Foot It - final update

No more species added after last weekend so I ended the challenge on 80 species in January, all seen on foot, which I'm very happy with. I did try for Linnet during the last days of the month but the wind made it impossible. Apart from Linnet there were just four other species seen by other birders locally and missed by me; Kingfisher, Woodcock, Pink-footed Goose and Golden Plover.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, got plenty of excercise and visited local places I have seldom been to.
Highlights were the Great Grey Shrike, Merlin, Hawfinch, finally bumping in to Crossbill and the unexpected Wigeon. So that's the Foot It Challenge over for now........although it would be interesting to see how I would do in the Summer!
With thanks to Ken Smith, Roger Carrington and Simon Roddis for their assistance.

Foot It - update 27th Jan

Common Gull in the foreground

Amazingly all the snow disappeared last night and created some flooded areas at Flatts Farm between Darley Dale and Darley Bridge which were ideal for feeding gulls. It took me twenty minutes or so of scanning through the Black-head's before finding a Common Gull. Shortly afterwards a party of Lesser Black-back's went over with a at least one adult Herring Gull.
Two more species for the January Foot It list takes me to a nice round 80 species. With the last weekend of the month gone there will be little chance to get out during the week but there is still an outside chance of Linnet, Kingfisher or even Pink-footed Goose which I'm still missing.

Foot It - update 20th Jan

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Walked up on to the moors via Halldale Wood then across the fields to Screetham Lane before heading back past Wragg's Quarry and the Lumb Lane bridleway. Very few birds on the moor apart from the Bullfinchs that feed along the dry stone walls, I counted 23. A handfull of finches but no sign of the elusive Linnet. The list got a boost as I neared home and a loose group of 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew slowly up the valley.
Foot It list is 78 species with just one weekend to go.

Foot It - update 19th Jan...Peregrine at last!

Peregrine Falcon

Another long walk, around 15 miles today which in the snow was quite hard work. Finally I have added Peregrine to the list which I was getting a little worried about.
There were some signs of cold weather movement with a few Lapwing around, several parties of Wood Pigeon, a couple of Meadow Pipits and a male Stonechat that must have left the moor.
My total is now 77 species for the month of January.

Foot It - update 15th Jan

Tonight was Owl night, I'd been putting it off as a long walk in darkness is not that appealing but all went well  and I added both Little Owl and Barn Owl. The latter was particularly pleasing as there are not many pairs in the area and even fewer within a reasonable walking distance. No photos I'm afraid as the light had gone by the time they appeared.
My Foot It list total inreases to 76 with a few species still to go for in the remaining days of January. Ken Smith found a Pink-footed Goose in fields between Matlock and Darley testerday but no sign today.

Foot It - update 13 Jan

Another long walk, I had a single Waxwing at the Enthoven Works then a Green Woodpecker calling at Stanton Lees was unexpected. Nice views of a Common Buzzard nearby and a Tawny Owl sat out in the sunshine at Stanton-in-Peak was a real bonus (photos below). It was a beautiful day but I struggled to add anything more to the list until finally a small party of Feral Pigeon near home.
January Foot It total 74 species.

Foot It - update 12th Jan

Crossbill - another distinctive silouette

I've definately entered the realms of the laws of diminishing returns. I walked for about 12 miles today and added just two species. That does get me to my target of 72 species, all seen on foot during the month of January so I'm not complaining.

Today's species were nice birds; Crossbill, a party of 9 on Flash Lane which included some fine red males and a female Goshawk. Apologies for the photos but the birds were a long way off!

Goshawk - female

A call from Ken Smith alerted me to the presence of 2 Common Gulls with Black-headed Gulls near Darley Bridge but by the time I managed to get there all the gulls had gone.

There are still quite a few species to go for during the remainder of the month. Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese have been seen in the last few days so they are a possibility. Ken and Roger Carrington had a party of 12 Linnet on Screetham Lane today so that's one I should get and Peregrine and Feral Dove should be added to the list and surely the elusive Lesser Black-backed Gull and Kingfisher will make the list before the month end.

Foot It -update 8th Jan

Waxwing - there's no mistaking this silouette

With an update from Clive Ashton that the Waxwing were still present at the Enthoven Plant in Darley Bridge yesterday I set off at 7am for what is about a half hour walk from home. Arriving in the dark there was little to see but I could hear a fairly constant stream of Pied Wagtails leaving their roost at the plant. An hour later and still no sign I had to leave but just as I was passing the line of lorries queing to enter the plant I caught the distinctive call and saw 9 birds sat in the top of a Poplar by the site entrance. Species number 70 for my Foot It list. 
A pair of Gooseander on the Whitworth pond but still no Kinfisher.

Foot It - update 6th Jan

Mute Swan - at last!

My original plan for today was to follow the River Derwent in to Matlock and back, aiming for Snipe, Peregrine and Kingfisher. However, reports of up to 10 Hawfinch at Cromford Meadows was too good to miss so I added on the extra miles, and consequently increased my chances of Kingfisher, or so I thought.
I made a good start with Snipe by the A6 and arrived at Cromford just in time to see 13 Hawfinch flying off down the valley so no chance of a photo.

Wigeon - male and female

A chance meeting with Cromford birder Clive Ashton and a discussion about the species I was missing led to Clive directing me to Cromford Pond for Mute Swan, a species I had almost given up on having failed to find the usual pair north of Rowsley. Whilst at Cromford Pond I noticed a couple of duck flying over quite high and assumed they would be Mallard, but they did look rather slim - a pair of Wigeon which was quite unexpected they circled the pond once and headed off in the Carsington Reservoir direction.

So four additional species today takes me to 69 which is 96% of my estimated total of 72 for the month. Still missing Peregrine and no sign of Kingfisher at all today which was disappointing. Clive has still being seeing Waxwings by the Enthoven Plant at Darley Bridge and Ken Smith has had several sightings of Crosbill and Woodcock over the weekend and I'm sure a Lesser Black-backed Gull will fly over the house before the end of the month so still a few species to aim for. 

Foot It - Update 5th Jan

Dipper - singing

Had a good walk this morning, continuing with my efforts to see as many birds as possible during the month of January on foot. Set off at first light heading for the Stancliffe Hall Hotel grounds which produced the expected Stock Doves, and a Lesser Redpoll flew over which was handy. 

Little Grebe

I then carried on to Rowsley adding Grey Wagtail, came across a couple of pairs of displaying Dipper and caught up with Little Grebe which I was a little concerned about as it is not particulary easy to see on the river.

Then heading up to Beeley Moor I was relieved to add the Great Grey Shrike, a species which is unlikely to feature on many Foot It lists I think. A little further on I added a pair of Stonechat which I first saw just before Christmas.

Great Grey Shrike

I added Tawny Owl on Thursday evening and a further ten species today bringing my toal to 65 species.

Species added today were;
Stock Dove - Stancliffe Hall & Bent Lane
Lesser Redpoll - Whitworth Road
Grey Wagtail - Rowsley
Redwing - several Rowsley sidings
Little Grebe - Caudwells Mill Rowsley
Greenfinch - 5 + Peak Village
Great Grey Shrike - Wraggs Quarry
Stonechat -pair  Beeley Moor
Lapwing - single flock of about 50 went NW
Goldfinch - 10+ home

I've seen most of the relatively easy to see birds so the numbers will only creep up from now on I think. Target birds for tomorrow are Snipe, Kingfisher and Peregrine and I may have a walk round for Little Owl later today.

Foot It Challenge - 1st January

Spent the whole of today walking my area in the Foot It Challenge (see Blog 20th December for details) accompanied for much of the route by Andy Littler. I did 20 miles in total and managed 54 species of my target of 72 for the month of January. So, 75% of my estimated total of 72 is not a bad start.
First the highlights; pride of place goes to an adult male Merlin on Beeley Moor, other species I hadn't expected were Teal, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Greylag Goose. I also managed a few of the species that could be tricky such as Sparrowhawk, Treecreeper, Bullfinch and just one Red Grouse.
On the negative side no sign of the Great Grey Shrike but hopefully I'll pick this up next weekend. I also missed Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet and Little Grebe! So there is still plenty to go for.


This is the full list from today.
Cormorant - 2 Rowsley
Grey Heron - Rowsley
Canada Goose, Emperor Lake and Rowsley
Greylag Goose - 2 on small pool by Swiss Lake
Mandarin - 1 drake Rowsley
Mallard - many
Teal - 9 Swiss Lake Chatsworth
Tufted Duck - 2 males, 3 females Swiss Lake
Goldeneye - 1 male Swiss Lake
Gooseander - 12 Emperor Lake, Chatsworth
Buzzard - Whitesprings plantation
Sparrowhawk - 1 from home as I set off
Kestrel - 1 Flash Lane
Merlin - 1 male Beeley Moor
Red Grouse - 1 Beeley Moor
Pheasant - many
Moorhen - several along the rivers
Coot - many
Black-headed Gull - many Chatsworth
Wood Pigeon - many
Collared Dove - 2 Rowsley
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Whitesprings plantation
Skylark - 2 Screetham Lane
Meadow Pipit - 1 off Screetham Lane, 1 Beeley Moor
Pied Wagtail - 1 Screetham Lane
Wren - several
Dipper - 1 Rowsley
Dunnock - several
Robin - several
Song Thrush - 1 Rowsley in song
Fieldfare - several Chatsworth
Mistle Thrush - 1 Rowsley
Blackbird - several
Goldcrest - several Halldale Wood
Great Tit - several
Coal Tit - several
Blue Tit - several
Long-tailed Tit several parties Chatsworth
Nuthatch - 2 Halldale Wood
Tree Creeper - 1 Chatsworth
Magpie - several
Jay - 2 Halldale Wood
Jackdaw - many
Rook - many Screetham Lane
Carrion Crow - several Screetham Lane
Raven - 2 from home and 2 Beeley
Starling - 1 Screetham Lane
House Sparrow - several Beeley and Rowsley villages
Chaffinch - many
Brambling - at least 6 Screetham Lane but no sign of the flock
Siskin - several
Bullfinch - 2 females and a male Flash Lane
Reed Bunting - several Screetham Lane
Yellowhammer 6 Rowsley Bar Road nr Screetham junction

Foot It Challenge

I've entered the birding Foot It Challenge - record as many species as you can whilst travelling only on foot in your local area during the month of January. In order to level the playing field you specify how many species you think you can see and your score is the percentage achieved, obviously relies on a high degree of honesty but it is just for fun. I'm targeting 72 species which I think is realistic and this is the area I'll be covering.

Well it should ensure I get a bit of excercise and encourage me to visit some areas off the beaten track. I'll update as January progresses.