Bonby Carrs and Messingham Sand Quarry

The view from the scarp slope of the northern Lincolnshire Wolds over the Ancholme Valley lifted my spirits as I looked down on the flooded meadows of Bonby Carrs gleaming blue in the early sun.  It was a fabulous fresh Spring morning, with clear skies and a gentle breeze.  The yellow of oilseed rape fields added bright patches of colour to the view.  I couldn't wait to get down onto the Carrs to see what was about.

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Once down there, the only sounds were the rooks calling as they busied themselves on the flooded meadows and the peewit calls of the displayed lapwings.  Nearby I could hear the jangling key song of a corn bunting.  I was delighted to see large numbers of water birds on the flooded areas, although too far away for photography.  Among them were a dozen avocets, presumably from the breeding colony on nearby Reeds Island in the Humber and a pintail.  I enjoyed a wonderful few hours down here before moving on to Messingham Sand Quarry.

Bird List:-
meadow pipit, corn bunting, reed bunting, yellowhammer, mallard, buzzard, crow, rook, lapwing, avocet, shelduck, shoveler, magpie, skylark, pintail, greater spotter woodpecker (heard drumming), linnet, pheasant

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Meadow Pipit

Male Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Female Reed Bunting

Skylark

It was still bright and sunny when I arrived at Messingham Sand Quarry.  This is a Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve comprising old flooded sand and gravel workings and lowland heath.  The footpath that takes the visitor around the reserve is an excellent way to spot what is about.  Yesterday, although there were good numbers of butterflies on the wing there were, as yet, no signs of dragon or damselflies.  The butterflies were largely settling on the ground as there are no food plants for them at the moment.  These early insects will quicly mate and lay eggs ready for the second generation later in the summer.  It was good to hear both chiffchaff and willow warber as I made my way around the reserve and marsh marigold and gorse were looking stunning; the gorse with its wonderful heady scent of coconut.  Cowslips were just starting to come into their prime.  Other birds that made themselves heard were the noisy and argumentative greylag geese and the harsh, strident calls from the black headed gull colony.  It was good to find a swan sitting on eggs, using the same nest site as last year and I enjoyed some macro photography of a very cooperative frog.  The large clump of royal fern by one of the ponds was just beginning to unfurl.

Notable birds:- Chiffchaff, willow warbler, dabchick, grey lag, black headed gull
Insects;-  Peacock, small tortoiseshell, brimstone, comma, speckled wood, small white.

Frog

Gorse

Gorse

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

Swan

Peacock

Royal Fern detail

Royal fern unfurling