Humberhead Peatlands And North Linc's.

With an excellent forecast for today i decided to visit one of my favourite spring and summer destinations at Crowle and Thorne Moors.I arrived on site at the nice new car park just as the sun was rising above the horizen,got the kit and pack up together and made my way onto the reserve.A quick scan of the fields along the approach track revealed the first 4 of 16 Roe Deer seen while on site,a very impressive count and a sight i always enjoy to see.There was plenty of birdsong as i made my way onto the first part of the reserve,with a chorus of Skylark,Song Thrush,Blackbird,Robin and Chaffinches.After walking for about an hour two good sightings came within quick succession,the first a 2nd calendar year female Marsh Harrier was watched hunting giving some nice views,the second,a good sized flock of 47 Whooper Swan trumpeted their way north over the reserve onto Thorne Moors.After reaching the small bailey bridge which crosses over the Warping drain onto Thorne Moors i had a quick drink and something to eat before carrying on my journey.Will Pitts scrape revealed a single Redhead Goosander and female Goldeneye along with Tufties,Pochard,Teal,Shoveler and Gadwall.Highlights seen on the moor itself included 2 singing male Willow Tit and another female Marsh Harrier,this time an adult and 4 singing male Reed Bunting,showing further signs of spring to come.The rest of the journey saw no further sightings of note and i made my way back to the car,in now sweltering conditions for the time of year.After visiting this superb area,i decided to go and have another look for the Little Bunting at Lea,but after spending a good hour or so,there was no sign,but some compensation was had in the form of some good numbers of butterflies,with five species seen.This included my 'First' Small White,Brimstones(2),Small Tortoiseshell(5),Comma(2) and my second sightings of the year of Peacock(2).The Small White was my earliest personal record of the species.As it was on the way home i dropped in at the Adder site in Laughton Forest,but again drew a blank,but saw more butterflies in the form of 2 Brimstone,2 Small Tort and a Peacock.There was also a few insect 'Firsts' for the year for me here and these included 2 Green-tiger Beetles and a handfull of Buff-tailed Bumble Bees.As i made my way back home i reflected on what a great day it had been in some cracking weather at last.

Crowle Moor NNR.

Crowle Moor NNR.

Crowle Moor NNR.

Reed Bunting,Thorne Moors NNR.

Comma,Laughton Forest.

Comma,Laughton Forest.