Cattle Egret - Old Brampton

Slightly outside my usual area but a Cattle Egret at Old Brampton, which was first seen on 24 January, proved too much of an attraction today so I cycled over this morning. Cutting across past the Triangle then down through Holymoorside on to Westwick Lane. I could see the white dot moving in the field just east of Old Brampton church from almost a kilometre away.

Cattle Egret

It seemed to be working its way up the field towards Old Brampton by the bridleway then flying down to the bottom of the field to repeat the process, which it did a couple of times before taking to the air and flying strongly west at 09:50, disappearing from view after about a kilometre but likely still going.

Cattle Egret

By far the rarest of the three white egrets numbers of all three continue to increase and it seems likely that we'll be seeing them more regularly in the future. 

First Chiffchaff - Rowsley

Ken saw the first Chiffchaff of the year today at Rowsley which must be one of the earliest dates locally. 
The first Curlew was seen on the moor on 22nd February and I managed at least 4 birds on the 26th.
It definitely felt Spring like at the end of last week with day time temperatures of 17℃. 
I caught a Pine Beauty in the moth trap which has been very scarce in the last few years.

Chiffchaff (Ken Smith)

Doug Aston had a Cattle Egret on Harland Edge on 3rd February which was the first for the area as far as I'm aware but surely there will be more.

Expecting the first Wheatear next!