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A limestone dale

New Mills Natural History Society walk along a limestone dale on the 11th June

We started our walk at Upper Dale, and made a gradual ascent on a stony bridle track to Brushfields Hough, returning through woodland into Monsal Dale, to return along a short stretch of the Monsal Trail.

On the way we saw some excellent examples of limestone flora, as well as a couple of day flying moths.

We saw the common spotted orchid in a species rich neutral grassland that we passed on the way up. The bee orchids were seen in the calcareous grassland at the top of the daleside.

  • Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
    Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
    Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
    KeywordsCommon Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Orchidaceae, Plantae
    Date Created20220611
    Time Created113505+0100
    Digital Creation Date20220611
    Digital Creation Time113505+0100
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
  • Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
    Common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii
    In grassland with quaking grass (Briza media)
    KeywordsCommon Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Orchidaceae, Plantae
    Date Created20220611
    Time Created120840+0100
    Digital Creation Date20220611
    Digital Creation Time120840+0100
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
  • Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
    Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
    Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
    KeywordsBee Orchid, Ophrys apifera, Orchidaceae, Plantae
    Date Created20220611
    Time Created123650+0100
    Digital Creation Date20220611
    Digital Creation Time123650+0100
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
  • Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
    Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
    Close up of the flower
    KeywordsBee Orchid, Ophrys apifera, Orchidaceae, Plantae
    Date Created20220611
    Time Created123650+0100
    Digital Creation Date20220611
    Digital Creation Time123650+0100
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames

Read more: A limestone dale

Introduction

Welcome to the naturalist's shack - a place to store a few pictures and links on local and global habitats from a personal perspective.

April wildlife in New Mills

With travel restricted, walks locally have given me the chance to become better aquainted with wildlife within a short distance from home.

A few birds, some common, others less so. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) can be seen in most places with water in New Mills, such as the Peak Forest canal and the Goyt Valley. The house sparrow (Passer domesticus), although a familiar bird, has declined in the UK, numbers falling to nearly half of mid '70's population. The goosander (Mergus merganser) is a fishing duck, having a long, sawlike bill.

  • Canada goose Branta canadensis
    Canada goose Branta canadensis
    Canada goose Branta canadensis
    KeywordsAnatidae, Animalia, Aves, Branta canadensis, Chordata, animal, bird
    Date Created20200409
    Time Created100220
    Digital Creation Date20200409
    Digital Creation Time100220
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS M.300mm F4 1/400 sec at f/4.5
  • Canada goose Branta canadensis
    Canada goose Branta canadensis
    Canada goose Branta canadensis
    KeywordsAnatidae, Animalia, Aves, Branta canadensis, Chordata, animal, bird
    Date Created20200409
    Time Created100329
    Digital Creation Date20200409
    Digital Creation Time100329
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • female house sparrow Passer domesticus
    female house sparrow Passer domesticus
    female house sparrow Passer domesticus
    KeywordsAnimalia, Aves, Chordata, Passer domesticus, Passeridae, animal, bird, house sparrow
    Date Created20200419
    Time Created112503
    Digital Creation Date20200419
    Digital Creation Time112503
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • male house sparrow Passer domesticus
    male house sparrow Passer domesticus
    male house sparrow Passer domesticus
    KeywordsAnimalia, Aves, Chordata, Passer domesticus, Passeridae, animal, bird, house sparrow
    Date Created20200419
    Time Created112907
    Digital Creation Date20200419
    Digital Creation Time112907
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    KeywordsAnatidae, Animalia, Aves, Chordata, Mergus merganser, animal, bird, common merganser, female, goosander
    Date Created20200423
    Time Created131351
    Digital Creation Date20200423
    Digital Creation Time131351
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    KeywordsAnatidae, Animalia, Aves, Chordata, Mergus merganser, animal, bird, common merganser, female, goosander
    Date Created20200423
    Time Created131402
    Digital Creation Date20200423
    Digital Creation Time131402
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    female goosander Mergus merganser
    KeywordsAnatidae, Animalia, Aves, Chordata, Mergus merganser, animal, bird, common merganser, female, goosander
    Date Created20200423
    Time Created131624
    Digital Creation Date20200423
    Digital Creation Time131624
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Read more: April wildlife in New Mills

Kestrels nesting near New Mills

Kestrels nesting

  • Male kestrel parent visiting nest Falco tinnunculus
    Male kestrel parent visiting nest Falco tinnunculus
    Male kestrel parent visiting nest Falco tinnunculus
    Date Created20200530
    Time Created154840
    Digital Creation Date20200530
    Digital Creation Time154840
    By-lineBarry Soames
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames
    Caption-AbstractOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    KeywordsAnimalia, Aves, Chordata, Eurasian kestrel, European kestrel. common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Falconidae, Old World kestrel, animal, bird, kestrel
    Date Created20200602
    Time Created173540
    Digital Creation Date20200602
    Digital Creation Time173540
  • Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    Kestrel chicks in nest Falco tinnunculus
    KeywordsAnimalia, Aves, Chordata, Eurasian kestrel, European kestrel. common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Falconidae, Old World kestrel, animal, bird, kestrel
    Date Created20200602
    Time Created181153
    Digital Creation Date20200602
    Digital Creation Time181153

Read more: Kestrels nesting near New Mills

Heron in New Mills

A study of a heron in New Mills, in pictures and video.

  • grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    KeywordsAnimalia, Ardea cinerea, Ardeidae, Aves, Chordata, animal, bird, grey heron
    Date Created20200520
    Time Created125755
    Digital Creation Date20200520
    Digital Creation Time125755
  • grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    KeywordsAnimalia, Ardea cinerea, Ardeidae, Aves, Chordata, animal, bird, grey heron
    Date Created20200520
    Time Created142122
    Digital Creation Date20200520
    Digital Creation Time142122
  • grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    KeywordsAnimalia, Ardea cinerea, Ardeidae, Aves, Chordata, animal, bird, grey heron
    Date Created20200520
    Time Created144248
    Digital Creation Date20200520
    Digital Creation Time144248
  • grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    grey heron Ardea cinerea
    KeywordsAnimalia, Ardea cinerea, Ardeidae, Aves, Chordata, animal, bird, grey heron
    Date Created20200520
    Time Created152130
    Digital Creation Date20200520
    Digital Creation Time152130

Read more: Heron in New Mills

Microscopes for naturalists

  • Some lower to medium power microscopes
    Leica MZ125, Zeiss Stereomicroscope II, Leica Zoom 2000 and old 1960's childrens microscope
    KeywordsLeica MZ125, Leica Zoom 2000, Microscope, Zeiss stereomicroscope II, equipment, first microscope
    Date Created20190224
    Time Created122616
    Digital Creation Date20190224
    Digital Creation Time122616
    Copyright NoticeBarry Soames

I've been thinking a lot about microscopes for naturalists lately.

Especially when first exploring wildlife in close up, a good low to medium power stereomicroscope is hard to beat. Useful magnifications are about x7 - x40 (or greater). Most stereo microscopes offer more than one magnification, either in set steps, or as a zoom. From a naturalist's point of view, this type of microscope is useful for examining insects and other mini-beasts, looking at fine details of plants (including mosses) and examining bone and other remains, for instance in owl pellets.

Read more: Microscopes for naturalists

Longhorn moths dancing over oak on moorland

Seen dancing around and above the upper leaves of a young oak. Wooded part of Blacka Moor in the Peak District..

  • longhorn moths dancing over oak
    longhorn moths dancing over oak
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created141252
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time141252
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom
  • longhorn moths showing long antennae
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created141221
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time141221
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom
  • longhorn moth in flight
    longhorn moth in flight
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created141252
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time141252
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom
  • longhorn moths in flight
    longhorn moths in flight
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created142948
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time142948
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom
  • longhorn moths in flight
    longhorn moths in flight
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created141247
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time141247
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom
  • longhorn moths in flight
    longhorn moths in flight
    Date Created20180519
    Time Created141313
    Digital Creation Date20180519
    Digital Creation Time141313
    CitySheffield
    Province-StateEngland
    Country-Primary Location CodeGB
    Country-Primary Location NameUnited Kingdom

I think it's Green Longhorn Adela reaumurella, but I haven't confirmed it yet.

Read more: Longhorn moths dancing over oak on moorland

Platt's Wood

Platt's Wood is a community woodland project in Hayfield It is a mixture of wet woodland and grassland on a moderately sloping hillside, previously managed for grazing and now being planted up as a community woodland. You can view the project's Facebook page here.

Read more: Platt's Wood

More Articles ...

  1. Otter spraint analysis
  2. Sphagnum identification training day
  3. Plant field guides
  4. Peak Forest Canal - signs of spring

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