Common Greenshank - Chatsworth

 A nice surprise this morning when a Common Greenshank flew south down the river in front of Chatsworth House. Typically it was the distinctive call that got me on to it, and if it hadn't called I would probably have missed it. There was a bird at Middleton Moor yesterday so it could have been that bird continuing south.

It's only my fourth record for the area with one on Flash Lane on 7 August last year, 2 over Beeley Moor on 23rd May 2023 and another at Chatsworth on 10th August 2020.

Common Greenshank

Still two Little Egret at Chatsworth although one flew off heading south.

More Yellow-legged Gulls, Roe Deer at Chatsworth

 I've been back to look at the gulls in the Elton Common area and yesterday they were on and around the Y-Not Festival site. Talking to the people doing the clean up after the festival it seems the gulls have been finding plenty to scavenge around the site. 

I counted at least 700 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and found 7 adult type and a single juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls. I would love to know where they are from, and there must be a chance of finding one with a colour ring one day, perhaps the French Atlantic or even Mediterranean coast.

Yellow-legged Gulls -top two adults, bottom juvenile

Walking round Chatsworth a smart buck Roe Deer walked across the path which caused me to think how few I have seen there. They are now well established in Matlock Forest but seem scarcer further north.

Roe Deer - buck

Kingfisher family - Chatsworth

The breeding season is drawing to a close now and many birds have already departed their breeding sites. Wood Warblers and Pied Flycatchers have left the woodlands and Curlew and Snipe have already left the moors. 

Today I was able to confirm that the Kingfisher has bred locally again with an adult and two juveniles at Chatsworth where I also had a Spotted Flycatcher feeding fledged young.

Common Kingfisher adult and two juveniles

Spotted Flycatcher adult