Brambling influx

The number of Brambling in the area has continued to increase, as have the places where I have seen them locally. Which now include the area around Chatsworth House including the woods around Swiss Lake and the Calton Lees Garden Centre, Coombs Road in Bakewell, Whitworth Park in Darley Dale with several hundred on Flash Lane and at least 500 on Bents Lane this morning. However, the largest flock I have heard of is 1500 at Matlock Moor at the Cuckoostone Lane end. This is possibly the largest single flock recorded in the County although The Birds of Derbyshire records 5700 which were counted flying in to roost in Shinningcliff Wood in December 1967.

Brambling - male

The flock of Common Crossbill is still present on Flash Lane but are only seen intermittently and often are dispersed in to smaller groups, but I counted over 40 this morning around 70 Acre Plantation where there is also a large mobile flock of Lesser Redpoll which included 2 Mealy Redpoll on Monday.

Common Crossbill - the topmost male looks rather large billed although it is slightly open

Goosander - Bakewell

I quite often see one or two Goosander on the river at Bakewell but ten this morning is a record count for me. Two males and a mix of adult females and first winter birds. 
One of the males had a strong pink tinge to the breast whilst the other was yellowish. 
As is usually the case on the river at Bakewell they are less wary than elsewhere.

Goosander - males

Goosander

Hooded Crow - Rowsley

Todays star bird was a Hooded Crow picked up by Ken over Rowsley mid-morning which followed the Wye valley NE and was last seen over Haddon Hall. 

It's only the second I have seen in the local area following the bird seen in March last year. There was a small influx of birds on the coast in late October with 10 being seen at Flamborough and a few singles at Spurn but there have been singles at Bardon in Leicestershire and Wintersett, West Yorks in the past week but no other Derbyshire records as far as I am aware.

Hooded Crow

Good numbers of Brambling around at the moment with at least 150 on Flash Lane this morning and around 40 at Chatsworth yesterday, but surprisingly no Crossbill today.