Ogston Reservoir

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 53.1340, -1.4478

Also within

Derbyshire County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (3)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SK368609 Unfavourable Recovering 95.91 2013-08-30
SK370597 Unfavourable Recovering 95.91 2013-08-30
SK374602 Unfavourable Recovering 95.91 2013-08-30

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
common sandpiper Breeding
common sandpiper Passage
grasshopper warbler Breeding
grasshopper warbler Passage
great black-backed gull Roosting
great black-backed gull Wintering
great crested grebe Breeding
greenshank Breeding
greenshank Passage
greenshank Wintering
herring gull Roosting
herring gull Wintering
lapwing Breeding
lesser black-backed gull Roosting
lesser black-backed gull Wintering
lesser whitethroat Breeding
lesser whitethroat Passage
little grebe Breeding
little ringed plover Breeding
mallard Passage
mallard Roosting
mallard Wintering
pochard Passage
pochard Roosting
pochard Wintering
ringed plover Breeding
snipe Breeding
teal Passage
teal Roosting
teal Wintering
tufted duck Breeding
tufted duck Passage
tufted duck Roosting
tufted duck Wintering
whitethroat Breeding
whitethroat Passage
wigeon Passage
wigeon Roosting
wigeon Wintering

Description

Area, 96.7 ha. 238.9 ac. Description Ogston Reservoir lies in the valley of the River Amber south of Chesterfield. The water covers some 85 hectares and is an important wintering site for many wildfowl and a feeding site for wading birds on passage in late summer. The peripheral mosaic of semi natural habitats is not only of botanical interest but, most importantly, provides a diversity of nesting and feeding sites for a wide variety of breeding birds of which over 70 species have been recorded. Grazed and ungrazed grassland, scrub, woodland and tall herb communities fringing the water, each provide habitat for a range of breeding birds. Water birds nesting on the water margin include great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus, little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis and tufted duck Aythya fuligula together with waterside waders such as common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos and little ringed plover Charadrius dubius. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus nest on the drier, grazed swards with snipe Gallinago gallinago in the wetter, taller grasslands. Scrub and woodland occurs around much of the reservoir margins with much grey willow Salix cinerea and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. These provide food and cover for a wide range of breeding birds in particular the warblers including lesser whitethroat Sylvia curruca and occasionally, grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia. In late summer many wading birds stop over to feed on the exposed mud of the reservoir margin. Some 17 species have been recorded, with greenshank Tringa nebularia and common sandpiper being amongst the most abundant. The open water of the reservoir are the winter home of many hundreds of mallard Anas platyrhynchos with over 100 teal Anas crecca and wigeon Mareca penelope. Smaller numbers of pochard Aythya ferina and tufted duck are present throughout the winter and other waterfowl come in to the reservoir as climatic conditions change. Large numbers of gulls use the site as an overnight roost, in particular some 2000 greater black backed Larus marinus, 500 herring Larus argentatus and 300 lesser black backed gulls Larus fuscus. Almost all of the fringing grasslands are semi natural neutral swards representing relict examples of formerly widespread species rich types. Both dry and wet grasslands have abundant glaucous sedge Carex flacca but crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus is dominant in the drier swards with abundant adder’s tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum whilst rushes Juncus spp. and lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula predominate in the wetter pastures.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
teal Anas crecca LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
mallard Anas platyrhynchos NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
pochard Aythya ferina EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
tufted duck Aythya fuligula LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
wigeon Mareca penelope LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) bird-duck anatidae
great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) bird-grebe podicipedidae
herring gull Larus argentatus EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus DD (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
great black-backed gull Larus marinus EN (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) bird-gull laridae
snipe Gallinago gallinago DD (NonBreeding) bird-snipe scolopacidae
common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos VU (Breeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
little ringed plover Charadrius dubius LC (Breeding) bird-wader charadriidae
ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula VU (NonBreeding) bird-wader charadriidae
greenshank Tringa nebularia LC (Breeding) bird-wader scolopacidae
lapwing Vanellus vanellus VU (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) bird-wader charadriidae
grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia LC (Breeding) bird-warbler locustellidae
whitethroat Sylvia communis Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
lesser whitethroat Sylvia curruca Not listed in GB list bird-warbler sylviidae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
crested dog's tail Cynosurus cristatus LC grass poaceae
lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula DD herb ranunculaceae
glaucus sedge Carex flacca LC sedge cyperaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
grey willow Salix cinerea LC tree shrub salicaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas