Under the weather...

Feeling listless and I ache all over - probably just a spring cold [I hope]. Still I don't feel like doing much other than sitting at the laptop and updating my blog and current photo book.

So, let's make a start.

May 12th: Great Cowden and Kilnsea: I was up very early to see the smart looking brown shrike at Great Cowden. Not to be, alas. And I had a fall in a nasty little greasy dip en route not to see it. Determined to make something of the day I headed for Kilnsea. Wryneck seen distantly on a wire then flew off bouncing its way down the road towards the Crown & Anchor. Then someone spotted a yellow wagtail in the field diagonally across from the old Blue Bell cafe.

I was somewhat puzzled by this bird: it seems rather bright for a female. Is it just a female yellow wag? Anyway, here's the male.

Swallow on the wires by the Blue Bell.

May 14th: Appleton-le-Moors & Hawnby

I visited two sites that over the years took me a long time to identify - that I found them at all was mainly thanks to poor old Nigel Stewart - much missed. The targets were butterflies, rare ones, at both sites. First site took me a long time to find them as they had moved further down the glen and, maybe, I was a bit early and it took a while for the optimum temperature to be reached. Still they did appear and lots of them - 50 or more. They were everywhere and very active. I despaired any would ever land anywhere near me. Patience paid off!

For a while I satisfied myself with a few chiffchaff and yellowhammer photos.

It was easy to get excited whenever a small tortoiseshell flashed past.

Now for the pearl bordered fritillaries [not the much more common small pearl-bordered - they appear a little later]

One of the diagnostic features is the ''duck's head'' on the hind wing. Look for the orange head with a black eye and a white bill!

Then it was on to Hawnby Hill for the Duke. Leaving Appleton-le-Moors I spotted a hare in the middle of a field. I drove on a 100m or so and walked back staying behind a stone wall as much as possible.

View looking south from my climb up the northern flank.

The heavy booming thud thud of a large helicopter filled the air and 2 chinooks came into view low over the village.

Eventually I reached the gates to the Duchy of Burgundy. Green-veined white on a solitary greater stitchwort, I think.

Primroses flowering quite late up here - they are the Duke's key food plant. 

Dukes are tiny - wingspan about 3cms. I was very lucky to see this pair and I took 3 shots whereupon they fell off the blade of grass and disappeared in the scrub below!  Tree pipit just outside the site on my walk back.

I called at Sutton Bank for the early purple orchids.

May 16th: Fairburn

Little seen. Here's a dog rose.

Unusually, although I would normally end my blog with a full stop I've broken with tradition. I've used a comma instead

197 UK 2019