A slightly disappointing week, I was expecting Wheatear and Sand Martin but the cold spell seems to have deterred the early migrants.
A few more Chiffchaff around, including my first for the year in the garden.
Not one, but two Mediterranean Gulls at Middleton Moor today though lifted my spirits with an almost summer plumaged adult and a first winter bird.
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| Mediterranean Gulls -top two adult, bottom a 1st winter |
I was surprised to see a Red-legged Partridge at Youlgrave yesterday, my first in that area. It was by Conksbury Lane just to the north of the church. Seems odd just to come across isolated individuals but they could be releases for shooting.
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| Red-leeged Partridge |
No more migrants yet this week but the winds are more favourable over the weekend so fingers crossed. The Hawfinch are still at St Helen's Church in Darley Dale, I had three at the start of the week but Alan Stewardson had 10 yesterday.
I haven't seen the Little Egret in Bakewell this week but there was one in Bradford Dale, below Youlgrave, during the week so that could be one of the Bakewell birds.
Looks like the Oystercatcher may have another go at brreding at Chatsworth with a single bird there yesterday.
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| Eurasian Oystercatcher |
Nice to see the Teal still in the Whitworth Park with a male displaying to two females during the week. Like the Mallard they have got used to people walking past so its possible to get nice photos of what is normally quite a shy species.
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| Eurasian Teal - male |
