Willow Tit - Ogston Reservoir

James visited Ogston today with apprentice wildlife photographer Eric (Pez) O'Connor, on this occasion the apprentice came away with the accolades for this fine portrait of a Willow Tit.

Willow Tit

There has been much debate about the separation of Willow and Marsh Tits in recent years with features such as the generally more extensive black bib and dull rather than glossy cap previously attributed to Willow Tit now thought to be unreliable features to separate the pair.The uniformly pale ear coverts and side of the face are a feature of Willow Tit whilst a significant proportion of Marsh Tits have a pale spot close to the nostril on the bill. The pale wing panel is also still considered indicative of Willow other than that it's down to call.
Both species have suffered a serious population decline and are on the UK's Red List of species of conservation concern.
Locally around Darley Dale there is usually the odd record each year around Flash Lane.
I'd be interested to hear of any local records of either species, I understand the Marsh Tit is still regularly seen in gardens by the river at Monsal Head.
The Red-necked Grebe was still present but distant.

Foot It - update 27th Jan

Common Gull in the foreground

Amazingly all the snow disappeared last night and created some flooded areas at Flatts Farm between Darley Dale and Darley Bridge which were ideal for feeding gulls. It took me twenty minutes or so of scanning through the Black-head's before finding a Common Gull. Shortly afterwards a party of Lesser Black-back's went over with a at least one adult Herring Gull.
Two more species for the January Foot It list takes me to a nice round 80 species. With the last weekend of the month gone there will be little chance to get out during the week but there is still an outside chance of Linnet, Kingfisher or even Pink-footed Goose which I'm still missing.

Goshawk - juvenile

I walked about 20 miles again today but was unable to add any new species to my Foot It list. This juvenile Goshawk however more than made up for it. 
News that Roger Carrington and Ken Smith had seen Kingfisher on the River this morning gives me some hope for tomorrow.

Goshawk juvenile

Reed Bunting - Beeley Moor

Whilst all the other passerines on the moor have been in rapid decline since the first snowfall the number of Reed Bunting has steadily increased. today I counted over 200 in a single flock on the Triangle. 

Reed Bunting

Fallow Deer - Chatsworth

We had around 10cm of snow fall last night so there was some great scenery today but getting around was a little difficult. These Fallow Deer at Chatsworth make a good comparison with the photo taken near Stanton last weekend.

Fallow Deer

Red Grouse - Derwent Edge

James has been to Derewent Edge overlooking Ladybower Reservoir where he took this photograph of a male Red Grouse calling in the snow. He came across a single large flock which he estimated at 50 birds, there are more photos on The WildLive web site in the birds gallery. I'm still not seeing many grouse on Beeley or East Moor.

Red Grouse - male

Rooks in a snow laden tree

There is a lot of snow on the trees at the moment which is creating some spectacular scenery. This old oak is by the railway line between Darley and Rowsley.

Rooks in a snow laden tree

Redwing

The last few days of snow, with more last night is forcing more birds in to the local gardens. A short walk this afternoon produced Redwing and Fieldfare, which are winter visitors, mixed with local Song Thrushes in the gardens plus 3 Waxwing and a Brambling.

Redwing

Song Thrush in the snow

Song Thrush

Foot It - update 20th Jan

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Walked up on to the moors via Halldale Wood then across the fields to Screetham Lane before heading back past Wragg's Quarry and the Lumb Lane bridleway. Very few birds on the moor apart from the Bullfinchs that feed along the dry stone walls, I counted 23. A handfull of finches but no sign of the elusive Linnet. The list got a boost as I neared home and a loose group of 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew slowly up the valley.
Foot It list is 78 species with just one weekend to go.

Darley Dale from Hall Moor Road

The view across the valley towards Clough Wood, with the lights of the Enthoven plant just below, as I set off this morning.

Darley Dale

Badger sett

Surprising, to me at least, the amount of Badger activity around a local sett over the last couple days. I would have thought given the weather and temperature they would be hibernating but four other entrances to this sett showed plenty of foot prints in the snow.

Badger sett

Foot It - update 19th Jan...Peregrine at last!

Peregrine Falcon

Another long walk, around 15 miles today which in the snow was quite hard work. Finally I have added Peregrine to the list which I was getting a little worried about.
There were some signs of cold weather movement with a few Lapwing around, several parties of Wood Pigeon, a couple of Meadow Pipits and a male Stonechat that must have left the moor.
My total is now 77 species for the month of January.

Fallow Deer

I came across this small group of Fallow Deer hinds by the Youlgreave Road. These are melanics, part of the herd which originated from Stanton Hall in the 1940's and which are usually in the Stanton -  Darley Bridge area.

Fallow Deer

Common Buzzard

Although it has been a very grey day today the snow on the ground has helped to light up the underside of this nicely marked Common Buzzard.

Common Buzzard