Red Kite back in the Peak District

Following last weeks sighting of a Red Kite at Bakewell I was pleased to see one this morning in a similar area to where they bred last year. So fingers crossed for this years breeding season. In the very strong winds today it appeared to be quite happy just to sit in the tree.

Red Kite

Stonechat - Beeley Moor

A single male Stonechat on the moor today, they have been in short supply recently although finding them in the winds of storms Ciara and Dennis was never going to be easy!
Two pairs of Common Crossbill in Whitesprings Plantation feeding in Larches with a large flock of around 200 Siskin was the only significant interest today but at least it was dry this morning. The number of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks are starting to increase and the first Curlew shouldn't be too far away now.
A Red Kite seen around Bakewell on Tuesday morning, reported by Bob Cleary, is the first I've heard of locally this year and hopefully is the first of many.

Stonechat - male

Stock Dove

I haven't seen many Stock Dove recently so was slightly surprised to see a fairly tight group of nine flying over the Farley Moor plantation today. A common resident they are more often heard than seen in the summer but flocks of a hundred or more can be seen locally in the winter although as noted above I haven't encountered any significant flocks this winter.

Stock Dove