It’s been a while since I wrote a blog, the lovely Rachel and Kate have been keeping this page fresh over the last few months and as this is the first summer I’ve spent at Fairburn I’m at a bit of a loss where to begin. Having now seen the reserve through a full cycle of seasons there is so much I could talk about.
It’s been wonderful to see everything turn green and fill with birdsong, to see the Coal Tips dancing with wildflowers and the Riverbank Trail dappled with light. One of the best things about the summer here has been seeing so many families enjoying the outdoors together.
Autumn leaves, Beki Williams
But now we’re coming into my favourite season, it was this time of year I first came to the reserve and knowing what to expect is making my anticipation for autumn even greater. The colours have mellowed form bright green to earthy browns, and whether it’s a crisp morning or a grey-skied afternoon, there is freshness in the air.
There have been lots of kingfisher sightings at the screen this week. Now breeding season is over the warden team have been able to get in and clear the vegetation. It has opened up the view and cleared the water to make fishing that much easier. He (or she) has been spotted at least a few times a day.
Lots of migrants are passing through on their journey south with more osprey sightings this week, along with passage swallows and wheatear. Wader sightings are picking up too with reports of dunlin, greenshank, redshank and ruff from Lin Dike hide.
Greenshank, Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Eagle eyed visitors may have spotted some large work parties this week. Staff from Yorkshire Water have been helping the warden team clear scrub across the reserve and in doing so they came across these two beautiful caterpillars; a pale tussock moth caterpillar and a garden tiger moth caterpillar.
Pale tussock moth caterpillar, Andrew Tiffany
Garden tiger moth caterpillar, Andrew Tiffany
We’d love to hear about your wildlife sighting and any signs of autumn you see across the reserve. Please do share them with us on Facebook or Twitter.