In the corn

Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting


Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

Comma

On our way to Helmsley yesterday we called into Carlton Minniott - Woodlands Fishery again to see if we could see the Corn Bunting and also get some better shots of the Gatekeeper butterflies.

It is a good place to see the Buntings on the driveway upto the fisheries as the corn still has not been cut and the birds sit along the edge of the driveway. The Gatekeepers are reliably there but only around the pond which is through the tunnel.

A Good Day in North Yorkshire.

Brimstone - Close Up
Grasshopper

Brimstone

Brimstone Feeding

Gatekeeper (Best shot unfortunately)

Greenfinch in the evening sun

A good day today for seeing butterflies in North Yorkshire. My first good find was a Gatekeeper seen along the woodland walk at Monk Park Farm just outside of Thirsk. Later in the day at Woodlands Fisheries at Carlton Minniott (my son was checking out the fishing there) I saw a Brimstone, quite a few more Gatekeepers and lots of speckled wood and other species. I could have spent hours walking around there taking pictures, much to the annoyance of the fishermen probably!

Few more pictures from Bempton Cliffs.

Bempton Cliffs
Gannet and Juvenille

Juvenille Gannet

Gannet in flight

Fulmar in flight

Dodging the rain at Bempton.

Gannet
Gannet

Puffin

Puffin

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Had a run out to RSPB Bempton today, the first time we have been. Had a real good time on the cliffs watching the Gannets fly past. The puffins, Razorbill and Guillemot were in short supply as most of the young have fledged and moved on, still plenty of Kittiwake and a few Fulmar Petrol. Anyone who has visited a sea bird colony will know what I mean when I say the smell is 'unpleasant' !! Had to dodge some pretty hefty showers (bit of thunder and lightening too), which made for an interesting afternoon.............quite enjoyable in a funny sort of way.

Where have all the birds gone?

Starling

Linnet

Song Thrush

Beetle

Quiet times at the moment so a few photos from the past week to keep things ticking along.

The song thrush was really tame and enjoyed the maggots when I was fishing.

Sandmartins move in.

Sandmartin Colony

Painted Lady Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly



Silver Y Moth

Silver Y Moth

Small Copper

Grasshopper

Lots of butterflies at the Old Jewish Cemetry in Hartlepool this afternoon including lots of painted ladies and also lots of Silver Y moths there too. We had a wander around Saltholme today but it was very quiet apart from the Sand Martins which appear to have taken up residence in their man made home! At least there is something to keep the visitors amused as the play area is now in full swing!

Rain and more rain!

Pink Footed Goose
Large White


Meadow Pipit at Jewish Cemetry

Well the rain has stopped so we might be able to go out and find something to photograph soon. The winds may have brought something that should not be here so need to keep looking. Just a few photos from Thursday when I went to Hurworth Burn to see if I could see the Osprey again, it was not there when I went but managed to see a Pink Footed goose.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper


Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper and Dunlin

Got a call this morning to let me know that a Pectoral Sandpiper had turned up at Greatham Creek (thanks Col). Drove over and there it was showing well in the 'tidal pool' area. Took several shots of it, the lighting was terrible and the end results were not particularly good. Visited Saltholme RSPB after but with the exception a couple of Ruff, not much about. Took Sylvia over to see the Pectoral Sandpiper after tea, it was still in the same area but more distant and quite mobile.

Sparrowhawk fledglings

Sparrowhawk fledgling
Sparrowhawk fledgling

Sparrowhawk - the kids


Little Grebe

Went to Cowpen Bewley today in search of Kingfishers, met up with the warden who kindly showed me the best spot to wait. On the way to the hide area he pointed out the Sparrowhawk nest which had 5 fledglings - he allowed me to take some pictures and no disturbance of the birds was made. At the hide I waited for a couple of hours for the Kingfishers but they didn't show (one had been there earlier though!!!). With only a Little Grebe to keep me company boredom set in and I departed for home - I'll be back another day.......maybe.

Owl of the Day

Little Owl
Little Owl

Barn Owl

Had an early evening trip out in the search for Owl's tonight, hoping for a view of a Tawny as we have had a couple of sightings over the last few days. Tried all the usual spots but no luck although we managed a couple of sightings and pictures of Little Owl.

I have also posted the Barn Owl (just for you Paul) this was taken on a recent visit to the Isle of Mull.

Marbled White at Wingate Quarry

Marbled White

Small Heath
Another lovely day and no rain as forcast as yet. Went to Wingate Quarry this afternoon to see if we could locate the marbled white butterflies and we found about 5 although because of the breeze they did not stay still for very long. We did manage to get a few decent pictures though.