Snuff Mill Lane in June

It had been almost a year since I had a proper wander at Snull Mill Lane fields. The main path into the fields from the car park was blocked by brambles and nettles, but another path had been opened into the woodland of hawthorn and this was an unexpected surprise (top shot and below). 

I come then to a glade rejoining the old path. Blackcaps, chiffchaff and Whitethroat singing, a Bullfinch calls.

A Bullfinch called from a Hawthorn.

In a clearing I find the first Volucella pellucens of the year, hovering first, then it sat for a while

The main field.

After crossing the main field, I move onto the field by the railway track field at the back. I'm hoping to see some Chimney Sweeper moths. They are small black moths that fly like butterflies in bright sunshine. It doesn't take long to find them, Two males were patrolling the patch of Pignut, their foodplant, flying bobbing up and down, but with some speed. Photographing them is a different matter, as they stop very briefly, so I have to content myself with a couple of record shots.

The pond. There was a loud plop, maybe a Mallard or a Moorhen.

Pignut.

Conehead nymph.

Meadow Brown.

Chimney Sweeper moth.

Small Copper.

Ringlet.

The Pignut field.

Volucella bombylans.

Silver Y moth.

Lesser Stichwort.

Red Admiral.

I spend a long time in the field, and make my first butterfly list of the year, 7 butterflies, including 1st Ringlet and Meadow Browns of the year and two day flying moths.

Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates sunny afternoon week 26

 After the long walk this morning I wasn't planning to go to the patch this afternoon, but then, the sun came out and I fancied having a sunny session at the cemetery, so I headed towards Sculcoates via the cycle track. As I passed the garage, I saw a Kingfisher on a pipe under the bridge, the first on the patch! It stayed long enough for me to change the settings of the camera and take a few shots. On my way back, I told one of the locals who said that's what he had seen a couple of weeks back (but he did say he had seen a hummingbird!). Anyway, I'm glad the 'hummingbird mystery' is sorted, and also glad this is not a one off, but the Kingfisher might be using the drain regularly.

A nice, unexpected addition to the patch list. On the breeding bird side, I added Dunnock fledgling to the growing list of birds with confirmed breeding in the patch. A young moorhen was also present near the metal pipes used by the terrapins.

Dunnock fledgling.

Moorhen chick.

It was warm and the sunny spells were long enough for insects to be active. I was quite surprised of the number of damselflies feeding in the cemetery, despite the distance to the nearest water. 

Volucella pellucens having a rest.

A male Red Admiral guarding its patch. It flew up to passing red admirals and while close to the other individual it fluttered almost hovering behind, possibly assessing if it was a female?

Merodon equestris.

The wonderful Volucella zonaria, one present in the south cemetery.

Eristalis arbustorum, not very common in East Yorkshire at all.

Another guarding Red Admiral on a headstone.

Nursery web spider with it's beautiful egg sac. 

I need to determine which species this is. A burnet moth with 5 spots, could be narrow bordered or 5 spotted burnet.

Oedemera nobilis.

Common Blue damselfly.

The first Ringlet of the patch made an appearance, but it wasn't settling for photos, so to end, here is a much more obliging Large Skipper.

Urban River Hull: Oak Road to Reich Carter Way in summer

 

A walk between Oak Road and Reich Carter way this cloudy, mild morning, the river flowing strong at a very high tide. I walked around Oak Road and had to leave to escape the clouds of large biting mosquitoes. Three cygnets with their parents were at the lake. The banks have just been mowed and a tractor was mowing the playing fields, circled by three Swallows. 

A fledgling Pied Wagtail just after being fed by its parent. 

A Reed Bunting singing from the river bank.

Sutton Bridge. If you climb the stairs visible in the photo you get the view at the top of the blog.

Male Sparrowhawk. After Crows were calling in an agitated way, I spotted the Sparrowhawk, it was flying along the bank, close to the ground, barrelling towards me, and then landed on a tree just by me, allowing a few shots. The dark red eye colour identify it as an adult male.

By Haworth Hall I heard and spotted a singing Sedge Warbler, then presumably the female turned up with a billfull of food for chicks. 

Also feeding chicks, a crow being hasled by 3 youngsters. Young crows have a red mouth, quite obvious when they beg.

I looked at a grassy ares by hedgerows where I often find rabbits and there was this cob roe deer, chewing the cud, oblivious to me taking photos of it. It only glanced at me once.

You can see the rabbit by the roe deer in this photo.

The view west from Reich Carter Way.

Kestrel overhead.

This Whitethroat was alarmed atop a bramble bush, probably nesting in it.

Roe Bank (or Bransholme) Reservoir.

The only thing of note a Little Grebe. A pair was trilling closer to the path, but I couldn't see them.

Several fishermen were in position along the river.