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In a bumper month for rarities, most of which didn't linger, the stand-out bird has to be a Pacific Golden Plover, present for half an hour at Ogston Reservoir on the 12th. Seen by just two observers and with just four photographs available for scrutiny, two former members of the BBRC believe it is a good candidate for Pacific Golden Plover and should it be accepted by that rarity committee, it will be the first for the county.
A Manx Shearwater was present during the evening of the 19th, a Purple Heron flew over Combs Reservoir and promptly disappeared, and a Glossy Ibis was found at Carsington Water, when Richard Lowe was checking gulls on the 25th. Two Black-necked Grebes were seen at Ogston Reservoir on the 4th and another was at Foremark on the 27th. A sky-watcher at Pilsley picked up two migrating Honey Buzzards. The Spotted Crake (thought to have been present from 28th August but only identified on the 31st) remained until the 13th and two Turtle Doves (recently added to the county rarity list) were reported from Matlock and Belper. Rare passerines reported included a Firecrest at Fox Lane Plantation on the 30th, a Wood Lark was just reward for a viz-mig watcher at Highoredish on the 3rd, a Red-rumped Swallow was seen at Drakelow DWT NR on the 2nd and a possible Yellow-browed Warbler was heard at Chaddesden Park on the 26th. All the finders are reminded of the need for a rarity form please.
Potentially 14 county rarities in the month is pretty astounding and backing these up we saw the arrival of the first winter visitors with the second earliest autumn arrival date of Whooper Swan over Woodseats on the 23rd with four over Longdendale the following day whilst an early passage of Pink footed Geese commenced on the 10th with distinct movements on the 12th/13th and from the 23rd. A late Garganey was found at Willington GP on the 29th, nine Red-crested Pochard were spread across five sites with four at Pleasley Colliery and Common Scoter were seen at Ogston Reservoir and Carsington Water. Four Cattle Egrets at Willington GP from the 25th set a new maximum for the county with some of these birds appearing at a couple of other nearby sites, but one at Ogston Reservoir was probably an additional bird. The egret feast in the south of the county produced some decent counts with 42 at Drakelow DWT NR on the 6th with 26 at Willington GP on the 26th and 25 at Staunton Harold Reservoir on the 17th. Up to four Great White Egrets could be found at Willington GP with up to two at 12 other sites, a Marsh Harrier was regular at Willington GP with others seen at Carr Vale DWT NR and Harland Edge and a long-staying juvenile Osprey was at Ogston Reservoir with others seen at three other sites.
Twenty species of wader were recorded including an Avocet which hopped across the border from Nottinghamshire at Erewash on the 8th. Two Black-tailed Godwits were at Pleasley Colliery on the 9th, single Knot were seen at Middleton Moor and Carsington Water, up to four Ruff were seen at five sites and Middleton Moor held the monopoly on Curlew Sandpipers with three birds seen. Spotted Redshanks were recorded at Middleton Moor and High Bridge GP. The only Black Tern for the month was seen at Carsington Water on the 10th where there was also a Mediterranean Gull with another Mediterranean Gull found at Willington GP. Two intriguing records of Long-eared Owl came to light whilst two Short eared Owls were seen at more expected localities. The first Redwings of the autumn were seen at Ingleby on the 25th, a late Pied Flycatcher was seen at Fenny Bentley on the 3rd, an early Rock Pipit was seen at Ogston Reservoir on the 17th, the first Bramblings of the autumn flew over on the 30th and a number of Crossbills were seen both on viz-mig watches and at more traditional sites. All in all an excellent month.
Mark Beevers