For those that aren't with us... eggared on to find a steak

A rather quiet weekend due to some nasty west,northwest winds and showers.

However, this does allow for a catch up for the week's events. On the mothing front, this Pale Egger was trapped, and photographed, at Ryton, North Yorkshire, last Sunday by Doug Fairweather.



Walks around the park in Howden, East Yorkshire turned up little... 2 Migrant Hawker and a Southern Hawker the best of it at the end of the week.

Luckily for some, with time off, Neil Hart was able to have some days out in the field. Despite missing the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, he was able to get the Semi-palmated Sandpiper in Lincs, and another trip to Spurn saw him viewing a Barred Warbler as I cursed in the office. Not much fun working while your mate is having a fun time birding!

Little in the moth traps on Saturday morning at Tophill Low NR, East Yorkshire. A cold Friday night meant the best of it was a Sallow!!!

Saturday was the 'Friends of Keith Allison' gathering which saw many friends and family coming together. A fantastic spread of food was put on and a very nice group of folk met to spend time chatting about Keith, birding, memories and allotments. Sheila made a fantastic speech about their great life together... from falling in the water on the Broads in deepest, darkest Norfolk to going into Tiger infested woodlands in India... to going around Tophill and all the enjoyment it gave them.

Squally showers on Sunday saw Neil and myself heading out to Houghton Moor in search of shelter and hopefully seeing a few things. A good site for dragonflies we managed 59 Migrant Hawker, 2 Common Hawker and 4 Southern Hawkers during the sunny periods.

We did manage to find this rather impressive looking specimen.





Playing on google, and sending photographs to Doug Fairweather to have a look at, it is thought this is possibly Beefsteak Fungus. One of the common species but new to us.

The late Keith Allison was a great tutor on the subject of funghi to both Doug and myself. I'm not so sure of what he would make of his two enthusiastic numpty-like beginners trying to play the game and naming things without his guidance... other than placing his head in hands, laughing... and saying when we used to enjoy lunch at the Tophill picnic tables 'Ooh no... not more cakes... I'll just have one! This is really a lot of fun'.