Three Sand Martin bach at Chatsworth today and 6 Common Chiffchaff  were a sign that Spring really is on its way. Sand Martin The Mandarin a...

 Another Little Egret at Chatsworth today, it flew up from the river and landed in a tree, and at least one back at Youlgreave yesterday. Th...

More Spring arrivals today with my first local Willow Warbler (I heard one at Carsington last week) and Tree Pipit in the Flash Lane area wi...

The number of Mandarin Duck decrease dramatically on the local rivers during the autumn. For example during my last couple of visits to Chat...

I had just been thinking that I was overdue seeing Mandarin with young but made up for it this morning with at least nine broods on a 1km st...

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.  ...

Nice views of the Mandarin on the river at Rowsley yesterday. It makes a big difference seeing them in sunshine as opposed to the overcast c...

I'm not clear on the movement of Mandarin in the Darley Dale area. Numbers peak during the breeding season and late summer then rapidly ...

Great walk between Rowsley and Chatsworth this morning with Green Woodpecker, between 50 - 60 Mandarin flying down river and this adult Hobb...

Although there are still some family parties of Mandarin with downy young along the river the majority are now full feathered and starting t...

First Mandarin ducklings on the river at Chatsworth today, a small brood only two of them. Mandarin duck with ducklings

At least seven pairs of Mandarin along the river at Chatsworth plus a single pair of Gooseander. Mandarin - pair

It looks like the Mandarin Duck numbers in the area are going to continue to rise. Walking a 1Km stretch of the River Derwent I came across ...

After commenting yesterday that I thought most female Mandarin would be on eggs now, I came across my first brood of ducklings on Swiss Lake...

One of the strangest wildlife sights locally is to see Mandarin Ducks sat high in a tree. This is perfectly normal behaviour for them and is...

It is easy to see why the Mandarin duck is increasing in numbers in the valley, if every pair raises nine off-spring! These were at Rowsley ...

I came across these two males and a female Mandarin Duck by the river at Rowsley. It looks odd to see them in the Alder tree but Mandarin ar...

The males are certainly spectacular in comparison to the rather dowdy female. Mandarin Duck - male and female

The Mandarin is well established as a breeding bird on the River Derwent but not always easy to see. Mandarin - pair Mandarin