Common Blues and Marsh Harriers

 I've been a bit side-tracked by workmen at home so I haven't been out as much as usual, but a few days is enough to keep me going as long as it doesn't last for too long 😂

 

 In the 14 years I've been here I have not seen more than two Common Blue butterflies at any one time. I was therefore overjoyed to see four yesterday at my favoured butterfly spot!

Common Blue male

Common Blue male with female incoming

Three Common Blues, two males and a female

Four Common Blues, three males and a female

Common Blue male (female partially hidden)

Common Blues mating

Gatekeepers are now seen every day which is great and long may it continue, although the rain may subdue them for a bit.

Gatekeeper on ragwort

 The Marsh Harriers are still here and gracing the skies with their presence. They can be seen anywhere round the Mere, but the easiest place to see them is at the hide at Decoy.

This photo and all below - Marsh Harriers at the Mere

The dry weather has been good for spotting grasshoppers, however seeing them and getting photos of them are two different things 😀 but I did manage to get some of Lesser Marsh Grasshopper yesterday in first field at the Mere.

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper

 

Small Skipper butterflies look more like moths but they are indeed butterflies. We have Small and Large Skippers locally and both are pretty common.

Small Skipper

Small Skipper on thistle

Small Skipper

This morning, before the rain started, we saw a couple of Knot fly through over the Mere going south. I got a few pics as they went over our heads.

Knot flying south over the Mere

 The Mere water level continues to, get lower as the long dry spell rolls on. It is good for waders though and also for seeing birds coming down to the water's edge for a drink, like this Reed Warbler.

Reed Warbler going for a drink

Five Black-tailed Godwits with Redshanks

Low water at the hide

As I write this on Saturday afternoon the rain is coming down, which in general is much needed, but it isn't very good for the carnival I'm afraid.

 

That's it for this week's round up of wildlife sightings in and around Hornsea. Another update will arrive next weekend, unless something catches my eye of course, in which case it may be sooner 😉