Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar

Every year a small number of Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars can be found on Flash Lane feeding on Rosebay Willowherb.

Elephant Hawkmoth - larva

Beeley Moor by starlight

It was clear last night so James, Luke and I went on to the moor to attempt some photos by starlight. This is one of Luke's which I think has come out pretty well. This exposure is over about 6 minutes showing the movement of the stars, we used a torch to throw some light on to the lone birch tree.

Beeley Moor 

Common Hawker - male

There were some decent sunny spells this morning and not many birds around so I had another go at dragonfly flight shots at Stonedge.
It takes a lot of patience, the dragonfly seems to know how long it takes to get the camera on it and focus since generally they move just before you are ready to take the shot. This Common Hawker was the best of many attempts. There were perhaps a dozen Common Hawkers and half that of Brown Hawkers.

Common Hawker - male

Grey Chi & Waved Black

I caught the Grey Chi at home last night, a moorland resident I only get the occasional stray at home. 
A text this morning from Simon Roddis advised that he had caught a Waved Black, this is his 4th record in 10 years and is a moth I have never taken although I am only half a mile from Simon. He has the advantage of living close to a wood yard where the moth must be well established. This one got away but if you click on the link you can see last years.

Grey Chi

Little Owl - juvenile

This Little Owl has fledged and flown the nest but doesn't look like it has been on its own for long.

Little Owl

Sparrowhawk - juvenile

Just caught this young Sparrowhawk as it flew over the garden yesterday.

Sparrowhawk - juvenile

Red Deer at sunset

James took this photo at Chatsworth a couple of days ago, very atmospheric.

Red Deer

Emerald Damselfly - male

The Emerald Damselfly has a similar habitat requirement to Common Hawker, both are associated with acid moorland pools so I wasn't too surprised to find several on the same pool that held the Common Hawker. The only other Emerald Damselfly I have posted was a female so this is the male.

Emerald Damselfly - male

Lempke's Gold Spot

Simon Roddis caught this Lempke's Gold Spot in Darley Dale early this week. This is only the third record for the area with both Simon and I having caught it in 2006 and 2004 respectively.

Lempke's Gold Spot

Scarce Silver-lines

Formally I recorded three or four a year but the Scarce Silver-lines has lived up to its name for the past few years whilst its close relative the Green Silver-lines has become more regular. Also Large Twin-spot Carpet last night which has become an annual visitor in recent years.

Scarce Silver-lines

Common Hawker - female

This female Common Hawker dragonfly was busy egg laying on a small moorland pool this morning and was quite oblivious to my presence.

Common Hawker - female

Lathkill Dale waterfall

James has been putting some effort in to landscape photography recently, this is the waterfall in Lathkill Dale which has turned out well I think.
He has set up his own web site now with his friend Ali Hood; The Wildlive which features more of their photographs.

Lathkill Dale

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet

Came across this Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet resting on heather this morning. They can be quite common on the moor flying on sunny days but have been scarce during the last few years.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet

Melanistic Grey Partridge

I've been away for a couple of weeks and have returned to this photo from Ken Smith of a melansitic Grey Partridge he came across on the edge of Beeley Moor. It was with a normal coloured bird as far as we are aware no partridge have been released on the moor so this is probably a wild individual.

Grey Partridge - melanistic