| 2007-02-14 | Kirk Ireton starlings still there, no idea how many couldn't think of estimating numbers, but lots. 4.40 to 5.50, most spectacular about 5.20 to 5.40. | D Eberlin |
| 2007-02-13 | 3 Bullfinch-Sheepwash Wood
1 Grey Wagtail-Sheepwash Hide
1 Treecreeper-Sheepwash Wood
1 Black-Necked Grebe-Paul Stanley Hide
1 Reed Bunting-Paul Stanley Feeders
1 Willow Tit-Paul Stanley Feeders
| Samn Pedley |
| 2007-02-12 | 2 G N Divers from Lane End Hide,at 1450, one fairly close, one distant.
Black-necked grebe from P.S.Hide. | Alan Lewin |
| 2007-02-11 | 0800 to 1130hrs:
1 Black-necked Grebe from PSHide then out of sight probably in Hopton Arm.
1 GNDiver off Stones Island, 1 GND at Millfields.
4 Skylarks flew over the dam wall.
5 Oystercatchers were around Stones Island and WLC areas.
2 Buzzards and 1 Raven over Hall Wood. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-02-07 | Best guesses at Starlings tonight seemed to range around the 30-50,000 mark, but as Peter Gibbon says its really difficult to count birds as they are spread out over at least four actual roost centres, over at least a square mile, usually in the thick Holly hedges. Several Sparrowhawks were also seen tonight including a bird which dropped a Starling which almost hit myself and several other observers near the village! | Steph' Hicking |
| 2007-02-07 | The Kirk Ireton Starlings at their best about 5pm. To view the full splendour get back a bit. It was spectacular from the top Hulland/Callow(Blind Lane) road to see the gathering with a bemused Buzzard with them but then go down into Kirk Ireton and drive up out towards Callow and up the hill just past the farm/stables with guard dog warning and park. Then look back at close quarters at the display.
As for counting I think it is hard to say beacuse so many go down into so many stands of trees. A great spectacle ! | Peter Gibbon |
| 2007-02-07 | Female Blackcap visited my bird table on and off for about 20 minutes from approx 8.30am. I live along Windmill Lane, Ashbourne. | Simon Truscott |
| 2007-02-06 | Sunday 5 feb 2007, 4:30pm.
The starlings at Kirk Ireton are amazing there must be 999,999 birds not quite a million because I saw a sparrow hawk take one right in front of me. Sent a mate today who also thought there must be a million. Hope to go again at the weekend. Does anyone have any idea this event will carry on? | DALE LEES |
| 2007-02-05 | The Great Northern Diver was showing well between Watersports and Wildlife Centre first thing.
The Little Owl was in the usual spot at lunch time and a couple of Oystercatchers were in a field near Shiningford Bend.
Dave Newcombe had a harrier through north this morning. Unfortunatley it was flying against the sun in silhouette so a positive id wasn't possible but a probable Marsh.
Dave had lots of other raptor activity with Buzzard and Sparrowhawk showing well and a couple of Raven over as well.
| Matthew Capper |
| 2007-02-04 | Sightings included the following:-1 Redshank,5 Snipe,1 Goldeneye,Numerous Black Headed Gull, Teal, Wigeon, Lapwing, Crow, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Black Necked Grebe, Herring Gull, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Cormorant, GS Woodpecker, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Wren, Blackbird | Dean Powell |
| 2007-02-03 | Highlights from a gloriously sunny day.
Millfields:
4 Goosander (2M, 2F), 1 G.N.diver, 3 nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Redshank, 1 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, 1 G.S Woodpecker.
Paul Stanley:
1 black-necked Grebe, 3 willow tit, 2 Long-tailed tit, 1 Coal Tit, 6 Goldcrest. | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2007-02-03 | Brilliant starling roost last night and tonight near Scotland Nurseries at Tansley. Best views from road from the top of 'The Slack' across to Tansley Moor near to Nursery.
| John Winnard |
| 2007-02-03 | black necked grebe,cackling geese, tufted ducks, heron, pochard, coots, great crested grebe, little grebe, robin, blackbird, jackdaw, starling, bullfinch, blue tit, great tit, reed bunting, dunnocks, tree sparrows, buzzards,swan, barnacle geese, canada geese, black headed gulls, chaffinches | Carolyn |
| 2007-02-03 | Lunchtime to Dusk.
9 Common Buzzards on thermals at same time from PSHide.
2 Sparrow Hawk and 2 Raven over Hall Wood.
4 Reed Bunting at Lane End feeders.
4 Shelduck off Lane End.
7 Pintail [4 males] from Millfields.
3 Redshank at Wildlife Centre.
1 Great Northern Diver towards Fishtail.
1 Black-necked Grebe from PSHide.
At dusk from Sheepwash Hide, Starling numbers were counted in flocks going south, then again distantly when a Sparrow Hawk attacked the main swarm of starlings in the sky, estimated 30,000 birds. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-02-02 | A pleasant site visit. Sunny. Viewed only from Stones Island and the Wildlife Centre (WC). 30 species counted. Of note: Barnacle Goose (19), Gadwall (pair), Kestrel (male), Lapwing (about 250), Redshank (2).
Other people's observations for today taken from the WC logbook:
Black-necked Grebe (1), Goldeneye (3), Reed Bunting (3 pairs), Jay (1), Willow Tit (2), Bullfinch (20 - from two locations). | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2007-02-01 | A quiet day was transformed by the spectacular hunting display given by a Peregrine from Sheepwash hide.The bird was first spotted high above a nervous Lapwing flock,it then made a couple of dives into the flock and managed to take one,which it then dropped onto the water.The Lapwing managed to struggle out of the water and headed for the spit, but the Peregrine came sweeping down and hit it again before appearing to go down with it on the end of the spit.Moments later,mobbed by gulls, the Peregrine appeared minus the Lapwing.The Peregrine headed off towards the draw off tower where it was seen to make several more attempts at the Lapwings,high above the water. | CLIVE ASHTON |
| 2007-01-30 | A relatively quiet day today with 33 species recorded from the Wildlife Centre. Certainly not as many wildfowl sat out in front of the Centre.
The diver was reported off Stones Island and the Black Necked Grebe was still showing at Paul Stanley Hide.
Geese Included Canada, Cackling, Greylag and Barnacle and a Lesser Redpoll gave very good views near the feeders.
Once the Aren't birds brilliant! event had finished I sneaked off with one of the volunteers to Kirk Ireton for the Starling roost.
Wow! Got there around 4.30pm but still something to behold. Thousands upon thousands wheeling and swirling. Several sightings of Sparrowhawk including one late on that flew by with a starling in its talons. One Sparrowhawk that won't go hungry tonight. | Matthew Capper |
| 2007-01-28 | 1 Great Northern Diver still in Millfields area. Good Numbers Redwing in Tail Bay area. 1+ Willow Tits by Millfields Car park.
Went for the Kirk Ireton Starling roost, amazing sight, will leave the counting to those better equiped, but tens of thousands present. | Paul and Steph' Hicking |
| 2007-01-27 | Went to view the Starlings at Kirk Ireton tonight,tens of thousands of birds, many of which seemed to drop down S/W of Moor Lane, possibly in the area of Blackwall Plantation? A spectacle well worth seeing.Many thanks for the information provided. | Clive Ashton |
| 2007-01-27 | Adult Mediterranean Gull in roost from Stones Is thie evening.
2 Great Northern Divers, 1 off Stones Is, 1 at Millfields.
1 Black-necked Grebe from PSHide.
6 Shoveler off Stones Is early am.
1 Oystercatcher on Millfields Is.
1 Greylag and 3 Barnacle with Canada Geese at Wildlife Centre. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-01-26 | GN Diver again near watersports and Black Necked Grebe again from Paul Stanley. | Matthew Capper |
| 2007-01-26 | Many thousands of Starlings coming in to roost at Kirk Ireton.Virtually impossible to count but surely we are talking about 100,000 plus! | Mick, Bec Sharp & Les |
| 2007-01-26 | To add to Roger's details..
43 species from the Wildlife Centre today including a Redshank to add to Roger's total and 6 snipe. A Shelduck flew across late on - about 4pm.
The Diver near the Watersports Island was showing very well on very still calm water.
3 Lesser Redpoll were in the Alders near the Wildlife Centre early morning and 2 Little Owls were making the most of the sun for much of the day. A fox was also seen nea to where the owls were perching. | Matthew Capper |
| 2007-01-25 | This afternoon:
1 Great Northern Diver at Millfields,
1 Great Northern Diver near Watersports Island,
1 Black-necked Grebe at PSHide,
1 Kingfisher at PSHide,
Single Redshanks at: Millfields Is, Stones Is, Sheepwash and PSHide.
Gull Roost: 70 Herring Gull, 30 Great Black-backed Gulls, LBBG+BHG+CommonG's were spread over the whole water and impossible to count. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-01-23 | 45 species seen from the Wildlife Centre today including the usual suspects - little owl, redshank, 3 snipe 30 Barnacle Geese, 3 Cackling Geese. A male bullfinch gave excellent views on the feeders and a Peregrine put all the wildfowl up as it cruised through at about 12.30pm.
The Black Necked Grebe was by the far opposite bank from Paul Stanley Hide and one of the Great Northern Divers was down at that end today also. Both divers are still around - the Bird Club's monthly WeBs count picked up both of them at the weekend.
| Matthew Capper |
| 2007-01-22 | a 1st winter Great Northern Diver nr Horseshoe Island (2nd Bird reported in Millfields Bay, plus Black-necked Grebe reported in the top of Hopton arm). 2000+ Lesser Black Backs roosted with 4500 Black headed Gulls. 250+ Common Gulls. 3+ Goldeneye(Sheepwash). 2 Oystercatchers (Sheepwash), 1 Redshank (Sheepwash), 32 Barnacle Geese, 3 Cackling Geese (WLC). | Steph' Hicking |
| 2007-01-19 | In response to the question of a large starling roost. In recent weeks, a flock of many thousands has regularly gathered in the evening NW / over kirk Ireton and the roost can be heard from the village and surrounding lanes. | Neil Venables |
| 2007-01-19 | A massive flock of Starlings flew across the water and on past Sheepwash at 0755hrs, rough estimate 10,000 birds. This has occurred several times over the past few months, does anyone know of a large roost just south of Carsington Water?
1 Black-necked Grebe 0815hrs from PSHide.
3 Reed Buntings on Sheepwash Car Park feeders.
1 Oystercatcher on Stones Island then Sheepwash Spit.
I failed to locate any Great Northern Divers this morning. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-01-18 | Jim Craw was filling the feeders on site this morning and refound the Black Necked Grebe, close in shore from Sheepwash Hide.
The Great Northern Diver was still around yesterday (17th) but no reports so far today. | Matthew Capper |
| 2007-01-17 | Very few species located at around midday at or near the Wildlife Centre. Of note and seen from the Wildlife Centre - Redshank (2) and a single Greylag Goose with the Canada Geese. | Ray and Margaret Perry |
| 2007-01-16 | 42 species seen from the Wildlife Centre today in generally dank and rainy weather.
Best bird was Great Northern Diver which initially showed relatively close to the centre off from Watersports bay. It then moved off and was later seen over towards the dam on the main body of water.
A shelduck was around early on, on the far bank from the wildlife centre.
5 snipe circled for a while but only one was seen on the ground and there was also just the one Redshank.
The local Little Owl was around for the morning but decided to drop out of sight just as I was about to show it to a visitor. Sods law I suppose!
5 bullfinches were also in the same area as the owl and showed well for a while.
Lastly, a kestrel put on fantastic show just before we finished, hovering in full telescope view for several minutes. | Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brillaint! Project Officer) |
| 2007-01-15 | Highlight of the day:
c400 Pink-footed Geese flew high (SW)over Wildlife Centre at 10.40am.
Wildlife Centre:
2 Redshank, 20 Pochard, 55 Wigeon, 8 Goldfinch, 55 Lapwing, 2 Pied Wagtail, 12 Redwing.
Paul Stanley:
Both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Willow tits, 2 Coal Tits, 1 Redshank, 39 Teal, 1 goldeneye (female). | Richard, Frances and Ken Pittam |
| 2007-01-15 | 1 Oystercatcher on Watersports Island.
1 Shelduck near Watersports Island
1 Great Northern Diver between Millfields and Oldfield Lane close inshore.
4 Redshank.
Gull Roost: 5000+ Black-headed Gulls
1400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 immature Great Black-backed Gulls
18 Herring Gulls
2 Adult Yellow-legged Gulls
200 Common Gulls. | Roger Carrington |
| 2007-01-14 | Paul Stanley Hide 9:30
1 Blacknecked grebe in Brownale Bay
2 willow tits on the feeders
10 widgeon and teal
Sheepwash hide 10:30
1 redshank a second seen at the wildlife centre 11:30
Sailing club area 13:00
1 oyster catcher
6 gadwall
3 pochard and many wigeon
sheepwash Hide 14:30
30 teal | Caroline and Julian Walters |
| 2007-01-14 | 3 Cackling Geese with around 30 Barnacle Geese - Wildlife Centre
1 Redshank - Wildlife Centre
1 Little Owl - In a bush near the Plyon to the left of the Wildlife Centre
1 Kingfisher - Flew into Wildlife Centre Creek | Sam Pedley |
| 2007-01-13 | A mixed morning.
30 species from the Wildlife Centre - numbers of Canada Geese were high, with only 2 Barnacle Geese present (no Cackling geese).
10-15 Redwing at the back of the Centre, including approx. 12 Blackbirds.
Millfields: 1 Goldeneye (drake) and 8 Great crested Grebe. | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2007-01-09 | 45 species seen from the Wildlife Centre today during the Aren't birds brilliant! event.
Kingfisher was seen several times dashing about but never settled out in the open. In contrast a peregrine that dashed across the reservoir scaring, in particular one timid moorhen, flew up and landed in full view at the top of a pylon. Soon after a couple of Buzzard were circling in the same area.
Plenty of geese around in the afternoon. First a large flock of Canadas came in with a lone Greylag and then later, 30 Barnacles came in accompanied by the 3 Cackling Geese.
A couple of Goldeneye were on show and a Redshank gave good views.
Lots of redwings about and a very showy Goldcrest hawking for insects by the path. No sign of Little Owl though all day.
| Matthew Capper (Aren't birds brilliant! project officer) |
| 2007-01-07 | 2 GNDiver (1 Millfields, 1 by Fishing hut/Horseshoe Island), 3500 Black headed Gulls inc a white one, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, less than 1000 Lesser Black Backs, Several Willow Tits at PS HIde along with Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2007-01-07 | Highlights:
W.Centre:
Kingfisher, 38 Barnacle Geese, Kestrel, Redshank, 1 drake Goldeneye,
Sheepwash:
3 Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Goldcrest, 2 Goldeneye(1 male)
Paul Stanley:
Black-necked Grebe, 3 Goldeneye(1 male), Kestrel, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (male and female), 3 Willow Tit, Coal Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Dunnock, Robin | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2007-01-04 | 7 Pintail (3 Drakes 4 Female)were at Sheepwash.
Black-necked Grebe at Paul Stanley.
3 Cackling Geese with Barnacle Geese at the Wildlife Centre.
Also a few Lesser Redpoll in Paul Stanley wood along with a pair of Reed Bunting on the feeding station. | Clive Ashton/Dave Newcombe |
| 2006-12-31 | Highlights:
W.Centre - 2 Redshank, 65 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher
Sheepwash - 5 Goldeneye (2 Drake, 3 ducks) | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2006-12-31 | 2 GN Divers reported on Birdnet Pager as present this am, near dam and at the Sailing Club. | Steph' Hicking |
| 2006-12-30 | Highlights:
W.Centre
37 Barnacle Geese, 55 Redwing, 2 Black-headed Gulls (with darkish head cap) | Richard and Frances Pittam |
| 2005-01-03 | Thanks to Peter Hill for his observations at Carsington today:
Spent 5 hours walking around Carsington today. Some of the birds we saw were,
Great Grey Shrike (showing near the tower)
Black necked grebe (bay near wildlife centre)
Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Snipe, Treecreepers, wren, willow tit, coal tit, male and female Greater Spotted Woodpeckers (Paul Stanley), goosander (2) wigeon, teal, pochard, goldeneye, common gulls and Redwings. | . |
| 2005-01-08 | Thanks to Paul Bennett (STW Ranger) for an update on the current highlights at Carsington:
The Black-necked Grebe that has been around for a week or two now, was showing very well in Shiningford Creek today (Saturday 8th). It was also viewable there from the Wildlife Centre with a telescope. The Great Grey Shrike was elusive today, but was seen daily up until yesterday (7th), either in the field just north of the brick tower, or around the Shiningford Farm area.
A drake Ferruginous Duck was found in Millfields Bay on the morning of Monday 3rd. It later flew north and was re-located from Sheepwash Hide. Unfortunately, despite a good number of birders spending all day on Tuesday looking for it, it was not found again. | . |
| 2005-01-13 | Thanks to Ray & Margaret Perry for their highlights at Carsington today:
Visited Stones Island and the Wildlife Centre (WLC) as usual plus covered the area on the western edge of the water from the WLC to the brick look-out tower.
Weather mild. Site generally quiet but there was a notable presence of birdwatchers! Thirty seven species of bird identified
around midday.
OF NOTE:
Black-necked Grebe (1) - Shiningford Creek.
Barnacle Goose (36) - Eight by the playground and 28 in a Shiningford Farm field with Canadas.
Lapwing (~200) - mainly on Horseshoe Island.
Redshank (1) - seen from WLC by first bay/creek north of the WLC.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1) - in woodland near Lane End hide.
Great Grey Shrike (1) - on field posts near the Brick Tower.
Redwing (3) - by Shiningford Creek. Also a mixed flock of Redwings and Fieldfares (~60) at Longcliffe.
In addition others reported Goosanders (3) at Sheepwash today and a Caspian Gull at Sheepwash yesterday the 12th January. | . |
| 2005-01-16 | Thanks to Paul Bennett for an update on the following current highlights at Carsington:
Two female Common Scoter off the Dam Wall on the
afternoon of Sunday 16th, along with six Shelduck and 14 Goosander.
The Great Grey Shrike and the Black-necked Grebe were both still around the Sheepwash area. | . |
| 2005-01-22 | A visit by members of Bakewell & District Bird Study group to the Sheepwash area of Carsington today produced the following list of 52 species today - just in this area. How many more species would we have found if we had gone all the way round!
Sparrowhawk
Dunnock
Carrion Crow
Rook
Bullfinch
Magpie
Little Grebe
Song Thrush
Lapwing
Moorhen
Greenfinch
Teal
Heron
Goosander
Goldeneye
G.S. Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Raven Stock Dove
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Coot
Black-headed Gull
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Ruddy Duck
Long-tailed Tit
Mute Swan
Treecreeper
Black-necked Grebe
Willow Tit
Coal Tit
Common Gull Blackbird
Jackdaw
Great Tit
Redwing
Cormorant
Blue Tit
Kestrel
Widgeon
Tufted Duck
Tree Sparrow
Little Owl
Pheasant
Redshank
Pochard
Snipe
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull | . |
| 2005-01-23 | 33 Barnacle Geese, 1287 Coot, 20 Gadwall and 14 Goldeneye counted at Carsington today. | . |
| 2005-01-24 | Thanks to Ray and Margaret Perry for their update for Carsington today:
Visited Stones Island and the WLC. Very, very cold. Snow in the
northerly wind. Only 29 species found.
OF NOTE:
Barnacle Goose (6) - Horseshoe Island.
Ruddy Duck (~70) - all seen from the WLC.
Oystercatcher (1) - Horseshoe Island.
Song Thrush (2) - just off site.
Mistle Thrush (1) - by WLC.
EARLIER SIGHTINGS:
19th January:
Great Grey Shrike (1) - taken from the "Water Rail" logbook.
22nd January:
Pink-footed Goose (~70) - flew over. From "Water Rail" logbook.
Black-necked Grebe (1) - found by Macclesfield RSPB visitors.
Goosander (3) - Macc RSPB.
Little Owl (1) - Macc RSPB.
Great Grey Shrike (1) - Macc RSPB.
Kingfisher (1) - near WLC. Taken from "Water Rail" logbook. | . |
