2021 Blog | Scunthorpe And Brigg

Tuesday, 9th February

June & Keith Scarrott visited MSQ today..............

There was a flock of about 12 or so bramblings feeding in the canopy of trees on the left side of the track between the two lakes on the way to the Duck Hide. This was between the two seats on the left side. As we had never seen bramblings before this made our visit special. Also, there was a very large flock of tufted ducks on the first lake from the car park. Maybe 100 or so as a very rough estimate. Coot also but I did not see any pochard.

The Duck Hide had snow in it as someone had left the flaps open. So we closed them and cleared some of the snow off the shelves and seats before we left.

The water levels were the highest I've seen them and water was pouring out of a full pipe into the drain. It was very marshy in places, especially through the woodland on the way back.

Friday 12th February

Snow

A Robin

What more could you want........?

Matt Cox, Reserve Manager,

keeping warm this winter.

Friday 19th February

MSQ Triangle Marsh 190221 (FILEminimizer

Preparing for the new season

Friday 26th February

Black-headed Gulls 260221 (FILEminimizer

A few more birds active on the Lake

- Shelduck, Black-headed Gulls

& Mallard.

Green Shieldbug 260221 (1) (FILEminimize

A Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)

** I know what you are thinking but read on**

in it's brown winter form.

Marsh Marigold 260221 (FILEminimizer).JP

Signs of Spring - the Marsh Marigolds are starting to flower in the dyke.

It will be a while yet before we have a yellow carpet all the way along.

March 2021

March 9th

Scarlet Elf Cup 090321 (2) (FILEminimize

Scarlet Elf Cup 090321 (1) (FILEminimize

More Signs of Spring

Scarlet Elfcup - Sarcoscypha austriaca

A common and early fungus

Primrose

Cormorants 200321 (1a) (FILEminimizer).J

Things starting to happen.......

Cormorants on the Lake and a Bittern booming

in the reeds.

A toad crossed the path and a couple of Lizards slithered into the undergrowth in the Heather area.

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing and the one of many Alder Leaf Beetles, although on Birch.

The Mistletoe was also showing white berries.

Colt's-foot also starting to appear.

Mistletoe 200321 (3) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Alder Leaf Beetle 200321 (1a) (FILEminim

March 25th

The were 4 Avocets on the reserve today and a Red Kite went through mid-afternoon. A single Sand Martin was reported yesterday (24th) There are now many chiffchaffs singing around the site, a few Brimstone Butterflies on the wing and a good show of amphibians in the ponds and pits. I expect Willow Warblers and Blackcaps will be imminent.

Matt Cox

North West Lincolnshire Warden

April 2021

April 3rd

Spring continues.......

Any Christie fans out there..........

All together now..

"Yellow River, yellow river........"

Dark-edged Bee-fly

(Bombylius major)

17-04-2021 Greylag goose with family that should keep her busy.

Black-headed gulls nesting, mid April, opposite the Wader hide. Note the heads which are actually brown.

April 17th

Spring continues.......

Mallard, Black-headed Gulls and Greylag Geese on the lake.

Butterflies emerging with Peacock, Small White, Orange-tip, and Brimstone on the wing.

First Alderfly (Sialis lutaria)

April 24th

Spring continues.......

Smooth Newt 240421 (1) (FILEminimizer).J

Orange-tip and Brimstone on the wing.

Smooth Newt in the pond.

Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Gadwall,Oystercatcher (notice the ring) on the lake.

Greylag now with family.

Lots of St.Mark's Flies.

April 26th

Matt and volunteers re-instated the Bee Bank which had got overgrown.

The larva of the Old Lady moth

(Mormo maura).

A new record for the reserve.

Hermit moth larva 260421 (2) (FILEminimi

Herald moth larva

Bogbean beginning to flower

Hobby, Cuckoo and Great Spotted Woodpecker all about.

1st May

May 2021

Bogbean

in

flower

11th May

Cuckoo calling.

Lizards sunbathing

Meadow Saxifrage

&

Petty Whin

in flower.

Alder Fly

(Sialis lutaria)

23rd May

Red-and-Black Froghopper

(Cercopsis vulnerata)

Red and Black Froghopper 230521 (FILEmin

Orange Ladybird 230521 (FILEminimizer).J

Orange Ladybird

(Halyzia sedecimguttata)

Marsh Violet 230521 (3) (FILEminimizer).

Marsh Violet

(Viola palustris)

Just starting to flower near the scrape

Meadow Saxifrage

(Saxifraga granulata)

Full bloom in central meadow

Meadow Saxifrage 230521 (3) (FILEminimiz

Mayfly

Pond Olive

(Cloeon dipterum)

Sawfly

Tenthredo mesomela

Cranefly

Tipula vernalis

Red-eyed Damselfly
(male)

(Erythromma najas)

Ptychoptera albimana (FILEminimizer).JPG

Ptychoptera albimana

The 2 varieties of Fold-wing
or Phantom Craneflies

Ptychoptera contaminata

Ptychoptera contaminata (FILEminimizer).

Harpocera thoracica female (FILEminimize

Bug

Harpocera thoracica

(female)

30th May

Large Red Damselfly 300521 (FILEminimize

Most Damselflies are now on the wing.

Large Red Damselfly
(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

True Dragonflies are also starting to emerge

Broad-bodied Chaser
(Libellula depressa)

Broad-bodied Chaser 300521 (8) (FILEmini

2 day-flyng Moths

Latticed Heath
(Chiasmia clathrata)

Cinnabar
(Tyria jacobaeae)

Watch out for the black-and-gold striped larvae later in the year on Ragwort. The foodplant is poisonous and this is passed into the larva making them unpalatable to birds (always an exception - Cuckoo,
by co-incidence, calling today)

Latticed Heath Moth 300521 (1) (FILEmini

Cinnabar Moth 300521 (1) (FILEminimizer)

Downlooker Snipefly

(Rhagio scolopaceus)

Hoverfly
Volucella bombylans

An unusual sight of a Common Lizard seen here waiting on a clump of vegetation before happily swimming away to another.

June 2021

6th June

Hairy Dragonfly 060621 (2) (FILEminimize

Hairy Dragonfly

(Brachytron pratense)

Lots of Damselflies about including Large Red, Azure & Blue-tailed

Blue-tailed Damselfly

(Ischnura elegans)

Blue-tailed Damselfly 060621 (FILEminimi

Caddis Fly Limnephilus lunatus 060621 (4

Caddis Fly

(Limnephilus marmoratus)

Silver-ground Carpet 060621 (FILEminimiz

Moth
Silver-ground Carpet

(Xanthorhoe montanata)

13th June

Wren

(Troglodytes troglodytes)

Colostygia pectinataria Green Carpet MSQ

Moth

Very faded
Green Carpet

(Colostygia pectinataria)

Western Conifer Seed Bug

(Leptoglossus occidentalis)

A new record for MSQ
found by Eddie Gaunt

Western Conifer Seedbug A MSQ 13-06-2021

Garden Chafer 130621 (3) (FILEminimizer)

Garden Chafer

Mating pair

(Phyllopertha horticola)

Wasp Beetle

(Clytus arietis)

Hart's-tongue Fern

(Asplenium scolopendrium)

Beetle

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle

(Agapanthia villosoviridescens)

Beetle Agapanthia villosoviridescens 130

Common Awl Robberfly - Neoitamus cyanuru

Common Awl Robberfly - female

(Neoitamus cyanurus)

with prey

Micro Moth

Orange-spot Piercer

(Pammene aurita)

Pammene aurana MSQ 13-06-2021 (FILEminim

Hoverfly

Sphaerophoria scripta

17th June

Meadow Brown

(Maniola jurtina)

Meadow Brown 170621 (1) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Four-banded Longhorn Beetle

(Leptura quadrifasciata)

Royal Fern

(Osmunda regalis)

One of our largest at about 6-7 feet tall

20th June

Common Blue Butterfly

(Polyommatus icarus)

Common Blue 200621 (4) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Vapourer Moth Larva

(Orgyia antiqua)

Common Blue Damselfly

(Enallagma cyathigerum)

Flame Shoulder Moth

(Ochropleura plecta)

Ringed China-mark

Parapoynx stratiotata

Coremacera marginata

26th June

Ringlet

Aphantopus hyperantus

Distinctive rings along the side when wings closed

Dark in flight with no flash of orange (as per Meadow Brown or Gatekeeper)

Bee Orchid

Ophrys apifera

One of 3

found during the Guided Walk

Bee Orchid 260621 (1a) (FILEminimizer).J

27th June

Moth

White-backed Marble

Hedya salicella

Hoverfly

Chrysotoxum festivum

July 2021

4th July

Emerald Damselfly

Lestes sponsa

Lady's Bedstraw

Galium verum

Comma

Polygonia c-album

Lots of Ringlet & Meadow Brown around

Field Scabious

Knautia arvensis

Green-veined White

Pieris napi

Common Froghopper

Philaenus spumarius

Sawfly Larva

Monostegia abdominalis

Associated with

Yellow Loosestrife

Sawfly Larva Tenthredo abdominalis 040721 (1) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Common Red Soldier Beetle

Rhagonycha fulva

Longhorn Beetle

Rutpela maculata

7th July

Water Figwort 070721 (FILEminimizer).JPG

Mullein Moth Larva

Cucullia verbasci

and a larval foodplant

Water Figwort

Scrophularia auriculata

Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug

Aelia acuminata

Marsh Helleborine

Epipactis palustris

11th July

Seems the day for Dragonflies

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Banded Demoiselle

Calopteryx splendens

Black-tailed Skimmer

Oethetrum cancellatum

Another new record for the Reserve

Micro moth

Red-barred Tortrix

Ditula angustiorana

Small Skipper

Thymelicus sylvestris

Micro moth

Brown China-mark

Elophila nymphaeata

Clouded Border

Lomaspilis marginata

Perennial Sow-thistle

with Gall

caused by Midge

Cystiphora sonchi

Musk Mallow

Malva moschata

18th July

Purple Hairstreak

Neozephyrus quercus

Found on Oaks

Purple Hairstreak 180721 (5) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Moth Larvae

Buff-tip

Phalera bucephala

Moth Stathmopoda pedella 18071 (8) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Micro Moth

Alder Signal

Stathmopoda pedella

Red-Breasted Carrion Beetle

Oiceoptoma thoracicum

Bronze Shieldbug

Troilus luridus

1st instar nymphs

Moth

Six-spot Burnet

Zygaena filipendulae

25th July

Moth

July Highflyer

Hydriomena furcata

Moth

Blood-vein

Timandra comae

Moth

Silver Y

Autographa gamma

Moth

Plain Golden Y

Autographa jota

Butterfly

Large White

Pieris brassicae

Butterfly

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

Bug

Deraeocoris ruber

Fly

Four-barred Major

Oxycera rara

Harvestman

Leiobunum rotundum

August 2021

1st August

Elephant Hawk-moth Larva 010821 (2) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Elephant Hawk-moth Larva 010821 (3) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Moth Larva - Elephant Hawk-moth - Deilephila elpenor - on Rosebay Willowherb

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Moth Larva

Iron Prominent

Notodonta dromedarius

14th August

Dragonfly

Ruddy Darter

Sympetrum sanguineum

Moth

Dingy Footman

Eilema griseola

Tree Damsel Bug

Himacerus apterus

Butterfly

Speckled Wood

Pararge aegeria

18th August

Butterfly Day

Butterfly

Holly Blue

Celastrina argiolus

Butterfly

Brimstone

Gonepteryx rhamni

Butterfly

Common Blue

Polyommatus icarus

Butterfly

Red Admiral

Vanessa atalanta

Butterfly

Small Tortoiseshell

Aglais urticae

Also about.........

Round-leaved Wintergreen

Pyrola rotundifolia

Hoverfly

Volucella zonaria

22nd August

Elephant Hawk-moth larva

- early instar

Deilephila elpenor

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

29th August

Larva

Peppered Moth

Biston betularia

Early Stage Larva

Wood Tiger

Parasemia plantaginis

Elephant Hawk-moth larva

- very dark form

Deilephila elpenor

Harvestman

Leiobunum rotundum

(male & female)

Harvestman

Leiobunum blackwalli

Longhorn Beetle

Stictoleptura rubra

Bronze Shieldbug

Final Instar Nymph

Sawfly Larva

Caliroa cerasi

Hoverfly

Sericomyia silentis

5th September

September 2021

Beetle

Platycis minutus

Box Bug

Nymph

- final instar

Butterfly

Comma

Polygonia c-album

Cranefly

Tipula oleracea

Parent bug Nymphs 050921 (2) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Parent Bugs

Elasmucha grisea

Final instar Nymphs

Moth Larva

Ruby Tiger

Phragmatobia fuliginosa

Tortoise Beetle

Cassida vibex

Found by John Petyt

New record for the Reserve

5th September

19th September

Day for Sawfly Larva

Tenthredo colon

Hemichroa crocea

Pristiphora testacea

Euura miliaris

Moth Larva

Pebble Hook-tip

Drepana falcataria

26th September

Sawfly Larva

Euura bermanni

Birch Shieldbug

Elasmostethus intersinctus

Spiked Shieldbug

Picromerus bidens

Moth Larva

Grey Dagger

Acronicta psi

Moth Larva

Sallow Kitten

Furcula furcula

October 2021

3rd October

Dragonfly

Migrant Hawker

Aeshna mixta

Male

Female

Hawthorn Shieldbug

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale

Sawfly Larvae

Caliroa cinxia

Collared Earthstars

Geastrum triplex

10th October

Great White Egret

Ardea alba

https://youtu.be/beovb5W7mKA

Great White Egret (Eddie Gaunt) 101021 (1).JPG

Fungus

Fly Agaric

Amanita muscaria

Hoverfly

Syrphus ribesii

24th October

Moth Larva

Drinker

Euthrix potatoria

Fungus

Earth Balls

Scleroderma citrinum

Fungus

Common Puffballs

Lycoperdon perlatum

Common Puffball 241021 (2) (FILEminimizer).JPG

7th November

November 2021

Fungus

Dog Stinkhorn

Mutinus caninus

Lots of birds around the Wader Hide Island including Greylag, Cormorants, Shelduck and Great White Egrets.

Wader Island Birds 071121 (7a) (FILEminimizer).JPG

Wader Island Birds 071121 (1a) (FILEminimizer).JPG

https://youtu.be/rxVKFQsKtN4

Leucistic Greylag with friends

Leucistic Greylag Goose MSQ 07-11-2021.jpg

November Moth agg. 071121 (EG) (FILEminimizer).JPG

November Moth agg.

Epirrita dilutata

Dissection always required for positive identification
- hence agg.

14th November

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Green Shieldbug

Palomena prasina

Changing to the Brown form
for Winter

Green Shieldbug 141121 (2) (FILEminimizer).JPG

21st November

Gall

Contarinia coryli

There are two very similar galls on Hazel catkins.

One (Phyllocoptruta coryli) contains mites (which are very small and may need magnification under a microscope to see them), whereas, this one, Contarinia coryli contains white jumping cecid larvae.

Little Egret

and

Great White Egret

for comparison

Little and Great White Egret 211121 (4).JPG

12th December

December 2021

Want to know where the path is?

Follow the moles.

19th December

Great White Egret still about.

Teal & Shelduck around the island

Mistletoe showing berries

17-04-2021 Greylag goose with family that should keep her busy.

Black-headed gulls nesting, mid April, opposite the Wader hide. Note the heads which are actually brown.

Mallard, Black-headed Gulls and Greylag Geese on the lake.

​

Butterflies emerging with Peacock, Small White, Orange-tip, and Brimstone on the wing.

​

First Alderfly (Sialis lutaria)

​

Orange-tip and Brimstone on the wing.

Smooth Newt in the pond.

Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, Gadwall,Oystercatcher (notice the ring) on the lake.

​

Greylag now with family.

​

Lots of St.Mark's Flies.

​

Matt and volunteers re-instated the Bee Bank which had got overgrown.

​

​

​

​

The larva of the Old Lady moth

(Mormo maura).

​

A new record for the reserve.

​

​

​

Herald moth larva

​

​

​

Bogbean beginning to flower

​

​

​

​

​

Hobby, Cuckoo and Great Spotted Woodpecker all about.

​

​

​

​

Bogbean

in

flower

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Cuckoo calling.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Lizards sunbathing

​

​

​

​

Meadow Saxifrage

&

Petty Whin

​

​

in flower.

Red-and-Black Froghopper

(Cercopsis vulnerata)

Orange Ladybird

(Halyzia sedecimguttata)

Marsh Violet

(Viola palustris)

Just starting to flower near the scrape

Meadow Saxifrage

(Saxifraga granulata)

Full bloom in central meadow

Mayfly

Pond Olive

(Cloeon dipterum)

Sawfly

Tenthredo mesomela

Cranefly

Tipula vernalis

Red-eyed Damselfly
(male)

(Erythromma najas)

Ptychoptera albimana

The 2 varieties of Fold-wing
or Phantom Craneflies

Ptychoptera contaminata

Bug

Harpocera thoracica

(female)

Most Damselflies are now on the wing.

Large Red Damselfly
(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)

True Dragonflies are also starting to emerge

Broad-bodied Chaser
(Libellula depressa)

Downlooker Snipefly

(Rhagio scolopaceus)

Hoverfly
Volucella bombylans

Hairy Dragonfly

(Brachytron pratense)

Lots of Damselflies about including Large Red, Azure & Blue-tailed

Blue-tailed Damselfly

(Ischnura elegans)

Caddis Fly

(Limnephilus marmoratus)

Moth
Silver-ground Carpet

(Xanthorhoe montanata)

Wren

(Troglodytes troglodytes)

Moth

Very faded
Green Carpet

(Colostygia pectinataria)

Western Conifer Seed Bug

(Leptoglossus occidentalis)

A new record for MSQ
found by Eddie Gaunt

Garden Chafer

Mating pair

(Phyllopertha horticola)

Wasp Beetle

(Clytus arietis)

Hart's-tongue Fern

(Asplenium scolopendrium)

Beetle

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle

(Agapanthia villosoviridescens)

Common Awl Robberfly - female

(Neoitamus cyanurus)

with prey

Micro Moth

Orange-spot Piercer

(Pammene aurita)

Hoverfly

Sphaerophoria scripta

November Moth agg.

Epirrita dilutata

Dissection always required for positive identification
- hence agg.

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Green Shieldbug

Palomena prasina

Changing to the Brown form
for Winter

Gall

Contarinia coryli

There are two very similar galls on Hazel catkins.

One (Phyllocoptruta coryli) contains mites (which are very small and may need magnification under a microscope to see them), whereas, this one, Contarinia coryli contains white jumping cecid larvae.

Little Egret

and

Great White Egret

for comparison

Want to know where the path is?

Follow the moles.

Great White Egret still about.

Teal & Shelduck around the island

Mistletoe showing berries