Summary

It was a beautiful sunny day for our regular April visit to Strutt’s North Mill and Wyver Lane.  A male Peregrine was catching the sun on a central window ledge of the top storey of the mill.  We had a scope set up enabling us to enjoy close-up views of it.  Several pigeons were also perched on the mill but keeping their distance.  Down below at ground floor level a Grey Wagtail was perched for a while on a sign board.  There wasn’t much to see at the weir so we moved on to Wyver Lane where we were greeted by House Sparrows flitting in and out of bushes or up to the eaves of the cottages.

Once again we were surrounded by bird song as we headed along Wyver Lane.  From the DWT hide we could see a number of the commoner waterfowl, including a Shoveler.

Further down the lane, as the woodland gave way to more open fields, a few geese were grazing, along with members of the crow family.  Higher up, above the tree line, 3 Buzzard were seen soaring and a Raven sighted.  Across to the right, towards the River Derwent, we had good views of a Kestrel.  Each time it settled, it went to the top of one of the few spindly trees sticking up above the scrub.

Members participating:    13

Bird list (39 species seen and/or heard)

Male Peregrine Falcon – Martyn Grandy

Peregrine through telescope – Martyn Grandy

Wood Anemone – Chris Byrne

Greylag Goose – Chris Byrne

Buzzard – Martyn Grandy

Kestrel – Martyn Grandy

Kestrel – Chris Byrne

Peacock Butterfly – Chris Byrne