Two juvenile Ruff, a male and a female, were on the Slurry Lagoon this morning. A Peregrine sliced through the Lapwing flock but didn’t manage to catch anything and ten Wigeon arrived to rest on the lagoon. A large flock of Swallows passed through late morning, accompanied by three Swifts and the Willow Tit was present along the Lower Path again with a large flock of other tits, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs. Two Snipe were also seen flying over. PS. AE.
In the early afternoon a juvenile Little Stint and a juvenile Ruff were present. RW.
During the ‘Patchwatch’ a Caspian Gull was tentatively identified on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present was a Dunlin, two Green Sandpipers, three Jays and the Pintail. There were still several species of warbler in evidence and a light passage of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits was noted. The Peregrine was seen again and two skeins of Pink-footed Geese were seen flying west. Seventy-six species of bird were noted during the day. PS.
A very warm and sunny day slightly spoilt by a strong south westerly breeze which kept the butterflies from flying. A group of seven of us set off along the Ouse Dyke where we encountered the usual selection of large, small and green-veined whites, speckled wood butterflies along with common darter, brown hawker and southern hawker dragonflies. We were even greeted by the call of the resident kingfisher as it speed off up the path.
On entering the site we soon found the first of our target species of common blue, which it became apparent are very abundant all around the site as there is plenty of birds-foot trefoil on the bank tops and sides. The next of our target species for the day was the small copper, only one of these was located at the top of a bank I know from previous visits to be one of the best places to find them. Unfortunately we weren’t so lucky with the small heath which failed to show at all, probably due to the wind whipping across the site.
Dropping down to the river bank to get some shelter from the wind we encountered our next target, brown argus. Or at least the back markers did, by the time the rest of us had backtracked it had disappeared into the long grass. However, we did all get to see this small butterfly later as altogether we encountered six in various parts of the lagoons.
The walk continued in the shelter of the hedge bordering the back of the gravel pits where plenty of common blue damselflies along with other butterflies and dragonflies were taking advantage of the windbreak offered by the hedge. Our return to the site found more brown argus on the central bund between the deep pit and the slurry lagoon, and also along the bottom pathe following the railway line.
By the end of the walk we had encountered ten butterfly species, including those mentioned above along with small tortoiseshell, brimstone, meadow brown and painted lady. Other highlights included two hobby, wheatear, whinchat and various warblers.
A Whinchat and a Wheatear were seen this morning, both on the Deep Pit fence by the Railway Bridge, though not at the same time. Two Hobbies were also seen here. About six Brown Argus were seen around the site and more Long-winged Coneheads, as well as several Migrant Hawkers, Brown Hawkers and a Southern Hawker. The Lower Path had a flock of warblers, containing Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, plus two Willow Tits.
