Common Scoter - Middleton Moor

It's been fairly quiet the past couple of weeks but a Common Scoter at Middleton Moor this morning is my first for the site. It was there for about 3 hours before flying off north-west. There were several other reports in Derbyshire suggesting there was a significant movemement last night. 

Common Scoter - drake

Two Tree Pipit at Middleton today is an unusual site record, they are much scarcer there than around Beeley.

Tree Pipit

A young Fox gave excellent views from the hide. I've seen one adult there that only has three legs but watching it walking or running you wouldn't immediately notice so it appears to be coping with its disability.

Fox

Black-tailed Godwit - Middleton Moor

Making regular visits to Middleton Moor paid off again yesterday with a superb adult Black-tailed Godwit. It was present when I arrived and I watched it for about an hour but after an arrival of about 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls it departed.

Black-tailed Godwit

There has been some big movements of Black-tailed Godwits in the last few weeks, a flock of thirty were  seen at Carsington yesterday, and I'm not sure what they are doing. You would expects adults to be breeding now.

Five Yellow-legged Gulls were also at Middleton which perhaps marks the start of the summer arrivals of this species.

Greenshank - Middleton Moor

Black-tailed Godwits have been reported from several sites in Derbyshire during the past week but none locally as far as I know. I have made several visits to Middleton Moor with very little to show for it but a Greenshank this morning was a nice surprise. I did have a Dunlin there on the 1st and two femalw Gadwall are resident at the moment.

Three juvenile Wheatear at Middleton also on the 1st and a male Whinchat was my first of the year!

There are several Whinchat on Screethem Lane and still at least two Quail still calling there.

Greenshank - adult