2023 in 12 pictures

After finally getting back on the road in autumn of 2022 I got out regularly this year until the end of September but although I had “more material” it meant I had less time to actually blog not helped by family issues in summer. Also due to a difficulty with long car journeys, apart from a few butterfly trips to Lincolnshire, I only left Yorkshire once for the Northumberland Grey-headed Lapwing. Because of this I haven’t taken many rare bird pictures. However because of the above many pictures are new to the blog.

January After not seeing Brambling in Cottingham for many years for the second year I managed to see one twice in late January in KGV Rec by the BMX track.

Brambling-Cottingham KGV Rec-20/1/23

February This month’s bird is a Whooper Swan at High Eske NR the 5th.

Whooper Swan-High Eske NR-5/2/23

March 2023 was a great year for me locally for Bittern. One was seen at Tophill Low NR throughout the year, on 3rd May I hear one calling by Leven Canal, my first for the High Eske/Pulfin/Leven Carr super patch, I had one several times over Brough Airfield Marsh spring/summer suggesting nesting then on 11th September I had one at North Cave Wetlands.

Bittern-Tophill Low NR on South Marsh West-22/3/23

April This month again Tophill Low NR this my only Whimbrel of the year on South Marsh East on the 26th.

Whimbrel-Tophill Low NR on South Marsh East-26/4/23

May As mentioned above the Grey-headed Lapwing, which I saw on the 2nd, was my only rarity outside Yorkshire. However the pictures is rubbish and I aren’t yet convinced of it’s credentials. Therefore my picture is my first Slow Worm in Pickering Woods on the 18th. I also ticked two butterfly species that day. The full story here.

Slow Worm-Pickering Woods-18/5/23

June This month I go for a butterfly. Again in North Yorkshire at Farnham near Harrogate where the only [disclosed?] colony of Small Blue Butterfly in the county is. Being just on the outskirts of the village, a strange place to see such a rare insect. Full details here.

Small Blue butterfly-Farnham-16/6/23

July This month my second butterfly, a surprise find in Cottingham near Badger’s Wood, a White-letter Hairstreak on the 25th. Also seen the other known site in the village, on Snuff Mill Lane [see here] but I never got to see see them this year.

White-letter Hairstreak-Cottingham near Badger’s Wood-25/7/23

August On the 23rd I found the 2nd Blue-winged Teal for Tophill Low NR joined by the 3rd on following morning, but as I saw the first, this months picture is Willow Emerald Damselfly at the visitors centre pond, a site tick for me. Thanks to Pat Hoggarth for pointing at out for me. Considering the effort put in recording Odonata Tophill Low NR was late to the game.

Willow Emerald Damselfly-Tophill Low NR-21/7/23

September The month of the Yorkshire Brown Booby twitch but my photos were poor and it was only a county tick having seen one in Cornwall in September 2019. Even then it would take something very special to top my Clifden Nonpareil on the 14th. I had actually finished emptying the trap when I noticed a very large grey moth on the summer house railings. There was a good influx of this otherwise very rare moth but still something magic, the holy grail for moth enthusiasts.

Clifden Nonpareil-Cottingham-14/9/23

October What in the past would often be my best month was quiet with my bike laid up and not being up to long car journeys but a small flock of Egyptian Geese on my “green patch” at Carr Farm, Willerby on the 29th were a “Carrs” tick for my friends who saw them. I had seen the species at Tophill Low NR on the 16th February and there seems to be a feral population in East Yorkshire but whether from local non-self sustaining escapes or expansion from the population originating in East Anglia I can’t say. I personally witnessed the first wild breeding of Egyptian Geese at High Eske NR in the summer of 2004.

Egyptian Geese-Carr Farm, Willerby-29/10/23

November was very quiet for me and the best I can do is a Lesser Redpoll in Cottingham on the 29th at Millbeck Wildlife area where I had seen them in January.

Lesser Redpoll-Millbeck Wildlife Area, Cottingham-29/11/23

At least December brought a true rarity with a Black-throated Thrush being found at Tophill Low NR on the 10th which I saw the next day [full story here]. Not surprisingly new for the site list and although it could be elusive, not helped by poor weather, it remained into the start of 2024 by which time all who wanted will have added it.

Male Black-throated Thrush-Tophill Low NR-11/12/23-hopefully get the chance for a better image.

Ten most viewed posts of 2023

My highlights of 2022

2022 in 12 pictures

The Black-throated Thrush at Tophill Low NR

Black-throated Thrush at Tophill Low NR

Early 2023

Getting 2023 going

Two days in April at High Eske NR

A better day at High Eske NR

A trip to North Lincolnshire

10/7/23 Risby Warren and Alkborough Flats

A rare butterfly in Lincolnshire

16/6/23 Black Hairstreak at Chambers Farm Wood

A rare butterfly in North Yorkshire.

12/6/23 Small Blue butterfly in North Yorkshire

An updated version of my views on wildfowl being considered for addition to the British List.

Ross’s Goose added to Cat A [8/10/23 update]

A trip to North Yorkshire for rare butterflies

18/5/23 Appleton Le Moors and Pickering Woods

My first visit to Tophill Low NR after the shut down in 2022.

12/9/22 Back to Tophill Low NR

10/7/23 Risby Warren and Alkborough Flats

Monday morning I went with Ricky, across the Humber Bridge, for our annual visit to Risby Warren. This had been forecast as an unsettled week but this morning it was dry if rather windy. There were plenty of butterflies on site.

Gatekeeper-I had seen a few already in Cottingham

Green-veined White which was my 1st for a few weeks

Small White-currently fairly numerous

Small Skipper-again seen a few in the last week or so

Small Copper-this site has always been good for this species but I’ve seen a few in Cottingham earlier this year.

Small Tortoiseshell-generally numerous

Not a particularly good site for birds but nice to see breeding Stonechat in the same area as last year.

My 1st Small Heath this year but common on site.

Our target was Grayling so we walked towards the “dunes” where we had seen them previously seeing goods of Silver Y moths on the way. The only other moths seen were two Yellow Shell. We could hear what we believe was a rabbit shoot in the area so approached with caution but it was in fact “blanks” used to train Spaniels to retrieve.

Found several Grayling, the 1st made easy as it was showing the bright forewing but the 2nd less obvious as it showed only the hindwing and was typically very settled.

Like everywhere Meadow Brown was very common, the one below only showing the hindwing, a potential confusion for anyone unfamiliar with Grayling.

The site is also known for interesting plants but I’m not a botanist so made do with just Viper’s-bugloss.

Next to Alkborough Flats.

My 1st Ruddy Darter this year on the path to Prospect Hide

I hadn’t been here for 2 years and noticed the reedbed in front of Prospect Hide was much thicker restricting viewing somewhat and although we heard and glimpsed several Bearded Tit they were now harder to see well. Fortunately I had seen them well recently on my side of the Humber at Welton Waters.

Bearded Tit at Welton Waters-22/6/23

Eleven Spoonbill were viewable from the hide later joined by number twelve.

Spoonbills with a few Lapwing-Alkborough Flats

Apart from Lapwing the only other waders were a single Ruff and Curlew. A fairly poor showing for a reserve often good for waders. Also had at least one Marsh Harrier and few Little Egret.

16/6/23 Black Hairstreak at Chambers Farm Wood

Black Hairstreak has only a short flight period so with them reported at Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire, and with thunder storms forecast from Sunday Ricky and I arranged to go on Friday. A good hot clear morning and on arrival the first person we saw told us they were currently showing well so we had a brisk walk to the the ‘crossroads”. The first time I have hurried for a butterfly, instead of a bird, and on arrival had the feel of a proper twitch with numerous cameras pointing into the vegetation although admittedly in nothing like the number at a rare bird. Also a little more amenable? Hairstreaks in my experience are usually high up, mobile and hard to photograph but these were often low and static although often tricky to get a clear view. Counted at least half a dozen.

Black Hairstreak on Blackthorn

Went to the butterfly garden for lunch. A few Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth were on Red Valerian by the car park.

Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth on Red Valerian

By the drying up pond we had a Large Red Damselfly, one of a very few dragonflies we saw.

Large Large Red Damselfly

Also Mullein caterpillar on the food plant.

Mullein caterpillar

Swallow on wire above the Butterfly Garden

Went to the meadow to look for Marsh Fritillary. Late for them with only a few worn individuals but lucky found one not too bad.

Marsh Fritillary

We had seen a large number of small moths flying around tall oaks opposite the carpark and the smaller Oaks by the meadow allowed me to identify them as Green Oak Tortrix.

Green Oak Tortrix-a potential pest in large number

Like everywhere butterfly numbers were low with the only other species seen being Speckled Wood, a Brimstone, Meadow Brown and Large Skipper.

Meadow Brown [left] and Large Skipper [right]

Fortunately we left early as Humber Bridge was closed meaning a long diversion via the M180/M18/M62.

30/6/22 Risby Warren and Crowle Waste/Thorne Moor

Headed to North Lincolnshire with Ricky on Thursday morning.

Risby Warren

First call was Risby Warren and although fairly overcast we had plenty of butterflies but nothing new initially.

Ringlet

Small Skipper on Viper’s-bugloss

Meadow Brown

Small Heath

Small White

Also my first Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort but only one moth found.

Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort

Also had Brown Silver-line.

Brown Silver-line moth

We headed to the sand hummocks where we saw Grayling last year and I put up a butterfly which I couldn’t immediately say was one but which looked different from anything I’d seen that day. Fortunately it landed nearby and its id was confirmed.

Grayling

Only saw one other but mission accomplished and managed to see in Yorkshire.

Walking back through longer grass we put up a few large orange butterflies. We had seen Dark-green Fritillary here last year and eventually found a few, including a pair, on the ground and confirmed our initial suspicion.

Dark-green Fritillary

Grasshopper species, possibly Mottled. Any suggestion appreciated.

Walking back we came across a pair of Stonechat, presumably feeding young.

Male Stonechat

Headed to Crowle where fortunately Crowle Waste is well signed as the route was like a maze. Cloud had built up and rain looked likely but there were still plenty of butterflies on the wing but again the usual fare.

Green-veined White

Having only seen Common Hawker at time when I wasn’t too interested I was on the look for dragonflies. Had two darters which on closer inspection were both Ruddy rather than Common.

Immature male Ruddy Darter

Male Ruddy Darter

Had a few damselflies including Blue-tailed.

Also a few moths including Common Carpet and my first Clouded Border of the year.

Clouded Border moth

Eventually made it to Thorne Moors. Had a look on a large area of water where there were a good number of “hawker-type” dragonflies. Likely Emperor but too distance to identify. Only bird seen was a Tufted Duck. Leaving the hide Ricky picked out a butterfly on the path which then flew to nettles. Our only Large Heath of the day as well as my first since I took a serious interest in butterflies.

Large Heath butterfly.

We tried to get closer to the water to try and get closer to the dragonflies but didn’t manage. Decided to retrace our route before we got lost. Had a Black-tailed Skimmer on the Crowle Waste boardwalk.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Xylota sylvarum-a hover fly

4/8/21 Risby Warren and Alkborough Flats

Went to Risby Warren with RF on Wednesday morning hoping to find Grayling having dipped in July.

Risby Warren

Started fairly cool and looked to have had more rain overnight than in East Yorkshire. Seemed quieter than last time but again had Small Copper, which seems rare elsewhere, and Brown Argus that I thought I’d seen briefly in July.

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  Small Copper

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  Brown Argus

Also a few Silver Y moths [see my moth blog for more moths].

Silver Y moth

Although still present only had a few Gatekeeper and one Dark-green Fritillary.

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  Gatekeeper

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  Dark-green Fritillary

After the usual miss identification managed two Grayling.

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  A Meadow Brown that fooled us briefly..

• 

  ..then a real Grayling

Carline Thistle-Risby Warren

Job done we could ignore our nearby back up, Conesby Quarry, and Alkborough Flats seemed the best alternative.

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  Peacock butterfly at Alkborough

Having so far mainly photographed insects with the Nikon P1000 hoped to try some birds but the heat haze [I hope!] made photography difficult. Had better views of the Glossy Ibis than in mid-June but only really a “record shot”.

Glossy Ibis with waders from Prospect Hide

Also with lower water level several waders including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin. Spotted Redshank and Ruff were new for the year.

Waders including Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Ruff from Prospect Hide.

Spoonbill had show well in June but today were only seen in flight as well as Marsh Harrier.

Some of c20 Spoonbill in flight from Prospect Hide.

A few closer birds gave some idea of what I hoped for from the camera.

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  Lapwing

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  Greylag Goose

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  Redshank

So far I’ve been very happy with the P1000 to photograph insects at a distance but haven’t yet been too happy with macro, maybe the size of the camera over the P510 being an issue. Still need to try it on some more birds, hopefully waders from Tophill Low NR Izzard Hide in the near future.

25/7/17-Alkborough Flats

I hadn’t started the year with the intention of year listing but this month I seem to be unintentionally listing so with little excitement about any of my local sites a trip across the bridge to Alkborough Flats appealed and the fact that the wind had dropped and, although overcast, rain wasn’t forecast helped. Quickly added Spoonbill, although only three, and stubbornly remained asleep at the back of the pool.

Spoonbills-Alkborough Flats

Also my other target, Spotted Redshank, was present although also right at the back. Nearer were a number of Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls a single Yellow-legged Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull with Lesser-backed Gull-Alkborough Flats

Water Rail was squealing under the hide and occasionally a chick would show. Bearded Tits were regularly calling and flying over but only once had one perched up long enough for a quick photo.

Bearded Tit-Alkborough Flats

Eventually some of the waders came within range, including several young Avocets.

Black-tailed Godwit-Alkborough Flats

Spotted Redshank-Alkborough Flats

Avocet-Alkborough Flats

Little Egret-Alkborough Flats

2/8/16 Alkborough Flats

2/8/16 After yesterday’s excursion [see here] had a late start on Tuesday and didn’t get out until mid afternoon. Again over the bridge but this time only as far as Alkborough Flats. The aim was Spoonbill, having missed them there and at Blacktoft Sands RSPB earlier this year. A bit windy on the road to the bridge but was due south so wasn’t a problem crossing. In Alkborough went to Julian’s Bower where you can get a panoramic view of the Flats.

Julian’s Bower maze-Alkborough

Alkborough Flats from Julian’s Bower

I’ll let the information board explain what this place is.

Anyway the Spoonbills were visible and noticing there was a short footpath directly to the Flats decided to lock up and walk down.

Spoonbills on Alkborough Flats distantly from Julian’s Bower

Had a Snout moth along the path down, the first I’ve managed to photograph this year.

Snout moth-Alkborough

Reaching the low level hide all 14 Spoonbills were on views but asleep.

All 14 Spoonbills at Alkborough Flats

Also a similar number of Little Egret. Among the larger number of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Avocet were a Spotted Redshank and 7 Ruff.

Spotted Redshank with Black-tailed Godwit-Alkborough Flats

Male Ruff with Redshank-Alkborough Flats

The Spoonbills did eventually put on a show when a few started playing with a probable reed rhizome.

Also a Kingfisher flew by. Moving to the tower hide added Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Water Rail.

Water rail-Alkborough Flats

Greenshank-Alkborough Flats

A trip to the other side-Spoonbills +Grayling

After my afternoon out with RL on Tuesday I struggled to get out the rest of the week due to pressure of work.

30/7/15 Manage to get up to Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs Woodlands Trust reserve early Thursday evening. Always hard work for birds and this time was no different but did photograph an interesting hoverfly- Scaeva pyrastri . A migratory species that arrives in variable number but in some years none.

Scaeva pyrastri-Nut Wood & Wauldby Scrogs

1/8/15 Find East Yorkshire too frenetic during the school holidays and last summer found North Lincolnshire much quieter [both birders and non-birders] and spent a lot of time at Alkborough Flats. Like having Blacktoft Sands RSPB to yourself. Saturday was a better day at work and with several Spoonbill at Alkborough Flats headed there mid afternoon. Started raining along the the Humber Bridge approach and had to decide whether to stop and put over trousers on or continue with the hope that it was just a shower. Kept going and the rain was short lived. Didn’t fancy walking too much so went to the disabled car park. The last bit involves a steep decline and on a bike you have to be aware of the loose gravel at the bottom. Managed to see the Spoonbills before I got to the hide so knew the journey was worthwhile. Initially so close to the hide that they were partially obscured by vegetation but everything was regularly disturbs by a Hobby hunting low over the lagoon and they became more lively and even took flight a few times.

Spoonbills-Alkborough Flats

Eventually they settled to feed.

Large numbers of Avocet on site. Up to 900 counted recently and think close that number were on the whole site.

Large number of Avocets at Alkborough Flats.

Others waders include good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and a few Spotted Redshanks, Ruff and Green Sandpiper. Also several Water Rail “squeaking” unseen below the hide.

The heavy rain finally arrived but in a break I made it to the tower hide where it started up again even heavier. Not much to add to the day but had some close Little Egrets.

Little Egrets-Alkborough Flats

Only on viewing my pictures did I notice one was colour ringed but couldn’t make out the details.

Also saw the Barnacle Geese that breed on Whitton Sands but, possibly due to the poor light, not the Ruddy Shelduck seen recently [and last summer].

The rain finally stopped and I made a hasty return to the car park. Fortunately stayed dry on the way home.

Getting in had a message from SG that a Glossy Ibis was on Brough Airfield. The first record for the site. Getting late and didn’t think I’d have much time before the light went but tiredness also helped the decision.

2/8/15 The Glossy Ibis was seen again early morning and went to look for it with RL but despite spending over two hours circling the marsh there was no further sign even with the help of Dave Hursthouse. In the past have kept to public rights of way but local dog-walkers show no problem trespassing so see no reason birders should be so law abiding anymore. Such behaviour would have brought a rapid response from BAE security a few years ago but they seem to no-longer care.

Cinnabar moth caterpillar-Brough

Early afternoon went to Conesby Quarry with ML and RL. This site is north of Scunthorpe along Normandy Road. Parked outside Blue Lagoon NR and crossed the road. The target was Grayling butterfly. Not an initially appealing site not helped by the gypsy camp near the entrance. Also the sound of motorcycle engines was off putting. Joined by the couple I got the information from yesterday and learnt that noise was actually the Scunthorpe Speedway Stadium. However this wasn’t the only source as there were several dirt-bikers including one who took pleasure in repeatedly buzzing us at high speed. Others give us verbal abuse. Not an area I’d visit on my own. Also on week days there are regular HGV’s as the concrete railway sleepers for London Cross-rail project are made at the factory by the quarry.

Initially led astray by Meadow Browns.

Meadow Brown-Conesby Quarry

On reaching the quarry the Graylings found us, visiting each of us in turn for minerals from sweat.

Grayling drinking sweat-Conesby Quarry

Cryptic Grayling-Conesby Quarry

Also found a new moth for me. Gillmeria ochrodactyla and G.pallidactyla are only reliably separated by present or not of banding on the hind-leg tibia. Can’t do this from the photo but being on Tansy make the former more likely.

Likely Tansy Plume on food plant

Vipers Bugloss-Conesby Quarry-RL

Went on to Alkborough Flats.

Peacock butterfly caterpillar-Alkborough Flats

The last high tide has been a big one and the site had flooded. Five of the Spoonbills were again present but waders numbers were low.

Spoonbills-Alkborough Flats-showing increase in water level since Saturday.

Had a Kingfisher flying close to the hide. Also an immature Marsh Harrier, that had been surprisingly missing from yesterday’s list. Didn’t see the Montagu’s Harriers, breeding at Blacktoft Sands RSPB, but haven’t been seen as often as last year.

Marsh Harrier-Alkborough Flats