Keeping up Appearances in the Hull Valley

After last year's appearance at Tophill Low it was fantastic sight to see once again. Certainly as far as VC61 records go the earliest... perhaps the earliest in Yorkshire ever!!!

Looking the best it can in poor light, and halfway up a tree somewhere in D Wood at Tophill Low, here we have Tophill's sixth confirmed record... I remember the others that were obviously Hairys but didn't get pinned down...

Below are the best record shots.





Now to let you in on a little secret. Hairy Dragonflies, as well as being seen at Tophill Low last year, were also seen at Broomfleet Washlands and at Leven Canal walking from the east to the west. How far you walk to see one is up to you - I guess it depends how good your eyes are! Please note that weather conditions play a big part but they are there... trust me. I think the dates for last year are still on the dragonfly archive sightings page, but they are on the wing until late June/early July at least.

Keep up to date with the latest dragonfly sightings in VC61, and some cracking pictures at:-

http://www.erdragonflies.co.uk/yorkshire/

And don't forget to submit any sightings. Surely Hairy Dragonflies aren't only seen at the 3 sites mentioned above? There must be scope for someone to see and photograph one elsewhere.

So onto the highlights of a good day at Tophill Low.

Dragonfly totals - counted with Doug Fairweather and ERDragonfly... 81 Large Red Damselfly, 70 Azure Damselfly, 29 Common Blue Damselfly, 12 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 2 Red-eyed Damselfly, 1 Hairy Dragonfly and 8 Four-spotted Chaser.

The best of my pictures today.









And the best of the rest. Well the moth traps caught a few moths, several Swallow Promient, Flame Shoulder, Hebrew Charactor and Powdered Quaker. One Horse Chestnut Leaf Minor moth was at a trap at the North End of Tophill which also held this Poplar Hawkmoth



This Acanthosoma haemorrhiodae was in Sgt. Major Wood



Here we have Mesembria meridiana





And on the orchid front, Common Twayblade looks like it will be in flower soon.



As ever, this write up is only the day's worth of interest we made out of our day. And on the birding front we actually failed to do any!

Keep up to date with the latest sightings and events at Tophill Low with the Warden Richard Hampshire at http://tophilllow.blogspot.com/