Last few Days in Northowram

Last friday I had 2 Small groups of Canada Geese a 6 and a 7 heading high north in the middle of the 7 was a Greylag which is a first for me here.1 Oystercatcher over the house yesterday morning calling louldly and a few swifts on the move yesterday evening.On the 10th a WHITETHROAT could be herd calling from the front garden,now that a garden tick.

Bee

I think this is a Andrena cineraria.A very hansom Bee.Also if anyone could id the plant its on I would be most grateful.

Scotland

Lunar Brown

Pale Prominent

Chequered Skipper
To say it rained Sat - Wens and one car with 3 Kids in the back scrapping all the time it didnt turn out bad.
Moths,Pale Prominent,Small Argent and sable,Scorched Wing,Nut tree tussock,May Highflyer,Lunar Brown,Nut tree tussock and Least Black Arches.
Birds...Osprey(loads)Golden Eagle(1),White Tailed Eagle(1)Black Thraoated Dive(2adults)Black Guillimot(loads)Wood warbler,Pied Fly,
Mammals....Pine Martin(a beauty)Otter(2)Red Squirel (3)
Butterflies....Chequered Skipper(12)Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary,Small Copper,Orange Tip and Green Veined White.

Its Grim up Notrh

The strong wind and rain seem to have besieged Northowram for the last week with little chance of getting out.From the house today
20 Swifts N/w
3 LBBGull West
4 GBBGull west
10 Swallows N/w
4 Linnets

More Swifts

Loads more Swifts going north today along with Swallows and the odd H.Martin.Also Whitethroat singing its heart outback for its 3rd year.

Swifts

With the November weather kicking in, it has forced the moving swifts low over the village today with small parties on the mopve all day.House Martins and 2 LBBGull west as well,Sparrowhawks have been seen this week carrying food(house Sparrow and Collared Dove)to as yet an unfound nest site.Linnets again feeding in the front garden.

Just out of interest

No-one yet knows whether swine flu will become a global pandemic, but it is becoming clear where it came from – most likely a giant pig factory farm run by an American multinational corporation in Veracruz, Mexico.
These factory farms are disgusting and dangerous, and they're rapidly multiplying. Thousands of pigs are brutally crammed into dirty warehouses and sprayed with a cocktail of drugs -- posing a health risk to more than just our food -- they and their manure lagoons create the perfect conditions to breed dangerous new viruses like swine flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) must investigate and develop regulations for these farms to protect global health.

Another Buzzard

Another Buzzard today over the house,sent the local corvid population a bit crazy.Sparrowhawk,Linnets in the garden,Swallows,Chiff and Bcaps.

A 'TRIP' out

Click on Pics for a half decent view
Always nice to see a Dotterel locally and 3 today 1 Female and 2 males was no exception.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Yesterday I went to see this pair of Lesser peckers Just down the road.The male was watched excavating the nest site for about 10 mins before the female turned up.The male then turned his attentions immediately to the female.they both flew of to a nearby branch copulated and then chased each other around the tree for another five minutes.A very rare sight to have witnessed.They are very illusive at the beat of times.

Mallard chicks.

First brood of mallard chicks today with 8young swimming around the bottom pond.Speckled Wood,Small white,Peacock, Small tortoiseshell and swarms of eriocrania subpurpurella.Swallows are well in now as well as Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

A Cold and quiet Week

The cold north easterly has put an end to the spring like conditions.3 Swallows and 3 Lapwing north the highlight of today.This Phyllonorycter maestingella(thanks for the pic Charlie) emerged from a blister mine found on the beech tree in the back garden,its a very pale individual.Loads of caterpillers found this week while doing the allotment and recycling the composter.A willow warbler sang briefly while at the allotment.

Migrants and moths at last

10th April better late than never,1 swallow,1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.also still mipits over the house and 2 Swallows on Sunday heading north.Loads of moths this week including this Purple Thorn one of my favourites.

Spring and first early Thorn

(Early Thorn)
I was stood in the local wood today and could hear Nuthatch calling ,2 great spotted woodpecker drumming and a Green woodpecker Yaffling away, at the same time the sun was shining and all was good with the world.2 linnets took the year list to a massive 52 and still no migrants.

Stigmella aurella/emerges

The Leaf mine that I found on the 18th february emerged today.i am well pleased with this result.The middle photo shows the small case spun by the larvae in which the adult emerged from today.

Last weeks moths

Been a good week for Moths for march still hav'nt seen a butterfly yet.
Acleris Hyemana x1
Pale Pinion x1
Small quaker x2
clouded drab x3
Common Quaker x32
Hebrew Character x25
Early Grey x6
Mottled Grey x1
Chestnut x2
Sattellite x1

Buzzard

A Common Buzzard circled above Only House wood today and was last seen heading towards Shibden Valley at 11.20.Green woodpecker in the back garden and 11 Meadow Pipits n/w.

Lapwing and Mipits

Looks like Lapwing are on territory locally and seen displaying on wenesday
A good movement of Mipits N/W this week
Sunday Mipits 24(11+4+ 1+1+1 +6)4 alba wags and 18 Redwing also GSW,Jay and Song thrush over the Garden
Monday Mipits 89(2+44 +11 +17 +10)
Tuesday Mipits 30(14 +1+1 +4+6+4)
Wenesday Mipits 10(6+4)
Casual obsevations from the garden.

Monday morning

39 Herring Gull and 2 LBBGull west

First Skylark

First Skylark today makes it to the dizzy heights of 51 for the year.30 Common Gull,20 woodpigs,LTTits nest building,1 Grey wagtail,Kestrel and 1 Song Thrush.

EGP today

A quick look round today produced 2 gooseander,5 Cormorants,1 Goldeneye very little else.

Allways nice to see.

3 Song thrush n full voice today and this one above feeding on the back lawn.37 Woodpigeon ,and 44 Fieldfare n/w and 4 each of mallard and Canada goose over the house north.

Stigmella aurella

(pic by C.street,cheers)spot the caterpiller
Found loads of these leaf mines today on bramble.also 14 and 3 Herring Gulls west and Sparrowhawk displaying again today.14 Fieldfare flew north at dusk.

46 and 50 sort of A WEEK

Birthday week also2 Mallard and calling Goldcrest finally made it on to the list now at 48,then on Friday 4 skiens of Pinkfeet heading west totalled 400 +also 2 herring Gull,11 lapwing 30 redwing ,1 Cormorant and a Grey Heron.Greenfinch have been seen displaying for the first time this week and also Little Owl and grey wag seen a couple of times.

Monday morning walk

3,Canada geese over the house,2 Bullfinch,7 House sparrow,2 Stock dove,1 Green woodpecker,7 Goldfinch and 10 Blackbirds.

Saturday Morning walk

1 little Owl
1 Grey wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk(female)
1 Song Thrush
9 lapwing
3 Stock dove
An excellent mornings walk.

Birds Bins and Bullets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlIigrVcjcQ

2 4 Joy(more snow please)

Lamp Post outside the house

Fungi in Lime Green Slime