Grasshopper Warbler and another Osprey

 Parked on Beeley Triangle this morning I was very surprised when a Grasshopper Warbler landed on the dry stone wall next to me. At a first glance I thought it was going to be another Meadow Pipit, it's certainly very unusual to see a Grasshopper Warbler in the open other than when it's singing.

Grasshopper Warbler

The legs and feet are quite robust, developed for clambering around in the undergrowth.

Had some luck yesterday with an Osprey seen from the garden gliding down the valley followed by a Hobby circling high over head. During a brief visit to Clough Wood I counted at least 6 Marbled White butterflies which were my first this summer.

Osprey and Willow Tit

An interesting day today as the weather finally started to improve and the temperature rose to 25°C this afternoon. I spent the morning around Stannage Edge looking out for the Bearded Vulture. Although there were reports from Chatsworth and Grindleford yesterday I'm not convinced that it's still in the area.

This afternoon a visit to Clough Wood produced the expected Marbled White butterflies and an unexpected Willow Tit, one of two which Simon had seen earlier in the day. I was heading for Rowsley to look for Hobby which have proved very elusive since the spate of records in May and early June. I was unsuccessful but was more than compensated by distant views of an adult Osprey over Haddon Hall. There have been several sightings of Osprey by fishermen in the Rowsley area recently so this could be the same bird.

Marbled White

Willow Tit

Osprey

Locally both Osprey and Willow Tit are very scarce but I see fewer Willow Tits than Osprey each year .

Marbled White - Clough Wood

I looked for the Marbled White at Clough Wood at the end of June which has been their usual emergence date since they first occurred there in 2015 but no sign. I've been away for a few days but was pleased to hear that two had been seen on 3rd July.
I went this morning and saw at least 4 so all appears well with them and I presume the slightly later emergence was a result of the cooler temperatures in May.

Marbled White

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.

Marbled White

Marbled White doing well at Clough Wood

Since the first records in 2015 the Marbled White have continued to increase in numbers at Clough Wood. The highest count I am aware of is of at least 12 at the start of July from Alan Stewardson and I think there was probably a similar number on the wing there this morning.

Marbled White

Some were showing signs of wear but this individual looked very fresh. I don't think we will ever know whether they arrived naturally or with a helping hand but, whatever their origins, it great to see them doing well locally.

Marbled White - Clough Wood

Very pleased to see at least two very fresh looking Marbled White butterflies at Clough Wood this morning. These must be the off spring of those present last summer indicating that there is a small colony established at the site.

Marbled White

Marbled White - Clough Wood update

I had a call from Alan Stewardson yesterday who had visited Clough Wood and seen at least three but possibly five Marbled White. Although the conditions were not ideal this morning with a heavily overcast sky I went back and saw  four Marbled White in the air at the same time so four or five looks like the current estimate.

Clearly this is not a wandering individual and there are I think two possible explanations for this number at Clough Wood. Either they bred here last year and these are the off-spring or they have been deliberately released in the area.
There is no way of knowing which explanation is correct but it will be interesting to see what happens in the remaining flight period this year and if the butterfly occurs again next year.

In common with most people with an interest in wildlife I have mixed views on re-introductions. Some such as the White-tailed Eagles in Scotland and Red Kites have been highly successful in reintroducing birds to areas where they formerly bred but I am against the reintroduction of none native species. Extending the breeding range of our native butterflies is somewhere in-between. It would be great to have the Marbled White as a local breeding butterfly but a deliberate reintroduction somehow diminishes the record. I dare say that if they are still there in a few years time I won't worry too much about how they arrived!

Marbled White

Marbled White butterfly - Clough Wood

The Marbled White butterfly is widespread in southern England and has been spreading northwards in recent years. It remains a rarity in Derbyshire however, although there are now one or two colonies established in the south of the County but these could be from released individuals. 
There are a handful of records each year and there have already been several so far this year but this is the first I am aware of in the Matlock/ Bakewell area.
I followed this individual for about 15 mins before waiting for it to land before deciding I better try for a flight hot for the record. It never did land for more than a second or two.

Marbled White