Spotted Flycatcher - last of the migrants

 I saw my first Spotted Flycatchers today, with a pair in Clough Wood. Although they've been back for a week at Carsington I think the 3rd week in May is a fairly typical arrival date locally. Whilst watching them I also had a male Pied Flycatcher singing. So a nice combination with both flycatchers together.

Spotted Flycatcher

Pied flycatcher - male

With the arrival of the Spotted Flycatcher that's all our migrant breeding birds accounted for, although there is still a chance of a Quail and the possibility of a scarcer migrant.

Sedge Warbler and a breeding record of Kingfisher

I spent yesterday morning checking all the likely places for Sedge Warbler in the valley, which were discussed after my first record last year. I didn't find any, but shortly after returning home I received a message that Alan had found one singing on Beeley Moor. To para phrase Sherlock Holmes; when you have eliminated all the likely places you should then search the unlikely places!

Fortunately it was still there this morning but only singing occasionally in rather blustery conditions. News that Simon had found three juvenile Kingfisher being fed by one of the parents at Rowsley was too good to miss and luckily they were still being fed by the river when I arrived. 

I'm amazed how unobtrusive Kingfishers can be, it was February when I last saw one at Rowsley but I did see them several times last year on the river close to the recycling station so perhaps they have nested somewhere in that direction.

I watched one of the juveniles make several unsuccessful dives and I imagine that it is a skill that they take some time to learn.

Kingfisher - juvenile

Yellow Wagtail - Elton Common

 My first 'patch' Yellow Wagtail of the year this morning with a male singing at Elton Common. A scarce passage migrant migrant on Beeley and the Eastern Moors the Yellow Wagtail is a rare breeding bird in the White Peak. It's difficult to know how rare as I only tend to visit a small part and I would be interested to hear of any other records locally.

Yellow Wagtail - male

Another unexpected sighting today was of a Little Egret on the River Wye at Rowsley. It was disturbed briefly by grass cutting for Haddon's fishing access but soon settled again. The driver of the grass cutter was as surprised to see it as I was when I spoke to him later. It could be the bird that wintered at Youlgrave and it will be interesting to see if it lingers.

Little Egret

Yesterday I was fortunate to see a young (second calendar year) Goshawk displaying. Although females do sometimes breed in the second calendar year I can only assume that this bird is unpaired. 

The slight gap between the secondary and primary feathers is due to the loss of a juvenile primary feather as she starts the moult in to a more adult like plumage which will be completed by the autumn.

Northern Goshawk - female 2cy

Nightjar Beeley Moor

 Three male Nightjar churring last night in rather windy conditions. Also 2 Woodcock doing their rodding display flight.

The first returning bird was heard on 12th May, churring in daylight at 07:30 in the morning! I've heard birds churring several times in daylight, usually just short bursts of song.

Nightjar - male

Goosander breeding success

 A female Goosander with 5 downy young was a nice surprise on the River Wye at Rowsley this morning. I didn't see any young last year so hopefully this is a sign of a better breeding season.

Goosander - female with 5 chicks

On the moor I managed all three chats today, with at least 4 Wheatear and a lovely singing male Whinchat as well as several pairs of Stonechat, which are now feeding the young of their first brood.

Northern Wheatear

My first Swifts were on the 10th May over Darley Dale but they may have arrived earlier as I have been away for a week. 

Alan reported the first Nightjar yesterday which he heard in the plantations bordering the moor and there was an unusual report on the 9th of a Black Kite seen over Flash Lane.