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

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.

Big Redwing Day and an unexpected Osprey

 I was away over the weekend and was keen to see if there were any new birds at Chatsworth. I'd already seen that Dutch radar was reporting large number of migrants leaving their coast on Monday evening and the wind was forecast in the east so conditions looked good.

I was still very surprised to see an Osprey fishing below Beeley village as I set off for Chatsworth. It had just caught a fish and was flying towards Rowsley, presumably to find a suitable tree where it could enjoy its meal. A message from Alan reported large numbers of thrushes passing over Beeley Moor and as I scanned the hillside several flocks could be seen in the distance.

Osprey juvenile with fish

Although they were mainly Redwing there were several groups of Fieldfare with them which were my first local birds of the autumn.

Redwing

Fieldfare

As I walked towards Chatsworth House the Redwing total was approaching 1000 birds moving SW over the wooded valley sides with some birds dropping in to the trees.

A female Wigeon with Mallard in front of the House was a first for the year and posed nicely for a photo.

Wigeon female

The Redwing flocks continued to pass overhead and I was on 1900 as I returned to Beeley Village but my numbers were tiny compared to Simon who had counted 29,190 at Carsington!

Although Redwing were the main species on the move several hundred Wood Pigeon also passed over the area and Ken called early afternoon to say that he had seen a Marsh Harrier over the moor so all in all a very good day.

Marsh Harrier female or immature © Ken Smith

Carsington Water - all day birdwatch

I took part in Carsington Bird Club's all day birdwatch today. The idea being to watch the site all day, from before first light until darkness. I was there from about 07:30 to around 14:00, the weather could have been a bit more helpful as it was heavily overcast most of the day with some heavy rain showers but the keener members of the team were there throughout!

This was a repeat of an event last September when they recorded 81 species, todays final total was 92 so a great achievement by all involved. Highlights for me were Common Scoter, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret and my first Pink-footed Goose of the autumn but the supporting cast of Northern Wheatear, several Common Swift, Red-crested Pochard and Ringed Plover. In addition I missed Great Egret, Common Sandpiper as well as quite a few woodland species but had a thoroughly enjoyable time. 

Marsh Harrier - juvenile

Pink-footed Goose

Little Egret

Migrant Marsh Harrier

In blustery conditions an adult female Marsh Harrier crossed Beeley Moor, heading steadily east this morning. Still at least 4 Common Crossbill on Flash Lane and several Brambling this morning also the first Chiffchaff on Flash Lane.

Marsh Harrier - female

Marsh Harrier - Harland Edge

Watched a cracking juvenile Marsh Harrier sparring with a Buzzard along Harland Edge yesterday. 
It's only about the 4th I've seen over the moor. It's a mystery to me why, when the number of Marsh Harrier have increased dramatically in England over the past 20 years, they are as scarce, if not scarcer on the moors now than two decades ago.

Marsh Harrier - juvenile

Marsh Harrier - a migrant over Harewood Moor

This cream crowned Marsh Harrier flew rapidly SE over Harewood Moor this afternoon and looks like a juvenile.
With the dramatic increase in the UK breeding population we do appear to be getting a few more sightings over the moor, usually on Spring or Autumn passage.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier - Harland Edge, Beeley Moor

Doug Aston had brief views of a 'cream crowned' Marsh Harrier over Harland Edge then over the moor towards Hellbank Plantation early afternoon yesterday and managed a record photo before it was lost to sight.

Marsh Harrier (Doug Aston)

Marsh Harrier - Beeley Moor

A rather grey, overcast start to the day with light drizzle but brightened up considerably by the sight of a cream-crowned (female or immature) Marsh Harrier crossing the moor. Mobbed by a Carrion Crow initially and then by a Peregrine. It was very distant in the poor light so it's just about a record shot. There are only one or two records from the moor each year so it's still a very rare visitor despite the dramatic increase in the UK breeding population in recent years.
Two parties of Snipe totalling 29 birds flying NW was a local record count for me, also single Crossbill.

Marsh Harrier and Peregrine