Uphill and Down Dale - again!

On May 24th Barry and I made a return visit to Leyburn Old Glebe YWT to look for orchids. There were carpets of green-winged orchids.

Green-winged Green-winged

Green-winged Green-winged

A special treasure at Leyburn are the burnt-tip orchids. Only a couple found this year.

Burnt-tip Burnt-tip

Wednesday 25th May Barry and I went up to Cresswell, Druridge Pools and Castle Island. The Bonaparte's gull eluded us but we saw a pectoral sandpiper at Boldon Flats and a little stint on a flash by Druridge Pools. In a hide there a swallow perched in front of us. Swallow Swallow

On the 28th I went to Alkborough where I saw bearded tits [but failed to get them to pose for me] along with other well-known friends. Here's a few...

Shelduck displaying then scarpering!

Shelduck

Shelduck Orange-tip

Sometimes the bird doesn't need to be dominate the whole image! Reed Bunting

Exocet.

Avocet I then drove to Spaunton Quarry where I saw very little. Just a wall butterfly.

Wall Brown On the way home I called at a site near Farnham [Knaresborough way] where I did rather better. Small blues. Small Blue

On May 29th Sheila and I went to Kilnsey Park for a walk with an expert in the SSSI there.

Kilnsey Crag Orchid heaven. Also featured: a friendly willow warbler. I'll start with a few early marsh orchids. Early Marsh

Early Marsh Early Marsh

Hybrid marsh orchid we were told.

Marsh Orchid Hybrid

Early purple.

Early Purples Butterwort and bird's-eye primrose.

Butterwort Bird's-eye Primrose

The warbler with food.

Willow Warbler Willow Warbler Willow Warbler Ambition fulfilled: Lady's Slipper orchids.

Lady's Slipper

Lady's Slipper

Lady's Slipper

Lady's Slipper

On the way home we called at Farnham again so Sheila could see the small blues. They were very co-operative!

Small Blue Small Blue Small Blue Small Blue

Yesterday: glossy ibis at North Cave. Glossy Ibis Glossy Ibis Glossy Ibis Today: great white egret North Duffield. No photos due to the distance.

221 2016