Middleton Moor Update

I've been a little slow to post recent sightings so here's a short update,

Hen Harrier

Adult female on 16th and 26th November

Hen Harrier

Jack Snipe

One on 16th November

Caspian Gull

Adult on 10th November

Caspian Gull - adult

Caspian Gull x European Herring Gull

One on 8th November

Pochard 

Two on 4th November, increased to 4 on 10th November

Common Pochard 2 male, 2 female

Black-tailed Godwit

One on 29th October

Black-tailed Godwit

The only other birds of note were 3 Little Egret on the flooded fields just north of Rowsley on 16th November and a Brambling flock on Bent Lane which has increased to over 100 birds.

The Cetti's Warbler is still at Middleton having survived the colder weather.

Marsh Harrier - Middleton Moor

 I wasn't able to get out until early afternoon so decided to have a look at the gulls at Middleton Moor. I arrived at the hide at about 14:45 to the news that a cream crowned (female or juvenile) Marsh Harrier had been present since around 14:00 but had dropped in to the reeds in front of the hide shortly after and hadn't been seen since.

I checked the gulls whilst I waited and had brief views of a juvenile female Hen Harrier but there was no sign of the Marsh Harrier which i decided had either slipped out of the reed bed whilst I was looking elsewhere or had gone to roost early.

Then at 16:20 the harrier flew out of the reed bed, quickly gaining height and chased by the Lapwings it disturbed as it flew. It circled then dropped back down flying low over the reed bed and seemingly looking for alternate roosts sites but eventually dropping back in to the reeds in front of the hide.

Marsh Harrier - probably second calendar year female

Marsh Harrier pursued by Lapwing

It repeated this process once more at 16:45 but again returning to the reeds in front of the hide where I presume it roosted.

A scarce bird in the Peak District and my first at Middleton Moor with thanks to Darren who told me about the bird after he had first seen it.

Hen Harrier - second calendar year female

Great Grey Shrike - Middleton Moor

 Having been to Middleton Moor several times recently it was a pleasant surprise yesterday to see that some gulls had returned. They disappeared when it froze over last month but I counted 130 Common as well as 30 Black-headed plus a handful each of Lesser Black-backed and Herring.

As well as the gulls there were more wildfowl with 5 Pintail, which included three smart drakes, and an increase in Shoveler plus a lone Shelduck.

A Hen Harrier did a rapid pass over the fields at Black Harry Gate and I managed a quick photo before it departed as quickly as it arrived.

Sat in the hide with another birdwatcher he casually stated that he thought he had a Great Grey Shrike and sure enough there it was sat atop a small bush on the eastern bank, distant but easily recognisable. I quickly grabbed a few photos before it dropped out of view. 

Formerly seen most winters on Beeley Moor it is now a very scarce visitor and I can only find a single previous record at Middleton Moor on 23 October 1988!

All in all a very nice Christmas present!

Great Grey Shrike

Hen Harrier - female

Pintail

Shelduck

Hen Harrier - Beeley Moor

 A late afternoon visit to Beeley Moor proved better than expected when an adult female Hen Harrier flew across the moor from Fallinge to Harland Edge. It was very distant but managed a record shot.

Hen Harrier - adult female

Earlier in the day I'd walked along the river at Chatsworth where the highlight was two Little Egrets feeding just below the house. My first locally since February.

Little Egret

Pink-feet, Whoopers and another harrier

 Driving up from the valley this morning in thick mist I was hoping, as usual, that it would clear before before I got to the moor and fortunately it did revealing a clear sky.

There was nothing much of note until around 09:30 when the first skein of Pink-footed Geese were seen flying NW over the valley and just above the mist. These were followed by several more skeins heading in the same direction with some birds a little closer. In the next 30 minutes we counted 710 birds all heading NW.

Then a female Hen Harrier appeared flying low over the frosted moorland grass towards us before veering off across the moor, an amazing sight!

But, there was more to come as Alan picked up two distant swans flying SE over the moor which we thought were likely to be Whoopers and which the distant photos confirmed. 

I superb morning!

Hen Harrier - female

Pink-footed Geese

Whooper Swans

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.

Another sighting of the Hen Harrier

I saw the male Hen Harrier on the 22nd January and it was seen again on the 23rd January but as far as I'm aware it was seen subsequently so it was a very pleasant surprise to see it close to Wragg's Quarry this morning.

It was a long way off but still looked stunning as it broke the sky line, buffeted by today's strong winds.

Hen Harrier - male

Hen Harrier - Beeley Moor

 It's always a treat to see a Hen Harrier hunting over the moor but to watch an adult male is extra special. I picked it up over Beeley this morning heading towards Harewood Moor, it was quickly lost to sight but as I walked towards the moor I could see it in the distance sat in the grass. 

After about 5 mins it took flight, following the moor down towards Holymoorside where I finally lost it. As usual the views were fairly brief but still a real treat.

The last male I saw on Beeley was November 2020 so they are a very scarce bird locally.

Hen Harrier - adult male

First Wigeon of the autumn - Chatsworth

 Checking the Mallards along the river at Chatsworth I was rewarded with my first Eurasian Wigeon of the autumn plus a single immature female Goosander which are still in short supply.

Eurasian Wigeon - 1st winter male I think

A depleted Emperor Lake held 25 Teal which is the largest count I have had since Swiss Lake was drained.

An immature male Hen Harrier, perhaps one from the successful breeding this year in upper Derwent Dale, has been seen several times around Harland Edge and East Moor during the past week.

a very distant Hen Harrier probably a juvenile male messing with a Carrion Crow

Some positive news on Red Grouse with at least 4 seen on East Moor and a further 2 or 3 on Beeley Moor in the last few days, my largest count for several years.

Hen Harrier - a rare visitor to Beeley Moor

 I watched this adult female Hen Harrier for over 30 minutes hunting above and below Harland Edge this morning. At the end of this period it climbed until it was a dot in the sky and did two steep swoops, the classic 'sky dance' for which the male Hen Harrier is well known, before drifting off west.

An occasional breeding bird in Derbyshire it has suffered from persecution in many parts of its former range in England and there are typically less than 20 pairs nesting in northern England each year.

Why a lone adult female would be on Beeley Moor in June is a good question. It is perhaps an unpaired bird or a failed breeder from further north.

Hen Harrier - female

Slow start to the New Year

It's been a rather slow start to the New Year, mainly due to the persistent mild, wet weather. I did make a reasonable start on the 1st though, with 65 species recorded but this included a visit to Carsington for the adult and juvenile Great Northern Divers plus a Jack Snipe, the regular Willow Tits there and an unseasonal Chiffchaff which is over wintering on Stones Island.

Chiffchaff

On the moors I've seen up to 23 Common Crossbill fairly regularly and one or two Red Grouse plus a regular pair of Stonechat and a mobile flock of up to 200 Brambling.
Today was a better day though as I came across an adult male Hen Harrier hunting over the moor which was a fantastic sight, albeit rather fleeting and distant as is so often the case.

Hen Harrier - male

The Hen Harrier's tale

Sad news today covered by both the Guardian and BBC that a fourth Hen Harrier has gone missing in the Northern Pennines;

'Fourth Hen Harrier's disappearance sparks fears of extinction by persecution

The mysterious disappearance of a fourth hen harrier from a nest in the Pennines this spring has renewed fears that England's most endangered bird of prey is being persecuted towards extinction.

The RSPB and Cumbria Police have launched an appeal for information after the male bird vanished on 23 May from the RSPB's Geltsdale reserve, where it had established a nest with a female. Without the male providing food for the incubating female her clutch of five eggs was abandoned.'

Guardian 02.06.15

Towards the backend of the winter a superb male Hen Harrier made several visits to Beeley Moor and was also recorded on at least four separate occasions at the DWT Avenue Washlands.

I was lucky enough to get some photos of the bird but for obvious reasons the presence of the harrier was not publicised. 
The last successful nesting in Derbyshire was in 2006 although there have been several attempts since.

Hen Harrier - male

Hen Harrier ringtail - Beeley Moor

News of a Rough-legged Buzzard seen flying ESE along Harland Edge at mid-day today by Mick Taylor was followed by a call from Ken to say that he has seen the bird 20 minutes later over Slack Hill flying towards Tansley. 
Ken had also seen 4 Ring Ousel with Redwing in the Cathole area and Simon Roddis reported 1300 this morning passing Upperloads in one hour. Clearly the Rough-leg had gone but I went up on the moor after work on the off chance.
Arriving at Wraggs Quarry I encountered a ring-tail Hen Harrier which gave brief and distant views and provided some compensation for the missed Rough-leg.

Hen Harrier - ring tail 

Hen Harrier - Flash Lane

A male Hen Harrier give good but brief views to Ken, Roger and I as we walked down Flash Lane at about 08:30 this morning. It was 28th December when we last saw an adult male also on Flash Lane, this could be the same bird but where it has been for the last 2 1/2 months is anyone's guess. 

Hen Harrier - male

Hen Harrier male - Flash Lane

Ken, Roger and I enjoyed an unexpected late Christmas present this morning when we saw a male Hen Harrier. It came up from Whitesprings Plantation, crossed Flash Lane then followed the tree line behind Darwin Forest where it flushed a Woodcock before it was lost to view as it headed towards Screetham Lane. It looked like a full adult male and although it was very distant for photography I managed a couple of record shots. This is my only sighting in the Beeley area this year although there have been a couple of sightings on the moor in the last month which may be of this bird. 

Hen Harrier - male

Hen Harrier - male tail end

Generally a quiet day, the summer migrants have all gone and the winter visitors are just starting to arrive. the day was brightened considerably however by an adult male Hen Harrier on East Moor. It appeared from behind me and before I could get the camera it was already travelling away so the photos are not the most exciting.
The Hen Harrier has declined dramatically as an English breeding bird with currently less than 20 pairs giving it the unwelcome distinction of being are rarest breeding bird of prey. 

Hen Harrier - male