Birding with Flowers

Sunday, 11 June 2017

Week 6: Flaming June

The past week was flaming June, but not for the typical reason. We had to contend with some quite appalling weather: heavy rain, strong winds, but Friday wasn't too bad!

Hobby

The strong winds on Wednesday kept the birds for the most part deep under cover. It was our first visit in more than 4 years to Barlow Common, so it was a shame the breezes were so strong. We didn't actually get a decent view of the compulsory Green Woodpecker, but its flight call was heard briefly. A silent Cuckoo watching the other birds nesting was one of the highlights, as it stayed in place long enough for everyone to view it.

Cuckoo

We found a ground-nesting Willow Warbler adjacent to the path. One of the parents had an incredibly strong supercilium.

Willow Warbler

Ditto

Bullfinch

Immature Moorhen

Ditto

Bittersweet (NOT deadly Nightshade)

Viper's Bugloss

Some of the morning group went on to Blacktoft Sands.

Ditto

The weather forecast was terrible, so we switched to Tophill Low. The am group encountered around 53 species in the southern part of the site, and the pm group added Heron in the same area. Highlights included the Little Gulls (one smart individual and 3 in non-breeding plumage - SME, but the smart one also turned up at WNR).

Little Gull

Ditto

Little Gulls in 2 different plumages

Little Gull [left] compared with Black-headed Gull

Now on D Reservoir

Willow Warbler

Ditto

Little Egret

Goosander

Ditto

Oystercatcher with chick

Shelduck Ducklings

Shelduck

Ditto

Drake Shoveler

Ditto

Chaffinch

Bee Orchid

Ditto

Common Spotted Orchid

Marsh Orchid

Orchid Species

Large Skipper on Marsh Orchid

Large Skippers

Speckled Wood

Ditto

On Friday we crossed the river to Messingham Sand Quarry for the nicest weather of the week, which is lucky as good weather is essential at this venue. The Hobby didn't grace our eyes until just before the afternoon session started, so the morning group spent quite a lot of time admiring the insects. However, birds we did see included: Kingfisher, Jay, Cuckoo, Garden, Reed, Sedge, & Willow Warblers, Blackcap, Comm Tern, GC Grebe, Sand & House Martins, Swallow, Buzzard, Kestrel, Shoveler, Shelduck, Pochard, Gadwall, etc

Hobby

Ditto

Common Tern

Ditto

Brown Hawker

Four-Spotted Chaser [MJF]

Garden Chafer

Underside of Small Copper [MJF]

Red Admiral [MJF]

Ditto

Scorpion-Fly

Ditto

Speckled Wood

Ditto

Fly

Common Blue Damselflies

Foxgloves

Saturday, 3 June 2017

Thorne Moors Specials

This week was half-term, but on Wednesday and Thursday we participated in two one off specials to Thorne Moors. Both days were very warm, and the walk was long and arduous, but there the similarities almost ended.

Hobby chewing a dragonfly

On Thursday we were walking past the former colliery entrance when we were arrested by the delightful purring of a Turtle Dove. We couldn't see it as a line of Silver Birches blocked our view. We needn't have worried as later a Turtle Dove flew towards us, and landed on a rather ugly lamp-post. Unfortunately, the sun was behind a cloud at first, but eventually it broke through, and the colour of the Turtle Dove changed before our very eyes. As luck would have it the bird was facing away from us at the time. It flew off without showing us its profile.

Turtle Dove

The Sun shines on the Turtle

Ditto

Common Blue

Grass Species releasing its pollen

Immature Robin

Large Red Damselfly

Four-Spotted Chaser

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

Ditto

Cuckoo

Ditto

Buck Roe Deer

Sparrowhawk

Tiger Beetle

We found this sadly deceased creature on the road on which the vehicles of only wardens and volunteers are permitted to drive.

A flick of Simon's Swiss Army Penknife revealed it was a small Adder - a needless death.

We hadn't been on the road long, when Ken spotted a distant Cuckoo revealed in the empty 'V' between various pieces of vegetation.

Ken's Cuckoo

On Wednesday we soon spotted at least 4 Hobbies, a couple of which came fairly close, but on Thursday there were none to be seen. There was a stronger wind on Thursday from the south, which may have moved the Hobbies to the leeward side of Will Pit Wood. Although we did eventually see some very distant Hobbies over the tree tops there were never as obliging on Thursday, as they had been on Wednesday.

Hobby

Ditto

Marsh Harriers

Ditto

Ground Beetle

After lunch around a picnic table both groups headed back on a circular route which took in the viewing tower. On Wednesday a volunteer patiently pointed out a Large Heath butterfly nectaring on a Marsh Cinquefoil, which was a new butterfly for many, as was the plant! The return journey for both sessions was relatively uneventful, although on Thursday we did see a man hiding in the bushes! It wasn't clear what he was upto!

Large Heath on Marsh Cinquefoil

Marsh Cinquefoil

Cotton-Grass

Some of the other species seen included: Swift, House Martin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Willow Warbler, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Marsh Harrier, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Black Headed Gull, Sedge Warbler, Mallard, Goldfinch, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Wren & Dunnock.

Friday, 2 June 2017

Last Night's Moths

Last night was the first night this week I was able to use the moth trap. It was the best haul so far with about 15 species caught. It took half an hour to carefully remove the moths from the trap and try to photograph them on something more attractive than egg boxes before they flew away. Then I spent an hour with my big moth book trying to identify the vast majority of my captives. There were quite a few I haven't been able to identify with any certainty.

[All IDs corrected by Barry Warrington]

Plain Golden Y

Angle Shades

Poplar Hawk Moth

Straw Dot

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Garden Carpet

Heart and Dart

Rustic Shoulder-Knot

Small-Square-Spot?

Ditto?

Rustic Shoulder-Knot

Light Brown Apple moth

Common Marbled Carpet

Clouded Silver

Unidentified Species

Birch Shield Bug

Hawthorn Shield Bug

Thursday, 1 June 2017

Beren and Lúthien Published Today

This afternoon Beren and Lúthien were seen in the "hemlock glade" in Roos for the first time since Tolkien was inspired to write the original version of the tale 100 years ago.

Deluxe [left] and Standard "Beren and Lúthien" books in Roos Churchyard - photographed on the day of publication

Photographed in Dents Garth

At the base of the three-trunked linden-tree

Ditto

They also spent some time at the base of the three-trunked tree; a few minutes among the Cow Parsley; and they paid a short visit to the rear of Dents Garth - the woodland identified by John Garth - as the place where Edith sang and danced for Tolkien a century ago.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to find a suitable place to take some photographs. The Cow Parsley had been badly trampled in the one clearing in the woodland, and had been cut down and removed from large areas of the churchyard. In other areas it had stopped flowering and looked well past it best.

These indications of flowering add to the probability that Edith almost certainly danced for Tolkien sometime in May 1917, rather than June when Cow Parsley has lost the ethereal beauty associated with its white froth of flowers.

Despite this there was something strangely satisfying at seeing copies of the new book at the very location when the germ of the story was begun.

More info here

Autumn Term Details

Bookings for the 10-week Autumn term have started. At the time of writing there are most vacancies on Tuesday mornings, Wednesday afternoons & Thursday afternoons with a single space on Wednesday 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. In the Autumn we’ll be hoping to encounter Short-eared Owls, Hen Harriers, and plenty of waders on the coast & at our estuarine venues. We will be visiting venues in East Yorkshire with a couple of ventures into North Lincolnshire and possibly one just in West Yorkshire So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for £13 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. If you use iCloud your email will need to be sent to michaeljflowers@yahoo.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.