Allerthorpe Common with Hull Nats

A sunny, warm day outing with Hull Nats. I had hoped for adders, but it was late and very warm when we got to the YWT nature reserve,the last remaining area of heath left after the common was planted with conifers. In compensation, we had a pair of Ravens, croaking overhead, which apparently are regular, although not sure if they have bred.  Ravens seems to be slowly spreading east, so hopefully it won't be too long before they arrive at the Hull area. We also heard a Marsh Tit.

The luckiest of us had a fleeting view of a young adder, and most of us did see several lizards and a small Palmate Newt under a log. We checked the May Lily, a few plants with fresh leaves in the enclosure. The heath was bone dry, but Cross-leaved Heath and large tussocks of Purple Moorgrass were present.

The path on the edge of the plantation.

Nursery web spider.

May Lily

Common Groundhopper.

Lunch time at the heath. A lizard scurried away from the bench where we sat.

Wood Sorrel.

Raven.

Peacock.

Brimstone.

Spring at Allerthorpe Common

A spring day with just a light breeze and full sun spent at Allerthorpe Common. Chiffchaffs sung almost non stop, with one collecting nest material. At least a couple of Willow Warblers joined them in song, the first of the year. 

 We listened for Woodlark song and finally heard one, which then sung non stop for quite a while. It took ages to locate, but when we did it gave superb views, the best I've had for this species. We then focused our efforts in herps, and found a female Adder basking by the side of the path. On the heath, several Common Lizards scurried in the vegetation before we could take any photos. We also found a Smooth Newt under a log.

 A Red Kite, at least two Buzzards, a displaying female Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel made for a nice raptor tally. Coming across a flock of Brambling at least a dozen strong was also a highlight.

On the invertebrate front, many butterflies on the wing, with peacock males being particularly abundant, with at least 12 flying past, several Peacocks, and several Comma. There were also several species of bees active, many visiting willow blossom, including Bombus pascuorum, B. lapidarius, Andrena fulva, Andrena clarkella, and A. haemorhoa.

Male Yellowhammer. 

Singing Linnet.

Female Sparrowhawk in territorial display flight. We also had Buzzards, a Red Kite and a Kestrel.  

In a pine plantation, a flock of Brambling called incessantly.

Woodlark on stubble field. 

Woodlark. 

Woodlark. 

Adder.

Adder. 

Smooth Newt. 

Peacock. 

Brimstone. The only male that stopped to feed, the rest flew rapidly by.

Tachina ursina, a tachinid fly.

Andrena haemorhoa.

Allerthorpe Common

The weather was promising to spot basking adders so we headed off to Allerthorpe Common with some mist. This was my first visit to the site, a mix of scots pine plantation and heath. On arrival we heard Chiffchaff singing and saw Marsh, Blue and Great tit. Later, we caught up with a more interesting array of birds, including Siskin, Yellowhammer, Treecreeper, a pair of Jays and Mistle Thrushes.
 We saw a pair of Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a Carrion Crow.
 On the sandy path by the little nature reserve a bunch of the early mining bee Andrena clarkella. Males checked exit holes for females and two males tried to mate with a female at the same time.
 No adders appears to be basking, although James found one under a piece of felt. This was my first ever British snake! Some members of the party also saw lizards, not me unfortunately, although, to compensate we came across this toad, who patiently sat for a lengthy photographic session, as corresponds to the first toad of the year.

Common Toad

Andrena clarkella mating ball

 one male leaves

the bedraggled female after the males left

adder

 adder

 a view of the wide woodand ride with glassland and heath

 gorse

linnet

reed bunting

Yellowhammer

Another Yellowhammer

Treecreeper

The bumblebee mimic Tachina ursina, thanks to Richard Comont for the identification and to Robert Jaques for suggesting Bear Fly as a common name for the species.

One of two male Brimstones we saw

Pair of Buzzards