June 2002 Bird Notes

June highlights were Common Scoter, Osprey, Hobby, Arctic Tern, eleven species of waders including Black-tailed Godwit and Turnstone with breeding records of Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Redshank. Common Terns successfully reared two young.
Barnacle Geese bred for the first time at Carsington this was only the second county breeding record.

The feral Barnacle Geese produced two young on 1st, only the second breeding record for Derbyshire and the first for Carsington, two other individuals were also present on several dates, these birds are considered to originate from a captive flock at the JCB works at Rocester, up to 15 of these birds have been regularly present throughout the year. Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Redshank all have bred successfully.

Wildfowl counts were five Little Grebe on 2nd, 18 Great Crested Grebe on 2nd, 14 Cormorant on 24th with two to five regularly present, six Heron on 11th with two to four regularly present, 32 Mute Swan on 12th, single Pink-footed Goose on several dates accompanying Canada’s, two to three Greylag Goose on several dates also accompanying Canada’s, 731 Canada Geese were counted on 11th which doesn’t including any young. With in excess of 150 young on the reservoir this species will soon exceed 1000 birds. Four Shelduck on 4th, five Gadwall on 21st with one to three on several other dates, five Teal on 21st with three on 16th and singles on other dates. A ringed female Pintail considered to be an escape bird was present all month, two Pochard on 1st and 2nd with singles on 17th and 18th, 120 Tufted Duck were counted on 25th with 56 on 15th. 100 Coot were counted on 15th.
Three Drake Common Scoter on 17th, a party of eight on 26th comprising of six males and two females the first records for 2002.

Eleven species of waders were recorded, eleven Oystercatcher on 20th with up to eight present all month, twelve Little Ringed Plover on 25th with smaller counts on other dates, single Ringed Plover on 1st, 2nd, 8th, 15th 16th, 27th and 28th, several pairs of Lapwing were noted with young during the month, three Dunlin on 2nd with singles on 11th, 12th and 26th, a single Snipe on 30th was the only record for June, two Black-tailed Godwit on 23rd, small numbers of Curlew were present most evenings with four counted on 18th, eight Redshank on 13th with smaller numbers present throughout the month, single Common Sandpiper on 2nd, 27th and 29th, a summer plumage Turnstone was present on 10th.

Other species recorded were a single Buzzard on 8th, an Osprey was reported flying north at 8pm on 23rd, single Hobby on 2nd, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were also recorded. A Red-legged Partridge on 18th, several female Pheasant with eight young were noted, the Arctic Tern remaining from May was last recorded on 2nd, a Tawny Owl was seen near Paul Stanley hide on 29th, 50 Swift on 10th with smaller estimates on other dates, a Kingfisher was noted on three dates, a singing Skylark on 8th, two Meadow Pipit on 30th, two Grey Wagtail on 15th, single Redstart on several dates. Lesser Whitethroat on 2nd and 25th, Spotted Flycatcher on 2nd with two on 26th. The feeders at Paul Stanley hide produced records of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, Coal Tit and Dunnock also in this area were Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Bullfinch, an estimated 50 Tree Sparrows were reported near the Wildlife Centre.

A good month with 95 species recorded compared with 75 in June 2001, 74 in 2000 and 82 species in 1999.

For the latest updates see www.carsingtonbirdclub.co.uk or the notice board outside the Goldeneye shop in the courtyard at the Visitor Centre Carsington Water.