Botanic Gardens

All uncredited pics (c) 2009 Michael Flowers

Mistle Thrush (c) 2009 Vince Cowell

Roe Deer - new mum

Look between her legs to see the head of her fawn!

Fawn's ears a bit clearer in this one!
Bullfinch (c) 2009 Vince Cowell
Eating dandelion heads
Bullfinch
Whitethroat (c) 2009 Vince Cowell
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Whitethroat

Robin - recently fledged

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Record shot of Goldcrest

Moorhen

Silhouette of Cormorants

Comma

Speckled Wood

We gained permission to visit some botanical gardens today not normally open to the public. They were surveyed by the RSPB a couple of years ago, and a remarkable selection of species were recorded, so a member of the classes kindly negotiated with the relevant authorities to arrange our visit. The auspices were good when we arrived, and turned a corner, to find a male Bullfinch sitting in the open chewing the seed heads of dandelions. He stayed there for several minutes, ensuring everyone had a good view. Unfortunately, things took a downward turn from then on, as the high winds meant that few birds were willing to place their heads above the parapet. We also tried a nearby scrubby site where we did track down an obliging Whitethroat, and a female Roe Deer; which in the afternoon was seen to have a newly-born fawn. Swifts, Swallows & House Martins flew low over the hawthorns, and in the afternoon Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler and a whole family of recently-fledged Long-tailed Tits were added to the tally, but the wind was also having a detrimental effect here. Other classes will be also visiting the site, so it will be interesting to see if bird numbers increase in better weather.

Beauty & the Beast

Beauty - Green-veined White on Bluebell

Beast - Tiger Beetle
Willow Warbler
Treecreeper
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Garden Warbler

Red Kite

Nemophora degeerella?

Small Copper

Weevil - Phyllobius pomaceus?

Sometimes silence is golden! Let the images speak for themselves.

O is for.....

Osprey!

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Record shot of Cuckoo
Record shot of Cuckoo about to be mobbed

Sedge Warbler singing in its arbour

Record shot of Barn Owl

A very "worn" Holly Blue

The 'ah' factor - Mallard Duckling

It can’t be can it? It must be a large gull, isn’t it? Is it a Heron? On no, oh my Gawd, it is, it’s an Osprey!!! The first one we’ve ever seen during the classes, and the 1st I’ve ever seen in Yorkshire. It sure beats driving all the way to Bassenthwaite & seeing those tiny dots thro’ the RSPB x70 telescopes. This one was less than 50 feet above our heads! I almost needed hospital attention after this one, and it took a while to come down from Cloud 9. In November 2007 our class was the first to identify the first, & to date, the only Little Auk ever recorded at North Cave Wetlands, and last March we had a Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker at Skipwith Common – a “lifer” for everyone present, but this raptor is the single highlight of any class so far.
Away from the OMG experience we had 2 male Cuckoos gowking, and a female bubbling, so there were at least 3, and possibly 4. There were at least 2 Turtle Doves purring, and possibly 3 seen flying together, which I’ve never seen before. The site was crawling with finches; Linnets, Goldfinches and Chaffinches were the most numerous, but one Greenfinch was doing his ‘butterfly’ display flight & a pair of Bullfinches gave brief views before hiding themselves away. The site was overrun with warblers: Reed, Sedge, Willow, Chiffchaff, Lesser & Common Whitethroats – several pairs of each. 2 Swifts flew through mid-morning & all the hirundines were represented, including (at last for this spring) a single House Martin. Meadow Pipit numbers were down this year, though we did see one at the end – and the last minute Barn Owl was a nice end to the afternoon - until it was frightened off by a dog on the loose. The morning was the most exciting class since that Thursday in September at Spurn & all within 15 minutes of home – brilliant!

Gee, What a Day!

All pics today (c) 2009 Maurice Gordon

Garden Warbler

Garden Warbler - showing all its distinguishing features!
Treecreeper

Treecreeper

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The day started with the equivalent of groans, as I was inundated with texts asking if the classes were still on; whilst others texted to cancel their gambol into the country . Although it was very grey and it drizzled for the 1st half-hour it did become less grim & the birds grew bolder as they came out to sing. A very confiding Treecreeper was one of the first to gladden the heart, but he was soon to be eclipsed by that gurgling, galloping, garbled songster - our first Garden Warbler of the year. This gave the most prolonged views we've had in the 6 years of the course. It was soon followed by at least three more. Margaret spotted a Green Woodpecker fly up from a path to our gauche side, and it clung to the right side of a conifer long enough for everyone to get a good view - even through a pair of great binoculars, which were passed around. There were quite a few Whitethroats in the open, scrubby area and we also had Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Jay, and Skylark, but the best birds were those that began with a 'g'. The afternoon group saw a dung beetle, whilst Peter successfully identified the pretty pink flower, whose name I'd forgotten in the morning - Lousewort. Back near the car park a pair of Swifts flew overhead - my first of the year - & the 1st year I've seen Swifts before House Martins!

Tophill Dawn Chorus

All pics for this post (c) 2009 Vince Cowell

Reed Warbler

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Blackcap (female)
Song Thrush
Great Spotted Woodpecker

Pochard (female) - one for Maurice!

Mute Swan

Mute Swans

Record shot of Common Terns (background) with Oystercatcher & Black-headed Gulls

Ruddy Duck

Ugly Bleeder

Record shot of Roe Deer

I was up at 3.15 for the Dawn Chorus at Tophill Low which commenced at 5am. It was a good turnout for such an isolated spot at such an hour. In addition to Richard Hampshire, the warden, most people were from my birdwatching course including: Gerald, Mike & Bruce (Tues am); Angela, Maggie & Polly (Thurs am), Vince (Fri am) & Julie; but also present were Gill (friend of Bruce); plus 2 young volunteers (sorry, I didn’t catch your names). Surprisingly, no one from the afternoon courses put in an appearance! I actually heard my 1st bird – a Blackbird – while I was having my breakfast at 4.15, so the chorus had already started when the session began. Immediately, on leaving the Visitor Centre we heard Great Tit, Chaffinch & Blackcap. As we were walking along the road towards ‘O’ reservoir we heard at least 4 Wrens holding territory, plus a few more Chaffinches. In the trees along the north end of ‘O’ reservoir was an impressive Mistle Thrush with some dogfighting Swallows; while Richard pointed out a Grey Wagtail on the roof of some of the derelict Yorkshire Water buildings. Along ‘O’ reservoir was our first Coal Tit, plus a hidden Chiffchaff followed by a Willow Warbler we could actually see. In the woods toward Watton Borrow Pits were Goldcrests singing their high-pitched rhythmic songs, whilst in the open area either side of the path were Sedge Warblers – occasionally indulging in their all-too-brief song-flights, plus another Willow Warbler & a Song Thrush. From the hide we heard a Whitethroat, but saw a Barn Owl, & a Wheatear & Maggie spotted a Kingfisher. From the hide over-looking SMW we saw and heard a Reed Warbler, which gave brief views as it skulked in the reeds below us. We had heard a Cuckoo throughout the morning, but it was from here we managed to glimpse the bird as it flew across the open area towards SME. This view was a “lifer” for Angela. In the entrance to the path to the double hides we heard a Lesser Whitethroat; whilst from the hide we heard 2 Sedge Warblers, plus we watched a female Linnet carrying nesting material, being ‘supervised’ by her concerned spouse! From SME 1 we saw our first Common Terns of the year, which were nesting on a gravel island alongside an Oystercatcher and some Black-headed Gulls. Our 1st Reed Bunting was glimpsed from the hide on South Lagoon; whilst from the hide on North Lagoon Mike spotted a female Blackcap, which was eventually joined by her mate. Other birds seen included: Pochard, Tufted & Ruddy Ducks, Little Ringed Plover & some rather noisy Greylag Geese! There were a couple of heavy showers, which muted the birdsong towards the end of the morning, but luckily we were in the hides when the worst of the rain fell! When we got back to the Visitor Centre Richard ensured everyone who wanted had a hot drink & biscuits - I may have been mistaken, but I thought I overheard someone say, it was the best part of the event!!!!!

Spring Finally Sprung

Yellow Wagtail

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Swallow

I thought I'd try Thursday's venue again, but a bit earlier in the morning - at least 2 hours earlier than we arrived a couple of days ago. There was absolutely no one else around, but the Yellow Wagtails were more in evidence. There were at least 3 Sedge Warblers, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, a Heron, a Whitethroat, and plenty of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Swallows. A reminder of winter was on the estuary - at least 7 Brent Geese.

Sensory Overload

Willow Warbler

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Linnet

Brimstone

Small Copper

Bluebell

All 6 senses were in full play today.

1. Sight - dazzling colours of the incredibly tiny Small Copper (orange) & Tiger Beetle (green).

2. Hearing - gorgeous song of the Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Linnet etc.

3. Smell - the subtle, yet intoxicating scent of the Bluebells wafting through the woodland.

4. Taste - the sausage sarnies at lunchtime.

5. Touch - the gentle brush of the feet of the Mosquitos, as they settled on your uncovered skin!

6. Sixth Sense - the feeling that all this positive feeling can't last much longer - oh yes, No.5 proves it!