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Plan today was onto Blacktoft Sands firstly (Montagus Harrier) and then onto Twyford Woods for Grizzled Skipper when it was warmer

Arrived Blacktoft Sands about 11am after a visit along one of the farm tracks in the nearby fields near to Blacktoft, this is where I picked up Corn Bunting, Yellow Wagtails, Skylark, Reed Buntings and Common Whitethroat

On to the reserve first birds seen are usually the Robins, Pheasants, Tree Sparrows, Woodpigeons and Wrens around the car park and Bird table

After the introduction to check RSPB membership at the centre and a brief summary of where things were, I was off and running and soon watching my first Sedge Warbler of the day, my first hide of the day was Townend Hide where I enjoyed Avocets, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Swallow, Marsh Harriers but no Montagu’s Harrier to be seen

From around the reserve also seen were Little Egret, Swift, House Martin, Sand Martin, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Grey Heron and Shelduck

On then to Twyford Woods arriving 2 hours over due to traffic, on site the first butterfly encountered was a Dinky Skipper, nice but not the target species. Along walk ensued to get to the butterfly glades but on the way Common Whitethroat, Garden Wabler, Goldcrest, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Common Buzzard and Cuckoo could al been seen or heard

On at the glade Dinky Skipper was the first butterfly seen again but it wasn’t long when a Grizzled Skipper showed up, bit of a tatty one, but non the less my first, it wasn’t long before more were encountered and photos were taken. Common Blue Butterfly were about along with Small White, and Large white, Green veined White and Peacock

Grizzled Skipper

Robin at Blacktoft Sands

Decided on a quick tour lof the nature reserve, hadn’t been for a long time and was hoping to find a few insects about.

It was difficult there wasn’t a lot flying but patience paid off with a single Dingy Skipper, and a look around the pond I did manage eventually to find a Large Red Damselfly. (gets the Dragons off to a year start)

Hope the next visit is a bit more eventful

Dingy Skipper

Large Red Damselfly

It was good to get out again and the Butterfly Conservation event today dragged me out to Warton Crag near the RSPB Leighton Moss site, the event not being till 1pm we decided on going up early and having a wander around the Leighton Moss site.

We started around the Eric Morecambe  hides picking up very little due to the storm damage, so alas the pools were nearly dry, so no Avocets to be seen but we picked up a solitary Greenshank, numerous Oystercatchers, Shelduck, Gadwall, a solitary Little Egret and a female Chaffinch we rescued after flying into one of the hide windows, On the way back to the car park we picked up a couple of reeling Grasshopper Warblers

On the reserve we caught up with the Spoonbill and a few Black tailed Godwits, a few Sedge Warblers but no Reed. Also of surprise were no Marsh Harriers and no Black headed Gull colony

On then to Warton Crags for the butterfly walk along with Martin Wain of the Butterfly Conservation. Martin explained a lot about the crags its history and the butterflies of Warton and their needs. Butterflies of the day were of course the Pearl bordered fritillary of which there were plenty but very difficult to photograph, numerous Green Hairstreak

Other butterflies on the day at the crag were Dingy Skipper, Holly Blue, Small Heath, Orange-tip, Green veined White,.

We didn’t see the Peregrine or Ravens of Warton Crag

Green Hairstreak

js

Pearl bordered Fritillary

A place I hadn’t been for a while so a visit was long overdue on arriving I headed down to the Tree Sparrow Farm where I caught up with a few species like, Siskin, Reed Bunting,  Greenfinch,  Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, and of course Tree Sparrows. 

A quick walk then towards the Family Hide where I encountered a very friendly Robin looking for a hand out I think which I didn’t have (remember for next time, hopefully). From the hide itself Black headed Gulls, Tufed Duck, Gadwall,  Mallard, Coot and a few distant Wigeon

Down on to the field pool hide where Mute Swan, Pochard, Teal, Lapwing, Black headed and Common Gulls were seen

Wader scrape hide produced Goosander, Cormorant, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail , Goldeneye (male and Female) to the list along with Great Crested and Little Grebes

Robin

Day List

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Long tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer

Rufford Country Park in Nottinghamshire  was the first stop of the day in search of a very large finch which is best seen in the winter months, Rufford Park is now one of the better places to seen them. Car Park was free, which we all like, we arrived at about 8am and proceeded to search the nearby tress finding Siskin, Chaffinch, Brambling,  before finally a large bird landed at the very top of a nearby tree, which these birds like doing, followed by two other birds, the search was over 3 Hawfinch, our largest UK Finch with a bill too that can crack cherry stones, a big powerful bird, they gave good distant views before disappearing. Other birds we saw here or heard here were Common Buzzard, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gull.

The search then moved on to a migratory duck which was being seen at Eakring Flash, we first stopped off at a local pig farm to search for reported Caspian Gulls, which was no joy but we did pick up a Yellow legged Herring Gull along with plenty Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gulls, Common Gulls, Herring Gulls. So the search was back at Eakring, which proved a difficult place to find but find we did, and the bird we were searching for was in the middle of the pond, having a kip along with Mallards, the Garganey this one being a splendid Male bird in its breeding colours. These birds usually visit the UK in the summer months, spending the winter months in southern Africa, India, and Australia so seeing one here in January was very unusual, a first for me.

Our next search was to be up at Alkborough Flats Nature Reserve up on the Humber Estuary for Raptors coming into roost, our fingers were crossed for Hen Harrier. The journey to Alkborough was to be via Wroot  in search of Bewicks Swan our search gave us only Whooper Swans.

We finally arrived Alkborough and proceeded immediately down to the Estuary hide seeing on route Peregrine playing around with the Dunlin as they swirled to escape capture, Common Redshank were seen along with Lapwing and Golden Plover in the adjoining fields. Settling in the hide as dusk was approaching Marsh Harriers were dancing over the reedbeds, Gulls were coming in down the Humber as they sort refuse for the night, Curlew gave flight, the Peregrine again was harassing the Dunlin with no success and retreated once again this time coming back over the hide and giving us once again excellent views, we watched and heard the spectacle of thousands of Starlings in the murmaration and the sounds of whooshing and chattering starlings as they came by the hide, again a spectacle to behold, then the geese started coming in to roost hundreds coming in off the estuary calling all the way, we enjoyed this spectacle from outside the hide and enjoyed every second, then to finish the night off a Short eared Owl came floating by the hide before settling in amongst the grass and disappearing to sight to the now ever fading light, no Hen Harrier

The Day List 🙂

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Garganey, Marsh harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine, Pheasant, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Black headed Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow legged Gull, Great Black backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Short eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Long tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Hawfinch

Rufford Country Park

Well the start of a new year and some big adventures to come this year but todays visit was to the Yorkshire East Coast were the highlights for today could be found at Flamborough and Filey, with hopefully bagging a couple of lifers to get the year off to a good start.

Our first port of call was out to Filey where a long staying Surf Scoter was to be found, we walked on to Carr Naze where we could look over the sea and the bay. The birds observed were Black headed Gulls, Rock Pipits, Cormorant, Shag, Red throated Divers (flying North mainly and a couple in the bay), a bird far out, we decided was an Eider. So no luck  Scoter wise so we decided a walk down on to the brigg, idea being to get lower down to see if that would be an advantage. Settling in on the brigg and scanning around we picked up a few waders, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Knot, Oystercatcher, and Purple Sandpiper also Grey Heron, Great Black backed Gull,  Herring Gull, Cormorant,Shag, Razorbills, Red throated Divers once again no Surf Scoter so back up to the top picking up a Male and Female Stonechat on route.

Back up at the top we saw a few more birders had gathered on the brigg so we headed back towards them. We picked up the “Eider” bird again this time further in towards the brigg and eventually started to fly and landed even closer to the brigg, this time giving more ID features to confirm without doubt this was the bird a young drake (lifer in the bag) see Surf Scoter

On then to Flamborough and hopefully and the Richard’s Pipits’…after a very muddy walk  picking up 2 Whooper Swans and Fulmars on the way down walk we gathered with a few other birders and after 5 mins some guy picked a bird up with the another bird picked up quickly by another guy, we were all soon on both birds as they came together in the grassy field giving us all good views

Grey Heron at Filey Brigg

Days Bird List :-

Red throated Diver, Fulmar, Cormaorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Whooper Swan, Mallard, SURF SCOTER, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Purple Sandpiper, Redshank, Black headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black backed Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Barn Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, RICHARDS PIPIT, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch

2015 in short started on a slow note best bird for the first quarter was a Great grey Shrike just outside the patch area at Low Moor , this bird stopping the winter months.

The second quarter saw the start of the Butterfly season with me adding a new one for the start of the year, Wood Whites’ at Salcey Forest. Birds in the season was a Pied Billed Grebe at Leighton Moss

The third quarter became hot with lots of new butterflies,  Dark Green Fritillary, White letter Hairstreak, Silver washed Fritillary, Chalkhill Blue, Silver Spotted Skipper, Brown Argus, Essex Skipper, Adonis Blue, Northern Brown Argus. I also caught up with the dragonfly species I’ve always wanted to see Golden ringed Dragonfly this was seen in the Fen Bog area along with a Green Tiger Beetle another first

Last quarter was back to the birds with a visit out to Spurn and a Black Stork along with scarce migrants like Red Backed Shrike, Barred Warbler, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, and then a trip out to Norfolk in October gave me Red Flanked Bluetail, Blyths Reed Warbler and a Daurian Shrike

Thats 2015 I hope its been a good year for all, I now wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I hope you will all join me in 2016 in which I have a lot of new things lined up, one being a new country to visit early in the year with lots of new species to see, thanks for following me in 2015

Autumn migration was now in full swing and we had to decided where to place ourselves for the spectacle East Coast of Flamborough or Norflok and Holkham/Wells which seemed to be turning the birds up,

We set off at 6am and picked up another party at Doncaster then motored on to Norfolk and Wells next the sea arriving at at about 9:30am ‘ish , we agreed that the Red-flanked Bluetail would be the first port of call, so off we set towards the drinking pool its last reported location. After a brief walk and asking a few people where the drinking pool was we settled in to the site with about c50 other folk, we watched Robins, Goldcrest, Jays and Redwings going over before the whisper started but it was only a brief glimpse, I didn’t managed to get on the the bird the first time it showed as it was seen off very quickly by one of the Robins. Half an hour and I finally got a flight view as it settled to the other side of the pool, so off I went to the other side and it was here that I finally got to see the my first Red-flanked Bluetail and what a beautiful bird it is. it was quite active feeding amongst the bushes, with at times being seen off by a couple of Robins now and again, however great views were obtained of the bird especially the bluetail (It was originally thought to be a member of the Thrush family but is now considered to be an Old world Flycatcher. Similar in size to the Common Redstart and slightly smaller than the European Robin, it frequently flicks its tail in the same manner as the Common Redstart, and regularly fly’s from a perch to catch insects in the air or on the ground, and should be winters mainly in South-eastern Asia)

It was then on to our next location to try and pin down our next victim of the day, a lifer for two of the days crew, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler (this one should be wintering in India or Sri Lanka. Very similar in appearance to the Reed Warbler but this bird is greyer on the back, the forehead being less flattened and the bill is less strong and pointed. These birds favour bushes and tress unlike the Reed Warbler which favours mostly Reed Beds), anyway back to the bird. It took a few hours and a few visits during the day to finally pin this bird down, a very difficult bird to locate as previously stated these birds favour bushes and this one certainly did giving a lot of people the run  around, however we all finally succeeded in seeing the bird.

Another highlight of the day was a Isabelline Shrike also around the Holkham Pines Area, probably of the race Daurian, I last saw one of these birds back in 1988 at Spurn Head, since then these bird have been split into the Daurian, Turkestan and Chinese Shrikes (see this Link). This bird gave excellent views out in the open as soon as we turned up on site.

Other birds of the day were Firecrest (we connected with two),  Humes Leaf Warbler, Yellow Browed Warbler and Pallas Warbers also at Holkham

Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike

Spurn Head time and our first port of call was at Sunk Island for Black Stork, a new bird for me so I was hoping for good views. As we approached the site we could see a few birders gathered, so a good sign and it was, we were straight out of the car and the bird was near the road walking along one of the ditches. It took to flight eventually, landing in the nearby by field but still giving good views,it was soon in the air again but this time passed over our heads and landed in a field again but this time was distant, so a great start to the day

Black Stork

It was then onward with smiling faces to our goal were we spent the rest of the day. a Juv Red backed Shrike was seen in the corner field our first bird after our landing (it was also mig fest weekend at Spurn), and a Common Whitethroat around at west mere farm we had views of Barred Warbler (eventually), before heading down for a sea watch for a few hours but we did see Common Scoters, Sooty Shearwaters, Red throated Divers, Fulmar, Gannet, Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern, a manx Shearwater and Pomarine Skua passed which I didn’t get onto.

We had Pied Flycatcher around the warren area with Little Grebe, Mute Swan and Mallard on the Canal Scrape, Whinchats on the triangle. Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Shelduck, Curlew, and a fantastic count of 15+ Little Egrets on the shoreline, overhead plenty of Golden Plover and a Yellow Wagtail over

Around the Crown and Anchor pub we saw more Pied Flycatchers along with Spotted Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat

Birds missed which would have been nice to see were Corys Shearwater, Sabines Gull and Baleric Shearwater

All in all a great day out may have to plan a bit better for next years mig fest which I believe is the weekend of the 9th of September 2016

Want to know what’s at Spurn at the moment…see Yorkshire’s what’s about link

Map of Spurn and My Spurn List

The final day and it was down to Aston Rowant for butterflies not the planned day which would result in a look trip back to Huddersfield but there were a couple of butterflies I needed to catch up with.

The site was a little tricky to find but I had directions also from a friend who had been the previous week.The site is sited on both sides of the M40 motorway, the M40 splits it, its a steep chalk banking which runs down to the motorway so it’s a little noisy from the traffic, but its a great site.

Chalkhill Blues were everywhere it was hard not to tread on them, with a little looking  and with the help of another couple we were soon on the the Silver spotted Skipper (one of the reasons why I came down), Brown Argus were in good numbers and I also got my first sighting for the year of a small Copper.

A Painted Lady was a nice find along with a smart-looking Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Gatekeeper and another lovely find with hard work was the Essex Skippe, but the other butterfly for the day took some finding with Common Blue adding to the confusion but it did show flying past me it gave off a striking blue colour, really standing out and then it landed all but briefly which gave me a chance to get a couple of shots off of the Adonis Blue before it gave flight.

Aston Rowant a great place for butterflies especially the Chalkhill Blue and Silver spotted Skipper, my time was up down south it was time again to head ‘up North’

Silver Spotted Skipper