Ian Court

Birder. Nature Conservation. Burnley FC.

[Ian Court @IanCourt10]

Stunning views of Quail sat in the sun in the Rosa bushes @SumburghHead this morning

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

This adult female Dormouse was found yesterday by our licenced surveyors carrying out the first Dormouse nest box checks of the year.

She has made a cosy nest and we are hoping she will settle down to breed later in the summer 🧡

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

With Curlews on eggs and Lapwings with chicks, this is a crucial time of year for our breeding waders in the #YorkshireDales.

You can help ground nesting birds by sticking to paths where possible and keeping your dog on a lead while out enjoying the Park.

#EndangeredSpeciesDay

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

The warm, wet weather this week is bringing on the grasses in the meadows of the Dales 🌧️

Sweet Vernal-grass is one of the first to bloom. The grass flowers have long white anthers, and the stalk has a distinct vanilla flavour if chewed. Keep a look out in your lawn!

#NoMowMay

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Sweet Cicely is now decorating the field edges, roadside verges and riversides of the #YorkshireDales.

Although not native to Britain it is thought to have been growing here at least since the 18th Century. The plant has an aniseed scent and has been used as a medicinal herb.

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

The @yorkshire_dales @Natures_Voice Malham Peregrine Project is returning this year to show visitors to #MalhamCove the resident peregrines!

For dates and times please visit our website:
https://t.co/ldmzzn1dOc

We look forward to welcoming you!

📸 Whitfield Benson

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

One of our officers captured these images of a male Goldcrest displaying his bright orange crown to a rival male in #Swaledale last week.

Goldcrest are the UK's smallest bird, weighing only 5 to 6 grams, but they have big personalities!

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Spring is now well underway, and it's not just the trees that are looking fresh and green!

Below are Green Hairstreak butterfly and Green Carpet moth, two beautiful emerald gems currently on the wing in the #YorkshireDales 💚💚

📸 Robyn Guppy

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

The Yellow Meadow Ant forms anthills in grasslands which, if undisturbed by ploughing or mowing, can last for hundreds of years. The ants' activities promote soil and plant diversity, making them an important species for grassland ecology.

Learn to love anthills this spring 🐜

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Our versatile @yorkshire_dales Dales Volunteers can turn their hand to anything! This time, practising putting up electric fencing ready to help nesting Curlew, as part of @_BTO @curlewrecovery @NaturalEngland Curlew Solutions Trial.

Good work, everyone 👏

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Our apprentice Genny is undertaking a #DungBeetle survey to study their populations in the @yorkshire_dales and inform how farmers and land managers can help them.

This Geotrupid species was found during a survey yesterday at @WildKingsdale. More on this work soon, stay tuned...

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Happy International Plant Appreciation Day ☘️🌿🌺

Goldilocks Buttercup, our only woodland buttercup species, is now starting to flower. Much scarcer than the Meadow Buttercup, it is a true specialist of ancient woodlands and has distinctive spidery leaves.

#PlantAppreciationDay

[Ian Court @IanCourt10]

Had to do @WeBS_UK count at Long Preston a day early which turned out well. After Osprey overhead, a Sandwich Tern thru (only 3rd record for area) directions were "the Garganey is left of the American Wigeon".

[Ian Court @IanCourt10]

Just keeps getting better, now also a drake Garganey & @Jmidd1982 picks out a fly thru Sandwich Tern over Long Preston Deeps @nybirdnews @BirdGuides

[Ian Court @IanCourt10]

Local birding at it's best with @jmidd1982 - Osprey just gone N over Long Preston. Also American Wigeon, Ruddy Shelduck and 284 Black-tailed Godwits still present @nybirdnews @birdg

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Herb Paris is now starting to emerge in some of our ancient woodlands with damp, calcareous soils🌱

We will revisit this plant when flowering later in the spring, when you shall see why we think of it as the king of woodland plants...

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Our Priority Species of the Month for March is the Ring Ouzel, one of our lesser-known migratory species, which will soon be returning to their breeding grounds here in the @yorkshire_dales.

Find out more about these birds here:
https://t.co/Zbl73Eyc0j

📸 Whitfield Benson

[Yorkshire Dales National Park @yorkshire_dales]

If you're spending time around the National Park this Easter weekend, please keep dogs on a lead for the safety of ewes with lamb at foot and ground nesting birds. Watch the film in full 👇

https://t.co/mMc72lwech

#YorkshireDales #CountrysideCode

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Wood Anemones are putting on a good show now at Freeholders Wood in #Aysgarth.

These delicate white flowers close up in bad weather and open up again in sunshine, as shown below. They are Ancient Woodland Indicators and are also sometimes known as 'Windflowers'.

[WildlifeDales @WildlifeDales]

Toothwort is now flowering in some woodlands in the Dales.

This strange white plant is a parasite, drawing nutrients from the roots of trees such as Hazel and Elm, so it does not need to produce green chlorophyll to survive.

#InternationalForestDay

📸 Ken Readshaw