Lime Hawk Moth

After Saturday's session I returned home to be confronted by a new species, the striking Lime Hawk Moth. There are plenty of Lime trees nearby, so we've probably just never been lucky enough to see them before. The moth is photographed here on privet leaves, but had presumably fallen out of the adjacent young Lime, so after its picture was taken it was returned to the Lime.

Flying Love Hearts

Common Blue Damselflies - in a Love Heart Posture

Common Whitethroat Rook
Poppy

Record shot of Reed Bunting

Speckled Wood

Record shot of Little Grebe

On Saturday morning I met up with about 10 members of the Friends of the Humber Bridge Country Park to lead them during a wildlife walk around North Cave Wetlands (YWT). The morning started well with a Rook preening itself in a dead Elm tree just above the rendezvous site, a Stock Dove flew over, and a Whitethroat was singing fairly nearby. We were later able to get a really good view of the Whitethroat, as it belted out its cheerful ditty, and indulged in its puppet-on-a-string song flight. Noisy Black-headed Gulls and young Starlings seemed to be everywhere, meanwhile the more discreet sounds of Sand Martins punctuated the air above our heads. A few Swifts were flying even higher in the sky and the sound of distant Skylarks filtered down to us. The more nasal tree Sparrows squabbled in the hedge, and when we reached South Hide the best birds were a pair of Avocet, plus Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall, and some Tufted Ducks. The Little Grebes which normally feed directly under the hide at this time of year, seem to have been wiped out during the winter.

However, when we walked round to Carp Lake there were 3 Little Grebes, who got over- excited until one of their number was chased away. Around the perimter of Carp & Far Lakes we were only able to add singing Chaffinches, and a Song Thrush. In contrast Reedbed Lake was home to several noisy Reed Warblers, at least one of whom showed itself until even the slowest wielder of bins managed to get a good sighting. We had to walk quite a bit further - to the path between Snipe Field & Maze Field to enjoy absolutely stunning views of an overactive Sedge Warbler. He was going into so many extravagent songflights, which smelled of desperation, it seems probable that he hasn't yet found a partner for the 2010 breeding season. From Turret Hide we had a really good views of a young Avocet chick guarded by its parent, plus better views of the main wildlfowl. A new species for the day was a pair of Shoveler - the drake's previously pure white breast was now stippled with dark marks as the coming eclipse moult plumage begins to make inroads into its pristine breeding plumage. We were also able to see some Ringed plovers from this hide.

Several other species were spotted flying over, or were heard singing during our 2-and-a-half hour walk, bringing the bird total to c.52 species. There were also several species of butterfly - incl Common Blue, Speckled Wood & Orange Tip, and a few dragonflies - Four-Spotted Chasers & Blue-tailed Damselflies, but the only mammals seen were dozens of Rabbits. Although the session lasted longer than anticipated, I trust everyone enjoyed themselves - they certainly appeared to pay close attention, and bombarded me with appropriate questions. You can find out more about the Friends of the Humber Bridge Country park here: http://www.graydk.karoo.net/

Hobby at Spurn

Virtually all decent pics (c) 2010 Vince Cowell, others are mine

Hobby

Hobby
Linnet

Swallow

Yellow Wagtail (followed by a Common Whitethroat)

Wall [Brown]

Wall Brown [underside]

Common Blue

Brown Argus [male]

Common Blue [female]

Common Blue [male underside]

Small Heath

After nearly a week in land-locked Worcestershire, I just had to go to the coast. Of course reports of a Red-Spotted Bluethroat, a Golden Oriole, several Red-Backed Shrikes and a Common Rosefinch helped. Vince came along with his massive lens to take the best pictures. We headed up to the point first & found a Lesser Whitethroat belting out its rattle-like song. There had been a big clear-out of the special birds, so we just saw Dunnocks, Whitethroats & Lessers in the shrubs at the spit. The terrible Brown-tail Moth cocoons were not so prevalent in this area as in previous years, but had shifted to the Chalk Bank area instead.

It was high tide there, but there was little to see apart from Cormorants, Ringed Plovers, 6 Little Terns and a Turnstone. Unfortunately, the Common Cranes reported from Thorngumbald failed to head to where we were waiting for them! At Canal Scrape we saw a Little Egret in flight, a large flock of juvenile Starlings, and a very wet Meadow Pipit, but very little else.

On leaving the hide the radio crackled in to life with reports of a Hobby travelling over the caravan park towards the Blue Bell. Vince pulled up the car & dragged his camera out & managed some quick shots as it whisked past us heading South. After lunch we went down Beacon Lane were we were teased by a Common Lizard running across the road, several singing Linnets, and the usual Warblers - including a very wet Lesser Whitethroat. We were overtaken by a young blonde female with a radio - apparently the new Little Tern warden. I didn't realise until she'd gone that we have a mutual friend in tweeter AD Wildlife, so I expected to introduce myself when we got to the hide, but she had embarked on a big circuit round the reserve. There were plenty of butterflies along Beacon Lane, but no out-of-the-ordinary birds. At Beacon Ponds itself we saw a couple of Little Terns, an Oystercatcher, and another Ringed Plover, and a Yellow Wagtail came in from the North. We went on to Sammy's Point to see a single Wheatear, and at least 4 Yellow Wagtails, but it was the insects, especially the butterflies, which were the highlight here. Although there was nothing really special to see, it was still a most enjoyable day.

Unlabelled pics are: Large Skipper (2 pics), Cinnabar (just emerged, pumping up its wings), Blue-tailed Damselfly, and caterpillar of Garden Tiger Moth (known as a Woolly Bear).

Holiday Snaps

I've just returned from spending a few days in Worcestershire. There wasn't a great deal of time for wildlife watching, but I did manage to go to the Knapp & Pappermill Reserve with Barbara & Lionel. There weren't a lot of birds around as it was just after heavy rain, but I heard the Kingfisher, and Lionel & I saw a Treecreeper. There were a family of young Grey Wagtails on the stream, and hundreds of Mayflies, and a few Beautiful Demoiselles, and a few strange Crickets.

The following day I went to Upton Warren with Jannine & Peter. Cetti's Warblers showed very well, a flying Bittern was mobbed by a Common Tern, and there were plenty of Herons (adult & juveniles), and 3 Little Gulls. The Bittern was unseasonable at the site, being normally seen only during the winter, and the Little Gulls had been there for over a week, again this was unusual.
When I returned I discovered that a Swallow had taken up residence under the shed where I keep my car, and it soon decided to leave a mess all over the windscreen. These are our 1st Swallows in about 23 years, so they are welcome, despite their mess. I now make sure I cover over the front section of the car.

Pics are: Beautiful Demoiselles (2), Mayfly, Cetti's Warbler (3), Bullfinch [female], Heron (3), Bittern (3), Common Tern, Little Gulls [& Oystercatchers], Cardinal Beetle, Drinker [moth caterpillar], Cricket, Common Spotted Orchid, Dryad's Saddle [just emerging], Gooseberries, Swallow [female].