Flycatcher, spotted

Hot action!

Exhausting work for little birding reward. Luckily a Spotted Flycatcher was on hand at Harpham to save the weekend. My first locally since spring 2015. There were two other year ticks in the form of Great Black-backed Gull and Hobby.

14th-15th July

Mute Swan - pair with 1 'mid-sized' cygnet
Greylags - 40+
Canada Goose - 18
Gadwall - 2, unusual in summer (poss breeding?)
Tufted Duck - 1
Heron - 5
Sparrowhawk - 1
Buzzard - 10
Kestrel - 3
Hobby - 1
Oystercatcher - 2
Lapwing - flock of 40
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Great Black-backed Gull - 1
Stock Dove - flock of 10
Swift - flock of 300+ over Wansford
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
'hirundines' - increased since May but still low nos
Yellow Wagtail - proven breeding at Kelk. 2 others noted.
Mistle Thrush - 1
Sedge Warbler - 5
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 at Harpham
Bullfinch - 1
Reed Bunting - several

Lots of butterflies around, including an abundance of whites (300+), plenty of Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock (double figures of each), also 1 Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 1 Comma.

A Black-tailed Skimmer at Gembling is possible a new species locally for me (need to check!). A Common Darter was along Kelk Beck and several Hawkers (probably Migrant Hawkers but I'm not entirely sure) were seen. My recording of dragonflies is intermittent at best - must try harder.

1. Meadow Brown. A very common and widespread hedgerow butterfly.

2. Ringlet. Much as above although especially in July when they can be abundant.

3. Small White. In my notes I lazily write 'white sp' against counts of the three white butterfly species. I have never got the hang of quickly identifying them without peering closely and so it would take forever to sort them all out. I think all three are abundant but not sure which is the most so.

4. Yellow Wagtail. This male was food carrying and there was at least two others calling nearby. There's probably 3-5 pairs across the area, though this is the only proven one so far this summer.

5. Buzzard. Not the best month for seeing them but the weather seemed to encourage having a good old soar about, mostly very high up, though this one obliged lower-down enough for a photo.

Yearlist...

099 Spotted Flycatcher
100 Great Black-backed Gull
101 Hobby

May

Here's a belated review of my visit in May. Alas I wasn't able to make a visit in June, it's been busy busy busy with one thing and another.

As reported at the time the highlight was a singing Cetti's Warbler for the second year.

19th and 20th May.

Mute Swan - 6
Greylag Goose - 24
Canada Goose - 10
Shelduck - 1
Gadwall - 4
Teal - 1
Mallard - 30+
Tufted Duck - 8
Red-legged Partrigde - 5
Grey Partridge - 2
Little Grebe - 2
Cormorant - 1
Little Egret - 2
Heron - 9
Sparrowhawk - 5
Buzzard - 13
Kestrel - 8
Oystercatcher - 1
Lapwing - 22
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Herring Gull - 40+
Cuckoo - 2 different males calling
Swift - 18+
Kingfisher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3
Sand Martin - plenty
Swallow - low numbers (maybe 20+)
House Martin - low numbers (15+)
Meadow Pipit - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 4
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 10
Reed Warbler - 3
Blackcap - widespread
Garden Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Whitethroat - 28 is a healthy total!
Chiffchaff - widespread
Willow Warbler - 5
Bullfinch - 1

Quite a few butterflies on the wing. Most numerous were Orange Tip (20+) followed by several Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and whites and 3 Speckled Wood.

A male Four-spotted Chaser (dragonfly) was at Kelk Beck.

1. Canada Goose - proven breeding! They don't breed every year (or they hide well) and there's never more than a couple of pairs across the area. I guess they just prefer parks and built up areas.

2. Pair of Gadwall. There is a peak in sighthings every spring as birds disperse from wintering sites to search out breeding sites. They are hard to locate in summer though ducklings have been seen in a few years. My guess is they don't breed every year.

3. Sedge Warbler. The total of 10 males present is rather low.

4. Shelduck. Another species that has bred but doesn't particularly favour the area. The last known success was quite a few years ago now and they've become quite scarce.

5. And finally - Stock Dove. An understated but much underrated bird.

Yearlist additions:

094 - Swift
095 - Yellow Wagtail
096 - Cetti's Warbler
097 - Reed Warbler
098 - Garden Warbler