Six-spot Burnet – Zygaenidae – Zygaeninae – Zygaena filipendulae – colour code • STATUS – A fairly common and attractive species found in Derbyshire Dales and suitable rough grassland of the southern low-land areas of the county. A typical day flying moth of the summer months often many feeding on knap-weeds & thistles. ID POINTERS – The moth is diagnostic, being the only British Burnet to have six crimson red spots on each forewing. FLIGHT PERIOD – On the wing June – July. IMAGES – Six-spot Burnet – by Tony Davison©; Bryan Barnacle© […]
At last, some warm sunshine has arrived after almost continuous dull grey and wet weather for what must have been 8 weeks or more. Most reservoirs in my county of Derbyshire are now classed as 99.5% full. To-day I joined Barrie, Anita & Elliott on a Butterfly walk around Foremark Reservoir. The walk was attended by 4 other people and was designed to be a fairly low key event. The weather & air temperture were both ideal, so it was going to be rather interesting to see what butterflies would be on the wing and in what kind […]
Local birding in South Derbyshire. A very dull grey spring morning was brightened up by the courtship dances of the Great Crested Grebe. This pair were really putting on a show at Foremark Reservoir. A pity they were just a little distant for my camera lens. No luck with Lesser Pecker this morning but did manage several Grey Partridge. At least 6 singing Chiffchaff and several singing Yellowhammer. Once common birds locally, Grey Partridge & Yellowhammer are now getting exceedingly difficult to find. The woodlands around Ticknall were also unproductive for Lesser Pecker, another species that is very difficult and very […]