Tag Archives: Peacock

Lesser Whitethroat – 8th April

April 8, 2017Recent wildlife sightings2017, 8th April, Brimstone, Chiffchaff, Comma Blackcap, Green-veined White, Lesser Whitethroat, Orange Tip., Oystercatcher, Peacock, Sedge Warbler, Speckled Wood, water rail, Whitethroat, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning three Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and two Sedge Warblers were singing as well as plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing as it passed through. At least four Water Rails were calling from the Slurry Lagoon reedbed and two Oystercatchers flew noisily over. Butterflies seen included Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood. PS.

Mediterranean Gull – 26th March

March 26, 2017Recent wildlife sightings2017, 26th March, Brimstone, Comma, Lower Path, Mediterranean Gull, Peacock, Slurry Lagoon, Small TortoiseshellPete Smith

This morning, at about 10.30, there were five Mediterranean Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon. DG/PG. There were lots of Black-headed Gulls going through on passage as well. On the Lower Path there were Brimstones, Commas, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks. PS.

Sand Martin – 25th March

March 25, 2016Recent wildlife sightings2016, 25th March, Brimstone, Chiffchaff, Comma, Peacock, Sand Martin, Small TortoiseshellPete Smith

This morning there were six Sand Martins along the river by the railway bridge. One Chiffchaff was singing and lots of butterflies were out including six Small Tortoiseshells, four Peacocks, four Brimstones and two Commas. PS.

Curlew – 6th April

April 6, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 6th April, Blackcap, Brimstone, Comma, Curlew, Haven, Orange Tip., Peacock, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, Small TortoiseshellPete Smith

The sun brought out the butterflies this morning with 11 Brimstones, 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Comma and 1 Orange-tip being seen. A Curlew called as it flew over and three Sand Martins were seen near the river, also a Blackcap sang briefly near the Haven. On the Slurry Lagoon two Shelduck were present first thing. PS.

Oystercatcher – 5th April

April 5, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 5th April, Gadwall, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Peacock, Redshank, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning there were three Oystercatchers on the Wader Scrape. There were also two Little Egrets, 30 Gadwall and some Lapwings. A Redshank flew through to the east and a Peacock butterfly was near the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Pintail – 20th September

September 20, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 20th September, Brown Hawker, butterflies, Comma, dragonflies, Peacock, pintail, Red Admiral, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

There are still three Pintail (all in eclipse/juvenile plumage) on the Slurry Lagoon. There are also still some butterflies and dragonflies about, including Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral and Brown Hawker. PS.

Hobby – 23rd April

April 23, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 23rd April, Brimstone, Comma, Common Sandpiper, Green-veined White, Hobby, Large Gravel Pit, Little Ringed Plover, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Wader Scrape, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

Early this afternoon a Hobby was seen hawking butterflies around the Large Gravel Pit and a Whimbrel settled briefly on the Wader Scrape. RW.

There were also at least five Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper on the Wader Scrape and two Common Sandpipers and two Yellow Wagtails on the river bank. Twelve Peacocks, three Green-veined Whites, three Commas, three Small Tortoiseshells and two Brimstones were also seen. PS.

Also early afternoon four Yellow Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. JMD.

Redstart – 16th April

April 16, 2013Recent wildlife sightings16th April, 2013, Bee Fly, Blackcap, Common Sandpiper, Grasshopper Warbler, Ivy, kingfisher, Peacock, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a male Yellow Wagtail was seen flying over the Slurry Lagoon and a female Wheatear was on the dry end. Along the bank towards the Causeway two male Redstarts were seen and another male was on the railway embankment. Three Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler were also present and along the river bank three Kingfishers and a Common Sandpiper were seen. There were also lots more Willow Warblers and Blackcaps in, two male Blackcaps were watched eating Ivy berries. The only insects of note were a Peacock and two Bee Flies. PS.

Bee Fly - Bombylius major — Bee Fly – Bombylius major

Migrants Return – 3rd April

April 3, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 3rd April, birds, butterflies, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Comma, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Peacock, Red Admiral, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, Small Tortoiseshell, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Yellow WagtailCarol

During the last few days many migrant species have been returning to the lagoons and helped to provide a quite exciting morning’s watching in very pleasant bright weather this morning. Amongst others, the Sand Martins are now present in considerable numbers on the river bank. Willow Warblers were noted in several locations, as were Chiffchaffs and one or two Blackcaps. A single Reed Warbler was heard in the Deep Pit and a Whitethroat in the brambles on the Slurry Lagoon. The highlight of the morning was a Wheatear, which perched very close on fence posts, and the close second was the appearance of three Buzzards, which displayed well, including an aerial fight. The Cetti’s Warbler was in good voice also.

Meanwhile two Common Terns were struggling with Black-headed Gulls for space on the tern platform.

Butterflies, including Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, and Red Admiral were noted and the Blackthorn Blossom was a sight to see (and smell). A Yellow Wagtail was also seen over the Large Gravel Pit and six Shelduck flew into the Slurry Lagoon.

PS/NM/RW/AR/ DG/LD/AE

Sun Hats and Sun Cream

January 19, 2011Uncategorized2010, bird, birds, butterflies, butterfly, Buzzard, carrion crow, Common Redstart, cuckoo, Curlew, dragonflies, Garden Warbler, great spotted woodpecker, Grizzled Skipper, hairstreak butterfly, mammals, Orange Tip., padley gorge, Peacock, peregrine, Redstart, Reed Bunting, ring ouzel, Siskin, Small Copper, Stonechat, sun hats, trips, Whinchat, wood ants, wood warblerCarol

Padley Gorge – May 2010

On what was to be the hottest day of the year so far, Deryck, Jackie and I left Nottingham at about 0730 to meet Brian, Norman and Steve in Baslow, Derbyshire. While we waited a Garden Warbler was singing near the stream. We looked for Dipper, as this was a spot I used to see them regularly but not today.

We moved off to our first stop at Padley Gorge. We parked up, dosed up with sun cream and donned our sun hats then set off down the Gorge. Our target birds being Spotted and Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart. It wasn’t long before Redstart was heard but not seen. Continuing down the path we soon had views of 2 pair of Redstart at two nest boxes, close to each other. A few yards on down the path we were soon enjoying views of Pied Flycatchers, again at a nest box. A few of the group went a little further down the Gorge to see if they could connect with Wood Warbler but to no avail. Cuckoo could be heard calling all round but not seen. We had good views of a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. With the weather so warm there were Wood Ants all along the woodland path. Also seen were Small & Green-veined White Butterflies along with Orange Tip and Peacock. We returned to the cars, the day trip list now standing at 22 birds, 2 mammals and 4 butterfly.

We moved on about a mile to Surprise View Car Park were after a coffee break we moved onto the open moor for the first time. Here we added Tree Pipit and Carrion Crow to the day list along with a fleeting glimpse of a Green Hairstreak butterfly.

We moved on again, this time to Stanage Edge, taking a slow walk up to the edge over the open moorland. On the way we could hear a Reed Bunting calling from a gully and Curlew were heard across the moor. As we approached the Edge brilliant views of Green Hairstreak were obtained and photographed. Then the next target bird was spotted sat on a rock – a male Ring Ouzel. 3 males and a female were seen before we left the Edge. A Buzzard was seen being mobbed by Curlew.

Wearily and hot we returned to the cars to move on the Cutthroat Bridge, near the Ladybower Dams were we stopped for lunch.

After a refreshing break, another load of sun cream applied we set out on what I believed to be a steady walk around the moors. I had done a similar walk about 10 years ago and had found it very pleasant. Oh how the memory fades! The path we took was not the path I had taking all those years earlier. We were however rewarded with fine views of a Whinchat. A little further on we entered the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve – Ladybower Wood. The track here was very rugged but again we were rewarded with the first sighting, on our trips, of a Grizzled Skipper. These are tiny butterflies, about 22 – 26 cms

(about 1 inch or less)that can easily be over-looked. (See article – Dingy and Grizzled Skipper) Three more were found a little further on along with a Small Copper. While in the wood a peregrine glided over the treetops.

We continued on the path past the rear of The Ladybower Inn were Jackie had a visit from a strange little creature on her camera case that Brian and Norman did their best to photograph. Jackie and I later identified it as a House Longhorn. Also in this area were a few Rose Chaffers.

While going through a conifer plantation we had views of Siskin and Goldcrest.

The path seemed to go on and on, out of the trees and on to the open moor, getting steeper all the time. We were all shattered on getting to the top but here we were rewarded with fine views of Red Grouse and two chicks. After a well-earned rest we continued down hill on a well-worn path towards the cars. On the way down Stonechat were heard but we could not locate them.

Although it had been a very hot and tiring day, all agreed that it had been worth the effort with good views of the surrounding countryside and some wonderful wildlife.

I would like to thank Neil Matthew for providing us with such a good itinerary.

The yearly trip lists now stand at: – Birds – 145 (117) : Butterflies – 8 (10)

Mammals – 6 (5) : Dragonflies – 0 (0) : Others – 3 (0)

2009 in brackets.