Common Whitethroat v Lesser Whitethroat

 I finally caught up with the Lesser Whitethroat today with a pair just north of Winster. It is very thinly distributed in the Darley Dale area and almost exclusively in the limestone dales. On the other hand its cousin the Common Whitethroat is very widely distributed and can be found in almost any scrub type habitat from Beeley Moor, the river valleys and the limestone plateau.

Both species are usually heard first with the Lesser Whitethroat delivering a rather dry rattle whilst the Common Whitethroat delivers a mix of scratchy notes often during a display flight.

Lesser Whitethroat (upper) v Common Whitethroat

The first returning Nightjar was churring in one of the clear fell areas adjacent to Beeley Moor this evening. Not as early as last year when I recorded my first of the year on 9th May but still a fairly early date. 

There were several rodding Woodcock and earlier in the evening a Hobby over East Moor, I saw my first Hobby of the year yesterday over Farley.