14/11/2026 12:55 to 16:40 Andy Butler with Jon Lowes

Another cold and clear day but a stiff breeze prevented the lagoon from freezing. 

Two Dunlin landed briefly at 14:00 but took off again almost immediately and more unusual a Green Sandpiper did they same at 15:20 flying off west.

Green Sandpiper 

Not many gulls today, just 250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls came in to the roost, although birds were still arriving as we left a dusk. With them were two adult Herring Gulls and the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull. Another immature gulls may have been the darker backed continental form of Herring Gull argentatus but the light was too poor to be certain.

Herring Gull - adult

The Pochard has departed but the last Pintail was still present.

The Starlings started to arrive at about 15:45 and continued until dusk. Again the birds came in low and, although the flew around quite a bit just above the reeds there was no real murmuration. It was difficult to estimate the numbers but we think 40,000 to 60.000, so a lot of birds.

13/11/2026 - 7.40am to 12 noon, Jon Lowes & Andy Butler

A cold, bright and frosty morning saw about 2/3rd of the lagoon frozen over first thing. Despite this, 4 adult Whooper Swans arrived from the east at 8am, landing on the west side of the lagoon. They stayed for about an hour, before departing low to the west.

Whooper Swans

A noticeable increase in Greylag Geese this morning. Probably around 200 present, but difficult to get an accurate count as they were quite flighty, splitting into several flocks moving between the lagoon and neighbouring fields.

Greylag Geese

Other waterfowl included 1 Pochard, 1 Pintail and 36 Shoveler.

Pintail

An adult Yellow-legged Gull appeared in with the Lesser Black-backed Gulls mid-morning.

A Red Kite drifted north over Rosa Lane and a steady passage of 750+ Fieldfares moved up Combs Dale towards Longstone Edge during the morning.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S410161891 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S410148886

12/11/2026 - from Roy Frost via DOS WhatsApp

 c31 Whooper Swans over south-east at 4.17pm

11/11/2026 08:20 to 16:40 Andy Buler with George Hudson (late afternoon)

Golden Plover was the star bird today I started with a count of 240 birds but by mid-afternoon it was up to 450 which is the highest count since the 1990's! It was a lovely day so they looked particularly good in the sunshine. 

Golden Plover and Lapwing

Otherwise the lagoon was much the same as earlier in the week with a single drake Pochard and 3 Pintail the only wildfowl of note.

There were still plenty of Fieldfare about, initially I estimated about 700 feeding on hawthorns around the dam but more birds started to arrive from the east and my final total was around 1100.

Fieldfare

Early afternoon the Lesser Black-backed Gulls started to arrive, and continued to do so until dark, I estimated 1200 at dusk with 11 Herring Gulls and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.

The Starlings were disappointing as they flew in low and went straight in to the reed beds so it was difficult to keep track of the numbers but I think 10,000 to 12,000, so a bit lower than recent days.

A Chiffchaff called for a while by the dam and I don't suppose there will be many more now.

09/11/2026 - evening

Report from Richard Hill this evening;

2,100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

3 Yellow-legged Gulls

Caspian Gull - adult

28,000 Starlings

09/11/2026 08:50 to 12:30 Andy Butler with Steve Coughlan

Another misty start to the day which didn't start to clear until about 10:00. In the mist I heard Water Rail and several parties of Fieldfare overhead.

When it finally cleared there was nothing new on the lagoon but the 3 Pintail and lone male Pochard were still present. A smaller group of around 80 Lapwing were joined by 148 Golden Plover during the morning.

A reasonable group of about 200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were joined by an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

There was was quite a bit of activity around the feeder which included a Great Spotted Woodpecker and I heard Brambling again below the dam. Fewer Fieldfare today but I still noted 350 passing west.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

08/11/2026 - morning Jon Lowes, afternoon Andy Butler

A lack-lustre morning suddenly got a lot more interesting at about 9.20am when I noticed a flock of 23 Snipe had been flushed from the reedbed on no.4 lagoon. The culprit turned out to be a juvenile Hen Harrier which quartered the reedbed for about 15 minutes before disappearing. To both our surprise, it then suddenly appeared from behind bushes about 20 feet away from me before flying off north towards no.3 lagoon.

Several flocks of Golden Plover dropped into the lagoon during the morning totalling 166 birds that merged with 202 Lapwings.

Ducks included 30 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 3 Pintail, 1 Pochard and 1 Wigeon.

Very few winter thrushes present at first, but birds then began to start moving mid-morning with 800+ Fieldfare and 300 Redwing all coming up from Combs Dale and moving west over the north end of no.4 lagoon.

Other birds of note were a Brambling by the north gate and a squealing Water Rail that showed briefly at the north end of no.4 lagoon.

In the afternoon, Andy was only able to stay for part of the Starling roost and estimated around 40,000 birds came in. He also counted 1900 Fieldfares also coming up from Combs Dale.

The evening gull roost consisted of c800 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with 5 Herring Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S408970307

https://ebird.org/checklist/S409068229

Starling numbers increasing

 07/11/2026 06:50 to 11:00

I arrived in time to see the Starlings leaving the roost in the reed bed and numbers have increased significantly. It very difficult to gauge the numbers but the birds left in two large groups. The first group was the largest and most of it is in the photo below. 

I asked AI to estimate the number from the photo and it came back with 7,500 as its best guess. The second group was smaller but was probably 3 to 4,000 birds so I'm estimating 10K but it was probably a bit higher.

There was no murmuration when i went in the evening last week but it probably more likely as the numbers increase.

Starling leaving the roost

Two male Pochard flew in mid-morning, they are a scarce bird here so always nice to see..

Common Pochard - drakes

Just over 200 Lapwing this morning and they were joined by several groups of Golden Plover which totalled 146 birds.

There were still plent of Fieldfare around, I estimated 750, many were feeding in the hawthorns below the dam and I could hear several Brambling in the same area. 

Jon counted the Starlings coming to roost this evening and estimated the numbers at 70k which is a huge increase with birds gathering in the bushes below the dam wall before heading to the reeds to roost. Still no signs on any prolonged murmuration prior to roosting.

06/11/2026 - 7.30am - 11.30am

 A dull, overcast morning was made better by an, at times spectacular, passage of Fieldfares. Mostly flyovers, with some birds dropping in, so difficult to get an accurate count but I stopped counting mid-morning at 2,600 when it appeared flocks were by then mainly grounded birds, rather those going straight through. Mixed in with them were around 350 Redwings and a single Ring Ouzel that flew towards No. 3 lagoon.

58 Golden Plover circled the lagoon a couple of times at about 8.15am before deciding to drop in and join the 176 Lapwings.

Ducks included 36 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 3 Pintail and 14 Goosander (1 drake) first thing.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S408330249?continue

From Ron Blagden via DOS WhatsApp

101 Golden Plover, 126 Lapwing, 39 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 46 Teal, 17 Tufted Duck,400+ Fieldfare, 2000+ LBB Gull, 280 BH Gull, 6 Common Gull, 4 YL Gull, 4 Herring Gull, 5000+ starlings (difficult to count !)

03/11/26 - 7.15am - 8.45am - Ray Scally

A short visit this morning with a slight increase in some duck numbers, 8 Gadwall and 31 Teal were up on previous days totals, 10 Goosander left as I was arriving, a small movement of 350 Woodpigeon, 78 Lapwing were resident on the lagoon, Fieldfare were up to 175 in the trees surrounding the lagoon with no visible thrush movement, disappointingly there was no Brambling in with the 14 Chaffinch in the horse paddock. Full list on eBIRD link below:

eBird Checklist - 3 Nov 2026 - Middleton Moor - 34 species

02/11/2026 08:30 to 11:30

A nice clear start to the day and I was greeted by a small skein of 35 Pink-footed Geese heading east as I arrived. Another larger skein of 60 birds followed a little later, 6 birds broke away from the skein and it looked like they were going to land on the lagoon but changed their minds and continued east.

Pink-footed Geese

Still plenty of thrushes moving around with just short of 300 Fieldfare and 40 Redwing counted.

The wildfowl were quite flighty for some reason and I could only see 17 Teal which is a big reduction but the 6 Pintail were still there and 2 Gadwall with 46 Shoveler.

Hen Harrier - first record of the year

01/11/2026 07:25 to !1:10 Jon Lowes & 13:05 to 15:20 Andy Butler

Definitely a day of two halves; Jon covered the morning session with bright sunlight and good visibilty and I did the afternoon slot with low cloud, poor visibility and drizzle.

In the morning two skeins of Pink-footed Goose flew west and 9 Golden Plover landed briefly with an additional two flying over.

In the afternoon the Lapwing were flying around when I arrived and with them a small wader which fortunately landed with them confirming it was a Dunlin.

Dunlin with Lapwing

I walked around the lagoon in the hope of getting a better view and a male Hen Harrier flew over my head, crossing the lagoon and carrying on over the settlement beds. By the time I'd extracted my camera it was gone. 

I had noted that there were at least 24 Snipe on the waters edge and in the grass which were flushed by the harrier. It's unusual to see so many out in the open and it made me wonder if the harrier had passed over earlier. A male Hen Harrier was seen early afternoon on Beeley Moor so it's possible it was the same bird.

The low cloud brought groups of Fieldfare and Redwing in to the trees and bushes, several hundred of each.

There were only about 80 Lesser Black-backed Gulls mid-afternoon but one of the adult Yellow-legged Gulls was with them and I've added the photo I took of it yesterday in bright sunlight.

Yellow-legged Gull - adult

Jon mentioned on Friday's blog that I had seen a large number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls coming in to roost on Friday evening, I took a series of photos of the roost which I stitched together to create a panoramic view of them and from which I was able to count 2,278 individuals and, with an additional 300 flying in as I was leaving, it makes at least 2500 birds that evening which is quite a count. 

31/10/26 - 7.30am - 11.00am - Ray Scally

A very misty start with visibility over the lagoon at 9.30, the main movements of the morning were Fieldfare, movement with purpose SW starting at 10.15 with approx 400 birds in the space of 20 minutes approx, Redwing numbering 150 approx, 5 Skylark over during the morning seemed to be the only purposeful movement.

Duck species were the norm with the absence of Wigeon and the Teal numbers down to 31, not sure if they were feeding in the grass. The Pintail remained but I could only find 6. Lapwing numbered 154 on arrival and were there on departure. In the paddock by Black Harry's there was 1 Brambling with the Chaffinch and the 4 Jay were very vocal and seen in many areas of the lagoon. 

Gull numbers started with 200 Black-headed Gull at first light and the Lesser Black-backed Gulls numbered 40 on departure but they were flying in as I was leaving. Full list on eBIRD links below:

eBird Checklist - 31 Oct 2026 - Middleton Moor - 49 species

Fieldfare

Redwing and Goldfinch

Brambling

30/10/2026 - morning Jon Lowes & Alan Stewardson, afternoon Andy Butler

A quiet morning started off with thick fog again, although after this cleared there was some visible migration mid-morning including 230 Starlings, 2 Mistle Thrush, 185 Redwing, 120 Fieldfare & 14 Skylarks in one flock heading southeast.

Ducks on the lagoon included 42 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall & 7 Pintail.

Lapwing numbers continue to increase with 188 counted, plus 4 Snipe.

No Chiffchaffs today though. First time I’ve not seen or heard one since March.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S406574618

Late afternoon visit by Andy produced a small murmuration of around 2,000 Starlings along with 13 Golden Plovers, c1,000 Lesser Black-backed Gulls & c400 Black-headed Gulls.

Starlings, Andy Butler

Woodcock - first of the autumn

29/10/2029 07:55 to 10:00

I managed to pick up a Woodcock with the thermal camera this morning. It was easy to see with the thermal camera but it took me 15 minutes to locate it with binoculars it was so well camouflaged.

On the photo we're looking at its back with its striped head at the top and tail at the bottom. Not much chance of seeing that without a thermal camera!

Woodcock

This is a more distant image through the thermal camera, not much detail but the red hotspot of the bird is easy to see.

Woodcock thermal image

Nothing new on the lagoon but a decent flock of Starlings leaving the roost, around 2000 birds so it may be worth checking for an evening murmuration.

Lapwing up to 108 which is good to see.

As I was leaving I met a Working Party, which I presumed was from the Bakewell Bird Study Group, they were repairing the hide which was good to see. I'd cleared fallen trees which were blocking access to the hide after storm Boelo on Monday and had just been thinking I should replace the rotting wood at the hide entrance so they've saved me a job - well done!

Ring Ouzel - second record this year

28/10/2026 09:25 to 13:00

Finally a new bird today, a male Ring Ouzel which flew up on to the sheep fields above Black Harry Gate joining about 50 Redwing and a dozen Fieldfare but before I could get a photo they all flew back to the bushed below the dam wall. 

I searched for about 20 minutes before I saw it fly across the trees towards the hide but fortunately all the thrushes returned and the Ring Ouzel landed briefly in the top of a Rowan tree below the dam wall. They have been scarce this year and this is only the second record following one in Spring.

Ring Ouzel - male

A skein of 45 Pink-footed Geese flew east at 09:35 but there was not much to report from the lagoons. The 6 Pintail are still present but I only managed 75 Teal and no sign of Gadwall or Wigeon today.

11 Common Gull was a slight increase but only 55 Lesser Black-backed Gulls this morning.

27/10/2026 06:50 to 10:00

Much better weather today with largely clear skies but still with a strong SW wind. 

Plenty of thrushes again with over 250 Redwing and 17 Fieldfare and many feeding in the bushes at Black Harry Gate for the first time. At least 3 Brambling and 5 Redpoll in the same area and for the first time this winter a decent number of Starling leaving the roost, I estimated 1900 but it could have been more.

Redwing

The lagoons were much the same as previous days with 6 Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 48 Shoveler and 150 Teal.

Lapwing numbers were up to 35 and there were a few more Lesser Black-backed Gulls than recent days (27) and with them an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3rd winter Herring Gull.

26/10/2026 09:30 to 12:10

Another morning spent sheltering in the hide from a steady downpour of rain. At least the wind has declined which makes it a little more pleasant out, although it has blown down a tree across the hide path which will have to be moved.

Nothing new to report but nice views of 4 Jay chasing each other infront of the hide until a Sparrowhawk flew in and drove them all away.

Sparrowhawk

 

Jay

25/10/26 - 7.00am - 10am approx - Andy Butler & Ray Scally

NEW IN - Gale force winds and horizontal rain showers kept us both confined to the hide, only observation of birds actually dropping in was at 8.05am with 25 Lapwing.

Duck numbers were constant with recent counts with 174 Teal being a slight increase and another Pintail bringing the total to 7. Starling murmuration at first light consisted of 200 birds approx, and around 35 Redwing were blogging about in the trees. Gull numbers were low with 54 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Gull being the highlights. Full list on eBIRD links below.

eBird Checklist - 25 Oct 2026 - Middleton Moor - 27 species (+1 other taxa)

eBird Checklist - 25 Oct 2026 - Middleton Moor - 19 species

24/10/2026 13:00 to 14:00

I ventured out in the rain this afternoon but it was a waste of time. It looks like Fieldfare are still arriving with 42 in the Hide Wood but little else of note although I did manage to see the 6 Pintail feeding with the Teal.

A got a quick response from Holland on the colour ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull D5 seen yesterday which was ringed as an adult in May this year at the Europort Rotterdam and this is the first sighting since then.

Lesser Black-backed Gull D5

23/10/2026 - 8am to 12.30pm

Andy Butler & Jon Lowes

A foggy start to proceedings this morning prevented very much of anything being seen for the first hour and a half. But after fog lifted it soon became apparent that Redwings were on the move. A count of 975 was recorded moving west over a 3 hour period. 

Other flyover birds or presumed migrants passing through included;

• 55 Pink-footed Geese southwest in two skeins at 12.20pm

• 215 Starling

• 59 Fieldfare

• 15 Chaffinch

• 5 Bullfinch

• 31 Redpoll

• 11 Siskin

The mid-morning gull roost peaked at 487 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, including a new colour ringed individual. It’s possibly a Dutch bird but hopefully Andy will be able to confirm its history.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Andy Butler)

Waterfowl numbers were similar to recent days and included;

• 49 Shoveler

• 8 Gadwall

• 5 Wigeon

• 6 Pintail

Other birds of note included a Water Rail heard squealing at the south end and at least 2 Chiffchaffs still

https://ebird.org/checklist/S404695040

https://ebird.org/checklist/S404708056

22/10/2026 08:50 to 11:30

Low cloud and drizzle overnight, and early this morning, had grounded hundreds of Redwing, I recorded 490 but it could have been many times that number. With them at least 11 Fieldfare and 16 Blackbirds whilst finch flocks in the bushes included 7 Siskin and at least 2 Brambling.

As the cloud lifted and the rain eased the thrushes took to the air, heading off westwards, leaving the bushes and trees largely empty.

The lagoons were similar to yesterday and a higher Teal count of 169 may just have been a better count, I could only find 4 Pintail and 3 Wigeon today.

21/10/2026 09:20 to 12:20

I bumped in to Roy Middleton today and he had had a Great White Egret on Monday (19th) which landed at the lagoon but only stayed for 5 minutes.

A few more gulls today, I counted 280 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at midday, also 7 Common and an adult Yellow-legged Gull again.

Yellow-legged Gull - moulting adult with just the outer primary still not fully grown

It was a miserable start to the day with mist and drizzle which lifted mid-morning. Several parties of Redwing flew west totalling about 130 birds and a similar number of Starling, also at least two Fieldfare which remain scarce.

The 8 Pintail were still on the lagoon but all but 2 Wigeon had departed.

A single Chiffchaff was the only other passerine of note.

More rain forecast for the rest of the week.

20/10/2026 14:00 to 16:00

An afternoon visit today didn't produce too much. Another increase in wildfowl with now 23 Wigeon and 8 Pintail but otherwise quiet.

Gulls were down with just 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Common Gulls.

18/10/2026 - 7.35am to 11.45am

Another good passage of Pink-footed Geese noted today, with 284 birds counted in five skeins – mostly going east.

There was an increase in Wigeon & Gadwall on the lagoon, with counts of 40 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 19 Wigeon, 3 Pintail & 10 Goosander recorded.

For the first 20 minutes or so after I arrived, there was a large movement of Woodpigeons overhead, all going south. I counted roughly 500 in the three large flocks – but then it just seemed to stop dead at about 8am.

Our run of Golden Plover sightings continued with 7 birds circling the lagoon at 8.35am before deciding not to stop and heading off east.

Other sightings of note were 2 Skylarks, 3 Chiffchaffs, 270 Starlings (going east in numerous small flocks), 66 Redwings, 36 Fieldfares, 6 Redpolls & 10 Reed Buntings.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S403366339

17/10/2026 - 7.45am to 12 noon

Jon Lowes & Ray Scally

Very little change on the lagoon today, so the focus again turned to vismigging. This produced;

• 230 Pink-footed Geese in 5 skeins between 8.30am & 11.20am, all going west or southwest
• 532 Woodpigeon
• 21 Golden Plover south at 9.15am
• 1 Little Egret west at 11.15am
• 7 Skylark
• c90 Redwing
• 18 Mistle Thrush
• 18 Chaffinch
• 10 Bullfinch
• 1 Greenfinch
• 7 Siskin

Pink Footed Geese

Woodpigeon

Golden Plover

Little Egret

Also of note, were a Red Kite over its usual spot at the top of Combs Dale and a Peregrine that flew through at 10.30 making a half-hearted attempt to catch a Shoveler.

And up to 3 Chiffchaff still.

Kestrel

https://ebird.org/checklist/S403003952

https://ebird.org/checklist/S402993570