Little Owl - Winster

Whilst I've been away James came across a pair of Little Owls on his drive to work and I managed a trip out to see them this morning and...

Wood Warbler - Halldale Wood

The first report of a singing Wood Warbler was on 10th May in Halldale Wood, whilst I have been away, but what is presumably the same male w...

Common Sandpiper - Chatsworth

My first Common Sandpiper of the Spring below Chatsworth House this morning. I only saw it in flight and managed a record shot but I'm k...

Ring Ouzel in song - Beeley Moor

There is no more welcome sound to me than the plaintive song of the male Ring Ouzel on an early spring morning. Although it is a regular bre...

Nuthatch nest building - Chatsworth

Came across this Nuthatch using dead leaves to line the nest void at Chatsworth this morning. The hole in the tree has been much larger and ...

Green Hairstreak - Gratton Dale

First Green Hairstreak seen and photographed today by Doug Aston in Gratton Dale. One of the first records in Derbyshire I think. Green Hair...

Pied Flycatcher threat display

I've observed Pied Flycatchers doing their territorial threat display several times before but never managed to get any photos but I man...

Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

It was May 2016 when Short-eared Owl last featured on the blog, so no records in 2017 but I am pleased to report that Roger had a bird hunti...

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Darley Dale

Is this Derbyshire's rarest regular breeding bird?  According to the Derbyshire Ornithological Society there has been no more than three...

Common Cranes over Beeley Moor!

After almost a week of cold and mist weather on the moors it felt a lot more Spring like this morning. After male Ring Ouzel and singing mal...

White Wagtail - Whitesprings Plantation

The Pied Wagtail is a common resident in the area and winter roosts at the Endhoven works can number several hundreds. Its European cousin, ...

Red Kite and more Spring migrants

Given the breeding numbers of Red Kite both to the north and south of Derbyshire it is surprising that it is still a relatively scarce bird ...

Osprey - Rowsley

Hot on the heels of Ospreys recorded at both Ogston and Carsington reservoirs early this week I had my first of the year just north of Rowsl...

Swallows and Martins

For the first time I have recorded my first of all three hirundine species on the same day. I picked up a group of four Sand Martins feedin...

Hawfinch and first Wheatear

Still 5 Hawfinch at St Helen's Church this morning and a Chiffchaff calling nearby. Also had a lone Oystercatcher flying up and down the...

First Chiffchaff of the Spring - Rowsley

My first Chiffchaffs of the Spring today with at least two birds singing at Rowsley. As usual they are about a week later here than at Ogsto...

Whooper Swans heading back North

A call from Ken this morning alerted me to a herd of Whooper Swans flying up the Derwent valley over Matlock. I missed them in Darley Dale s...

Oystercatcher - Chatsworth

Further signs of Spring with a single Oystercatcher in front of the house at Chatsworth this morning. I had a pair there last year but not s...

First Curlews back on the moors

For any regular visitors to the moors there is no more welcome sound than the call of the first Curlews arriving back to start their breedin...

Goosander, Mandarin and a record count of Hawfinch

Although the main roads are all clear of snow the minor roads are still snow covered so again I've not ventured far from Darley Dale.  S...