Burnt-tip orchid (Dwarf orchid) Orchis ustulata - North Lincolnshire

Rare and declining one of my favourite orchids - this year we hit it right and caught them in their prime.

Parish birding..

Lots of good birds today within the parish including Grasshopper Warbler, 3Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler and good numbers of hirundines. So it seems most migrants are now in with the exception of Spotted Flycatcher but there's always tomorrow...

Red-backed Shrike at Bonby

Late evening shot of a stunning bird....

Badgers..

Spent an hour watching our local badgers last night and cannot comprehend how anyone can agree with what the government is currently doing so if you care too sign the petition through the link below

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

 

 

 

Great White Egret - Alkborough Flats

Found by Wayne last night at the Whitton end past the tower hide and still there this morning! Photo courtesy of Graham Catley whose fieldcraft was so good I never saw him on site!

Cones and Saxifrages….

In full bloom at Messingham today Meadow Saxifrage and pine cones also lots of Cowslips mostly flattened by photographers seen lying flat out on them!

Four-spotted Chaser

At last dragonflies were on the wing today with a few Four-Spots and Hairys whizzing round Messingham.

Green-winged Orchid - Anacamptis morio in N Lincs

Last time we went to look for Green-winged Orchid we found one flower spike, today there were hundreds!

 

Harris's Hawk.....

Just flown high south-east over the garden -  it's amazing what Wayne spots while gardening, but I first had this bird on Thursday while driving down Bagmoor Lane but was so worked up with the herbicide spraying that I forgot to mention it - well it has probably only come from the falconer who works Winterton tip.

Extremes….

Normanby Park’s woodlands are looking superb at the moment with Bluebells and wild Garlic in flower and indeed our own pond and garden are in full bloom with Wood Stitchwort, Yellow Archangel, Woodruff, Pink Campion, Cuckoo Flower and Marsh Marigold just a few of the plants at their spring best but just drive a half a mile away to the Normanby Estates Community Woodland and you will find the whole of the stretch of Bagmoor Lane sealed off with a sign “Caution keep off area sprayed with herbicide”, presumably the Blackcaps, Willow Warblers,  Chiffchaff,  Whitethroats,  Lesser Whitethroats,  Wrens and Robins which nest close to the ground were considered before this took place?

Bagmoor Lane

Pied Flycatcher, Messingham Sand Quarries

Just leaving the reserve this lunchtime when Wayne slammed the breaks on and shouted "Pied Flycatcher" and yes there in front of the car sitting in a hawthorne was a stunning male Pied Flycatcher!  Unfortunately after only a few more views and despite lots of searching  we could not relocated it so no photos.

Greater Scaup

This beautiful male Scaup turned up on our local pit on Sunday - it gave us the run around as it seemed to like commuting between a couple of pits.