Spring Sunshine ...

and back to a very cold day today.

Comma

Common Crane

A quiet day on the Durham coast so when I got a message about a crane at Boldon Flats I was close by. Ten minutes later I was enjoying this bird.

False Oxlip

Garlic Mustard

Grasshopper Warbler

Little Egret

Little Grebe

Alloplasta piceator

Parasite of Noctuid larvae. (Thanks to Jaswinder Bopari for the ID) I would imagine this is a rare record for Durham.

Fox

This took an interest in the Crane at Boldon. It approached within a few metres but the Crane stood its ground.

Speckled Wood

Today it was very cold, wet and windy. Still waiting for that magic spring migration day. Fingers crossed.

 

Mixed Bag

Alexanders

Black-tailed Godwit

Boldon Flats

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

.

Cetti's Warbler

These are becoming so common now and as always they're very vocal so it is fairly easy to get a snap nowadays

Pin-cushion Moss

??

Looks like an old Boletus without its cap.

Great Crested Grebe

Great White Egret

Trips to Saltholme and East Chevington provide a selection of photos for my daily challenge. However, other days are a bit of a struggle. Plants are starting to flower but many tend to be garden escapes. Still I think I'll find it easier over the next few days and weeks.

Kestrel

Little Egret

Spurge

Wren

I am always reminded of Allo Allo when I see this bird and can't resist calling it Wrené.

Yellowhammer.

So far I have clocked up some new year birds recently. Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Willow Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Blackcap. Not in big numbers but good to see.

 

Always Look on the Bright Side

Ladybird

Pied Wagtail

Spring birding can be so frustrating. News from Holy Island that a good fall of common migrants had taken place and yet I searched from Tyne to Wear and saw no sign of a fall. Later in the evening more migrants turned up along the Lincolnshire coast.

Ragwort

Robin

I was even struggling to get my photo for the day.

Rook

Haven't seen many Rooks around my new patches. Maybe I haven't been looking closely enough.

Goat Willow

Just to dampen my spirits news of a Bluethroat on 2nd April at Newbiggin had me cursing. (Well done AMc, nice find.)

How to lift the mood then. A quick chat with PW on the Leas and I made the decision to check Trow Quarry. A good decision!

Firecrest