Local Patch News

Nothing much to report this week, a much cooler week bringing Spring to a halt for now although there were certainly a few more Blackcaps in but the Sand Martins obviously not tied to the breeding areas yet had moved to better feeding elsewhere. Grey Wagtails have been showing quite well lately often seen feeding along the Ings Dyke and the Blue Beck and the Heronry over the river is doing well again this year. Although there was nothing much in the way of fresh migrants the area is certainly looking greener and a good few more flowers are appearing now and with all these reports of Cranes flying around its good to see one has taken residence at Clifton Ings.

just the wrong type of Crane

Clifton Park looking greener, mostly

Grand old Pear tree

Greater Stitchwort, I think

Cowslip

some kind of Forget-me-not

Cuckoo flower

every Spring a little patch od Wood Anemones appears in the middle of the Ings
must be a remnant of a past woodland

Butter-bur

Ground Ivy

A day at Tophill Low

Trip to Tophill on Sunday as an adult Purple Heron had been found there on Saturday, it was rather misty when we arrived and when the mist finally cleared there was no sign of the bird on North Lagoon where it had been the previous evening, we decided to have a wander round the reserve seeing the usual selection of Passerines and Wildfowl to be expected at this time of year although single Pink Footed and White Fronted Geese and a Whooper Swan on South Marsh East were late stayers, Spring migrants included our first Sedge Warbler of the year, Grass Snakes have been showing well lately and we staked out a grassy mound by the O Reservoir for a while eventually seeing a small male although it didn’t hang around long enough for a photo, a couple of Bee Flies were more obliging though, as we got round the O Reservoir we had become split up and Mark was already on his way back to the car when I decided to have a look at South Lagoon, as I got sat down I soon noticed something going on in the North Lagoon hide and a phone call from Mark who had gone in when he noticed people rushing there confirmed the Heron had been flushed from along the river by walkers and had flown into the trees at the far end of the Lagoon, realising I might be able to see it from where I was I started scanning the trees but the walkers who had carried along the bank flushed it again and I just saw it as it flew out of the tree and away over the river, Andy unfortunately missed it. Me and Mark left Andy staking out North Lagoon, had some lunch, found the drake Scaup on D Reservoir and then carried on to North Marsh on the off chance the Heron might be there, it wasn’t although a Water Rail showed well, a Roe Deer ran along the bank and a Sparrowhawk flew across and perched briefly. A bit later we met up with Andy back at the car as he wanted his lunch and up to six Buzzards entertained as they soared above the car park, we then went back to the North Lagoon hide in the hope that like yesterday the Heron would eventually return there, as we waited we were serenaded by some very loud Marsh Frogs then just before 3pm it flew in landing directly opposite the hide although it soon moved to the far corner but then showed very well as it fed there, we watched it for an hour or more then headed back home calling in at the new University Campus Lake at Heslington as a Water Pipit had been reported from there this afternoon, plenty of Yellow, White and Pied Wagtails but the only Pipits we saw were Meadow.

Arty shot as the mist was lifting

first Red Admiral of the year

Bee Fly

the Roe Deer heading for cover

swimming Water Rail

Buzzards over the car park

Marsh Frog

the star bird, and a Yorkshire tick

rubbish shots of a couple of the Wagtails at Heslington

Patch News

Spring migrants continued to arrive this week with the first Blackcap on the 4th and Willow Warblers on the 7th plus Sand Martin numbers increased to 50+, no winter stuff seen this week.
On the Cornfield NR apart from the Pigeons and Corvids there was still a small flock of Linnets about and 20+ Tree Sparrows mid week was the largest flock there since mid winter, three immature Mute Swans were on the river on the 7th and a distant Buzzard was seen from Rawcliffe Ings but a much closer one was seen over the Cornfield NR the next day which was the best day weather wise attracting loads of Butterflies out including my first Holly Blues and Speckled Woods of the year.

always a challenge getting flight shots, but this was different scratching its chin

Speedwell

the little pond in the Country Park

Marsh Marigolds

first Speckled Wood of the year

Kessy

the 2nd Buzzard over the Cornfield NR

the local Corvids took exception

Country Park path

the latest Warblers in didn't want to pose

Corvids in the Cornfield