10/3/22
Had my first Chiffchaff singing on Middledyke Fields Thursday evening. Early so wondered whether it might have overwintered but only got brief views so couldn’t tell if it was of the Siberian race.
11/3/22 Had my first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of 2022 on Canongate this morning. Too mobile but needn’t have worried as I encountered several more on my walk. Also a male Brimstone but they rarely stop. I had a singing Chiffchaff in Oppy Wood but no sign of yesterday’s bird so likely a single mobile bird. Only one other local sighting so far at Burton Bushes. No sign of any Siskin.
The emergence of butterflies today was the signal to put the moth trap out for the first time this year catching a single Common Quaker. A species expected early spring.
12/3/22
13/3/22
14/3/22 Had at least two Chiffchaff on Willerby Carr this morning so now arriving in numbers. Also a good of Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies on the wing.
15/3/22
Chiffchaffs singing at Millbeck Wildlife Area on Tuesday morning and a friend had several on Snuff Mill Lane fields.
A flock of Whooper Swan flying north at dusk near Waterworks Cottages were my first in the village but had seen a flock over Haltemprice Farm a similar time last year that would have flown over Cottingham.
Had Beautiful Plume moth on the kitchen door this evening.
17/3/22 A walk to Beverley Parks
19/3/22
22/3/22
23/3/22
24/3/22
26/3/22
A walked round Willerby Carr on Saturday evening added Red-legged Partridge at Southwood Farm, the only other record this year being along the approach road to Tophill Low NR and a Snipe over Carr Farm, again the only the records so far being at Tophill Low NR.
28/3/22 Having seen Canada goose occasionally on Northmoor Lane, just outside my Cottingham Patch, a pair over Park Lane on Monday morning could finally be added to the patch year list.
Heard what I assume was my wintering Blackcap in better song by Church View early evening. However I have yet to encounter any migrants.
29/3/22 Walked round Willerby Carr early Tuesday evening. Nothing note worthy bird-wise although there were no Wigeon at Carr Farm but they might not yet have departed [still present on Saturday] properly. Pete Scot among others had seen a Water Vole in the drain along Swine Bank last week. I had seen a large swimming rodent on Saturday but couldn’t exclude Brown Rat which I had seen in the area before, however today after seeing some disturbance in the water managed to get up close to “Ratty” the Water Vole. My only other records in the area were one along Willerby Low Road and another in Oppy Road, both in this decade.
30/3/22 A walk up Park Lane on Wednesday evening added Red-legged Partridge to my Cottingham Patch year list.
31/3/22 The end of March we seems to have returned temporarily to winter. However Chiffchaffs were still singing Middledyke Fields/Oppy Wood
Despite an early arrival of Chiffchaff I haven’t encountered any further migrants but hopefully after this brief chill early April proper spring bird migration should start along with the emergence of more butterflies and moth and maybe early dragonflies. Told there were two Blackcap at Millbeck Wildlife Area this evening but didn’t connect.
Latest update on Tophill Low NR access https://tophilllow.blogspot.com/2022/04/tophill-tours-limited-access-to-reserve.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR26uAywHpzFb35rnSk2zqN8dwoZl7PZ6wg40nGg1g6ISCYjIVviCYU8aqY Basically no general access but booked escorted tours.
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