October 2002 – Ogston Bird News – 87 Species – 31 Days Covered

This was a month of two halves starting with an Indian summer and finishing with a severe wet and windy spell for the last two weeks. October was colder than normal and Sunday 27th was particularly stormy with the southwesterly wind reaching force eight or nine in the morning. Several large trees were brought down and power supplies were affected in some areas.

Good numbers of Cormorant throughout the month with a maximum of seventy-one on 12th. One adult Mute Swan paid a visit on 29th and 30th and a welcome sight on 18th were eight Whooper Swan a rare visitor at Ogston these days. Pink-footed Geese started appearing from the 13th with a maximum of two hundred. Wildfowl numbers were variable due to the fluctuating water levels but Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted Duck were recorded on most days. A Shelduck visited on 10th and Gadwall appeared on several days with a maximum of three on 1st and 30th. Goldeneye put in four appearances through the month with a maximum of two. Ruddy Ducks were recorded on eight days with a maximum of three on 24th. Goosander was noted on three days with fourteen Redheads on 30th.

One of the highlights of the month was a short staying ring-tailed Hen Harrier on 18th the first sighting for two years. It was mobbed by Crows and then left to the northeast. Peregrine was seen on three days and Common Buzzard on four. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were observed most days. Two Grey Partridge was a good record on 20th seen flying over Quarry Lane by the old chapel.

Waders were conspicuous by their absence with twenty fly through Golden Plover on 5th and only single sightings of Redshank, Greenshank and Curlew. Snipe were only recorded on three days, only Lapwing being regular with a maximum of one hundred on 24th. On Saturday 26th a Skua species was seen over the recording area from Highoredish heading south. It was a dark phase bird thought to be either Arctic or Pomarine. Little Owl was noted on several days but Kingfisher was only recorded on two days. Green Woodpecker was seen near Brackenfield Church on 19th.

The last Swallows were noted on 18th and seven House Martins was the last record on 16th. Dipper was found regularly at the beginning of the month but as the water levels increased sightings came to a halt. Stonechat was another welcome visitor and a pair were seen daily from the eighteenth and a single female was still present at the end of the month.

The first Redwing were noted on 7th with Fieldfare arriving on 24th. Chiffchaff was last recorded on 20th and two Brambling were flyovers on 19th. Siskin and Redpoll were recorded regularly through the period. With the present influx of Crossbill from the continent it was not a surprise for four to be observed on the East Bank on 30th, the second record this year. The last day of the month produced another spectacular influx of with a flock of over one thousand Starlings seen at dusk.