They have now be present each year since 2015. This is quite a brown individual which I assume means it has been on the wing for some time.
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| Marbled White |
Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Marbled White butterfly at Clough Wood for a 4th year
Alan Stewardson informed me of the first records of the Marbled White at Clough Wood this year on 24th June whilst I was away. At least one individual still flying today.
They have now be present each year since 2015. This is quite a brown individual which I assume means it has been on the wing for some time.
They have now be present each year since 2015. This is quite a brown individual which I assume means it has been on the wing for some time.
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
A few birds from the weekend
I have just returned from a month in southern Europe (still writing up the trip on andybutlerdiaries ) and made my first visit to the moors over the weekend. The temperature at least was similar to those I experienced last week, but the birds were different!
A female Whinchat on Beeley Moor was the first I have seen locally this year and it doesn't look like they have bred here so this is probably a female that is passing through, hopefully having bred successfully elsewhere.
A party of at least 17 Crossbill on Flash Lane was a further sign that birds are already on the move as there have been only a couple of birds in the area in the earlier summer.
At Chatsworth no sign of any Common Sandpiper so looks like they have not bred on the river below the House this year but a Wigeon was very unseasonal, looks like this is a drake in eclipse plumage.
On the river at Rowsley a juvenile Dipper was just about visible in the foliage on the edge of the river.
A female Whinchat on Beeley Moor was the first I have seen locally this year and it doesn't look like they have bred here so this is probably a female that is passing through, hopefully having bred successfully elsewhere.
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| Whinchat - female |
A party of at least 17 Crossbill on Flash Lane was a further sign that birds are already on the move as there have been only a couple of birds in the area in the earlier summer.
At Chatsworth no sign of any Common Sandpiper so looks like they have not bred on the river below the House this year but a Wigeon was very unseasonal, looks like this is a drake in eclipse plumage.
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| Wigeon = eclipse drake |
On the river at Rowsley a juvenile Dipper was just about visible in the foliage on the edge of the river.
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| Dipper - juvenile |
Friday, 13 July 2018
Bordered Sallow a new moth for the Darley Dale area
Simon caught a Bordered Sallow in Darley Dale on the 4th July and sent me these photos. As far as we are aware this is the first record in the Matlock/ Bakewell area.
It's an attractive moth and is generally restricted to the NW of Derbyshire.
It's an attractive moth and is generally restricted to the NW of Derbyshire.
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| Bordered Sallow (© Simon Roddis) |