Local update week ending July 1st

Got back from Lanzarote in the early hours of Sunday morning but after a lie in, a bit of sorting out, family visits etc I managed to get a couple of hours on Strensall Common late afternoon, it was very quiet the best of it was a large flock of Swifts and a male Stonechat with three youngsters in tow (nice to see them back and breeding). The Ings remained quiet in rather variable weather this week but the first Meadow Browns and Ringlets were about, bird highlights included a Hobby terrorising the Hirundines on Thursday and seven adult Mute Swans and a Common Sandpiper along the river on the Friday.

male Stonechat at Strensall Common