Derbyshire Delights - 21st March 2012

Finishing work, luckily at 2200hrs last night, had me getting little sleep as I was meeting Derbyshire buddies Dave N and Clive A at 0600hrs! The early morning brightness disappeared north of Leicester and left a dull cloudy morning to start our 12hr marathon! It was to be a day of two halves, dull morning with sunny afternoon.

The morning started well at Cromford where my first year tick of three Hawfinches and fours Dippers in the river. The Dippers were more obliging than the Hawfinches allowing at least some images to be collected. It was also nice to see a pair of Grey Wagtails. It has been over a year since I heard the delightful calls and song of the Dipper.

Dipper

Grey Wagtail

It was then up onto the moors in search of raptors and anything else that cared to show! Raptor wise, it was a slow start, but eventually we managed Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine, Goshawk and at the end of the afternoon two Red Kites.

We found a field containing at least 200 Golden Plovers, many in fantastic summer plumage, and other with mixed finch, pipit and bunting flocks. Large numbers of Yellowhammers were a delight but the Brambling numbers were down, but stiil great to see. It was also great to see my second Great Grey Shrike of the year. Woodland held good numbers of Lesser Redpolls and Siskins but we were unable to locate any Crossbills, despite valiant efforts of my guides Clive and Dave.
The day ended at Carsington Water where we had good views of Redshank and expected water birds. Here it was great to see distant views of the Great Northern Diver, Raven and the two  Red Kites.
Over moors, through woodland, watching rivers and reservoirs made today a varied experience and I thank Dave and Clive for their efforts in making today a very enjoyable and productive experience. They got me totally disorientated, and apart from Cromford and Carsington, I hadn't got a clue where I was!


Dipper

Grey Wagtail

Brambling

Yellowhammer

Redshank

Teal

Todays Sightings (year ticks in red):

Great Northern Diver; Great Crested Grebe: Cormorant; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Wigeon; Mallard; Teal; Tufted Duck; Red Kite; Goshawk; Buzzard; Kestrel; Peregrine; Pheasant; Coot; Oystercatcher; Redshank; Golden Plover; Lapwing; Curlew; Black Headed Gull; Common Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Green Woodpecker; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Skylark; Meadow Pipit; Grey Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Dipper; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Stonechat; Blackbird; Fieldfare; Song Thrush; Redwing; Mistle Thrush; Chiffchaff; Goldcrest; Long Tailed Tit; Coal Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Nuthatch; Great Grey Shrike; Starling; Jay; Magpie; Jackdaw; Raven; Carrion Crow; Rook; House Sparrow; Hawfinch; Brambling; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Lesser Redpoll; Linnet; Yellowhammer; Reed Bunting.