Let us know what you've seen at Allerthorpe. We'd like to know of any interesting observations, whether in the reserve itself or in the woods. Previous sightings can be found at the foot of this page.
Please give as much detail as you can about the location, weather conditions and other circumstances.
Privacy policy: We may contact you about your observation, but your details will not be used for any other purpose.
Many thanks to the visitors who submitted the following records:
| Date | From | Subject | Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/08/2010 | IA | Warblers...et al. | Large numbers of warblers passing through the common at the moment...ringing birds on the FC section today produced 15 Willow Warblers and 15 Chiffchaff, as well as several Whitethroat and Garden Warblers. Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker are both common, and there are some 10 or so Crossbills around, picked up by their call, mainly. Also, Heather is covered in hoverflies (mainly Episyrphus balteatus and various species of Syrphus and Eupeodes), and there are several specimens of Tachina grossa (a huge, bumblebee-sized, black fly with a yellow face...parasitic upon large moth caterpillars) on it as well. |
| 02/08/2010 | KS | Treecreepers | Our first visit to Allerthorpe common. I also spotted a woodpecker, however nobody else saw it! |
| 08/08/2009 | BN | Butterflies | Large, Small and Green - veined white, all four Vanessids, Common Blue, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Comma, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Wall - All seen on the wide grassy ride under the pylons, within about 100m. of the picnic bench! |
| 03/04/2009 | DW | Common Lizard | Small (7cm nose to tip), common lizard with tail stump seen at 16.40, climbing over logpile close to pylon base...the lizard was very actively searching for food. At time of observation, weather was sunny and warm, no breeze. |
| 15/11/2008 | IA | Goshawk | A female, age not determined, flew south-east over the Common this afternoon, mobbed by two Carrion crows. Possibly attracted by the 5000+ wood pigeons coming in to roost? Also, several Crossbills still calling around the Common. |
| 01/11/2008 | IA | Crossbill | For a couple of weeks, now, there have been large numbers on the Common. At least 50, probably nearer 100...best seen coming to drink at various ditches, where they allow a very close approach. Their metallic "chip" call is a real sound of the Common at the moment. |
| 13/09/2008 | SR | 1 Adder | First ever sighting for us, of an adder within the nature reserve on Allerthorpe Common. Approximately 2 feet long. |
| 07/08/2008 | DW | female adder+ great crested newt(?) | Very dark granular skinned newt under log near benches in reserve area. Assume it was a crested female, as not even a residual tail crest evident as male would show. Approx 8cm long. 20cm long pale adder seen close to metal sheet in reserve. Was basking on rotting wood. Retreated under log when it spotted me. I then waited 10 mins or so before lifting log.Patience rewarded with good photos. Taken at approx 5.20pm, very warm and humid after yesterdays torrential rain. No lizards seen today. |
| 05/08/2008 | DW | 2 female adders | Cloudy, with very fine drizzle, on and off. Cooler day than of late. Female adder resting next to pine stump. I had entered wood at second car park after stud farm. Walked along path for 20 meters, turned right. Forward for 75 metres, then left path and walked right, into felled area. Torpid female was hard to spot, made no attempt to retreat until I had camera ready! Second female under sheet of iron in fenced common area. Rapidly moved into scrubby birch remains. Good photo this time. No lizards to be seen, several toads noted. |
| 03/08/2008 | IA | Hoverflies | Patches of Devil's-bit Scabious, Tormentil and Knapweed are alive with hoverflies at the moment...as long as the sun pops out! Most striking are the yellow and black striped thorax of Helophilus pendulus and the honey bee mimic Eristalis pertinax, as well as the ubiquitous Episyrphus balteatus (orangey body with narrow, paired black bands across). Lots more if you look closely, all very beautiful...yellow spots, gold spots, metallic bodies...etc. Today I recorded the above plus...Helophilus trivittatus, Syritta pipiens, Syrphus ribesii, Meliscaeva cinctella, Dasysyrphus albostriatus, Sphaerophoria scripta, Platycheirus albimanus, P, peltatus and Cheilosia pagana. |
| 03/08/2008 | DW | Female adder+female common lizard | Large torpid female adder under metal sheeting. Did not move for a minute or so, then into grass tussock, tail remaining visible. Slender female common lizard approx. 16cm total length...presumably recently produced young. Spotted at base of gorse, near stile, close to pylons. Very active, despite it being cloudy and strong breeze blowing. Both observations around 14.00hrs. |
| 13/07/2008 | HJB | 2ft Female and 18" adder, sex indeterminate | Large female around sheet 5 again, smaller adder also close to sheet 5, the smaller one was very pale in colour, sort of sand/beige. Lots of lizards too and a couple of newts. Toad and large light brown common lizard also. |
| 12/07/2008 | HJB | 2ft female adder | Same as 11th July, basking around sheet 5 again also in and out of hollow log. Around midday on a day with scattered showers and sunny spells. |
| 11/07/2008 | HJB | 2ft female adder | Very black and gold in colour. Day was drizzly & overcast 15C. Adder was under sheet 5. Also 6" common lizard and 2-3" small black newt and small toad. |
| 09/07/2008 | IA | Crossbill | Still a few Crossbill scattered across the common. A party of 50+ were present two weeks ago.Large parties of Siskins now very obvious. Tree Pipit singing on reserve and Woodlark singing near Sutton Lane entry. Hundreds of warblers in scrubby areas...Garden, Willow, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and a single Lesser Whitethroat seen. |
| 08/07/2008 | ML | Birds, Adder, Orchids | Juv. Stonechat, Tree Pipit, several Whitethroats, GS Woodpecker. Adult F Adder under pylon adjacent to reserve. Lots of Common Spotted Orchid along tracks, including some nice pure white forms. Overcast day, intermittent rain. |
| 04/05/2008 | CE | Slow worm | Along path of clear fell area 100m in from Sutton Lane entry |
| 07/08/2007 | IA | Hoverflies | Eristalis abusivus, Eristalis arbustorum, Eristalis pertinax, Eristalis tenax, Helophilus pendulus,
Melanostoma mellinum, Melanostoma scalare, Meliscaeva auricollis, Platycheirus albimanus, Platycheirus clypeatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Sphaerophoria scripta, Syrphus ribesii, Syritta pipiens, Volucella pellucens. All taken either on the reserve or the ride adjacent to it beneath the pylons. |
| 17/06/2007 | MR | 3 female Adders. | Also Jay, Linnet, Whitethroat. Cuckoo heard. Allerthorpe Common visited between 10-11am. Overcast. 15-16 C |
| 05/06/2007 | SR | wildife | i saw two adder snakes and other wildlife but i was more interested in the adder snake |
| 05/06/2007 | MH | Bishop Burton College Student | We Went walking round Allerthorpe Common and we spotted two Adders, two Grey Squirrels, one Butterfly and lots of Grasshoppers and Bees |
| 12/05/2007 | CB | Woodlark | Firstly calling from the top of a wood pile to the left of the path, in the second area prepared for nightjars. The area nearest the path to the right that leads to the gorse bushes, pylons and the heath where adders can be seen. It flew off and landed at the top of a small dead tree not far from the fenced off pond and sang loudly. I take wildlife photos for a hobby but unfortunately it was much too far away to get a shot. I was with a birdwatcher friend and we are absolutely sure it was a woodlark. |
| 21/04/2007 | D&JL | Sunny & Warm. 11:30 to 13:00 | First ever visit to the Common. Found 2 adders, a common lizard, 10+ Brimstone butterfly, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper. |
| 07/04/2007 | GB | 2 adders | 2-4pm 1 12" male basking in sun behind gorse on the gorse mound. 18" ? sex, in the bushes to the left of the entrance stile. |
| 24/03/2007 | GB | no adders | Green Woodpecker only Quite cool breeze 6-8C |