More migrant arrivals

 Despite the rather cool temperatures there has been a steady arrival of migrants in to the area over the past week. Hopefully, warmer weather forecast for the end of the week will see an increase in the number of migrant birds arriving;

Willow Warbler - 4th April in Farley Plantation and now fairly widespread in the woodlands close to the moor.

Blackcap - several singing birds recorded from 7th April and again can be heard in many wooded areas now. Impossible to distinguish true migrants from overwintering birds although the latter tend not to do much singing.

Common Redstart - 8th April a male singing by the river at Rowsley is my only record so far.

House Martin - 10th April over Darley Dale

Tree Pipit - 10th April at Flash Dam and several reported at Whitesprings Plantation this morning/

Pied Flycatcher - 11th April, singing males reported singing in woodland on both sides of Darley Dale

Merlin - a female on Beeley Moor this afternoon is the only record of the Spring so far and there was only an odd record over the winter. This former breeding bird appears to be just a scarce passage migrant now.

Pied Flycatcher - a male gave a few short bursts of song this morning

Blackcap back in the garden

Saw the male Blackcap in the garden again today and managed a photo this time. I've only seen it twice now but it has presumably been in the area most of the winter.

Blackcap - male

First singing Blackcap of the Spring

Came across my first singing Blackcap of the Spring at Clough Wood today. I heard several reports of over-wintering birds in the Matlock area in the late winter but this is the first song I have heard this year.

Blackcap - male

Winter Blackcap

I noted a male Blackcap in the garden at the start of the week and it is still present today. It is feeding off the fat feeder and has been making fairly regular visits but it has taken until today to get a photo. This is the first time I've seen Blackcap in the garden in the winter and is no doubt a reflection of the very mild weather we have been experiencing.
The number of Blackcap wintering in Derbyshire, according to The Birds of Derbyshire, has risen steadily from around a dozen in the 1970's to more than 70 in recent years, most are recorded in gardens and generally in the lower lying south and east of the county.
Nationally and regionally the Blackcap population is doing well and may be benefiting from a reduced migration with many now wintering in Europe. There is some evidence that our wintering birds are not of British origin but migrate here from northern and eastern Europe.

Blackcap - male

Blackcap - male in song

Plenty of Blackcap around now, male is one of our best songsters. Several Wheatear on the moor and at least three Cuckoo. Ken had a Whinchat yesterday but no sign today, couple of male Stonechat but there was a strong cool wind blowing over the moor making viewing difficult. 
A couple more Mottled Grey moths in the trap last night.

Blackcap - male

Blackcap - Clough Wood

A male Ring Ousel on Harland Edge was the highlight of this mornings trip out but a singing male Blackcap at Clough Wood was another sign of the approaching spring but no sign of any Pied Flycatchers yet.

Blackcap - male