2/5/22
5/5/22
Had my first Yellow Wagtail of the year in the Cottingham area singing at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby.
Also added House Martin to the Willerby Carr Patch list over Priory Road.
6/5/22
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.
Also a few Hawthorn Shield Bug and Cockchafer.
12/5/22
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.
14/5/22
17/5/22
For my trip to the Lincolnshire butterfly paradise-Chambers Farm Wood on the 17th click here.
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.
19/5/22
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.
Also new for the year were Buff Ermine and Square-spot Rustic.
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.
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.
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.
All regular moths but Lesser Stag Beetle also in the trap was new for me.
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.
24/5/22
25/5/22
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.
On the 26th had another moth in fields off Northmoor Lane-Clouded Silver-only my 4th record.
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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