The Railway Children greet the Scarborough Spa Express!!A number of people had dropped out of today's trip leaving a group of only 8. A stop off to use facilities in Tadcaster yielded a view of several swifts on the wing. Our morning destination was Bolton Percy Station, a small Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve of grassland and scrub lying adjacent to a railway line. The original plan was to explore this reserve and then go and have lunch in Bolton Percy Village. However, we met a couple of trainspotters from Nottingham who were eager to chat and share their knowledge about trains and wildlife. When they told us that a steam train, the Scarborough Spa Express, was passing through at 12.30 we decided to stay on the reserve for lunch. Yellowhammers were heard but not seen and a buzzard soared overhead. 
Blue FleabaneThe now defunct railway platform was covered in vegetation. Botanical highlights included blue fleabane, marjoram, musk mallow, cut-leaved cranesbill, dovesfoot cranesbill and some very tall spikes of great mullein. 98 plants were recorded. Lots of gatekeeper butterflies were seen. A single peacock and some small whites were also recorded. Several moth species were noted, the most abundant being the shaded broad bar. Also seen were riband wave, udea lutealis and small fan footed wave. At midday we settled for lunch so that we would be ready for the train at 12.30. We lined the fence with cameras at the ready or preparing to wave as the train sped through. It was like a scene from the Railway Children! 
Shaded Broad BarWe then travelled a few miles to another YWT reserve, Askham Bog. The morning had been dry with some sunny spells but light rain was now falling, Fortunately it was short-lived. Once the rain stopped the dragonflies appeared. Common darters happily posed for photos, ruddy darters were less co-operative and the emperor never landed. Numerous common blue damselflies and a southern hawker were also evident. Bird numbers for the day were low at 17. Botanical highlights at Askham Bog included purple and yellow loosestrife, skullcap, fine-leaved water dropwort, narrow buckler fern and a very large specimen of royal fern. As we headed back to the bus a male and female blackcap were spotted. A little light rain was falling once more but it hadn't spoiled our day. Many thanks to Eric for organising this lovely day out. Sue