A rainbow - can't remember too much sun but defo plenty of rain on a walk at Markeaton Stones/Lower Vicarwood Farm this afternoon! Male Tree Sparrow was worth the soaking, 12+ Skylark, 3 Yellowhammer, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel, Red Kite, Siskin & 4 Greenfinch @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Despite the mist (or possibly because of its cover) a good Partridge day at #lockopark - 6 Grey (3 & 3) and my 1st Red-legs of the year (4). 2 Skylark, 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Meadow Pipit, 30+ Linnet & big numbers of Siskin (120+) near the lake @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

Noisy green devils, iconic waders and frisky Hares - February's newsletter from Natural Derbyshire Tours is now available 👇 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social naturalderbyshiretours.uk/februarys-news…

Away for the weekend on the Lancs coast and a 1st visit to @rspbleightonmoss.bsky.social this morning - a brilliant reserve with lovely, welcoming staff & volunteers. A family of 3 Otter were the highlight with 3 Bearded Tit, 3 Marsh Harrier & lovely views of Marsh Tit @rspb.bsky.social #UKBirding

A day of two halves - great to get distant but good scope views of the 3 Smew at Holme Pierrpont. My first for over 2 years and only my 2nd ever drake 😍. Then back into Derbyshire with a quick visit to Carsington Water (Willow Tit x 2) and a stroll up Harboro Rocks @nottswildlife.bsky.social #Ethels

The sound of late winter for me - a Mistle Thrush pouring its heart out at Notts Road Cemetery, Chaddesden this morning. A lovely, slightly melancholy song! 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 pairs of Stock Dove singing and beginning to display, 18+ Redwing & 3 Greenfinch @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

@rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdwatch this morning and the Ivy in my Chaddesden garden packing a punch - a minimum of 11 Blackbird gorging, a skittish male Blackcap & even the House Sparrows getting stuck in! 😍 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Here Hare Here - lovely to catch a couple of Mountain Hare on today's walk. This week's Ethel was Higher Shelf Stones (628m. A bit blowy but otherwise a cracking morning! A single Golden Plover scything across the moors and plenty of grumbling Red Grouse (9+) #UKBirding @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

A bit wet and misty for our winter bird walk at #lockopark this morning but there were some great sightings for our lovely group - 2 Grey Partridge, 18 Lapwing, 2 Goosander, 8 Mandarin, Kingfisher and a first returning Oyc along with great views of Treecreeper and Brown @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Enjoyable walk up to Back Tor trying to get some hill miles in my legs (after a few weeks of torpor & cake!) so I'm not far off when guiding kicks off in earnest this Spring. Brambling (2), Red Grouse (11) & Golden Plover (c35) took me to 100 sp. for the year @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Fantastic visit to Attenborough NR this afternoon. The Scaup continues to show brilliantly along with loads of lovely wildfowl. A first Blackcap of the year made it a 3 Warbler day (with Chiff & Cetti's) along with Caspian Gull and a probable YL Gull @nottswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

Lovely winter bird walk at Notts Rd Cemetery for the Friends group this morning - plenty of Redwing (c30), 4 Fieldfare, 18 Greenfinch, female GS Woodpecker, male Goosander over and some obliging Goldfinch. Thanks to all the folk for braving the icy conditions! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

First session of the year at a misty #HighLeasFarm this morning - calling Tawny Owl, Crossbill, c25 Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 3 Bullfinch, 4 Nuthatch, 8 Jay, 100+ Redwing & Kestrel the pick of 30sp. Single Hawfinch & 3 Dipper at Cromford beforehand @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Derbyshire seems to be enjoying a good run of form with geese this winter - a lovely stroll along the frozen Trent & Mersey this morning to catch up with the Greater White Fronts at Aston. At least 8 still with Greylags, Egyptians & 4 Lapwing. GS Woodpecker drumming @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Quick after work dash to see the lovely drake RN Duck at Straw's Bridge - I thought the views at Shipley Lake were good but this was incredible. Nice to catch up with @samgod96.bsky.social & loving the Shoveler circle pit too! 😍 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Steady start to the birding year with a round 50sp at #lockopark today. Always great to get Grey Partridge (4) early with Kes, Sparrowhawk, Goosander (2), Mandarin (6), Treecreeper (3), Linnet (c35) & Fieldfare (c30) the other highlights. Plenty of Fallows too @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

It still blows my mind that I can now drive just 15 mins from home & reliably see Marsh Harrier! 🤯 3 different birds at @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Willington Wetlands today with Bittern, Red Kite, Peregrine, Redshank, 3 GWE, c200 Lapwing, 3+ Water Rail & Kingfisher @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

An enjoyable morning stroll at Cromford watching this Dipper singing and fishing from this fallen tree. Also 2 Hawfinch briefly, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goosander on the river & 2 Little Grebe on the canal @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

A short blog on some of our nature highlights of 2025 👇 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social naturalderbyshiretours.uk/our-2025-natur…

Two good county birds for me today - the Slav Grebe at Foremark Reservoir was a welcome year tick and if that was a bit distant the lovely drake Ring-Necked Duck (county & year tick) made up for it with some great close up views 😍 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding

Urban birding on the Solstice - great to see a couple of pairs of Goosander on the Derwent with 4 singing Song Thrush nearby while Alvaston Park had a roosting Tawny Owl, a pair of Shoveler, 6+ RN Parakeet and 6 Common Gull @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

The newly reworked/repaired Sanctuary LNR - a couple of gravel beds installed and a series of ponds & scrapes filling up nicely! Lapwings have already visited with 25+ Starling, 3 Stock Dove & a curious Kingfisher today. Roll on March! Top work Derby Parks 👏 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Wonderful 90 mins at #lockopark this morning. Re-found one of the Little Owls that haven't been seen so far this year, a Water Rail was a patch tick, the juv female Peregrine still with 10+ Skylark, 10+ Linnet, 8 Mandarin & 25+ Fieldfare @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

After a few storm/tree related travel disruptions we enjoyed a top day looking for Hawfinch & Crossbill in central Derbyshire. 2 Hawfinch showed early with Dipper, Mistle & Song Thrush & 50+ Siskin. Crossbill were heard only but a big skein of PFG (c150) made up for it! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Another top day at High Leas Farm today. So lucky to be able to spend so much time here and on a day like today it's just wow! L.Redpoll (7), 100+ Redwing 25 Fieldfare, 7 Bullfinch, displaying Ravens, a late Migrant Hawker and a fine Roe Buck @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

A cracking morning at #lockopark - highlights were 2 Brambling, a covey of 6 Grey Partridge, 19 Skylark, Stonechat, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 30+ Siskin, 30+ Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Goldcrest with 3 Shoveler, 6 Goosander & a Kingfisher on the lake @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

90 mins at #lockopark this pm with the stand out bird my first patch Merlin - a fem/juv type mobbed by a Crow before departing west. Also a female Peregrine with a Kingfisher, 6 Goosander & 28 Mandarin (the males now looking tip top!) on the lake #UKBirding #Birds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Glossy Ibis Willington Wetlands this morning. I missed the influx earlier in the autumn (including 2 birds by about 30 minutes!) so it's brilliant to finally see one this year. Also 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Cattle Egret, 2 Kingfisher & a Green Sandpiper @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

Daybreak on the Eastern Moors revealing handsome chaps, tumbling ravens and skeins of pink footed geese @rspbengland.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk @peakdistrict.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Thanks @toursnatural.bsky.social for an excellent morning watching the red deer

A beautiful morning walk on the Eastern Moors with a lovely group. The rut is noticeably quieter now but we still got great views, got to hear that iconic roaring and even watched a couple of lesser Stags battling! Nice to see a two vocal skeins of Pink Feet over too 😍 @derbyswildlife.bsky.social

Always nice to see Pink-Feet in the south of the county. This skein of c70 heading E over #lockopark was a treat late morning. 7 RL Partridge, 30+ Linnet, 50+ Redwing, 8 Greenfinch, 2 Skylark, 4 Buzzard, Grey Wag, Kingfisher & 3 Goosander the best of the rest @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Highlights from today's walk in the Upper Derwent Valley were the 1st Fieldfare of the autumn with c120 feeding & moving south. Continental Blackbirds and Redwings moving too with 20+ Crossbill including great views of 4 stonking 'red' males! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social

A lovely autumn walk up to #lockopark late morning and a good day for Chats with a Wheatear on a nearby track and 2 pairs of Stonechat (1 pair back on a traditional winter territory). Skylarks moving, Meadow Pipits (c10) arriving & a clear out of Hirundines 🍂 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Some sightings from High Leas Farm today - Slow Worm, our 1st Wall Browns of the year (3) and an increasing number of Fungi! A Crossbill over, good numbers of Bullfinch & Siskin, 2 Sparrowhawk, Kestrel & a small skein of Pink Feet (c15) south @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding #reptiles

I love montane species and I love waders so couldn't resist going for the Burbage Moor juv Dotteral this morning. What a bird and a lifer! A nice supporting cast of Golden Plover (over), Snipe, 2 Wheatear, 7+ Stonechat & a Merlin sparring with a Kestrel nearby @shefbirdstudy.bsky.social #UKBirding

No Glossy Ibis for me at #CarsingtonWater this morning despite a couple of hours searching around Sheepwash. A smart juvenile Ruff was some compensation as was a Great Egret, 2 Pintail, Yellow-Legged Gull and a likely Caspian Gull @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

A rare weekend off work(s) & a night away in Staithes - probably my best shore cetacean watching ever on our walk to Runswick with a single Minke & great views of c12 Bottlenose Dolphin. 2 Little Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern, Kittiwakes, Fulmars & lots of Guillemots @whalesorg.bsky.social #UKBirding

Lovely amble around @nottswildlife.bsky.social Attenborough NR this morning - 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Caspian Gull & 8+ Snipe on the Clifton Pit the highlights with good numbers of Egrets & wildfowl. Loving the new covered platform at the back of the pit 👍 #UKBirding #Birds

Crowden with a great client today - some fantastic birds amongst stunning scenery including this beauty 😍, 3 Kestrel, 4 Buzzard, 4 Raven, Sparrowhawk, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat, 2+ Ring Ouzel, 3+ Willow Warbler, several Stonechats & c50 House Martin! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding #Birds

Fab walk at Willington Wetlands with a top group this morning - it was a 'heron' day with a fly-by Bittern the star bird & several Great & Little Egret & Grey Heron with 2 Kingfisher, 2 Green Sandpiper, 10+ Swift, a YL Gull & lots of lovely Lapwings 😊 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social ##UKBirding

Definitely not the best video but some nice waders at Carsington Water this morning - a superb summer plumaged Grey Plover with 3 Dunlin & a Curlew on the dam wall with a supporting cast of juvenile Med Gull & Spotted Flycatcher @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Great 2 days for Spotted Flycatcher locally and pleased to confirm breeding success at #lockopark again this year with 3+ birds (including 1 juv) showing well today. Just love watching these understated, elegant birds - 30 mins of joy in the sunshine! 🌞 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding

Some local patch stuff - 1st Wheatear of the autumn at #Lockopark this morning below Locko Grange Farm. 2 Red Kites, 11+ Buzzard, 32 Swallow, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, 4 Nuthatch. A Silver Y, Purple Hairstreak & Southern & Migrant Hawkers on the wing @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Curlew from a short wander in the White Peak this morning - even better were 2 full grown juveniles nearby! My favourite Wheatear territory is now empty so looks like no 2nd brood this year (looking forward to March return already 🤞). Good no's of Skylark still around! #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds

Sunset and moonrise to the tune of churring nightjars with @toursnatural.bsky.social last night

What a beautiful evening for our last Nightjar watching event of the year! A gorgeous moonrise accompanied by that wonderful 'churring' with decent(ish) flight views of a female in end too! 😍🌙 A big thanks to all who have joined me this year! 👏 #DerbyshireBirds #UKBirding

A typical summer day at #lockopark today - great to see a year best c50 Swallows (with juvs), 12 Buzzard included a min of 4 neat (but loud) juvs, a juvenile Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Oystercatcher, 3 Grey Heron, 2 GS Woodpecker, 2 Yellowhammer & 8 Mandarin #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds #Birds

A long overdue patch tick at #lockopark this morning with 2 Common Tern loafing on the boat dock, 8 Greenfinch included at least 3 juveniles & a Kestrel was delivering food to a nearby nest too. My 1st ever Scarlet Tiger & 1st Ringlet, Purple Hairstreak & Hornet of 2025 #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds

Brilliant full day tour of some great #Derbyshire sites with a fab American client today - highlights included Kingfishers, Dippers, Spotted & Pied Flycatchers, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Common Terns, Redshanks, juv Oycs, Woodpeckers, male Bullfinch & lots of warblers! #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds

A great hour at #lockopark - my local patch has been much neglected of late but gave me ample reason to visit again soon with a mini raptor-fest. Top views of Hobby, Kestrel, Red Kite, Sprawk and 6+ Buzzard included the first food begging juvenile. 3 Oycs over! #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds #Birds