Cromford & Carsington Water - 16/02/18

Twenty-seven members and friends took the relatively short trip into Derbyshire for our February field trip. On the coach journey our first find of the day was a Little Egret in a ditch alongside the new Airport Eastern Link road. A first Stockport borough record for Mark Walsh and a pleasant start to the day for the rest of us. A little further into the journey, depending on which side of the coach you were sat on, a few members had fleeting glimpses of Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the River Wye as we approached Bakewell. Kestrel, Buzzard and Pheasant were all recorded before we reached our first stop.

Arriving at Cromford most of the party headed to the fields by the carpark to secure a wide view of the surrounding area. Redwing, Mistle Thrush and Stock Dove were quickly picked up. As we scanned the hillside we added the commoner finch species; Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Overhead we picked up a circling Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard.

Hawfinch Hunting (Holly Page)

A wander up and down the banks of the adjacent River Derwent added Kingfisher to the day list with a supporting cast of Dipper and Grey Wagtails. Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests hunted for insects in the trees above us.

Back at the field the shout went up from Paul Lewis, Hawfinch spotted in the tree line on the hill. Our first target bird of the day was secured. Most of the party got views, although many were brief. Up to five different birds were identified and, although never particularly close, relatively (for this species) good views were had.

Mallard (Holly Page)

Moving on, the coach dropped most of the party off at the traditional spot at the north end of Carsington Water. The first stop was at the Paul Stanley Hide where the group sat down to view over Brown Ale Bay. Duck were present with Mallard, Teal, Wigeon and Tufted Duck identified. A fine pair of Goldeneye swam further out, and the adjacent feeding station was visited by Reed Bunting, Nuthatch and Willow Tit, as well as the commoner tit species.

Carsington Water (Holly Page)

Walking on to Sheepwash Bird Hide we recorded Herring, Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed Gull, with plenty of Cormorant and Coot present. On the shoreline a couple of Oystercatcher, a Redshank and a Curlew. Further out on the reservoir we recorded both Little and Great-crested Grebe.

Yellow-legged Gull (Holly Page)

On a shingle spit, a little way from the commoner gull species, sat the menacing bulk of a Great Black-backed Gull. The Cormorants close by highlighted its huge size and powerful features. What was more interesting was another gull sat close by that showed features of a sixth species of gull for the day. After a bit of debate and Holly Page getting photographs of the bird in flight we were able to confirm it was a third winter Yellow-legged Gull. We were aware one had been recorded in the last few days, but it is always satisfying to pick out and identify this tricky species, in non-adult plumage.

From the Lane End Bird Hide we quickly picked up the bulky shape of a Great Northern Diver out on the water. This regular winter plumaged adult bird gave good views all day at the southern end of the reservoir. It was actively fishing most of the time and was seen struggling with large fish.

Bullfinch - Holly Page

Several feeding stations along the walk produced excellent views of the commoner species with the added bonus of Bullfinch and Tree Sparrow. Around Stones Island we added Ruff and Pied Wagtail to the day list. 74 species and pleasant weather had made for an excellent day out in Derbyshire.


Birds seen:


Mute Swan Dunlin Wren
Greylag Goose Redshank Great Tit
Canada Goose Curlew Coal Tit
Barnacle Goose Ruff Blue Tit
Shelduck Black-headed Gull Willow Tit
Mallard Common  Gull Long-tailed Tit
Gadwall Herring Gull Nuthatch
Wigeon Yellow-legged Gull Treecreeper
Teal Great Black-backed Gull Magpie
Tufted Duck Lesser Black-backed Gull Jay
Goldeneye Stock Dove Jackdaw
Pheasant Woodpigeon Rook
Great Northern Diver Collared Dove Carrion Crow
Little Grebe Kingfisher Starling
Great-crested Grebe Great Spotted Woodpecker House Sparrow
Cormorant Pied Wagtail Tree Sparrow
Little Egret Grey Wagtail Chaffinch
Grey Heron Dipper Lesser Redpoll
Sparrowhawk Dunnock Goldfinch
Buzzard Robin Greenfinch
Kestrel Song Thrush Siskin
Moorhen Redwing Bullfinch
Coot Mistle Thrush Hawfinch
Oystercatcher Blackbird Reed Bunting
Lapwing Goldcrest

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