Chatsworth in the snow

 With the snow and freezing temperatures over the last couple of days I didn't think it was a good idea to drive up on to the moor so I went to Chatsworth instead. I was hoping that with the freezing weather some waterfowl might have been forced on to the river but the only unexpected birds were two drake Tufted Duck but they were accompanied by the hybrid Tufted/ Pochard which is the first time I've seen it this winter. I first saw it in February 2014 so it's been wintering in the area for quite some time.

Tufted/ Pochard hybrid with two drake Tufted Duck

There were lots of Siskin feeding in the Alders along the river and they looked very festive in the snow laden trees.

Siskin

Evidence of birds being forced of the higher moors came in the form of two Common Snipe flushed from the river edge and a lone female Stonechat, both species are very scarce along the river.

Common Snipe

There were plenty of Redwing around and one or two Brambling but the scenery made up for any disappointment on the bird front.

River Derwent at Chatsworth

Great Grey Shrike = Bonsall Moor

 Very surprised this morning to find a Great Grey Shrike on Bonsall Moor. It's in the same area on Leys Lane as the bird present last winter. It looks a little darker, especially over the eye and on the scapulars than last winters bird, but then it has had a complete moult.

There were hundreds of Fieldfare and Redwing feeding on the Hawthorn berries 

Great Grey Shrike

Fieldfare arrival - at last

 Finally, Fieldfare are arriving in numbers this morning. I saw my first Fieldfare of the autumn only on Tuesday, when 55 arrived in the Cathole valley but this morning as I walked by the river north of Darley Dale there were large groups crossing the valley heading west. I counted 1050 but there must have been many more moving high and west along with several hundred Redwing.

migrating Fieldfare