Birding with Flowers: 2025

Monday, 28 July 2025

Next Term - Bookings Open

Hoopoe

Bearded Tits

There are about 8 weeks before the Autumn course starts, and there are a few vacancies on Tuesday mornings, and Wednesday & Thursday afternoons. Migration is the keyword of the term, and initially we will be encountering summer migrants as they prepare to leave these shores. We will also spend some time identifying waders at a variety of seashore and estuarine locations. Some people find waders tricky, so I will do my best to point out out all the key features. Later, winter migrants will arrive, and these will be identified too. The best ever Autumn class was 9 years ago when the star birds were probably two confiding Hen Harriers, several Short-eared Owls, a Barn Owl and a Woodcock all seen at the same location. If they reappear, the intention will be to connect with them once more.

Peregrine - a photograph taken in the company of the Wednesday afternoon group. In the Autumn we are most likely to find one of these looking far more active whilst it is harassing the waders on the Humber estuary!

Bearded Tits - at Ness End

Autumn is the best time to see these charismatic birds

Wryneck - at Spurn

One of Autumn's unusual birds, which we'll try and see if we get an influx on the coast

Moulting male Redstart - on migration at Spurn

Stonechat - this beauty over-winters with us

Ring Ouzel - on migration at Spurn

Snow Bunting - we may encounter these later in the Autumn term

Goldcrest - some years thousands appear on the coast

Pallas's Warbler - this is less common than the previous bird

Rough-legged Buzzard

Great Grey Shrike - 10 years ago these were eating many of the exhausted Goldcrests

Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage

Black-tailed Godwit

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank

Water [as thin as a] Rail

Hen Harrier - the star bird of a previous Autumn

Ditto

Short-eared Owls - always popular with the classes

Ditto

Bewick's Swan

Starling Murmuration

Friday, 4 July 2025

A Headless Emperor

On Monday I braved the sweltering temperatures in the forlorn hope of catching up with Purple Emperors. I was walking between the first car park and the closed off former second car park when my attention was attracted to a flapping motion on the right-hand side of the track. At first I assumed it was a White Admiral, but then I caught a flash of blue. It was a Purple Emperor. It continued to flap,around for 5 minutes or so. Most of the time its beautiful colour was veiled, but on a couple of occasions the full beauty caught the light.

Purple Emperor

Ditto

I carried on for some time with fleeting sightings of 2 or 3 more individuals - all of them male. One of them even landed briefly on our banana skins, before taking to the air again. Unfortunately, it displayed a lot more predilection for some dog droppings, luckily of a fairly small species. It remained on these for at least a quarter of an hour, and it even gave time for one gent who had never seen one before, to walk away in boredom!

White Admirals and Silver-Washed Fritillaries continued to fly by, but I didn’t manage to see any Hairstreaks. The heat began to be fairly oppressive, so I turned back. I was nearly back at the second (closed) car park, when I noticed a large butterfly in the centre of the path with its wings nearly closed. 10 minutes later it was in the same position, so I approached closer. I managed to get very close, and then began to wonder about its health. Its wings eventually opened and I was able to walk around it to get the best available blue sheen on its wings - a memorable encounter. Unfortunately, it was only later that I realised that it may have lacked a head.

Purple Emperor with head & Tongue Out

Ditto

No Blue at all!

Slightly Different Angle - lo, some blue!

Ditto

Purple Emperor - is its head missing?

Ditto

At the weekend we were in joined in the garden by a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, which was seen for 3 consecutive days. We also had our first male Broad-bodied Chaser, which was seen for 2 days.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Ditto

Broad-Bodied Chaser

ditto

On Tuesday it was overcast, so hopeless for butterflies, so we switched to our number one standby location. We encountered 50 species, meaning we reached 106 species for the term.

Record Shot of Bittern

Egyptian Goose

Record Shot of Hobby

Linnet

LRP

Black-tailed Skimmer

Ditto

Common Blue Damselfly

Gatekeeper

Ladies Bedstraw

Sedge Warbler

On Wednesday and Thursday we went to the same estuarine location as last Tuesday. Each time we started at the hide with the best selection of waders, which usually featured Spotted Redshank, lovely coloured Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpipers, Snipe, Lapwing, and on one occasion a Dunlin. On Wednesday a Great Egret was present, whilst on Thursday morning a Marsh Harrier attempted to deprive a female Unmentionable of her brood of fresh tasty ducklings.

Black-tailed Godwit

Ditto

Dunlin & Godwits

Green Sandpiper

Immature Bearded Tit

Ditto

Immature Bearded Tit (2025) Tony Robinson

Heron

Ditto

Godwits & Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Ditto

Great Egrets

Stock Dove

Female Bittern

ditto

Ditto

Marsh Harrier Food Pass

Ditto

Marsh Harrier Attacking a Brood of Ducklings

Ditto

Victory!

Marsh Harrier

Ditto

Then we went to a newish hide, where most groups saw a female Bittern leaving on a fishing trip, and returning with hopefully a full crop for her remaining youngster. The only group to miss out was the one with Ken attending, the former Bittern-scarer!

The other hides were much quieter, but we did see more Marsh Harriers, and on the cloudier Wednesday a few of the hides had immature Reed &/or Sedge Warblers directly in front of us.

Immature Reed Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Ditto

Tree Sparrow

Wigeon

Fighting Little Egrets

Ditto

Mute Swans - Including 2 Curiously-Coloured Cygnets

At the end of this week’s sessions Wednesday am ended with 112 species for the term, and Weds pm with 105.

Black-tailed Godwit

Diving Beetle: Colymbetes Fuscus

On Friday we made our final visit to the seashore, where we saw Little & Mediterranean Gulls - species not seen by the higher scoring Tuesday & Wednesday groups. The other classes have now ended for the summer hiatus, but there is still one Friday session to go.

House Sparrow

2 Little Gulls (2 front)

Mediterranean Gull (centre)

Oystercatchers

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern (centre)

Dunlin

Record Shot of Little Owl

Ditto

Pied Wagtail

Reed Bunting

Sand Martin & Swallow

Hirundines

Roe Deer

Ditto

Silver-Y Moth

Ditto

Meadow Brown

Ditto

Ringlet

This week's moths

28 June

Bird-Cherry Ermine

Buff Arches

Ditto

The Clay

Crambus Pascuella

Crassa Unitella

Double Square-dot

Elephant Hawk Moths

Light Emerald

Marbled Minor

Mottled Rustic

The Shark

Ditto

The Uncertain

29 June

Brimstone

Codling Moth [& Elephant Hawk Moth]

Common Pug

Coronet

Crassa Unitella

Diamond Back Moth

Drinker

Epmeria Moth?

Mottled Rustic

The Uncertain

Ditto

30 June

Acrobasis Advenella

Barred Straw

Bird Cherry Ermine

Codling Moth

Donacela Forficella

Ditto

Eudonia Lacustrata

The Flame

Grey Dagger

The Lackey

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Lozotaeniodes Formosana

Micro Moth

Mint Moth

Mottled Rustic

Riband Wave

Rufous Minor

Scarce Silver-Lines

Short Cloaked Moth

Small Copper

Smoky Wainscot

White Plume-Moth

Willow Beauty

Garden Grass Veneer & Crambus Periella

1 July

The Uncertain

Ditto

The Sycamore

Small Angle Shades

September Thorn

Ditto

Scalloped Oak

Ringed China Mark

Pug sp.

Poplar Grey

Ditto

The Mouse

Marbled Beauty

Micro Moth

Mesapamea Secalis

Lesser Yellow Underwing

Least Carpet

Hawthorn Shield Bug

Grey Arches

Acleris Forskaleana

Ermine sp.

Elephant Hawk Moth

Dun-bar

Double Square-dot

Cnephasia sp.

Cnephas sp.

Celypha Striana

Catoptria Falsella

Brown-tailed Moth

3 July

August Thorn

Celypha Striata

Grey Arches

The Lackey

Pug sp.

Riband Wave

The Rustic

The Uncertain

Ypsolopha Scabrella

4 July

Agapeta Hamana

Box-Tree Moth

Buff Arches

Ditto

Dun-bar

Mottled Minor

Mottled Rustic

Ribband Wave

Ditto

Rosy Tabby

White Satin Moth

Autumn Term Details

Bookings for the 10-week Autumn term have started. At the time of writing there are most vacancies on Wednesday & Thursday afternoons with a few on Tuesday 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 Autumn we’ll be paying special attention to locating migrants on the coast and along the Humber estuary. Autumn birds we’ll be hoping to find Short and Long-eared Owls, Wrynecks, Redstarts, we are hoping to track down include: Redstarts, Flycatchers, Warblers, Yellow Wagtails & various wading birds. We will be visiting venues in East Yorkshire with a couple of ventures into North Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire. So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for £12 a week, please contact me for more details! We visit a different local hotspot each week and identify all the birds and as much other wildlife as we can. This also includes mammals, and fungi with butterflies, and dragonflies in the warmer months. The course runs twice daily Tuesday to Friday. Please note it is not appropriate to bring your dogs with you. 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

Terms and Conditions

Birding with Flowers

Terms and Conditions

1.0 General

1.1. Birding with Flowers organises birdwatching and wildlife walks and events to enable participants to learn bird identification, to gain knowledge of habitats and wildlife in general to enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside. These terms and conditions must be agreed by anyone joining a 10-week birding course or a special one-off event.

1.2 Birding with Flowers reserves the right to revise these Terms and Conditions at any time by updating these pages. It is your responsibility to review and understand the Terms and Conditions. If you are booking a course or event you will be asked to return a signed slip stating that you agree to these legally binding Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to the Terms and Conditions please do not ask to participate in Birding with Flowers courses or events.

1.3 The Birding with Flowers blog HYPERLINK "http://www.eybirdwatching.blogspot.com" www.eybirdwatching.blogspot.com, the weekly East Yorkshire Birdwatching Walks and one-off special events are managed and operated by Birding with Flowers. The Terms and Conditions set out below constitute the agreement between you (the client) and us (Birding with Flowers or BWF).

1.4 Whilst we make every effort to provide you with up to date details for courses and events, it is ultimately your responsibility to check whether they have been cancelled or rescheduled by checking emails or, where applicable, text messages the evening before a session. We take all reasonable steps to ensure the information on the blog, in the course itineraries and for one-off events is accurate at the time of publishing and continues to be accurate. Liability for any loss or damage arising from inaccuracies, omissions or interpretation of contents is limited to the cost of the session. If you believe any content to be inaccurate please contact us on 07946 625677, or email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk and we will take all reasonable steps to correct it as soon as possible.

2.0 Payments and Bookings

2.1 For the complete 10-week course we require full payment in advance. If payment is not made before the date specified in the course particulars, your place may be given to another client.

2.2 One-off short (2-3 hours) walks may be paid for on the day in cash, but preference will always be made to those who pay in advance.

2.3 Except for payments for short walks (see 2.2 above), payments made by BACS are preferred by us as this is a safe, quick and easy method of payment. You will require the Birding with Flowers account number and bank sorting code. You will need to include your surname and the day you attend as a reference. If you require our bank details this will be sent in two separate emails, please do not reply to those emails for security reasons.

2.4 If you do not want to make a BACS payment you may still pay by cheque. Payment by cheque requires your contact details written on the reverse. If you pay by cheque, you should be aware that your cheque will take a few days to arrive in the post, and your payment will not be recognised as completed until the cheque has cleared, which will take several more working days. Please take this into consideration when sending your cheque. For details on how to pay by cheque please email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk

2.5 No cash payments should be sent to us in the post.

2.6 You are required to ensure, when booking a course or event, that there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of the service. Payment will be taken in advance for the services offered and if payment fails, bookings will not be made until an alternative payment has been made. If there are any changes to your details that may affect your booking it is your responsibility to inform Birding with Flowers by contacting us on 07946 625677, or email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk

2.7 It is important that you print the email of the confirmation of your booking for your own reference.

3.0 Data Protection

3.1 Birding with Flowers takes your contact details as part of the booking process. Your details will not be shared with any third party or organisation. If you request another member’s email or phone number for whatever purpose, your message will be forwarded to that client, but any reply will remain between yourself and that client.

4.0 Intellectual Property

4.1 As a member of the Birding with Flowers course you may be sent detailed itineraries, birdsong calendars, species location spreadsheets, bird identification flowcharts and other original items. Any items marked with copyright should not be shared with any third party, including previous members of the course. Once a person has left the course they are no longer entitled to receive further publications.

5.0 Changes and Cancellation: by Birding with Flowers

5.1 Birding with Flowers begins planning courses and events many months in advance. On occasions we have to make changes to details both before and after bookings have been confirmed. With outdoor classes and events, local weather, transport or a host of other uncontrollable factors can mean a change in the itinerary. Although we always take all reasonable steps to avoid changes, we must reserve the right to do so.

5.2 If we have to make a minor alteration to your itinerary or travel arrangements before departure, we will, if practicable, advise you before departure but we are not obliged to do so or to pay you compensation.

5.3 In the event of poor weather conditions which we consider will seriously affect the quality of a class or one-off event, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel the class or one-off event. In this case you will usually be offered alternative dates for the same or similar event from our programme of events.

5.4 If we have to cancel an individual class, or one-off event, completely due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness of the course leader, extreme weather events or major travel disruption, where possible we will offer an alternative date. If we have no alternative dates to offer, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid for that class or event.

5.5 If a major change is made (e.g. cancellation of all or more than 2 classes of your course or a one-off event e.g. because of the illness of the course leader), we will inform you as soon as possible. In this circumstance we will offer you the choice of the following options:

a) accepting an alternative course, part-course or one-off event arranged by Birding with Flowers and beginning on an arranged day; or

b) transferring your payment to a future course or one-off event run by Birding with Flowers of a similar standard to that originally booked, if available. We will endeavour to offer you at least one alternative course or one-off event of equivalent or higher standard.

In the event of no alternatives being available, or if you are unable to attend a future course or one-off event, a refund for the cancelled proportion of the course or for the one-off event will be offered.

5.6 The decision as to whether a change is minor or major lies with Birding with Flowers, who will act fairly in all circumstances.

5.7 No liability beyond offering the above-mentioned options can be accepted where we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of our Terms and Conditions entitling us to cancel (e.g. not paying on time) or if the change made is a minor one.

5.8 In the event that a course or event is cancelled by Birding with Flowers because of insufficient numbers signing up for it, a full refund of monies paid by you will be made. However, no further liability will be accepted by Birding with Flowers. Usually an alternative course will be arranged.

6.0 Changes and cancellation by the client

6.1 You may cancel your booking for a course or one-off event at any stage; however, a full refund will not be issued if cancellation is notified to Birding with Flowers less than 7 days before the course commences or the event is due to take place. In the event of serious illness or a major change in your personal circumstance notified by you, any refund of some or all of the course fee or event fee would be at the discretion of Birding with Flowers.

6.2. You may request a change to a booking by contacting us by email or telephone. If possible, a request to change the day/and or time of a course or an individual class will be permitted, providing there is a vacancy for the replacement day and/or time.

6.3 Please note that failure to attend a course, a single class or one-off event without first informing Birding with Flowers cannot be regarded as a cancellation. Unless otherwise agreed, clients who fail to attend a class or event without prior notice will not receive a refund for the course, missed class or one-off event.

7.0 What is Included on BWF Courses or One-Off events

7.1 See the course itineraries or details of one-off events for what you can expect to be provided by Birding with Flowers.

8.0 What is Not Included on BWF Courses, or One-Off Events

8.1 Birding with Flowers does not organise or pay for clients’ travel expenses to and from events, such as public transport or car hire. We do not pay for telephone calls, snacks or any items of a personal nature.

9.0 Insurance

9.1 Birding with Flowers has taken out full indemnity insurance for events held in the UK.

10.0 Special Requests

10.1 If you have any special requests, you should inform us of such requests at the time of booking. We will try our best to accommodate your requirements but we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met. Furthermore, we have no liability to you if such requests are not met.

10.2 Confirmation that a special request has been noted or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met.

10.3 If you have any medical problem or disability which may affect your course or one-off event, (e.g. heart condition, asthma, epilepsy, mobility problems, mental condition etc.) please tell us when making your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate your particular needs, we must reserve the right to decline your reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details.

11.0 Behaviour

11.1 When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by your negligence.

11.2 You are respectfully requested to switch off your mobile phone, or switch it to silent mode, for the duration of the birdwatching session. If you are expecting an urgent call during any particular session, please let the course leader know before the commencement of the class. Otherwise if your phone rings without arrangement during a session, do not be offended if you are asked to switch it off.

11.3 You are respectfully requested to wear muted colours for birdwatching sessions. Dark colours allow us to get a little closer to the birds and may prolong our observation of the wildlife. If you arrive wearing bright red, white, yellow or pink you must expect to be asked to cover up.

11.4 Birding with Flowers requests participants to observe the basics of fieldcraft. This means when we are approaching wildlife unnecessary noise should be kept to a minimum. If clients are talking loudly they may be asked to be quiet.

11.5 We expect all clients to have consideration for other people. The majority of Birding with Flowers clients are non-smokers. In order that they can enjoy their course or one-off event in comfort, we insist that smokers refrain from smoking or vaping in the proximity of all other group members, and while watching wildlife, at all times. Smoking indoors in any public space – e.g. bird hide – is illegal, while smoking in any confined space – e.g. at any other group gathering or in a vehicle – cannot be permitted. Additionally, Birding with Flowers implements a policy of eco-tourism and requests that smokers dispose of used cigarette ends, which contain non-biodegradable material, responsibly. In booking a course or one-off event you agree to accept these guidelines, and it is the right of our course leader to dismiss from a class, event or course any participant failing to respect them.

11.6 If, in the reasonable opinion of the course leader, you behave in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party (including the course leader) or damage to property or fauna (including the collecting of any specimen from the natural world, for example any plants or insects), we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate your attendance on the course or one-off event of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, you will be required to leave the course or event immediately. We will have no further responsibility toward you including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

11.7 If, in the reasonable opinion of the tour leader you are asked to modify your behaviour in any way, that modification, once agreed, must be adhered to. Any failure to modify your behaviour as previously agreed will result in the immediate expulsion of that person(s) from the course. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

11.8 The course leader reserves the right to bar any person that he/she considers is behaving in any manner detrimental to the smooth running of the course from attendance on any future courses or one-off events. In the first instance this will involve the lack of a renewal information for a future course or one-off event to the individual(s) concerned. Renewal emails/renewals will only automatically be sent to those whose behaviour has caused no problems to either the course leader or to other members attending the course or one-off event.

11.9 If any course member has a problem with the behaviour of any other course member this must be brought to the attention of the course leader, preferably in writing. The person(s) concerned will be questioned and the opinion of other course members sought. If the case appears weak the individual will be informed of his/her alleged behaviour, and warned that any future recurrence will result in immediate explusion. If the case against the individual appears strong then that person(s) will be required to leave the course or event immediately. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

12.0 The course leader’s decision on any dispute is final.