Monday 18 March 2024

Sand Martins return to Chatsworth

Three Sand Martin bach at Chatsworth today and 6 Common Chiffchaff  were a sign that Spring really is on its way.

Sand Martin
The Mandarin and Goosander are now looking for nest sites and spending more time in the trees.
Mandarin

My first Golden Plover, a small group of 7, flew over East Moor yesterday but a flock of 60 were seen on Saturday.

I've been looking for Wheatear but without success but two were seen at Tansley on Friday and Simon had one at Carsington Water on Saturday.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Red Kites - adult and juvenile

I've speculated before about food sources for Red Kites and I think they'll eat any carrion they can find. Today I saw an adult Red Kite swoop down over a field where it was lost to view for a few seconds. When it reappeared it was carrying a dead rat. It flew off with a noisy crow chasing it. 

Moments later another Red Kite appeared from the same field. This second bird was clearly a juvenile, lacking the red body and black breast streaking of an adult, although one or two darker feathers can be seen around the upper breast which must be recently acquired.

I'm fairly certain the adult Red Kite wouldn't have had time to catch and kill the rat whilst it was briefly out of view and suspect the adult came across the juvenile which was feeding on the rat and the adult stole it from the juvenile.

Red Kites - adult with crow and juvenile below

Saturday 9 March 2024

Whooper Swans returning north

 There has been a large movement of Whooper Swans  through the East Midlands over the last couple of days, 400 were counted through Langford Lowfields yesterday with two flocks, of 20 and 55, through Ogston. 

The movement continued this morning with 60 birds over Carr Vale which, were then seen at Linacre Reservoir, 5 birds at Carsington, 38 at middleton Moor, a further 24 at Ogston and I had 34 flying west over the River Derwent between Chatsworth and Rowsley.

As expected, there was no sign of the Great Crested Grebe at Chatsworth today.

Thursday 7 March 2024

Great Crested Grebe - Chatsworth

 A red letter day for me with my first Great Crested Grebe seen locally, in front of Chatsworth House this morning. I've always felt that the wide stretch of river in front of the house could attract one. It was quite nervous, diving regulalry as people walked along the river bank and I don't think it will stay long.

It's not the first recorded locally the two Ten Year Reports published by the Bakewell Bird Study Group covering the years 1987 - 2007 document several records;

1992 6 February - a pair on Emperor Lake Chatsworth

2003 23 July - one in Chatsworth Park

2003 14 September - one flying over Halldale Wood

2004 11 February - two on the River Wye in Bakewell.

Of course there are decent numbers at Ogston and Carsington Reservoirs but they clearly don't stray in to the Derwent and Wye valleys very often.



Great Crested Grebe  600mm f5,6 1/1250 ISO 1250

I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year in Farley Woods yesterday and there were three Oystercatcher at Chatsworth today so birds are definitely on the move.

A Peregrine sat in a tree a couple of days ago made a nice photo. Although they are most commonly seen on cliff faces and rocky outcrops they do sit in trees sometimes.

Peregrine Falcon - male 600mm f5.6 1/2000 ISO 1250

Still two Pink-footed Geese with the Greylags at Harthill Reservoir earlier in the week but no sign of the Little Egrets there.

Pink-footed Geese with a drake Teal in the background

Monday 26 February 2024

Gadwall back at Chatsworth

 For the 4th successive year a pair of Gadwall were back at Chatsworth today. I'm assuming it's the same pair as they are in the usual area close to Emperor Lake. Some years I've seen them in other months but never managed to prove that they have bred locally.

Not a great picture as they were very distant but still nice to have them back.

Gadwall - pair

Sunday 25 February 2024

Eurasian Goshawk over Darley Dale

 It's not the first Goshawk I've seen from the garden, but it's the first I've had circling directly overhead! Judging the size of a circling bird that doesn't flap is notoriously difficult but there are a couple of features that help to separate this bird from the structurally simiilar, though distinctly smaller, Eurasian Sparrowhawk. This is a female Goshawk which is close to Common Buzzard in size and looks bulky in the photo.


Eurasian Goshawk

Firstly, the tail is noticeably rounded, the Sparrowhawk has tail feathers of equal length so the tail looks square ended, although it will look rounded if the tail is fanned. The Goshawk has outer tail feathers that are distinctly shorter than the central feathers, most obvious on the second photo. 

Secondly, the barring is rather indistinct on the secondaries and absent on the inner secondaries. On Sparrowhawks of all ages there are distinct even bars right across the secondaries - see photo below.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
You might also note that I'm calling it Eurasian Goshawk, until recently Northern Goshawk was the name used for all birds in the Northern Hemisphere but the American birds are now treated as a separate species; American Goshawk and European and Asian birds are Eurasian Goshawk, so I've some editing of labels to do.

If your interested in Goshawk identification you can find a more detailed review here.

I was quite please with the photo as I saw the bird then had to dash inside, get the camera from the camera bag, run out and take a photo, all the time hoping it was still in view.

Friday 23 February 2024

First Curlews return to Beeley Moor

 It feels like winter is finally coming to an end when the first Curlews return to the moor. I had a nice group of 11 this morning very close to the B5057 from Screetham Lane. The first birds were on the 20th February so pretty much on time.

It will be well in to March before we start to see migrants that have crossed the English Channel but the moors will be a bit more spring like from now on with the calls of the Curlew in the background.


Eurasian Curlew

Thursday 22 February 2024

Great White Egret - Haddon Hall

Some great spotting and identification from Pam as we drove down the A6 just south of Bakewell. I'd just mentioned that the flooded fields were looking good for a heron when Pam called egret, and it looks big! 

Sure enough it was a Great White Egret in the fields between the Haddon Park Farm track and Haddon Hall. Only my third on the patch but number continue to increase in the south of the county. Just need Cattle Egret now which must turn up soon, there is one at Carsington at the moment.

Great White Egret taken at ISO 3000 600 f5.6 1/1250

It's been a poor winter for Brambling but there is still a nice flock of at least 40 birds on Hodge Lane. The males are already starting to attain their breeding plumage. 

At least 40 Skylark, 25 Reed Bunting and 10 Yellowhammer in the same area.

Brambling

Sunday 18 February 2024

Waxwings at DWT Gang Mine Reserve

A flock of Waxwing were found at Middleton on the DWT Gang Mine Reserve on 11th February. Numbering up to 100 birds they have proved quite elusive for me but I finally found them today on my third visit.

They favour the hawthorns on the Dene Quarry side of the football pitch when entering the reserve from opposite the Stone Centre but may be encountered in other areas with hawthorn berries.


Bohemian Waxwing


Saturday 10 February 2024

Whooper Swans over Beeley Triangle

I can't remember a winter when the weather has been so persistently poor! It's either raining or so overcast it's almost dark. Consequently, despite my best efforts I haven't seen too many interesting birds. 
That said, I did have two Whooper Swans over Beeley Triangle this morning, flying quite low, calling and heading North West, my first this winter.
Whooper Swans
There are very few birds on the moor, after the snow earlier in the week, but I did manage a single Stonechat today and it shouldn't be too long before birds start returning to establish their breeding territories.
Stonechat - female
Last Monday (5th Feb) I came across a large flock of 60-80 Lesser Redpoll on Flash Lane with at least one Common (Mealy) Redpoll with them. I was hoping they would hang around so I could get a photo but haven't seen the flock since.

So far this winter the Sorby Breck Ringing Group have ringed 1,500 Lesser Redpoll and 20 Common and have had recoveries from Stafford, Leics, Hampshire, Dorset and E Sussex so these birds certainly get around.

Had my first Curlew on 6th February when four birds flew north over Darley Dale. They should be returning to the moors later this month.

Monday 22 January 2024

A Norwegian ringed Black-headed Gull at Chatsworth

I'm always on the lookout for colour ringed birds and came across this adult Black-headed Gull today in front of Chatsworth House. It was ringed as an adult last summer in Kristiansand, Norway 800km away.

Surprisingly I saw another Little Egret flying down river at Chatsworth.

Black-headed Gull

Sunday 21 January 2024

Little Egrets - Youlgrave

 I was very surprised to see two Little Egrets together on Harthill Pond, particularly since the pond was almost completely frozen. Checking in my notes it was last August when I last saw one locally, at Chatsworth, and it was last April when I saw one at Youlgrave. My thoughts that they might become established locally have certain not been realised yet.

Little Egrets
The juvenile Pink-footed Goose was still with the Greylags and there was a nice group of 15 Teal displaying on the small area of open water.
Pink-footed Goose with Greylags
I walked up the Monsal Trail from Bakewell yesterday and came across a nice party of Waxwing at the edge of the town, by the A619 road bridge. There were still Waxwings at Hassop Station with plenty of admirers taking photos. There were also several Fieldfare and Redwing taking advantage of the apples that have been left for them. Surprisingly there still looks to be plenty of berries on the Hawthorns south of the station.
Fieldfare

Thursday 18 January 2024

Dipper on the Lathkill

 A singing male Dipper did a bit of display to its mate on the Lathkill this morning, in very cold weather. The male was ringed and I thought its partner might be as well.

Dipper
I've seen a little bit of Goshawk activity in the sunny weather but the lack of wind has prevented any prolonged display.


Northern Goshawk - subadult male
Waxwings are still feeding by Hassop Station car park but numbers are starting to decline with 30 reported there today, and with 35 reported at the Agricultural Centre in Bakewell this morning, it looks like they are starting to look for berries elsewhere.

Saturday 6 January 2024

Peregrine Falcons

I photographed this pair of Peregrine Falcons close to Beeley Moor today. It's quite unusual, for me at least, to see a pair in such close proximity away from a nest site and gives a useful size comparison, with the larger female on the right. 

The male has an almost complete black hood, there is considerable variation in the width of the malar stripe but I can't recall having seen such a dark headed bird in the UK before.

Peregrine Falcon - male left, female right

Friday 5 January 2024

Red Kite = Chatsworth

I've mentioned previously that Red Kites are generally absent locally from October to February, but this year I have seen single birds in each of the winter months so far. Today there was a bird at Chatsworth and I've had further reports of birds in the Bakewell, Beeley, Baslow area so it looks like one or two birds have remained here over the winter. This is presumably related to the very mild weather we have experienced for most of this period.

Red Kite

I called in to see the Waxwings at Hassop Station and there were still around a hundred birds in the area, with a similar number reported today. It can't be long until all the berries are gone and it will be interesting to see where they go next. 

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