Crowle Moor NNR.....

Broad-leaved Helleborine.

Fledgling Whitethroat.

Superb heathland habitat.

Large Heath of the form 'Davus'.

Tree Bumblebee.

A change of scenery today,to visit one of my other summer haunts,saw me visiting this superb reserve,with plenty of highlights during my 5 plus hours on site.So to begin with,bird highlights consisted of at least 4 singing male Tree Pipit,watched giving that super,parachuting display flight akin to the Pipit family and i gained very nice views of one individual,with the other 3 birds being more distant.The best highlight from the avian world,was a flock of 5 Common Crossbill,watched 'Glipping' there way across the heath in an easterly direction,great birds and always a joy to see,these being all immature birds as well,a typical summer occurrance,but my first at this site.The Lepidopteran world was well represented today,by the reserve's speciality species,the Large Heath.At least 97 individuals were counted on my walk,with this being a great count and also pretty early to have such good numbers,the insects here are of the most southerly form 'Davus',with other's occurring further north in the form of 'Polydama' and 'Scotica'.Other butterfly species observed included singles of Peacock,Red Admiral and Speckled Wood and 10 Large Skipper.Other niceities observed during the visit,included at least 10 Common Lizard and possibly a significant find in the form of 3 spikes of what looked to be Dune Helleborine.The Helleborine's were beginning to flower like the Messingham population,but just not quite enough for photo's yet.A great day out to this superb reserve!.


The above found Helleborine's have been identified as Broad-leaved Helleborine.