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

Common Whitethroat v Lesser Whitethroat

 I finally caught up with the Lesser Whitethroat today with a pair just north of Winster. It is very thinly distributed in the Darley Dale area and almost exclusively in the limestone dales. On the other hand its cousin the Common Whitethroat is very widely distributed and can be found in almost any scrub type habitat from Beeley Moor, the river valleys and the limestone plateau.

Both species are usually heard first with the Lesser Whitethroat delivering a rather dry rattle whilst the Common Whitethroat delivers a mix of scratchy notes often during a display flight.

Lesser Whitethroat (upper) v Common Whitethroat

The first returning Nightjar was churring in one of the clear fell areas adjacent to Beeley Moor this evening. Not as early as last year when I recorded my first of the year on 9th May but still a fairly early date. 

There were several rodding Woodcock and earlier in the evening a Hobby over East Moor, I saw my first Hobby of the year yesterday over Farley.

Lockdown day 47 - return of the Nightjar

Yesterday I walked up to the moors twice, one good thing for me from the current lockdown is that I've had a lot more exercise! 
In the morning I managed some nice portraits of the Skylarks, the photos are of a pair and it was interesting to see that the male kept his crest raised all the time whilst the female didn't. The sexes are inseparable on plumage but the male was giving occasional bursts of song. 
I think there are around 15 pairs in the area that I regularly walk.

Skylark - male upper

I also came across the family party of Stonechat again with both parents actively feeding the offspring.

Stonechat - juvenile

In the evening I returned to the moor at dusk and waited for the Woodcock to start their display flights. Shortly afterwards I heard the distinctive churr of a male Nightjar. He appeared to be flying around quite a bit and calling 'pruick' and I concluded that he was still exploring the area and hadn't yet established a territory. Very pleased to have the Nightjar back my 104th species for lockdown.

Woodcock - roding display flight

 
It started to rain around 10pm so I made the journey home to the occasional hoot of the Tawny 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.

Woodcock and Nightjar - Matlock Forest

Made my first evening visit to Matlock Forest, plenty of Woodcock rodding from around 21:30 with over a dozen sightings and a male Nightjar started calling at 21:50 then started churring at about 22:00. 
There is plenty of habitat for Nightjar after the clear felling last year and it will be interesting to see which areas are occupied.

Woodcock in 'rodding' flight

Woodcock - Matlock Forest

I've been out most evenings this week trying to photograph some of our nocturnal birds. Species like Woodcock which generally only commence their distinctive roding display flight at dusk means the time period in which you can get a reasonable photo is very limited. Luckily there is a decent population in most of the coniferous plantations so provided you can put up with the biting insects there is a reasonable chance of success.

Woodcock