Kirkstall Hill sightings

Wandering past the Cricketers flats and onto Kirkstall Hill I noticed this Speckled Wood busying itself between Hawthorn and Dandelions, the damage to the left hindwing confirmed that its the same butterfly in the two shots.

And then out of the corner of my eye I spotted this Holly Blue, it was gone in a flash but I just managed a quick shot. I checked the young Holly shrub for eggs in case it was a depositing female but couldn't see anything.  First actual Holly Blue of the year for me!

There were 4 Small Tortoiseshell on the wing, this the only one at rest for long enough to get a photo, I watched it move from one Dandelion to another for 5 minutes before it disappeared.

 

Here's the view up the Aire valley.

Lawnswood columbarium

On a walk around Lawnswood Cemetery we passed by the Columbarium where I was drawn to the fiery hanging leaves of the Copper Beech and the sculptural form of the Magnolia still in bloom against the architectural backdrop. Built in 1933, the Columbarium is where ashes are stored  and has provided accommodation for over 2,000 urns. A couple of years ago we once found Tawny Owl droppings beside the pillars but there's been no sign of it since.

During our walk we spotted Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch, Treecreeper, Great Tit, Goldfinch and during the Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery Action Day last Saturday Andrea saw a Grey Heron fly overhead.

More of the Bar Headed Goose at Breary Marsh

While I was at work Andrea had the day off (boo!) and found herself on a return journey to Breary Marsh, where she enjoyed better views of the sociable Bar Headed Goose (Anser indicus), hanging out with its Canada Geese pals (hooray!).

I noticed a sighting of a BHG a few flaps of a goosies wing away at Goldenacre Park on Bird Guides 23/10/11. Apparently its one of the world's highest flying birds, high flying and handsome...

A big thanks to Andrea for the pics.

Bar Headed Goose and Bluebells at Breary Marsh

A certainty to be an escapee, but nevertheless this Bar Headed Goose was a pleasant sight on Paul's Pond at Breary Marsh, alongside two Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Grebe and Moor Hen. I have to admit that we didn't know what it was until I got home and referred to my Collins Bird Guide which revealed this oneto be an adult, as the juveniles lack the cross bars on the head . Two Pied Wagtail dashed sprightly along the wall at the water's edge. No sign of any Great Spotted Woodpecker today in the woodland, but we did see a Bullfinch and a Kestrel over Cookridge golf course.

Bluebells are starting to emerge in the woodland and there should be a good display in another week or so.

Lawnswood Cemetery Action Day

Yesterday we took part in this months Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery Action Day which takes place on the first Saturday of the month. The aim of the Friends is to protect, preserve and promote the 67 acre cemetery. Since the first work party in October, we've been working our way through the 1910 section tidying up overgrown path edges, trimming back any encroaching trees and shrubs.

The cemetery is a great place for wildlife, despite the presence of our working party I still spotted Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Wren, Jay, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, heard two Chiffchaff and saw a Grey Heron pass overhead.

Here's a photo from last summer in the Victorian section of the cemetery of a Red Admiral, on the wing ; )

Large Skippers on Kirkstall Hill

My previous sighting of a solitary Large Skipper on Kirkstall Hill got me thinking that there must be more nearby. With time to explore I was delighted to discover the rest of the colony, approximately twelve in all in a more sheltered spot in a patch predominated with brambles. 

In this picture you can just about make out the hooked antennae, which is a characteristic of Large Skippers.

A view from Kirkstall Hill, looking down over the grassland to the Aire valley beyond. The Church spire of St Stephens, Kirkstall is visible far right.

A view from the bottom margin of the grassland towards the top of Kirkstall Hill. The trees and shrubs on the upper section provide shelter in an otherwise exposed grassland area. The Cricketers flats are just peeking out behind the birch, far left.

Demoiselle in my garden

Dropping in to the front garden this weekend was this female Banded Demoiselle where it settled on the foliage of a Mexican Orange Blossom for a few minutes. Up until a couple of weeks ago I'd never knowingly seen one, then one turns up right outside my door, luckily Andrea was on hand to mark the occasion with a photo.

Here's another female, this one taken on the banks of the River Aire, next to Kirkstall Abbey. Both have the metallic green body colouring, with a distinctive white pseudo-pterostigma near the tip of the wing.



Kirkstall Hill sightings

Earlier this evening I discovered Five-Spot Burnet moths (Zygaena trifolii) in the short grasses near the top of Kirkstall Hill. I counted eight in total, dotted around on flower heads of Ribwort Plantain and Red Clover. Its a distinctive day flying moth with metallic looking black forewings coloured with red dots and black clubbed antennae.

The larvae feed on Bird's Foot Trefoils, located nearby. I've yet to develop the knack of spotting butterfly and moth eggs and chrysalis, so I was happy enough with my discovery of a Five-Spot chrysalis, the moth still inside the semi opaque papery yellow casing.

Also on the hill, this well worn Small Tortoiseshell soaking up some early evening rays. Altogether a pretty good bounty for such a brief stroll-io-lio.

Kirkstall Creatures in St Stephens churchyard

Back to nearby St Stephen's churchyard in Kirkstall, amongst the headstones settled this Red Admiral, looking like it had seen better days. Despite extensive damage to both its hindwings and forewings it appeared to fly freely. 

Blue Tit fledglings bounced around in the Hawthorns overhead.

A couple of fresh looking Speckled Wood engaged in a series of aerial tussles, the victor returning to pride of place amongst a heap of what looks like Wood Pigeon feathers. 

A Song Thrush settled on the upright of a wooden bench, eyeing me from a distance, by the look of the bench its a popular birdy perch.

St Stephen's Churchyard, Kirkstall

In the corner of St Stephen's churchyard in Kirkstall, there's a well established patch of Honey garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum ssp bulgaricum), a tall, shade tolerant, perennial whose upright flowerheads open into dainty hanging umbels. 

The plant is a native to the Mediterranean and is related to the Allium family. Its nectar rich flowers are much loved by bees, which was apparent as I watched twenty or so working their way around this patch.

Kirkstall Hill Large Skipper

After work I strolled over to nearby Kirkstall Hill where I spotted this male Large Skipper feeding on Red Clover, a first for this year, and a super sighting so close to home.  Previously I've struggled to distinguish between the Small and Large Skippers but this pic clearly shows the mottled wings of a Large Skipper rather than the cleaner golden wings of a Small Skipper, and the prominent diagonal black mark on the forewing indicates the male of the species.

Kirkstall Hill is adjacent to the busy crossroads of Kirkstall Lane and Morris Lane, and forms a steep south west facing grassland area.  The tall growing grasses are dotted with patches of red and white clover, buttercups, common vetch, birdsfoot trefoil, ribwort plantain, dandelion. Despite the discarded cans and bottles, the top path offers a great view towards Kirkstall Abbey and the Aire valley beyond, but I have to admit that this golden winged wonder was the highlight of my evening stroll.

Kirkstall creatures - Banded Demoiselles

Walking along the riverbank by Kirkstall Abbey, I encountered my first Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). Yipee! On a sunny, south facing bank males and females settled amongst the leaves of tall growing nettles and Himalayan Balsam. The males were easily identifiable, with their dark banded wings and appeared more restless than the females (pictured above) which lack the coloured wing band. The body colouring of the male (below) is a metallic blue green, the females are a metallic green with a bronze coloured tip.

More information about Banded Demoiselles on the Yorkshire Branch of the British Dragonfly Society.

Small Copper in the Churchyard of St John the Baptist, Adel

During this weekend's variable weather we made the most of periodic sunshine and dropped in to the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Adel to see what was around.

Amidst the grassland, in sunny intervals, we were delighted by five or six Small Copper (Lycaena phlaes). Showing their bright copper coloured forewings, this pair headed towards us from the centre of the grassland to settle arms length away and feed from a buttercup. The churchyard contains patches of other foodplants, Hawkweed, Daisy, Dandelion, and Common Sorrel the larval foodplant of the butterfly.  

A Robin settled on a gravestone, accompanied in the churchyard by Blackbird, Wren, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Crow and Magpie.

A common moth Silver Ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) settled in the grass.



Hosta leaf

The large ribbed leaves of a variegated hosta, potted up in my back garden seem to retain raindrops more effectively than the surrounding plants. Undeterred by the failing light I snapped away to catch the quartet of glistening raindrops before they disappeared.

Urban nature - Kingfisher over Leeds City Station

Standing on platform 3 at Leeds City Station waiting for the Harrogate train, I spotted a small, short tailed, long billed bird fly from the direction of the River Aire, way above the station platforms and power lines towards the Leeds Liverpool Canal. As it crossed overhead I caught the flash of blue and recognised a Kingfisher. My previous encounter with a Kingfisher viewed from the Whitehall Road Bridge in autumn was, or so I thought, likely to be the closest proximity to the city centre but this one is going to be hard to beat.

Nan Whin Woods, Tong

We visited Nan Whin Woods at the weekend, near Tong. Once we headed out of the woodland and into the valley I was amazed at the number of butterflies on the wing. Approximately 8 x Orange Tips, 12 x Peacocks, 5 x Small Tortoiseshell, 7 x Comma, 5 Whites and my first Brimstone of the year, I'm guessing a male because of its bright yellow colouring.

The only ones that stood still for a moment were this Comma.

A dainty White on a dandelion

This striking Comma in profile, the white comma visible on the underwing. Yes it is sat on a piece of poo.   

We heard a few familiar 'chiff chaffs' throughout our wander and eventually spotted two birds in a hawthorn, its not a great pic but enough to show that its a ChiffChaff, we watched it fly up into the air and floated down on spread wings which I read is common behaviour for courting males.

Having underestimated how warm it was, at this point we were a little parched, and made our way out of the valley and headed towards Goodalls ice cream parlour on Tong Road. Due to our in built foody sat nav we ended up joining the main road a mere 10 metres from the entrance to the farm! Kerching! Andrea had Chocolate and Pannacotta and I had Chocolate and Hokey Pokey then we turned around.