The new business leaflets and business cards are ready less than a week after ordering! I've handed in 150 to Humber Bridge Tourist Information; 50 for them, and 50 each for Tourist info Beverley & Bridlington. I've given out a lot to the Tourist Info Pod at the Interchange, and Hull Central Library. I wonder who else will stock them?
Monday 31 July 2017
Saturday 29 July 2017
Project Black Redstart in the City of Culture
About a month ago I was alerted by a message on social media about a pair of Black Redstarts in the City of Culture. I made enquiries and was directed to a less than salubrious area of the city. I was given precise directions, but I actually came across the pair about a quarter of a mile nearer to the parking area than the directions stipulated. I first saw the female, but she soon made herself scarce. Later, the singing male was more obvious as he sang from a few prominent song posts, all of them incredibly industrial-looking. It seemed impossible to observe the bird in attractive surroundings, but then that is something you don't really expect in the UK.
Displaying the tail to best effect
Female Black Redstart
Male Black Redstart
A bundle of fluffy coal
A nice background colour, but shame about the wires
On a rusty structure
My nephew wanted to see it so the following Sunday morning I went looking again. This time it was singing much further away. , but much closer to the area originally described. We just had to try and avoid the many early morning joggers. This time we able to climb high on a public footpath and look down on the bird below us. It is a location where you must be confined to a very narrow public footpath. Unfortunately, although I was able to get closer to the bird it was incredibly overcast and seemed about to rain, so I decided to try on a brighter day.
Rusty-tailed bird on a large pile of rust
Ditto
Probably the closest we got
Surrounded by rust
Industrial
Even more industrial
Heavy Metal
More Heavy Metal
Subsequent lengthy visits on brighter days were very disappointing, as neither of the birds could be located. Either they are quietly brooding a clutch, or as seems more likely they have given up the chance of breeding at all this year. It is now nearly 4 weeks since I've seen any of these birds.
Friday 28 July 2017
June Moths
This post has been long-delayed, but here are most of the moth species which visited our moth trap in June. there are a few which managed to escape before they were snapped. Moth identification is a bit of a minefield. I knew a few already, and some are so distinctive that they were soon added to the list. However, others don't appear to stand out from any other in the 2000+ species seen in the UK. Even more tricky are some species which have so many varieties that none of them look like each other! Anyway, what follows are the moths we trapped in June, some of which I've been able to identify, but others remain unidentified so far... If anyone viewing this blog is able to add any quick identifications, please do not hold back.
Swallow Prominent
4th of June
Carpet Moth Species
Figure of Eighty
Figure of Eighty
Golden Twin Spot
Heart and Dart
Ditto
Ditto
Figure of 80?
Unidentified
Heart and Dart?
Unidentified
Unidentified
Figure of 80?
Sebaceous Hebrew Character
10th of June
Brimstone Moth
Ditto
Brown-line Bright-Eye
Ditto
Dark Arches
Ditto
Heart and Dart
Silver-Y Moth
Sloe Pug
Moths from 12th of June
Large Yellow Underwing
Unidentified
Swallow Prominent
Ditto
18th June
Buff Ermine
Flame Shoulder
Small Fan Foot?
Unidentified
Unidentified
Unidentified
Unidentified
Unidentified
19th June
Unidentified
Unidentified
25th June
Common Footman
Unidentified
As above?
Common Emerald
Ghost Moth?
Variation of Ghost Moth?
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