June Birding

Cardinal Beetle

Pyrochrora serraticornis

(commoner form has black head ... coccinea)

Silverweed

Potentilla anserina

Forget-me-not 

Myosortis sp?

False Fox Sedge

Carex otrubae

(Need to check some of my IDs this is common S of England)

Little Egret (ringed Lincolnshire)

Wall Brown

Lasiommata megera

Large Skipper

Ochlodes venatus

Soldier Beetle

Rhagonycha fulva

Tetragnatha (prob extensa)

Nettle Weevil

Phyllobius pomaceus

Nemophora degeerella

Fabulous flight display by these longhorn moths at Drurdge. I wonder how many swatted away the pesky bugs as they visited the hide, not realising their beauty?

Nettle Weevil

I waited patiently for them to land so I could photograph them, they weren't supposed to land on me. No telescope required.

Anticipation

Yellow Flag

Recent reports of Bee Eaters have added to the anticipation of patch visits. Sadly none have been seen but it certainly prevented the post holiday lethargy.

Small patches of reeds in the Country Park are now home to Reed Warblers. Strange to think that  not so long ago Reed Warblers were a scarce bird in Northumberland.

My search for Bee Orchids continued and I found 4 new spikes.

Moorhen chick ... not the prettiest.

Skippers at Druridge

Later I found an Otter close to the hide at Druridge (I dashed to tell the people in the hide opposite, one was delighted the other didn't bother to come and look a it ... aren't some people strange?)

Druridge Otter

I finally managed a photo of Reed Warbler at Chevington. They haven't been very showy this year despite being very vocal. All the time I hoped the Saltholme  Squacco might have relocated North ... not yet!

Finally, you get a better class of litter from film crews ... Harrogate Spring Water (not the usual Fosters and Macdonalds). I did get a prompt reply from the management team to assure me that they will leave the site free from litter.

Back Home

Well, back from Poland and there has been a lot happening. Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes reported, Spoonbills touring the bay, 18 Little gulls and a trip to Holy Island.

This Cuckoo has been around Chevington for the last few days (with it or another at Druridge Pools).

The Swallow nest on the right was re-mastered by Wrens in the winter so the Swallows added a new one to the left (semi-detached accommodation).

Cinnabar Moth

Today an early start and a trip to Holy Island. Sometimes when you arrive on the island you know it's quiet and you're not going to see much. So after two hours I had  reached Chare Ends with little to comment on. Suddenly a familiar sound from the 'set aside' fields  'wet my lips' a pause then it called again. It was obviously making its way across the field as the sound travelled from one end to the other. As with most of my Quail records this was also a no show.

Having just tweeted my 'sighting' I looked up to see an Osprey. Well not bad.

A quick look on the Snook and I was headed home.

Back at Chevington, a Spoonbill flew South (only to fly off North when I got to Druridge later).

The Beowulf film set looks quite impressive in the dunes but it is on the area where Orchids and Helleborines flower.

A check in the Country Park and I found a couple of Bee Orchids.

With Pollinia (above) 

Without Pollinia (below)

Below my Blackcurrants

I returned home to find my Blackcurrant bushes 'fruitless'. I think it is caused by Big Bud Mite.