| 2006-12-18 | The drake Green-winged Teal was seen today on the spit of land to the right of Sheepwash hide, before moving off with other Teal.
The Black-necked Grebe was also present,catching many small fish in front of Sheepwash hide.
c10 Goldeneye,2 Goosander (over Lane End hide),distant views of a Great Northern Diver (also from Lane End) were amongst the other highlights. | CLIVE ASHTON and DAVE NEWCOMBE. |
| 2006-12-17 | No sign today of the drake Green Winged Teal.
Two juv. Great Northern Divers at Millfields at 12.00.p.m. with a third juvenile close to Horeshoe Island from the windsurfing club. Later at 3.00 p.m. a juv.
Great Northern Diver was just behind Sheepwash spit.
The Black necked Grebes was showing well from Paul Stanley Hide.
A first winter Glaucous Gull spent about 20 mins on Flat Island before taking off and flying down the Reservoir at 2.55 p.m. and disappearing off to the West.
An adult Yellow Legged Gull in a fair sized roost.
Up to 6 Redshank about the reservoir | Richard James and Rod Key |
| 2006-12-16 | Highlights:
W.Centre:
Green Winged Teal, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Wren, Redwing
Paul Stanley:
Willow Tit(2), GS Woodpecker, Coal tit
Millfields:
Great Northern Diver(1) | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2006-12-15 | W.Centre
24 snipe, 60 Black-headed gull, 21 Pochard, 11 Teal (no green-winged), 9 Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Redwing, 1 Bullfinch(F), 1 Redshank
Sheepwash
1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Redshank, 3 Meadow Pipit, 23 Teal, 1 Goldeneye(f)
Millfields
8 Long-tailed tits | Richard, Frances and Ken Pittam |
| 2006-12-14 | Green-winged Teal (drake) again reported at WLC and 2 Great Northerns at Sailing Club (off Birdnet pager. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-13 | Drake Green-winged Teal still present till just before dusk at least, to the left of the Wildlife Centre,1 adult Yellow-legged Gull in front of WLC at 3pm, 1 Great Northern Diver reported at the Sailing Club this am. Black-necked Grebe reported still at Sheepwash this pm. 20+ Common Gulls in area in front of WLC 3pm. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-13 | Green Winged Teal and Pintail | Matthew Capper |
| 2006-12-13 | Green-winged Teal (drake) reported on Birdnet Pager as being in front of Wildlife Centre at 9.40am | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-12 | 35 species seen from the Wildlife Centre today - not as high a number as recently.
No sign of the of the Green Winged Teal from the wildlife centre but reasonable numbers of gulls came in to roost.
The Black Grebe and Diver(s) were not reported at the Wildlife Centre but are presumably are still on site. | Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! Project Officer) |
| 2006-12-11 | 3 Great Northern Divers were seen together off the Sailing Club this pm, all juveniles. Close in between the jettys and near the dam at times. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-11 | Black Necked Grebe from Sheepwash Hide mid afternoon
Ring Billed Gull again seen from Sheepwash Hide
Great Northern Diver still present
Green Winged Teal present to dusk yesterday but not reported today. | Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! Project Officer) |
| 2006-12-10 | Green Winged Teal | Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! Project Officer) |
| 2006-12-09 | Black-necked Grebe commuting between Paul Stanley and Sheepwash Hides this pm. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-09 | Wildlife Centre
1 Treecreeper, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Barnacle Geese, 2 Snipe, 2 Redshank
Paul Stanley
6 Pochard, 1 Dunnock, 3 Snipe, 6 Little Grebe, 1 Sparrowhawk, 11 Cormorant, 1 Willow Tit, 2 Grt Spotted W/Peckers(m f), 1 Redshank, 4 Tree Sparrow, 250 Lapwing, 2 Canada Geese, 6 Great Tit, 20 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1 Black Swan, 2 Gadwall, 12 Grt Crested Grebe
Sheepwash
4 Goldeneye (1m, 3f), 45 Teal, 1 Redshank, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Cormorant, 85 Wigeon, 150 Lapwing, 12 Grt Crested Grebe, 6 Gadwall
Millfields
80 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Northern Divers (3.10pm) | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2006-12-08 | 2 G N Divers, both juvenile, one in Millfields Bay from car park, one halfway along the dam wall.1 Black-necked Grebe at Sheepwash. | Roger Carrington (Carsington Bird Recorder) |
| 2006-12-08 | Of interest, on 6th December Severn Trent Ranger Paul Bennet found a dead Leach's Petrol whilst working on the east bank at Ogston Reservoir.The first record in Derbyshire since 1994 it ended up temporarily in the freezer at Carsington.Sadly I'm not sure the Bird Club Committee will therefore let me submit it as a record for Carsington but interesting never the less. | Matthew Capper (RSPB) |
| 2006-12-07 | Black-necked grebe seen from Sheepwash Hide from 2.30pm. No sign of Ring-billed gull in large roost spread out from Lane end hide south | . |
| 2006-12-05 | Very quiet at Carsington today not helped by the windy weather and frequent heavy showers.4 Redshank and 6 Snipe at the Wildlife Centre and both juvenile Great Northen Divers from the dam - three divers were again seen yesterday.43 Barnacle Geese were counted along with the three Cackling Geese which are still present. Look for a Canada Goose that is much smaller - smaller than the Barnacles. Also, whilst Canada Geese have a pale breast, these birds are a chocolate brown all over giving a much darker appearance and less contrast between the breast and black neck.No reports of the Black Necker Grebe but not to say that it isn't still present. The Gull roost this evening seemed to be building off Stones Island rather the Sheepwash / Paul Stanley area. | Matthew Capper |
| 2006-12-04 | A good number and range of birds seen today from the Wildlife Centre. The most unusual observation was of 50 Barnacle Geese, quite a high number. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-12-02 | Further interesting sightings for this date taken from the Wildlife Centre logbook:Woodcock (2), Siskin (10), Raven (1), Common Buzzard. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-12-03 | A busy day at Carsington with plenty of birders on site.
A respectable 43 species seen during the day from the wildlife centre including the regular Little Owl and the long staying Black Tailed Godwit. The Canada Goose flock included 18 Barnacle Geese - a much improved number and with them for the first time in a while were three Cackling Geese. Also here were several snipe and 5 Redshank including a flock of 4.
The biggest talking point of the day was the Great Northern Divers with several people reporting three birds - and one report positive about 2 juvenile birds and one adult winter. Certainly two of the birds showed very well just off the dam near the draw off tower for much of the day.
The Black Necked Grebe was seen from Sheepwash Hide and the Black Swan was also in this area.
Late on, the bird news services reported the adult Ring Billed Gull again in the roost as well as a first winter Yellow Legged Gull. The roost is best observed from Paul Stanley or Sheepwash hides and you need to be in place by about 2.30 - 3pm.
| Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! Officer) |
| 2006-12-03 | Two Bar - tailed Godwit observed fling off muddy shore of Millfields Bay @ 0805hrs today as I arrived , no white wing bars and whitish V between wings with white rump identifies. Also two Great Northern Diver, one seen very well at damwall and the other out in Millfields, but could still be followed between dives. | Gavin Lord |
| 2006-12-03 | Two Great Northern Divers | Roy Smith |
| 2006-12-02 | Great Northern Diver showing well at Millfields (tower) and Dam wall. Also at Wildlife Centre and Shiningford Creek | richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2006-12-02 | adult Ring billed Gull again present in roost from Paul Stanley Hide. 4 adult Yellow Legged Gulls.
2 Great Northern Divers Millfields/Draw off Tower (one showing very well just off car park.
| Paul and Steph Hicking |
| 2006-12-01 | In addition to the sightings submitted by Roger Carrington, the female red breasted merganser was also reported today. | Matthew Capper |
| 2006-12-01 | 2 GNDivers near draw-off tower this afternoon. 1 Black-necked Grebe from Sheepwash Hide at 1200hrs. 2 Whooper Swans flew northwest over Sheepwash at 1130hrs. | Roger Carrington |
| 2006-11-29 | Just to let you know that the Diver was just north of the draw-down tower, just off the dam wall at 09:15 this morning. | Paul Bennett
Ranger Service, Severn Trent Water Ltd |
| 2006-11-28 | A respectable 45 species seen from the Wildlife Centre today.
The best bird however, was the juvenile Great Northern Diver found by Roger Carrington first thing this morning. Present all day giving close views at time from the dam wall.
The Black Swan is still present, as is the Black Tailed Godwit - both from the Wildlife Centre where Little Owl also showed on and off.
Other sightings included 1 redshank at Millfields Island and 2 on Horseshoe Island; 1 Dunlin on Stones Island; 14 Snipe from Paul Stanley Hide and 11 from the Wildlife Centre; 5 Goldeneye off Stones Island; 2 Buzzard over Blackwall Plantation; 7 Lesser Redpoll on Stones Island and a female Goosander at Millfields. | Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! Officer) |
| 2006-11-28 | A juv. Great Northern Diver found mid-morning on Nov. 28th mid way along the dam | Derbyshire Ornithological Society website |
| 2006-11-26 | Adult Ring-billed Gull present in roost from 3.30pm, 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 5000+ Lesser Black backed Gulls,3000-4000 Black headed gulls, 30 Common Gulls, about 10 Greater Black backed Gulls. (All from Sheepwash Hide)
Good numbers of wildfowl present in the Sheepwash area. | Paul and Steph Hicking |
| 2006-11-26 | W. Centre - 8 Lesser Redpoll, 12 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 6 Redwing, 1 Redshank
Stones Island - 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush
Paul Stanley - 1 Red-breasted Merganser (F), 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (M+F), 2 Willow Tit, 1 Dunnock
Sheepwash - 1 Redshank, 1 Pied Wagtail
Millfields - 10 Goosander (8F+2M), 1 Redshank, 1 Meadow Pipit
Richard and Frances Pittam | None |
| 2006-01-01 | The following were either observed by us today or were
taken from the logbook in the WLC:
OF NOTE:
Red-necked Grebe (1) - Millfields.
Black-necked Grebe (2) - Paul Stanley hide.
Gadwall (3) - Shiningford/WLC creeks.
Goosander (1 male)
Ruddy Duck (~70) - Shiningford Creek.
Kestrel (1) - near the Knockerdown Inn.
Lapwing (~500) - Horseshoe Island and by the boat club.
Redshank (1) - WLC Creek.
Skylark (1) - edge of WLC Creek.
Reed Bunting (1) - Stones Island. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-01-02 | 2 Little Grebe-in front of Lane End Hide
3+ Great Crested Grebe-in front of Lane End Hide
48 Canada Goose- swimming left to right of Lane End Hide
1 Redshank-left of Lane End Hide
1 Willow Tit-between Sheepwash Hide and Paul Stanley Hide
2 Black-Necked Grebe-left of Paul Stanley Hide
5 Snipe - Spit next to Paul Stanley Hide
1 Grey Heron-on Sheepwash Spit with the Cormorants
A mystery Silvery-Grey bird sitting in trees opposite Sheepwash Hide. Great Grey Shrike? | Sam Pedley |
| 2006-01-04 | 2 Black-necked Grebes still present - Paul Stanley hide (near tern raft) showing well again
5 Snipe - to the left of Paul Stanley hide
7 Goosander - (3 males) Millfields bay
6 Little Grebes in Millfields bay but no sign of Red Necked grebe | None |
| 2006-01-05 | Today, the Red Necked Grebe has moved North East from Millfields car park and is in the bay overlooked by Upperfield Farm, a 10-15 minute walk from Millfields. A pleasant walk, with a couple of Bull Finches around and a Weasel near the small pond. | Mick Sharp |
| 2006-01-07 | Red-necked Grebe still present in front of sailing Club.
2No. Black-necked Grebe left of Paul Stanley Hide.
c50 Wigeon ‘grazing’ on grass bank opposite Paul Stanley Hide
16 Teal left of Wildlife Centre | John and Pam Eaton |
| 2006-01-11 | Kingfisher at Shiningford creek c 12 mid day
c 15 Siskin Paul Stanley Hide | J Mowbray |
| 2006-01-14 | Today's visit to the site, by Ray and Margaret Perry, yielded 31 species of bird for the Stones Island area and those seen from the WLC.It was a very mild day with no wind and good light.
OF NOTE:
Red-necked Grebe (1) - near the Sailing Club.
Gadwall (at least 3 pairs) - near the Sailing Club.
Pochard (17) - off Stones Island.
Sparrowhawk (1 female) - working Shiningford and WLC creeks. Lapwings frequently "put up".
Lapwing (over 400) - Stones Island & by the Sailing Club.
Snipe (1) - Horseshoe Island.
Redshank (1) - Horseshoe Island.
Little Owl (1) - by the WLC creek.
Sightings taken from the Wildlife Centre (WLC) logbook
for the last few days:
9th January:
Red-necked Grebe (1)
Goldeneye (3)
Shoveler (1 female)
Mediterranean Gull (1 adult)
Nuthatch (1)
Treecreeper (1)
Raven (1)
Reed Bunting (1)
12th January:
Black-necked Grebe (2)
Siskin (50+)
13th January:
Red-necked Grebe (1)
Goldeneye (15)
Redshank (1)
Snipe (1)
Common Buzzard (1)
Sparrowhawk (1)
Redwing (~50)
Siskin (25)
Lesser Redpoll (2) | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-01-19 | Weather warmer than of late but cloudy:
Hopton End
2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 100 Rooks, 30 Mallards
Hall Wood
4 Goldcrest, 9 Long-tail Tits, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit.
Fishtail Creek
1 Robin, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Jackdaw
Upperfields Bay
10 Wigeon, 1 Pochard
1 Squirrel, 1 Rabbit, 1 Jay, 1 Female Blackbird, 4 GreatTtits, 12 Mallards, 1 Magpie
Millfields Bay
8 Little Grebe, 100 Tufties, 2 Mute Swans, 30 Canada's, 12 Wigeon, 2 Pochard
Dam Wall
40 Tufties, 1 Pr Goosander, 2 Great Crested Grebe
Boat Club
20 Tufties, 80 Canada's, 8 Great Crested Grebe
Visitor Centre
40 Barnacle Geese, 100 Lapwings
Shiningford Creek
32 Wigeon, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Stoat, 40 Canada's, 2 Mute Swans
30 Barnacles (in field), 1 Female Teal, 4 Male Teal, 40 Lapwing, 2 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Tufties, 10 Pochard
Feeding Station Brick Tower
1 Male Bullfinch, 1 Female Bullfinch, 5 Sparrows, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Chaffinch | Jan and Elv Sheppard |
| 2006-01-19 | Black Swan was found with a Mute Swan in the Watersports Bay yesterday morning (18/01) at 09:00 by Jim Craw. Unfortunately, it immediately took off and headed south and wasn't reported again. Sixty-six Pink-footed Geese flew over Shiningford Farm on the afternoon of 18th. They then
peeled off and carried on in a NW direction.
The two Black-necked Grebes are still being seen regularly from Paul Stanley Hide and were seen this morning. It was recently realised that there are two Red-necked Grebes on site, rather than one mobile bird. This morning there was a juvenile seen from Lane Ends Hide and an adult seen in Millfields Bay. The adult bird has been present in front of the sailing club for some time now and was very close in and easily viewable from the patio area at the back of the restaurant yesterday. However, it does make excursions south of the Sailing Club Island into Millfields Bay.
There was a juvenile Kittiwake seen over Sheepwash this morning, whilst a Chiffchaff sang there briefly. A Blackcap was seen between the Visitor centre car park and the Wildlife Centre, also this morning. | Paul Bennett, Severn Trent Ranger Service |
| 2006-01-25 | We visited Stones Island and the Wildlife Centre (WLC) today, the 25th and found 36 species around midday. There was a cold northerly wind blowing and the sky was largely overcast. The following represents a summary of the best finds today and in the previous six days. Data from our own observations, the WLC logbook and the notice board outside the visitor centre.
25th:
Red-necked Grebe (1) - off Stones Island, near the sailing club.
Black-necked Grebe (2) - near the Paul Stanley hide.
Barnacle Goose (40-50) - WLC creek.
Redshank (1) - WLC creek.
Song Thrush (1)
Raven (2)
Siskin (23)
Lesser Redpoll (~10)
24th:
Red-necked Grebe (1)
Barnacle Goose (47)
Goosander (a pair)
Little Owl (2)
Snipe (2)
Redshank (3)
23rd: Largely similar to the 24th and 25th.
22nd:Pintail (a pair).
21st: Kingfisher (1), Snipe (1)
20th: Hawfinch (1) - Stones Island.
19th: Peregrine (1),Goldeneye (12), Caspian Gull (2) | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-02-08 | Peregrine flying SE over Millfields. Two Ravens over Hall Wood.
Also, in the space of 90 minutes during the morning, among daily visitors on and around birdtable and feeders in Belper:
2 Blackcap (separately, 1M /1F). Gtr Spotted Woodpecker (M). 2 Nuthatch. Pr Bullfinch, 7 Long tailed tits, 3 Siskin (1M/2F), Song Thrush. | Neil Hallam |
| 2006-02-09 | Visited the site today - the . A very sunny day. No clouds but a cold breeze. Birdwatching from Stones Island and the Wildlife Centre (WLC).
Of note today:
Barnacle Goose (20) - on the water, WLC Creek & Shiningford Creek. More in a field near Shiningford Farm but uncounted.
Gadwall (a pair) - WLC Creek.
Redshank (1) - Horseshoe Island.
Little Owl (1) - near WLC Creek.
The following were noted from the WLC logbook and the notice board outside the visitor centre:
8th February:
Oystercatcher (3),Redshank (3), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Nuthatch (2), Treecreeper (6)
6th February:
Black-necked Grebe (1), Goldeneye (15), Goosander (10), Ruddy Duck (42), Common Buzzard (3), Kingfisher (1), Bullfinch (7),
5th February:
Dunlin (1), Redshank (1),
4th February:
Dunlin (1), Snipe (2)
1st February:
Red-necked Grebe (1), Goosander (5), Peregrine (1), Siskin (21)
31st January:
Black-necked Grebe (2), Red-necked Grebe (1)
27th January:
Black-necked Grebe (2), Red-necked Grebe (1), Goldeneye, (10), Snipe (9), Sparrowhawk (1) | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2006-02-15 | Here is a list of the birds I saw during 1 hour in Paul Stanley hide today, both on the water and on the Bird Feeders between 13:00 - 14:00 Hours. Weather bright and breezy - birds sheltering in Brown Ale Bay. If I can see them anyone can, although I did use a telescope. Little Grebe 1, GCrested Grebe 4, Cormorant 12, Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 1, Wigeon 50, Gadwall 1, Teal 60, Mallard 2, Pochard 5, Tufted Duck 125, Goldeneye 1, Moorhen 2, Coot 175, Oystercatcher 1, Lapwing 30, Snipe 1, B-headed Gull 6, Lesser B-b Gull 15, Pied Wagtail 1, Willow Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 2, Nuthatch 1, Carrion Crow 2, Tree Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 1.
Total Species 30 | Roy Smith |
| 2006-02-16 | Between approx 14.35hrs to 15.45hrs: Sheepwash Hide.
As well as large numbers of coot, wigeon and lapwings there were:
Five dabchicks (but no trace of black-necked grebes), two curlew on the spit, one oystercatcher (spit), one redshank (spit), one kingfisher (flying past the hide, heading towards Paul Stanley), one kittiwake (flying north over the spit), three goldeneye (2F/1M), 1 pochard (briefly beneath far bank), one raven (in field below Hall Wood), three redpoll (near car park), one male brambling (with chaffinches, in bush on far side of car park).
On way home, little owl perched on telegraph pole near between Ridgway and Belper. | Neil Hallam |
| 2006-02-26 | 1 Goldcrest-Visitor centre car park
1 Barnacle Goose-on bank left of Wildlife Centre
5 Oystercatchers-on Horseshoe Island
1 Little Grebe-Infront of Wildlife Centre | sam Pedley |
| 2006-02-27 | 2 Black-necked Grebe, 19 Snipe (Paul Stanley hide), Redshank, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander (Millfields), Oystercatcher, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, Buzzard, Raven displaying, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Reed Bunting as well as all the usual waterfowl and woodland birds | None |
| 2006-03-03 | I Black-necked Grebe, pair Red-crested Pochard ,
5 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew flew into VC creek at14.50, 45 Barnacles, 2 Willow Tit PS hide feeder. | Alan Lewin |
| 2006-03-04 | The Red-necked Grebe and Goosander (pictures shortly on the Picture Gallery page) seen today alongside the dam wall. Also Nuthatch on the Paul Stanley hide feeders | Eric Dewhurst |
