Saturday 9th April and I spent a day on the upland moors of North Derbyshire. Weather was superb and what a great place to be, stunning scenery and some special birds. Our timing was spot on as Ring Ouzels were just arriving and we had at least 6, possibly 8 birds at one location. Wheatear had also arrived on the uplands along with Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Plenty of Red Grouse about at several sites and singing Golden Plover and Curlew, both evocative sounds of the moorlands in early spring. Curlew seemed to be in reasonable numbers. The final good bird of the day really did take some finding. After nearly two hours of searching, I eventually found the Great Grey Shrike, not at Owler Bar, where it seems to frequent in the morning, but distantly across Ramsley. Eventually, once we knew where it was, we managed to get some half decent views, just before the rain set in. Travelling back across Beeley, we found a male Stonechat on the moor. Year List moves on to 161.
Monday 11th April – Spent an hour or so at my Local Patch, Staunton Harold Reservoir, and managed to find a Marsh Harrier , the first since 1999, moving through North West and the first Whitethroat back. Year List now on 162 and Patch List for 2016 on 71.
Red Grouse – Above 6 images – Derbyshire Moors – Tony Davison© – Why do people want to shoot these???
Ring Ouzel – Above two images – Record shots of the first returning males back on the Derbyshire Moorland Edges. Wonderful sight – Tony Davison©
Why indeed would they want to shoot Red Grouse.
Lovely shots.