Today’s two Clouded Yellow butterflies @ldvnnr.bsky.social provided the usual photographic challenge. Too distant, behind vegetation and out of focus. Not to mention too quick & almost constantly on the move. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Caught up with my first Brown Argus of the year on the Causeway at a blustery @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social today. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Had a fairly quiet June, so lovely to start July with three Silver-washed Fritillaries in Bishop Wood, North Yorkshire today. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Finally caught up with the thief that has been stealing the apples I leave out for the birds in my garden. Approaching 10pm so difficult to get a decent photo but I think this would stand up in a court of law. #foxoftheday #foxcub @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Lovely to catch up with twenty plus Small Blue butterflies today on the outskirts of York. A recent reintroduction scheme at an undisclosed site, now firmly established and doing well. Britain’s smallest and easily overlooked. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A lack of orchids at Leyburn Old Glebe & a very low River Ure are the result of a continued lack of rain this spring. Spotted Flycatcher & a female Banded Demoiselle were new for 2025, and a beast of a Mistle Thrush saved the day. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Seems like there have been more showy Garden Warblers this year, perhaps as a consequence of the warm, sunny weather? This showy bird was belting out its ‘babbling brook’ song @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social yesterday.

It's never an Osprey...

Caught up with my first singing Common Quail of the year in a young crop field on Levisham Moor. A brief flight view too and all because I stopped to watch a Wall butterfly fluttering along the field's dry stone wall. Worth celebrating on a sunny afternoon in early May.

Surprise bonus birds following a walk in the hills close to home yesterday afternoon. Always relieved and amazed to see Turtle Doves back after their long & perilous journey. I can only hope they have a successful breeding season here in North Yorkshire.

A few trips into the North York Moors this week to take advantage of the lovely weather and find some of the excellent butterflies we have locally. Green Hairstreak, Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small Blue. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Went looking for Whinchat on the North York Moors today. Only found Stonechat. Next week maybe. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @nymnptrust.bsky.social

A Saturday afternoon hike around the common at Strensall resulted in my first singing Tree Pipit of the year and a confiding Roe Deer. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Some good looking birds up on’t moors this afternoon. Nice to catch up with my first Northern Wheatears of 2025 together with a bonus male Ring Ouzel. Spring has at last arrived on the North York Moors. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Lovely to see, albeit briefly, a flock of twenty three key jangling Corn Buntings @northcavewet.bsky.social yesterday afternoon. Once ‘the sound of the countryside; sadly no longer. A single Kittiwake, female Scaup, Kingfisher, Brambling & a couple of Redpoll made a lovely day out.

Yet another pic in my recent ‘Bird Spotting’ series! Just the one point & shoot photo to record a brief encounter with a male Brambling (and Goldfinch) @northcavewet.bsky.social today. A wintering bird I’m always happy to see.

Ever get the feeling you’re being watched? Several booming Bitterns made a nice soundtrack at a rather chilly @rspb.bsky.social St Aidan’s today.

Rose-ringed Parakeet entertainment whilst waiting for my local Starling murmuration over Clifton Ings this evening. Nine birds flying around the local housing estate and nearby allotments. You couldn’t fail to hear them! #UKbirds @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

A visit today to the two best bird hides in the @yorkbirding.bsky.social area. A herd of 32 Whooper Swans from Ellerton Church & good numbers of Pintail with the waterfowl from Aughton Church. A couple of hundred Pinkies too, stirred up by @ldvnnr.bsky.social Marsh Harrier. Lovely stuff!

I can’t remember seeing a pair of Smew locally, so it was nice to catch up with this White Nun and his Redhead, albeit distantly in the rain, from the Pool Hide @ldvnnr.bsky.social this afternoon. @yorkbirding.bsky.social #UKbirding

Two Russian White-fronted Geese still viewable on river bank from the platform at the NDC. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @ldvnnr.bsky.social

Remember to put out food & water. A couple of apples and it’s carnage this morning from my city suburb kitchen window. Two Fieldfare, seven Blackbirds & a Mistle Thrush falling out with each other. No sign of yesterday’s Redwing. #UKbirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

Very little water left, the lake at Castle Howard is almost fully frozen. All waterfowl condensed into a very small area and the Red Crested Pochard is still here for now. #UKbirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

An obliging 1w Little Gull at NDC and viewed from the flood bank at Bubwith Bridge late afternoon @ldvnnr.bsky.social

Huge numbers of Starlings coming in to roost at YWT Ripon City Wetlands this evening but sadly no murmuration. A nice finale as a photobombing Great Egret departed the reserve in the opposite direction. #UKbirding @nybirdnews.bsky.social

A brute of a Great Northern Diver taking crabs in Scarborough Harbour today. #UKbirding @nybirdnews.bsky.social

A little distant but still recognisable amongst the other ducks, this lovely Redhead Smew at YWT Ripon City Wetlands today. #UKbirding @nybirdnews.bsky.social

The juvenile Slavonian Grebe was showing very well at RSPB St Aidan's yesterday. Lovely to see, but I don't quite get the same thrill as I would seeing a bird in winter on the Yorkshire coast! #UKbirding

A right gaggle on the pond down Langrickgate Lane, East Cottingwith today. A couple of Pink-footed and nine Egyptian Geese amongst the Greylags, Canadas and various oddities. #UKbirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Short-eared Owl has just gone SE high over house heading towards the city centre. New garden tick. #YorkBirding @yorkbirding.bsky.social

Four Snow Bunting on top of Carr Naze, Filey, beautifully blending in with the long grass, light and shadows. Couldn’t be more appropriate in the cold icy weather these last few days.

Hiding in plain sight. Drake American Wigeon from Pool Hide, Wheldrake Ings, North Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon. One of two birds seen on Sunday in the LDV reserve’s recording area. #UKbirding