Dunnock enjoying the long awaited sunshine!

I know how this Dunnock feels! Good to see the sunshine return for the last day of July at least!

Sunshine on my shoulders

Chaddesley Woods N N R 18/07/2015

A long overdue visit to these woods was enjoyed with Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies being the target today, they did not disappoint. Also seen on a delightful sunny morning were White Admiral, Comma, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Large White and Green-veined White. An immature male Southern Hawker was a delight to view basking in the sunshine. Good to have views of this dragonfly perched instead of watching them tirelessly flying!

The Silver-washed Fritillary were certainly the stars of the woods today closely followed by White Admirals. A couple of Muntjac Deer were heard eerily barking at what seemed a close distance. I have read that a common name for Muntjac Deer is 'barking deer' and they were certainly doing plenty of barking today!


Chaddesley Woods N N R


Comma

Gatekeeper

 

 

Silver-washed Fritillary

 

White Admiral

Southern Hawker (immature male)

 

 

 

A train ride on the Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster was taken on the 14th July and after alighting at Highley Station a Scarlet Tiger Moth was found along a pathway. A vibrant and stunning looking moth! Moths are certainly not dull!

 

 

RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Flamborough Head and Blacktoft Sands. 4th-6th July 2015

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I had a thoroughly enjoyable first and hopefully not the last visit to the reserves in the title.The cliffs at RSPB Bempton are an awesome sight, sound and smell with all the nesting sea birds. Puffins were mostly to be seen on the water but a few were still spotted on the cliffs if you had a sharp eye to spot them amongst all of the Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Guillemots, Razorbills and the stunning Gannets! To see such quantities of nesting birds and also the vast quantity on the water was breath taking!

Flamborough Head and Thornwick Bay were interesting areas especially the walks in the valleys were Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Stonechat were observed.

RSPB Blacktoft was an exceptionally pleasing visit especially so as Montagu Harriers had nested and were feeding young! We had a distant view of the harriers but still a treat in itself. Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Spotted Redshank  in superb summer plumage were just a few of the highlights seen at RSPB Blacktoft which to my mind is a splendid reserve and one I hope to visit again sometime in the future. 

 

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

It was lovely seeing so many Tree Sparrows on and around the feeders. A House Sparrow is a highlight these days in my area so to see the Tree Sparrows in good numbers was heartening.

 

 

 

 

 

I was pleased to have  picked out a Bridled Guillemot though I was told by a volunteer that they are  there in good numbers.

 

 

 

Flamborough Head and Thornwick Bay.

 I believe this is a Northern Marsh Orchid, there were several spikes in the area.

 

 Thornwick Bay

 

RSPB Blacktoft Sands

 

   

I will end the post as I started it with a Tree Sparrow, good to see that Blacktoft are seemingly also doing well with Tree Sparrow numbers!

 

It was a really enjoyable trip in what is a very a scenic County!