Hatfield Moor NNR.....Saturday 21st March 2015.

A visit to this excellent NNR today in the hope of some half decent weather and some encounters with our native Vipers,didn't go exactly to plan,with the hoped for sunshine not really materialising and it stayed cloudy for most of the visit and fairly cool to be fair...this is how our visit unfolded. As we left the car park a 'Yaffling' Green Woodie called near to us and a few metres away a distinct 'Chiff chaff' heralded my first Chiffchaff of the year,a good start.The Chiffie showed only briefly,in typical fashion,as they never stay still in one place until they find a mate and we didn't see the Green Woodpecker.
 After much searching we finally saw our target an Adder.In fact,2 males were found sheltering behind a clump of Silver Birch from the fairly strong north easterly wind and didn't stay put for long as they soon disappeared into the scrub and that was that.We did search in another area and managed to find another male,but none of the individuals showed particularly well today no doubt due to the poor conditions.
 After looking for the snakes,a chance find on a gate saw us enjoying some nice views of a male March Moth and constituted only my second sighting of this species.
 Back to the birds,saw us getting brief views on middle moor of a Merlin and while walking around the Dragon Pits the resident male Mandarin showed as he consorted with his Mallard buddies.
 The only other birds of note were a drumming male Great-spotted Woodpecker seen on a few occasions and three Jays.
 Not the best visit today,but time was at a premium and the weather certainly didn't help.

Blue Tit.

Blue Tit.

Great Tit.

Male March Moth.