Russian White-fronted Goose - Middleton Moor

 I mentioned the influx of White-fronted Geese in relation to the Youlgrave birds in December and the few regulars visiting Middleton Moor had thought that we were going to miss out. However,  a visit by Jon Lowes this morning in conditions that didn't look promising with thick mist turned up trumps with two birds on the lagoon, which then disappeared in to the mist.

After a  tense two and a half hour wait the mist finally lifted enough for us to confirm that they were still present. A first record for Middleton Moor as far as we can tell!

Russian White-fronted Goose

I was at Middleton on Saturday, and with widespread reports of Common Scoter and passage waders on inland waters I had high hopes but I was a little disappointed with Redshank and the first Dunlin of the year but not a bad haul on reflection.

Redshank

Winter plumaged Dunlin with Lapwing

 

Redshank - Chatsworth

It's been a very grey weekend with constant mist over the moors but a walk along the river at Chatsworth produced a Redshank which brightened the day somewhat. A regular breeding bird on the gravel pits in the south of the county a now regularly breeding at Carsington it's largely disappeared as a breeding bird of the moorlands. The Birds of Derbyshire cites a breeding record for Beeley Moor  in 1981 but this is my first in the immediate area. 

Redshank