North Linc's....

A visit to a few sites today in the North of the county began at the local patch,with the best highlights being 2 fledged juv. Marsh Harrier,always nice to see and especially when they are ten minutes from home!.There seemed to be young birds about everywhere today,with excellent views of Tree Sparrows,Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler,amazing to think that the latter two species will be making their long migrational journeys to Africa soon.Other notable sightings included my first Common Darter of the year and a single teneral male Southern Hawker.
 The next place we visited was Conesby Quarry at Scunthorpe,a disused iron stone mine,which we visited as part of a Butterfly conservation field meeting to look for Grayling.I managed to see at least 37 individual insects and managed some decent shots of this lovely butterfly.Other highlights here included 2 singing male Grasshopper Warbler and several Mottled Grasshopper in various colour combinations,a nice little species!.

 The final place we visited was the superb Messingham Sand Quarries,were the best sighting for me of the day was a cracking,pristine,July Highflyer which Adi found,a beauty!.Other sightings of note comprised of 2 special plants,Dune and Marsh Helleborine,the former a very rare flower nationally and just coming into flower now.I also managed to see my first Emperor dragonfly of the year here also,with 2 males being recorded.So all in all a great day out with Adi and Dave in the baking sun,with some decent pic's hopefully!.