted, especially in Norfolk, as they arrived […]
On 31st October I found 4 juvenile Shags at Foremark Reservoir. Part of an inland influx after the recent storms and the first record in the county since 2020. One bird was colour ringed with a blue DARVIC ring. I managed to discover that it was from a ringing scheme in Scotland. Unfortunately the bird
A first winter male Red-headed Bunting had been present at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, for a number of days in mid October, tempting me to go and see it, having been found and tentatively identified on 21st October 2023. This species is super rare, and despite previously being recorded in Britain, the species is currently classed
A juvenile Red-throated Diver was discovered on Butterley Reservoir, near Ripley on 23rd October 2023. Divers are always worth going for in the county, and Red-throated and Black-throated Divers have been scarce in Derbyshire in recent years. Butterley Reservoir is a relatively small body of water, so I was hoping that the diver would be
I ran a garden moth trap over night on the 22nd October 2023. Just 4 moths of 4 species, a Juniper Carpet, a Red-green Carpet, a Light-brown Apple Moth and a November Moth agg outside the trap and one that got away. Totals – 4/4
A flock of Cattle Egrets had been gathering at Willington Wetlands Reserve for a number of days in early October, and I made a visit to see them on the 16th. I managed to find 9 birds, which increased to 11, before floods in mid to late October dispersed the birds. During this arrival, the
I ran a garden moth trap overnight on 9th October 2023. Highlight was a Clifden Nonpareil, a new moth species for me and obviously a new one for the garden. It’s been a good year for this species in Derbyshire. Other notables were a Green Brindled Crescent, a Yellow-lined Quaker, 14 Box Tree Moth, 3
What better way to spend my 70th birthday than in North Norfolk. Stopping at one of our favourite places, Briarfields, right next to the reserve at RSPB Titchwell, and meeting up with a long lost friend, who I’d not seen for some 50 odd years. I was also lucky to drop on a some good
