Saturday 22nd was an amazing day of visible migration when during a five and a quarter hour stint an impressive 2,958 Meadow Pipits were logged flying south / south-west. To put this into perspective there are only four counts higher than this for the county according to Birds of Derbyshire, all at moorland watch points. Indeed the previous Carr Vale record count of 1,605 set on 9th October 2001 (which date incidentally saw the county record of 9,015 over Ramsley Moor) was the highest lowland count. So far this autumn we have logged 5,950 Meadow Pipits flying south, which itself is a record for the reserve, the previous highest autumn total being 4,009 set in 2010. Other birds noted flying south included five Cormorants, 55 Sky Larks, 125 Swallows, 35 House Martins, Grey Wagtail, nine Pied Wagtails, 18 Siskins and five Reed Buntings. Also seen on this date male Shoveler, Water Rail (heard only), 12 Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, two Peregrines and a Reed Warbler.