Sedge Warbler and a breeding record of Kingfisher

I spent yesterday morning checking all the likely places for Sedge Warbler in the valley, which were discussed after my first record last year. I didn't find any, but shortly after returning home I received a message that Alan had found one singing on Beeley Moor. To para phrase Sherlock Holmes; when you have eliminated all the likely places you should then search the unlikely places!

Fortunately it was still there this morning but only singing occasionally in rather blustery conditions. News that Simon had found three juvenile Kingfisher being fed by one of the parents at Rowsley was too good to miss and luckily they were still being fed by the river when I arrived. 

I'm amazed how unobtrusive Kingfishers can be, it was February when I last saw one at Rowsley but I did see them several times last year on the river close to the recycling station so perhaps they have nested somewhere in that direction.

I watched one of the juveniles make several unsuccessful dives and I imagine that it is a skill that they take some time to learn.

Kingfisher - juvenile

My first Sedge Warbler for the Darley Dale area

 Not the first record for the area as there have been several other sightings over the years but this is the first I've seen. Given that it's a common breeding bird at both Carsington and Ogston it is surprising that there aren't more seen locally. 

The 'Birds of the Bakewell Area' which covers the 1990's documents just 15 records of which 11 were at Middleton Moor,  2 at Barbrook (which are both outside the area that I cover) and just 2 from the Wye Valley. Regarding the Wye valley records the report goes on to say;

'In the Wye valley a bird was seen near the Quaker ponds , Monsal Dale (no date given) and a bird was singing near Bakewell on 2 May 1997. The latter has been a traditional site for Sedge Warbler for many years but no specific data was available.'

Where the traditional site in Bakewell was I'm not sure but there is a reedy pool which looks suitable, by the A6 just south of Bakewell by the Haddon Park Farm entrance track that I have checked several times without success.

The bird today was both singing and doing the characteristic display flight in a patch of phragmites which borders the Peak Rail line on the edge of the Whitworth Park. 

Sedge Warbler (not the bird I saw today unfortunately)

The Sedge Warbler is the 160th species I've seen locally (in the Matlock/ Bakewell/ Youlgreave area) which is quite an impressive total for an area lacking any significant open water.