Eclectic Mix

A few young Newts on the path at Druridge this morning.

Then on to Allingtons, Ashington, to drop off my car for its service. I have to say this is the best garage I've come across. Customer Service is excellent. My little car seems very well built and reliable (touching wood).

As the garage is near Castle Island I left to re-visit the Bonaparte’s Gull.  It was very obliging and on one occasion flew to reveal its little pink legs. A supporting cast of; 7 L Egrets, 1 LRP, 1 R. Plover, Lots of Blk T Godwits and 4 Goosander made it a pleasant walk. Arriving back to find my car was almost ready … excellent. 

My interest in plants has increased over the last few weeks and I realise now how little I know. Just like birding however, get to know the common stuff and then you start to notice other plants.

Still making lots of mistakes though …

1,2 and 3 Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa

Thought to be a ‘Ballast Plant’ in Northumberland. Seeds carried in the ballast materials in ships and dumped on the river banks. (These plants were on the banks of the Wansbeck.)

4 Comfrey Symphytum oficinale

5 and 6 Field Scabious Knautia arvensis

7 Lady’s Bedstraw Galium verum

8 ??? Bedstraw(haven’t worked this out yet

9 Sea Rocket (?) Cakile maritime

10 Frosted Orache Atriplex laciniata

A Few Calls

After a busy holiday it is always difficult to slip back into patch birding mode.

These safety notices and the bank-holiday weekend fun run do not help. I imagine the track at Chevington will be closed on Sunday.

When I left for Arizona the first few Whitethroats had arrived, now, they're everywhere.

Breeding is well underway with our commoner birds. Fully fledged Stonechats, rows of Shelduck ducklings, scattered lapwing chicks and goslings (say no more).

Tuesday I got a call from JA (Thanks John) to let me know about a Little Stint on the tiny flash North of Druridge pools. It was accompanied by 5 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin. It remained fairly settled despite the best action of barking dog, farmer's quad and rampaging cattle.

This morning, while seawatching, I received a text from AC (thanks Andy) to let me know about a Bonaparte's Gull at Castle Island, Ashington.  This bird hung around long enough for some record shots. It spent most of the time facing into the stiff, cool breeze. Then it decided to fly, but headed away towards  the A189 road bridge. I'm sure it will still be around the area.

I resumed my seawatching and best birds of the morning were 10 Manx Shearwaters close in from Snab.