Sunday 11 June 2017

Week 6: Flaming June

The past week was flaming June, but not for the typical reason.  We had to contend with some quite appalling weather: heavy rain, strong winds, but Friday wasn't too bad!
Hobby
The strong winds on Wednesday kept the birds for the most part deep under cover.  It was our first visit in more than 4 years to Barlow Common, so it was a shame the breezes were so strong.  We didn't actually get a decent view of the compulsory Green Woodpecker, but its flight call was heard briefly.  A silent Cuckoo watching the other birds nesting was one of the highlights, as it stayed in place long enough for everyone to view it.  
 Cuckoo
We found a ground-nesting Willow Warbler adjacent to the path.  One of the parents had an incredibly strong supercilium. 
Willow Warbler (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Willow Warbler
 Ditto
 Bullfinch
 Immature Moorhen
 Ditto
 Bittersweet (NOT deadly Nightshade)


 Viper's Bugloss
Some of the morning group went on to Blacktoft Sands.
 Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Female Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Swift (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
Ditto
The weather forecast was terrible, so we switched to Tophill Low. The am group encountered around 53 species in the southern part of the site, and the pm group added Heron in the same area. Highlights included the Little Gulls (one smart individual and 3 in non-breeding plumage - SME, but the smart one also turned up at WNR). 
Little Gull 
 Ditto
 Little Gull (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Little Gulls in 2 different plumages
 Little Gull [left] compared with Black-headed Gull
 Red-Crested Pochard on SMW (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Now on D Reservoir 
 Willow Warbler (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Willow Warbler
 Sand Martin (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Ditto
 Little Egret
 Goosander (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Goosander
 Ditto
 Oystercatchers (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Oystercatcher with chick
 Shelduck Ducklings
 Shelduck
 Ditto
 Drake Shoveler
 Ditto
 Chaffinch
 Tawny Owl Fledgling (c) 2017 Dick Watson
  Bee Orchid
 Ditto
 Common Spotted Orchid
 Marsh Orchid
 Orchid Species
 Large Skipper on Marsh Orchid
 Large Skippers
 Speckled Wood
 Grass Snake (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Ditto
On Friday we crossed the river to Messingham Sand Quarry for the nicest weather of the week, which is lucky as good weather is essential at this venue.  The Hobby didn't grace our eyes until just before the afternoon session started, so the morning group spent quite a lot of time admiring the insects.  However, birds we did see included:  Kingfisher, Jay, Cuckoo, Garden, Reed, Sedge, & Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Comm Tern, GC Grebe, Sand & House Martins, Swallow, Buzzard, Kestrel, Shoveler, Shelduck, Pochard, Gadwall, etc
Hobby
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Common Terns (c) 2017 Jane Robinson






Common Tern
 Ditto
 Cinnabar Moth (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Common Lizards (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Lizards (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Common Lizard (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
Common Lizard (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Brown Hawker
 Four-Spotted Chaser (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Four-Spotted Chaser [MJF]
 Ditto  (c) 2017 Mike Woods

Garden Chafer
Garden Chafer (c) 2017 Mike Woods


 Small Copper (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Underside of Small Copper [MJF]
 Red Admiral (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Red Admiral [MJF]
 Red Admiral (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Ditto
Scorpion-Fly
 Ditto
Scorpion-fly (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Speckled Wood
 Ditto
 Blue-tailed Damselfly (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Blue-tailed Damselfly (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Fly
 Common Blue Damselflies
 Common Blue Damselflies (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Foxgloves
 Royal Fern (c) 2017 Jane Robinson 
Snail on Yellow Flag Iris Lizard (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Black-headed Gulls Lizard (c) 2017 Mike Woods

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