Peregrine Falcons

I photographed this pair of Peregrine Falcons close to Beeley Moor today. It's quite unusual, for me at least, to see a pair in such close proximity away from a nest site and gives a useful size comparison, with the larger female on the right. 

The male has an almost complete black hood, there is considerable variation in the width of the malar stripe but I can't recall having seen such a dark headed bird in the UK before.

Peregrine Falcon - male left, female right

Ring Ouzel - Flash Lane

 After the persistent wind and rain of recent days it was a pleasure to go out this morning in dry and calm conditions. I was soon rewarded with a couple of Tree Pipits singing in Whitesprings with several Willow Warblers jn the background.

Walking up Flash Lane with Alan we had a nice party of 35 Fieldfare on the edge of Sitches plantation and returning to the same area half an hour later a Ring Ouzel was sat in a roadside tree. Judging by the amount of white on the chest it's probably a first summer male but could be an older female.

Ring Ouzel

On the moors a Red Kite drifted over, then another bird circling high over Harland Edge turned out to be a Short-eared Owl, my first this year. It gained height and was eventually lost to view.

To finish the morning a male Peregrine treated us to a close fly past.

Peregrine Falcon - male

There should be more migrants arriving in the next few days with the warmer weather forecast.

Woodpigeons on the move

There have been some big movements of Common Woodpigeon in recent days. 

This morning Alan Stewardson and I counted 13,100 birds moving in a westerly or south-westerly direction over Harewood Moor but 29,000 birds were counted earlier in the week from the highpoint at Stone Edge behind the Red Lion.

Common Woodpigeon a flock of 119 birds

There were several hundred finches, mostly Chaffinch but with several flocks of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.

A Ring Ouzel was still present in the Cathole area yesterday but the Black Redstart on Flash Lane hasn't been seen since last Thursday (24th Oct) but could still be in the area.

I had great views of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon yesterday, chasing Fieldfare on Flash Lane. It made several stoops at feeding birds but was unsuccessful.

Peregrine - juvenile

A decent day for raptors

With a clear sky for a change I spent most of the day in the hills and was rewarded with a superb Peregrine, which flew close past my viewpoint, but also the first signs of Sparrowhawk display with both a male and female circling with characteristic flickering wings. I've made a composite photo to show the orange throated male with the female.
Last, but not least a female Goshawk circled over the hillside looking decidedly meaner than the Sparrowhawks and offering a rare, for me, sight of the upperwing.

Peregrine

Sparrowhawk (female on left, male on right)

Goshawk adult female

Peregrine - juvenile Darley Dale

For the past eight or nine days I've seen, or more correctly heard, a juvenile Peregrine flying up and down the valley. It follows an adult whilst making very loud begging calls which are usually the first indication it's in the area. Typically it's gone, or flys out of view, before I can get the camera but managed a decent shot of it today.

Peregrine - juvenile

Peregrine Falcon second calendar year - Bent Lane

Quiet morning with nothing much in the moth trap but nice views of a second calendar year Peregrine on Bent Lane. 
It's still got juvenile tail feathers and outer primaries and secondaries but the inner growing primaries and secondaries are adult. The breast looks to be a mix of juvenile streaks and adult barred feathers. 
Looks like it has fed recently as it still has blood on its talons.

Peregrine - second calendar year

Peregrine juvenile

I haven't seen much of the local juvenile Peregrines since they fledged in July but there were two youngsters on the moor this morning chasing the Kestrels.
The juveniles will retained their streaked underparts until next summer when they will moult into the barred plumage of the adult.
Still several Stonechat and Whinchat on the moor this morning but its definitely starting to feel autumnal.

Peregrine Falcon Juvenile

Peregrine - Darley Dale

Three Peregrine were over the house earlier this evening, an adult and two juveniles. These are local birds and its good to see the juveniles on the wing. This is my only photo of a juvenile in flight this year and its great to see them from the garden. It may not be entirely coincidental that the juvenile Wood Pigeon, below, was also taken in the garden.

Peregrine - juvenile

Peregrine

A grey day today, at least until late afternoon when the sky cleared. The nesting season is just about over for the majority of Peregrines with the young having fledged now although birds can still be found in the nesting areas.

Peregrine

Peregrine Falcon

It looks like the young Peregrines on Belper Mill will be leaving the nest in the next few days as will the Derby Cathedral youngsters. 
This is an adult female making a high speed turn.

Peregrine Falcon - adult female

Peregrine Falcon - Beeley

Several sightings of Peregrine this morning with this bird circling over Beeley village.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine and Raven - Harland Edge

I'm just back from a week on the island of Rhodes, not a great autumn birding location but still a few birds and other wildlife of interest. I'm gradually adding a few photos to my flickr site.
Locally it appears to have been fairly quiet with a few Pink-footed Geese moving, I had about 150 yesterday and another 20 this morning. Steve Mann located the Great Grey Shrike yesterday at Hob Hurst's House by Bunkers Hill Wood (this is in addition to another at Leash Fen) but I had a look this morning without success. 
The Peregrine on Harland Edge put on a good show with a pair of Ravens but as usually the birds were distant.
Mothing has been quiet with just a couple of Silver Y the only evidence of any migrants despite the warm weather. Several Feathered Thorn, Red-green and Juniper Carpet were also attracted to the trap.

Peregrine chasing Raven

Peregrine in a tree at Chatsworth

Although they are more commonly seen sat on rocky outcrops in quarries or on the moors the Peregrine will also use trees as a vantage point. This bird was sat in a large tree near the river at Chatsworth.

Peregrine

Peregrine - another first summer

Came across another Peregrines in first summer plumage on Beeley today. Ken says this bird has been around on the moor since the beginning of the week.

Peregrine - first summer

Peregrine Falcon quarry drama

I visited a local quarry this afternoon to check on the Peregrines and Ravens. There was clearly something bothering the Peregrines when I arrived as both birds were calling loudly. I soon saw why, a first summer female Peregrine was also flying round in the quarry. As the youngster circled the adult female fly up from below her, twisted over and grabbed the youngster. They span round whilst the adult clutched the youngster with both birds calling loudly. The adult let go after about 20 seconds and the youngster flew rapidly away whilst the adult returned to the quarry face. 

Peregrine - first summer female

Peregrine Falcons

Peregrine Falcon - Belper

James went down to Belper this afternoon for the Peregrines. Three juveniles have successfully fledged and there is one bird still in the nest. It looks like this is keeping the adults busy providing food. Great action shots taken with his Canon 7D and 100-400mm.

Peregrine - female with prey

Peregrine - Belper

James called in at the mill at Belper yesterday and took a few photos of the Peregrines. If they are successful this year there should be plenty of photo opportunities in the coming months. Access is much better than the local quarries although the mill building is not a great background!

Peregrine

Peregrine Falcons

Three Peregrines flew over the house late this afternoon, an adult with food closely followed by two juveniles which were clearly after a meal. There was much calling as they chased after the adult. I had little time to get the camera so the exposure was not great.