This is a news service only and the reports are unchecked. All records submitted via the "Submit record" page will be sent to the Bulletin Bird Notes Compiler and entered onto the DOS database even if they do not appear here. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)
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A Black Kite was a superb find by avid garden watcher Robert Booth as it was photographed over his Loscoe garden on 23/6. You may remember from May that Robert also had a Honey Buzzard, so clearly garden watching has a lot to offer those that can't get out to reserves all the time! Cattle Egrets continue to be seen around the county with the majority of records coming from the Trent Valley area but increasingly being seen away from this stronghold with birds at Ogston Reservoir and Carr Vale NR during July. Similarly Great White Egret are spreading away from the Trent Valley sites with birds at Ogston Res (max of two during June), Carr Vale NR, two on 30/6, Carsington Water, one on 17/7.
A White Stork was over Carr Vale NR on 2/6 where it circled for 20 minutes before departing SSW. The following day a report of three birds heading north along the Trent from Staffordshire were picked up at Drakelow NR but not seen subsequently. A juvenile Spoonbill turned up at Ogston Res on 20/7 and performed very well until end of July for many observers. It is currently still present at the time of writing (7th Aug).
Carsington Water had a good two months of scarcities with two Little Terns on 4/6, a Sandwich Tern on 24/6, Black-necked Grebe on 2/7, Honey Buzzard on two dates (16/7 and 27/7-CBC), two Knot on the sailing club early on 11/7, and a male Scaup on 17/7-all SJR unless stated. two Avocet returned briefly to Bennerley Marsh on 16/6 after last month's wash out but didn't stay. Firecrest were heard in three locations with a Nightingale reported singing in a back garden in Brampton on 26/6 but which could not be confirmed.
Scarce birds this month included an eclipse Garganey at Willington GP from 25/6 to at least 13/7. Quail was heard calling in fields north of Breaston with potentially two birds heard there 11/6, Bittern was again present during the summer months at one site, with a different juvenile bird dropping into Carr Vale NR at the end of June, the first since November last year-MAB. A pair of Grey Plover graced Ogston Res from 9-11/6, and a Wood Sandpiper was heard over there on 21/7 by Steve Mann but not seen. Long-eared Owl was only reported from a single location, which is worrying. If you have records of this species please send them into DOS confidentially via email so they can go into the database to assist our conservation efforts. On the flipside Short-eared Owl was reported from 15 different sites although only one-two birds in most cases. An interesting record has arrived of a Great Spotted Woodpecker with yellow undertail coverts seen in a garden in Sutton-on-the-Hill which visited on several dates during April and May this year.
In total 50,468 records were received of 185 different species (including Escapes listed) during June-July. These records covered 645 sites from 687 different grid squares. Many thanks to the 561 observers that sent in your records.
Steve Thorpe