The cause of many an insect bite & subsequent irritation. A striking looking (especially the green eyes) Two lobed deerfly by the Carp lake

Quiet start but still 52 species at North cave this morning. #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2026 @northcavewet.bsky.social @northcavebirds.bsky.social

Saturday, The female Mandarin was again seen on the Far lake, On East Holm, there was a Wood sandpiper, 8 Avocet chicks & at least 8 juvenile Common terns, 2 Bitterns were again seen about the Reed-bed, Also, 2 Green sandpipers (Village lake) & 3 Eygptian geese (Cell 'A')

Another insect from today, A female Pimpla rufipes, with a straight ovipositor, confirming the identity (I hope), Any striking insect showing the beauty that is there if you look for it. Unless of course you are a Butterfly or Moth larvae

It has been insect of the day before, but it is always difficult to forget an encounter with the Black & yellow longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata). Their appearance always dominates the hedgerow, as it did today

Today was also a Common tern day, as several adults flew close to the hide, plus the juveniles came out of hiding & started to practice their flying skills

Friday, 2 Wood sandpipers on Crossland's lake, along with a Redshank & Common sandpiper, The 2 Bitterns were again about the Reed-bed, An eclipse Mandarin on the Far lake, 10 Avocet chicks were on East Holm, with 8 Little tern juveniles, The 2 juvenile Mediterranean gulls showed well on West Holm,

Two dragonflies from this morning A battered Black-tailed skimmer with breakfast (unusually along the Carp lake, most being along the North path) Plus one of what will probably be a good year for the Willow Emerald damselfly, a recent colonist

Thursday, 7 Juvenile Mediterranean gulls (5 on East Holm & 2 on West Holm) were present, 2 Bitterns were on the Reed-bed, with a Pink-footed & Eygptian goose seen on Crossland's lake, Also seen was a juvenile Redshank (East Holm), Snipe (Village lake), Red kite & Marsh harrier,

A hot day for volunteers @northcavewet.bsky.social 🥵, but a pre-work wander revealed a very cool Marbled White 🦋

Always want to capture one of the dragonflies in flight & the opportunity came today on the Dragonfly pond, when this Emperor dragonfly stayed still in flight for a few moments

Close up views of a Purple hairstreak this morning, feeding not in an oak tree, but on adjacent bramble flowers. A rare sighting indeed

Butterfly count today, 105 Meadow brown, 42 Peacock, 29 Large white, 26 Gatekeeper, 18 Green-veined white, 9 Red admiral, 8 Small skipper & Painted lady, 5 Ringlet & Speckled wood, , 2 Common blue, Brimstone & small tortoiseshell, single Comma, Purple hairstreak & Marbled white

Wednesday, On East Holm, there was a Redshank, 7 Avocet chicks & a single 'Humbug' with the Great crested grebe pair, Crossland's lake had Green sandpiper & 5 Eygptian geese, 5 juvenile Mediterranean gulls on East Holm, with 2 on West Holm, Also seen, Common sandpiper (West Holm/Crossland's lake),

Also on the Reed-bed just below the hide, where the 5 juvenile Bearded tits that have been around here for about 2 weeks. Off-spring of the Reed-bed pair, there were 8, so unsure as to whether the missing 3 have been predated of have gone to pastures new

It's back for the 3rd season. The Black-crowned night heron seen on the Reed-bed very early in the morning. It flew south & then doubled back to land somewhere between the Carp & Far lakes, so it may reveal itself later on

Tuesday, For it's 3rd season, the Black-crowned night heron returned to the Reed-bed in the early morning, Also here 5 juvenile Bearded tits & Bittern, 2 juvenile Mediterranean gull on West Holm, with 4 on East Holm & 7 Avocet chicks, Also a Hobby south over West Holm, with a Redshank on East Holm,

Some close up Dragonfly pictures from this morning, featuring Black-tailed skimmer & Ruddy darter

Butterfly count today, 82 Meadow brown, 40 Large white, 35 Gatekeeper, 26 Red admiral & Peacock, 19 Painted lady, 13 Green-veined white, 8 Ringlet, 2 Small skipper, single Essex skipper, Wall, Small white, Small tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled wood & Marbled white,

Monday, 6 Black-tailed godwits were on East Holm, along with 8 Avocet chicks & 2 juvenile Mediterranean gulls, 4 juvenile Mediterranean gulls were on West Holm, Also seen was a juvenile Cuckoo in the North hedge, 2 Eygptian geese (Crossland's causeway), Marsh harrier & Red kite,

Ruddy Darters (Sympetrum sanguineum), like this female, were about in force today @northcavewet.bsky.social, along with other 🐉. Elsewhere: Emperors, Brown Hawkers, 4-spotted Chasers & Black-tailed Skimmers

August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof, 18th C naturalist & painter, is memorialised in the naming of Roesel’s Bush Cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) - this female was certainly posing beautifully for a portrait @northcavewet.bsky.social today 😀

A Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) keeping an eye on Main Lake @northcavewet.bsky.social today

West path @northcavewet.bsky.social is always my best hope for Willow Emerald damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis), missed my first of the year this morning - this one was having a snack, so hung around 😀

A very smart female Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) in the ☀️ @northcavewet.bsky.social today

Insect of the day, was this wasp mimic hoverfly, Chrysotoxum bicinctum, which is an obvious & regular member of our insect community. Found in grassy habits (but I always find in on hawthorn of bramble leaves, not much is known about it's biology (maybe a project for later!)

'Queen' bumblebee early in the morning on a stem by the Carp lake. At present our commonest bumblebee, must have roosted here & just waiting for a little bit of warmth to continue her search

Confirmation of local breeding was this adult & juvenile Green woodpeckers by the dragonfly pond on the same post. Certainly the juvenile should stay a while & provide more memorable encounters in the morning

Sunday, A Ringed plover was on East Holm, along with at least 9 Avocet chicks, 2 Great crested grebe chicks & juvenile Mediterranean gulls (also 3 on West Holm), Also seen Marsh harrier, 5 juvenile Bearded tits & Bittern (Reed-bed), plus adult & juvenile Green woodpeckers (Dragonfly ponds),

Insect of the day was this Common green shieldbug, Although as it's name suggest it is quite common, as the picture shows it is not always easy to see. Apparently it emits a foul smelling odour when threatened

2 Butterflies from today, with Speckled wood (of the 3rd hatching) & a Gatekeeper that actually stood still for a little while

So far 2 pairs of Great crested grebes have hatched chicks, with a single on the Silt pond & 3 on the Village lake. Interestingly the parents have split their duties with 2 chicks with one parent & 1 with the other

Saturday, A Ringed plover flew to East Holm from the south in the morning, Also there 9+ Avocet chicks & 5 juvenile Mediterranean gulls (a further 2 were on West Holm), Parties of 4 & 6 Pochard ducklings were on the Reed-bed, along with Bittern & Bearded tits (heard), Also seen was Peregrine west

Insect of the day, A Red bug from by the Carp lake. A very variable species that feeds on other insects

From the New workings by Common farm, an Emperor dragonfly allowing some close views

Friday, In the morning, 2 Green sandpipers were on the Village lake, with a Common sandpiper on West Holm, On East Holm 12 Avocet chicks seen, as well as a Great white egret, 7 juvenile Mediterranean gulls were seen, Also seen was Cuckoo (Far lake), 2 juvenile Green woodpeckers (Dragonfly ponds)

Insect of the day, Probably a Common awl robberfly on the East path, looking menacing as they normally do. They are the apex insect predator, stabbing their prey with their strong proboscis & injecting a venom into them & then sucking out their insides.

Despite the breezy conditions, a Peacock showing magnificently in the intermittent sunshine & a Gatekeeper with it's wings open, rather than closed as is normal

Thursday, 10 Avocet chicks were at East Holm, with the 4 Pochard ducklings showing on the Reed-bed, In the early morning a Barn owl was by the Silt pond, with Bittern seen on the Reed-bed & a Peregrine in the East Holm oaks, East & West Holm each had 2 juvenile Mediterranean gulls there,

Puss Moth Catapillar @northcavewet.bsky.social Today

The Yearlist to the end of June 2026 stands at 155 species at North Cave Wetlands. With new species seen during the month shown in Red. @northcavewet.bsky.social

Keep seeing a Thick-legged flower-beetle by the Carp lake & keep admiring the iridescent green bottle & the muscular looking geen hind legs

Insect of the day, Volucella zonaria, the Hornet hoverfly. What a 'Brute' of an insect, but innocuous in every other way. A recent colonist to the reserve, but very welcome & memorable

Highlight & surprise of the morning, was this Red-tipped Clearwing that just flew onto a leaf during the walk in the Carp lake brambles. What you dream off before each morning walk😀

A tale of two Holms, 3 Mediterranean gull juveniles seen on both East & West Holm, with possibly more to come from Crossland's lake, giving one of the best seasons for this species

Wednesday, 6 Black-tailed godwits on Crossland's causeway from mid-morning onwards, Up to 8 juvenile Bearded tits in either the Dragonfly ponds or Reed-bed reeds, Single Lapwing chick on Cell 'A' & 7 Avocet chicks in East Holm, Separate groups of 3 Mediterranean gull juveniles on East & West Holm,

Insect of the day, is Thereva nobilitata a 'Stilleto' fly. A reasonably common fly here (especially now). The young apparently look like worms! & eat everything, be it rotting vegetation, other insects or even worms!

Tuesday, Early morning, a Barn owl hunting Cell 'A' & the New workings, Peregrine on the dead Ash trees by West Holm & Marsh harrier flying west, 8+ Avocet chicks (some a week old), 4 Common tern & 2 Mediterranean gull chicks, on East Holm, The Reed-bed female Pochard, has 5 well grown ducklings,

Todays' surprise was the year's 1st Purple hairstreak found low in a Hawthorn bush next to a small isolated oak, Wouldn't open it's wings, but allowed a close view

Insect of the day, Today, it's a beetle Lagria hirta, Sometimes call the Rough-haired Lagria beetle or Darkling beetle is quite common on the reserve Named after it's fuzzy appearance, ot's body is covered in soft velvety fur. The adults feed on Pollen & Nectar, whilst the larvae live in the soil