Thursday 6 February 2025
Weather: Sunny, light northeasterly winds. 1ºC
I had the pleasure today to guide Peter around a few sites in Derbyshire and Staffordshire to help him connect with and photograph some of his target bird species. Peter has long been into photography but has only recently started with birds. Our trip had been planned a few days earlier but a poor weather forecast and the promise of sun today meant we had the flexibility to swap days. Our drive into Derbyshire was punctuated by a few fog patches but the sun was always burning through and by the time we arrived in Cromford the mists were lifting.
We got into position by the River Derwent and I soon picked up a calling Coal Tit, inadvertently I had hit on another of Peter’s target birds and one I hadn’t factored in. Sadly we never got views as I picked up the sharp ‘zrik-zrik-zrik!’ flight call of Dipper. One landing a few metres away on a stone but not the stone I had predicted. Peter had asked what my confidence rate (as a percentage) was for seeing our target birds, I had given Dipper 100%, the only one I would have staked my house on. The Dipper performed beautifully, treating us to a spot of underwater fishing and then obliged by using our preferred rock to sing.
Attentions now turned to the trees and I realised that, as we watched the Dipper, a very smart male Hawfinch was in the trees by Willersley Castle. It was obviously singing but sadly this was almost drowned out by the road noise. A female soon appeared and she chased off the male before departing herself to feed unseen somewhere.
Full of enthusiasm I asked Peter if he fancied trying a site nearby for some more Hawfinch, this time birds that were wintering after the large, autumn, influx. Arriving at St Helen’s Church in Darley Dale we had two birds as we got out of the car. A couple of other photographers gave us a bit of local info and following their lead we moved around the church. I couldn’t believe it… 11 Hawfinch sat in full sun in the treetops. Sadly as we were about to record this eight of them flew. We still enjoyed much closer views than at Cromford, including some superb males (I counted at least five males).
It was now time to head to Carsington Water for more birds and more importantly breakfast and a coffee. Refreshed, we wandered out on to Stones Island where I picked up the Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver. Unfortunately a combination of looking into the sun and distance, Peter wasn’t able to get any photos. I did get a very bad phonescoped shot of the Red-throated Diver. Sadly the female Ring-necked Duck had gone into hiding but we enjoyed the Goldeneye and Pochard. Five Whooper Swans and I assume for feral Barnacle Geese were a bonus as we headed back to the car. Moving on to the Millfields Car Park we found the female Lesser Scaup and we both managed a few distant shots of only the second record for Derbyshire.
As time was against us we headed off to Swallow Moss where we were unsuccessful with our target up there, Red Grouse. I heard a male but try as we may, he stayed hidden. Cutting our losses we dropped down into Tittesworth Water and soon enjoyed great views of Willow Tit as they used the feeders here. We weren’t able to photograph one away from the feeders but just seeing one these days is a bonus. As I tried spotting a Willow Tit using a perch rather than the feeder I was aware of Peter machine gunning a bird. Peter was focussed intently and thought he may have had a Willow Tit but as I reviewed his shots he had taken some superb images of Coal Tit. A bird that had eluded him until now.
Our time was soon up and we headed for home happy with our day. A total of 50 species (51 if we counted the heard only Red Grouse) and a few life ticks for Peter..
Photos from the tour (click on thumbnail to zoom)
