A couple of free days again this weekend,saw me heading to a few sites in the north of the county today to enjoy some birding and hopefully a few animals and insects as well with the warmer weather of late.
I had agreed to meet up with Dave today and we started off by visiting a lovely site to show Dave his first ever Woodlarks.
After heading onto the site,it wasn't long before we enjoyed superb views on the ground and above us of several Woodlarks,including three males which proceeded to chase each other.
It was brilliant to be enjoying their lovely melancholy songs again,it really does take some beating in my opinion.
When we had enjoyed our fill of these beautiful heathland songsters,we travelled over to Messingham Sand Quarries for the remainder of the day,which proved a good decision.
As we began to walk around the reserve,i managed to find a few insects in the form of Seven-spot and Pine Ladybirds and several Bumble Bees of two species,White and Buff-tailed.
As we walked passed the old dipping platform area,we came across the first of at least 20 Common Toads,as several males jostled to mate with a poor female,which was unfortunately getting smothered in a mating ball by at least 5 males.
We spent a good portion of our visit between the Duck and Wader hides and saw some nice birds to be fair which included a lovely flock of 12 Brambling,a female Marsh Harrier,a single Avocet,Green Sandpiper and then a flock of at least 10 Sand Martin,my first proper summer migrants of the year.
Plenty of scans through the breeding Black-headed Gulls,revealed no surprises unfortunately.
By now it was lunch time and Dave headed home,while i drove around to look at the sheep fields and new workings area.
This proved a good decision,as i was scanning the opposing woodland,i heard a Raven calling and one dropped in on the fields at the side of the new workings,it was later joined by another bird,so are most probably a young inexperienced pair,as most adults are sitting on eggs by now.
Shortly after enjoying the Ravens a lovely Peregrine flew by and gave some nice views.
Other bits around here included 12 Common Buzzard,a single Pink-footed Goose and 5 Egyptian Geese.
I finished the day on a respectable 74 species and this along with all the other sightings made for another great visit to the area.
Phone-scoped Black-headed Gulls,Messingham Sand Quarries LWTR.
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| Phone-scoped Cormorants,Messingham Sand Quarries LWTR. |
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| Male Common Toad,Messingham Sand Quarries LWTR. |
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| Heathland Landscape. |
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