I first saw this juvenile Great Crested Grebe in front of Chatsworth House on 6th August but didn't have mt camera with me so I was both surprised and pleased that it was still there this morning. It's only my second record at Chatsworth so it is a real rarity there.
It will be interesting to see how long it stays, it looked healthy and must be feeding OK.
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| Great Crested Grebe juvenile |
A red letter day for me with my first Great Crested Grebe seen locally, in front of Chatsworth House this morning. I've always felt that the wide stretch of river in front of the house could attract one. It was quite nervous, diving regulalry as people walked along the river bank and I don't think it will stay long.
It's not the first recorded locally the two Ten Year Reports published by the Bakewell Bird Study Group covering the years 1987 - 2007 document several records;
1992 6 February - a pair on Emperor Lake Chatsworth
2003 23 July - one in Chatsworth Park
2003 14 September - one flying over Halldale Wood
2004 11 February - two on the River Wye in Bakewell.
Of course there are decent numbers at Ogston and Carsington Reservoirs but they clearly don't stray in to the Derwent and Wye valleys very often.
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| Great Crested Grebe 600mm f5,6 1/1250 ISO 1250 |
I heard my first Chiffchaff of the year in Farley Woods yesterday and there were three Oystercatcher at Chatsworth today so birds are definitely on the move.
A Peregrine sat in a tree a couple of days ago made a nice photo. Although they are most commonly seen on cliff faces and rocky outcrops they do sit in trees sometimes.
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| Peregrine Falcon - male 600mm f5.6 1/2000 ISO 1250 |
Still two Pink-footed Geese with the Greylags at Harthill Reservoir earlier in the week but no sign of the Little Egrets there.
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| Pink-footed Geese with a drake Teal in the background |
