Got my patch lichen list off to a flying start, thanks to a new field guide and a friendly Facebook group, with Evernia prunastri, Flavoparmelia caperata, Physcia aipolia and Physcia tenella growing alongside Xanthoria parentina at Calke Park today

We're delighted that our friends @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social have made #NewYearPlantHunt a #12DaysWild activity! Find out how to take part & learn more about how our wild plants are responding to a changing climate & what this means for all our wildlife: www.wildlifetrusts.org/blog/guest/j...

Finally caught up with the 8 Tundra Bean Geese at Willington GP at first light. They were still there when I left at 0930 but had apparently already made a visit to the maize stubble field where they are feeding between my two sightings

2025 patch ticks included spawning Brook Lamprey, Grass Snake, Green-winged Orchid and Minotaur Beetle. Bird highlights included my first local Tree Sparrow in over a decade, Derbyshire's first successful breeding Marsh Harriers and a Great Northern Diver

Close encounter of the bird kind at Esh, but bird of the day is Willow Tit @durhamwildlife.bsky.social Malton Reserve

Had to park on A38 and wade in up to thighs as entrance a temporary river at High Bridge GP for 2m Blackcaps together, dangly leg Marsh Harrier, 2 flyover Cattle Egrets, 85 Pochard and a drake Pintail

Rare visit to Aston GP this morning: flyover Green Sandpiper, Peregrine, 6 Goldeneye and 7 Water Rail best of 46

All of the regular dabbling ducks including a pair of Pintail on flood water around Weston GP this morning

Little Owl at Newton Solney this evening was the 150th bird species in the patch this year. I think that's an all-time record

Two Marsh Harriers at Barrow GP at first light today including a cream crown hanging a leg, presumably Dangly Leg from WGP? Also, 2 Stonechats, 440 Wigeon and a Raven

Glossy Ibis flew out of roost with the Egrets from WGP this morning

Waders required to get into Willington GP this morning. 3 Pintail briefly, female Marsh Harrier and 5 Chiffchaff best, before heading to Staunton Harold Res to see Ellen's 1w Brent Goose

Flying trip to Foremark Res yesterday on the grotiest day of the year was rewarded with a Great Northern Diver 😀

WGP at least SIX Marsh Harrier out of roost at 0700, flyover Pintail and a Blackcap. High Bridge 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 7 Cattle Egrets and 11 Pochard. At least 1,200 Woodpigeons SW between 0730 and 0830, plus smaller movements of thrushes, Starlings and Skylarks

2 Caspian Gulls, Stonechat and 4 Goldeneye were the best at Barrow GP this morning

Thrilled to find this male Minotaur Beetle at Calke Park with the boys today. Think only previous South Derbyshire record was at the same site in 2012

BBC News - Martha Kearney: Why I'm concerned about our declining wildflowers - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Finally caught up with the Glossy Ibis at High Bridge GP

Been a weekend of Waxcaps, with these Blackening, Snowy and Parrot at Staunton Harold Res yesterday

Think these are Sulphur Knight, Orange Peel Fungus and Meadow Waxcap at Calke Park today. Also, 2 Stonechats, 2 Marsh Tits and a Red Kite here

Blue Roundhead and Clouded Funnel at Calke Park today

7 flyover Pintail seemingly going down on the river were best at Weston GP this morning, plus Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaff, 23 Shoveler and 2 Great White Egret

The best candidate for Greenland Wheatear I've seen on the patch. Distinctly long wings almost reaching tip of tail and strongly orange undersides other than white undertail. Also, Jack Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Peregrine.

3 Mandarin, 120 Wigeon, 2 Pochard, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Cattle Egret, 1m Marsh Harrier and 2 Stonechats at High Bridge GP this morning

A new one for me today. Juniper Shieldbug. Presumably one using Lawson's Cypress rather than Juniper. On my clothing when I got home so picked up anywhere between Ingleby and King's Newton

Today's photo of the landscape in Harold Gresley's painting of Twyford as closely as I could judge it. Lots of Fieldfare and Redwing about and a very active Peregrine hunting the pigeons

Very autumnal feel to Carvers Rocks this lunchtime with Redwings, a Fieldfare, Siskins, and over 100 Redpoll, plus Ochre Brittlegill, Oyster Mushroom and Tawny Grisette

Nice family walk around Calke Park and then I found Dog Sick Slime Mould,which changed the nature of the conversation markedly

Ventured to Barrow GP in the fog in the vain hope of finding the 8 White-rumped Sandpipers that flew east from Belvide Res yesterday evening, but I could hardly see the wader habitat, let alone any waders. Not a completely wasted trip, though, as I found a very late Whinchat with a Stonechat

5 Pochard, 2 Little Grebe and the plastic Red-crested Pochard at Melbourne Pool, but most notably, no Coot! They may have been hauled up somewhere out of sight, but checked and it is the first time in my 45 years of recording birds there that I haven't seen one

Willington GP this morning 103 Shoveler, 88 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 8 Great White Egrets, 2 Cattle Egrets, Bittern, a Marsh Harrier and a Swallow

Walked along the Milton side of the river today and coincidentally came across this Harold Gresley painting of the ferry across this stretch of river to Twyford. My favourite stretch of the Trent. Highlights of my walk were a Whinchat, 2 Stonechats and flocks of 47 Skylarks and 25 Yellowhammers

Biggest surprise at Barrow GP this morning was a flyover Yellow Wagtail (E). Also a Cattle Egret in an adjacent cow field, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 2 Great White Egrets and 50+ House Martins

Ellen Hancock has given me permission to share her photos of some of the Otters @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Willington Wetlands this morning

An Otter day is always a red letter day, but FOUR from the hide @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Willington Wetlands, presumably mum and 3 pups was spectacular. Found by Ellen Hancock

8/Almost all data & population trends in the indicators are from bird monitoring schemes organised by @btobirds.bsky.social like @bbs-birds.bsky.social, @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & @smp-seabirds.bsky.social on behalf of partnerships with @rspbscience.bsky.social & @jncc.bsky.social. Huge thanks to all!

Bright morning at Willington and High Bridge. WGP: Shelduck, 5 Pochard, 2 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Cattle Egret, 6 GW Egret, Bittern, Blackcap and Siskin. High Bridge GP: Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, Hobby, Blackcap and I counted 21 Chiffchaff along the footpath

Whilst battling with the willows growing in the reedbed @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Willington Wetlands, we came across this Anthocomus rufus, which Naturespot describes as infrequent in wetter areas around reedbeds

Stunning morning for the @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social field trip to Willington GP starting in 10 minutes

I am leading a free @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social field trip to Willington GP this Saturday. Meet at the entrance off the road out of Willington towards Repton at 0830

A September Swift circling around Melbourne this evening in no apparent hurry to go anywhere. A late breeder?

Picnic with the boys watching presumably a family party of 3-4 Spotted Flycatchers at Ticknall Limeyards

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Saw a Hornet kill a Migrant Hawker at Willington GP this morning

Juv. Ringed Plover, cream-crowned Marsh Harrier, 2 Snipe and unusual (?) sight of 75 Stock Doves flying high S in 4 groups at Barrow GP this morning @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Early morning at Willington GP saw 28 Little and 2 GW Egrets out of roost, but no Cattle E. Bittern flew low over us, 2 cream-crowned Marsh Harriers, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, first Snipe of the autumn and Shoveler

The water level is looking good for passage waders at Willington GP. 2 Ruff, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper there this morning

Smart juvenile Cuckoo, Pintail, Shelduck and 2 Green Sandpipers at Willington GP this morning plus this smart Figwort Sawfly

3 Spot Fly in 2 locations, including at least 1 fledged juvenile and 2 Marsh Tits together at South Wood today. Some of the surrounding area looks like it's being managed as restored wood pasture 👏

Think these are Platycheirus granditarsus, Xylota sylvarum, Long Hoverfly and Batman Hoverfly at Calke and Ticknall Limeyards today