5/8/16 Good few weeks since I’ve been to North Cave Wetlands so Friday morning thought it was time to pay a visit. Too be honest the first two hides I wasn’t sure I’d made a good choice. Only a few Common Terns of interest on Village Lake but the young Polish Mute Swan on Island Lake was nice to see again. Interesting how other than size it appears more mature than it’s siblings, having almost acquired an adult-type bill.
Polish Mute Swan [2nd from left] with family
Although quite warm in sheltered places when the sun was out the wind otherwise made it feel cool. Despite this there were goods of butterflies including a Painted Lady along the walk to Turret Hide.
Peacock butterfly by Maze Field.
Honeybee by Maze Field.
Gatekeeper by Maze Field.
Painted Lady by Maze Field.
Having already seen Black-tailed Skimmer the first of the nearly rejuvenated dragonfly ponds was impressive and spent a good while watching a Brown Hawker competing with an Emperor for the territory. Also lots of damselflies and darters ovipositing. However only a Four-spotted Chaser posed for it portrait.
Four-spotted Chaser-Dragonfly Ponds.
Male Ruddy Darter-Dragonfly Ponds.
By the furthest pond I found quite a few darters on the ground a good number of which Ruddy Darter. While photographing these I heard the now rare jangle of a Corn Bunting and later managed to track it down in the hedge.
Corn Bunting-North Hedge
Bird-wise things got better on the reedbed. First had a juvenile Little Plover just under the screen.
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover-Reedbed.
Next an “interesting shape” among the Greylags turn out to be the Egyptian Goose found by SG yesterday.
Egyptian Goose-“not showing well on Reedbed”.
Unfortunately spent most of the time asleep. Thirdly a Greenshank fly in to the west end but then flew closer.
Greenshank-Reedbed.
Last as I was about to move everything got up and a Peregrine was quickly picked up.
Male Kestrel by new workings
Had a few Brimstone along the western path.
Brimstone by western path.
Common Darter near Carp Lake
Blue-tailed Damselfly near Carp Lake
A good number of gulls, mainly Black-headed but also a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the silt pond. Found a sub-adult Yellow-legged Gull among them. Also had a Dunlin but couldn’t find the Bar-headed Goose from the hide.
Adult and juvenile Common Terns on Cell A
Later looking from Dryham Lane I located the Bar-headed Goose but flew almost immediately.
Bar-headed Goose about to leave Cell A
After a slow start quite a good day.
Great report Erich
Thanks mate. Need to get down more.