Although plenty of butterflies at Ellerburn Bank YWT there was nothing unusual.
Painted LadyCommon BlueSmall HeathSmall Tortoiseshell Red Admiral
Also large numbers of Common Spotted Orchid and a few fenced off Bee Orchids.
Common Spotted OrchidBee OrchidGreater Knapweed
At Fen Bog YWT it was nice see on the breeding ground birds I usually only see as migrants or winter visitors including Stonechat, Whinchat and displaying Siskin.
Stonechat-Fen Bog YWT
We headed for the bog to look for Large Heath but although different from those we see further south all that I photographed were identified as Small Heath.
Small Heath-Fen Bog YWT-different from those I usually see including earlier at Ellerburn Bank.Juvenile Meadow Pipit on the track of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Had a single Keeled Skimmer in the exactly the same spot we had seen them last year but the water level was very low.
Keeled Skimmer-Fen Bog YWT
Walking back to the carpark I saw a strange “stick” on the path between me and Ricky. Looking closer I saw it was an Adder, a first for me. Initially I thought it was dead but showed no sign of injury and hadn’t been there earlier. Shortly though after presumably playing dead it slivered off into cover.
Adder-Fen Bog YWT
Nearby we had a Common Lizard in deep cover.
Plenty of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries near the carpark but very mobile and hard to get a good photograph.
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary-Fen Bog YWT
Went across the road to check the stream for Golden-ringed Dragonflies but none were present. While looking though I located a Spotted Flycatcher on a fence over the stream before flying to trees further away. Another bird that I now usually only see on migration.
Spotted Flycatcher near Fylingdales RAF
Also a very smart singing Whinchat.
Whinchat near Fylingdales RAF
Found a Brown Silver-line moth, a species I’ve previously seen 3 times in Cottingham.
Brown Silver-line near Fylingdales RAF
Managed to see both Large and Small Skipper in the area for the first time this year.
It all started early afternoon Tuesday 7th June 2022 when Ricky rang to say he had found some Common Spotted Orchids in Cottingham.
Common Spotted Orchid-Cottingham
Moved on to another site in the village where I had seen a single spike of Southern Marsh Orchid.
Southern Marsh Orchid-Cottingham
Nearby were several Fox-and-cubs, an naturalised garden plant
Fox-and-cubs-Cottingham
At a third site, where I’d seen orchids last year, we failed to find any.
On Wednesday afternoon see went to Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit YWT where we failed to find Early Purple Orchid but plenty of butterflies and moths. See the account here.
On Friday we went further afield starting at Fordon Chalk Banks, a top Yorkshire Butterfly site. A very steep valley and hard going. Had two Marbled Whites, early and the first record on site this year, but too active to photograph but got several other species including my first Brown Argus and Painted Lady this years.
Small HeathBrown ArgusCommon BlueSpeckled Wood Painted Lady
Also a few moths including my first Silver-ground Carpet this year and Mother Shipton which I’d seen earlier this year at Chambers Wood Farm.
Mother Shipton Silver-ground Carpet
Nothing unusual bird-wise but there were a good number of Lesser Whitethroat and Yellowhammer.
Lesser Whitethroat-Fordon Chalk BankYellowhammer-Fordon Chalk Bank
We had hoped to see Frog Orchid but despite getting directions from two people including one doing a survey of butterflies we failed to find the site.
Common Rock-rose. Found plant of Brown Argus.
Moved to Yatts Farm hoping for better luck. This time fortunately there were people already looking at the Greater Butterfly-orchids. Good thing as small, inconspicuous and we off the track.
Greater Butterfly-orchid-Yatts Farm
Also Common Twayblade nearby which I managed to locate independently! Previously seen this orchid at Tophill Low NR.
Common Twayblade-Yatts Farm
Initially failed to self find our main quarry-Fly Orchid-eventually locating them at the beginning of the valley we’d walked well done. Again small and inconspicuous.
Fly Orchid-Yatts Farm
Also had a few butterflies including Brimstone and Dingy Skipper.
Dingy SkipperBrimstone
Back in Cottingham I took the dog out and check the site of my Southern Marsh Orchid where I had my first Meadow Brown for the year as well as Large Skipper and a likely Brown Argus. I had seen several on this site last two years although the land-owner had moored the area shortly after finding them last year.
Wednesday 8th June 2022 started wet but became dry later morning. At a loose end and the dog hadn’t asked for a walk yet so when Ricky rang suggesting a drive up to Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit YWT I jumped at it, although with some worry that the weather might still spoil things. Getting there although the ground was wet it was warming up with breaking cloud and soon had several moths.
Common CarpetStraw DotSilver Y
Also a good numbers of Common Blue butterflies.
Male Common BlueMale Common BlueFemale Common Blue
As well as my first Small Heath of the year.
Small Heath butterfly
Nearby along the old railway track {Hudson Way] we had a few more moths.
SnoutNettle-tapPammene aurana
Next we moved a short distance to Rifle Butts Quarry YWT. Although I’ve spent a lot of time in the area over the decades I’ve never visited this reserve before but it is more of geological interest than wildlife. I’ll let the sign explain.
The geological succession at Rifle Butts Quarry YWT
We did add Large Skipper to the year list though.
Large Skipper
Our final destination was Northcliffe Wood YWT where we added two moths as well as finally getting a Speckled Wood to settle.
Clouded Silver Speckled WoodCream Wave
At one time Kiplingcotes area was my go to area for Turtle Dove but like most other areas where I once expected to see them and inline with the national trend they can be seen no more. However as Turtle Dove declined Red Kite has become expected over the Yorkshire Wolds and we saw one on the way in over Etton then later over Goodmanham.
Our next trip out, weather permitting, is North Yorkshire on Friday for butterflies and orchids.
Had my first Yellow Wagtail of the year in the Cottingham area singing at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby.
Yellow Wagtail singing Haltemprice Farm, WillerbyI hadn’t looked at Springhead GC for a while and this was the first time I had seen the new fence to keep walkers off the course
Also added House Martin to the Willerby Carr Patch list over Priory Road.
6/5/22
Holly Blue and Small White butterflies-Middledyke Fields, Cottingham Robin-Middledyke Fields, Cottingham
Had my first Swifts of the year on the 10th whilst emptying the moth trapped. New moths were Waved Umber, Yellow-barred Brindle and White-shoulder House Moth.
Early evening I walked to Willerby Low Road Community Wood and coming back along Haggs Lane had my first Barn Owl of the year. Just outside my Willerby Carr Patch but gives me hope of seeing one there this year after losing the pair at Haltemprice Priory.
On the 13th new moths in the trap were Flame Carpet, Common Pug, Garden Carpet, Scalloped Hazel, Poplar Hawk Moth, and Vine’s Rustic.
For my trip to the Lincolnshire butterfly paradise-Chambers Farm Wood on the 17th click here.
Tree Sparrow-Waterworks Cottage, Cottingham. The first I’ve managed to get a good picture of. They seem scarce tis year.
New in the moth trap on the 18th were Muslim Moth, Flame Shoulder, Bee Moth, Heart and Dart, Common Marbled Carpet and a dark Minor not assignable to species although likely Marbled on date.
Bee Moth,Flame ShoulderCommon Marbled CarpetHeart and DartProbable Marbled Minor Muslim MothSmall White Butterfly-KGV Allotments. Cottingham
19/5/22
Harlequin Ladybird.
A surprise in the moth trap on the 20th were two Cinnabar, a moth common locally usually on Ragwort, but not trapped before. I would add that the only Ragwort I’ve seen so far was on Station Road near Stoneledge yard.
Cinnabar Moth
Also new for the year were Buff Ermine and Square-spot Rustic.
Square-spot RusticBuff Ermine
Early evening on the 21st I had a walk through KGV Rec, Millbeck Wildlife Area and fields to the north. A warm day and a few insects including my first Common Blue butterflies of the year.
Common Blue butterflyGreen-veined White butterfly 14-spot Ladybird
Nice to see a native ladybird as the unintentionally imported Harlequin Ladybird, which will eat ours, is all too common now, including the pair intent on increasing the species on the 22nd. They are very variable mimicking several native species although larger with obvious white facial plates.
Pair of Harlequin Ladybird
On the 23rd new in the moth trap were Green Carpet, Willow Beauty, Mottled Pug, Celypha lacunana and Brimstone. Also Mint Moth which I’d seen at Chambers Farm Wood earlier this month.
Mottled PugCelypha lacunanaBrimstone
All regular moths but Lesser Stag Beetle also in the trap was new for me.
Lesser Stag Beetle
Had a walk along the path north of Platwood Farm in the morning. Had a few interesting insects including only my 2nd Small Copper so far this year. This butterfly is now rare around the village at least.
Small Copper Cardinal BeetleBrown-tail moth caterpillar
On the 26th new in the moth trap were Flame, Small Magpie, White Ermine and Common Carpet, although I’ve seen the latter in the field with out getting a picture.
Small MagpieCommon CarpetWhite ErmineFlame
On the 26th had another moth in fields off Northmoor Lane-Clouded Silver-only my 4th record.
Clouded Silver-off Northmoor Lane, Cottingham
For my trip to Kent on the 28th for Eleonora’s Falcon click here.
The evening of the 29th was a bit of an Owl-fest. Hearing Blackbirds mobbing sometime in the churchyard I manage to locate a roosting Tawny Owl then on Middledyke Fields I had a brief Barn Owl to add to my Cottingham Patch year list.
The last new moth of May was Snout at Middledyke Fields on the 30th.
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