It's a fir cop

Judging by the Dinnington mist this may be the only red highlight of the weekend

In the greenery

Escaped the bondage of life yesterday afternoon for a trip down the bridle track. Plenty of finches but little else in the bird line so it was searching the hedgerows for interest. 4 spot orb Weaver I think

Geordie insects...... Fly eye man

 22 spot Ladybird

Nice Small Copper of which it's probably only the fifth or sixth on patch this year

and my third one of these which I'm still struggling to ID despite the colour.

Gone south

The local Swallows and House Martins present in the sun on Saturday morning were absent by Sunday with none recorded over my garden for the first day in months. A check today found a couple of Martins up the street and a few Swallows on the Carr although the stinking weather means they would likely be over water or in the lee of the wood. So summer has ended and it's batten down the hatches for winter.

Plover

Nice Grey Plover at Hauxley yesterday although the strong sun and confused seaweed background meant numerous shots were less than successful,

Also present 7 Little Egret, the most I've ever seen in one place,

Streaming

Webs count on the Tyne yesterday produced good numbers with Redshank and Lapwing feeding on the mudflats and Teal numbers are starting to build. Unusual though was the Cormorant count. Derwent Staithes is their stronghold on the patch with numbers from 10-25 not unusual subject to time of day and weather. Yesterday there were 14 on the staithes but as I moved further up the river it was apparent numerous birds were passing me flying downstream. In the end the total was 52 and very few stopped.

Perhaps birds leaving their roost at Shibdon presumably heading out to the coast which would mean them avoiding the Great North Runners on the Tyne Bridge.

Between downpours

Out on patch to see if anything had dropped in but aside an overflying Golden Plover and large flocks of Goldfinch nothing of special note. A couple of family parties of Bullfinch in the hedgerows with a moulting father

and a very vocal but not very old juvenile.

White in flight

A fresh north wind at Hauxley yesterday made all the birds a bit nervous but resulted in them circling away from the hide giving some opportunity for flight shots. One Greenshank

Many Redshank

and five of seven Wigeon. A sign that winter is one the way.

1094 days to go

Having reached another milestone on Monday the return to work yesterday led to a major breakdown in humour so I headed out rather than take it out on a likely undeserving individual. At Banks Black Darters were active and a couple of males easy finds.

I was hoping this was a female when I took the shot but on closer inspection I think not. No black v behind the head but warrants inclusion due to the reflections on the wings.

Met Roger N on the bumpy road a few moments after foxy played peek-a-boo. A chat added another Butterfly (White letter Hairstreak) I have missed to the PC list but views of a family group of three Weasels with prey was some consolation.