Scarborough Field

Naturalists’ Society

Founded 1889

June

 

John Hume on the 17th  went out again and recorded a very tatty green hairstreak butterfly, a fresh looking small copper and numerous small pearl bordered fritillaries and in the evening managed to get his orchid count upto 11 with the pyrimal and bee orchid.

 

 

John Hume had a good day on the 16th  looking for orchids and managed to record 9 flowering species.

Burnt, greater butterfly, early purple, fly, common spotted, northern marsh, narrow-leaved marsh, birds nest and common twayblade.

 

 

Also seen on his travels around the area were common lizard, small pearl bordered fritillary, small heath, green veined white, common blue damselflies, large red damselflies, four spotted chaser, frog hopper, common butterwort, a dead common shrew, rock rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trish Scott at Cayton Village Caravan Park has had starlings and woodpeckers on her garden bird feeder

 

 

Belinda Robson has finally caught a few moths in the last few warmer nights.

Buff ermine, brimstone, bee moth

 

Green carpet, heart and dart

 

 

Mike Pearson at Flamborough has also finally had a few good moth nights. Photographed are:-green carpet, garden carpet, flame

 

Cloud bordered brindle, chinese character,white ermine

 

Buff ermine, broom moth, bright line brown-eye

 

20 plumed moth and common swift

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw has sent in a report from the Carrs Project:

I took a quick look at Loders Carr Drain on 12th June at the invitation of the farmer Barry Kitchen. This is a ditch leading west from the Cayton to Folkton road marking the old course of the Hertford. Mr Kitchen had informed me that there is lots of Water Violet in flower now (and he is happy to donate some for transplanting if anyone has a suitable site).

Although it is not visible from the public road I took a couple of general shots but would need wellies and a helper to get any closer or collect some.

I'm not certain on the ID but I think there was also lots of Celery-Leaved buttercup on the banks, Narrow leaved water plantain and some kind of floating mat of stonewort. There are also some clumps of what may be Water Whorl grass and a Hemp-nettle of some sort (probably yellow but not in flower yet).

 

On the 11th June the outdoor meeting was to Humble Bee Farm on the Wolds.

Ian Glaves has written a brief report:

 

Twenty members and friends assembled at the Farm, and leader for the evening, Richard Baines (of Wold Ecology) explained briefly that the farm was under Entry and Higher Level Stewardship Schemes, and was being managed to encourage wildlife. The group then took a leisurely walk down the upper reaches of Long Dale, a dry valley mainly used for grazing of sheep. The weather was overcast and cool, but remained dry. Several bird and mammal species were recorded, but plant species were difficult to find due to the very late spring, and grazing by sheep.

 

Birds:

Common Buzzard: 2 seen, including one very pale bird.

Grey Partridge: 2 flushed from edge of cornfield.

Northern Lapwing: One.

Curlew: At least five.

Woodpigeon: Common.

Swift: Two.

Skylark. Two.

Barn Swallow: Several.

Pied Wagtail: Adult with young.

Yellow Wagtail: One.

Blackbird: Three males.

Great Tit: One.

Carrion Crow: One.

Tree Sparrow: Several in Hawthorn bushes in Long Dale.

Chaffinch: One.

Yellowhammer: One singing.

Corn Bunting: A flock of thirty in the upper dale – an excellent record for such a threatened species.

 

Mammals:

Hare: Three.

Mole: Evidence of Mole activity from the presence of numerous “hills”.

Rabbit: Burrows present.

Fox/Badger: Several large burrows present, possibly of either species.

 

Plants:

Of interest were:

Hoary Rock Cress.

Field Mouse Ear.

Wild Thyme.

Rock Rose.

 

 

 

Ron Whatling - Last year we didn't have any Greenfinch and I am informed that they had picked up a virus from the Woodpigeon family. Is this so?. There are now four or five about in this area . One pair nesting in the shelter belt here.

 

 

Belinda Robson - This was in a conifer pot bought from a garden centre, and in with the usual assorted mosses, lichens and liverworts. Subsequently identified as female Marchantia polymorpha or the Umbrella Liverwort

 

 

on June 4th were Bright-line Brown-eye, Scalloped Hazel, Garden Carpet, Flame Carpet and Twenty-plume moths. On 8th June two poplar hawk moths

 

 

 

John Hume photographed a broad-bodied chaser at Low North Camp on the 4th and a long tailed tit in his gardenon the 5th

 

Ron Whatling  - Took this photograph yesterday 3rd, of a Wasp collecting wood pulp,notice the groove in the wood above it's head, which it made whilst I was watching.

 

 

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in a photo of a Common buzzard

 

Winifred Bushell has reported these sightings:

palmate newts observed June 2nd forestry pond north of broad head farm - last weekend we saw 17 newts in one net.

also about 40 mixed aged common?? seals seen robin hoods bay, ravenscar and 2 speckled woods seen at reasty bank (twirling)

1 small copper seen at turgate hay meadow

 

 

May

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in another couple of interesting  sightings

 

A blue throat  and a buff tip moth

 

John Hume was out and about over the bank holiday weekend. Green hairstreak butterflies were still in flight on Brown Rigg Moor, although looking the worse for wear. In this one you can see the brown top wing which is never normally seen as the butterfly always perches with its wings closed.

 

The bilberry was in flower, as was some cowberry

 

 

On Pexton and Ellerburn Banks there were a lot of wildflowers to see.

Primroses are still in flower, aquilegia was coming into flower, early purple orchids

Bluebells, forget-me-not and bugle all added to the variety of blue flowers

 

Cowslips were plentiful on Ellerburn bank, and there were a few dingy skippers flying about

 

At Pexton Ponds, common butterwort was in flower as was lousewort

 

There was also a four spotted chaser dragonfly who was willing to pose for photographs

 

 

 

Belinda Robson has got a variety of wild flowers growing in her garden:

Red campion, cow parsley, coral root bittercress

 

Shining cranesbill, red dead nettle, cuckoo flower

 

 

Bush vetch

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in some more birds and moths from Flamborough:

Lime Hawkmoth, Muslin, Yellow wagtail (having just got out of the bath), and a couple of Pied Flycatchers

 

 

 

Belinda Robson has captured a few moths recently

Scalloped hazel, flame carpet, flame shoulder

 

Garden carpet

 

Steve Bushell has reported on some sightings:

15th May - 5 Fallow Deer seen Turgate plantation. All Does as far as I could see.
16th May - 2 Swifts above Givendale Head Farm.
17th May - 1 Common Lizard on forest track Givendale

 

Mike Pearson has also been capturing a few moths, despite the cold weather

Twin-spotted quaker,  camomile shark (both new for Flamborough) and early thorn.

 

Also a common whitethroat

 

John Hume went to Forge valley on the 7th. Many wild flowers are now in bloom, alll making up for lost time. Photographs are of wood anemone, wild garlic, herb paris, forget-me-not, bluebell, butterbur, early purple orchid , toothwort, violets, wild arum, green hellebore. There was also a (dead) pygmy shrew and a bee fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Hume went looking for the green hairstreak butterfly on the 6th. This was his third attempt. On the two previous outings it was apparent that the vegetation was at least 4 weeks behind where it should have been. However the warm, sunny weather of the past week has really encouraged everything to grow. At Brown Rigg Moor there were good sightings of at least 15 individuals. On Bloody Beck Moor there were at least 6 (this is the first record at this location for over 10 years). At Reasty Bank there were another 14. So although they have been late coming out there are good populations at these sites. Note in the photographs the variation in the number of spots on the wings.

 

 

In Castlebeck Woods he came across  male and female adders.

 

John Hume -walked around Willerby carr on Friday 3rd and sightings included yellowhammer, reed bunting, lapwing, buzzards, and peacock butterfly.

 

Louise Thompson was in Forge Valley on the 28th April and says that it was ‘looking very pretty  in the sunshine with lots of primroses, marsh marigold and wood anemones in full flower. There was lots of toothwort next to the boardwalk. I saw the first flowers out of bluebell, ransoms and red campion’

 

 

Ron Whatling at Weaverthorpe has sent in this photo of a red-legged partridge

Mike Pearson has sent in some images of birds stopping off at Flamborough on the 30th April, sand martin, skylark and a few wheatears

April

John Hume - on the Society’s outdoor evening to Cayton Village Caravan Park on the 30th members were treated to the sight of a barn owl with prey

 

Other birds seen included a sparrowhawk, robin, blackbird, and goldfinch

 

 

Winifred Bushell spotted this beefly on the family farm at Broadhead

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in a photo of an Iberian chiffchaff, at Flamborough, with a photo of  the common chiffchaff for comparison.The Iberian is whiter beneath and the pale goes almost down to the vent, not showing as much yellow as the common, and slightly greener above. However the big difference is the call which is a bit like a "shreaky siskin", unlike the "hooeet" of the common chiffchaff.

 

 

John Hume was in Castlebeck Woods, Harwood Dale on the 26th. There was very little to see but he did come across a couple of peacock butterflies and a small tortoiseshell, lesser celandine, wood anemone, wood sorrel, primroses and the wild daffodils were also in flower

 

 

In the evening he saw this herring gull with a crab on the Marine Drive.

 

 

 

Pauline Popely reports that toothwort is now in flower -  [Lathraea squamaria] also known as Dead Man's Fingers doesn't produce chlorophyll and is a parasite on a range of woody plants, especially Elm and Hazel. Can be found occasionally in deciduous woods, hedge bottoms and scrub. It can be usually be found in Forge Valley)

and the not so often seen Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage [Chrysosplenium alternifolium] can be seen in a few places, sometimes flowering amongst the more common Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage.  Look in wet areas by streams, in flushes and boggy woods.  Forge Valley is a well-known site for it.

Alan Herdman reports ‘Whilst on an outing to Scarborough today (22nd), and subsequent walk on Marine Drive I spotted a couple of fins breaking the surface of the water. My guess would be harbour porpoise.

 

 

Steve Bushell reports:

Chifchaff heard Rosekirkdale April 18
Willow Warblers heard Wydale Forest April 20.
Goshawk Troutsdale April 21
Violets,King cups and Primroses blooming April 21

 

 

Mike Pearson at Flamborough has finally managed to catch some moths;

Satellite,hebrew character

 

Early grey, common quaker clouded drab

 

 

Trisha Scott has sent in her latest report ‘On Friday (19th), a Blackcap appeared in our tree, the first I have seen here, although I know that they are far from being uncommon. I first spotted it mid-morning, when it was feeding, presumably taking small insects from the buds (which are still unopened!) It was present for most of the day, and apart from being occasionally chased by an angry Blue Tit, it continued to feed. I assume that it was possibly a freshly arrived migrant which was "fuelling up" before moving on, so didn't expect to see it again. However, it (I assume the same bird), turned up again yesterday (Saturday) at about the same time mid morning. It fed briefly, before flying off and I haven't seen it since. Also spotted a dark coloured butterfly.

 

Hannah Robertson says ‘Walking around the marine drive with my husband today (21st 1pm ish) we saw more than one dolphin/ possibly a porpoise I don't really know the difference to be precise! You could definitely see the fin though! Other passers by had spotted them too! They were about 10-15 metres from the rocks on the marine drive (by the building works bit!)

 

 

Ian Glaves has sent in this report and photographs: (19th April)

Warblers are back now the weather has improved. Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff both singing their heart out at Burton Riggs. Look for the leg colour (unless they are singing), Willow Warbler has pale yellowish brown to reddish brown, whereas Chiffchaff has black legs

 

 

Common Sandpiper

 

Little ringed plover, pied wagtail

Common stock dove

 

Lucy and Brian Lambley report:(18th April)

We have just had the pleasure of a Blackcap visiting our garden, feeding on the Cotoneaster berries. a delight.

We have resident Goldfinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wren, Robin, Sparrows and Dunnock as well

as an on going pair of Blackbirds but this is the first time we have seen the lovely new visitor .

It is a joy to see so many birds in our small garden opposite the Dean Road Cemetery

 

 

Steve Bushell has sent in these sightings:

April 14 Common Buzzard over Broad Head Farm
April 15 Adder seen on path E. of BHF
Solitary swallow visited farm
April 16 Two Wheatears seen S. of Givendale Head Farm
Woodcock seen in Rosekirkdale

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw has sent in a report from the Carrs

‘Visited Star Carr and Staxton area last week (Tuesday 7th afternoon) with my student volunteer Bryony. Welcome sunshine but a biting cold wind meant gloves were essential for holding up binoculars for more than a few moments. 3 Brown Hares were in the area and on a soil bund, retaining water on the Star Carr stewardship field, some fairly fresh Otter spraint, plus some older spraint suggesting a regular territorial marker along Black Dike ditch a short way north of where it enters The Hertford. We also noted 2 Linnets on the lane and 2 singing Skylark enjoying the sunshine.

During the visit we saw two large flocks of Lapwing overhead, which by the time of our departure were settled in spring tillage north of Ling Lane (about 1km east of Star Carr farm), numbering 160 birds, together with 40 Starlings. At this point the car was a welcome hide and allowed some good views of their irridescent green plumage. It is clear why they are also called Green Plovers. There was a Buzzard soaring on a thermal to the north, nearer Seamer bypass. A single duck flushed from the scrape in the field was caused some confusion as it did not resemble anything familiar. I only got a few seconds' glimpse as it took flight; the field guide suggested the wing pattern resembled most closely a Red Crested Pochard but I'm sure it was something much more ordinary like a Wigeon, Goosander or a common Pochard. Later enquiries revealed that a drake Mandarin duck has been in the area - could it have been that?

On Staxton Brown was another Buzzard mewing and an inquisitive Stoat watched us for several minutes with its body raised above the dead grass. Its chestnut upperparts, dazzling white throat and beady black eyes showed clearly amongst the long grass stalks and Bryony managed a few record shots on her camera.

Earlier the same day during a farm visit at Staxton Carr Lane I saw 80 Lapwing feeding on a spring-sown arable field. A Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting and 4 Snipe completed the list. No Curlews calling there yet, but the farmer tells me they are back so I hope to hear the haunting calls again soon.

 

 

Roger Kilburn at Flamborough reports ‘Just had a cuckoo sat on our chimney pot in Flamborough and calling for a mate. Have had two pairs of yellowhammers feeding in our garden today’. (8th April)

 

Belinda Robson reports ‘no moths about apart from this Agonopterix sp. My first Small Tort on 4th and frogspawn in my pond today (6th).

Despite having the trap on nearly every frost-free night, this Hebrew Character, trapped last night, is only the 5th moth , of any species, I've seen so far this year. A mothing friend tells me he had clocked up 25 species by this time last year.

 

 

 

Ron Whatling at Weaverthorpe ‘Tree Sparrows enjoying a feast. They are encouraged by the abundance of nest boxes available, they like to have them cleaned out regularly as they do tend to foul them up. They also need seed in winter and plenty of insects to feed young’

 

 

Mike Pearson reports ‘an interesting day today. At East Ayton, we saw our 1st. Peacock butterfly of the year, along with 2 Pipistrelles looking for a crevice in a cottage chimney, presumably prospecting a breeding site (image attached). The young roe deer stag is from Flamborough and the summer plumaged Black-headed gull from Filey. By the way, I've had a big ball of frog spawn my pond for 12 days now.

 

John Hume says ‘despite some long walks in Langdale Forest, Wykeham Forest  and Castle Beck Wood there is still little signs of spring. Bloody Beck had long icicles hanging down showing that the air temperature was still near zero despite the sun being out. No flowers are out just some green shoots and leaves desperately trying to grow. There seems to be surprisingly little birdlife around either. The forests seem to be deathly quiet. I’ve been reduced to taking some shots of the little wildlife in the garden. Photos of one of the grey squirrels, a collared dove, a wood pidgeon and a female blackbird. The tawny owl still comes out to sunbathe. I’ve heard it calling of an evening and have determined that it is a female. There is a male hooting, in the distance, so maybe they’ll pair up. There was a dipper at Hilla Green.

 

 

 

Ron Whatling has sent in this photograph of a pheasant with unusual plummage from Weaverthorpe

 

March

 

John Hume saw a large flock of lapwings at Silpho Ings on the 28th. Also a roe deer on the path from Scalby village to Coombe Brow.

 

 

Ron Whatling at Weaverthorpe has sent in a couple of images of young hares

 

 

John Hume found spring struggling to show an appearance on a walk along the old railway line between Burniston and Hayburn Wyke and back along the cliffs on the 21st. There was one solitary lesser celandine in flower above Hayburn Wyke and the wild daffodils were just in flower at Cloughton Wyke. Other wildlife seen included 3 roe deer, a pair of grey wagtails at Hayburn Wyke Hotel, siskins at Cloughton Tea Rooms, 11 curlew  and 50 lapwings at Crook Ness, Burniston.

 

 

And his garden tawny owl put in an appearance

 

On the 14th at Johnsons Marsh, Burniston Road, there were 4 grey herons

 

 

 

Winifred Bushell spotted a treecreeper in the Crescent Gardens, opposite the Art Gallery, in Scarborough on the 16th.

 

Louise Thompson reports ‘I had an amazing encounter with a barn owl this afternoon(Saturday 16th). I was standing in my orchard and a barn owl flew towards me and then swooped down and caught a mouse. It then stood on the ground eating it for several minutes only 15 yards away from me.

On Wednesday there was a flock of thrushes feeding on a grassy field right next to my house. I counted 15 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing and 2 Songthrushes.’

 

 

Mike Pearson has been photographing the red kites on the Yorkshire Wolds

 

 

 

Ian Glaves has sent in a few bird photos; green sandpiper, tree sparrow, marsh tit and waxwings and Mediterranean gull, all seen in the area recently.

 

 

 

 

There has been an oil spillage off the Scarborough coast. A report can be seen here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-21751774

 

If you should find any oiled seabirds, animals etc then please email :

Kevin.colcomb@mcga.gov.uk

 

 

Louise Thompson ‘The first flowers of spring in Forge Valley yesterday -Sunday 10th - green hellebore, marsh marigold, golden saxifrage and dogs mercury, also some scarlet elf cups. I didn't find any primroses out though’

 

 

John Hume reports that he had a weasel in his garden (off Cross Lane) on the 9th.

 

John Hume, Robin Hopper and Ian Glaves, on a visit to Wykeham Lakes, on the 5th spotted 2 common buzzards, 2 sparrowhawks, numerous cormorants, a bull finch and there were plenty of hares on the Carrs. There were also 8 goosanders on Throxenby Mere.

 

Stephen Megginson reports on ‘the sighting of a single Redwing early this morning (5th). I assume the bird was on migration, but it was scrounging for food amongst the bushes with a lone Robin. I am very confident that it was a Redwing, because it is hard to mistake that bird for anything else, ; about twice the size of a Robin, sporting the same red colouring on its sides, with a Thrush-like chest and very distinctive 'eyebrows'. Location was by the old railway line, just off the roundabout between Woodlands Ravine and Manor Road, at around 9:30. Sadly no photographs, it was very shy.

 

 

John Hume photographed the red crested pochard on Seamer Road Mere and a couple of shelduck at the Seamer tip ponds on the 1st.

 

He has also photographed his garden tawny owl

 

 

February

 

Mike Pearson has sent in photos of the waxwings on Depot Lane and the mediterranean gulls at Holbeck car park taken on the 25th Feb

 

 

John Hume reports that the tawny owl has returned to his back garden and seems to be roosting in the same tree as last year. Also the first primrose is trying to flower in the little glen leading from Burniston Road to the Open Air Theatre. His video of the kingfisher is now on line. To see it click here.

 

John Hume finally got his photos of the kingfisher at the Open Air Theatre on the 15th

 

Later on in the day he visited the red kite site at Warter and saw upto a dozen red kites, a kestrel and 2 barn owls.

 

 

Stuart Baines reports ‘that there were 179 sightings of Porpoise off Scarborough during January with one White Beaked dolphin off Filey last week.’

 

Trisha Scott has sent in a couple of photos of the long-tailed tits that have been visiting her feeding station and says ‘Just thought I'd send a couple of photos taken through our window this morning of the Long Tailed Tits, for whom the penny now seems to have dropped that the fatballs are actually edible, rather than for (very rarely) having a nibble at.
A small flock of around 10-12 birds suddenly descended, and whilst a few stayed in the tree, some tucked in to the fat. They had to run the gauntlet of a very aggressive Blue Tit, which actually saw off about five of them, However, after the Blue flew off, they all came back and continued feeding.

 

 

 

Trisha Scott has sent in more observations from her flat in Falsgrave

‘The Long Tailed Tits continue to be seen on most days and at various times (unlike in previous years), size of the flocks range from 3 - 4 up to 8 birds. The don't generally visit the feeders, preferring to feed, presumably on tiny insects, in the nearby sycamore tree.
Other birds seen include one Robin, a pair of Blue Tits and a pair of Coal Tits. Also present in the past few days a pair of courting Wood Pigeons, a pair of Jackdaws, who like to feed on the fatballs. The Starlings, of course are never far away, especially when the mealworm feeders have been topped up!! There was also a brief visit from a Goldfinch yesterday. However, the surprise sighting of today was a Treecreeper, working its way up and down both our sycamore and a tree next door. This is only the second sighting that I have had of this species near our flat for quite some time. (The first being a few years ago when one appeared with a tit flock in winter.) Today's bird was around for about half an hour before it flew off towards Seamer Road.’

 

John Hume went to Forge Valley on the 9th and saw a wide range of woodland birds; blue tit, great tit, marsh/willow tit, coal tit, long-tailed tit, robin, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch and nuthatch. At Hilla Green there was a dipper.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in a couple of photos from Flamborough, a buzzard and  roe deer.

 

 

John Hume recorded blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, moorhen, coot, bull finch and water rail at the Open Air Theatre in Scarborough on the 5th

 

 

 

John Hume saw about 10 red kites at the roost at Nunburnholme on the 4th

 

 

January 2013

 

Louise Thompson says ‘Summer is coming! I saw a skylark singing in the sky yesterday (30th) near Hutton Buscel, despite the strong wind’

 

Brian and Sue Walker had ‘Just back from a rather bronchial but bracing walk on the north side (on the 27th). Scalby Beck was well up with the snow melt, the tide was in with all the widgeon rafting offshore. Sunshine, peregrines and porpoises round marine drive. Here is a photo of Scalby Beck in spate’

 

Mike Pearson at Flamborough has had coal tits and long-tailed tits in his garden

 

Steve Bushell says ‘In this cold weather came across 3 wrens acting like mice in cow shed. Running along the ground and disappearing into the straw. Saw a Little Owl on hedgerow north of Snainton. Barn Owl at Allerston in Turgate Barn still present but fear for its future if this weather keeps up.

 

Trisha Scott has sent in another report from Falsgrave

Our main visitors just now are the Long Tailed Tits, with small parties appearing most days, usually about 5+ birds. They rarely take advantage of the feeders, preferring to find food in the trees, although a couple did feed on the fatballs and were uninterrupted by Blue Tits, unlike what happened last week. Two Jackdaws have been present, along with 8 to 10 Starlings and a pair of Blue Tits (I assume they were a pair as they fed together without any squabbling!) One or two Blackbirds are also present in the gardens at the rear of our flats.
Lastly, a Robin was seen in the bushes alongside Morrison's supermarket.

The attached photo of a Long Tailed Tit is a still taken from a video done by my daughter today, hence it's a little bit blurred, but it was the best one she could get from her film

 

John Hume walked around the Open Air Theatre  and Peasholm Park on the 15th. No kingfisher, but there was this lovely  mandarin duck in Peasholm Glen.

 

 

 

 

Ian Glaves has sent in some cracking photos of a kingfisher ‘performing’ at the Open Air Theatre on the 9th

 

 

Stuart Baines starts us off in 2013 with a fantastic report of 15 harbour porpoises seen off the Marine Drive at 8.45am on the 6th January, including a mother and calf.

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in photos of a Jay, taken in the forest area and of the peregrine, which  is back on the Scarborough Castle headland.

December 2012

 

Trisha Scott  has sent in her final report for 2012

‘The most regular visitors at the moment are Long Tailed Tits, which unlike in previous years, when a flock would visit most, if not every day and at the same time (one could all but set clocks by them), they are more sporadic and appearing at various times of day. One member of the small flock which came along a couple of weeks ago almost few into the window, fortunately it must have spotted me watching it, and veered just before it made contact with the glass. Another bird in the same group landed on the fat balls, but was immediately seen off by a Blue Tit which appeared from nowhere, The latter bird then flew off itself, so wasn't hungry itself for any fat. The same thing happened a few minutes later, but whether the same two birds were involved, I couldn't say.
Other birds we have had here include a small flock of Blue and Coal Tits, about eight birds altogether. One Goldfinch feeding on the niger seed, Starlings, (biggest flock was about ten birds,) mainly after the mealworms but also the fat balls, and a Jackdaw. The Magpie which was a regular visitor a few weeks ago has not been seen for about a month.
Sainsbury's carpark has been quiet, with the usual Herring Gulls and Pigeons plus one Dunnock. In previous years, I used to see several Pied/White Wagtails here in the winter months, but haven't spotted any for a couple of years now.

 

 

Stuart Baines has sent in more cetacean sightings ‘during November a total of 133 Harbour Porpoise were sighted of the Marine Drive with pods of 16 sighted on two occasions, also five Porpoise reported off long Nab Burniston and one of off west cliff Whitby.

Also on the 9th December 4 white beaked dolphin were reported off Filey Brigg which is unusual for the time of year, they were in the area for at least a week and comprised a pod of four with one calf, sadly one beached at Filey and died last Saturday.

Also three hump back Whales sighted off Hartlepool on the 13th December and now today three or four large cetaceans spotted off Arbroath heading North which are probably the Hartlepool animals, which is a shame, I had hoped they would turn South !

 

 

Ian Glaves has sent in some sightings ‘

Dec 1 Water Rail Northstead Manor Gardens:

Dec. 4th 63 Waxwings Taylor Way, Eastfield, 3 Woodcock and 1 Kingfisher Potter Brompton Carr, Otter New Dyke Seamer Tip, 8 Red-throated Divers and a Great-crested Grebe south Bay:

Dec 5th 35 Snipe over Seamer Tip: Scalby Lodge Pond is now very full - 52 Redshank there on 8th, first-winter Scaup (a duck) at Wykeham Lakes and 27 Mandarin Ducks displaying at Hackness Lake, a King Eider was seen off Filey: 10th pair Goosander Seamer Road Mere, and two Water Rails at NM Gdns:

13th a Chiffchaff at Burton Riggs:

14th both Peregrines back on Castle Headland with prey, freshly dead White-beaked Dolphin Filey beach, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker Little Hilla Green

 

Photos - waxwing, bullfinch, goosander

 

 

 

 

Melanie Earle reports ‘Big flocks of lapwing on the carrs.
29th Nov c.1000 lapwing on the wetlands between Flixton and Folkton carrs. Also a few goldfinch, greenfinch, yellow hammers and tree sparrows on the Flixton Carr track, and quite a few wrens. Possibly twite, certainly a finch with a nasal twang to its call, but couldn't locate it to verify.

29th November Willerby Carr (Hertford Dale track) a buzzard spooked a flock of ducks c50 on a wet area just south of Robin's Bottom plantation. Also in the rough field on the Binnington Carr (west) side of the track 3 snipe.

30th November 350 lapwing on the flooded area by the railway crossing on Willerby Carr Lane, and visible at the same time a big flock of lapwing c450 rising up periodically from Glanton Carr. Buzzard around Robin's Bottom Plantation.

4 December 1 female eider duck amongst the widgeon North Bay Scalby Mills

 

John Hume -On the 2nd Dec, a barn owl was seen at 2.00pm flying over the rough grasslands between  the Rugby Club and Burniston Road. On the old railway track at Burniston a male bullfinch. On the fields by the coastal path a flock of green plovers and a few snow buntings.

On the 4th at 9.00pm a fox on Westfield Avenue.

 

Ron Baxter is appealing for help with conservation work in Raincliffe Woods on the 12th Dec.

‘a post regarding a Task for all you mud fans and puddle jumpers .We will be working on the Bronze age roads on the 12 Dec meeting at 10 am raincliffe gate Car park. bring good boots a flask and something to eat . children are welcome but must be of an age where they can be safe by themselves ,this is not a job for small ones sorry’

 

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw has sent in a link to the latest Carrs Wetland Project newsletter

http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/pdf/Newsletter%20Autumn-Winter%202012-2013_lo_res.pdf

 

 

Trisha Scott has sent in her latest report from Falsgrave.

'The Starlings visits seem to be quite infrequent at the moment, the highest number seen coming for mealworms has been about five, but more often, only a couple (compared to eight to ten last year). The past couple of weeks we have seen one Blue Tit, one Coal Tit and one Goldfinch, again down on the same period last year. The only regular visitor just now is the Magpie, who first appeared a few weeks ago, and is more or less a daily now, enjoying the mealworms, fatballs and a good drink (despite all the rain, it seems to prefer it out of the drinkers I have set up.) A Blackbird appeared briefly this morning, but did not stay, as the Magpie was still present. The bonus bird today though was a Song Thrush, which is a very rare sight at our feeders. I assume that it was an immigrant. Our regularly biennial visitors, the small flock of Long Tailed Tits, which are due this year, have so far not appeared.

This report does seem a bit negative, but I think that it is important to note absences and reduced numbers of sightings as it may indicate a trend?

 

 

 

 

 

November 2012

 

 

Graham Lingwood has sent in photos of a waxwing at Flyingdales on the 5th and the red crested pochard at Seamer Mere

 

John Hume photographed a goldcrest, goldfinch and long tailed tit on the railway track north of Green Lane on the 11th .

 

There have been reports of waxwings coming in over the last few days so keep a look out!

 

Kevin and Roe Lummis  say ‘we have  just returned from visiting my cousin Sue Beere&and her husband Trevor in Scarborough, my wife and I can confirm the badger in question appeared on two occasions late at night and indeed had her( supper) , we have never seen a badger up this close, and feeding so close to the back door,it was something my wife&I will treasure.

 

 

Stuart Baines reports -  ‘Your members might be interested to know that there have been some outstanding numbers of Harbour Porpoise off the Marine Drive in the last few days with 16 Porpoise observed in one scan of the Sea at 09:45 on Sunday 4th November, if any of your members sea any Harbour Porpoise or any other cetaceans I would be most grateful if the could let me have details of numbers of animals, date observed and times in order that I can have these details on a national database’

 

 

 

October 2012

 

Trisha Scott in Falsgrave has sent in her latest report

We are still seeing several Starlings feeding on the mealworms and fat balls, along with Blue Tits (2 - 3), Coal Tits (2), House Sparrow, Jackdaws (2) and Dunnock. Just one Goldfinch seen a couple of days ago. We did have a brief visit from two Long Tailed Tits, which fed on the fat balls. (This species has usually appeared, every other Autumn/winter in small flocks of 8 to 10, so these two were early, presumably passing through, as I haven't seen them since. As we didn't see any last year, I am hoping that they will be back again soon.)
Also, a new bird on the feeders today was a Magpie, which I have seen very few of around here for a year or two. My observations of our feathered guests over the past two weeks have proved to me how very choosy wild birds can be. When I bought a couple of tubs of mealworms (as I thought) and came to open one to put out, I saw that I had inadvertently picked up a tub of "Insect Medley", but thought that this would be quite acceptable as it is a wild bird food. However, without exception, every bird systematically picked out the few mealworms in the medley, pushing anything stubby, oval or round to one side - even the bits that fell on the step were ignored, or pecked at, then left to blow away. No birds then came near until the offending Insect Medley was thrown away, and the usual mealworms topped up!!
Other sighting from Sainsbury's car park from last week. I heard a noise, best described as a clattering cackle and looked up to see what it was. A crow flew past, in hot pursuit of another bird, which I only had time to notice was brown. The pair disappeared into a clump of trees, and unfortunately, I was unable to spot either of them again. I came to the conclusion that the brown bird could have been either a Kestrel (few of those around these days), or maybe an owl, which the crow had disturbed.

 

Mike Pearson at Flamborough has sent in some photos of autumn flying moths

Sprawler, rosy rustic, red green carpet

 

 

Large wainscot, december moth, dark swordgrass

 

Mick Finn reports ‘I live near Scarborough Hospital and have a small rear garden.We always put out some dog mixer meal every evening and hedgehogs regularly came to eat it.The dog died recently so I suppose there's no longer a threat out there.We spotted a fox one morning in daylight.I have set up a couple of wireless cameras outside and have set them up with motion detection.We have been recording activity every night. There’s always at least one,sometimes 2 foxes and occasionally a badger.The cameras aren’t very high res but I have made them viewable over the internet.

 

If anyone is interested then try the following links

 

http://badgercam.dyndns.org:8090

 

Works best with the top login option(Internet Explorer)

Users may be asked when the page loads to install the Activex module(which they should do).

Username:visitor

Password:none required

 

 

Stuart Baines has more sightings of cetaceans off the coast.

‘one Harbour Porpoise heading North off the Marine Drive at 18:05 this evening (16th).

I have attached a photo of a Minke photographed by me off Whitby although this photo was actually taken during the Minke "season" last September.’

 

‘two possibly three Humpback Whales were seen off Whitby today (18th) by Whitby Coastal Cruises, it appeared to be an adult and two juveniles.’

 

Single Humpback whales were seen off whitby on both saturday and sunday this weekend (20/21st). Attached is a picture of a tail fluke taken by Anthony Hurd of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust each whale has an unique pattern to the colouring on the fluke so it can at least be added to the library and possibly tracked if seen again. They are expected to move steadily southwards, so if any of your members see a whale blow or any other signs during a sea watch I would be really grateful if you could let me know. Also three bottlenose dolphins were seen of whitby on saturday plus a number of Minke whales.

 

 

Stuart Baines who regularly records cetaceans reports that he saw ‘1. Off Whitby, seven Minke whales including a calf along with two large whales which it was not possible to identify,  and a further with Brown colouring which could have been a species of beaked whale but again it was not possible to be definite as to the species.

2. three and a half miles of Hayburn Wyke a single Minke whale

 

Tim Burkinshaw reports from the Carrs project

‘ I had a quick visit to some wet grassland fields at Lingholm Fm Flotmanby Weds pm. Surprised to discover a substantial splash flood near the Hertford Cut, indicated by unharvested hay in otherwise short turf. Closer inspection put up a flock of 115 Mallard, also 12 Common Snipe and 3 Green Sandpipers. No pics of the birds but I did snap the wet field. As well as the birds I saw a lot of Common Darters ovipositing around the flood, Certainly 10 coupled pairs.

Three sluice dams were built by the farmer last year: one is dry, another is half full and the one with greatest influence is full and overtopped keeping surface water on about 1/5 of the field area. Scrapes here still require more work to meet the prescribed shape and form - but at least they are wet. On the Carrs Wetland farms most of the sluices are set lower at this time of year but due to the wet summer a good number of field scrapes have retained water throughout, unlike the past two summers, making it a good year for dragonflies.

 

 

 

September 2012

 

 

Trisha Scott has sent in her latest report of happenings outside her Falsgrave flat.

‘More and more Starlings are now coming to our feeders, about ten today, making very short work of the mealworms. Three or four House Sparrows also around, along with a couple of Coal Tits (who seem to enjoy the niger seed as well as the fat balls, but they ignore the mealworms!) A Blue Tit is another occasional visitor plus two Goldfinches, an adult and an immature. One very unwelcome "guest", which appeared on the same day as we returned from holiday, was a Grey Squirrel - the first we had seen for a number of years. A quick rap on the window saw it off, and I haven't seen it since. The Robin which was around on a couple of occasions a few weeks ago has not been back, so far.

 

Insects aren't usually my "thing" unless it's something unusual, but the other day, as I was going up the steps to the front door, a Peacock butterfly, which was flying around, unexpectedly landed on my leg!!

 

The other insect encounter was on the footpath outside of Morrison's. My daughter spotted a strange looking bug, which I picked up to have a closer look. I thought it might be a Shield Bug, it was green, with brown markings. I put it back in a bush, so that it wouldn't get trodden on, and later checked in a reference book in the library to confirm its identity. It was indeed a Shield Bug (a Hawthorn sp?) However, it wasn't until I read the description that I found out that these bugs, if alarmed, can give off a nasty smelling substance! Thankfully, this didn't happen to me, so I can only assume that "our" Bug was quite content being handled’

 

 

 

John Hume has been chasing dragonflies!

At Brown Rigg Moor, on the 2nd, there was one keeled skimmer

 

At Pexton Ponds on the 3rd there were brown hawkers, common hawkers, southern hawkers, migrant hawkers (peacock and common blue butterflies and grass of parnassus was in flower)

 

 

On the 4th at Maybeck common hawker and black darters were seen

On the 9th at Reighton Ponds, this year with water in them (thankfully) there were southern and common hawkers, and ruddy and common darters

 

 

 

Kathy and Steve Bushell saw a ‘Comma butterfly seen Rosekirkdale first week of September and a Slow Worm seen Turgate Hay Meadow Sept. 2nd. It managed to unravel itself’

 

 

August 2012

 

 

John Hume finally managed to get a brief trip out, after suffering from a bad knee for the last few weeks!! A visit to the Goldfish Ponds at Harwood Dale gave him sightings of peacock butterflies and a skipper. Dragonflies included southern hawkers, common hawkers, black darters, common darters, large red damselflies and emerald damselflies.

 

Souther hawker, common hawkers mating, female common hawker egg laying

 

Common darter and black darter, large red damselfly and emerald damselfly

 

Peacock and skipper

 

 

An update from Trisha (see below). ‘Today (Friday) has been quite interesting, with the usual "gang" of Starlings and a few House Sparrows on the fatballs and mealworms, along with the now daily Collared Doves and Blue Tits. But, for the first time, a Robin was also present. My daughter initially spotted it on the fire escape rails and told me about it. I thought that if I scattered more mealworms on the step, that may tempt it back, so I did, and it reappeared a few minutes later and tucked in!! I haven't seen a Robin in quite a long time, and certainly never had one feeding on our fire escape. Maybe it is an immigrant, but hopefully it will be back. Also feeding on the fatballs this morning were two Great Tits, again, the first ones seen around here for months. A Goldfinch also put in an appearance and fed on the niger.’

 

Trisha Scott has sent in another report from Falsgrave

‘The Starlings are still visiting regularly, especially when the mealworm feeders have been replenished, along with up to ten House Sparrows, the odd Blue Tit and a couple of Coal Tits. All of these also taking advantage of the fat balls, when the Jackdaws aren't present.
One unusual sighting involved a couple of Blackbirds, an adult and a youngster. Although the species is always present in the gardens at ground level, they have never fed at our elevated site. However, a few days ago, the pair were seen to be hanging around on the fire escape platform, waiting for mealworms being dropped or flicked out of the feeders by the Starlings. I only saw them on the one occasion, but now, their place "waiting on" has been filled by a pair of Collared Doves (yet another species more numerous here in previous years.) Initially, they appeared to be coming to have a drink, but then they stayed on to tuck into the mealworms!’

 

 

 

Louise Thompson recorded these Broad-leaved Helleborines  in flower near Hayburn Wyke

 

Kathy and Steve Bushell had a ‘Single Painted Lady present for several hours on this lavender plant at Broad Head Farm, Saturday 18th August’  and a holly blue on the track leading down from Broad Head Farm to Troutsdale on the 23rd

 

 

 

 

Belinda Robson is still busy recording the moths in her garden

Swallow tail, Drinker, clouded border

 

Barred straw, melanic peppered moth, coxcomb prominent

 

Burnished brass, bordered white, barred yellow

 

Poplar hawk moth, phoenix, single dotted wave

 

Yellow-tailed moth, garden carpet, shaded broad-bar

 

Spectacle, magpie, common emerald

 

 

Common rustic, white plume moth, orange swift

 

Small magpie, gold spot, mother of pearl

 

Ruby tiger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Glaves has sent in his report on the field outing to North Cave and Blacktoft sands

 

 

Report on the Society excursion to North Cave Wetlands and Blacktoft Sands RSPB Reserve, Saturday 11th August 2012.

 

Eleven members drove in three cars, setting off at 9 am, firstly to North Cave Wetlands – a reserve created from sand and gravel extraction at a site just west of North Cave village. The area consists of shallow pools with vegetated banks and one or two small islands. There are three public hides, and most of the birds can be seen from these. Hard paths circle the reserve, so access is easy. Amongst the birds seen were many Lapwing, gathering ready to move south, several Black-tailed Godwits, and a couple of Ruff. As well as the ubiquitous Mallard, Teal and Tufted Duck, a few pairs of Gadwall were present, most of the ducks being in “eclipse” (moult), and therefore not in their best plumage. Several Common Terns were wafting about the Reserve. They breed on specially constructed floating “tern islands”, but no juveniles were seen, suggesting the poor summer had taken it’s toll on these exposed ground nesters. The highlight was a Green Woodpecker, which flashed across the front of the hide, giving everyone a brief but close glimpse. In all, the Reserve was quiet, so the party moved on to Blacktoft, via a short diversion to the Humber shore at Faxfleet. Here, an extensive reed-bed can be good for Marsh Harrier, but none were seen.

 

Blacktoft Sands is a long-established RSPB Reserve on the south bank of the confluence of the rivers Trent and Ouse as they form the Humber. It’s an extensive reed bed, with open pools visible from a series of hides on an easily negotiated path. It’s a prime site for such reed bed specialities as Reed and Sedge Warbler, Bearded Reedling (Tit), Water Rail and Marsh Harrier. It’s also a good place for migrant waders in spring and autumn (from early August onwards).

Excellent views of Common Redshank, Spotted Redshank (about 20), Ruff and Dunlin were had. Ducks included the commoner species mentioned above, with the addition of Pochard, and numerous Shoveller. Marsh Harriers were easy to see, and included a mix of the dark brown plumaged juveniles, lighter brown adult females (both the latter having cream crowns), and a second year male. The highlight was the appearance of a Bittern on the Reedbed hide pool, sitting in the reeds doing its typical motionless “sky-pointing” in response to an overflying Marsh Harrier. The bird eventually took flight, giving excellent views as it passed across the pool. A further Bittern was seen over the distant reed beds. There were very few small passerine species to see, but Whitethroat, Pied and Yellow Wagtail, and Goldfinch. A few butterflies were seen – Peacock, Small White and Comma.

 

After the unexpected thrill of the Bittern, the party left the Reserve about 4 pm for the return home.

 

 

Bittern - "Notice the superb feather pattern giving the bird cryptic camouflage in winter reed beds, but not so good in summer when reeds are green. When threatened or alarmed, it sits motionless with its bill pointing skywards

 

 

 

Shoveller - "The large flattened bill is obvious even in flight. The underwing is black and white, whilst the upper wing is a blue-grey colour".

 

 

Redshank - "Several Spotted Redshanks - they appear lighter in colour, and have slightly longer, thinner bill, as well as being marginally bigger and more gracile than the Common Redshank. The white supercillium (line above the eye) is much more prominent when facing the observer".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw has sent in another report from the Carrs project area

 

On a routine visit to wetland sites at Cayton Carr last week(Grove Fm) I spotted the following:

Green veined white butterfly (pic)

Umbellifer - possibly Alexanders? growing by the sluice. (pic)

In a seasonal scrape - freshwater ostracods concentrated by dropping water levels (pic)

similarly a pair of stranded stickleback in a muddy gateway. (pic)

Also in one of the sluices ditches were numerous bladder snails.

On return route a number of the scrapes  on Chapman's field were good for Odonata. I couldn't get photos but saw one Emperor, 8 Common Blue and a Blue tailed damselfly. Near a marshy spot 10 common snipe were flushed which is very pleasing and I think a new peak count for this field; passing through or staying around I'm not sure..

 

 

 

 

Trisha Scott has ent in her latest report from Falsgrave

We have had far fewer birds visiting our feeders this year, evidence, I assume, that the dire weather has had a catastrophic effect on their breeding success.

Most of our usual visitors were all but absent for several weeks, and when they did appear, there were very few, if any, juveniles with them.

The Starlings are now returning, but only a few, four or five individuals, compared with the numbers last year. Apart from a fleeting glimpse of a single Goldfinch this week, there have been none around for a few weeks, and the niger seed has been all but untouched. Very few House Sparrows also, and no young seen with the few adults that have visited.
One pair of birds though seems to have bucked this trend, Jackdaws, which have been regular diners throughout the "summer" and they have been accompanied by one or two brown-tinged youngsters. These birds have fed on the fat balls and mealworms.
A couple of Blue Tits have also started visiting in the past few days, along with two Coal Tits (these were the predominant tit species a few years ago, and have been largely absent recently, so it was good to see them around again.) The Coal Tits initially fed on the niger seed, before moving on to the fat balls.

The only other sightings of note were House Martin in the area, at a nest unused for a couple of years and the very confiding Dunnock(s) which still frequent the hedges near Sainsbury's.

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in some more images

 

Stenoptilia milleridactyla, small magpie, scarce footman

 

 

 

Rosy minor, Ruff, common swift

 

Tim Burkinshaw has been looking at his scrapes for the Cayton and Flixton Carrs project,

‘

Flixton Carr today (3rd Aug) scrapes north east Flixton Br.

1 emperor dragonfly male

7 common blue damselflies male

1 blue tailed damselfly male

 

also 10 common snipe on marshy spot,

 

Cayton Carr 1 very large looking female peregrine Cayton Carr took off north.

24 mallard (2 broods grown up?) Cayton Carr scrape plus green veined white and a drying up muddy puddle with two stickleback stranded..

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in a few more moth photos.

 

Dunbar, silky wainscot, short-cloaked moth

 

Scalloped oak

 

Steve Wignall says ‘I was seawatching with tony ford at the seawatching hut at long nab,
burniston on friday 27th july when a marbled white butterfly flew south along the clifftop in front of the hut. also plenty of ringlet and meadow brown on the cliffs there.’

 

 

 

July 2012

 

 

John Hume visited Seamer Tip Ponds on the 23rd and was delighted by the number of black-tailed skimmers to be seen.  He also observed a male catch a blue dameslfly and start to eat it.

There were also two male black-tailed skimmers at the Open Air Theatre in Scarborough on the 25th.

 

Male with common blue damselfly;

 

Female and mating pair

 

 

 

 

Ian Glaves reports ‘I've been out with the ringers lately, for a couple of the specialities of our recording area - Storm Petrel and Nightjar. Storm Petrel ringing involves setting mist nets at dusk on some suitable location on the coast, and playing a tape recording of the calls the birds make at their nesting colony. The sound is projected from a loudspeaker VERY LOUD in a seaward direction. The birds are feeding just off-shore and are attracted by the sound into the net, caught, ringed and released. It's a case of being vigilant and it helps to be deaf, and returns are small for the effort involved - one or two birds in a three hour stretch is good. The birds breed in the northern isles and Norway, but fly down into the North Sea to feed. They have been recorded as far south as Portugal.

 

 

Belinda Robson has had a busy month capturing moths:

True Lovers Knot, Common wave, Small angle-shades

 

Fan foot, buff arches, single-dotted wave

 

Lynchis, clouded silver, Brown china mark

 

Garden tiger, drinker, purple clay

 

 

Heart and dart, snout, marbled beauty

 

Light emerald, female ghost, cabbage

 

Udea ovalis, plain golden Y, dark arches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Hume visited Brown Rigg beck and Jugger Howe on the 22nd and saw keeled skimmers mating and egg laying

He also saw golden ringed dragonflies and a female southern hawker

 

John Hume visited the River Derwent at Ganton and Potter Brompton Carr Farm on the 21st for a dragonfly survey as part of the YNU V62 field meeting. A total of 11 species were found which comprises about 50% of the species list for the whole of the Scarborough Field Naturalists’ recording area. Species photographed were;

Banded and beautiful demoiselles,

 

Common blue damselflies, blue-tailed damselfly, four spotted chaser

 

Emperor dragonfly, common darter, broad-bodied chaser

 

Mike Pearson has sent in some more moths from Flamborough

Golden pulsia (a county rarity), green silver lines, double dart and antler moth

Louise Thompson says ‘I went to Ashberry meadow near Rievaulx this week (14th July) where there were lots of orchids especially spotted and fragrant orchids, but also an impressive patch of over 100 Marsh Helleborines’

 

Kathy and Steve Bushell recorded 11 marbled whites at Turgate Plantation on the 14th July

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in a new crop of moth sightings.

 

Lilac beauty, lime speck pug and double lobed

 

 

Clay

 

 

Christopher Hoyle: I have taken an interest in the wildlife around the landslip at Holbeck and in particular the bee orchids that grow there every year. I discovered them, by accident, about ten years ago and come every year to see how many grow and generally take great pleasure in their presence. Two years ago the rescue services held a mock rescue at Holbeck using the hollow just above the cliff as their command post. It just happened that this area was where some of the best specimens of bee orchids grew and the whole area was flattened, including the orchids. Since then, this is the second year and not one bee orchid has grown there since. Last year, between the hollow and the bench, at the bottom of the hill I counted around 40 plants and kept visiting them over the their growing period. Towards the end of that period every single one of the plants, in that area, disappeared, I don't mean died back, one day they were all there, the next gone.

I have scoured the hillside and have discovered the general area where they grow and not all have 'just disappeared', some have died back naturally. This year is the worst showing I have experienced since starting my vigil, with only 3 showing in all the areas where they tend to grow, one of which ‘disappeared’. At 'orchid terrace ' on north bay there was a better showing with around 40 bee orchids I counted. I know this area has received protection being classified as a 'sac' and has a fence around it (most of the bee orchids were growing outside of the fence) but the area around holbeck where the bee orchids grow is open to public use.

I don't confess to be an expert, I have a hnd in countryside management, but have not used it in any professional sense, I am a amateur photographer and take a high interest in natural history, appreciating the aesthetic beauty in nature and recording that but I thought that I would contact someone to inform them of the stresses this area is undergoing. I realise that this year has been particularly wet and that this alone could be responsible for poor numbers, not just bee orchids but butterflies as well. At 'orchid terrace' the ground seems to have better drainage and at holbeck the ground is sodden but if I make known the plight of this species then maybe in future years this area will come under added scrutiny because plants don't just dissappear.

 

 

John Hume: I had a walk around the Ellerburn valley on the 15th. Sightings included common blue butterfly, ringlet, rock rose,

 

 

5-spotted burnet moth. At the Pexton Ponds there were common blue damselflies, emerald damselflies, a four spotted chaser and an emperor dragonfly

 

And fragrant orchids. A small tortoishell and a dark green fritillary were seen in Sandale

 

Dav White: We live near Peasholm Park and have seen loads of nice looking mushrooms due to the damp weather. We have also seen three damselflies near the newt pond at the OAT, which is ace as we haven't seen any since they drained the pool.

 

Steve Bushell: Saw 3 Fallow Deer (probably does) in Givendale (N.of Turgate plantation) on Saturday July 7th

 

John Hume: three photos of the orchids on the Racecourse Road above Betton Farm, although apparently it has now been cut, WHY???????

 

 

 

Dragonflies were hard to come by on the 1st July at Brown Rigg Beck, but one golden-ringed dragonfly (which hadn’t managed to fully ‘pump up its wings’ and an immature male keeled skimmer were seen. Also an adder was seen, but it didn;t hang around for its photo to be taken.

 

 

Kathy Bushell has finally seen some butterflies:

Finally some butterfly sightings.  1 Marble white and 4 common blues plus 2 ringlets at Turgate Woods North of Allerston.  Steve also saw a stoat in Givendale yesterday about 11.30am

 

Tim Burkinshaw reports that:

On Weds 3rd July at Haybridge, Potter Brompton Carr SE 978 790- Three pairs of Beautiful Demoiselles Calopteryx virgo on the Derwent plus another pair on the Sherburn Cut a little west. My first sightings of the season.

 

Also did I pass on the orchids at Staxton Brow, 28/06/12?

at least 50 common spotted orchids (?)and 38 pyramidal orchids- this was on a west facing part of the remnant chalk dale overlooking the Staxton traffic lights. We are planning a green hay expansion of this site as part of the HLS scheme and volunteers needed on 25th July to help rake and spread green hay.

People can contact me for info: tim.burkinshaw@scarborough.gov.uk

 

 

Mike Pearson at Buckton had a wonderful sighting of an alpine swift

June 2012

 

Belinda Robson has been capturing more moths:

Garden carpet, cloud-bordered brindle, spruce carpet

 

Rustic shoulder-knot, common swift, flame shoulder

 

Poplar hawk moth, timothy tortrix, common marbled carpet

 

 

Light brown apple moth, brimstone, dark arches

 

Gothic, heart and dart, mottled beauty

 

Herald, middle-barred minor, burnished brass

 

 

And also this mayfly

 

John Hume had a look at the splendid display of pyrimadal orchids and a few bee orchids on the roadside verge on the Racecourse Road just up the hill from Betton Farm. Thankfully, so far it hasn’t been cut!!

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw has sent in another report:

Crook Lane Flixton: Whilst running a stream dipping session at request of Flixton in Bloom / Hunmanby Brownies yesterday evening we were visited by two Red admirals enjoying the last rays of the evening sun.  In the damp grassland near the picnic tables there a ragged robin plant in flower, a natural appearance the Flixton in bloom people told me. In the stream the girls identified a range of invertebrates including: class=Freshwater shrimp, Flatworm -Polycelis felina, Cased caddis fly larvae families Sericostomatidae and Mollanidae, Caseless caddis Polycentropidae; water beetle sp. freshwater worm -Lumbricidae and spire shell snail -Hydrobidae. Considering this stretch of stream is only 1inch deep, 18inch wide and was dry until April/ May I thought this was quite remarkable.

 

John Hume photographed the North Bay Terrace Orchids on the 26th, bee, common spotted and pyramidal

On the 28th he went to Ellerburn Bank and after hearing a nightjar churring, seeing plenty of woodcock, a couple of bats and being bitten to death by a million midges, he recorded 5 female glow worms and 2 male glow worms.

 

 

Mike Pearson at Flamborough has been capturing some more moths:

Elephant hawkmoth, drinker and chalk carpet (this is only the 3rd recorded in the county in the last 10 years)

 

Also a photo of a common swift

 

 

 

 

Mike Pearson has sent in photos of another couple of moths, ghost moths (male and female and the eggs in the background)

Mike Pearson has sent in a couple of moth sightings from Flamborough, a waved umber (new to Flamborough) and an eyed hawkmoth.

 

Jane Payne - I’m just reporting the sighting, on 2 consecutive nights, of a Nightjar on the middle of the road between Suffield and Langdale End. On the first evening, about 10.15.  I thought it was injured so stopped the car and walked towards the bird, it flew off immediately. I know the flight of a Nightjar and that confirmed what I was looking at. The second evening  at 11.00ish as I stopped the car it flew away. I was talking to Mick and he said they like the warmth of the road, so sit there.  Always learning something!!

 

Jonathon Foot has sent in this fantastic sighting - I work at Robin Hoods Bay, and live in Pickering. I left work this evening around 7pm. On my route home as I turned off the A171 onto the B1416, I can have only travelled about 200 to 300 meters along the road, approx, Grid Ref NZ 91262 03866, when I was amazed to see a Short Eared Owl sat on a fence post to my right hand side. I slowed the car to a standstill and was right along side the owl. He/She did not flinch apart from a few weary turns of its head. I have attached a photo, but unfortunately it is not very clear as it was taken on my mobile phone, and as I thought any more movement of my vehicle would make it fly away. I was also conscious of other traffic which maybe approaching. As another vehicle was now approaching from the rear I had to pull away and move on, only to my suprise to see a second Short Eared Owl, , about a further 100 meters on, swoop down over the road, into the heather and then immediately rise again with a small unfortunate rodent in its talons. Luckily the driver of the vehicle behind me had also seen the drama and was not impatient, which enabled me to travel slowly and watch the second owl in flight for a few moments. Unbelievable !!!

 

 

 

Tim Burkinshaw reports from the Cayton and Flixton Carrs project from the beginning of the month - ‘Some recent sightings, before BH weekend:Popped down to Flixton Carr- the area SW of Flix Bridge- 2 pairs Common Blue damselfly mating, 2 peacock butterfly. Coverdale's spring sown grass Flixton good lapwing site, fairly bare and weedy (everywhere else sward quite long and nothing to see so this seems to have drawn in all the pairs for later attempts?:On this one field max count adults 14 lapwing, with at least 3 prs behaving as if young so prob at least 3 broods on this field - I definitely saw one brooding two or more young chicks. In total I counted 6 part or well grown chicks. Also heard Curlew calling plus a Kestrel and 2 Oystercatcher calling, east of Flixton carr Lane.’

 

Louise Thompson says that the Castle field in West Ayton was looking fabulous at the end of May and was covered with flowers - bulbous buttercup,cow parsley,pignut and germander speedwell in profusion, also meadow saxifrage in flower.

 

 

May 2012

 

John Hume recorded common, azure and blue-tailed damselflies at Wykeham Lakes

 

And broad bodied chaser and four spotted chaser (note the mal-formed rear right wing) at Seamer Tip Pond

 

Robert Wadsworth has sent in an unusual observation; ‘I saw this magpie in the paddock off Filey Country Park on 25th May. At first I thought it was injured or ill but when it flew off it was clearly healthy (physically at least). The bird had been trying to incubate the pebble.

Each time I passed over the next 3 days the magpie was in the same spot lying on the pebble.

I have not been back since so it is likely still there.

 

 

Trisha Scott has sent in some more observations

‘There seems to be fewer birds around our flat, compared to last year. I have only observed one pair of Goldfinches, compared to four or five pairs last year. Only one juvenile seen, compared to several last year.
One or two irregular visits from Blue Tits, three or four pairs of  Starlings, and a couple of pairs of House Sparrows. A pair of Jackdaws came to feed on the fat balls, but I haven't seen these for over a week.
There is a very confiding Dunnock near Sainsbury's at Falsgrave. This bird will wait to fly off until it is all but under my feet!!
Like last year, House Martins appear to have disappeared from this area. Of more concern though, I have only seen ONE Swift, that was a few days ago, over Falsgrave. From my observations, they also seem to be absent over the town. This compares to last year, when, although well down in numbers here, I used to see perhaps five or six in the air together.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Glaves reports that there is a drake eider duck in the harbour.

 

Steve Bushell says ‘On May 12 saw 2 male Orange Tip Butterflies, 2 Green Veined Whites and 1 Tortoiseshell at top of Troutsdale. On May 18 saw Goshawk in Givendale. Saw Wheatear passing through our farm on May 18 (not very good photo attached). Swifts were around cattle in Troutsdale. 5 Turtle Doves spotted North of Chaffer Woods, Ebberston May 20th.’

 

Mike Pearson has sent in some more photos.

Bullfinch

 

Blackcap, whitethroat

 

And a night heron at sunset

 

John Hume has posted a few updates:-

A green hairstreak butterfly has survived all the cold, wet weather on Brown Rigg Moor, on the 8th, maybe the same one initially seen at the end of March (see below).

At Castlebeck Woods he came across a complete skeleton of a roe deer

 

In Forge Valley and Yedmandale Woods, on the 16th, there were a number of flowers showing well, including bluebells, early purple orchid, herb paris

 

Herb robert, forget me not, speedwell

 

 

Red campion, stitchwort, wood avens

And birds nest orchid was just coming into flower

 

At Filey Dams, on the 11th, there was a fox and cub, the former having caught one of the many swallows that were flying about.