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Wildlife Sightings March 2015

Tue 7th Apr, 2015

Flowering Plants

At coastal locations Scurvygrass was flowering on cliff sides. Red Dead-nettle was also coming into flower. In the ancient woodlands of North Yorkshire masses of leaves of Ramsons were on show with Primroses, Common Dog-violet, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage and Barren Strawberry in flower. 

Fungi

The spectacular Scarlet Elf Cup is one of our brightest and most easily identified fungi. Spring is the best time to see them and several were found in woodlands west of Scarborough this month.

Birds

March started and ended with some very cool, damp weather. Spring migrants were in short supply. An Iceland Gull at Flamborough on 1st and a Glaucous Gull at Filey on 10th heralded an extended season for winter birds on the coast. Up to five Red-necked Grebes gradually moulting into summer plumage were still on the sea at Sewerby. Despite the cool weather, seabirds retuned to Flamborough Headland early in the month. The first real arrival of Puffins occurred on 6th, with 167 counted passing Flamborough. Wintering wildfowl were heading away from Yorkshire at the same time with an impressive 1805 Pink-footed Geese over Filey on 5th and 34 Whooper Swans and 450 Pink-footed Geese flying north at Flamborough on 7th.

Birds of prey were showing very well with Goshawks and Common Buzzards displaying in North Yorkshire and the wintering Rough-legged Buzzard still performing well near Buckton. Two Red Kites along with three Short-eared Owls were also over the Headland on 20th, enjoying great views of the solar eclipse!

Songbirds struggled north and arrived on the coast mid-month with the first Black Redstart at Bempton on 15th. The first Firecrest of the spring arrived at Spurn on 8th and a Woodlark on 20th. Sand Martins arrived in the third week with two at Filey on 24th. Ring Ouzels nest in small numbers in the North York Moors National Park; we welcomed our first coastal bird back from North Africa on 29th at Spurn and on the same day a male in Rosedale! The first Swallow seen by our team was at Foxholes on 29th.

2014 was a very good breeding season for Barn Owls and the mild winter ensured that many survived. We have been seeing many adult birds hunting during daylight recently with some great views on our March Wildlife Safaris.  This may be good news but our recent Barn Owl pellet analysis revealed many shrew bones and few of Short-tailed Field Vole (Barn Owls’ preferred prey). This could mean we are in for a natural ‘crash’ year for voles and a poor year for Barn Owls. Time will tell…

Reptiles

Reptiles emerged in the second week of March. Bang on time, but in smaller numbers than last year, Adders were out on 10th and showed well on our first National Park Safari on 23rd. A Grass Snake on 14th was one of the first out of hibernation. Our earliest-ever Slow Worm emerged on 10th.

Invertebrates

Insect numbers were still low for most of the month but two Pine Ladybirds on willow in Dalby Forest were a rare treat for our YCN team on 14th. Spring moths were on the wing with Shoulder Stripe in good numbers in North Yorkshire and an Oak Beauty near Pickering -  a spectacular find!