A couple of lovely local walks in the sun today - Kestrels, Yellowhammers, Red Kites and woodland flowers at Dale Abbey (including what I think is my 1st ever Toothwort). 1st Swallows, Brown Hares & another lovely close Red Kite at #lockopark @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @derbyswildlife.bsky.social
1st visit to #lockopark in a couple of weeks, the birding felt wintery to match the weather today with the highlights a first patch Barn Owl of the year, 2 Peregrine, Kestrel, 8 Buzzard, 3 Raven, 64 Fieldfare, 30+ Chaffinch, 2 Grey Wags, 5 Mandarin & 6 Skylark @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
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
Locko Park lake
Fallow Buck & Does
Male Grey Partridge
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
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
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
A skein of Pink-Footed Geese
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
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
Spotted Flycatcher perched on a dead branch
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
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
Common Terns
Scarlet Tiger Moth
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
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
Fledging time at #Lockopark with a brood of 3 juv Song Thrush being fed this morning with broods of Mallard & Greylag on the lake. 2 Hobby, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap, 2 male Yellowhammer, 2 Skylark, 3 Buzzard & a Grey Wagtail the best of the rest #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds #Birds
A great morning for raptors at #Lockopark - 1st Osprey of the year circled before heading north and the 1st returning Hobby panicked a couple of Swallows. Red Kite, 2 Sprawk, 2 Kes and c8 Buzzard. Nearby were a lovely Yellow Wagtail + Lesser & Great Whitethroats #DerbyshireBirds #UKBirding #Birds
Male Mandarin Duck
Oystercatcher - a pair are present. 🤞for successful breeding
Brown Hare were showing well
Male Yellowhammer
A few from #Lockopark this morning that also featured my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year singing near Stable View, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallow, 5 Blackcap, 5 Skylark, good numbers of Linnet (9), 4 Great Spots and two each of Grey & Red-legged Partridge #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds
Cracking morning for a full circuit of #lockopark & comfortably the best day for Fieldfare here this 'winter' with 55+ birds also 70+ Redwing, 14+ Buzzard, Red Kite, 2 pairs of Linnet, 3 Skylark, Greenfinch & Stock Dove in display, 3 Nuthatch & 2 GS Woodpecker (drumming) #DerbyshireBirds ##UKBirding
First visit to #lockopark for a while - our first Oystercatcher was feeding lakeside and one of the GC Grebes had returned from their winter sabbatical. 6 Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 2 Linnet & 2 Skylark singing & c30 Redwing #DerbyshireBirds #UKBirding
Great to be out in the sunshine and guiding on my local patch at #lockopark . Some great views of our obliging Nuthatches, Bullfinch, several Buzzard and a decent flock of c30 Lapwing for my client today but as is often the case here - the Hares stole the show 😍! #DerbyshireBirds #DerbyshireMammals
Grey Partridges on arable land
Brown Hare
A lovely walk up to a frozen #lockopark this morning with 2 coveys of Grey Partridge (6+4), 3 Brown Hares were chilling (or were just chilled!) nearby, 10 Pinkies over to NW were new for 25 as were Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, Linnet & Fieldfare (26). Red Kite too!😍 #DerbyshireBirds #UKBirding
1st visit of the year to #lockopark and a new Locko bird for me with 9 Hawfinch in the mist near the house (big thanks to Ian H for arranging access) also 6 Grey Partridge, 2 Goosander, 4 Mandarin, c15 Greenfinch, 5 Nuthatch, c100 Redwing and a 1st Brown Hare of 2025 #Derbyshirebirds #UKBirding
Probably my last visit to #lockopark for 2024 - the lake provided most interest today with 2 recently arrived Pochard, Teal, 3 Goosander, 3 Tufted Duck, 8+ Mandarin, 4 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant and a Grey Wagtail. A Sprawk, Kestrel, 2 Nuthatch and a Treecreeper too #DerbyshireBirds #UKBirding
On Xmas Eve a Whooper flew over #lockopark & it's nice to see it didn't go far with this lovely bird looking well settled at Straw's Bridge LNR likely the same bird. A stroll down the nearby Nutbrook trail was well rewarded with 6 Teal, 2 Goosander, Bullfinch & 2 GSW #UKBirding #DerbyshireBirds
Fallow Does
Lovely frosty walk up to #lockopark this AM and a good morning for watching Deer - 18 Fallow included these Does looking gorgeous in their darker winter coats. Also Red Kite, 5 Nuthatch, 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Treecreeper, 3 Jay, 2 Goosander, 2 Teal & a Little Egret #UKBirding #Mammals #DerbyshireBirds
A walk up and around the local patch #lockopark yesterday morning (my 1st visit for 2 weeks) - highlight was my 2nd Stoat of the week! With Kingfisher, Little Egret, 4 Goosander, 7 Skylark, 2 Grey Wags, 6 Jay, 37 Redwing, 5 Nuthatch & 2 Yellowhammer the best birdwise #UKBirding
I often see Fallow Deer at #lockopark but usually in pairs or small groups - this herd of 53, flushed by a tractor, was comfortably my largest count! Also 2 Peregrines about with an adult male catching a Stock Dove & an adult female causing havoc! #UKBirding
