Ring-necked Parakeet - Darley Dale

 There were a couple of reports of a Ring-necked Parakeet visiting bird feeders on Northwood Lane during the week. 

With feral populations in Sheffield and Derby its perhaps surprising we don't get more records but they are few and far between with single birds reported on Beeley Moor in 2001 and 2007 and Bakewell in 2001.

Once established numbers can build rapidly so it's probably just as well that we just get the odd bird passing through.

Ring-necked Parakeet (photo Glen Sellors)

On a similar vein a Barnacle Goose was seen with the Canada Goose flock at Chatsworth on Wednesday, I was there on Thursday but there were only 6 Canada's and no sign of it but it may well turn up again, 

Two female Wigeon were on the river infront of the House and have been present for several days.

Still up to six Hawfinch at St Helen's Churchyard

Wigeon - female

Close encounter with a Kingfisher on the River Bradford

 We've had a spell of very gloomy weather recently and today was no exception but I had very close views of a Common Kingfisher on the River Bradford at Youlgrave today. It was so intent on fishing that it allowed me to get within several metres. It caught three fish whilst I was watching it. I didn't realise at the time but it has a BTO ring on its right leg. If the weather had been better I may have been able to read some of the ring but it was very dark and spitting with rain.

Common Kingfisher

A little further up the river a young male Wigeon was still present which I had first seen on the 25th November.

Wigeon immature male

It's been fairly quiet recently although several skeins of Pink-footed Geese are still passing over the moor and there are now 20-30 Common Crossbill in the forestry plantations on Flash Lane. 

Lapwing are still present around Screetham Lane in decent numbers (over 200) and I've seen up to 170 Golden Plover in the same area.

A Marsh Harrier was seen in the same area last weekend but there has been no further sightings.

Big Redwing Day and an unexpected Osprey

 I was away over the weekend and was keen to see if there were any new birds at Chatsworth. I'd already seen that Dutch radar was reporting large number of migrants leaving their coast on Monday evening and the wind was forecast in the east so conditions looked good.

I was still very surprised to see an Osprey fishing below Beeley village as I set off for Chatsworth. It had just caught a fish and was flying towards Rowsley, presumably to find a suitable tree where it could enjoy its meal. A message from Alan reported large numbers of thrushes passing over Beeley Moor and as I scanned the hillside several flocks could be seen in the distance.

Osprey juvenile with fish

Although they were mainly Redwing there were several groups of Fieldfare with them which were my first local birds of the autumn.

Redwing

Fieldfare

As I walked towards Chatsworth House the Redwing total was approaching 1000 birds moving SW over the wooded valley sides with some birds dropping in to the trees.

A female Wigeon with Mallard in front of the House was a first for the year and posed nicely for a photo.

Wigeon female

The Redwing flocks continued to pass overhead and I was on 1900 as I returned to Beeley Village but my numbers were tiny compared to Simon who had counted 29,190 at Carsington!

Although Redwing were the main species on the move several hundred Wood Pigeon also passed over the area and Ken called early afternoon to say that he had seen a Marsh Harrier over the moor so all in all a very good day.

Marsh Harrier female or immature © Ken Smith

First Wigeon of the autumn - Chatsworth

 Checking the Mallards along the river at Chatsworth I was rewarded with my first Eurasian Wigeon of the autumn plus a single immature female Goosander which are still in short supply.

Eurasian Wigeon - 1st winter male I think

A depleted Emperor Lake held 25 Teal which is the largest count I have had since Swiss Lake was drained.

An immature male Hen Harrier, perhaps one from the successful breeding this year in upper Derwent Dale, has been seen several times around Harland Edge and East Moor during the past week.

a very distant Hen Harrier probably a juvenile male messing with a Carrion Crow

Some positive news on Red Grouse with at least 4 seen on East Moor and a further 2 or 3 on Beeley Moor in the last few days, my largest count for several years.

A few birds from the weekend

I have just returned from a month in southern Europe (still writing up the trip on andybutlerdiaries ) and made my first visit to the moors over the weekend. The temperature at least was similar to those I experienced last week, but the birds were different!
A female Whinchat on Beeley Moor was the first I have seen locally this year and it doesn't look like they have bred here so this is probably a female that is passing through, hopefully having bred successfully elsewhere. 

Whinchat -  female

A party of at least 17 Crossbill on Flash Lane was a further sign that birds are already on the move as there have been only a couple of birds in the area in the earlier summer.
At Chatsworth no sign of any Common Sandpiper so looks like they have not bred on the river below the House this year but a Wigeon was very unseasonal, looks like this is a drake in eclipse plumage.

Wigeon = eclipse drake

On the river at Rowsley a juvenile Dipper was just about visible in the foliage on the edge of the river.

Dipper - juvenile

Wigeon - Rowsley

A pair of Wigeon with Mallard by Peak Village at Rowsley is quite unusual, there was also a male Shoveler which has been present in the general area up to Chatsworth for several weeks, and a drake Mandarin but nothing else of note on a drive around the moor. 
It was 13 Centigrade at sunrise which is very mild. 

Wigeon - male and female

Wigeon - Chatsworth

A single female Wigeon on the river at Chatsworth this morning. It was very nervous and soon departed.

Wigeon - female

Wigeon - Bakewell

Came across this eclipse drake Wigeon at Bakewell this morning. Although the weather has been fantastic over the weekend there has been a persistent mist on the hills until late morning so I ventured up to Bakewell. I don't know if this bird has been present for some time or not, at this time of year there is a large influx of Wigeon from the continent so it could have been a relatively recent arrival. If it stays a few more weeks it should get back in to the full male plumage.

Wigeon - eclipse drake