Badger - Matlock

June Oliver sent me this great photo of an adult Badger taken on the outskirts of Matlock.

Badger (June Oliver)

Green Hairstreak - Via Gellia

I went to the coast yesterday and wasn't sure what to do today but after the usual early morning trip to the moor and then Rowsley I decided on the Via Gellia for butterflies and orchids. It has been very windy today and this is one area that is reasonably sheltered. 
The sunny spells brought the butterflies out and in addition to the Dingy Skipper below I had my first Green Hairstreak of the year I also saw a Brimstone. They looked like they had been on the wing for a while so were slightly battered but still great to see.

Green Hairstreak

Dingy Skipper - Via Gellia

My first Dingy Skippers of the year, rather later than usual. This is one species of butterfly that appears to be holding its own in the area at present.

Dingy Skipper

Speckled Yellow Moth - Via Gellia

A fairly common day flying moth in the limestone dales but not previously featured on the blog.

Speckled Yellow

Frog Orchid - Via Gellia

Several flowering Frog Orchids but the Fly Orchids were not quite in flower so another visit will be necessary I think.

Frog Orchid

Lily of the Valley - Via Gellia

There were large numbers of these attractive plants just coming in to flower.

Lily of the valley

Round-leaved Sundew

I set off this morning with the intention of looking for Round-leaved Sundew, one of Britain's few carnivorous plants, particular if there was not much else happening. 
So after the usual walk up Flash Lane and a brief spell at Beeley Traingle I set off on the sundew hunt. I had tried several wet areas on the moors and had very wet feet before I finally found it.. 
The plant in the upper picture has caught a small insect on the sticky globules on its leaves.

The Sundew is described as scarce in Derbyshire which I guess it must be due to the limited availability of its wet moorland habitat.

Round-leaved sundew

Two chats

Photographed a male Whinchat this evening and a male Stonechat last weekend. These are great looking birds from one of my favourite bird families.

Whinchat and Stonechat

Little Grebe - Cromford Canal

I popped down to Cromford Canal last night to have a look at the Little Grebes, I was hoping that they may have young by now but no sign. It was generally cloudy with occasional sun which certainly made a difference to the colours on the grebes.

Little Grebe

Roe Deer - Beeley Triangle

This photo of a female Roe Deer was taken by Roger Carrington on Saturday 11th May, I'd been with Roger on the morning and must have missed it by a few hours. I've never seen Roe Deer in the area so it is quite scarce. 
According to the Derbyshire Mammal Group the range is expanding in to Derbyshire from the NW so we may see more of them in the future.

Roe Deer (Roger Carrington)

Autumn Green Carpet

Still not catching many moths but some interest at last with my first Spring record of Autumn Green Carpet and the Scarce Tissue below. Swallow Prominent was also new for the year.

Autumn Green Carpet

Scarce Tissue

Scarce Tissue caught last night in the garden, for the second year running after a gap of several years.

Scarce Tissue

Fox cubs

When I saw the Fox vixen on Thursday I had thought I had glimpsed a cub. The weather was hopeless on Saturday so I went back today and. in the end, sat for 6 hours patiently waiting to see if any cubs would appear. The wait was worth it as at least 4 cubs appeared several times whilst I was watching. The light was good for a change and the photos have come out well.

Fox cubs

Another Fox

Having said I don't see Fox that often on the moors I came across another this evening, unfortunately it had started to rain and the light was poor but it was closer than the pair seen on Saturday. They will have cubs now so that's why they are more visible at present I guess.

Fox

Early Purple Orchid

With the weather remaining poor and temperatures low there are very few insects flying and the cold wind makes looking for bird life difficult but the Spring flowers are appearing with good numbers of Cowslips and both Mountain Pansy and the first Early Purple Orchids appearing on Bonsall Moor.

Early Purple Orchid