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May was a good month for county rarities, particularly of the long-legged variety; a party of six Common Cranes were over the Erewash Valley on the 2nd; a wandering Spoonbill was seen over Cromford on the 4th, then at Pleasley Colliery, where it spent the evening of the same day before pitching up at Barrow -On-Trent GP the following day; and a Glossy Ibis was over Ilkeston on the 21st. A Honey Buzzard was seen over Langwith CP on the 14th, a European Bee-eater was heard over Newhaven on the 21st, a Golden Oriole flew into Carr Wood, Ogston, never to be seen again, and a singing Firecrest was found in central Derbyshire.
Late Whooper Swans were a singleton at Carr Vale DWT NR till the 2nd and three at Errwood on the 4th. A pair of Garganey appeared to be on territory in the south of the county, although the fact that both were seen together on the 31st, shortly after a field was cut, does not bode well. The only Common Scoter of the month was seen at Carsington Water on the 16th. Two Goldeneye were still at Ogston Reservoir on the 21st, with a female still present on the 24th, and another was seen at the unusual location of Middleton Moor during the first week. A Quail was reported from Langwith on the 24th, the Great Northern Diver was last seen at Carsington Water on the 12th, Bitterns were seen at two sites during the month, up to 20 Little Egrets were logged at 32 sites and up to two Great White Egrets were noted at 12 sites.
Red Kites were recorded at 56 locations, Marsh Harriers were seen at Barrow-On-Trent GP, Carr Vale DWT NR, High Bridge GP, Ogston Reservoir and Totley Moss whilst Ospreys were at Alfreton, Carr Vale DWT NR (for two days), Carsington Water, Chatsworth Park, Codnor Castle, Erewash Valley and Ogston Reservoir.
May was excellent for wader passage (22 species recorded) with. Two Avocets were at Barrow-On-Trent GP on the 19th, two at Middleton Moor on the 23rd and one at Carsington Water on the 9th and 28th. On the 4th, eight Grey Plovers were seen at Carsington Water with four more at Carr Vale (site record), and one at Willington on the 5th. Up to five Whimbrel were logged at seven sites. A flock of 14 Bar-tailed Godwits flew south over Carr Vale (record flock for CV) whilst there was a long-staying bird at Carsington from the 4th to 13th. Two Turnstones were seen at Barrow-On-Trent on the 19th (one on the 4th too), with singles at Carsington Water on the 26th and 28th, and Ogston Reservoir on the 31st. Ten Ruff were brief visitors to Pleasley Colliery on the 17th (a rare double-figure count for the county) and two more were seen at Bennerley Marsh on the 24th. Middleton Moor held up to eight Sanderling with four at Abbey Hill Flood on the 29th and up to three at Carsington, Arnfield Reservoir, Barrow-On-Trent GP, Dove Dale (a most unusual locality for this species) and Pleasley Colliery. On the 4th a Little Stint at Foxlow Ponds (first site record) relocated to Carr Vale DWT NT (7th site record). Two late Green Sandpipers were at Erewash Meadows on the 3rd, but Wood Sandpipers really stole the show with a minimum of nine at Bennerley Marsh on the 5th when two were at Carsington Water and singles at five other sites.
It has been a poor spring for Terns, especially Arctic, with six at Carsington Water on the 10th and single birds at Carr Vale DWT NR and Ogston Reservoir. But a Black Tern was at Ogston Reservoir on the 30th with three through Carsington Water on the 31st, when one was at Willington GP. Two Little Terns were seen at Barrow-On-Trent GP on the 4th. Single Little Gulls were at Ogston Reservoir on the 5th and Carsington Water on the 19th, two Mediterranean Gulls flew through Barrow-On-Trent GP on the 5th with a pair seen in the north-west on the 4th, and both Yellow-legged and Caspian Gulls were seen at two locations.
A Turtle Dove returned to central Derbyshire, Short-eared Owls were reported from five places, Long-eared Owls found at two sites, Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were seen at two sites and Merlins were seen at five places. A count of 23 Cetti's Warblers on the 2nd set a new record for the county and Black Redstarts were found at Mossylea on the 6th and South Normanton on the 15th. In a poor spring for White Wagtails, single birds were found at Carr Vale DWT NR, Carsington Water and Milton STW. Hawfinches were reported from Beeley and Chatsworth Park and up to 15 Common Crossbills were seen at various places in the Beeley / Matlock Forest area. Finally mention must be made of the returning immature White-tailed Eagle, G318 from the IOW reintroduction scheme, that flew over Calver on the 23rd, which despite being a released bird must have been a very impressive sight.
Mark Beevers