A trio of North Yorkshire's finest Butterflies...

Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Yesterday I set off for North Yorkshire in wonderful weather hoping to see three species at three sites - the Dingy Skipper, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy.  For once everything went to plan.  A great deal of hiking was required to reach the Dukes in particular but it was great to find a healthy little colony.  All three species require a degree of habitat management to meet their specific needs and maintain numbers.  Habitat loss has been a problem and some of our rarer species like these three still need our help.


Pearl-bordered Fritillary



Pearl-bordered Fritillary (top view)



Dingy Skipper (quite attractive really?)



Duke of Burgundy



Duke of Burgundy - our only "metalmark" butterfly, nearest relations in Asia and the Americas



Duke of Burgundy



Duke of Burgundy

Duke of Burgundy

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Introduction to Wildlife Photography walk at Noddle Hill

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Link

It is hard to believe that conditions last weekend were the polar opposite of this weekend's heatwave. Nevertheless 15 hardy souls turned up at Noddle Hill Reserve for the photo session in gloomy, windy overcast conditions.  Despite the reserve hosting lots of interesting migrant birds such as Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and even Cuckoo, the weather was so poor that hardly any birds were to be seen - apart from the resident Greylag Geese who quite rightly gave anyone who came too near to their goslings an evil hiss!  Accompanied by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Officer Helen Holford we made our way around the reserve and concentrated mainly on macro and closeup photography and discussed using depth of field and points of focus to artistic effect.













http://www.ywt.org.uk/

Black-necked Grebes

Three brightly summer plumaged birds have been showing well on the main lake at North Cave Wetlands for a few days - one amorous couple and one other male who seems to be something of a gooseberry! Never having seen a Black-necked Grebe before it was a treat for me to see them on my local reserve.  Hope we get a breeding pair.

Willow Warblers also arriving at North Cave after their long migration

Latest Events and Courses

Wolfreton school adult education photography classes will be going ahead after the Easter break.  The class will be one evening per week after 6pm over eight weeks. Starting date yet to be confirmed but for enrolment details please contact Theresa Gale at mrs.gale@wolfreton.co.uk or on 01482 670615.

I will also be leading a photography session and walk on behalf of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at Noddle Hill Nature reserve in Hull on 20th May. Attendance is free and details can be found here.

Adders on the move

A good time of year to see these handsome snakes.

Photography Classes at Wolfreton School

I will be teaching adult education photography classes at Wolfreton School shortly if enough people enrol.  The "taster" day is on Saturday March 10th where I will be running a one hour session in the morning from 11am to midday.  The school is situated on South Ella Way in Kirk Ella, tel: 01482 659356.

Elveden Forest

Crossbill male

We spent a few days at Elveden Forest Centreparc over the half-term break and I was hoping to spend some time looking for wildlife.  Grey Squirrels and Moorhens are everywhere and were often seen on top of the rubbish bins.  A bit of a shame the Centreparc doesn't recycle/compost its food waste but the Squirrels certainly thrive on the titbits.  I saw Squirrels eating various potato products and chinese food but unfortunately missed the tree rat drinking a carton of apple juice as witnessed by my wife!  Mallards arrived on the patio for bread at breakfast and tea-time, but there were other animals to see too and the Crossbills were a highlight for me.  I was looking forward to seeing some in the coniferous forest.

Crossbill female
 
Crossbill pair


Grey Squirrel I think eating a boiled potato!



Barnacle Geese



Male Siskin



Siskin juvenile or female



Brambling male



Chaffinch male



Collared Dove



Lesser Redpoll



Muntjac Deer