Garden Moths and Kiplingcotes.

5/6/15 An Osprey flew south over Tophill Low NR mid afternoon. Only managed a quick walk to Cottingham KGV rec early Friday evening but did get a few Nettle-taps, very late this year, as well as Common Carpet. Quail singing in fields south of Leven Canal between the village and Waterloo bridge this evening. Experiencing a small invasion of Bee Moths and am constantly removing from the house.

Bee Moth

7/6/15 Again on Sunday managed to empty the moth trap early although wasn’t as vital with a solitary Garden Carpet the only moth found outside the trap. However the cold keeps the moths comatose. Several hawk-moths trapped locally on Friday night so a Poplar Hawk-moth, my commonest, wasn’t a surprise.

Poplar Hawk

Had been very windy yesterday but was calm and cold over night and although numbers still low the variety was good. A Clouded-bordered Brindle was the first since June 2012 and only the 2nd for the garden.

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Green Silver-lines was the 4th record, and the other year 1st was Campion, which gets recorded a few times a year.

Green Silver-lines

Campion

A possible Pacific Swift flew south at Barmston at 8.35. Not seen further along the coast but almost coincides with the 2nd anniversary of the previous record. Also not seen in 5000+ Common Swifts at Hornsea Mere. Unfortunately James Spencer, whose patch it is, was ringing at Tophill Low NR where a Red Kite was seen. A Small Elephant Hawk-moth was only the 2nd for the site in the last 24 years with the previous only on the 4th. Also the young Tawny Owls were still viewable from the carpark. For more from reserve check the Tophill blog as well as James Spencer’s.  Went to Kiplingcotes with JH, RL and ML this afternoon. Started at the station. Only a single Turtle Dove has been heard so far this year and no sign for us. Also no sign of any Spotted Flycatcher to the west where I’ve had a breeding pair the previous two years.  However heard our 1st Garden Warbler for the year. A cold wind and intermittent cloud wasn’t for good insects. Only had a few butterflies including our 1st Cinnabars for the year which didn’t linger.

Common Blue butterfly near Kiplingcotes StnGreen-viewed White butterfly near Kiplingcotes Stn

Nettle tap near Kiplingcotes Stn

Common Buzzard near Kiplingcotes Stn

Moved round to Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit but the sun still didn’t come out for long and only managed a Small Heath and an unidentified Crambidae moth. Marbled Whites don’t seem to have emerged yet, in common with the lack of orchids likely due to the cold spring [so far?].

Small Heath-Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

Orange-tip near Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

Spoonbill landed on Swan Island at Hornsea Mere mid evening. For more news check here.

“This week I am mostly” doing Tophill Low NR.

24/5 Only managed a walk in Cottingham on Friday but had an interesting record of a Goldcrest singing in St.Mary’s churchyard.

Goldcrest-Cottingham

Grey Squirrel-Cottingham

25/5 Went to Tophill Low NR on Saturday afternoon. Started in car park hide over looking D reservoir. The Ring-necked Duck hadn’t been seen since Thursday but still at least 2 1st summer Little Gulls.

Marsh Frog-Tophill Low NR

Did the north end first so ended up viewing Watton NR early evening so looking into the low sun. However still managed the Temminck’s Stint as well as a tundrae Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover and at least one Common Sandpiper. The pair of Little Ringed Plover were still on South Marsh East and at least one Marsh Harrier still lingering in the area.

Common Carpet-Tophill Low NR

26/5 Went to Swinemoor with John on Sunday morning but no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper seen yesterday evening. Went on to Tophill Low NR. Went straight to Watton NR as John had dipped the Temminck’s Stint on Thursday. Unfortunately no sign but still both “ringed plover” species providing a useful lesson for some of Sunday regulars. Also 3 first summer Little Gulls, which were also seen off and on on D reservoir. Had a Kingfisher flying along Barmston Drain on the way out.

27/5 Went to Kiplingcotes Station with John on Monday morning and walked to Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit.  Turtle Doves had been seen recently but no sign for us but not helped by the wind. This also kept the butterflies down with only a few Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tips and Large Whites as well as a presumed Common Carpet moth. Did a bit better in the Chalk Pit with brief views of a Green Woodpecker and Mother Shipton moth hanging around long enough to photograph, a 1st for me.

Mother Shipton-Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

Yellowhammer-Kiplingcotes Station

Went to Tophill Low NR this afternoon. Walked the north end.

Speckled Wood-Tophill Low NR

Large Red Damselfly-Tophill Low NR

Four-spotted Chaser-Tophill Low NR

Had a Hobby with a large flock of Swifts over D reservoir late afternoon and 2 1st summer Little Gulls dropped in just before with left. No news from the south end.

For more from the reserve check here and here

For my moth trapping this month check here.