Avenue Washlands and Apperknowle 22nd December 2010

Following news of a Bittern at this Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve near Chesterfield yesterday, I decided to have an hour down here this morning. The site was very snowy and more or less completely frozen over, with the exception of the Duck Marsh. I wasn't lucky enough to see the Bittern, but there were 14 Teal, 20 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Snipe, 6 Mallard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe and several Coot and Moorhen.

The feeding station was very busy with Yellowhammer, Magpie, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blue, Great and Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Robin and Blackbird present. Redwing were heard overhead.

On the way back home I stopped off at Apperknowle and managed to see a small covey of 7 Grey Partridge feeding in a snowy field. A great site and my first record for the year!! Record sent into the Derbyshire Ornithological Society for inclusion in their annual Bird report.