April 2002 Bird Notes

April highlights were Scaup, Hen Harrier, Osprey, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Little Gull, Kittiwake, Common, Arctic and Little Terns and Grasshopper Warbler.
A Pomarine Skua was reported on 29th by three visiting birders from the Wirral, flying south at 17:05hrs following a heavy rainstorm. More details on this observation would be appreciated.

A female Scaup was located in the evening of the 25th, an Hen Harrier flew alongside Carsington Pastures at 18:00hrs on the 3rd, single Osprey on 2nd. A 1st summer Little Gull was present on 29th and was still present the following day, a 1st summer Kittiwake on the 30th. A Little Tern was observed from the 28th and remained until the early morning of the 30th, giving birders the opportunity to view this scarce visitor to Derbyshire only the fourth reservoir record and the first to remain for more than one day. Two Common Tern were regularly seen from 20th, single Arctic Tern on several dates from 22nd with four on 29th.

Wildfowl counts were 20 Little Grebe on 5th, 35 Great Crested Grebe on 21st, 29 Cormorant on 17th, two Greylag Geese on 17th with one on several other dates, c45 Canada’s throughout often accompanied by a Pink-footed Goose, 10 to15 Barnacle Geese during the month with a Ross’s Goose accompanying them from the 6th.Single Shelduck on 30th, 20 Wigeon on 10th with smaller numbers regularly present until 19th, four Gadwall on 18th with a single on 4th, nine Teal on 9th with two to four present on several other dates, single Pochard on several dates till 21st , 20 Tufted Duck on 6th, four Goldeneye on 3rd with one to three present until 14th, single Goosander on several dates, small numbers of Ruddy Duck were present throughout the month. 50 plus Coot and 30 plus Moorhen were counted on 6th. Up to four Heron were regularly present.

With falling reservoir levels providing excellent conditions 13 species of waders were recorded, up to eight Oystercatcher were regularly present, eight Little Ringed Plovers on 15th with one to four regular recorded, three Ringed Plovers on several dates from the 18th, eight Golden Plover flew north west on 24th accompanying a Whimbrel, 17 Dunlin on 18th increasing to 26 on 25th and 24 on 29th, one to four were present on several other dates. Three Snipe were present on 7th with one to two regularly present, a possible Jack Snipe was recorded on 18th by two members of Sheffield Bird Study Group, four Black-tailed Godwit on 18th with two on 26th, single Bar-tailed Godwit on 24th, two Whimbrel on 24th with one on 27th, three on 29th. Curlew were observed roosting most evenings with maximum counts of nine on 29th, approximately 12 Redshank present throughout the month, Common Sandpiper were regularly recorded from 18th with a maximum seven on 28th.

The first Swift was recorded on 26th with 20 counted on 27th and 50 plus on 30th, Sand Martin numbered 70 plus on 29th, 200 plus Swallows on 18th, the first House Martin was noted on 18th with 30 plus on 29th, single Tree Pipit was recorded on 5th and 13th, Yellow Wagtails from 4th with four on 19th and 30th, four White Wagtails on 29th with one to two from 25th. The first Redstart was noted on 12th, single Wheatear on 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 28th two on 27th. 12 Fieldfare were noted on 9th and 14 on 20th, A Grasshopper Warbler reeling on 21st and 29th, Sedge Warbler from 21st, Lesser Whitethroat on 22nd and 23rd, single Whitethroat on 21st with nine on 24th, Garden Warbler from 11th, 14 Blackcap were recorded singing on 24th, 38 Willow Warblers were singing on 21st.

Other Species recorded were small numbers of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Common Gulls on 5th, Little Owl continues to be reported in the Shiningford Creek area, a Green Woodpecker on 14th, Raven on 9th, 11 Lesser Redpoll on 5th with smaller numbers regularly seen. Pairs of Bullfinch were reported from various locations around the reservoir.

An excellent month with 107 species recorded compared with 103 in April 2001, 101 in 2000 and 96 in 1999