Look out for me...

The magnificent RED DEER Cervus elaphus,

a population numbering between 75-100 can be found on Big Moor above Baslow, this small population is probably the result of escapees from Chatsworth. Be aware these are large heavy mammals and are feral.

THE COMMON LIZARD Lacerta vivipara,

can be seen through out Derbyshire, indeed throughout the country on heaths, moors and grassland it  is a small reptile that has a long slender body and tail. It is normally a brown colour with rows of small black spots running down the length of its body. It can also be green, grey or a reddish brown. The male Common Lizard usually has a yellow-orange belly with black spots and the female usually has a creamy-white belly without spots. 

THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY Inachis io,

the longest lived of all butterflys it hibernates in groups over winter and generally is the first to appear in spring, Peacock Butterflies often lay their eggs on nettle leaves. A shiny black caterpillar with lots of white spots all over its body emerges from each egg and each caterpillar has long black spines running along the sides and the top of its body. 

HAWKMOTH CATERPILLAR Laothoe populi,

Quite a common caterpillar, approx 2-3inches long, look out for the sharp spine that puts potential predators off their food.

THE COMMON SHREW Sorex araneus

Although similar to mice and voles the common shrew has a very pointy face, a long nose and very tiny eyes, they spend their days and nights hunting small spiders, worms and caterpillars, they are very territorial and are very hard fighting, their squeaks can often be heard during summer months when they are at their most active. These tiny animals generally only live for a year but can have three or four litters of six babies.

THE OAK EGGAR MOTH CATERPILLAR Lasiocampa quercus

This moth is so named because its cocoon is shaped like an acorn, it actually lives amongst heather feeding on new shoots and on Bilberrys, in southern climates the life cycle of this moth is one year and in the north is two years, the northern ones are a lot bigger than the southern ones, i may have to go into more detail at a later date.

THE HIGHLANDER,

This page would not be complete without these chaps, most Highlanders are red these days, apparently due to Queen Victoria. During one of her visits to Scotland in the 1840's, she let folk know that she preferred the Red cattle as opposed to the Black ones – and so (as the Queen had commented), more Red cattle were bred and the number of Black cattle progressively declined. Can be found nation wide these days.

.....there's more to come