Redwing in Chatsworth

 There have been hundreds of Redwing flying around this week and they appear to be settling in to feed now. I came across a nice group feeding with Chaffinch below an oak tree in Chatsworth today as we experienced the first dusting of snow of the winter.

Redwing

I managed to count the Lapwing flock at the end of Screetham Lane earlier in the week. I'd estimated the flock at 200 but counting from a photo I came to 308. The Golden Plover, which have been as high as 170 can be counted at 50 now in the same photo. With the ground now freezing it's likely that these birds will leave the moor for milder areas.

Lapwing with Golden Plover above them

I watched a Hawfinch flying over Cromford Bridge yesterday morning which I think is the first recorded there so far this winter. Still hoping they may return to the yews at St Helen's Church in Darley Dale.

Close encounter with a Kingfisher on the River Bradford

 We've had a spell of very gloomy weather recently and today was no exception but I had very close views of a Common Kingfisher on the River Bradford at Youlgrave today. It was so intent on fishing that it allowed me to get within several metres. It caught three fish whilst I was watching it. I didn't realise at the time but it has a BTO ring on its right leg. If the weather had been better I may have been able to read some of the ring but it was very dark and spitting with rain.

Common Kingfisher

A little further up the river a young male Wigeon was still present which I had first seen on the 25th November.

Wigeon immature male

It's been fairly quiet recently although several skeins of Pink-footed Geese are still passing over the moor and there are now 20-30 Common Crossbill in the forestry plantations on Flash Lane. 

Lapwing are still present around Screetham Lane in decent numbers (over 200) and I've seen up to 170 Golden Plover in the same area.

A Marsh Harrier was seen in the same area last weekend but there has been no further sightings.

Lapwing arrival

Earlier today I picked up a large flock of very distant birds heading towards Screetham Lane from the SW, they turned out to be Lapwing as they got closer. I estimated that there were 400-500 birds, which briefly joined a group of around 70 which were already on the ground. 
This is one of the largest Lapwing flocks I have seen locally and is a welcome sight and hopefully reflects improving fortunes for this species which has declined sharply since the 1980's.

Lapwing - part of the large flock

Lapwing and Golden Plover

A nice flock of several hundred Lapwing on Screetham Lane with around 30 Golden Plover which have been present for over a week now. This years Lapwing are very colourful in the sunshine at this time of year. 
Over 100 Skylark, several hundred Linnet and around 30 Yellowhammer in the fields with Chaffinch and a few Brambling.
The Great Grey Shrike spent most of the day on Bent Lane on either side of the road just north of Bumper Castle. 

Lapwing and Golden Plover

Lapwing

During a brief sunny spell before lunch I took a few Lapwing photos. The colours on the mantle and wing coverts are striking when they catch the sun.

Lapwing

Another Lapwing chick

Having posted one of Ken's shots of a Lapwing chick earlier this week I came across a family party today and couldn't resist posting another.

Lapwing - chick

Lapwing chick

Mention of the Golden Plover chick yesterday prompted Ken to send me this portrait of a Lapwing chick from Beeley Moor also taken yesterday. The season is moving on!

Lapwing - chick (Ken Smith)