Return to The Narrows, Spurn

So after time away, my first visit to The Narrows since a wet windy Sunday in late September.

A quiet afternoon but noted my first Black-tailed Godwits and Rock Pipit of the year there. The highlight was a Snow Bunting flying south. But 35-40 species without trying... a nice chilled afternoon!

Rough-legged Buzzard... at long last

Finally connected with a Rough-legged Buzzard today... been for a few and missed so it was rather nice to 'find' one of my own. One sat on the fenceposts on the Tophill Low NR approaches between the entrance and Easingwold Farm with a Common Buzzard took flight before the camera could come out. After a short disappearance it reappeared briefly heading north towards Decoy Wood. Might have seen a few but at last connected with one in Yorkshire. Raptor species number 22 or 23 for the month (Southwest Portugal write up still in progress!) Due to the amount of shooting, maybe this was the bird that has been reported from Leven Carrs on the pager several times this week.

Other than that, birding was quiet with a flyover Brambling and 2 Mediterranean Gulls in the roost the only other birds of note.

Still a few dragonflies on the wing... 7 Migrant Hawker and 21 Common Darter still surviving. Maybe some November records are available next week.

A couple of new species for myself for the season on the fungi front. Eyelash (top) and Shaggy Pholiota (below) are pictured.





I missed the moth trap fun... not much other than Green-brindled Crescent, one of the expected species for the time of year.

North American Squashbug second for Yorkshire

Something that wasn't on the 'expected to find list' for the year was Leptoglossus occidentalis - Western Conifer Seed Bug.




This individual was found on the wall of house in Fulford, York, by a colleague of Doug Fairweather who alerted him to 'a funny bug thing'. Fortunately, Doug was able to get photographs and identification.

A native of North America, the species has been introduced into Europe, appearing in the autumns of 2008 and 2009 in southern England. Up to receiving details from YNU, this appears to be the second Yorkshire record submitted to date, the other being in Leeds.

A typical weekend adding new species to Tophill's lists

Despite the rather cool weather, moth traps were still set at Tophill Low NR on Friday night. Some of the moths encountered by Doug Fairweather on Saturday morning included a Feathered Thorn (pictured below), while the micro Exapate congelatella was a new site record.



Doug also found the fungi False Chanterelle, which appears to be a new species for the reserve.

Time for some new posts!!!

Would appear a few folk are missing reading the blog, so after suggestions that I start blogging again - I best start typing!

Coming soon, maybe by the end of the weekend, hopefully by the end of next week, will be a summary of the recent trip to southwest Portugal counting raptors.