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
A few photos from recent days around my local patch. Birding is very quiet at the moment and the weather has been difficult for photography – grey, dull and rainy. However the sun did come out a for a few hours, when I managed to photograph a very obliging Robin.
The first winter drake Ring-necked Duck, that I was party to finding back in December 2020, is still staying faithful to a small lake, called Home Lake, at Staunton Harold Hall on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border and only a mile or so from home. The species is a major rarity to my home county of Derbyshire,
The Coronavirus Pandemic has certainly put paid to travelling any distance to go birding. So I’m very fortunate to have Staunton Harold Reservoir, Melbourne Pool and some excellent farmland within a 2km circle of my home. Staunton Harold is just a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk from home, so well within the “Lockdown
