Essex Skipper new for the area

Finally caught up with Essex Skipper at Whitesprings Plantation off Flash Lane today. 
A bit like the inevitability of Red Kites breeding locally it has always been a question of when, rather than if Essex Skipper would turn up locally, as they have continued to spread northwards through the county.
I think the elevation of the areas bordering the moors has perhaps been a barrier or at least delayed their occurrence here when they are recorded further north in lowland locations.
This is my first record in the Matlock/ Bakewell area and I daresay that other have recorded them locally before me, I would be interested to hear of other records.

Essex Skipper

The most obvious differences from Small Skipper are the black 'dipped in ink' tips to the underside of the antennae which are orange in Small Skipper and the shorter sex brand on the wing which runs parallel to the wing edge in Essex Skipper but is longer and runs towards the edge of the wing in Small Skipper (compare with photos below)

Small Skipper

Essex Skipper NBN Atlas distribution map

Another Waved Black in Darley Dale

The tenth record of the Waved Black moth was recorded today in Darley Dale. Unsurprisingly it was Simon Roddis who caught it, I say unsurprisingly as he also caught the prior 9! Simon lives fairly close to the wood yard at the back of DFS and we have previously speculated that this is the original source of the records. The ten records are spread over 17 years of moth trapping in the village so it's not quite an annual event.
I'm not aware of any other records in Derbyshire so it's a real Darley Dale speciality. I've previously published the UK distribution map for anyone interested.

Waved Black (© Simon Roddis)

An unexpected White Wagtail or hybrid and some juvenile chats

A muck heap on the edge of Beeley Moor has proven to be a magnet for small insect feeding birds this week. As well as many Pied Wagtails I came across a single bird showing characteristics of White Wagtail feeding there, which is only the second I've seen locally. Our Pied Wagtail is a race of the continental White Wagtail which is a regular visitor to our coast and wetlands in the spring. Seeing one here in the summer is very interesting and raises the possibility that it could be breeding, either with another White wagtail or more likely with a Pied. Intriguingly I did photograph another pale backed bird that was probably a hybrid White x Pied Wagtail.

Update: I sent details of the upper bird to Peter Adriaens a Dutch birder who is the author of the most recent article on the separation of White Wagtail from Pied Wagtail. He commented as follows;

I agree that it shows a grey rump, which would be very unusual for a yarrellii. 

Its upperparts look rather dull grey with some dark streaks though, which is more typical of yarrellii but can also be shown by worn alba in summer. 

The flanks look rather dark and extensively grey. 

It could be a dark alba, but I am not fully convinced, and I certainly cannot exclude a hybrid. 

Based on his comments it's perhaps safest to leave the bird as a possible hybrid.

White Wagtail male (upper) with probable hybrid White x Pied Wagtail (lower)

As well as the wagtails there were also several family parties of Stonechat and Redstart which provided some great photo opportunities.

Stonechat juvenile male

Common Redstart juvenile

Common Valerian

There is a good showing of Common Valerian on Flash Lane and Whitesprings plantation at the moment. Historically the plants root was collected to extract a sedative in the 19th century. Flora Britannica by Richard Mabey contains an interesting extract from a local valerian collectors diary from the mid-1860s who cultivated the plant locally.

'He and his companion would set out early on a spring morning walking from Clay Cross towards Chesterfield. Each of the pair has an empty bag rolled up and carried under one arm, and he also has a small fork of wrought iron. They proceed together for several miles for tho' the seedling valerian plants of which they are in quest are to be found in the woods on each side of the road they are not in sufficient abundance to justify a break in their journey till near the Chatsworth woods. The seedlings are now developing a couple of rough leaves and where these appear in abundance the little iron forks are applied in lifting them from the leaf mould of which the soil here mainly consists. They collect sufficient seedlings for the plot of land already set apart and prepared for the replanting. This was done in regular rows and at the right distance apart to allow for growth. After which little attention was required beyond keeping the plants free from weeds. However vigorous the growth may be above ground, this is all rejected and allowed to waste, the roomt being now the only portion of the plant of any value.... A little field, barley three-quarters of an acre in extent, in one seasonn grew a crop of valerian which realised seventy-five pounds. The bulk of this produce is now exported to the USA'

Common Valerian

Portrait of a Grasshopper Warbler

There are still several male Grasshopper Warblers delivering their distinctive reeling song around Beeley Moor. The Grasshopper Warbler is often double brooded and these males are doubtless advertising their territory whilst the females incubate these second broods.

Generally easy to hear, particular in the evening, but difficult to see but I was lucky with this male when it landed briefly on a drystone wall which it ran along, almost mouse-like before disappearing in to the undergrowth. It then reappeared 15m further away after several minutes and sang briefly.

Grasshopper Warbler

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