This past week i.e. 1st June – 6th June has been very quiet in Ryedale in ornithological terms – all the summer migrants are back and the resident birds are nesting; in fact some of them like the local Blackbirds are actually bringing off a second clutch of youngsters. On Tuesday 2nd June I met up with my birding mate Alf for some survey work on Honey Buzzards, but our 2 hour visit at a local site proved completely fruitless, rather worryingly though in the 2 hour visit we recorded no Common Buzzard either. Considering all the persecution of raptors that has taken place during ‘Lockdown’ I sincerely hope that these local Buzzards have not been targeted. During the afternoon we visited Appleton le Moors; mid-way between Pickering and Kirkbymoorside just off the A170. Immediately on arrival there was a Lesser -Whitethroat calling. Unfortunately this good start was short lived as the rest of the visit in birding terms was very quiet. However, when we got to the pond there were lots of flashes of azure blue … but to small for Kingfishers. These blue flashes turned out to be male dragonflies – Broad Bodied Chasers !!! What a stunning sight as they chased and harried each other along the pond margins. I thought House Martins were difficult to photograph, these tiny Exocets were in a different league altogether !!! After many blurred flight shots I decided to be patient and wait for a dragonfly to rest on a sedge stem. Cheating slightly – but needs must. I was in luck as the female ‘Chasers were ovipositing on the water’s surface just needed one to come in close. After half an hour watching I left with some nice shots of both male and female ‘Chasers. What a treat!!!!! On Wednesday 3rd June I managed to see a circling Hobby over the local CO -OP store in the middle of Pickering town – a stroke of luck : but it was far too overcast for a photograph, similarly on Thursday 4th June Alf and I had a trip to Low Ellerburn ponds and at the small carpark we had a brief sighting of a Spotted Flycatcher. Again the light was not conducive for a decent shot. Spotted Flycatchers used to be be seen regularly in many of the wooded areas in Ryedale especially in and around Thornton Dale but sightings have dropped significantly in recent years. So it was great to see such a local bird. At Low Ellerburn, Northern Marsh orchids were showing well and it was nice to see them flowering in good numbers. Also we had a a very nice sighting of Butterwort: its other names include Bog Violet/ Marsh Violet. Butterwort is one of the few insectivorous plants native to the UK. These amazing plants like acidic soil, however this poor type of soil holds little nutrients for the plant – so to to supplement their growing needs they catch and consume small insects!!! The leaves of the Butterwort excrete a sticky sweet smelling liquid from its leaves. When the fly lands on the leaf they get stuck on the sticky liquid. The leaves then wrap around the hapless insect and and as the leaf wraps around the insect, digestive enzymes are released and the insects body fluids are consumed by the plant!!!! Many thanks to Alf for showing me this amazing little plant!! Unfortunately a front moved in on Friday 5th June – bringing some really heavy rain and squally winds. I don’t think there will be any birding for the next few days. Ah well, there is always next week!!!
