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