Wednesday 12 June 2013

Come Home Billy Bird - The Divine Comedy

Another day of wildlife watching and another part of Derbyshire starting at the confluence of the
RIVER TRENT (foreground) and RIVER DOVE
 A magic start as just about the first species seen was a
'Year Tick' (*) in the shape of
GOOSANDER (with young)
 COMMON TERN
are also here in good numbers as are Sand and House Martin,
with the odd Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
With little else to keep us there it was off to
 a reserve carved out of the redundant power station and
 expired Gravel Pits.
 Here we found OYSTERCATCHER (right) along with a
 
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER,
 a CORMORANT breeding colony,
 MOORHEN feeding young
 and a few REED WARBLER.
 Before reaching the small group of resident
HIGHLAND CATTLE
we had also recorded Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, Gadwall,
Water Rail* along with c3 Redshank.
 The CANADA GOOSE population was well over 100, including
a creche and a Cape Barren Goose which unfortunately, which
despite being an escaped bird, we did not manage to locate.
 ORCHID Sp
 GREY HERON added to the tally, with the final 3
sightings all being Insects.
 BANDED DEMOISELLE
 a smart SHIELDBUG
 and CINNABAR MOTH
This evening we went to another Comedy bash in Derby City Centre with 14 'turns' ranging from outstanding to the 'aw-cor-blimy! The whole event was helped along by a few visits to the beer bar and the company of our ex-Police Chief mate Glen Wicks - good to see you again pal.