Red-legged Partridge - Elton Common

 I visited Elton Common looking for, or rather listening for Quail this afternoon but there was no sign, it's still a little early for Quail in any case. There is also a chance of Yellow Wagtail in the meadows of the White Peak but I had no luck there either.

I did flush a pair of partridge and had brief views before they landed in a grassy field full of what I took to be some kind of buttercup. I was fairly sure they were Red-legged Partridge but really need a view to confirm. I scanned the field for ten minutes then saw a head pop up and managed a photo before the bird disappeared. It was a long way off and the photo is out of focus but it was enough to confirm their identity as Red-legged Partridge.

Interestingly I've had more local records of Quail over the years than I have Red-legged Partridge so it was a successful trip after all!

Red-leeged Partridge

An evening on Beeley Moor

 When I gave my update on returning migrants I forget to mention the Hobby. The first returning birds were reported on the moor on 31st April and have been seen irregularly since, the cold weather preventing insects emerging on the moor. Recent warmer weather has brought out the moths and I saw at least three birds last night hunting what I presume were Fox Moths.

Eurasian Hobby

More unusual though was a Short-eared Owl, my last sighting was of a bird present for just a few hours in April last year. Hopefully this bird will stay longer.

Short-eared Owl

In the forestry clear fell I had several Woodcock and at least four Eurasian Nightjar churring. It was a feat of endurance waiting for them to start churring at around 21:30 as there were clouds of biting midges, but worth it in the end.

Eurasian Woodcock

Whinchat - Beeley Moor

 It was good to be back on the moor this morning, having just returned from several weeks in France and Spain.

The weather could have been better though, as it was very misty first thing. Over the last few days I've caught up with most of the birds that I had either missed or hadn't arrived before I left such as Garden Warbler, Common Swift and Spotted Flycatcher and a lovely singing male Whinchat below Harland Edge this morning, albeit in the mist. Still with a bit of photo processing you can at least tell what it is.

Whinchat - male

The only regular breeding summer migrant I've yet to see is Nightjar, which I know have been back for about a week now, so will look to correct that omission in the next week, weather permitting.