Thursday 1 July 2010

Taste of the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Gull (right) with Black-headed Gull (left) & Common Gull (far left)





































































































































































Remaining pics: Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gull, Narrow-Winged 5-Spot Burnet Moth x3, Waders: Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank & Dunlin, Waders in flight [same without Godwit], Sparrowhawk watching departing waders, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Kestrel, Cinnabar Moth caterpillars & Lady's Bedstraw
I chanced to check the High Tide Table Book this morning & realised that there was a chance I could rendezvous with the high tide at Spurn. Sometimes it can be spectacular with amazing close views of waders such as Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot, Grey Plover and Whimbrel - some in remnants of their amazing breeding plumage. It was too early in the season for this today with only a single Bar-tailed Godwit, and a few of most of the other waders. It was actually a very warm early morning at Spurn, so the Mediterranean Gull I found on the Humber Foreshore as I was leaving wouldn't have felt totally out-of-place. The place was swarming with Narrow-Winged 5-Spot Burnet Moths, and Small Heath & Skipper butterflies, and it was great to see so many Pyramidal Orchids in flower. There were a few waders gathered at Chalk Bank at high tide, but they were suddenly spooked, and an incongrous Sparrowhawk landed on their beach, and remained for at least 5 minutes. Sandwich & Little Terns flew over the point, but Canal Scrape & Sammy's Point were devoid of interesting birds. I never thought I would say this, but the heat was becoming unbearable, so I beat a hasty retreat back to Hull.

3 comments:

James said...

Great collection as always. I think they are Narrow-bordered 5 Spot Burnets probably.

Anonymous said...

Agree with James re the moths.

Michael Flowers said...

OK, Thanks for that James & Anon - I'd been told erroneously we only got 6-Spot around here. Will get that changed & watch out in future!
Cheers