New Year's Day - round-up

Kestrel - male

I did a tour of the area today with no great surprises. Starting on the moor a party of Pink-footed Geese flew over just after 9am, I only heard them calling but Ken had seen them flying West. A pair of Stonechat were in the usual area near Wraggs Quarry with another pair near the Triangle, calling Red Grouse got on the year list.
The light was so poor that I wasn't going to bother photographing this hovering male Kestrel but given the conditions I was quite pleased with the result.

Fallow Deer - fawn

Next I walked round Chatsworth, starting along the river then past the house via Emperor and Swiss Lakes. I'm always hoping for Hawfinch but have never seen them here although Endsor used to be a regular spot for them up to the late 1980's. 
There were several Fallow Deer by the river but most of the herd were on the other side of the road. I have been on the look out for the black or Norwegian Fallow Deer which escaped from Stanton Hall in the 1940's but haven't seen anything more than ones or twos recently. 

Goosander - male

A male Goosander on the river bank is the first male I have seen for a few weeks. There were a few ducks on Emperor lake including both the male Shoveler and female/immature Goldeneye which have been present for a couple of weeks now. No sign of any Mandarin around Chatsworth at the moment, I'm not sure where they go at this time of year although there are still one to two around Rowley. 
I was on the look out/ listening for Crossbill on the walk through the woods but its not been a good year for them and I had no luck today.
Still there is always tomorrow although the weather forecast does not look great for the next few days.