The Duke

June 02, 2014

Yesterday I fulfilled a long standing ambition to see the diminutive duke of burgundy butterfly in one of its strongholds on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Initially they took a bit of finding, but once I did find them they gave a wonderful display, sitting out in the hot sunshine almost oblivious to my presence and occasionally fighting with the dingy skippers.

I also managed to see one green hairstreak but unfortunately missed out on my other target species, the pearl bordered fritillary.

However I was very happy with the experience yesterday, the moors are alive with wildlife at this time of year and the other highlights included a red grouse complete with chick, singing male redstarts and a very confiding curlew.

Spring Migrants

May 31, 2014

I usually have the last week in May off but unfortunately couldn't do it this year.Traditionally if the winds are right it can be one of the best weeks certainly of the Spring if not the year for rare and scarce migrants on the East Cast.

This year was no exception with the second half of this week being particularly good the highlight at Spurn being the white winged black tern,with plant of other good stuff as a supporting cast-I could only look on enviously as scarce bird after scarce bird came over the airwaves.

I did manage to get there yesterday and caught up with the red breasted flycatcher which showed quite well at times in the evening sunshine at Sammy's Point and then another at the canal bushes.

I thought there would be a clear out overnight so decided to wait on news before setting out this morning.

2 golden orioles reported at Sammy's Point was enough to get me on my way and after some reasonable flyby views and some very frustrating out of focus shots, I finally managed my first ever photos of a golden oriole.

The highlight at Spurn was a fly through pallid swift that unfortunately I missed but sealed another excellent week at the East Coast premier birding location.