Year List Update - 4th May 2026

 Over the Bank Holiday Weekend, I managed to add a few more species to the Year List, taking the total so far to 154 species.

The first species, Cuckoo (149) was heard above Padley Gorge on Thursday (30th April) and again on Monday (4th May). The next two species, Swift (150) and Dipper (151) were both seen at Bakewell on Saturday. Redstart (152) and Pied Flycatcher (153) were both seen on Monday. The Redstart was first seen at Barbrook Plantation (2 birds) and at Padley Gorge (again 2 singing birds), whilst the Pied Flycatcher was added at Padley.

The last addition was Ringed Plover (154), two of which were present at Ogston Reservoir on Monday. Other birds seen here were: Dunlin (2 breeding plumaged birds), Redshank, Lapwing (on nest), Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Black-headed, Common, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Gadwall, Mallard (1 brood of 8 ducklings), Coot ( pair with 4 young), Cormorant, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Pied and Yellow Wagtail (2), Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting (1 pair).

Reed Bunting (female)

Linacre Update - 3rd May 2026

 I've been down to Linacre a couple of times over the weekend, once for ringing and once for a quick walk around and a check of the nestboxes.

The ringing was a quick session of just three hours, and resulted in four birds (1 Garden Warbler, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Song Thrush). The Garden Warbler was a great surprise, as it was a female bird (with a brood patch) that had been first ringed in May 2023, as an adult.

The second visit, yesterday afternoon, was again, just a couple of hours. The highlight was our first Pied Flycatcher nest of 2026. It contained 5 eggs that were cold and uncovered, so not being brooded yet. As always, the nest recording is carried out as part of the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. Interestingly, I'd not heard or seen any Flycatchers yet, so they must have slipped in unnoticed!

Pied Flycatcher

Other birds seen around the site were: Mallard (3 broods of 6,4 and 2), Mandarin Duck, Tufted Duck, Great-crested Grebe (2 pairs), Coot, Moorhen, Swallow (20+), House Martin (c.6), Swift (1 - the first Linacre record of 2026), Grey Wagtail (1 heard) and Pied Wagtail (1 male).

Mandarin Duck

Year List Update and a Lifer!

Today has been a pretty great day, in terms of Year List species, and a very nice, completely unexpected "lifer".

The day started well, with a nest box check at Linacre (more on the boxes in another post), when the first Garden Warbler (137) of the year was found in the ringing site.

After Linacre, Jayne and I drove across to Lincolnshire, where we saw a couple of Common Cranes (138) at Willow Tree Fen, before driving across to RSPB Frampton Marsh. On arrival, I had a quick check on Birdguides, and saw that an American Golden Plover (139 for the year and my 520th bird for the worldwide Life List) had been found on the reserve, that morning! Luckily, it was still present, and 5 minutes later, we were watching it feeding some 100m away.

American Golden Plover

After enjoying the plover, we walked around the reserve and added the following "year ticks": Ruff (140), Whitethroat (141), Spotted Redshank (142 - a beautiful breeding plumaged bird), Lesser Whitethroat (143), Common Sandpiper (144), Yellow Wagtail (145), Reed Warbler (146), Spoonbill (147) and Common Tern (148). This Yellow Wagtail was seen, on the road, driving out of the reserve.

Yellow Wagtail

Other species seen were: Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Linnet, Goldfinch, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Canada, Brent and Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Pintail (1 pair), Gadwall, Teal, Pochard, Wigeon, Redshank, Lapwing, Avocet and Little Ringed Plover.

Little Ringed Plover

Butterflies seen were: Orange Tip, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue.

Up to the Peaks!

 Every year, Jayne and I have a drive out into the Peaks to catch up with a couple of very special summer migrants; Wheatear and Ring Ouzel. We don't always see them, but this year we did!

We arrived on site just after 7am, and our first bird was Red Grouse (134), that was heard ( and later seen). Not long after, Jayne spotted a male Wheatear (135) feeding on the far side of the valley, and we managed a distant, heavily-cropped photo.

Wheatear

Stonechats were seen, and several Curlew were also heard and seen flying over, as were 2 Swallows. Our final target, Ring Ouzel (136), was a little harder to find, but we got lucky, when a single male flew across the valley, and landed about 20m away!

Ring Ouzel

RSPB Blacktoft Sands - 12th April 2026

 Last Sunday, Jayne and I went across to RSPB Blacktoft Sands to try and add a few more species to the Year List. We were very successful, adding 5 new species, as well as enjoying 5 Marsh Harriers hunting over the reedbeds, a fly-by Bittern, a very showy Water Vole from Reception Hide and my first Red Admiral of the year.

Water Vole

The new birds seen were: Avocet (129), Little Ringed Plover (130), a ringtail Hen Harrier (131), Little Egret (132) and Tree Sparrow (133).

Little Egret

Other birds around the site included: Greylag and Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Redshank, Lapwing, Bearded Tit (seen briefly over the reedbeds), Yellowhammer, Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler (heard).

Waders, Gulls, Summer Migrants and a few Ducks!

I had a few free hours yesterday afternoon, so I popped down to Ogston Reservoir to see what was about. As a member of the Ogston Bird Club, I had access to the Members' Hides.

I knew that there had been a Black-tailed Godwit around for a few days, so I was very pleased to find it feeding about 40m away from the hide. They aren't that common in Derbyshire, so to get good views was a real treat.

Black-tailed Godwit

Next up was Snipe. These are much more common than the Godwit, but the Members' Hide at Ogston can often allow you to get some pretty close views. On this visit, I saw 4 different birds, all feeding along the Moat area.

Snipe

Two other species of wader seen were: Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Both species breed on site. I managed to see three of each of these birds.

Lapwing

Oystercatcher

Along with the waders, were four species of gull: Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Black-headed Gull

Ducks seen were: Teal, Gadwall and Mallard, including a female with 11 ducklings (my first of the year).

Mallard

Last, but not least, were the newly-arrived summer migrants. Swallows, Sand Martins and a single House Martin were all seen.

End of the Trip

 Saturday 4th April was our last day on Fuerteventura. We weren't being picked up until 5pm, so we spent the entire day walking around the town.

Just 1 new species was added to the trip list, when a single Grey Heron landed on the boats in the harbour. 

Grey Heron

Other species seen were: Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Yellow-legged Gull, Little Egret,  Spanish Sparrow, Kestrel and  Collared Dove.