Russian White-fronted Goose - Middleton Moor

 I mentioned the influx of White-fronted Geese in relation to the Youlgrave birds in December and the few regulars visiting Middleton Moor had thought that we were going to miss out. However,  a visit by Jon Lowes this morning in conditions that didn't look promising with thick mist turned up trumps with two birds on the lagoon, which then disappeared in to the mist.

After a  tense two and a half hour wait the mist finally lifted enough for us to confirm that they were still present. A first record for Middleton Moor as far as we can tell!

Russian White-fronted Goose

I was at Middleton on Saturday, and with widespread reports of Common Scoter and passage waders on inland waters I had high hopes but I was a little disappointed with Redshank and the first Dunlin of the year but not a bad haul on reflection.

Redshank

Winter plumaged Dunlin with Lapwing

 

Jack Snipe - Middleton Moor

I purchased a thermal camera at the start of the year. One of my main targets for it was the elusive Jack Snipe. I have seen them occasionally at Middleton Moor but just in brief flight views. Unlike Common Snipe they do not flush until you are almost stood on them, and spotting one sat on the ground is just about impossible without a thermal camera.

Today I managed to find one and although I was stood within about 4m of it I was able to take some photos and leave it without flushing it thanks to the thermal camera.

I would love to find one on Beeley Moor but that might be a challenge for next winter as they will be moving north shortly back to breeding grounds in northern Scandinavia.

Jack Snipe

  Just to give you an idea of how well camouflaged they are here is the photo taken on my phone with an arrow to mark the Jack Snipes position and below that the image from the thermal camera with the Jack Snipe 'hot spot' showing in red.

Returning Curlew - Middleton Moor

Although single Curlew were recorded at the start of the month its only really the last couple of days that numbers have started to increase with 5 on Saturday and 11 today but not much else of note.

Curlew

Egyptian Goose - Middleton Moor

 Another grey day at Middleton Moor was brightened up by the presence of two Egyptian Geese this morning. Ray Scally found them first thing and fortunately I was on the A6 heading to Youlgrave to look for the geese there, so it wasn't too much of a diversion.

As far as we can tell this is this first Middleton Moor record since two spent four days there from from 11th - 14th August 1979, as reported in the Birds of the Sheffield Area. 

I've still never seen one in the Bakewell/ Matlock area despite there resident status now in southern Derbyshire.

The Slavonian Grebe was also still present this morning.

Egyptian Goose

Slavonian Grebe - Middleton Moor

 I went to Middleton Moor yesterday and had the first half decent day for a while with a Green Woodpecker, which is only recorded once or twice per year there, plus a couple of Pink-footed Geese with a small group of Greylags so with more mist forecast for this morning I went to Chatsworth instead.

I was very surprised therefore when i got a call from Ray Scally to say he had found a Slavonian Grebe which was just visible through the mist.

A major rarity locally and a first record for Middleton Moor, so I had to postpone breakfast with Pam at Chatsworth Garden Centre and headed for Middleton.

It was still misty when I got there but the grebe was visible and the visibility improved early afternoon so a fantastic start to February. 

A Shelduck was also new in and my first for the year.

Slavonian Grebe

Cetti's Warbler - Youlgrave

 A nice walk from Alport to Youlgrave yesterday along the river Bradford produced Kingfisher and Little Egret but the star bird was undoubtedly a Cetti's Warbler which was calling repeatedly and moving quickly upstream towards the road bridge at the bottom of the village. 

It showed well for a Cetti's Warbler but I wasn't quick enough with the camera, but did manage to record the distinctive call on my eBird checklist here.

Although I have had the long staying bird at Middleton this year this is the first for my 10km patch centered on Darley Dale.

Whooper Swans - Middleton Moor

 Went up to Middleton this morning without any great hopes as I assumed, correctly, that it would still be largely frozen. So I was surprised to see a nice herd of 10 Whoopers Swans in the small area of open water.

Whooper Swan

They departed east whilst calling loudly at 10:45, just as it started to rain. I managed a nice recording of the calls which is on my eBird checklist here.

It's remained warm so hopefully the ice will thaw quickly.

Hawfinch - St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

 Despite several searches in the early part of the winter it wasn't until 1st January that a single Hawfinch was seen briefly by Alan at St Helen's. 

I made several visits to the churchyard in the first week of January but didn't manage to see the hawfinch until yesterday when it perched up for a few seconds in a Sycamore before it dropped out of view in to the Darley Yew.

Today Simon saw three birds together so things are looking up. They have been scarce in the County so far this winter with up to 3 birds seen at Cromford but most reports have been of just a single bird.

Hawfinch

Generally its been a fairly quiet start to the year but I've seen Little Egrets at Chatsworth and Bakewell with one by the river at Ashford today. I also saw the Cetti's Warbler at Middleton Moor today but the lagoon is almost completely frozen at the moment.