Fifty five

Is not the name of this position in Dragonfly Karma Sutra but what I have notched up on the totem of life today. Co-incidentally my camera went three times round the clock during this session. That's 30,000 shots in 4 years and one month not counting the fannying around focusing and not shooting. 

Here I was snapping away on the off chance of getting a usable or interesting shot and I reflected. In fact it was easier to get the reflection than the direct image.

But no what I mean was, imagine if I had been using film all that time. When I stopped using slide film I was paying about £10 for 36 exposures and its currently £13 so split the difference and say £11.50. That's 30,000 / 36 x £11.5 = £9853. I should be rolling in money. 

I'm not and I'm old......humph!

Inebriated as a ...

Newt.

This one spent a good half hour tumbling around in the warm sun at Banks Pond yesterday. Meanwhile two Emperors drove me to despair by not posing.

This also turned up which looking at the mouth parts may be a Leech although I stand to be corrected. Meanwhile however I shall not be dipping my toe in't water.

Morning glory

Ah, those were the days. I refer of course to Bindweed. With hundreds of species I'll stick to description by colour.

 whether pink

or white, it always seems to have a visitor or two. Now for the dangerous bit cos I've got a new book to help with the pc species list. From top to bottom I think Episyrphus balteatus, Bombus terrestris and Syrphus ribeshii. Maybe I should stick to hover flies and Bee.

Not yet black

Worn out after a fruitless morning on the Carr, webs count up the Tyne, Black Tern and Spotted Crake at East Chevington and dipping Greenish Warbler at Tynemouth. 

Ready for a glass of vino and then collapso. Four of these young Blackbird in my garden currently provide endless amusement.

Another patch first

Just about to pack up and head back home this evening under gloomy skies I had found little other than insects to interest me when a stiff winged bird wheeled in front of me and headed north. I knew that shape and whacked off a couple of shots. Blow me a Fulmar. The pc list has stagnated over the summer and I couldn't find the Spotted Flycatcher PS told me about but this was some recompense and number 104 year, 158 self and 197 all time for Prestwick Carr.

You'd never credit it but as BB had suggested the other day when I was chatting to him, having never seen a Speckled Wood on patch before this week I found another at Banks pond this lunchtime. Buses eh! Also watched this spider but wasn't sure whether it was trapped or building a cocoon.

Here's one it possibly made earlier.

Patch first

Well for me anyway. Spotted by Dick up the bridleway on Saturday I managed to find it yesterday just where he said. I have been looking for Speckled Wood for years and now it's done. Thanks Dick

Wall Brown were around in good numbers with some nice fresh Peacocks and plenty of Green veined White.

and at Banks I think Black Darter although the photo shows a lot of reflection on the back which is confusing me. Also a Migrant Hawker both in the north west corner.

Signs of autumn

Wheatear on their return leg. One in the horse paddocks on the Carr yesterday and this, one of two fly catching from the sub station roof at West Hartford today.

 Fungi appearing. Pleated Inkcap possibly

and the Blackberry harvest ready to ripen. Looks like a good year.

Wading about

Some nice waders around the coastal ponds at the moment best of all this Spotted Redshank at Cresswell today. Also present 1 Knot, 5 Greenshank, 1 juv Little ringed Plover, 1 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel and the usual Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Snipe along with a bonus first summer Med Gull.

At Hauxley 2 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin and a Redshank.

Yesterday at Druridge a nice Ruff posed in front of the hide along with a sleepy Snipe.

Getting closer

One of the Big Waters hawkers which if you stand on the dipping platform will fly right up to you. In fact I think they get a bit annoyed about the obstruction.

They maintain a happy face throughout though

The darters at Banks Pond look a bit more intent on evil

Keeping the kids fed

Apparently incresingly difficult for many families but this lot seem ok.

Colourful Wren

Ugly duckling

Young Shelduck surely qualify

and I've solved my problems with adding text. If you use Google Chrome rather than IE8 than things work more smoothly although I resent the imposition that I must use a specific browser. Years ago when I first started I found Netscape to be the best but now drowned out by these mega (tax evading) corporations. Sad.

Ruddy faced

Add caption

I'm advised by my AJJ at Big Waters that the previously posted male Common Darter is actually a Ruddy Darter. I raided his patch this afternoon for two Southern Hawker. There's been a couple on the Carr but not so generous in their flight . Thanks Alan.

Changing dragons

The season moves on and Four Spotted Chasers have been replaced by Common Darters as the most prevalent species.

No sign of mating as yet

but the Damsels are still going strong

Deluge

The summer rain is upon us and hopefully the PC list will benefit of some waders as raiding other peoiples patches is getting tedious. Greenshank at Druridge Pools.

Turnstone asleep on Tynemouth Pier

and what I think is juvenile Purple Sandpiper unusually also on the pier. Not a bird I've seen there before.

Little Gulls at Druridge Pool

Two of three that came in to bathe yesterday evening

Nice size comparison with Black headed Gulls

always first summer birds though. I wonder where they go as adults and how this is a natural spot in their early years

Bankside

one for the sedgy wobbler

some sort of pond snail taking a breath

ah glasshopper why you no let me get side view