Meadow Pipit

I have a new camera and lens set up (Canon EOS 7D + 300 2.8 II) so I am hoping the quality of my photos improves! The weather is still hopeless but did manage to try out the lens on this Meadow Pipit, this is with the 2x III converter which appears to give good results.

Meadow Pipit

Spotted Flycatcher - Rowsley

James photographed this Spotted Flycatcher during a brief period of sunshine earlier this week.

Spotted Flycatcher

Homoeosoma sinuella - Clough Wood

Several examples of Homoeosoma sinuella were flying at dusk on the disturbed ground around the old mine shaft at Clough Wood. A scarce species in Derbyshire but one that appears to be expanding its range.

Homoeosoma sinuella

Heyda pruniana

Taken at Clough Wood by Brian Statham on 19th May, not uncommon but a nice example.

Heyda pruniana

Bee Orchid - Bonsall Moor

Common Spotted, Southern Marsh and Bee Orchid at Bonsall Moor today.

Bee Orchid

A trio of Pugs

Despite the poor weather I added three Pugs to the year list last night; Freyer's Pug, Grey Pug and Green Pug plus Small Fan-foot.

Green Pug

Freyer's Pug

Freyer's Pug

Grey Pug

Grey Pug

Tree Pipit

It's rained on and off all day but this Tree Pipit didn't seem to mind, singing most of the morning from a favourite perch.

Tree Pipit

Jay

The Jay is a rare visitor to my garden although there is a wood only 20m away they tend to stay hidden in it. This bird has been around for the last couple of days and was photographed by my younger son Luke in our neighbours garden. 

Jay

Long-eared Owl - Beeley Moor

The Long-eared Owl is without doubt one of the most elusive of our resident birds, there could be a dozen pairs in the wooded moorland fringes bordering Beeley and East Moor but they are almost entirely nocturnal other than for a period in the summer when they are feeding young. This individual is the first I have seen since late last summer.

Long-eared Owl

A few more moths for the year

Still hard work with the very changeable weather. It was milder last night and as a result quite a few moths were on the wing. New for the year were Ghost Moth, Elephant Hawkmoth and the micro moths Small Magpie, Capua vulgana and Epinotia bilunana.

Elephant Hawkmoth

Ghost Moth

Ghost Moth - female

Hedgehog - Bent Lane

I seldom see Hedgehogs around Darley Dale and it is some years since we had them in the garden. My impression is that the Hedgehog is scarce and probably less common than it was a decade ago but it is doubtless overlooked. I only rarely see it as a road casualty which supports this view on its status. James encountered this one on Bent Lane after dark.

Hedgehog

The Campion

The Campion is a really attractive moth when fresh, like this one taken last night, with bright purplish pink marbling. 
Although it's a fairly common moth my records of it are somewhat erratic, no records at all last year.

The Campion

Chiffchaff

One of our commonest summer visitors the Chiffchaff can be heard singing its name from almost every type of habitat. James photographed this individual at Ogston Reservor using a newly acquired flash unit.

Chiffchaff

Little Owl - Long Dale, Hartington

Whilst looking for Wheatear in Long Dale James photographed this Little Owl.

Little Owl

Brown Hare surprised

Not sure who was the most surprised when this Brown Hare appeared next to me whilst watching the Wood Warbler.

Brown Hare

Wood Warbler...at last

Finally found a single singing male Wood Warbler on the edge of Stanton Moor. The bird showed well but in dense cover.

Wood Warbler