Year List Update - 29th December 2025

 Yesterday, Luke and I went across to Lincolnshire to add a few new species to this year's Year List.

We started off at Tongue End, where we added Tundra Bean Goose (206), Bewick Swan (207) and European/Russian White-fronted Goose (208), all feeding with a large herd of Whooper Swans. Unfortunately, the Snow Goose, had done a bunk!!!

Afterwards, we drove to Titchmarsh LNR, in Northamptonshire, so that Luke could add American Wigeon, to his list. Whilst there, we also saw a minimum of 4 Great White Egrets, including this one that posed nicely, next to a Little Egret.

Great and Little Egret

Our final stop for the day was Eyebrook Reservoir in Leicestershire. We stopped off here so that Luke could see his first adult, male Smew. In total, we saw 4 males and a couple of "redheads".

Smew

Year List Update - 23rd December 2025

 Yesterday, Luke and I had a few hours birding in Nottinghamshire. Despite the grey, dreary conditions, we added two new species to our  Year Lists.

The first species, Smew (204), was added at Collingham Pits , a set of working/disused gravel pits near Newark. 2 "redhead" birds were seen.

The next species, Caspian Gull (205), was a very nice addition, especially as it was found (by Luke), at our very own Rufford Country Park! This is the second winter in a row, where we've had this species here, and yesterday's bird was a very good looking adult bird. Here are some photos (first two from Luke).

Caspian (right hand bird) and Herring Gull

Caspian Gull

Caspian, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Caspian Gull

Other birds seen were: Goosander (5; 3 males and 2 females), Kingfisher (heard), Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck, and Mute Swan (Broken Beak, female and 3 cygnets).

Northumberland - Day 1

 Jayne and I are up in Northumberland for a few days, so we've taken the opportunity to get a few new birds for this year's Year List.

Our first new birds were seen on the drive up: Red Kite (49), Kestrel (50) and Curlew (51). The next birds were seen at Newbiggin by-the-Sea: Oystercatcher (52), Redshank (53), Ringed Plover (54), Sanderling (55), Turnstone (56), Dunlin (57), Shorelark (2 on the golf course; 58), Twite (23 with the Shorelarks; 59), Rock Pipit (60) and Short-eared Owl (61).

Shorelark

The next few species were seen on the drive from Newbiggin to Shilbottle: Pink-footed Goose (62), Greylag Goose (63) and Mute Swan (64). We also stopped off at Widdrington Moor Lake, where we spotted 2 pairs of Red-breasted Merganser (65), Wigeon (66), 2 redhead Smew (67) and several male and female Goldeneye (68).

Pallas's Warbler!!!

 Yesterday, Jayne and I went down to Attenborough NR on the outskirts of Nottingham, to see a Pallas's Warbler (99)that has been resent for a week. As we arrived, the bird was "showing well" ( for a warbler, the size of a Goldcrest!!) in a hedgerow by the railway line. We managed to watch the bird for a good 15 minutes, as it flitted about, feeding amongst the willow buds, and fighting with a couple of Common Chiffchaffs, and the resident Blue Tits. A fantastic first "lifer" of 2023.

Whilst on site, we also managed to catch up with the 1st winter drake Smew (101) that I saw back in 2022. Other "year ticks" were Cetti's Warbler (97), Chiffchaff (98) and Egyptian Goose (100).

Another "year tick", Little Egret (102), was added today, in Belper - surprisingly, sat in a tree by a railway line!

Year List 2022

 Over the last few days I've added the (most likely) last two species to my Year List for 2022, Smew and Scaup.

The Smew, a redhead, was seen at Attenborough Gravel Pits on Wednesday. The Scaup, a male, was seen today at Thrybergh Country Park. These last two species take me to 163 for the year. Whilst in California, Jayne and I also recorded 101 species of bird, 70 of which were lifers!! In total the, my Year List for 2022 stands at 264 species.

Scaup

Whilst at Thrybergh, I had a look at the Mute Swans, and recorded 6 darvic rings (Y835, Y636, Y674, 061Y, 251Y and 252Y). There were 13 Mute Swans present, but the others had their legs covered up!

061Y and Y636

After Thrybergh, I drove across to Rother Valley to see if the Norwegian-ringed Black-headed Gull, JMT9, was still about - it was!!

JMT9

Also present were two darviced Mute Swans, Y178 and 439Y. Interestingly, 439Y had been seen at Rufford CP, in January 2020!

Year List 2021 - the final total

 So, it's the final day of 2021 and another year of "year listing" has come to an end. I ended the year on 181 species, including 5 "lifers": Long-tailed Skua, Black-browed Albatross, Elegant Tern, Pacific Golden Plover and White-tailed Lapwing. 

The last two species to add to the blog are: Sanderling (seen in Alnmouth on 29th) and a red head Smew (see yesterday at Widdrington Moor Lake, Northumberland).

Year List update:

180: Sanderling

181 - Smew

Rother Valley Smew

On Thursday 3rd I popped across to Rother Valley CP to see if I could catch up with a female Smew that had been reported on the Nature Reserve Lake. I got lucky and managed to see it straight away. As you can see from the "year list" below, there were several other species present in the area.

The Pheasant and Treecreeper were recorded layer in the day on the Monsal Trail.

Year List update:
47 – Smew
48 – Pochard
49 – Gadwall
50 – Goldeneye
51 – Little Egret
52 – Mute Swan
53 – Canada Goose
54 – Wigeon
55 – Grey Heron
56 – Pheasant
57 - Treecreeper

Year List Update

I spent a few hours at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park today and managed to add a new species to the Year List with the "redhead" Smew that was on the Lower Lake. Also here were 14 Goosanders and at least 6 active nests in the Heronry. No summer migrants though!

Heronry on the Lower Lake

Here's a picture of a stunning male Sparrowhawk that landed on the feeders in the garden this morning. Luckily/Unluckily he didn't manage to grab a bite to eat, so the Siskins, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch, Blackbirds, House Sparrows and Blue Tits that had been feeding seconds earlier all lived to see another day! Another good record for the Garden Birdwatch Scheme.

Sparrowhawk

 

Year List:

97: Smew

Cromford and Carsington Water - 30th January 2011

Welcome to my last blog of the month. Today saw the family head up to the Severn Trent reservoir of Carsington Water, via Cromford Wharf, for a spot of winter birding.

First stop was the Derbyshire County Council car park in Cromford Canal, a traditional winter birding spot for Hawfinch. Birds are regular here in the winter months and we were not disappointed as one was immediately spotted at the entrance to Willersley Castle. It sat at the top of a tree for a good 5 minutes and, despite the grey conditions, I managed to get a few decent shots. Note the enormous bill on the bird below!

Hawfinch

 Next stop was Carsington Water where a redhead Smew had been frequenting the dam area for a few weeks. Our search started at the Millfields Car park, and we spent a cold, but enjoyable, half an hour searching amongst the 150+ Tufted Duck, dozen or so Goldeneye, Canada Geese and Coot for the diminutive "sawbill". Unfortunately our first attempts were unsuccessful so we decided to warm up in the restaurant at the Visitors' Centre. After a spot of lunch (veggie breakfast- nice!!) we had a quick walk down to the main hide, which was surprisingly quiet, with "just" 50+ Wigeon, Tree Sparrows, a few Black-headed Gulls and Mallards.

Wigeon

We then headed back up to the dam wall to have another look for the Smew. Another search through the Tufties eventually paid dividends when the bird was spotted diving and fishing just 20m from the bank. Again, the bad light and the bird's constant diving didn't make it easy to get a photo, but, with persistence, we eventually managed a few record shots.

Redhead Smew

Whilst watching the Smew, we also noticed a couple of Ruddy Duck, a real rarity nowadays, a group of approximately 50 Lapwing feeding on the fields behind the dam and three Pink-footed Geese, which flew directly over our heads! Not quite sure where they came from or whether they're "real", but nonetheless a good record which I sent into the Derbyshire Ornithological Society.