Peak District Wildife

A weekend camping in the van near Lathkill Dale in some rather poor weather. However it did clear in the late afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday so we got out for walks in the Dale on Saturday and at Bolehill Wood and Quarry (at Padley) on Sunday. The Dipper and lepidoptera were at Lathkill Dale and the Woodpecker nest and Pied Flycatcher were in Bolehill Wood along with Spotted Flycatcher and other woodland birds. Redstarts were fairly common in both places. The Mandarin was in the grounds of Padley Chapel.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus, Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major & Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

Mandarin Aix galericulata, female

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages

Clouded Magpie Abraxas sylvata

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia

Pyrausta cingulata

Canon Powershot SX50 HS

Gannets and Puffins

A couple of videos from a visit to Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve. Huge numbers of common seabirds (except Fulmar, which were oddly scarce) going about the, occasionally violent, business of breeding. The continual noise from the Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Gannets provides the backing track.

The reserve is also blessed with many Tree Sparrows around the fields along with a few Corn Buntings.

Look out for the crafty Guillemot towards the end of the Gannet fight in the first video.

Gannets Morus bassanus

Puffin Fratercula arctica

Canon Powershot SX50 HS