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.

Reed Warbler and a breeding record of Hawfinch

 A singing Reed Warbler by the river at Peak Rail was a great find this morning by Alan Stewardson. It's the first time either of us have seen the species locally and for a bird that is usually found in reed beds it was an odd location. 

I managed some sound recordings but couldn't get a photo so the one below is from Middleton Moor, taken a couple of days ago, where there are at least six singing males in more typical habitat.

The recording is on the eBird checklist here

Reed Warbler

Whilst waiting for the Reed Warbler to show I saw several Banded Demoiselle along the river bank.

Banded Demoiselle - male

It's been a good week for Alan as he also found a pair of Hawfinch in the Darley Dale area and after some careful observations we confirmed that they were feeding two fledged youngsters. 

Formerly a regular breeder in the area they are now very rare in Derbyshire so it was great to be able to confirm that they had successfully raised two youngsters.

Hawfinch juvenile

Red-legged Partridge - Youlgrave

 I was surprised to see a Red-legged Partridge at Youlgrave yesterday, my first in that area. It was by Conksbury Lane just to the north of the church. Seems odd just to come across isolated individuals but they could be releases for shooting.

Red-leeged Partridge

No more migrants yet this week but the winds are more favourable over the weekend so fingers crossed. The Hawfinch are still at St Helen's Church in Darley Dale, I had three at the start of the week but Alan Stewardson had 10 yesterday.

I haven't seen the Little Egret in Bakewell this week but there was one in Bradford Dale, below Youlgrave, during the week so that could be one of the Bakewell birds.

Looks like the Oystercatcher may have another go at brreding at Chatsworth with a single bird there yesterday.

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Nice to see the Teal still in the Whitworth Park with a male displaying to two females during the week. Like the Mallard they have got used to people walking past so its possible to get nice photos of what is normally quite a shy species.

Eurasian Teal - male

Mediterranean Gull - Bakewell

 A surprise this morning to find a first winter Mediterranean Gull with the Black-headed Gulls at Bakewell Bridge. I check the gulls every time I go in the hope of finding one but it's something of a shock when you actually do! 

I'm not aware of any previous records in Bakewell but with the number of Black-headed Gulls there it seems likely that they must occur occasionally.

Mediterranean Gull - first winter with Black-headed Gulls

Two Little Egrets by the Fire Station is also unusual although a single bird has been in the area for a month or so.

Little Egret

Twelve Hawfinch at St Helen's Church yesterday is my highest count of the winter with 8 seen there this morning. They like to site in the Alders at the back of the church having eaten some of the Yew berries.

Ring-necked Parakeet - Darley Dale

 There were a couple of reports of a Ring-necked Parakeet visiting bird feeders on Northwood Lane during the week. 

With feral populations in Sheffield and Derby its perhaps surprising we don't get more records but they are few and far between with single birds reported on Beeley Moor in 2001 and 2007 and Bakewell in 2001.

Once established numbers can build rapidly so it's probably just as well that we just get the odd bird passing through.

Ring-necked Parakeet (photo Glen Sellors)

On a similar vein a Barnacle Goose was seen with the Canada Goose flock at Chatsworth on Wednesday, I was there on Thursday but there were only 6 Canada's and no sign of it but it may well turn up again, 

Two female Wigeon were on the river infront of the House and have been present for several days.

Still up to six Hawfinch at St Helen's Churchyard

Wigeon - female

Cold weather thrush arrivals

 The cold spell has resulted in a big influx of thrushes in to the valley with hundreds of Redwing and Blackbird feeding in areas with little snow. I counted 40 Redwing feeding in the Whitworth Park with 30 Blackbirds and at least 6 Song Thrush. 

Redwing

Although the ponds were frozen the open water where it entered the park was full of Mallard and the female Teal was still with them.

I only saw one Hawfinch during a brief visit to St Helen's Church but it was nice to see them in the sunshine over the last couple of days.

Hawfinch - male

Hawfinch increasing at St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

 Four Hawfinch have been reported several times over the last few days at St Helen's Church but increased to six this morning. They feed in the Yew trees then sit in the tops of neighbouring trees presumably while the berries are being digested. There are also good numbers of Greenfinch also feeding in the Yew trees. I saw about 20 this morning but more have been reported.

Hawfinch 

Yesterday I braved the snow and ice and ventured to Middleton Moor. There was more snow there and the small road leading to the rough track was particularly difficult but it was worth the effort as a juvenile female Goshawk flew over Black Harry Gate. Sighting of Goshawk are few and far between at Middleton which is a little surprising although there are no significant woodlands close by.

Eurasian Goshawk - juvenile female

A Curlew has been present for several weeks but looked rather forlorn sat out on the ice.

Eurasian Curlew

Hawfinch - St Helen's Church, Darley Dale

 Decent views of Hawfinch in St Helen's Churchyard this morning, Simon had two fly in just before I got there and one bird sat for 5 minutes in the top of the trees, on the cricket pitch side of the church. It called occasionally particularly when a Jackdaw displaced it from the top of the tree. 

I didn't take my camera due to the poor weather so I've used a photo taken a while back at St Helen's.

It looks like there may have been birds in the area for some time as Alan first reported one on 21st December last year and more recently 2 or 3 were reported last Tuesday. 

The overnight snow has displaced some Redwing with around 50 seen this morning in small groups. A few gulls flying around, mainly Black-headed but also single Common and Lesser Black-backed and still 3 Teal on the Whitworth Pond.

Hawfinch - photo taken in 2018 when there was a nice flock at St Helen Church

Hawfinch - Cromford

 During the past week there has been occasional reports of just two Hawfinch by the entrance to Willersley Castle in Cromford. During a three hour watch this morning I managed brief, perched views, of just one bird but I, and two other local birders, were satisfied with that after a prolonged wait in sub-zero temperatures!

Fortunately there was other entertainment on the river with a pair of Dipper showing regularly and the male in song and a Kingfisher made several appearance which, in the bright sunlight, looking greener than I can recall seeing one before.

Hawfinch

Kingfisher

Dipper

Common Goldeneye in Darley Dale

 The persistent low cloud curtailed my trip to the moor this morning so I had a look around Darley Dale and was very surprised to see a pair of Goldeneye on the Whitworth Pond. I have never heard of a sighting there before and it's only about my fourth for the local area with the last at Chatsworth in 2013!

Common Goldeneye - male and female

The long staying female Teal was still present a couple of days ago but I didn't really look for it this morning, the photo below is from the end of October.

Eurasian Teal - female

More birds have been arriving with good numbers of Fieldfare joining the Redwing in the last week. My first Water Rail of the autumn was calling at Long Meadows (by the Care Home) in Darley Dale at the end of October.

There has been a widespread influx of Hawfinch, particularly to southern Britain but there were two over Beeley Moor on 26th October and a single there on 1st November with up to 9 at Brackenfield Church by Ogston and several at Carsington so it's a bird to look out for.

Curlews return to Beeley Moor

 Ken noted the first returning Curlew on Screetham Lane yesterday and there were two there this morning - Spring is on its way!

Eurasian Curlew

There were two Hawfinch at St Helen's Church in Darley Dale yesterday but again I failed to locate them this morning.

Pink-footed Goose - Youlgreave

 Following the Pink-footed Goose movement on the 21st January I've seen no more, apart from the lone Pink-footed Goose that spends its time with the Greylags at Youlgreave. It may be the same bird that spent last winter with them but wasn't present in the summer months so hopefully it returns to Iceland.

Pink-foot with Greylag Geese

I saw two Hawfinch yesterday at Cromford and Alan has seen the single bird at St Helen's in Darley Dale but it eludes me.

I had distant views of a juvenile Goshawk as it crossed Beeley Moor this afternoon which is always a welcome sight as it proves breeding was successful somewhere locally.

Northern Goshawk - juvenile

Hen Harrier - Beeley Moor

 A male Hen Harrier has been seen several times hunting around the fringes of the moor since the start of the year. This morning I was lucky to have it land in view from where I was stood and I managed a distant photo before the snow started.

Hen Harrier - male

In typical fashion, having just mentioned that there had been no records of Hawfinch at St Helen's Church in Darley Dale since 2018, Alan Stewardson found one this morning. Hopefully it will attract a few more.

Hawfinches at Cromford

 Since the first report of a single Hawfinch at Cromford this winter on 8th December they have been seen fairly regular since. Generally in the trees around the entrance to Willersley Castle or nearby at St Mary's Church. 

Most reports were of a single bird in December although Clive Ashton saw 4 on 10th December. In January 3 birds have been seen several times but there were 6 birds reported yesterday and Robin Elliot had 4 there today and took the photo below.

Hawfinch © Robin Elliot

Occasionally birds have wintered in Darley Dale with exceptional numbers during a UK wide influx in the winter of 2018 when there were up to 35 at St Helen's Church but they have not been seen there since. 

The attraction to churchyards is generally due to the presence of Yew trees and their berries which are a favoured food of the Hawfinch.

A chance Long-eared Owl

 Following my last post I did hear Common Quail calling at Elton Common on 26th May, so that's all our potential breeding birds back.

In early June I was lucky to see an adult Long-eared Owl, this bird had two fledged youngsters. The Long-eared Owl is one of the hardest birds to find locally as they are almost entirely nocturnal. The only time they are likely to be seen before dusk is when they are feeding young.

Long-eared Owl

I'm still not sure whether they are resident on the moors but it seems likely that they remain in some years as a bird was photographed on Beeley Triangle in November a few years ago. It probably depends on how severe the winter is.

The breeding season is now well underway with parties of juvenile Stonechat and Meadow Pipits on the moors and I've seen both Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher feeding young today.

Wood Warbler

It looks like the Mute Swans have had a better year with 6 cygnets at Caudwells Mill and 4 in Bakewell.

Mute Swan

The Cuckoo have been very active on the moor and I had an interesting encounter a few days ago. Both the male and female were using the fence posts, the male to hunt for caterpillars and the female to locate Meadow Pipit nests. The male caught a large caterpillar, either a Fox or Northern Eggar I think, then the female took the caterpillar from the male although it took her three attempts to grab it.

Common Cuckoo - male and female

I received some exciting news a few days ago of a female Hawfinch feeding a youngster in the Darley Dale area last Saturday (11th). Although there have been occasional sightings in the breeding season this is the first confirmed breeding record for many years.

Hawfinch at Chatsworth

 The decline of the Hawfinch shows no sign of abating, this winter I have only heard a couple of reports of single birds at Cromford so I was very pleased to see a single bird in the beech trees close to Chatsworth House this morning. It was sat on the very top of the trees and looked to be calling, although I couldn't hear it stood about 100m away. After about 10 minutes it flew towards the Hunting Tower in the wooded area at the back of the house. 

This is an area which I check regularly so I don't think it's a regular visitor although historically Chatsworth is a site that has had wintering and occasional breeding birds.

The habitat still looks suitable so it's possible the odd pair might still breed here, I hope so anyway.

Hawfinch - not sure of its sex from this view

 

An unexpected Hawfinch

 Walking through Halldale Wood this morning I noticed a movement in the very top of an Ash tree, i though it would be a Great Spotted Woodpecker which I could hear calling and was very surprised when it finally showed enough of itself to see that it was a male Hawfinch.

In the late 1990's when I first moved to Darley Dale Hawfinch sightings were fairly regular and I even saw them from the garden several times flying across the woods below Hallmoor Road, Gradually the frequency of sightings decreased until by 2010 they appeared to be lost as a breeding bird in the area.

In the winter small numbers are still recorded at Cromford but numbers have also declined there with just one or two birds present the last couple of winters.

In December 2017 there was an influx of Hawfinch in to Britain from the Continent and a single bird was found in the Whitworth Park in December which increased to 7 by the end of the year. In the New Year birds were seen at St Helens Church which were present in to March with a peak count of 51 birds. Hopes were high that some of these birds would stay to breed but all departed during the early Spring of 2018.

This mornings record of a male is therefore very interesting and is hopefully an indication that there is still at least one breeding pair in the area. Fingers crossed anyway.

Hawfinch flying in the tree canopy - not a great photo but good enough as a record

Whilst in Halldale I photographed a female Pied Flycatcher bearing a metal BTO type ring. It looks like it's a British ring as the middle line of the ring looks to contain 'SW7' and the upper line presumably is 'British Museum'. I've never seen any ringing in Halldale so I'm fairly confident it wasn't rung there so it would be interesting to know where it has come from.

Pied Flycatcher female, I've inverted the ring in the inset image

Hawfinch and first Wheatear

Still 5 Hawfinch at St Helen's Church this morning and a Chiffchaff calling nearby. Also had a lone Oystercatcher flying up and down the river.
The first Wheatear of the Spring was seen by Ken at Peasenhurst on the edge of the moor on Wednesday (28th March).

Hawfinch male on left and looks like a female on right

Goosander, Mandarin and a record count of Hawfinch

Although the main roads are all clear of snow the minor roads are still snow covered so again I've not ventured far from Darley Dale. 
Simon Roddis and Alan Stewardson had an amazing count of 51 Hawfinch at St Helen's Church this morning which must be one of the largest flocks recorded in the County. Roy Frost & Steve Shaw's 'The Birds of Derbyshire' cites a winter roost in 1979/80 of up to 50 birds at Chatsworth which is the only reference to a similar number. At St Helen's this afternoon I could 'only' find a dozen birds and I wonder if they have started to roost at the church, dispersing to feed more widely during the day? 
Moving on to Peak Village I was rewarded with nice views of a pair each of Goosander and Mandarin.
Lots of thrushes about, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare, presumably moving west to avoid the cold weather.

Goosander - male

Mandarin - pair

The Darley Yew

On a rather grey morning with intermittent drizzle I returned to St Helens Church. During the past week there have been around a dozen Hawfinch reported and it didn't take long to find the first birds sitting in the trees at the back of the churchyard. After half an hour, with birds coming and going, it looked like there were at least 10 Hawfinch still in the area.

Whilst in the churchyard I took another look at the Darley Yew which has been a source of food for the Hawfinches during their stay. With an estimated age of 2000 years it's impossible to comprehend such a span for any living thing but the small plaque gives some sense of the events it has witnessed. 

Whatever its age its certainly an impressive tree.

The Darley Yew