Fox Cub

Yesterday was another very windy day where we saw virtually nothing however did bump into the Cranes again flying in a different area to where we saw them last week and we also came across a family of Foxes - here’s one cub trying to fend for itself.

 

Spring flowers in the Park

As usual in spring Normanby Park’s flowers are looking stunning….

and even the dead stuff has its uses - this dead tree currently has Great Tit, Blue Tit and Treecreeper nesting in the crevices which just goes to show the importance of leaving dead trees.  Am getting sightly worried about my Spotted Flycatchers as I have only seen them once since their arrival, can’t understand why they aren’t at the nest site maybe they’re still feeding up after their epic journey - if only they knew the worry they cause!

Spring at Alkborough Flats

A selection of digishots all taken by Neil Drinkall at Alkborough this spring. Today I paid a visit to the new little reserve I mentioned in my post dated 8th May 2011 - I’m still not going to name the site as it has still not been officially launched - a great visit this morning with family broods of Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher running around and several pairs of Avocet, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Grey Partridge a quick visit from a Common Tern and all serenaded by YellowHammers, Lesser Whitethroats, Linnets, a couple of Bullfinch and a rare sight(for me in Normanby anyway) a Green Finch!

Common Cranes - North Lincs

Had a call tonight to see a pair of Common Cranes within the Scunthorpe Bird Reporting area - always great to see Common Cranes and also to hear their wonderful call.

Marsh Cinquefoil - Potentilla palustris

Had these beautiful flowers pointed out to me by John the warden at Messingham this morning - I had gone to see if the Pom Skua was still there (it wasn’t) - I had stood at this little marsh only on Sunday and had completely overlooked these!  Sadly my brood of 9 Shelducks is now down to 6 - chief culprit Pomarine Skua?

Royal Fern uncurling!

A couple more of Messingham’s Pom Skua

Flight shots taken by Wayne this evening of the Scunthorpe area’s first spring record of Pomarine Skua

Pomarine Skua at Messingham Sand Quarries

Fabulous find at Messingham this evening by Karen and Simon Spavin - photos below by Neil Drinkall - as far as we know this is an excellent first spring record for the Scunthorpe area, blown inland by today's strong westerly gales - Wayne’s photos to follow shortly.
First image is sat on a Coot’s nest having taken all the eggs - also took Black Headed Gull’s eggs - it had better not get my Shelduck chicks.

Messingham’s broods

Lots of successful families seen at Messingham Sand Quarries today including these Shelduck chicks which must qualify as the cutest ever, lets hope the Pike don’t get them,

and here’s our Willow Tit family again not yet left the nest although another family of Willow Tits have fledged on the reserve.  Also seen today were 4 superb Hobbys, 1 Peregrine and a pair of Spotted Flycatchers.

Timing is everything..

and this is what happens when you get it wrong - stunning flowers that are just past their best!  found in a local wood whilst desperately listening for Golden Orioles see http://theshadoxhurstgarden.blogspot.com/

Early Purple Orchid/Orchis mascula

Yellow Pimpernel/ Lysimachia nemorum

Bugle/ Ajuga reptans

Yellow Archangel/Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Sanicle/Sanicula europaea

Skunk Cabbage - before & afters

Well spring is quickly moving on in the Park particularly where the Skunk Cabbage is concerned - here are a few before and after shots  - I can see now where the name Skunk Cabbage comes from, it was particularly pungent this morning and the leaves are certainly cabbage size.

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14/03/2011 - 17/5/2011

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24/3/2011 - 17/5/2011

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4/4/2011 - 17/5/2011