I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
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| Yellow Slime Mold |
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Yellow Slime Mold - Whitesprings Plantation
Walking through the cleared area of Whitesprings Plantation I noticed a bright yellow area about the size of a tennis ball that looked like a splash of paint on the side of a dead pine, several metres off the ground. On closer inspection it looks like the Yellow Slime Mold, Fuligo septica.
I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
I've often come across it on the ground on the moors where it forms a very slipper mass in the autumn, also known as dog vomit slime mold, but I've never seen such a bright yellow example before.
Sunday, 26 August 2018
Ruddy Shelduck - Carsington Water
A Ruddy Shelduck was found at Carsington last Thursday and was still present this morning when it flew in with Canada Geese just after 8am at Millfields. A rare visitor to the County, but recorded most years, and almost certainly of feral origins.
Although the Ruddy Shelduck is on the British List it is in Category B, species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January1800 and 31 December 1949. All subsequent records are in Category E which comprises those species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining.
The Ruddy Shelduck is a native of eastern Europe, breeding around the Black Sea coast and adjoining areas of Greece, I saw at least 20 birds on the Greek island of Kos this Spring.
There is, however a regular and increasing flock of moulting birds at Eemmeer in the Netherlands each summer with over 800 birds counted recently. This is a possible source of the un-ringed Carsington bird, as well as the half dozen which turn up elsewhere in the UK at this time of year, post the moult which leaves them flightless for several weeks. These birds appear to be mainly from feral populations in Switzerland and Germany but there is a slight chance that this moulting flock could include genuine wild birds from further east. If the link to wild birds could be proven, birds at Eemmeer have been ringed and even satellite tagged, then there would be some possibility of genuinely wild birds occurring in the UK.
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| Ruddy Shelduck - probably adult female |
Although the Ruddy Shelduck is on the British List it is in Category B, species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state at least once between 1 January1800 and 31 December 1949. All subsequent records are in Category E which comprises those species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining.
The Ruddy Shelduck is a native of eastern Europe, breeding around the Black Sea coast and adjoining areas of Greece, I saw at least 20 birds on the Greek island of Kos this Spring.
There is, however a regular and increasing flock of moulting birds at Eemmeer in the Netherlands each summer with over 800 birds counted recently. This is a possible source of the un-ringed Carsington bird, as well as the half dozen which turn up elsewhere in the UK at this time of year, post the moult which leaves them flightless for several weeks. These birds appear to be mainly from feral populations in Switzerland and Germany but there is a slight chance that this moulting flock could include genuine wild birds from further east. If the link to wild birds could be proven, birds at Eemmeer have been ringed and even satellite tagged, then there would be some possibility of genuinely wild birds occurring in the UK.
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
Osprey - Whitesprings Plantation
My first local Osprey of the autumn today (I was at the Birdfair on Friday and saw one of the Rutland Water birds as my first of the autumn) carrying a large trout over Whitesprings Plantation this morning. It circled several times before drifting off over Beeley village towards Chatsworth.
It looked like an adult female with a dark breast band and two rows of dark markings on the underwing coverts. It had a blue Darvic ring on the left leg and I suspect it may be the same bird I saw in the spring. Unfortunately none of the photos were good enough to read the ring.
There has been an Osprey on and off at Ogston since the 8th August so it could be that bird, not sure if it has a Darvic ring.
It looked like an adult female with a dark breast band and two rows of dark markings on the underwing coverts. It had a blue Darvic ring on the left leg and I suspect it may be the same bird I saw in the spring. Unfortunately none of the photos were good enough to read the ring.
There has been an Osprey on and off at Ogston since the 8th August so it could be that bird, not sure if it has a Darvic ring.
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| Osprey probably adult female |
Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Wall Brown doing well
After a rather bleak review of the declining fortunes of the Wall butterfly in 2016 (see here) it looks like they are doing much better locally this year. In a short walk this morning I saw several on Flash Lane, Wraggs Quarry and at the Cupola Ponds.
Last week I saw several at Clough Wood which has always been a stronghold for the species.
Last week I saw several at Clough Wood which has always been a stronghold for the species.
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| Wall butterfly |
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.
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| Marbled White |
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) |
Friday, 29 June 2018
White-letter Hairstreak - Darley Dale
It's been five years since I last heard of a White-letter Hairstreak in Darley Dale but Simon Roddis sent me this photo taken recently in his garden.
The butterfly clearly still survives in the village but in very low numbers. There are small elms dotted around the local woodlands and these must still support this species.
The butterfly clearly still survives in the village but in very low numbers. There are small elms dotted around the local woodlands and these must still support this species.
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| White-letter Hairstreak (© Simon Roddis) |
Another local Turtle Dove record
I was contacted by Simon Moody in the second week of June to say that he had seen a Turtle Dove in Uppertown around the time I photographed the bird in Matlock Forest, could it be the same bird?
Well since then Simon has had further sightings of the bird in Uppertown and it is clearly another individual. Apparently this bird, another male, has been courting the local Collared Doves and was still in the area earlier this week when he took this superb photo.
Well since then Simon has had further sightings of the bird in Uppertown and it is clearly another individual. Apparently this bird, another male, has been courting the local Collared Doves and was still in the area earlier this week when he took this superb photo.
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| Turtle Dove (© Simon Moody) |
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Record sighting of Red Kite
I've just seen 4 Red Kite together over the woods at the back of my garden in Darley Dale, a record count locally for me. It looks like they were heading towards Matlock but then turned towards Oaker.
They all look like moulting adults, so could be failed breeders for one of the populations to the north or south of Derbyshire.
They all look like moulting adults, so could be failed breeders for one of the populations to the north or south of Derbyshire.
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| Red Kite |
Orchids in Wragg's Quarry
There are dozens of flowering spikes of orchids appearing in Wragg's Quarry at the moment. When they first appeared around 2011 I'm sure they were all Northern Marsh Orchids but now there appear to be a wide range of hybrids with what looks like Heath Spotted Orchid.
Many of the hybrids are tall flowering spikes which is a feature of hybridisation.
What ever they are there are some superb examples!
Many of the hybrids are tall flowering spikes which is a feature of hybridisation.
What ever they are there are some superb examples!
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| Northern Marsh Orchid with close-up lower petal insert |
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| Heath Spotted Orchid with close-up lower petal insert |
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| hybrid Northern Marsh x Heath Spotted Orchid with unmarked leaves |
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| hybrid Northern Marsh x Heath Spotted Orchid |
Monday, 11 June 2018
A second record of Morophaga Choragella the Large Clothes Moth
Simon caught this moth in Darley Dale a couple of days ago. I caught one on July 2016 so it looks like this moth is perhaps recently established in the area. We are not aware of any other Derbyshire records but it would be surprising if there are not some to the South as it looks like the moth is spreading North.
There are a handful of records from Nottinghamshire but otherwise is restricted to the south east of the Country
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| Morophaga choragella © Simon Roddis |
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| NBN Atlas records of Morophaga choragella |
Sunday, 10 June 2018
Mandarin broods - Chatsworth
I had just been thinking that I was overdue seeing Mandarin with young but made up for it this morning with at least nine broods on a 1km stretch of the River Derwent between Chatsworth and Rowsley. All looked to be of a similar age.
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| Mandarin female with young |
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
Orchid hunting around the Via Gellia
I spent the afternoon, which started cool and overcast but ended in sweltering sunshine, searching for some of our early flowering orchids around the Via Gellia. My main target was the Burnt or Burnt-tip Orchid but I think I was slightly late as I only found three flowering spikes and only one of these was in reasonable condition. Nearby were the shrivelled stems of two Green-winged Orchid which I have still yet to see in good condition locally so will have to return a little earlier next year.
There were however lots of Fly Orchids and these appear to be flowering later than normal, as I usually expect to see them at their best in the last days of May. I didn't search all that hard but only found a single Frog Orchid.
There were however lots of Fly Orchids and these appear to be flowering later than normal, as I usually expect to see them at their best in the last days of May. I didn't search all that hard but only found a single Frog Orchid.
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| Burnt Orchid |
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| Fly Orchid |
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| Frog Orchid |
Marsh Pug and other day flying moths of the limestone grassland
I spent the afternoon exploring the edges of the Via Gellia looking mainly for orchids, which I've posted above but also some of our day flying moths.
I have looked many times for the Marsh Pug which is very thinly distributed in Derbyshire and was very pleased to finely catch up with one today. In some parts of the country they are quite a dark moth but in Derbyshire they are this pale tawny brown. They feed on Field Mouse-ear as larva and I suspect that it what this adult has settled on.
In the same area there were a lot of Grass Rivulet including a rather dark barred individual which is unlike any I have previously see.
The striking Wood Tiger was also on the wing in good numbers, looking like many had recently emerged. I was also surprised to see the Cistus Forester at several locations and in reasonable numbers so it looks like they are having a good year.
Finally I saw one or two Mother Shipton with its striking wing markings.
Walking around some fields had almost no insects and a very few plant species and others were a riot of colour with a variety of plant species including several orchids and it was in these fields that the moths were to be found.
I have looked many times for the Marsh Pug which is very thinly distributed in Derbyshire and was very pleased to finely catch up with one today. In some parts of the country they are quite a dark moth but in Derbyshire they are this pale tawny brown. They feed on Field Mouse-ear as larva and I suspect that it what this adult has settled on.
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| Marsh Pug |
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| Grass Rivulets typical example at the top and a dark barred individual below |
The striking Wood Tiger was also on the wing in good numbers, looking like many had recently emerged. I was also surprised to see the Cistus Forester at several locations and in reasonable numbers so it looks like they are having a good year.
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| Wood Tiger |
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| Cistus Forester |
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| Mother Shipton |
Walking around some fields had almost no insects and a very few plant species and others were a riot of colour with a variety of plant species including several orchids and it was in these fields that the moths were to be found.
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