Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Sunday, 25 August 2013
YWT Pulfin Bog - 11 August 2013
A long, but enjoyable walk up the River Hull from the pub at
Tickton, towards the wetland of Pulfin Bog. The site lies next to the large
High Eske lake which held an unseasonal Goldeneye, many Tufted Duck, a few
Great Crested Grebes and two Common Sandpipers. Pulfin itself is a little
tricky to access as there are not really any marked footpaths, apart from the
circular path around the lake which runs down the side of the nature reserve.
There is a couple of gates allowing access to the Bog though it is not too
clear where you walk. Donning a pair of
wellies would enable you to explore the site more freely though the vast
reedbeds seem pretty much impenetrable! Lots of dragon and damselflies around
including some impressive Brown and Southern Hawkers. No Hobbies noted which
was unusual as they are frequently seen round here.
YWT Keldmarsh - 11 August 2013
This small site tucked away next to Keldmarsh Primary School is a little lacklustre. It lies in the suburbs of Beverley and suffers from the
careless activity of the locals. It is a wet, scrubby woodland with a few large
Willows and other trees. Very little of note was seen here although mid-afternoon in the middle of August is probably not the best time to visit! The site is accessed by parking on Lincoln Way just south of the
junction with the Woodmansey Mile and walking east across a path to the
woodland.
YWT Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit - 11 August 2013
This lovely Wolds nature reserve is found on the South Dalton road heading east out of Market Weighton. It
is close to Rifle Butts Quarry which was looking brilliant compared to when I
saw it in late winter. The Clustered Bellflowers and other herbs were terrific
and a family party of Willow Tits was a welcome surprise.
The book suggests parking by the roadside for ‘Kip’ but
there is a decent sized car park only 500m west along the railway line. I
parked here and walked east along the valley to the entrance where I tied up
the dog as no dogs are allowed on site. Kip is a large chalk pit with a flat
bottom grazed short like a billiard table by Rabbits. Thousands of Autumn
Gentians were just coming into flower on the quarry bottom, with their dark
blackish-green foliage creating a dusky sheen on the grassy sward. I followed
the path up the steps on the northern side and up through a delightful
calcareous meadow to a bench with a wonderful view to the west over the rolling
Wolds. No Marbled Whites present today after
reports of hundreds last weekend. Many other butterflies were present, mostly
Meadow Browns. Lots of other nice flowers noticed including Carline Thistles,
Eyebrights, Small, Field and Devil’s-bit Scabious and Wild Thyme. A few Little
Owl feathers were found on site.
YWT Brae Pasture - 10 August 2013
This was tricky to find and I am still not quite convinced I
was in the right place! The hillside on which the site is found overlooks the
large hills in the area and is a stone’s throw from the Ribble’s Head Viaduct.
We parked in a gateway a little further north than the footpath shown in the
book. The grassland had been cut and only the edges were packed with Harebells
and other flowers. Meadow Pipits flitted about and the wooded gulley looks good
for Redstart.
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