After last weekends Fog-Out, a few days birding in Derbyshire. Saturday 12th January – Staunton Harold Reservoir – I managed to find a drake Gadwall (an uncommon duck for this water), also 119 Wigeon, 150 Grey Lag and 6 Pochard of note. I also found a Tree Creeper another good bird for my site this year.Still a couple of Yellowhammer about but only 1 Tree Sparrow at the feeders? Raven still calling, so hopefully they will stick around and breed somewhere in the area.
Today (13th January 2013) was an opportunity to year tick some of the good birds on offer in Derbyshire. Carsington still holds 3 Great Northern Diver and is alos a good place for Willow Tit. Also here a Redshank and a few Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow. Up on Beeley Moor, above Matlock, the Great Grey Shrike showed reasonably well and there was also a large flock of Brambling nearby. Back dowen south to Mickleover for a flock of 32 very showy Waxwings. These were some of the best I've seen this winter. We finished off thre day at Whitemoorhaye in Staffs for Little Owl but no Corn Bunting or Grey Partridge. There was however a large flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing. Finally, during the day we saw Ruddy Duck, I was so pleased – they have not all been shot to oblivion. Long live the Ruddy Duck.. MY YEAR LIST CURRENTLY AT 79.
Great Tit – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – January 12th 2013. – Tony Davison©
Blue Tit – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – January 12th 2013 – Tony Davison©
Blue Tit – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – January 12th 2013 – Tony Davison©
Blue Tit – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – January 12th 2013 – Tony Davison©
Blue Tit – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – January 12th 2013 – Tony Davison©
Brambling – Derbyshire – 13th January 2013 – Tony Davison©
Robin – Carsington, Derbyshire – 13th January 2013 – Tony Davison©
My Hero – Male Ruddy Duck – January 13th 2013. Tony Davison©
Willow Tit – Carsington, Derbyshire – 13th January 2013 – Tony Davison©
Waxwing – Probably first winter male – Mickleover, Derbyshire – 13th January 2013 – Tony Davison©
Looking more like Scandinavia than suburban Derby – Waxwings – Mickleover, Derby. Tony Davison©
