Arctic Terns over Darley Dale

In the early hours of Sunday morning Simon recorded Arctic Terns calling as they flew over Darley Dale using his nocturnal audio recording set-up.

Although Arctic Terns are recorded regularly on spring passage at both Carsington and Ogston reservoirs they are rarely recorded away from these water bodies, although they must clearly pass over inland areas as they travel to and from the coast.

This is another example of continuous audio recording giving an insight in to nocturnal movements of birds which we would otherwise be unaware, like that of migrating common Scoter which has been noted previously.

You may need to turn your speaker up to hear what is clearly more than one individual calling (© Simon Roddis)

Black Stork - Beeley Moor

At around 11:30 this morning Ken picked up a large-winged bird flying towards him over Beeley Moor. His initial thoughts that this could be an Osprey were dispelled when the bird turned slightly showing the long extended neck of a Black Stork. 

It dropped slightly towards Wragg's Quarry but appears to have flown onwards in the Rowsley direction.

Amazingly, this is Ken's second Black Stork in the area having photographed one over Two Dales in June 2011! 

There was a report of a possible Black Stork seen at Chatsworth on 28th June. So it's just possible that there has been a bird in the area for some time.

I drove to Rowsley and spent some time scanning across the valley but without success.

This is probably only the fifth Black Stork recorded in Derbyshire.

Perhaps it will reappear, I hope so! 

It looks like the tip of the first primary on the left wing may be missing so it may be possible to confirm if this bird is seen again.

Black Stork © Ken Smith

Lesser Redpoll - a rare breeding bird locally

 The Lesser Redpoll can occur in decent numbers in the winter and I have seen flocks of several hundred on occasion and have had them visiting the garden feeder in the late winter. 

In the summer, however, it is much scarcer and breeds only in small numbers, favouring new growth birch woodland.

Today, whilst close to Beeley Triangle I heard a repeated unfamiliar call which was reminiscent of Yellowhammer but proved to be a recently fledged juvenile Lesser Redpoll. This is the first time I've managed to confirm breeding locally although it is doubtless a regular breeder in small numbers.

Lesser Redpoll - juvenile