Gadwall back at Chatsworth

 For the 4th successive year a pair of Gadwall were back at Chatsworth today. I'm assuming it's the same pair as they are in the usual area close to Emperor Lake. Some years I've seen them in other months but never managed to prove that they have bred locally.

Not a great picture as they were very distant but still nice to have them back.

Gadwall - pair

Eurasian Goshawk over Darley Dale

 It's not the first Goshawk I've seen from the garden, but it's the first I've had circling directly overhead! Judging the size of a circling bird that doesn't flap is notoriously difficult but there are a couple of features that help to separate this bird from the structurally simiilar, though distinctly smaller, Eurasian Sparrowhawk. This is a female Goshawk which is close to Common Buzzard in size and looks bulky in the photo.

Eurasian Goshawk

Firstly, the tail is noticeably rounded, the Sparrowhawk has tail feathers of equal length so the tail looks square ended, although it will look rounded if the tail is fanned. The Goshawk has outer tail feathers that are distinctly shorter than the central feathers, most obvious on the second photo. 

Secondly, the barring is rather indistinct on the secondaries and absent on the inner secondaries. On Sparrowhawks of all ages there are distinct even bars right across the secondaries - see photo below.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

You might also note that I'm calling it Eurasian Goshawk, until recently Northern Goshawk was the name used for all birds in the Northern Hemisphere but the American birds are now treated as a separate species; American Goshawk and European and Asian birds are Eurasian Goshawk, so I've some editing of labels to do.

If your interested in Goshawk identification you can find a more detailed review here.

I was quite please with the photo as I saw the bird then had to dash inside, get the camera from the camera bag, run out and take a photo, all the time hoping it was still in view.

First Curlews return to Beeley Moor

 It feels like winter is finally coming to an end when the first Curlews return to the moor. I had a nice group of 11 this morning very close to the B5057 from Screetham Lane. The first birds were on the 20th February so pretty much on time.

It will be well in to March before we start to see migrants that have crossed the English Channel but the moors will be a bit more spring like from now on with the calls of the Curlew in the background.

Eurasian Curlew

Great White Egret - Haddon Hall

Some great spotting and identification from Pam as we drove down the A6 just south of Bakewell. I'd just mentioned that the flooded fields were looking good for a heron when Pam called egret, and it looks big! 

Sure enough it was a Great White Egret in the fields between the Haddon Park Farm track and Haddon Hall. Only my third on the patch but number continue to increase in the south of the county. Just need Cattle Egret now which must turn up soon, there is one at Carsington at the moment.

Great White Egret taken at ISO 3000 600 f5.6 1/1250

It's been a poor winter for Brambling but there is still a nice flock of at least 40 birds on Hodge Lane. The males are already starting to attain their breeding plumage. 

At least 40 Skylark, 25 Reed Bunting and 10 Yellowhammer in the same area.

Brambling

Waxwings at DWT Gang Mine Reserve

A flock of Waxwing were found at Middleton on the DWT Gang Mine Reserve on 11th February. Numbering up to 100 birds they have proved quite elusive for me but I finally found them today on my third visit.

They favour the hawthorns on the Dene Quarry side of the football pitch when entering the reserve from opposite the Stone Centre but may be encountered in other areas with hawthorn berries.

Bohemian Waxwing

Whooper Swans over Beeley Triangle

I can't remember a winter when the weather has been so persistently poor! It's either raining or so overcast it's almost dark. Consequently, despite my best efforts I haven't seen too many interesting birds. 

That said, I did have two Whooper Swans over Beeley Triangle this morning, flying quite low, calling and heading North West, my first this winter.

Whooper Swans

There are very few birds on the moor, after the snow earlier in the week, but I did manage a single Stonechat today and it shouldn't be too long before birds start returning to establish their breeding territories.

Stonechat - female

Last Monday (5th Feb) I came across a large flock of 60-80 Lesser Redpoll on Flash Lane with at least one Common (Mealy) Redpoll with them. I was hoping they would hang around so I could get a photo but haven't seen the flock since.

So far this winter the Sorby Breck Ringing Group have ringed 1,500 Lesser Redpoll and 20 Common and have had recoveries from Stafford, Leics, Hampshire, Dorset and E Sussex so these birds certainly get around.

Had my first Curlew on 6th February when four birds flew north over Darley Dale. They should be returning to the moors later this month.

A Norwegian ringed Black-headed Gull at Chatsworth

I'm always on the lookout for colour ringed birds and came across this adult Black-headed Gull today in front of Chatsworth House. It was ringed as an adult last summer in Kristiansand, Norway 800km away.

Surprisingly I saw another Little Egret flying down river at Chatsworth.

Black-headed Gull

Little Egrets - Youlgrave

 I was very surprised to see two Little Egrets together on Harthill Pond, particularly since the pond was almost completely frozen. Checking in my notes it was last August when I last saw one locally, at Chatsworth, and it was last April when I saw one at Youlgrave. My thoughts that they might become established locally have certain not been realised yet.

Little Egrets

The juvenile Pink-footed Goose was still with the Greylags and there was a nice group of 15 Teal displaying on the small area of open water.

Pink-footed Goose with Greylags

I walked up the Monsal Trail from Bakewell yesterday and came across a nice party of Waxwing at the edge of the town, by the A619 road bridge. There were still Waxwings at Hassop Station with plenty of admirers taking photos. There were also several Fieldfare and Redwing taking advantage of the apples that have been left for them. Surprisingly there still looks to be plenty of berries on the Hawthorns south of the station.

Fieldfare

Dipper on the Lathkill

 A singing male Dipper did a bit of display to its mate on the Lathkill this morning, in very cold weather. The male was ringed and I thought its partner might be as well.

Dipper

I've seen a little bit of Goshawk activity in the sunny weather but the lack of wind has prevented any prolonged display.

Northern Goshawk - subadult male

Waxwings are still feeding by Hassop Station car park but numbers are starting to decline with 30 reported there today, and with 35 reported at the Agricultural Centre in Bakewell this morning, it looks like they are starting to look for berries elsewhere.

Peregrine Falcons

I photographed this pair of Peregrine Falcons close to Beeley Moor today. It's quite unusual, for me at least, to see a pair in such close proximity away from a nest site and gives a useful size comparison, with the larger female on the right. 

The male has an almost complete black hood, there is considerable variation in the width of the malar stripe but I can't recall having seen such a dark headed bird in the UK before.

Peregrine Falcon - male left, female right

Red Kite = Chatsworth

I've mentioned previously that Red Kites are generally absent locally from October to February, but this year I have seen single birds in each of the winter months so far. Today there was a bird at Chatsworth and I've had further reports of birds in the Bakewell, Beeley, Baslow area so it looks like one or two birds have remained here over the winter. This is presumably related to the very mild weather we have experienced for most of this period.

Red Kite

I called in to see the Waxwings at Hassop Station and there were still around a hundred birds in the area, with a similar number reported today. It can't be long until all the berries are gone and it will be interesting to see where they go next. 

Displaying Mandarin

Mandarin leave the rivers in the autumn and winter on small lakes or ponds. Linacre Reservoir appears to be a favourite but they can also be found on smaller ponds closer to home such as those in Ladygrove or Ashford Lake where I photographed these birds displaying, in a group of about 30 yesterday.

Mandarin Duck - drake

Waxwings are still the main attraction of the winter with around 200 birds at Hassop Station on the Monsal Trail feeding on Hawthorn berries. There have been occasional sightings of 1 or 2 birds in Darley Dale but no larger groups.

The Hawfinch are back at Cromford with 5 birds seen fairly regularly.

Hoping for some better weather in the New Year!

Waxwing numbers increasing in Darley Dale

 The first two Waxwing were joined by 5 more on Thursday and they were there again this morning, but numbers jumped up this afternooon with at least 22 birds present in the same area opposite the Whitworth.Either sat at the top of the tall Lime trees and occasionally flying up to catch flies or deeding on a Rowan bush.

They all flew off north around 14:45, presumably going to roost.

Waxwing

Waxwing in Darley Dale

 Since returning from France last week I've been checking the berry bushes Waxwing have used in the past and was successful this morning when I found two birds feeding on Rowan berries on Columbell Way, opposite the Whitworth. 

Almost immediately they flew up in to the large Lime trees by the A6 and sat there for a while where I was able to get a record photo. I looked away and they disappeared but hopefully they will return to feed on the tree which still has plenty of berries.

Surprisingly, the female Teal is still on the Whitworth Pond.

I've checked the flooded field for gulls, plenty of Black-headed, single Common but just 3 Lesser Black-backed so far.

Waxwing

Green Woodpecker - Beeley Village

Back after two weeks away, and it looks like I've missed the Waxwings so no photos I'm afraid. Still, there's a good chance that some more will turn up I think.

Apart from the Waxwings I don't think I've missed too much although a Great Grey Shrike has taken up residence at Ramsley reservoir which would be nice to see, if it would just come a little closer.

Walked round Chatsworth yesterday which produced a Green Woodpecker at the back of Beeley village, only my third record this year. It's a surprisingly scarce bird locally and I just seem to pick up occasional wandering birds.

Green Woodpecker - probably adult female, with the black moustache