Sunday 10 June 2012

Rabbit Ings

A walk along the south side with Ralph Hibbert produced 4 singing Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit displaying while its mate was carrying food nearby.
Butterflies included 14 Small Heath, 9 Common Blue, 8 Small Copper and 3 Orange Tip (2 were females)

There were also 5 Sand Martins flying around Mick Birkinshaw's portacabin, which led me to wonder if they were breeding on the quarry face at the top of Lundhill, at what is now the coal yard.  The gates were locked, but it might be worth a second look here as in the 1980's I discovered a a small colony of about 5 pairs breeding there, which eventually died out.  I think I am right in saying that they were the only breeding Sand Martins in Barnsley at that time.

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