More Water Vole

It's been overcast and grey most of the day so I went to Cromford Canal this afternoon for the Water Vole, despite the number of people walking along the canal, or perhaps as a result of,  they provide excellent views. When I first arrived a vole was gathering grass on the banking before diving in to the canal, I presume this material is used to line the nest.
I particularly like the reflection on the photo below these.

Water Vole

Grey Wagtail

The 1st April, it's snowing lightly outside and there is no sign, or prospect at the moment, of any spring migrants. I can't ever remember having got to April without hearing at least one Chiffchaff. A quick trip over the moor produced the Great Grey Shrike and several Curlew but there is still a lot of snow on the ground higher up so very few Meadow Pipit.
On the river I had two pairs of Grey Wagtail, one at Rowsley and the other at Darley Bridge, always nice to see. They make an interesting photographic challenge, the tail is so long you really need it pointing backwards to get a decent image of the bird. The top two are of the male with his black throat with the female below.

Grey Wagtail

Goshawk - male

Had a lucky encounter with a male Goshawk over the moor this morning. It was rather distant and didn't hang around so I was lucky to get a record shot. The extensive black on the ear coverts identify this as a male. The absence of dark barring on the flight feathers is a good distinguishing feature from Sparrowhawk, particularly if you can't judge the size. Compare with the female Sparrowhawk below taken a few days ago.

Goshawk - male

Hare in the woods

The local Hares are difficult to see during the winter and it may be that they spend more time in the forested areas rather than the open fields and are therefore more easily overlooked. I had just started to see one or two in the fields prior to the snow, this individual was quite happily feeding in the wood but it was impossible to get a clear view.

Brown Hare

Osprey - Rowsley

Simon Roddis has claimed the first Osprey of the year, he came across it carrying a fish on the Derwent just north of Rowsley at about 10am. I was there about an hour later and had what could have been it or a second bird flying up the river heading north quite high.

Great Grey Shrike singing

I was surprised, given the amount of snow we have had, that the Great Grey Shrike was still on the moor this morning. It was very conspicuous as it was singing all the time I was there and the warbling song carries quite a distance. Other than a single Curlew and a couple of Meadow Pipits the moor was very quiet.

Great Grey Shrike

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

Water Vole - Cromford Canal

James got nice views of this Water Vole at Cromford Canal this afternoon. Good to see that the snow and prolonged sub-zero temperatures haven't caused any problems for them.

Water Vole

Sparrowhawk female

A pair of Sparrowhawk came together briefly, either in aerial combat or display, but I only managed to capture one of the birds, before they quickly flew off in opposite directions. The photo benefiting from the strong under lighting from the snow.

Sparrowhawk - female

Buzzard nesting activity

The sunnier weather has prompted the local Buzzards to start the breeding cycle in earnest now with birds displaying and carrying nesting material. Also came across the bird below carrying the hind quarters of a rabbit which I presume he will present to his chosen female. 
The snow on the ground is a big help in lighting the underside when photographing flying birds from below.

Common Buzzard

Mistle Thrush in snow

Back at home this Mistle Thrush didn't look too happy in the snow, I would imagine it probably has a nest by now.

Mistle Thrush

Sheep in snow

The light snow in the valley floating vertically down is in sharp contrast to the moor where the snow is blowing horizontally and feels like needles. There were drifts over 3 feet deep on Bent Lane. The sheep didn't look like they were enjoying it too much either! No sign of the Shrike, or anything but that wasn't too surprising.

Whitworth Park

It has continued to snow since yesterday evening and there is now about 9 inches of snow in the garden. Walked round the Whitworth which looked very picturesque but not many birds.

Whitworth Park

Bullfinch in the garden

Three Bullfinch, a male and two females, spent all day in the garden feeding on the buds of our Hawthorn hedge. 
It has snowed on and off all day and quite heavily during the last couple of hours. Prospects for a Wheatear tomorrow are very low I think!

Bullfinch

Crossbill Flash Lane

We have had very few sightings of Crossbill so far this year so Ken Smith did well not only to locate two fine red males but also to get some excellent photographs.

Common Crossbill male (photo Ken Smith)