Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

Two Short-eared Owls put on a fine show again this evening.

Short-eared Owl

Dipper - Rowsley

The Dippers were very active on the river at Rowsley this morning with the male regularly chasing the female up and down the river in rapid display flights, already preparing for the breeding season.

Dipper

Little Grebe - Rowsley

A rather shy Little Grebe in the sunshine.

Little Grebe

Mandarin Ducks - Rowsley

The males are certainly spectacular in comparison to the rather dowdy female.

Mandarin Duck - male and female

Pale Brindled Beauty

With the evening temperature starting at 9 Centigrade I was hoping for a few moths but it dropped to around 3 Centigrade as the sky cleared, Still, first Pale Brindled Beauty of the year, this is a male the females are flightless with vestigial wings. Also 2 Chestnut and a very worn micro moth Totricodes alternella.

Pale Brindled Beauty

Halldale Wood - Old and new footbridges

Spent a couple of hours in Halldale Wood this afternoon, avoiding the wind.

Halldale Wood

The Satellite - 2nd moth of the year

Ran the trap last night with the temperature creeping up towards 10 Centigrade and was rewarded with a Satellite and another Chestnut.

The Satellite

More on the Short-eared Owls

Both Short-eared Owls turned up again this evening but a little later so the sun had almost set. Nice views again with the birds fighting briefly.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

Two Short-eared Owls present on Beeley Moor this evening.

Short-eared Owl

Stonechat - East Moor

Great to be out in the sunshine this morning. This male Stonechat showed well on East Moor. There were 1 or two Golden Plover in the area and we had a flock of 160 Pink-footed Geese go NW over Flash Lane.

Stonechat - male

Red Grouse - Beeley Moor

As expected the Red Grouse were very active in the early morning sunshine but not so easy to photograph, James took both of these.

Red Grouse - female

Red Grouse - male

British Soldier Cup Lichen - Wragg's Quarry

Very attractive in the early morning frost.

British Soldier Cup Lichen

Great Grey Shrike - Wragg's Quarry

Nice to see the Shrike in sun-shine for a change, showed well this morning at the back of the quarry but remained distant.

Great Grey Shrike

Treecreeper - Forty Acre Wood

Another cloudy morning but this Treecreeper gave excellent views (photo JB)

Treecreeper

Great-spotted Woodpecker - Forty Acre Wood

Brief views of this Great-spotted (photo JB)

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Great Grey Shrike and larder - Beeley Moor

Poor views of the Great Grey Shrike in strong winds today but it has managed to catch a mouse for its larder.

Great Grey Shrike larder

Long-tailed Tits - Forty Acre Wood

Nice views of a party of Long-tailed Tits in Forty Acre Wood.

Long-tailed Tit

First moth of 2012 - The Chestnut

Another mild evening last night with the temperature maximum of 12 Centigrade and minimum of 7 Centigrade but just one moth taken in the early hours of 2012 - The Chestnut. A rather worn specimen but first moth of the New Year.

The Chestnut