The Little Bunting is an annual migrant from the taiga forests of NE Europe and into Siberia. It is regularly discovered during the autumn months, most often on the outer islands of Shetland and Orkney, the Isles of Scilly and sites along the east coast of mainland Britain. It is not often one overwinters, but […]
The “Eared Grebe”, better known as the Black-necked Grebe, is a rare breeding bird in Britain. It is more often seen in winter, visiting our reservoirs or observed at southern coastal sites, sometimes in good numbers. The birds begin to arrive back at their preferred breeding sites in late March and into April, when they
A Bonxie (Great Skua) was seen to drop into Willington GP during the late afternoon of 1st April. Fortunately it was still present early morning on the 2nd April and I managed to get a few record shots of this rather rare bird in Derbyshire, being last recorded in the county in 2014. My 284th
My first Sand Martin for the year was on 26th March at Staunton Harold Reservoir, along with 2 Chiffchaff and 9 Lesser Redpoll. Two Swallow and a singing Blackcap at SHRes on 27th March were also new for the year. The drake Ring-necked Duck put in an appearance at Melbourne Pool briefly on 28th March,
A winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe was discovered at Straws Bridge in Derbyshire a few weeks ago. The area consists of a small number of pools near Ilkeston. The bird then disappeared and was re-discovered only a few miles away on another small local lake at Kirk Hallam. It has remained faithful to this pool ever
There are quite a few local Ravens very active over past few days. I’ve had at least 4 pairs just in my catchment area. Also the drake Ring-necked Duck is still around, mainly on it’s favoured small lake at Staunton Harold Hall. A covey of 7 Red-legged Partridge at Staunton Harold Reservoir this am, is
A morning spent at Willington GP on 7th March, provided a few year ticks – Great Egret, 14 Curlew, 2 Water Rail, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and a Kingfisher. A Curlew flew over Staunton Harold Reservoir on 8th March, and a Chiffchaff was the first spring migrant of the year. My March highlight so far at
A message from one of the local stalwart birders this morning, advising me that the Russian White-fronted Geese were on view in local fields, only a mile or so from where I live. I’ve been unlucky connecting with these in the past, so it was great to watch 5 of them (4 adults and 1
