Greylag Goose breeding at Chatsworth

 A pair of Greylag Geese with three goslings in front of Chatsworth House this morning is the first time I've confirmed breeding in the Darley Dale area. I suspect numbers will rival those of Canada Geese in a few years time.

Postscript: After publishing this post I went to Bakewell on 10th June and counted 55 Greylag Geese by the river and lake just north of the Thornbridge Brewery. At least half of the birds were juveniles so the number of birds in the area is going up rapidly!

Greylag Geese

After the controversial netting of Chatsworth House to prevent House Martins nesting it was good to see several pairs nest building under the Three Arch Bridge today.

House Martin

Geese numbers rising

The Greylag Goose is a relatively recent resident in the area, its first appearance on the blog was only in 2015, although I'm sure I had occasional sightings prior to that. Now I'm seeing them regularly both from the house and at Rowsley and counted 8 at Youlgreave yesterday. I have no evidence of breeding yet but it seems very likely. 
Meanwhile the number of Canada Geese is on the up with several pairs now nesting on the moors and successful breeding this year in the Whitworth Park. I counted a flock of 26 yesterday  at Youlgreave and presume that these are immatures not at the breeding age of 3 to 4 years old yet.
Will we see feral Barnacle Geese appearing in the future, they are already established at Carsington Water?

Greylag Goose

Oystercatchers at Chatsworth

Still feeling very Spring like with warmer temperatures over the last couple of days but apart from an increase in the number of Sand Martin on both the Wye and Derwent I've not added any summer migrants. 
A pair of Oystercatcher at Chatsworth is interesting though, I had a single bird around Chatsworth last year but perhaps this is a breeding pair which would be the first time in the immediate Darley Dale area I think.

Oystercatchers

Another bird which looks like it could breed in the area is the Greylag Goose which I am seeing more frequently in the area with 5 seen this morning.

Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose - Chatsworth

I saw two Greylag Geese crossing the moor yesterday and came across them again this morning at Chatsworth. Whilst we have plenty of Canada Geese locally and the Pink-feet pass over in Spring and Autumn the Greylag is a comparative rarity, in the immediate area around Darley Dale. 
Several Blackcap, Redstart, Tree Pipit and good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler this morning and the Mandarin are very visible at the moment, even flying over the house.

Greylag Goose