Red-legged Partridge - Elton Common

 I visited Elton Common looking for, or rather listening for Quail this afternoon but there was no sign, it's still a little early for Quail in any case. There is also a chance of Yellow Wagtail in the meadows of the White Peak but I had no luck there either.

I did flush a pair of partridge and had brief views before they landed in a grassy field full of what I took to be some kind of buttercup. I was fairly sure they were Red-legged Partridge but really need a view to confirm. I scanned the field for ten minutes then saw a head pop up and managed a photo before the bird disappeared. It was a long way off and the photo is out of focus but it was enough to confirm their identity as Red-legged Partridge.

Interestingly I've had more local records of Quail over the years than I have Red-legged Partridge so it was a successful trip after all!

Red-leeged Partridge

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

Whinchat - Beeley Moor

 It was good to be back on the moor this morning, having just returned from several weeks in France and Spain.

The weather could have been better though, as it was very misty first thing. Over the last few days I've caught up with most of the birds that I had either missed or hadn't arrived before I left such as Garden Warbler, Common Swift and Spotted Flycatcher and a lovely singing male Whinchat below Harland Edge this morning, albeit in the mist. Still with a bit of photo processing you can at least tell what it is.

Whinchat - male

The only regular breeding summer migrant I've yet to see is Nightjar, which I know have been back for about a week now, so will look to correct that omission in the next week, weather permitting.

Wood Warbler - Stanton Moor

 My first Wood Warbler of the year, calling in the woodland on the edge of Stanton Moor. Several times over the years I've noted that the first Wood Warblers are calling rather than singing males and I wonder if this is something they do before they actually establish a territory?

There were two male Pied Flycatchers in the same area which I think is a reflection on the quality of this ancient wooded area.

I usually expect the first Wood Warbler in the 'twenties' rather than 'teens' of April but the dates, as with other migrants are definitley getting earlier.

Wood Warbler

Common Sandpiper - Chatsworth

 Four Common Sandpiper together at Chatsworth this morning was a nice surprise. Fingers crossed that we may get a breeding pair this year.

Common Sandpiper

It looks like yesterday's Osprey spent the afternoon in the Haddon Hall area and was still present early evening but no reports today.

More migrant arrivals

 Caught up with my first House Martin of the year yesterday at Chatsworth and then a flurry of migrants at Beeley this morning. 

House Martin

Starting with Common Cuckoo calling on the edge of Beeley Moor, then an Osprey flying North over Whitesprings Plantation, which unfortunately was a disappearing speck by the time I got the camera out of the bag.

Moving on to the Cathole area we added Common Whitethroat and reeling Grashopper Warbler.

A decent morning, despite the cold!

Common Whitethroat playing hide and seek in the bushes

Pied Flycatcher back in Darley Dale

 The first Pied Flycatcher of the year was found yesterday by Alan Stewardson in Hall Dale Wood. It was still there this morning in better weather conditions singing its delightfull, albeit somewhat repetitive, song. Definitely one of my favourites and great to have them back on a fairly typical return date.

Pied Flycatcher - male

The elusive Golden Plover flock were back on Syda Lane today and I counted at least 24 birds but there could have been more as they were quite difficult to pick out when sat down in the grass.

Golden Plover

First Ring Ouzel of the year - Beeley Moor

Distant views today of 2 of 3 Ring Ouzel ( a male and 2 females)  found by Robin Elliott in the same area we had them last year, in the fields bordering Harewood Moor (Cathole). They stayed in the area for several days last year, so hopefully they'll do the same.

Ring Ouzel - male

Willow Warbler numbers have increased in the last few days and I had 6 Wheatear on the moor on Saturday.

Water Vole - Bakewell

 I saw a single Water Vole a couple of days ago in Bakewell but of course didn't have the camera. Fortunately I saw 2 today which are my first records for the year.

Let's hope they breed successfully as they have been difficult to find in recent years.

Water Vole

Willow Warbler and Tree Pipit back around the moor

 My first Willow Warblers today back in Farley with two birds singing and a Tree Pipit at Whitesprings is about a week earlier than usual.

Tree Pipit

Barn Swallow - Youlgrave

 Pleased to see my first Swallows of the year today at Harthill Pond, Youlgrave, at least 4 birds were skimming around the pond briefly. 

The two Pink-footed Geese also still present but calling today, which I've not heard before, so perhaps getting ready to depart.

Barn Swallow

Common Crossbill - a possible breeding pair

 I've seen this pair of Common Crossbill in the same location in Matlock Forest several times during the past month and I'm hoping that they might be a breeding pair. 

I've seen juveniles with adults several times in the autumn but only once managed to prove breeding, in April 2020 when I saw an adult feeding recently fledged young. I suspect one or two pairs breed most years but it's not easy to confirm this.

I haven't managed to find any more migrants in the current cold and wet weather.

Common Crossbill female and male (upper)

Wheatear at last!

 Caught up with my first Northern Wheatear this morning, by the Triangle on Beeley Moor. I'd searched the area several times during the week without success but David Griffin had messaged me to say he had had a female by the Triangle on Sunday. I saw a male initially but it was soon joined by a female. 

Always exciting to see that first Wheatear of the Spring.

Northern Wheatear - male (upper) and male and female below

Sand Martins return to Chatsworth

Three Sand Martin bach at Chatsworth today and 6 Common Chiffchaff  were a sign that Spring really is on its way.

Sand Martin

The Mandarin and Goosander are now looking for nest sites and spending more time in the trees.

Mandarin

My first Golden Plover, a small group of 7, flew over East Moor yesterday but a flock of 60 were seen on Saturday.

I've been looking for Wheatear but without success but two were seen at Tansley on Friday and Simon had one at Carsington Water on Saturday.

Red Kites - adult and juvenile

I've speculated before about food sources for Red Kites and I think they'll eat any carrion they can find. Today I saw an adult Red Kite swoop down over a field where it was lost to view for a few seconds. When it reappeared it was carrying a dead rat. It flew off with a noisy crow chasing it. 

Moments later another Red Kite appeared from the same field. This second bird was clearly a juvenile, lacking the red body and black breast streaking of an adult, although one or two darker feathers can be seen around the upper breast which must be recently acquired.

I'm fairly certain the adult Red Kite wouldn't have had time to catch and kill the rat whilst it was briefly out of view and suspect the adult came across the juvenile which was feeding on the rat and the adult stole it from the juvenile.

Red Kites - adult with crow and juvenile below