First Chiffchaff of the Spring

 A Chiffchaff in Darwin Forest this morning is my earliest record, seems strange to be talking about Spring at the end of February but there have already been several records of Sand Martin across the Country and the first Wheatears have been reported on the south coast.

Common Chiffchaff

Continuing with the spring theme I counted 91 Curlew coming in to roost at Middleton Moor last night and also saw my first Barn Owl there, hunting before the sun was anywhere near setting.

Eurasian Curlew

Taking advantage of the clear skies I went looking for Goshawk this morning. With not even a hint of a breeze conditions were not ideal but I did see several birds although they were rather high in the sky.

Eurasian Goshawk (top adult, bottom two birds are a juvenile and immature female)

Caspian Gull and first Curlew - Middleton Moor

 A 3rd winter Caspian Gull joined the Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Middleton Moor this morning, the first I have seen this year and there was a lone Curlew which hopefully marks the start of Spring. 

Although it will be another month or so before we are likely to see migrants arriving from the Continent.

The Caspian Gull wasn't a classic long-thin-billed and flat fore headed bird perhaps indicating that it has some Herring Gull in its ancestry but looked sufficiently Caspian Gull like to give it that name.

Caspian Gull - 3rd winter

Eurasian Curlew

Mediterranean Gull - Bakewell

 A surprise this morning to find a first winter Mediterranean Gull with the Black-headed Gulls at Bakewell Bridge. I check the gulls every time I go in the hope of finding one but it's something of a shock when you actually do! 

I'm not aware of any previous records in Bakewell but with the number of Black-headed Gulls there it seems likely that they must occur occasionally.

Mediterranean Gull - first winter with Black-headed Gulls

Two Little Egrets by the Fire Station is also unusual although a single bird has been in the area for a month or so.

Little Egret

Twelve Hawfinch at St Helen's Church yesterday is my highest count of the winter with 8 seen there this morning. They like to site in the Alders at the back of the church having eaten some of the Yew berries.

Marsh Harrier - Middleton Moor

 I wasn't able to get out until early afternoon so decided to have a look at the gulls at Middleton Moor. I arrived at the hide at about 14:45 to the news that a cream crowned (female or juvenile) Marsh Harrier had been present since around 14:00 but had dropped in to the reeds in front of the hide shortly after and hadn't been seen since.

I checked the gulls whilst I waited and had brief views of a juvenile female Hen Harrier but there was no sign of the Marsh Harrier which i decided had either slipped out of the reed bed whilst I was looking elsewhere or had gone to roost early.

Then at 16:20 the harrier flew out of the reed bed, quickly gaining height and chased by the Lapwings it disturbed as it flew. It circled then dropped back down flying low over the reed bed and seemingly looking for alternate roosts sites but eventually dropping back in to the reeds in front of the hide.

Marsh Harrier - probably second calendar year female

Marsh Harrier pursued by Lapwing

It repeated this process once more at 16:45 but again returning to the reeds in front of the hide where I presume it roosted.

A scarce bird in the Peak District and my first at Middleton Moor with thanks to Darren who told me about the bird after he had first seen it.

Hen Harrier - second calendar year female

Lesser Scaup - Carsington Water

 Carsington Water continues its amazing run of rare and scarce birds today with a second County record of Lesser Scaup. A female this time found this morning at the Millfields end.

Lesser Scaup female in the shade (top) and sunshine (below)

Very similar to female Tufted Duck but the pale flanks of Lesser Scaup continue on to the mantle whereas the mantle is darker than the flanks in female Tufted. In flight the white wing bar is restricted to the secondaries but extends across the primaries in Tufted. The head looks rather more pointed in Lesser Scaup but varies a bit with posture.

I also saw the female Ring-necked Duck in the same area but there are still two Greater Scaup present plus Great Northern and Red-throated Divers so there is plenty to look for there.