This morning there were six Sand Martins along the river by the railway bridge. One Chiffchaff was singing and lots of butterflies were out including six Small Tortoiseshells, four Peacocks, four Brimstones and two Commas. PS.
Tag Archives: Brimstone
Curlew – 6th April
The sun brought out the butterflies this morning with 11 Brimstones, 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Comma and 1 Orange-tip being seen. A Curlew called as it flew over and three Sand Martins were seen near the river, also a Blackcap sang briefly near the Haven. On the Slurry Lagoon two Shelduck were present first thing. PS.
Wheatear – 6th October
The Patchwatch was held today and there were definite signs of passage as Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Swallows, Song Thrushes and the first Redwings flew through. The Jack Snipe was still by the seat on the Causeway and a Wheatear was seen perched on the seat by the river steps. On the Slurry Lagoon there were still three Pintail and a Red-crested Pochard. Butterflies were about too with Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and a very late Meadow Brown. Over 70 species of bird were seen during the day. PS.
Hobby – 23rd April
Early this afternoon a Hobby was seen hawking butterflies around the Large Gravel Pit and a Whimbrel settled briefly on the Wader Scrape. RW.
There were also at least five Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper on the Wader Scrape and two Common Sandpipers and two Yellow Wagtails on the river bank. Twelve Peacocks, three Green-veined Whites, three Commas, three Small Tortoiseshells and two Brimstones were also seen. PS.
Also early afternoon four Yellow Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. JMD.
Garden Warbler – 2nd May
A Garden Warbler was feeding and calling in bushes close to the Ouse Dyke bridge early afternoon. JMD.
A second Garden Warbler was singing and showing well by the riverside, and two Cuckoos were heard calling. The warm weather also tempted some butterflies out and 5 Brimstones, 11 Orange Tips and 8 Green-veined Whites were counted. PS.
Wheatear – 22nd March
This morning a male Wheatear was briefly seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, before it disappeared between the reed beds. A Sand Martin flew over the site and up to four Chiffchaffs were singing. There were still one or two Toads about on the path on the south-western side of the Slurry Lagoon and one grim sighting was of one held limply in a crow’s beak. A brilliant male Brimstone was seen flying into the Deep Pit. PS.
In the afternoon a Grey Plover was heard calling as it flew over and the Wheatear was seen again on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
Ant Swarm – 8th August
During the Bird Count this morning there was an ant swarm that attracted a flock of over 500 Black-headed Gulls. There were also some Common Terns catching the ants and three Hobbies. Two Curlews stopped briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and a Green Sandpiper was amongst the Lapwings. A Little Egret was on the Large Gravel Pit with some Grey Herons and about twenty Cormorants, before joining the gulls on the Slurry Lagoon. Several Roesel’s Bush Crickets and Long-winged Coneheads were also found. On the Lower Path five Brimstones were found along with Commas, Red Admiral and Peacocks. PS.
- Gulls and ant swarm
Watch Alan’s video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKYnvqGQAm4
Hobby – 26th April
This afternoon there were twelve Common Terns on the tern rafts. A flock of around fifty Swifts drifted high over the reserve and a Hobby alarmed the Swallows by the railway bridge, other raptors were two Buzzards, two Kestrels and two Sparrowhawks. There were several butterflies about, including Brimstone and Orange Tip and a Stoat was running up the Deep Pit bank, following a trail, its tail held high. PS.