Huddsbirder

I was back at Eastrington Ponds MAP after the rain the day before, things looked better on the weather front today. Having not been around Eastrington Ponds before it took me a while to find my bearings and fathom out the better places to look. I soon found out that that peripheral ponds along the North edge were now over-grown and inaccessible. So I ventured in to the large fields were there is a permissive path, finding here Azure Damselflies, Common Blue Damselfies, Scorpion Flies, many Volucella pellucens Hoverflies, a few Butterflies my first of the year of Meadow Brown and Large Skippers.

I then decided on going around the lager Pond to the East Side but found a smaller pool to the south of this where there were many Azure, Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies. Around the larger pool or should I say the small meadow near to it I found many other Damselflies but also a Female Broad Bodied Chaser, great to see.

Also here was Cinnabar Moth and Clouded Border Moth along with a Speckled Wood Butterfly

Bird species seen at Eastrington were Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Crow, Chiffchaff, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Robin, Swallow, Swift, Wren

After Eastrington my next site was also a new one Saltmarshe Delphe for the Red eyed Damselfly the site took some finding but again I found this to be inaccessible, birds seen were Mute Swan, Grey Heron and Cuckoo

After Saltmarshe Delphe my next plan was to Newport Ponds where I found these to be inaccessible due to them being locked up. Perhaps there is away around these sites, I don’t know but if anybody does please drop me a line.

So I decided since I was only ten minutes away from North cave Wetlands that’s where I would end my day, the decision paid off.

Walking down Dryham Lane I picked up on various Damselflies namely Azure, Common Blue and Blue tailed they were in abundance, I also found a Large Skipper Butterfly along with my first of the year Ringlet Butterfly. I made my way then towards the Carp Lake where I started talking to a couple who were taking photos of a caterpillar, a Puss Moth Caterpillar, what a beauty this one were the caterpillar is better looking than the Moth. Whilst we were taking and got on to Hairy Dragonflies one actually landed in the same bush as the caterpillar, boom as if by magic, the couple left and I then started to take photos of Four Spotted Chasers and I found a Anasimyia contracta Hoverfly.

I then decided to walk down to the Dragonfly Ponds seeing various Damselflies on route, on arrival a Corn Bunting was singing from a top of a nearby bush, haven’t seen one of these for a number of years. Only dragonfly at the Ponds was a Four Spotted Chaser.

I finished back up at the benches near the main Lake where I was put onto a Common Scoter, another one I hadn’t seen for a while, I then walked down to the new workings where I was hoping to find a few more butterflies and dragonflies, alas nothing, I did see a male Marsh Harrier.

By now it was getting late, it had been a long but successful day, I headed off back to the B&B and something to eat at the nearby pub and a pint of course.

Birds seen at NCW : Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Buzzard, Crow, Cettis Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Scoter, Common Tern, Coot, Corn Bunting, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, House Martin, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little egret, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Robin, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren

Butterflies Seen at NCW ; Large Skipper, Ringlet

Dragonflies seen at NCW ; Azure Damselfly, Blue tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Four spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly

Moths Seen at NCW ; Cinnabar Moth

Video of the day here PRESS

More photos at my Flickr Site PRESS

I was having a few days out looking for Odanata species at a few sites around Yorkshire and my starting site was to be my local ponds. Arriving on site I was soon picking up on a few Damselflies namely Large Red and Azure Damselflies which today seem to be the most common. Soon getting my eye in I finally picked out a few Common Blue Damselflies along with the Blue tailed Damselflies. Out over the ponds were about eight Four Spotted Chasers (the most I’ve seen here) along with a pair of Emperor Dragonflies.

On the butterfly were a few Small Heath and a Speckled Wood, birds of note was a single Grey Wagtail which landed near the lower pond and with Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Wren and a fly thru Common Buzzard.

Moths of note were a few Cinnabar Moths along with a single Brown China Mark

My next planned visit was to Eastrington Ponds but unfortunately was a wash out due to the rain. Details of Eastrington HERE

My Bed and Breakfast for the couple of nights that I was in the area was at Field View. A great Bed and Breakfast, clean and tidy, shower was great (walk in), breakfast was well cooked and hot, beds were comfy a ten out of 10 for me, will be back no hesitation.

Video of the day can be seen HERE, hunting Dragonflies Day 1

Down again to the local Ponds and once again to look for Odonata species. Making my way thru to the ponds I picked up on a few Large Red Damselflies on the brambles along with a good amount of Azure Damaselflies. Looking around the ponds I couldn’t pick up on any larger species, I was hoping for a couple of Chaser species.

I sat around the larger pond looking and waiting when all of a sudden two Four Spotted Chasers came into view but alas never settling. I made my way back stopping off at one of the smaller ponds and alas there were two Four Spotted Chaser, one obviously ovipositing. I settled in and waited for them to settle and perch up on the reeds before taking any pictures.

Other highlights were Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and a good group of House Martin. Butterflies about were Common Blue and Small Heath

A quick visit to the ponds now things were warming up on the look out for the Odonata species and I wasn’t disappointed picking up on my first for the year Azure and Large Red Damselflies alas no larger ones as yet. Also about were Peacock, Small Heath and my first Common Blue Butterfly of the year.

Dingy Skipper Butterfly took some finding but they eventually came out, after about an hour of me being on site, Small Heath Butterfly were very much in evidence along with Green veined White. Mother Shipton Moth along with Common Carpet Moths were in good numbers and the Thick thighed Flower Beetles seem to be having a good year. As the day went on more butterflies were evident and it took a while before the Brimstones’ were out, no Common Blues as of yet but a fly by Holly Blue was nice.

Lots of Cranefly on the wing mianly Tipula vernalis but a Spotted Cranefly was a nice find and my first Hairy Shieldbug of the year which did take some finding.

Birds of note were Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap

Video Vlog can be seen here PRESS

Dasysyrphus albostriatus hoverfly, new for site, breeding Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Swift thru on the 14th, Willow Warbler on the 24th and a fly thru Holly Blue butterfly… on Nature on a Lunch Break, see the page HERE to see more highlights

A great start to the day, lovely breakfast at Laundimer House, so with a full belly I was back on the road heading up to Egleton and the Birdwatching Centre at Rutland Water.

The weather was better than yesterday and there was more people out. In to the reserve and I soon picked up a Cettis Warbler calling along with a Reed Warbler and Whitethroat, a good start to the day.

Fine weather was with me and I was soon picking up on a few insects, Green Longhorn Moth, Scorpion Fly, Epistrophe eligans hoverfly, and a few Tipula varipennis Craneflies as I made my way up to Lagoon 4 for some wader action.

Out on Lagoon 4 were a few Oystercatchers, nice to see a few Avocet, Shelduck, lots of Swift, Swallow, Sand and House Martins again, a few waders nice to see a Sanderling in summer plumage, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, and Dunlins, Common Terns and a few gull species Black headed, Lesser Black backed, and Herring but a Goldeneye was a surprise, and Little Egret are nice to see.

I then had a wonder around to the other hides picking up on a Marsh Harrier and Egyptian Geese

Video of the Day can be seen here PRESS

Bird List : Avocet, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Crow, Cettis Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collard Dove, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Dunlin, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Red Kite, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Robin, Sand Martin, Sanderling, Shelduck, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren (57) (60 species seen over 2 days)

Arriving at the Lyndon Reserve end of Rutland Water in the rain it didn’t hold out for a good day. However I was soon on my way after purchasing my permit, now a concession blimey how age creeps up, I was greeted to a wonderful sight of hawking Sand Martins, House Martins, Swallows and Swifts around the visitor Centre hunting out the midges to feed upon with Garden Warbler singing away behind me as I watched this wonderful spectacle, I tried looking for the Garden Warbler with no success even thou it must have been with in a couple of feet of where I was standing, I did find however a Green Longhorn Moth.

Out into the reserve hearing Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren and also Cuckoo as I made my way to the hides, first stop being the Deep Water Hide, here were plenty of Swallows, Swifts, Hose Martins and Sand Martins, with Cormorant, Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Terns, Great Crested Grebes, Lesser Black backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, and Black headed Gulls

Moving on then down to the Tufted Duck hide where I had the addition of Coot and Woodpigeon, I was soon off as there was very little here to see and ended up at the Waderscrape Hide, Osprey. It was not totally throwing it down outside but there was one Osprey out on a nearby post from the nest, eating fish and getting very, very wet.The rain did ease off a little and I mangaed to pick up a Male Reed Bunting.

The rain eventually eased, I had to go, family to meet today was only going to be a short trip today leaving more time for tomorrow. Between hides I managed to pick up a few extras birds namely Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robins, Goldfinch etc

I stopped over at a nearby B&B called Laundimer House (see my B&B tab) whilst travelling down I picked up a few Red Kites

Video of the Day Press HERE

Map of Rutland Water (Click to make Larger)

Birds List : Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Lesser Black backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Osprey, Pheasant, Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Robin, sand Martin, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren (36)

Raven, Common Whitethroat and even the Green Woodpecker is back. Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Green veined White Butterflies add to an exciting April…on Nature on a Lunch Break, see the page HERE to see more highlights

It was dry when I arrived at the reserve however by the time I’d got ready to set off, it had turned to rain and the rain stayed through out the visit. I wasn’t put off and ventured out stopping off first for a butty at the van and ate this in the nearby shelter overlooking the reserve. Sand Martins, House Martins, and Swallows were very much evident with hundreds hawking over the water, feeding up after the long journey North, other birds I saw from here over looking the Village Lake were Blackbird, Robin, Lesser Black backed Gulls, Black headed Gulls and Redshank.

Venturing out on to the reserve proved to be very wet as the rain continued but birds were seen these being Blackcaps, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrows, and Cettis Warbler (heard). Reedbed lake had hundreds of Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows these were hawking the around the tress. On the lake and Far lake were Gadwalls, Tufted Ducks, Greylag Geese, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Moorhen, Pochard, Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Oystercatchers on the nearby workings.

Coming back down Dryham Lane I caught the “rattle” call of a Lesser Whitethroat and finally three Little Ringed Plovers back down on the Village Lake.

It proved to be a very wet day with very little reward on the species front but what I did see was very rewarding

Bird List : Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Crow, Cettis Warbler, Chaffinch, Coot, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, House Martin, Lapwing, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallrd, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Sand Martin, Swallow, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck (31)

Video of the Day Press HERE

Click on the Images to Make Larger