Saturday 27 April 2019

First Week of Spring/Summer Term

This post begins with a few photos taken just before the classes recommenced.  A walk along Leven Canal on 18 April resulted in some an amazingly confiding encounter with a Cetti's Warbler at Leven Canal this afternoon.  It popped out of a bush next to the path and hopped on to a few bare twigs before going into cover again.  Only walked as far as the 'Cuckoo' tree and back. 4 Willow Warblers singing, and a couple of Chiffchaffs.  No Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat or Swallows yet - probably a couple of days too early.  In the sunshine there were 5 Peacock butterflies all fighting together with a worn Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Brimstones (2 mating in a bramble patch and another flew past), Orange-Tip, Speckled Wood and Green-Veined White.  Yellowhammers and Linnets present as always this time of year.   
Cetti's Warbler
ditto
 Cetti's Warbler
 ditto
 Comma
 Reed Bunting
Avocets on Kilnsea Wetlands.
 Avocets
 Male Sparrowhawk in the garden
 ditto
 ditto
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A few photos from a visit to North Cliffe Wood.  The Bluebells weren't quite at their best yet, but they probably are at their best now.
Blackcap
 Orange-Tip on Bluebell
 ditto
 Peacock
 ditto
 Buck Roe Deer - near Stone creek
last weekend's visit to Burstwick. 
Whitethroat
 ditto
 From another trip to Stone Creek.
Marsh Harrier
 ditto
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The wild flowers in Nut Wood were the highlights there.
Wood Anenome
 ditto
 Greater Stitchwort
 Green Veined White
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From a visit to Scarborough. 
Wall Brown
 Wood Sorrell
For the first class of Spring/Summer term on Tuesday 23 April we travelled to a reserve near York.  I was shocked to see the state of one heathland.   Apparently, this was caused by a controlled burning by a conservation body, which got out of control and damaged 70% of the small reserve.  It even tipped out in places, and threatened to engulf the encroaching woodland.  It will recover in time and at least the owl box remained untouched.  We connected with 31 species in the untouched woodland, including my earliest ever Garden Warbler. Other birds: Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker (h), Yellowhammer, Linnet, Lapwing, Siskin, Kestrel, Buzzards etc.  Lulu refused to put in an appearance as did the Cuckoo.  Hoping the wildlife in the area will soon recover.
Red-legged Partridge
 Mistle Thrush
 Willow Warbler
 ditto
 Yellowhammer
 Wren
False Puffball Reticularia (Enteridium) lycoperdon
A Reminder of how it looked on 21 March
On Wednesday we had our first regular visit to Hatfield Moor for at least 5 years.  One group encountered at least 32 species.  The undoubted morning highlight was a drake Mandarin, which had paired up with a female unmentionable   He wouldn't let any drake Mallards anywhere near her, and prevented his prospective spouse from joining them.  Other sightings included Whitethroat, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Linnet, Great Crested & Little Grebe.
Mandarin (c) 2019 Maggie Bruce
 ditto
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Drake Mandarin (c) 2019 Aileen Urquhart
Mandarin [and 'friend']
 Reed Bunting
 Willow Warbler
 ditto
Blackcap 
Chaffinch (c) 2019 Aileen Urquhart
 Brimstone
 Large Red Damselfly
A non-avian highlight from Wednesday’s classes were the longhorn micro-moths, otherwise correctly known as Adela reaumurella.  There were dozens of these dancing on the leaves of Silver Birches.
Longhorn Micro moth 
Adela reaumurella (c) 2019 Maggie Bruce
 ditto
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 Ditto
Adela reaumurella (c) 2019 Tony Robinson
Adela reaumurella [MJF]
 ditto
Tiger Beetle (c) 2019 Maggie Bruce
Ditto
Ditto
Tiger Beetle [MJF]
Peacock (c) 2019 Maggie Bruce
 Ruby-tailed Wasp?
UFI (c) 2019 Aileen Urquhart
 Seeding Coltsfoot (c) 2019 Aileen Urquhart
On Thursday the forecast was terrible, so we went to North Cave Wetlands.  The morning group encountered almost 60 species.  However, the decent photo opportunities were relatively slim.  
Reed Warbler
 Reed Bunting
 Sedge Warbler - great placing of leaves!
 Shoveler
 Heron
 Lesser Black-Backed Gull - hanging around shellfish
 Mediterranean Gull
 Ruff
 Toad
On Friday we returned to the heathland near York.  This time we actually had views of a Woodlark.  A pair looked striking against the black and burned heath.  The morning group saw or heard species including the first Cuckoo of the season, which I managed to glimpse after lunch.  
Whitethroat
 Ditto
 Treecreeper
 Woodlark
ditto 
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto - note supercilious meeting at the back
Record Shot of Woodlark (c) 2019 Mike Woods
Willow Warbler (c) 2019 Mike Woods
 Willow Warbler (c) 2019 Mike Woods
 Goldcrest
 Predated Long-tailed Tit Nest
 Ruby-tailed Wasp?
Pink Purslane
Oak Apple Gall