July Field Meeting: Dunnignton Nature Reserve York

UPDATE: Richard Bell has just sent in his underwater video recorded on the day. Scroll down to watch it.

DSCF6571.Wakey NatsYork based nature photographer Terry Weston acts as warden for the small nature reserve at Dunnington, near York. After Terry came and gave us a talk about the reserve, we decided to hold a field meeting there and today was the day. Although I couldn’t make it due to work commitments, eight of our members enjoyed a super day there including indulging in a spot of pond dipping, catching leeches and snails. Terry also pointed out a family of sparrowhawks and the adult birds were watched feeding the chicks. A big thank you to Terry and also to Roger for sending in the report and photos.

Four spotted Chaser (Lubulula quadrimaculata)

Four spotted Chaser (Lubulula quadrimaculata

Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)

Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)

Marbled whites and dead moles!

Mark Archer reports good numbers of marbled whites at Brockadale reserve and also 20 dark green fritillaries there too. The fritillaries are a butterfly species that is expanding its range and Brockadale is now a stronghold for them.

At Stanley Ferry Flash, emporer dragonflies are on the wing and in the woods above Half Moon, 2 purple hairstreaks were seen. The most interesting record Mark sends is that of three dead moles on the path between Warmfield and Stanley Ferry, presumably this is due to the current prolonged spell of dry and, at times, very hot weather.

arbled white (Melanargia galathea)

Marbled white roosting at Brockadale

Poppy spectacular

The poppies have been spectacular this year with entire fields covered in a swathe of red. I missed a good set of photo ops late last month when the poppies and oil seed rape were all in bloom together but Heather has been out with her camera the past few days.

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)