4/3/24 Wykeham Forest, Forge Valley and Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Originally planned to go up to Wykeham Forest with Ricky, for Goshawk and Crossbill, on Saturday but the forecast was bad so decided on Monday. Started cold and frosty but bright and although some fog over the Wolds it was clear at Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint. The Goshawk accompanied by several Buzzard were aways distant [I’ve had closer views later in the year when looking for Honey Buzzard] but having already heard them in the car park Crossbill gave good perched views at the viewpoint.

I am local so known my way about but beware entering the postcode YO13 9EB on a satnav as you could be dumped in the middle of no where, instead use the map ref SE 935887 to get an exact position of the parking area.

Male Crossbill at Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint

Had a flock of Pink-footed Geese flying over, surprisingly my 1st since New Years Day despite in the past having regular flocks throughout the winter commuting between the Wolds and the Humber or on migration.

Pink-footed Geese from Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint

Went to Forge Valley late morning. The main target was Nuthatch, a difficult bird in East Yorkshire although they do seem to be spreading with recent sightings at Burton Bushes, Beverley, which I’ve yet to check out, and at a private site near Welton.

Nuthatch-Forge Valley

Also a good site for Marsh Tit which is scarce elsewhere.

Marsh Tit-Forge Valley

Nice to get close views of common bird anyway.

Coal Tit, Coal Tit & Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit-Forge Valley

Finally went to Bempton Cliffs. All the usual suspects were in with only Kittiwake still in small numbers.

Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Gannet on the arch, Gannet in flight, Fulmar in flight-Bempton Cliffs

No sign of any Short-eared Owls while we were there although one had been seen early morning. Finished at the feeders to see Tree Sparrow which has seriously declined in the areas I walked the dog. They kept to the distant feeders then walking back to the car had a very approachable bird in a puddle.

Tree Sparrow-Bempton Cliffs

I have noticed a serious decline in Collared Dove locally which from a recent BTO email is also a national issue so now make a “causal” report to Birdtrack of all I see including today two on the way home in Dunswell. West of the the village I saw the pair of Ruddy Shelduck that I have seen at various site around Cottingham the last couple of years. Don’t consider these have much credibility as wild birds but are of interest to some birders. Also as a potential breeding pair they need keeping an eye on.

Ruddy Shelduck recently on Priory Fields, Cottingham. Not safe to stop at the Dunswell flash.

18/5/23 Appleton Le Moors and Pickering Woods

Up to the middle of May it has been generally cool and overcast and not good for butterflies however last Thursday was forecast to be brighter and warm so I arranged to go up to Pickering with Ricky to check a new site for Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t too good early and on reaching Appleton Le Moors it was mild but dull. Quickly got Small Tortoiseshell and Orange-tip as well as Brown Silver-line moth but no sign of Pearl Bordered Fritillary for which this site is the best known in Yorkshire.

Brown Silver-line-a moth and male Orange-tip butterfly

Had my first orchid of the year.

Early Purple Orchid-likely my first.

Wasn’t looking to brighten anytime soon so headed for the Pickering. Took some time, with some help, to find the site and had some rain as we parked up but soldiered on up the track but again only had a few commoner butterflies. However it did brighten for a while which brought out the Common Lizards. These were to skittish but Slow Worm lived up their name only slowly burrowing into the vegetation.

Slow Worm-a first for both of us.

It clouded over as we walked back but kept looking for the Cowslip on which the “duke” was supposed to feed but they seemed to have gone over. Eventually I found one and while Ricky was checking out a Bee-fly he saw a Duke of Burgundy Fritillary on a nearby flower. Eventually had four and few good shots.

Duke of Burgundy Fritillary

We headed back to Appleton Le Moors and met a couple of blokes who had just seen a few fritillaries.

The dell at Appleton Le Moors where the fritillaries are best looked for.

After a while we connected although saw only one or two.

Pearl Bordered Fritillaries-a new one for me

Yellowhammer-have to one bird but nothing unusual seen today.

2022 in 12 pictures

With Covid fears receding I got back to long distance twitching for the first time since early 2020. However continuing improvements at my favourite site Tophill Low NR both to the works and reserve meant restrictions varying from total closure to the current situation with some areas at the north of the reserve still not fully open and some hides yet to be replaced. However I spent most of the year either on foot or relying on others for transport this only ending in October. Fingers crossed nothing beyond my control will prevent me enjoying 2023 to the the full.

January The first picture is the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR. I was the second person to see the bird on the reserve on the 12th [see here], Roy was checking the righthand side of D reservoir and me the left. The actual picture was taken on the 26th when I relocated the bird for John Hirschfield [see here].

Baikal Teal with Wigeon-D reservoir, Tophill Low NR-26/1/22

February One of the two Red Kites in Cottingham on the 9th [see here].

Red Kite over Millbeck Wildlife Area, Cottingham- 9/2/22

March Back to Tophill Low NR for drake Smew on Watton NR on the 8th [see here]

Drake Smew with Goldeneye-Watton NR at Tophill Low NR-8/3/22

April Maybe not the best picture but my first Brambling in Cottingham for many years on the 10th is a “green birding” mega [see here]

Brambling-Park Lane, Cottingham-10/4/22

May Another Tophill Low NR bird this time Great Reed Warbler, both a site first and my Yorkshire bogey bird, on the 20th. A bit controversial and I have already said something here but now more in the past I will say this bird was viewable from a public footpath and in my opinion even with the reserve itself closed the news of bird could have gone out. It was present 18 May until 12 June. It wasn’t my bird and I didn’t want to cause issues with the reserve management so I kept it to myself. I still get grief from a lapsed Tophill regular over this issue.

Great Reed Warbler-Watton NR at Tophill Low NR-20/5/22

June For a change a reptile. My first Adder which I stumbled across at Fen Bog YWT on the 22nd [see here].

Adder at Fen Bog YWT-22/6/22

July This time a damselfly. Small Red-eyed Damselfly breeding at a private site on Snuff Mill Lane, Cottingham [see here].

Small Red-eye Damselfly-Snuff Mill Crossing Cottages, Cottingham

August One of my few trips beyond Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Cape Gull at Grafton Water, Cambridgeshire on the 7th [see here]. Now on the British List as Kelp Gull.

Cape Gull-Grafham Water. Cambridge-7/8/22

September I saw my first Willow Emerald Damselfly at North Cave Wetland YWT on 28/8/22 [see here]. I then found one in Cottingham, Millbeck Wildlife Area on the 30th [see here] followed by a few along Swine Bank, Hull/Willerby then more at Northcliffe Wood YWT on the 2nd of this month [see here] including the one below.

Willow Emerald Damselfly-Northcliffe Wood YWT-2/9/22

October My first Scilly twitch since dipping Great Blue Heron in April 2015 for Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher on 17th [see here].

Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher, Isles of Scilly-17/10/22

November This month it is a self found Bittern at Tophill Low NR on South Marsh West on the 27th [see here].

Bittern-Tophill Low NR on South Marsh West-27/11/22

December This month brought two new “green birding’ wader ticks with Black-tailed Godwit in Cottingham on the 6th [see here] and Greenshank in Willerby on the 20th [see here]. The former being the least likely so the last picture for the year. Worth noting that both birds were on flood prevention lagoons created after the 2007 flooding.

Black-tailed Godwit-Cottingham-6/12/22

Ten most viewed posts of 2022

The Baikal Teal on Swine Moor and the Cottingham area.

Baikal Teal on Swine Moor and the aftermath of Storm Eunice

Cottingham, Willerby and the finding of the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

Willerby Carrs, Cottingham and Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

Twitching Cape Gull

Cape Gull at Grafham Water

First time back at Tophill Low NR after the summer closure.

12/9/22 Back to Tophill Low NR

Willerby, Cottingham and the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

23-26/1/22 Willerby Carr, Cottingham and the Baikal Teal again

Twitching the Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher

My first month back on the road including Tophill Low and High Eske NR’s

22/9-19/10/22 “On the road again” [High Eske NR and Tophill Low NR]

Cottingham, Willerby and the Smew on Watton NR in February

Cottingham, Willerby Carr and Smew at Watton NR

First week of 2022 including Tophill Low NR and Cottingham

First Week of 2022-Cottingham and Tophill Low NR

Twitching the Eleonora’s Falcon

Eleonora’s Falcon in Kent

22/6/22 Ellerburn Bank and Fen Bog

Although plenty of butterflies at Ellerburn Bank YWT there was nothing unusual.

Painted Lady

Common Blue

Small Heath

Small Tortoiseshell

Red Admiral

Also large numbers of Common Spotted Orchid and a few fenced off Bee Orchids.

Common Spotted Orchid

Bee Orchid

Greater 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.

Large Skipper

Small Skipper

Orchids, Butterflies and Moths in Yorkshire

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 Heath

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Speckled 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 Bank

Yellowhammer-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 Skipper

Brimstone

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.

Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Red-tailed Bumblebee

20/7/21 Mainly insects in North Yorkshire

Fen Bog YWT

Good numbers of Small Heath in the parking area and a brief Whinchat. Not many other birds but had regular Lesser Redpolls but mainly in flight. The other butterflies seen included a single Marbled White and several mobile fritillaries likely Dark Green and Small Pearl-bordered.

• 

  Small Heath

• 

  Whinchat

On the bog itself quickly located the species I’d visited the site for in the past, Keeled Skimmer.

Male Keeled Skimmer

• 

  Fen Bog

• 

  Fylingdales

• 

  Moor beyond Fen Bog

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is visible from the bog.

• 

• 

Checked the stream on the other site of the road for Golden-ringed Dragonfly but only had distant views. However found Blackneck moth hidden in the grass. A new species for me.

Blackneck

Apart from grass moths, we didn’t bother with, the only other moth seen was Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet

Good numbers of Common Lizards by the Fylingdales boundary fence but too skittish to photograph.

Also several of what looked like bumblebee mimic hover-flies but later identified as Tachina grossa, a parasite of large caterpillars.

Tachina grossa

Yatts Farm

In the afternoon went to Yatts Farm on Keldgate Road between Pickering and Newton-on-Rawcliffe [YO18 8JW]. The site is a narrow valley too steep for machinery so not “improved”. Good for butterflies including Marbled White and Dark Green Fritillary [a new species for me].

• 

  Small White

• 

  Dark Green Fritillary

• 

  Marbled White

Scarborough

15/1/17 Sunday morning headed for Scarborough with RL and ML.

Scarborough Harbour

Started at the harbour where we quickly picked up one each of the Black-necked Grebes and Great Northern Divers currently present.

Great Northern Diver in Scarborough Harbour

Black-necked Grebe in Scarborough Harbour

Soon had the second diver, the two occasionally surfacing close together. Walked round to the other side of the harbour where the we located the second grebe.

Cormorants in Scarborough Harbour.

Near the bridge added a approachable Rock Pipit.

Rock Pipit at Scarborough harbour

Looking out the sea had a juvenile Glaucous Gull in flight.

Glaucous Gull off Scarborough Harbour

On the sideway added Shag, with the Cormorants.

Shag and Cormorant in Scarborough Harbour

Moved to Marine Drive, parking near Albert Park Cafe. Initially couldn’t locate any Black Redstarts until we met up with a local birder who had just been watching one with two Stonechat nearby.

Black Redstart on Marine Drive, Scarborough

Stonechat on Marine Drive, Scarborough

Finally went to Scalby Mills car park where a juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the rocks but usually obscured by other gulls.

 

Glaucous Gull with Herring Gulls at Scalby Mills, Scarborough

Year List:- 101

2016 in 12 picture

Intro

Most of this year, due to having more free time, I’ve managed to blog when I’ve had the inspiration and a few photographs. I’ve rarely left Yorkshire though so most of the highlights will inevitably be local. I’ve kept going with Cottingham Moths but still wonder whether it’s worth the effort. However viewing figures have doubled since last year. See how I feel when I start trapping again in 2017.

January

My first picture for 2016 is the returning Barmston Kumlien’s Gull, seen on the 31st. It proved tricky this year [more here].

Kumlien’s Gull on Barmston Beach

February

An Early Moth found in Cottingham on Travis Road on the 6th was a new one for me [see here].

Early Moth

March

March was poor for photographs so I’ll settle for my first picture of a Small Tortoiseshell of the year taken at Far Grange.

Small Tortoiseshell at Far Grange, Skipsea

April

My best photograph of the month was a very showy Cetti’s Warbler at Tophill Low NR that performed close to North Marsh Hide for several days.

Cetti’s Warbler at North Marsh-Tophill Low NR

May

This month’s photograph is the two Glossy Ibises at North Cave Wetlands NR, taken on the 29th. A site tick for most regulars.

Glossy Ibises on Dryham Ings-North Cave Wetlands NR

June

This month it’s a Dingy Skipper taken at Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit near Market Weighton on the 5th. A difficult species to see locally and even more to photograph [Full account here].

Dingy Skipper at Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

July

Perversely my picture for July is an escaped/released Corn Snake found at High Eske NR on the 25th but it survived to provide material for a light hearted posting in August [see here].

Corn Snake-High Eske NR

August

August was a good month for waders at Tophill Low NR, had a site tick in the form of Spotted Crake at North Cave Wetlands and some good insects. All these are covered in the blog but the choice goes to the Western Swamp-hen at Minsmere RSPB on the 1st [see here].

Western Swamp-hen-Minsmere RSPB

September

This month I go for a moth. My first Brick on the 17th.

Brick-Cottingham

October

October was a mad month, said to be the best rarity wise ever. Oddly I never left Yorkshire but the best bird, for me at least, was the Siberian Accentor at Easington seen the same afternoon as my first Yorkshire Paddyfield Warbler [full account here].

Siberian Accentor-Vicar’s Lane, Easington

November

November was a waterbird month and represented by this Black-necked Grebe I found at Tophill Low NR on the 22nd [See here].

Black-necked Grebe on D res at Tophill Low NR

December

The last photograph should have been Dusky Thrush at Beeley but didn’t see it long enough to get a picture on my 1st attempt and not at all on the 2nd [see here]. Therefore the space is filled by Eastern Black Redstart at Skinningrove, with in the historic borders of Yorkshire [see here].

Eastern Black Redstart-Skinningrove

Top 10 posts of 2016 [viewing figures]

1 The Flamborough/Easington twitch-Paddyfield Warbler and Siberian Accentor

2 Migrants-Kilnsea/Easington including Olive-backed Pipit

3 Putative Stejneger’s Stonechat at Spurn Point–Since confirmed

4 31/1/16 Kumlien’s Gull at Barmston [for the 4th year?]

5 Waxwings at last-Hessle Sainsbury’s

6 Alkborough Flats–pre-Western Swamp-hen

7 The Grey Phalarope at Tophill Low NR

8 Spotted Crake at North Cave Wetlands

9 North Cave Wetlands YWT–Birds and insects

10 2015 in 12 pictures

Dipping the Cayton Bay Eastern Black Redstart

11/11/16 Went to High Eske NR on Friday afternoon. Three Whooper Swans briefly with the Mute Swans and again a Pink-footed Goose with the feral Greylags.

Whooper Swans at High Eske NR

A Water Rail was squealing in the south-east corner and eventually showed well.

Water Rail at High Eske NR

Got too cold after sunset so left early.

13/11/16 Nice on Sunday morning so headed to Cayton Bay with RL and ML.

Interesting graffiti on a bunker at Cayton Bay.

Walking south along the beach had four Stonechats on the cliff face before reaching the rocks at the south end.

Male Stonechat at Cayton Bay.

Gave it until early afternoon but there was no sign of the Eastern Black Redstart. Met up with DV. He had already missed it on Wednesday and the bird had been tricky all week. Had a few Rock Pipits and Robin.

Went to Hornsea Mere for the rest of the afternoon. The Smew, Long-tailed Duck, three Scaup, White-fronted Goose and two Tundra Bean Geese had been seen earlier. Check the Merebirders blog for more recent sightings. RL again picked up the Smew close to the south shore and the three Scaup in the bay from Seaton Road Hide. Later on I picked up the Long-tailed Duck at very close range. We all got some decent pictures before the light got too bad.

Long-tailed Duck at Hornsea Mere