Joy and despair

At last after the long wait at least three Four spotted Chaser and two Emperors at Banks Pond this lunchtime.

The Chasers eventually deigned to perch for me but never could find the Emperors as they chose spots in the corner of the pond surrounded by reeds and only accessible by wading so only flight shots available. Good job they're a big target and not as nifty as the Chasers.

Not to worry. A couple of half decent results and the top shot is definately worth viewing at full size.

And the despair.......another dead Red Squirrel at nearby Fox Covert Platation the second road casualty in two weeks. Young animals possibly or lets look on the bright side that numbers are splendidly high in the area.

It's just not cricket!

Well maybe its a Grasshopper but whatever, despite the warm spell no Dragonflies have emerged on my patch. I hunted Banks Pond up and down yesterday evening but no joy. Just the Canada Geese juveniles giving due deference to Canada Day past and beginning to show their true colours.

Black and white of course. Non of this red and white mularky best kept south of these waters. A few Damsels were present showing well in the late evening sun. I'm not sure which team this one supports but likely one with blue in its name despite the green colouring.

The 'Crickets' despite their number were remarkably difficult to capture always seeming to find their way behind a blade of grass. Drives you hopping mad! As does trying to decide whether its Cricket or Grasshopper. I'll plump for the former as I always thought the latter had large hind legs and I have been known to chose the title of my post before carefully checking the identity of the subject. Publish and be damned I say......

Sunbathing Tawny!

I was returning down the range bridleway at 8.10 this morning so scanned the ruin for any sign of the Redstarts and found the Tawny Owl that roosts nearby out in the open catching a few rays. I guess unlike some that operate in the dark hours its not afraid of turning to dust.

Previous to that, the walk had been pleasant with Meadow Pipit and Sedge Warbler being the most prevalent species. The Willow Warblers have largely fallen silent apart from their contact calls but Whitethroats are still going strong, this one feeding nestlings nearby.

In fact its been the best year for Whitethroats since the turn of the century their numbers this morning exceeding Willows. I thought I was in for a treat when lots of screaming Swallows tracked a bird across the sky but no Hobby for me............. it was Mrs Sparrowhawk.

Plenty of butterfly activivty with my first Painted Lady at the early hour of 7.10 and as it warmed up Meadow Browns and Ringlets became the order of the day with a few Small Whites, two Small Skippers and a Small Tortoiseshell.

It was more of the same at Banks Pond plus a couple of male Common Blues but no Dragonflies again. One Little Grebe though made an appearance which unusually is the first of the year I've seen on the patch (No 90). Pairs have bred here for the last three years so I fear the winter may have done for them.

A brief visit to Arcot saw the Little Egret and a chat with STH both of us looking forward to adding to our collections with a visit to the book fair at Tynemouth Station on Sunday.

Winging it

I was up at Whittle Dene the other day drinking in the peace and quiet and trying to get some shots of Swallows in the sunlight. Then a I started as a loud mew was heard and looked up to see a Buzzard hovered menacingtly above me.

Then some man made interruption as the 'mushroom' climbed out westward whilst doing circuits around the airport. No peace for the wicked I thought.

So I headed for the hide where not much was doing. Four Common Terns seemed very dozy on their raft and no sign of youngsters. I checked the diary which is more like vistors book for people walking the Wall some of whom had obviously taken advantage of the hide for overnight or rainstorm shelter. As I hunted the book for the pen normally trapped amongst the pages I found this moth in the year diary at the back. I've searched the moth site for Calendar or Diary Moth but no joy. Good job I hadn't slammed the book shut! It started to awake and after a minute or so disappeared up behind one of the wall posters.



The main activity was a Sedge Warbler feeding a number of young distributed in the field next to the hide. There were plenty of flies and moths so I think they were being well catered for.

Lesser & Four Spot

Having checked Banks Pond for Dragonflies just about daily for the last two weeks without success todays searing heat finally brought out three male Four Spotted Chasers. Looking at the damage to the wings of this one he's not exactly a youngster himself. Mesmerising to watch and a challenge when in flight. No Emperors yet but I live in hope.

Also singing nearby was this Lesser Whitethroat. This territory has been held for a number of years on the junction of Prestwick Carr Road and Horton Grange Road and I have always wondered why the bird prefers this fairly busy spot when there are many other quieter locations nearby.

Also on the wing numerous Bluetail and Bluet Damsels, more Meadow Browns than could be counted and a few Ringlets. Nice..................

Little at Cresswell

Not strictly true as there was quite a bit about when I visited yesterday lunchtime. Loads of geese both Canada and Greylag, 8 Grey Heron, Shelduck with plenty of young (one a creche of 22), Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard and Tufted Duck in good numbers, Coot and Moorhen also with young, Oystercatcher, Redshank a couple of Dunlin and the usual loafing Black headed Gulls, Sandwich Tern but best of all four Little Gulls. I was suprised the Avocets had gone but got down to some observation of the Gulls especially this individual coming into full plumage.

Unfortunately they spent most of the time sleeping until there was a commotion as an Oystercatcher on the far side of the pond fell prey to a female Peregrine who proceeded to have lunch on the bankside. I watched with the others in the hide for just under half an hour until she left with the alarm calls from the remaining Oystercatchers sending the gulls now numbering six Littles up and away.

Oh well, off up to Drurdige where there were no Spoonbills but a Grasshopper Warbler reeling at the entrance to the hide path showed for a brief moment.

Not much other than some juvenile Black Headed Gulls in front of the hide so after a quick check on Hauxley and East Chevington where I could find no Roseates although another Little Gull was present but too distant to bother raising the camera so back to Cresswell.

Four Little Gulls again but all distant until after two had left one started to fly closer to the hide and I managed a few shots capable of enlargement. I had been joined by Vee who likely got some better results despite having some problems with her equipment.

We spent a good hour soaking in the atmosphere and discussing why Cresswell and East Chevington attract so many 1st winter Little Gulls but so few adults. How, I ask do birds in their first full season know this is the place to come or is it on some Little Gull super highway from the breeding grounds to their feeding sites

Whatever it's very nice to see them.

Newburn Friday

After a mornings work the sun was out so the weekend started early and I headed down to the Tyne at Newburn to see what was about. Started at the Reeth Pond which unfortunately was Dragonflyless with only a couple of Blue Damsels putting on a show. Plenty of young Mallards and the Kingfisher did its usual flypast as I was caught behind the trees. Despite waiting fifteen minutes it didn't return. Sad to see the vandals have demolished one of the fishing platforms but nice to find a young Robin being fed by its parent in the undergrowth.

A questioning look from the parent as I passed by back to Blayney Row where two young Blackcaps flew up from the pathside vegetation. Young birds are nice when they are so inquisitive and a blessing for the photographer even in dim light. One of the youngsters seems to have some blood around its beak but hopefully nothing serious.

Then a walk up the banks of the Tyne halfway to Wylam. The tide was falling and the rocks becoming exposed for various Gulls (all five common species present) to languish the afternoon away along with Mallard, Heron and Cormorant. No Goosander which is unusual for this location but a good twenty -thirty Sand Martins chasing in family groups near their colony perilously built in the one sand bank that is collapsing. Must be the softer sand is their preferrence.

On the return a Ringlet fluttered down onto a nearby flower. One of only three butterflies seen the others being Small White and Meadow Brown. Also a moth was disturbed as I returned over grassland to the car but then landed for the photo. Dare I suggest (after not so diligent research) Shaded Broad Bar.

I can almost feel the incoming comments to correct me.