Saturday 25 June 2016

Round-up of the End of the Spring Term

Well, the weather this Spring/Summer Term has probably been the most difficult I've had to contend with in the 14 years the classes have been running.  The pitiful accuracy of the forecasts hasn't helped.  Bright sunny days have been predicted, so off we travelled to a butterfly location, only to find either thick cloud or even drizzle when we have reached our destination.  Luckily, there is usually something else we can do.  In the final week the weather has been an improvement, and we have been able to visit a couple of butterfly venues in rather favourable weather
Linnet
Back at home 2 juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers are visiting the garden with their mother.
Immature Great Spotted Woodpecker
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
On Tuesday we went to Kilns Wetlands, but were disappointed about the lack of Little Ternsa in the area.
Female Orange-tip
Yellow Shell [ID Barry Warrington]
 Ichneumon Fly?
On Wednesday we enjoyed views of a pair of Redstarts, and all the flora and insects of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve. 
Male Redstart
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Female Redstart
 Marsh Tit
 Ditto
 Yellowhammer
 Yorkshire Broomrape or Thistle Broomrape
 Pyramidal Orchid
 Large Skipper
 Common Blue
 Ditto
 Bee Orchid
On Thursday we travelled to Brockadale, and were pleasantly surprised that virtually all last week's dog mess had been cleaned tip.  It made the visit a lot more palatable.  Last Friday there were no Marbled Whites, but on Thursday morning the hillside was awash with them! 
Blue/Green Weevil
 Yellowhammer
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Marbled White
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Sawfly Arg spp. [ID Barry Warrington]
 Ditto
 Clustered Bellflower
 Pyramidal Orchid
 Dropwort
 Sanicle
 Rock-Rose
 Whitethroat
 Ditto
Bee Orchid
 Banded Demoiselle
 Agrimony
 Common Spotted Orchid
 Beetles
 Beetle
 Sawfly
 Poppy
 Scorpion-fly
 Bee
 Worn Chimney Sweeper (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
Unusual Bee Orchid
Ditto (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
Standard Bee Orchid
 Welsh Chafers [ID Barry Warrington]
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Welsh Chafer
 Welsh Chafers
Welsh Chafer
 Welsh Chafers
 Goatsbeard
Ditto (c) 2016 Margaret Richardson
Greater Burnet
 Hedge Woundwort
 Oyster Mushrooms
 Ditto
 "Fairy Door"
 Ditto
Finally, on Friday we visited the rocky cliffs of Flamborough Head for all the usual suspects.   
Puffin
 Fulmars
 Puffin
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Shag
 Linnet
 Meadow Pipit
 Fulmars
 Kittiwake & Chicks
 Orange Underwing?
 Peregrine
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
The Med View