Buff Ermine...

After arriving home from being out shopping,Trace found this caterpillar near to our back door.Having seen the species several times before i quickly id'd it as a Buff Ermine a common species of which we have trapped several times in the garden,the adult male moths being particularly attractive with their creamy white wings suffused with black streaks and yellow body.

Worlaby Carrs...

Another visit today to the local patch produced very little change from my last visit,with all the usual suspects being seen apart from a Jay flying along the Ancholme towards Bonby Carrs,this species being not very common down here at all,but as everyone knows they do tend to wander sometimes at this time of the year.Also observed today where the following sightings,1 Grey Wagtail,an increase in  Green Sandpiper's to 5,5 Common Buzzard,1 juv. Marsh Harrier,2 Kingfisher,2 Chiffie's and a Blackcap.Other non bird sightings comprised of 3 Roe Deer,Small White,Comma and Small Tortoiseshell and a handfull of Common Darter's.

Buzzard Bonanza...

A visit to the patch this morning for four hours,saw a good number of Common Buzzards moving along the valley in ideal conditions,with at least 25 seen,which included 1 group of 10 birds.This was great to see and it looks like it has been another good breeding season for this superb raptor species.In the days when i first started birding Common Buzzard was a county rarity and required a written description,how things have changed!.Other sightings of the avian variety included my first local Merlin of the autumn watched chasing a Meadow Pipit but to no avail,the Mip escaping just in time,2 Green Sandpiper,the solitary male Stonechat still near the railway crossing and a couple of juv. Marsh Harriers.There was still a few warblers hanging on with single Chiffchaff,2 juv. Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap seen and a few groups of Swallow and House Martins.Insect sightings included 4 species of butterfly and 3 species of dragonfly.A nice few hours on the patch.

Linc's Coast..

After seeing yesterday what had been seen at Spurn,it gave me some inspiration to try and find something on the Linc's coast,so i got up at 5 and headed for Donna Nook for first light.As i arrived at Stonebridge just as the first flickers of dawn started to appear i got my gear together and began my walk towards Pye's Hall,quickly seeing a Reed Warbler,Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat around the car park area,with me seeing little else before i arrived at Pye's.At Pye's i walked around all the usual areas seeing another Redstart and hearing a Pied Flycatcher which wouldn't show itself and had a single Brambling over west along with 3 Grey Wagtail.Other sightings in this area and along the developing foreshore included 3 Brent Geese,9 Greenshank,2 juv. Whinchat,1 Merlin and 4 Pintail.I then walked out to the sea to see if there was anything interesting loafing on the beach,but didn't see anything of note apart from a flock of 20 Common Scoter and a few Sandwich and Common Terns and also some close encounters with the local Seals.After spending my time at Donna i met up with Colin and Sheila and we headed for Covenham Res.The best birds here where a single confiding juv. Little Stint,juv. Wheatear,3 Common Sandpipers and a single juv. Common Tern.An enoyable day,if only i had seen the Short-toed Lark that flew south into Linc's from Spurn!!but thats birding for you.

All Hail The King..

A visit to the deep south of the county today for the Eclipse male King Eider,didn't disappoint with us eventually finding the bird albeit at long range,with the orange patch on the bill being just about visible.We watched the bird for about three hours, as it swam about on its own not associating with its commoner cousins while we watched it.This,thankfully,is my 3rd sighting of the species,with me seeing adult drakes at the Ythan Estuary in February 1991 and Lossiemouth in December 1994,i think i would have been a little dissapointed if it was a new bird on the views we gained,but it is a cracking record for the county and not really at the expected time of year,just goes to show you never know what can turn up!This was a most welcome addition to the county list,mine now standing at a measly 308.Other birds seen during my seven hour visit included my first juv. Little Stint of the autumn at nearby Frieston Shore,juv. Shag at the Witham Mouth,3 Ruff,2 Green Sandpiper,adult Peregrine,6 Greenshank,1 Brent Goose,2 Little Tern,2 juv. Marsh Harrier and a juv. Wheatear which gave great views infront of the cut end hide.Non bird sightings included 1 each of Common and Grey Seals,5 Brown Hare,4 species of butterfly and 2 species of dragonfly.A great day out in the excellent weather,despite the long journey.

Vapourer at last!!

I have been attempting to get a photograph of this species for a very long time,but by complete chance i was visiting my sister-in-laws and found this male resting on her shed door,a cracking little moth and some compensation for not being able to get to the King Eider,fingers crossed for next w.end.

Worlaby-Bonby Carrs..

After finishing my last night shift of the week and it looking like a nice morning i decided to go out straight from work and walk round Worlaby and Bonby Carrs,to see what goodies i could find.The best bird of note on a local patch scale of things,was a Little Egret watched feeding in the Weir dyke adjacent to the Ancholme,this being only my second record down here and always nice to see.In this general area where also a male Marsh Harrier,a single juv. Hobby watched hawking Common Darters and a single Kingfisher,the Hobby showing particularly well.A personal favourite was my final notable sighting of the day,3 juv. Whinchat watched flycatching between the car park and the poplar wood and gave great views.Other bird sightings comprised of the usual suspects,4 Green Sands,5 Marsh Harrier,17 Common Buzzard,2 more juv. Hobby and 2 Swift.Insect sightings comprised of 7 species of butterfly,3 species of dragonfly and Mammal sightings, 3 smart Roe Deer,2 males and a female,the 2 males showing really well as they chased each other through a set-aside field at Bonby.A great day out locally,despite being a bit knackered when i got home.