Over the years I’ve missed numerous Spoonbills in Derbyshire. This spring I missed one at Ogston by minutes, so I was hopeful that I would catch up with one soon enough, especially as their numbers are increasing in the UK year on year. Sure enough, an immature bird was discovered during mid-morning at Willington Gravel […]
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
Sunday 28th December 2014. A stunning early winter’s morning at one of the local patches close to home. Bright and sunny with superb blue skies, gave some great photographic opportunities. This posting and the attached photographs are dedicated to my dear Auntie Bees, who peacefully passed away late this morning after a short but severe
More Waxwings pour into Derbyshire. With the recent cold weather, more Waxwings have moved south into central and southern England and there have been several large flocks in Derbyshire. Upto 200 in the Long Eaton area and over 100 in the Ilkestone area. So this morning I was on the chase. The weather was really
Local patch birding in my county of Derbyshire is hard work but sometimes rewarding. It is all down to the quality of birding one is looking for. In my view you cannot compare a days birding in Derbyshire, to a days birding at a coastal site in Norfolk or Yorkshire. These locations would win hands
Local birding in South Derbyshire. A very dull grey spring morning was brightened up by the courtship dances of the Great Crested Grebe. This pair were really putting on a show at Foremark Reservoir. A pity they were just a little distant for my camera lens. No luck with Lesser Pecker this morning but did
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
