Common Crossbill - a possible breeding pair

 I've seen this pair of Common Crossbill in the same location in Matlock Forest several times during the past month and I'm hoping that they might be a breeding pair. 

I've seen juveniles with adults several times in the autumn but only once managed to prove breeding, in April 2020 when I saw an adult feeding recently fledged young. I suspect one or two pairs breed most years but it's not easy to confirm this.

I haven't managed to find any more migrants in the current cold and wet weather.

Common Crossbill female and male (upper)

Wheatear at last!

 Caught up with my first Northern Wheatear this morning, by the Triangle on Beeley Moor. I'd searched the area several times during the week without success but David Griffin had messaged me to say he had had a female by the Triangle on Sunday. I saw a male initially but it was soon joined by a female. 

Always exciting to see that first Wheatear of the Spring.

Northern Wheatear - male (upper) and male and female below

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.

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

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.

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