Osprey - Darley Dale

 Another call from Alan Stewardson, this time regarding an Osprey he had found perched in a tree by the river in Darley Dale. 

I managed brief views of it as it flew up river but as I walked towards Rowsley in past me carrying a large Brown Trout. Fortunately it landed close-by and was easily visible on the branches of a dead tree. After spending some time adjusting its position, and that of the trout, it set about eating it.

Impossible to say what it's doing here at this time of the year. It could be a bird that has failed to breed elsewhere but is one of an increasing number of birds that are present in the midlands during the summer months.

Osprey

Common Quail - Beeley Moor

I heard a Quail calling from Screetham Lane last Wednesday (11th) and it was still present on Friday (13th). It was difficult to hear due to the persistant wind as well as the traffic noise. I did manage a brief recording of the call which can be heard on my eBird list.

I had a good evening with Nightjar, Woodcock and Long-eared Owl all seen or heard calling.

Reed Warbler and a breeding record of Hawfinch

 A singing Reed Warbler by the river at Peak Rail was a great find this morning by Alan Stewardson. It's the first time either of us have seen the species locally and for a bird that is usually found in reed beds it was an odd location. 

I managed some sound recordings but couldn't get a photo so the one below is from Middleton Moor, taken a couple of days ago, where there are at least six singing males in more typical habitat.

The recording is on the eBird checklist here

Reed Warbler

Whilst waiting for the Reed Warbler to show I saw several Banded Demoiselle along the river bank.

Banded Demoiselle - male

It's been a good week for Alan as he also found a pair of Hawfinch in the Darley Dale area and after some careful observations we confirmed that they were feeding two fledged youngsters. 

Formerly a regular breeder in the area they are now very rare in Derbyshire so it was great to be able to confirm that they had successfully raised two youngsters.

Hawfinch juvenile

Avocet - Middleton Moor

 I've been in Latvia at Kolka for the past 10 days so again catching up on local birds.

A good passage of waders through Middleton with a high counts of16 Ringed Plover on 25th May which left then 19 on 29th May.  Also Sanderling on 27th May then 7 on 29th.A Black-tailed Godwit was seen at Middleton on 22nd May.

I had 14 Dunlin drop in for an hour at Middleton on 30th Maywith a single Ringed Plover.

On the moors there has been regularly sightings of Hobby and the expected Nightjar and Woodcock.

This morning was a real surprise though, with a pair of Avocet on the lagoon. They slept for the first hour after I first saw them so I presume they were recent arrivals. After a sleep they were feeding and seemed fairly settled.

Avocet