An unusual bug, and the value of recording

Wandering my garden on Sunday afternoon, I spied a striking red and black bug on one of the plants. It wasn’t something I recognised, so I grabbed a photo to try identify it. From there, it got exciting…

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Save Askham Bog – Get involved

There are plenty of great examples of how conservation and development can work well together. But at other times, it can seem like nobody is ever really listening. Here in York a developer has expressed the intent to build 500 houses on Greenbelt land adjacent to Askham Bog. Again.

On Redcar Beach… and a dog rant

After the initial jaunt to South Gare, I headed down to the beach at Redcar, stopping in a carpark that was home to far more gulls and Starlings than cars. My goal was twofold; eat my lunch and see if any more birds were around.

South Gare and a Pomarine Skua

It’s fair to say that if you mention the mouth of the Tees to most people, “birding hotspot” is not their first thought. The imposing industrial plants that flank the river instead suggest chemicals and pollution. Yet the reality is very different and at South Gare seabirds and waders are numerous.

Dragonflies on the Foss

One great thing about this time of year is that there are plenty of dragonflies around, even given the limited water on many sites. A Sunday stroll revealed plenty hunting over the local river, the Foss.

Wheldrake Ings, September 2018

As it was a lovely evening, I decided to have a walk around Wheldrake Ings. Unfortunately what I’d not really appreciated was just how much the recent drought had depleted the pool where the waders usually hang out.

30 Days Wild – Day 8 – Nature run

A very quick post to mark Day 8. I got up, had a run along the Foss listening to the sounds of birds singing and calling, in alarm, for territory, for food. It was beautiful. I recommend it!

30 Days Wild – Day 7 – Sunset over Wheldrake Ings

As it was a glorious evening, I decided to go have a couple of hours wandering round Wheldrake Ings. I hoped I might get lucky and spot a barn owl. We’ll see how that worked out later.

30 Days Wild – Days 4-6 – Fruitless vole hunts

One thing I have been meaning to do, and running out of time for, is a formal water vole survey of the section of the River Foss that I tend to walk. It has to be done by the 15th June.

30 Days Wild – Days 2 and 3 – Starlings and foxes

We’ve had a noisy garden invasion recently as the first set of starling chicks have tipped out into the garden.

They give nobody, certainly not us or their parents, a moment’s peace as they are constantly crying for more food.