Great Grey Shrike - Middleton Moor

 Having been to Middleton Moor several times recently it was a pleasant surprise yesterday to see that some gulls had returned. They disappeared when it froze over last month but I counted 130 Common as well as 30 Black-headed plus a handful each of Lesser Black-backed and Herring.

As well as the gulls there were more wildfowl with 5 Pintail, which included three smart drakes, and an increase in Shoveler plus a lone Shelduck.

A Hen Harrier did a rapid pass over the fields at Black Harry Gate and I managed a quick photo before it departed as quickly as it arrived.

Sat in the hide with another birdwatcher he casually stated that he thought he had a Great Grey Shrike and sure enough there it was sat atop a small bush on the eastern bank, distant but easily recognisable. I quickly grabbed a few photos before it dropped out of view. 

Formerly seen most winters on Beeley Moor it is now a very scarce visitor and I can only find a single previous record at Middleton Moor on 23 October 1988!

All in all a very nice Christmas present!

Great Grey Shrike

Hen Harrier - female

Pintail

Shelduck

Water Rail - Long Meadows, Darley Dale

 During the winter period (November - February) I can usually hear Water Rails calling in the reedy areas at Long Meadows and the entrance to Haddon Park Farm and occasional at Harthill Pond, Youlgrave, Cromford Canal and even the Whitworth Park. Very occasionally I've come across birds that feed out in the open which have previously featured on the blog. 

Today I got brief views of a bird at Long Meadows which is the first I've seen for a while.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and good birding in the New Year!

Water Rail

Red-crested Pochard - Lumbsdale

 June Oliver let me know that she had seen a drake Red-crested Pochard yesterday whilst walking in Lumbsdale. It's a bird I've never seen locally, and I'm not aware of any previous records in the Matlock/ Bakewell area, so I was keen to see if it was still present this morning and fortunstely it was, on the second pond down from the Highfields end.

Red-crested Pochard - drake

It's a fairly scarce bird in Derbyshire but recorded annually at Carsington where birds can stay for some time. Most birds are thought to be of feral origin as it is widely bred in captivity.

Whatever its origins the males are a striking birds and it's great to see one locally.