Location: Big Moor, Derbyshire.
Attendees – Katie, Clare, Sally, Rupert, Jayne, Jill, Noel, James, Steve, Diane, Sarah and Cass.
Date of tours: 22nd and 30th October 2022
Number of species seen and heard – 31 birds & 1 Mammal
All pictures are taken on phones and through a scope.
Towards the end of October, we did 2 tours to witness the Red Deer rut on Big Moor. Both outings produced some magnificent bellowing stags with some posturing and chases, but we dipped out on full blown fights. This didn’t bother the attendees as we still all had a memorable experience.
We also saw some great birds with flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare into the thousands on the 22nd and a surprise Ring Ouzel still feeding on the Mountain Ash berries. For 2 attendees this was a lifer.
The weather was kind to us as both tours managed to avoid the heavy rains that been around at the time. The Autumn colours added to the vistas which meant great views too.
On arrival on the 22nd we also heard a Tawny Owl calling from the Shilitto Wood area, this was a lovely start to the morning along with a great sunrise.
Here is a list of the birds seen and heard over the 2 visits.
Pink-footed Goose
Mallard
Buzzard
Kestrel
Lapwing
Woodpigeon
Tawny Owl
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Raven
Goldcrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Nuthatch
Wren
Starling
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Stonechat
Meadow Pipit
Chaffinch
Brambling
Goldfinch
End.
Comments