An evening on Beeley Moor

 When I gave my update on returning migrants I forget to mention the Hobby. The first returning birds were reported on the moor on 31st April and have been seen irregularly since, the cold weather preventing insects emerging on the moor. Recent warmer weather has brought out the moths and I saw at least three birds last night hunting what I presume were Fox Moths.

Eurasian Hobby

More unusual though was a Short-eared Owl, my last sighting was of a bird present for just a few hours in April last year. Hopefully this bird will stay longer.

Short-eared Owl

In the forestry clear fell I had several Woodcock and at least four Eurasian Nightjar churring. It was a feat of endurance waiting for them to start churring at around 21:30 as there were clouds of biting midges, but worth it in the end.

Eurasian Woodcock

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.

Birds in the spring sunshine

We've had some great weather over the last few days and I'm starting to see more recently fledged juvenile birds which will be benefitting from the warmth, my first young Dipper was feeding on the river at Rowsley and already starting to gain the adult white breast.

Dipper - juvenile

On the moors Hobby have been seen regularly in the evening hunting Fox moths which test the falcons agility as the day flying male moths search for the mainly nocturnal females. I've also seen the Short-eared Owl again hunting over the moor.

Hobby

Short-eared Owl

Lockdown day 35 continued - Short-eared Owl

I did an evening circuit of the moors on my bike yesterday and was rewarded with distant views of a Short-eared Owl hunting over the grassland. My first record since 2016 which shows how scarce they are on the moor (and perhaps how infrequently I visit the moor at dusk!).

Short-eared Owl

I was still on the moors as the Woodcock commenced their rodding display flight. This bird has its bill open giving the peculiar call, which is usually the first indication that birds are in the air.

Woodcock

Finally, I've started off today with a Garden Warbler feeding in a Sycamore on the edge of the garden taking my lockdown garden list to 65 and my patch lockdown list to 101.

Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

It was May 2016 when Short-eared Owl last featured on the blog, so no records in 2017 but I am pleased to report that Roger had a bird hunting on Beeley Moor yesterday evening. I commented that he must have been quite close to get the photos but he replied he was on 240x magnification! 
In March I had a brief sighting of an owl after dusk which was probably a Short-eared and I am aware of another bird photographed during that month so whether this is the same bird or another it's impossible to say but hopefully it will stay for some time.
First Cuckoo calling on Flash Lane this morning and several Pied Flycatchers and Redstart now singing in the woods in the valley, doubtless encouraged to move north by the beautiful weather over the last few days.  So spring is well and truly underway now with the first Swifts at Carsington today.

Short-eared Owl (© Roger Carrington)

Short-eared Owl

Came across this Short-eared Owl yesterday. 
Given that we are now in the breeding season I'll not disclose the location although there was no indication of any breeding behaviour. Superb bird!

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl landing

Ken took this superb photo of a Short-eared Owl coming in to land on Beeley yesterday. 
No sign this morning with snow settling across the moors.

Short-eared Owl (©Ken Smith)

Short-eared Owl back on Beeley Moor

I was surprised this morning to come across this Short-eared Owl hunting in the bright sunshine on Beeley Moor. I put 'back' on Beeley Moor in the blog post title but it's not clear if they have ever left. They were definitely very nocturnal in their hunting towards the end of January but I have had odd reports of owls being seen in fading light since then.
I can only assume that the continual rain yesterday has forced it to hunt during the daylight so I was pleased to see that it successfully took at least one vole.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl on post

A classic photo of the Short-eared Owl this afternoon. Out hunting in spite of, or perhaps as a result of, the continuing inclement weather. Anyway I make no apologies for posting another photo of this superb owl.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl on show at last on Beeley Moor

Finally managed to see the Short-eared Owl in something other than darkness this afternoon. A fantastic bird and great to be able to watch it at reasonably close quarters.
It didn't appear to be particularly successful although I did see it take one vole. I'm sure the constant rain can't be making the search for food easy.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

There have been occasional sightings of a Short-eared Owl on Beeley Moor during the past couple of weeks but the weather has been so poor that it has been difficult to look for it. I finally caught up with it last night in the murky gloom at around 15:30 and took a record photo.
For the photographers this was taken at ISO 4000 at f4 1/250 and was still a stop and a half under exposed. It was so dark that I could barely see the bird with my naked eye but, with a bit of processing,  the photo is good enough to confirm the identification showing the black wing tips, pale trailing edge to the wing and boldly barred tail of Short-eared.
It's assumed that Long-eared Owls leave the area in favour of communal roosts in the winter, I've never seen one locally in the winter months.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl and Nightjar

I set off this evening to do some moth trapping on Beeley Moor, it was slightly warmer than it has been and the wind appeared to have finally died down. 
On the way I thought I would check for Nightjar and, just as it was getting dark a bird flew over calling with a second bird churring in the distance. When do they migrate? I had it in mind that it was August but it is clearly later, I will have to check the dates in Birds of Derbyshire.
As I then drove across the moor I saw something flying ahead of me and thought it may be another Nightjar but, as I got closer, I saw a Short-eared Owl sat on the tarmac at the edge of the road. I grabbed the camera but as look would have it another car was coming the other way. As the car approached another owl flew in front of me. I thought the owl on the road was about to be run over but it lifted just in front of the approaching car.
I got one fuzzy record shot through the car window.
I've posted this update from my car so apologies for any errors.
I originally post this as Short-eared Owl but thinking back have corrected it to Long-eared, I don't think there is anything in the photo to help with the identification but the eyes were definitely orange not yellow. This is my first September record for Long-eared, I'm still not sure whether they are resident locally or leave the area in the winter.
Back to Short-eared following discussion with various folk, face pattern, light streaking on belly and structure/jiz
Checking in the Birds of Derbyshire August is given as the departure date for Nightjar but there is a single reference to a bird at a breeding site on 10th September, so this is a late record.

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl new for the year

I flushed my first Short-eared Owl of the year, a juvenile, near Bent Lane this morning. It flew almost directly away from me for about 50 metres then landed in an area of bracken so the photos are not great. I left it there in the hope that it might stay in the area and hunt this evening.
A female Merlin by the triangle was the only other bird of note, there was a significant increase in the number of Meadow Pipits on the moor this morning so plenty of food on the wing.
A couple more sightings of Marsh Harrier during the week including a bird with wing tags indicating it had fledged in Norfolk.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

I went up to the moor this evening following a call from Ken Smith telling me that there was a Short-eared Owl on Beeley Moor. I did see it but the views were distant so I'm hoping it will stay for a few days at least.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - Elton Common

James and Ali encountered this Short-eared Owl this evening between Winster and Pike Hall just as the sun was setting. It's the first Short-eared Owl I am aware of in the area for many months and is probably a bird heading north to the moors having over wintered in the Midlands somewhere. It could hang around if it can find a reasonable hunting area.

Short-eared Owl

More Short-eared Owl

The wind and rain has kept the Short-eared Owls out of sight for the last few nights so it was good to see two birds again this evening. James took these shots in poor light this evening but they have turned out well. The first Cuckoos were heard earlier in the week.
It's a fraction warmer this evening so I'm hoping for a few moths tonight.

Short-eared Owl

Owl on a rock

Another of James's photographs taken towards dusk this evening. Good to see the owls out after yesterday's heavy snow fall on the moors.

Short-eared Owl

Owl on a post

Despite the poor light this evening James came across this Short-eared Owl on the edge of the moor and caught a decent image.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - up close and personal

Managed to get up to Beeley Moor this evening with all three Short-eared Owls on show. James took these photos, he's definitely improving! There are more of his photos here; http://www.flickr.com/photos/james13utler/
First Chiffchaff singing today and the Great Grey Shrike was still around Wragg's Quarry. Wheatear has been seen most days since Sunday when Ken Smith reported the first and a Red Kite has been seen in the Darley/Beeley area several times this week.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

Three owls out hunting again this evening.

Short-eared Owl