SEPTEMBER 2002
September came to a close and once again we managed daily visits for the 30th consecutive month. This is possibly the last milestone we will achieve in terms of coverage as it is now becoming increasingly difficult to arrange coverage when the regular observers are absent through work, holidays etc. However the daily visits were again productive giving a total of 103 species during the month, a new record for September and the second highest monthly total ever. Bird of the month was new for the site, a Sandwich Tern but the site's total number of species actually rose by two, with the elevation of Hooded Crow to full species level. There have now been 196 species recorded at Carr Vale (plus four more just outside the recording area at Sutton Scarsdale). The year list rose to 133 which is on a par with previous years and quality birds during the month included several flocks of very early Pink-footed Geese, Shelducks, Pintail (two records), Buzzards, Osprey (13th record), Peregrines, Hobbies, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff (16th record), Jack Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits (three from last month and one, 10th record), Greenshanks, Woodlark (3rd record), Whinchats (three), Redwing and Crossbill (4th record). It was a very dry month and consequently water levels remained low providing plenty of mud for migrant waders, especially around Middle Flash. Work has been carried out on Middle Flash, which will enable us to control the water level more effectively.
One or two Little Grebes were recorded on 29 dates and up to three Great-crested Grebes were seen daily. One or two Cormorants were seen on 11 dates although four were noted on the 20th and Herons were recorded daily with a peak count of 14 on the 3rd.The wing-tagged bird was still in the area on the 30th. 16 Pink-footed Geese flew east in the morning on the 18th followed by 46 in the afternoon, also going east. These are the earliest ever-autumn arrivals at Carr Vale and unless there are any earlier birds reported in the county this year; they are the third earliest autumn arrivals for the county. A further 26 flew east on the 26th. It was also a good month for Greylag Geese with one daily between the 3rd and 8th and again on the 13th and 14th, followed by nine on the 23rd and 24th. Canada Geese were recorded daily with three-figures on 24 dates and a peak count of 305 on the 14th. A Bar-headed Goose was noted daily between the 4th and 11th.
Four juvenile Shelduck left south on the 9th, another juvenile left north on the 10th and a further juvenile was present on the 25th. One to four Wigeon were seen daily between the 5th and 11th with four on the 13th. Then from the 15th numbers rose steadily reaching 26 on the 29th and 30th, a record count for September, (previous highest September count being nine). Gadwall numbers also started to rise until they reached a site record of 43 on the 24th with another seven counts in excess of 30 from the 21st (previous record count was 38 in 2000). Matching the above two species Teal also increased dramatically through the month reaching a September record count of 111 on the 30th (previous record 77 in 2000). Mallard numbers in the dabbling duck flock were also notable with a peak count of 300 on the 17th, equalling the highest ever number recorded. Three Pintail were amongst this lot on the 8th with a further female on the 28th and 29th along with two Shoveler on the 2nd rising to three daily between the 3rd and 9th, with two on the 10th and one on the 12th. A male Shoveler was noted on the 27th and 28th, with three on the 29th and a pair on the 30th. A male Pochard was seen on the 5th and four were present on the 18th. One to four Tufted Duck were noted on 20 dates, a female Goosander was present on the 11th and Ruddy Ducks were seen daily until the 29th, although there were just four counts in double-figures the highest of which was 14 on the 3rd.
It was an exceptionally good month for raptors and accurate numbers for some species are difficult to quantify. Sparrowhawks were seen on 34 bird/days (25 dates) including three flying south on the 22nd. Buzzards were seen from the observation mound on 16 dates (37 bird / days) with at least two taking up residence within the recording area. Generally one to three birds were seen but larger counts were five on the 20th (three on the reserve and two over Bolsover), four on the 22nd (four over the reserve or just to the west of the area and two further south) and four on the 30th (one over the reserve and three to the south). A juvenile Osprey flew south at 0855 on the 18th and Kestrels were noted on 26 dates (a total of 52 bird/days) with a peak count of four on the 6th, 18th-19th and 30th. An immature male Merlin flew north-west on the 3rd. Single Hobbies were recorded on the 2nd; 7th-8th and 10th then three were noted together between the 17th-19th, with one the 20th, three on the 21st and two on the 22nd. Finally in this raptor feast Peregrines were noted on 11 dates with a juvenile female seen on the 1st, an adult male was seen on five dates with an immature male being recorded on six dates and both males sat together on the 17th. I don't think we have ever had a month in which birds of prey were so prominent.
A second brood (of five) Common Partridges was found on the 20th and there was a count of 23 on the 27th. Water Rails were noted on 22 dates during the month, with generally one or two birds but three were present on the 19th and Coot peaked at 47 on the 20th. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, present on the 7th, became the latest ever site record on which date a Golden Plover was also present. Golden Plovers were recorded on a further ten dates but the highest count was only 14 on the 20th whilst Lapwings, peaked at 450 on the 4th with nine further three-figure counts until the 18th. A Dunlin was present on the 10th-11th with another on the 15th. A Ruff was present briefly on the 6th, whilst a Jack Snipe, which dropped into the sewage works on the 30th was extremely noteworthy as it was the first to be recorded since 1997. Snipe were present on all bar one date but the highest count as only eight on the 22nd. The party of six Black-tailed Godwits from last month reduced to three on the 1st but they remained until the 11th, then one came in at 1010 hours on the 18th and remained until the month end making 2002 an excellent year for this species. A Curlew flew east on the 10th, two Greenshank were present on the 2nd with one present on the 12th and one flying north the following day. A single Common Sandpiper was noted the 1st and 2nd and then daily between the 4th and 12th with two on the 10th.
Black-headed Gulls peaked at 110 on the 10th and Common Gulls became more frequent with one or two on six dates and five on the 24th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present throughout the month in good numbers with 300 on both the 2nd and 30th and amongst the flock one or two Herring Gulls were recorded on five dates. A 2nd summer Sandwich Tern (wearing B.T.O. ring) was the star bird of the month and a welcome addition to the site list, although it only stayed until 1015 that was long enough to allow several other observers to connect with the bird. 30 Collared Doves were noted on the 15th, one to three Swifts were present until the 10th and one or two Kingfishers were seen on 25 dates. A Green Woodpecker was recorded on the 14th and 28th whilst single Great-spotted Woodpeckers were noted on nine dates.
A Woodlark was heard calling as it flew south-west at 0950 on the 30th, the second year in succession that this species, for which there are less than 15 county records, has been recorded at the site. Skylark numbers built up during the month, peaking at 50 on the 18th-19th, with 40 still present on the 28th and one to eight Sand Martins were noted on ten dates until the 15th with the last of the year noted on the 23rd. Southerly Swallow passage (in double-figures or more) was noted on six dates, totalling 338 birds, with largest movement, of 107 birds, taking place on the 18th. 200 House Martins were present between the 8th and 10th and small numbers were noted flying south towards the end of the month. Although Meadow Pipits were noted flying south on 21 dates, the passage was poor with double-figure counts made on 14 dates. A total of 425 had flown through by the end of the month, with a peak of 103 on the 20th and 50 were grounded on the 17th. Although seven Yellow Wagtails were noted on the 3rd generally one to three were recorded on eight dates until the 13th, which was a rather early last date. One or two Grey Wagtails were seen on 22 dates but larger counts included five (three south) on the 15th, four on the 18th and a minimum of seven (four west) on the 20th. The highest count for Pied Wagtails was 27 on the 29th but southerly passage was limited to just three dates, a total of 13 birds, which is exceedingly poor. The reason for the low visible passage numbers was due to the predominance of a high-pressure system centred over southern Scandinavia. This resulted in clear blue skies and as a consequence means that many birds fly over too high to be seen from the valley floor.
Single Whinchats were seen on the 3rd and 15th and then one took up residence between the 22nd and 26th. 50 Blackbirds dropped in on the 28th along with a remarkable 23 Song Thrushes, a new site record count. The following day 15 Song Thrushes were still present and the first Redwing of the autumn was noted. A Sedge Warbler was still present on the 2nd with a late Reed Warbler on the 17th. The last Lesser Whitethroat of the year was seen on the 9th with the last Whitethroat noted on the 7th. Single Garden Warblers were noted on the 1st and the 8th, whilst Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were present to the month end including 15 of the latter on the 7th. The last Willow Warbler was seen on the 5th and single Goldcrests were noted on 16 dates. 34 Long-tailed Tits were counted on the 12th with one or two Coal Tits noted on six dates between the 2nd and 24th.
One or two Jays were noted on five dates and 36 Jackdaws were seen on the 12th whilst the House Sparrow flock again peaked at 100+ on the 11th. 75 Greenfinches were present on the 17th, with 40 Goldfinches noted on the 29th. Siskins were noted from the 11th, when seven flew south and further southerly passage was noted on five dates but numbers were very small, totalling just 12. 100 Linnets were counted on the 3rd and Lesser Redpolls flew south on just four dates (total only six), although a flock of 15 was present on the 29th. Once again the best finch record concerned two Crossbills, which flew south on the 11th, representing only the fourth record for the reserve. Finally amongst the avian highlights, 20 Reed Buntings were feeding in stubble on the 14th and 11 dropped into roost on the 16th.
Non-avian species saw Southern Hawkers, Brown Hawkers and Migrant Hawkers recorded regularly although the only other dragonfly species to be seen was Common Darter. Single Commas were seen on the 20th, 21st and 30th, a Painted Lady was seen on the 18th, Red Admirals, including some flying south, were seen on four dates whilst Common Blue and Speckled Wood were also noted. Another Poplar Hawk Moth was seen on the 30th. Single Hares were noted on just three dates, a Fox was seen on the 8th and 19th and a small Grass Snake, the only one of the year, was seen on the 5th.
