I was keen to visit Wilsthorpe dunes on a warm summer day to check on its invertebrates. Other than at Spurn, sand dunes is not a common habitat in East Yorkshire, and I was curious to see if this small patch of dunes at the top of Bridlington Bay held something of interest. Today's was a day visit with Hull Nats. It was warm, with a breeze and sunny spells. I had brought my bat detector and checked for bush crickets, both Long-Winged Coneheads and Roesel's sung from the more grassy areas.
We spend some time identifying the dune grasses: Lyme grass, silver blue at the front, and Sea Couch in the next fringe. On a low hump by the edge of the dune we identified Sand Couch, with long, creeping rhizomes.
Sand Couch, Elymus farctus.
Both Long-winged Bush-cricket and Roesel's were present. A possible Short-winged conenead on a dune slack coudn't be confirmed.
It's worth looking up and admire the setting every now and then. The Flamborough headland is in the horizon.
Gannets were fishing offshore.
Many dry seedheads of Hounds Tongue and young rosettes of its distinctive leaves.
Sandwich Terns. This time of year a visit to the dunes has the background sounds of calling Sandwich Tern juveniles chasing adults.
Plenty of Linnets and Goldfinches feeding on thistle seeds.
I was very pleased to spot a Sand Bear Wolf Spider, Arctosa perita, at the front of the dune by the anti-tank blocks where we had our lunch. I've only previously recorded it in Spurn.
Some chicks looking like they are close to fledge are still present at the Sand Martin colony at Fraisthorpe.
We saw a flock of 10 Ringed Plovers, this one lander a bit nervous as the tide was high amongst the passers by.
Common Field Grasshopper.
I believe this is a sand digger wasp, Ammophila sabulosa. The adult female captures and paralises caterpillars and stocks nests she digs in the sand with those, and then lays eggs on the caterpillars.
A dune robber fly, Philonicus albiceps.
We found a few clumps of Sea Rocket and other coastal dune specialists.
Saltwort, Salsola kali.
This was the most bizarre find of the day, a mummified rabbit that Andy uncovered at the beach.
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