www.spindlelegs.org.uk

Spotted a Holly Blue butterfly patrolling the garden this morning and managed to gab a few photos before it flew next door.

Made a visit to the East Yorkshire coast with Binner. Our first port of call was Hornsea Mere, Yorkshires largest natural lake. Birds noted at this site included Common Goldeneye, Common Scoter, Pink-footed Goose, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Sand Martin and Swallow.

After spending a couple of hours at Hornsea we then travelled down the coast to Spurn Point, where a Subalpine Warbler had been reported earlier that morning. We failed to see the warbler, despite much searching, but great views of Brent Goose, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Hawfinch, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Common Redpoll and a Continental Coal Tit more than made up for this. Other wildlife seen while at Spurn included Roe Deer and hundreds of poisonous Brown-tailed moth caterpillars.

While heading to Hatfield Moor, with Binner and Billy, we took a detour to Wakefield to try to see Smew and Black-necked Grebe. We got excellent views of both of these birds along with sightings of several other species of note including Goosander, Goldeneye and our first Sand and House Martins of the year.

We then moved on to Hatfield Moor, near Doncaster, where we spent the next few hours noting a varied mix of wildlife including Adder, Grass Snake, Brown Rabbit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, several butterfly species and a splendid summer plumage Red-necked Grebe on Ten Acre Lake.

Noted my first Swallow of the year while driving home from Huddersfield.