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With me finding very little time to get out and about at the moment due to family and work it was Yes another moth night again in the back garden tonight’s forecast was light cloud at 12° with a 8mph North East wind with a waning moon at 99%. Light Brown apples were once again active before bed but nothing else was showing.

5:30am I was back and looking at my first trapped Hawkmoth the Small Elephant (what a beauty), having a quick look thru the trap there wasn’t a lot but the Hawkmoth had made up for that.

So what else was in the trap, I could see Small Magpie (1) which, a couple of Pugs, looking like the same species, a Garden Carpet (1), a couple of Light Brown Apple Moths (2), Barred Fruit-tree Tortix (1) [new species], Riband Wave  (1) [new species], Middle barred Minor (1) [new species], and a Garden Grass Veneer or Chrysoteuchia culmella  (a micro moth) [new species] and Scorpion Fly Sp

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Middle barred Minor

Riband Wave

Barred Fruit-tree Tortix

Yep another moth night again in the back garden tonight’s forecast was light cloud at 12° with a 7mph east wind and a half-moon. Light Brown apples were once again active before bed but nothing else was showing.

5am I was back and looking at my first Scalloped Hazels, going thru the trap I could see Brimstone (1) which became very photogenic unlike the last one, a couple of Pugs, looking like the same species, a Bright line Brown eye (1), a few Light Brown Apple Moths (5), Silver ground Carpet (1) , Clouded bordered Brindle (1) (of a different form than previous nights catch), Knott grass (1) which is a  new species, Ingrailed Clay (1) which is a new species

Knott Grass

Ingrailed Clay

Brimstone

Bright-line Brown-eye

New moon and cloudy warm night I decided on giving the moth trap a night out wit the hope a catching a few new species. Before bed I had a quick look and saw the trap was attracting a lot of Light brown apple Moths so a good start.

Early morning rise and straight out to the trap and I could see I was in for a few surprises with a couple of nicely col0ured moths in the trap. This is what I had

1. Brimstone Moth (1) [which wasn’t hanging around for a photo and was soon in the next doors garden]
2. Bright-line Brown-eye (1)  [A new species]
3. Cabbage Moth (1)  [New Species]
4. Clouded bordered Brindle (1) [New Species]
5. Common Carpet Moth (1)
6. Garden Carpet (1)
7. Marbled Minor aggregate (1) [Aggregate due to this species being difficult to split from other minors, can only be certain with a dissection]
8. Scalloped Hazel (3) [New Species]
9. Small Magpie (1) [New Species}
10. White Ermine (1) [New Species]

Not a  lot on numbers but some very nice moths….here’s a few pictures (and more of the catch can be seen at my Flickr HERE)

Scalloped Hazel

White Ermine

Common Marbled carpet

I would just to take this opportunity to thank all my readers and followers for tuning in and taking an interest in my wildlife/Nature rambles

I would also like to say you can also find me at Huddsbirder at Work [Nature on a Lunch Break] which is more Nature rambles on the wildlife I find and photograph during my 30 minute lunch break, please take a look and enjoy,  its written on a weekly basis about all the wildlife and things that can go on at a place of work

You can find it on the left under the Birding Blogs link called Huddsbirder at work or press THIS

Once again out to Old Moor but with it being a hot day we were on insect watch primarily hoping for a few damselflies and chasers. We were there at 11am just as things were warming up nicely and we were not disappointed with a full set of damselflies hoped for around the pools Large Reds, Common Blue, Azure and Blue tailed all seen, dragonflies and Four spotted Chaser put in a good appearance with 3 seen with one individual putting in a great appearance which was well photographed by many. Whist watching the Chasers we were taken by surprise by what we first thought was a snake but with better views, eventually after a wait, we were reward with fast views of a large Slow Worm.

Butterflies about today were Brimstone and my first Dingy Skipper and Common Blue of the year

We did get further on to the reserve with what little time we had left taking in the Wader Scrape hide first highlights here were Common Tern, Avocet, and the breeding Lesser Black backed gulls. The walk down Green Lane was productive with Reed warbler, Common Whitethroat, Sand martins, Greenfinch, and Willow Warbler. 

We also had a little time in the family hide seeing Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Black headed Gulls, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Mallard. Our last port of call was the new location site for the Bittern Hide, but alas no Bittern, only Coots, Moorhens, Black headed Gulls and a few Mallards

Day List in no particular order :-

Common Tern, Avocet, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Black headed Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lapwing, Coot, Moorhen, Greenfinch, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit, Redshank, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Woodpigeon, Sand Martin, Magpie, Oystercatcher,

Four Spotted Chaser, Blue tailed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Brimstone, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue Damselfly, and Slow worm

Four Spotted Chaser

Azure Damselfly

Morning walk out around the Healy Mills/Kerries/Dewsbury Sewage Farm complex early on Friday on what was to be a beautiful sunny morning, the insects were out as well as the birds. First encounters on site were the  Sand Martins doing aerial displays around the colony, two male Goosanders on the river along with Mallards. Futher in and hoverflies, craneflies and butterflies were about these being mainly Euopedes hoverflies, Scorpion Cranefly and Orange tip Butterfly.

There was also a good selection of summer migrants about now on site and they seem to be settling in nicely with Chiffchaff, Blackcaps’, and a good selection of Common Whitethroats’ on what seemed to be every bush. Further around and on the sewage farm Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers had arrived on site and were building territories calling from the reeds, Reed Buntings, Mute Swan, Little Grebes, Gadwall and Pied wagtails were found. Oystercacther, Black headed Gulls, Crows, Woodpigeons and Stock Dove on the filter beds with Sand Martins Swallows and Swifts overhead

There wasn’t a shortage of butterflies either with Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Orange tips and Whites all seen

Around the pool edges I found Large Red and Blue tailed Damselflies

I finished my walk around the sight with Sparrowhawk flying over

List :-

Great Tit, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Goosander, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap. Moorhen, Coot, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Crow, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose,

Blue tailed damselfly

Scorpion Fly

Sedge Warbler

The original plan was to go for a day at Broomfleet Washlands for Damselflies but with only Large Red’s and a few Variable showing at the moment I decided on leaving it a couple of week and going for plan B and to mop up on a few local bird species and then a run down to Old Moor etc to meet family and try to pick up the Glossy Ibis at Wombwell.

The plan was to head out to the Langsett area so I decided on going via Broadstones Res to see what I could pick up on route. I Headed up thru Kirkburton where a Tawny Owl decided on frightening me half to death as it flew across the road in front of the car. At Broadstones all I encountered were Meadow Pipit, plenty of Linnets, Lapwings, Curlew and a single Wheatear

I arrived at the Langsett Barn Car Park to be greeted by a Song Thrush sitting on the nearby fence and Garden Warbler calling from within the car park. I caught up with the Garden Warbler amongst the foliage just beyond the car park giving good views whilst singing away.

Garden Warbler

Common Sandpiper’s could be found on the reservoir walls as I made my way along the dam road, on the grass banking were Jackdaw, Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds busy looking for tasty morsels. I arrived in the wood to be greeted by a noisy Nuthatch  calling away drowning out the calls of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch then I just about made out my first target species of the day a Pied Flycatcher as it was calling within the wood. I was soon on to the fine male bird as it sang from its perch, then flying out from its perch, as flycatchers do, to catch a fine morsel as the unsuspecting insect flew past. I spent sometime with the flycatcher seeing both male and female birds as they brought in food to a nearby nest box. The light was awful today but I did manage a few not so good photos as the male has he was singing from his various perches.

Pied Flycatcher

On then to the other side of the valley where I did catch up with the second target of the day which was a Redstart, this bird was found singing away from the tallest tree in the valley making another difficult species to get a photo of. Other birds in the valley were Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Dipper, Stock Dove, Coal Tit, no Cuckoo heard or Crossbills seen., did see Siskin, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler on the way out.

Old Moor RSPB is where I met up with the family for dinner then I managed some time to myself whilst here . The Wader scrape hide was the place of choice seeing  Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Avocet, Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gulls, Sand Martins, Cormorant, Mute Swans, Common Terns

After dinner and saying goodbye to the family I moved on to Wombwell Ings to find the Male Garagney in a good position near the hide, this bird at the moment wasn’t settling in anywhere, visiting Old Moor, Broomhill, Edderthorpe and here so it was great to find it here.

Garganey is a migratory species of duck that arrives in England in late March early April to breed spending winters in Africa and Asia . Other birds included Avocet, Redshank, Mute Swan, Black headed Gulls, Lapwings, Greylag Geese along with Canadas’.

Garganey

Last port of call was Broomhill Flash a small reserve with one large pool highlights here was the numerous Sand and House Martins flying low over the water along with a fewer  numbers of Swallows. Swifts were also seen but higher up and in lower numbers.

The day had finished and with no Glossy Ibis in the bag but it was a great days birding much to enjoy. Butterflies encountered today were

In Flight House and Sand Martins [House Martin with the white rump]

The Bird List :-

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red Grouse, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black headed Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Tawny Owl, Swift, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied wagtail, Dipper, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting

Butterfly List :-

Brimstone, Orange tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood

Today I decided on a tour of Old Moor and Wombwell Ings..Wombwell being next door to Old Moor I had decided stopping here first on the report of a few waders going thru. It was a cold start, wish had brought my gloves, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were the first birds to encounter as I parked the car up on the bridge across from the Old Moor tavern, walked across the playing field and on to the reserve. Canada, Greylag Geese, Lapwing were in the fields along with a singing Skylark, from the hide Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Redshank, then a cb call of a Red Kite flying towards us had everyone escaping from the hide and looking upwards to find it flying gracefully and being mopped by crows. Back in the hide we mopped up on Little Ringed Plover (2) and Bar tailed Godwit which came down in front of the hide to give us good close views of these birds.

Wombwell List ;- LR Plover Bar tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing, Skylark, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Shoveler, Gadwall, Red Kite, Black headed Gull, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Mallard, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Sand martin, Swallow, House Martin

On then to Old Moor RSPB to see the Mediterranean Gulls, Bittern (booming every 10mins or so), Swallows and Sand Martins overhead, but it turned into an insect session at Old Moor with the countless Gorse Shield-bugs about, a couple of Sloe (Hairy) Shields thrown in, lots of Gorse Weevils, Common Carder Bees, along with Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Large White and Brimstone Butterflies, but no Damselflies as yet even thou reported from other sites around Yorkshire

Gorse Shield Bug

Sloe Shield Bug

Gorse Weevil

Well today should have been a friend group outing to Leighton Moss RSPB but turned out to be an outing to Old Moor for us due to people dropping out of the trip. We were greeted by a few Chiffchaff calling away around the car park area along with a single Linnet, walking towards the visitor center a male Blackcap was seen along with 2 females in and out of the ivy. We made our way straight to the family hide hearing on our way a few Willow Warblers, settling in to the hide we were we soon on to the Mediterranean Gulls along with a single Redshank, Sand Martins, Black headed Gulls, Oystercatchers, Mallards, Gadwall, Coot and Moorhen.

On then to Wath Ings hide were we saw Little Grebe, Lapwing,  lots of Sand Martins and Swallows moving thru on the right side of the hide, Mute Swan, Tufted Ducks and a Common Buzzard

Back on then to the Wader Scrape hide were we picked up the Avocets along with Shovelers. Finally around the Garden feeder Hide we saw Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch

Day List

Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, Avocet, Buzzard, Mediterranean Gull, Black headed Gull, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Woodpigeon, Starling, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Greenfinch

Out on the local patch today down on Healy Mills nature reserve hopefully to catch a few arriving migrants, I wasn’t to be disappointed with Chiffchaffs calling and Sand Martins on the nearby river, Blackcap and Willow Warblers in the woods. On the river were Goosander ♀, Mallard and a Kingfisher. Grey Heron and Cormorant were seen further in as I made my thru the reserve towards the sewage farm, around the feeders Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Stock Doves and Woodpigeons flying over, Robins, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch. Around the farm Pied Wagtails, Black headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Sand Martins, and on the filter beds Teal, Little Grebe, a couple of pair of Gadwall, Lapwing over Oystercatchers on the filter beds and plenty of Linnets

Plenty of Butterflies were on the wing today with double figure Peacocks, a handful of Small tortoiseshell and a couple of male Orange tips with a lone female.

First Swallow of the year was seen on route at the Coal Mining Museum

Cormorant