Leven Canal in May

A recce today for the VC61 field meeting of the Yorkshire Naturalist Union, which I'm organising next month. The morning had long sunny spells and was quite mild, but there was a fresh westerly blowing. 

I walked along the towpath westwards from Sandholme Lane up to the River Hull, making bird lists and Odonata lists for each km2, and also recording butterflies and noting any other thing of interest.

Odonata

The westerly wind, blowing alongside the canal, proved to be a blessing, as dragonflies and damselflies took refuge on the path and the canal banks vegetation, including, surprisingly large numbers of Red-eyed Damselflies.

This is the usual view of a Red-eyed Damselfly, far on floating vegetation...

...but with a bit of patience, today I got views like this.

Four spotted chasers were sparring over the canal, occasionally stopping to bask.

Four spotted chaser.

Male Large Red Damselfly.

Female Large Red Damselfly.

Male Hairy Dragonfly eating a froghopper, Cercopis vulnerata. Several were in evidence, patrolling alonside the path and over water.

The most abundant species by far were Azures, two mating here.

I found this piece of abdomen of an Azure Damselfly, probably the left-over of a bird meal.

Azure Damselfly.

Blue-tailed Damselfly. Few and far between.

Other insects

A Silpha atrata beetle running on the new banks by Far Fox aqueduct.

Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar.

Volucella bombylans, a hoverfly that mimics bumblebees.

A very special soldierfly, the wonderfully named Flecked General, Stratiomys singularior, a rare species in East Yorkshire.

Birds

A typical assortment of birds along the canal, including many warblers: Cetti's, Willow, Sedge, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Good numbers of Yellowhammers, but no Cuckoo this time. A Marsh Harrier, Buzzards, a Kestrel and 2 Hobbies were also seen. Lapwings were heard and seen and there were plenty of Little Egrets and Grey Heron about at the carrs.

Little Egret.

Yellowhammer.

Yellowhammer.

Singing Sedge Warbler.

Sedge Warbler.

A Shelduck family.

Hobby.