Organic lawn mowers arrive at North Cave Wetlands

Some Highland Cattle are now periodically grazing Dryham Ings to keep the grasses nice and uneven to provide suitable habitat for different ground nesting birds. Otherwise Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps are all in good voice down Dryham Lane. Only Willow Warbler happy to pose for photos today.



Willow Warbler below








Lichen





Pied Wag and Avocet



One of the very many widely disliked Black-headed Gulls. They do make a racket!

More Yellow Wags at North Cave

The Yellow Wagtails are proving to be a great attraction at North Cave Wetlands and they are fascinating to watch working the shorelines of Dryham Ings with little jabs in the air with their beaks, presumably to catch insects. Also lots of Pied and White Wagtails which I have hopefully correctly separated below!




White Wagtail



Pied Wagtail

North Cave and New Workings

Black-tailed Godwit in glorious brick red summer plumage

It has been some time since my last confession. My spare time is now largely taken up by manning a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust stall recruiting new members and providing information to visitors at North Cave Wetlands. The new Dryham Ings side of the reserve is already showing promise with 30 Yellow Wagtails on there today with the Pied Wagtails - we had a blue headed "Channel" Wagtail last week. Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers are currently on Dryham Ings and the Avocets too are showing interest in the new side of the reserve. This means that the new super large straw built Crosslands hide is currently an interesting place to be and when the reserve stretches even further westwards it is going to be fantastic.  Pictures here are all distant and not great, but I had time for a walk around the reserve today. Spring is late but the Hirundines are coming in and Willow Warblers now starting to sing. More birds, butterflies and dragonflies still to look forward to.


black tail on show



great colours when the sun shines


Little Ringed Plover on Dryham Ings



some "ugly ducklings" soon to come


Yellow Wags currently best viewed from Crosslands



Avocets from the Turret hide