Middleton Moor Update

 Considering we are moving towards mid-summer, and the high temperatures have not been conducive to spending a lot of time out doors, I've had a pretty good run this week.

I started the week with a superb Black-tailed Godwit on the 4th and then had several sightings of both adult and juvenile Water Rail, which confirmed that they had bred there.

Black-tailed Godwit

Water Rail - juvenile

On the  8th I saw two juvenile Little Egrets which, perhaps surprisingly, were the first records for the year but only stayed a day.

Little Egret

Yesterday I was surprised to first hear, then see an adult Wood Sandpiper and a little later a Greenshank put in an appearance.

Wood Sandpiper

So I'm hoping the second half of July is just a productive, and hopefully a little cooler!

Water Rail - Long Meadows, Darley Dale

 During the winter period (November - February) I can usually hear Water Rails calling in the reedy areas at Long Meadows and the entrance to Haddon Park Farm and occasional at Harthill Pond, Youlgrave, Cromford Canal and even the Whitworth Park. Very occasionally I've come across birds that feed out in the open which have previously featured on the blog. 

Today I got brief views of a bird at Long Meadows which is the first I've seen for a while.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and good birding in the New Year!

Water Rail

Water Rail - Caudwells Mill

 In very murky conditions I had a look at Caudwells Mill this morning and was lucky to see a Water Rail. They are doing some repairs on the weir at the canal and have lowered the water level which has created a muddy edge where the Water Rail was feeding.

This winter I've also recorded Water Rail at Youlgrave and close to Bakewell. Due to their secretive behaviour it's difficult to know what numbers may occur in the area. There is an abundance of suitable habitat in the form of small ponds and the vegetated banks of the river Bradford, Lathkill and Wye so they are doubtless more common than my records suggest. I've also seen them on the pond in the Whitworth Park several times.

I've only recorded them between late October and March but they have bred as close as Wyver Lane, Belper so they could breed on occasion.

Water Rail

Water Rail back at Whitworth Park

I can only assume that it is the Water Rail seen at the Whitworth Park last November that has returned again this autumn. First seen by Mary Wilde about a week ago it was still there this morning but very difficult to see. 

There is no mud at the moment so it is hidden in the vegetation most of the time. I just caught it as it decided to swim from the bank to the island, where it would be almost impossible to see. 

Water Rail

Water Rail - still showing well

The Water Rail was still in the Whitworth Park this morning and with a little patience it was possible to get very close views as it fed in the muddy channel by the seat overlooking the pond.
In addition to the resident Grey Heron we had Kingfisher and Crossbill which is not bad for such a busy park.

Water Rail

Water Rail - Whitworth Park, Darley Dale

I mentioned a couple of days ago that a Water Rail had been seen in the Whitworth Park. I finally managed to see it this morning and it gave fantastic views from the seat by the pond.
A scarce winter visitor and rare breeding bird in Derbyshire this is the first I have seen in Darley Dale.

Water Rail

Water Rail - Cromford Canal

Made another trip this morning to look for Water Vole on Cromford Canal, this time with James. We had just passed Whatstandwell Station and we were nearing the sewage works when I mentioned to James that walking this area a few weeks ago I had met someone who had seen Water Rail here last winter. No sooner had I said it than a Water Rail appeared on the edge of the reeds just across the canal from us.
Beautiful blue sky and an obliging Water Rail, who could ask for more?
We took several hundred photos and some video (see below), pointed it out to various passing walkers and left it to continue its feeding.

Water Rail

Water Rail - Williamthorpe Nature Reserve

Started on the moor with Ken but it was very icy with a cold northerly wind so we headed down in to the valley but without much luck. We bumped in to Roy Frost who mentioned he had seen several Water Rail at Williamthorpe recently. 
After a quiet morning I decided to have a look for them late afternoon. There was a decent group of Teal on the lake and a single male Shoveler but it was heading towards dusk before I heard any Water Rail. Sadly my first sighting was of a large Brown Rat carrying a dead Water Rail through the reeds, I only caught the tail end of it but have included a record shot. Rats are well known predators of rails in other parts of the world and are responsible for wiping out some species but I've never seen a rat take a rail in the UK.
It was getting dark before there was any real activity from the Water Rails but I managed a few record shots.

Water Rail

Brown Rat carrying off a Water Rail