Monday 28 March 2016

Coming Soon

Bookings have now started for the 10-week Spring/Summer term, which begins on 12th of April. At the time of writing there are a couple of vacancies on each afternoon session. There are fewer vacancies in the mornings. If you are interested in another session, please ask. For at least 2 hours a week encounter the natural world as a completely new sensual experience. You'll be amazed what you'll find just by listening, and not only by looking! In the Spring we'll be looking for special summer visitors including: Redstarts, Woodlarks, Cuckoo, Turtle Doves, Hobbies, & 9 species of Warbler. We'll be going to 2 new places we've never been to before, but also some summer favourites voted for by present participants. We'll be going to our rocky cliffs, to some lowland heathlands, to deciduous woodlands, to tranquil wetlands, some butterfly meadows, and up on to the wolds. So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for less than £10 a week, then this is the course for you! We visit a different local hotspot each week and identify all the birds and as much other wildlife as we can. This includes mammals, and fungi with butterflies, dragonflies and wild flowers. The course runs twice daily Tuesday to Friday. If you are interested in more details of the course, or wish to be placed on a waiting list, please leave a comment next to one of my posts or email me on mflowers81@live.co.uk
Redstart - we'll be looking for these in the north of our area 
 Whinchat - we will look for these on passage & near Whitby
 Wheatear - these could turn up anywhere on passage
Nightingale - we will make a special trip to see these
 Cuckoo - although declining, we will hear & hopefully see one
 Cuckoo - note the drooping wings and long tail
 Turtle Dove - declining, but we will look out for these beauties
Firecrest - unpredictable, but would be great to encounter
Hobby - we are going to the best place for this dashing Falcon
 Woodlark - singing, but we are most like to see them in the air
 Whitethroat - a class favourite
 Lesser Whitethroat - we will see this skulker
 Grasshopper Warbler - we will certainly make an effort to see these
 Sedge Warbler - easier to see singing in the open
 Reed Warbler - similar-sounding, but slightly harder to see
 Blackcap - beautiful songster
 Garden Warbler - Beautiful songster, but harder to see well
 Willow Warbler - Summer wouldn't be summer without this bird
 Chiffchaff - usually much duller than this bright example!
Ring Ouzel - unpredictable, but not impossible
 Puffin - popular with everyone
 Nightjar (c) 2016 Mick Sharpe
Marbled White - we do identify butterflies when available!
 Banded Demoiselle - some groups will be looking for this star
 Bee Orchid - Birding with Flowers at times becomes Flowers with Flowers
Stoats - mammals get a look in too!

Thursday 24 March 2016

Spring Dance

Great Crested Grebes have started their elaborate courtship dances, and can be seen performing on any decent large lakes.  Friday morning's Jane took these photos at Fairburn Ings, but they can also be seen at Far Ings, North Cave Wetlands and even East Park! 
All photos (c) 2016 Jane Robinson





Tuesday 22 March 2016

Last of Winter Term

We enjoyed a couple of bright days to the end of last week as the term came to a close.  Below are some of the best photos taken in those final days.  Hopefully, my camera will be up and running again next term.
1st three photos taken at North Cave Wetlands
Long-tailed Tit (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
 Snipe (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
Vole Species (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
 Moth in Church Fenton
Angle Shades (c) 2016 Peter Smith
 Angle Shades (c) 2016 Peter Smith
At Potteric Carr
All remaining Photos (c) 2016 Mike Woods 
Lesser Black Backed Gulls
 Ditto
 Chaffinch
 Chaffinch
From the Week Before at Fairburn Ings 
Confiding Robin
 Ditto
 Willow Tit
 Ditto

Thursday 17 March 2016

Relic of Winter

Yesterday in an attempt to escape the coastal fog and northerly winds we switched to RSPB Blacktoft Sands.  We saw at least 48 species, but only some of which are included here.  The relatively confiding Fieldfare was a highlight.
All photos (c) 2016 Tony Robinson
Fieldfare
 Ditto
 Lapwing
 Drake Wigeon
 Female Wigeon
 Drake Shoveler
 Female Shoveler
 Marsh Harrier
 Ditto
 Ditto