A Few Flowers

Decided to take a bit more time this week, brushing up my plant identification. My patch (East Chevington ... mainly) goes from the beach through dune slack to reclaimed opencast. One small patch, within the opencast, was preserved due to the Lesser Butterfly Orchid.

I managed to ID about 100 species and at least 50 more were photographed hoping ID would be possible later. Next week I  plan to take a hand lens to look for some extra detail? Below is a selection of some of the common species (more to follow). [Let me know if the ID is incorrect ... always happy to be corrected.]

1.      Common Osier Salix viminalis

2.      Common Bent Agrostis tenuis

3.      Soft Rush Juncus effusus

4.      Burnet Rose Rosa pimpinellifolia

5.      Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense

6.      Timothy Grass Phleum pratense

7.      Ragwort Senecio jacobaea

8.      Restharrow  Ononis repens

9.      Eyebright Euphrasia sp? (nemorosa?)

10.  Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officianalis

11.  Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare

12.  Meadow Cranesbill Geraium pratense

13.  Dog Rose Rosa canina

14.  Hayrattle Rhinanthus minor

15.  Twayblade Listera ovata

16.  Marsh Helleborine Eppactus palustis

17.  Harebell Campanula rotundiflora

18.  Centaury Centaurium erythrae

19.  Quaking-grass Briza media

20.  Marjoram? Origanum vulgare

21.  Meadow Vetchling Lathyrius pratensis

22.  Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

23.  Burdock  Arctinium lappa

24.  Common Orache Atriplex patula

Good Behaviour

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Marsh Helleborine

This morning I was able to enjoy some great interactions between adult and juvenile Marsh Harriers. Food passes, disgruntled juvenile, too late to join in the feeding. Adult female tidying the nest (messy youngsters?).

Best news ... Avocets have a chick! (12th July)

I know its a poor photo but it is a special moment.

5 Roseate Terns on the beach, one of the best years for sightings of this special bird on the patch. Magic! The supporting cast of Sandwich, Arctic and Common terns wasn't bad either.

Suddenly they were flushed ... Toggers, Dog Walkers, Birders ... NO! A Cuckoo (makes a change).

This Juvenile Cuckoo was so interesting to watch. After a short time it found a Meadow Pipit carrying food. I hoped it was going to feed the Cuckoo, but couldn't believe it was  local bird. Watching it for nearly an hour I realised the Meadow Pipit had a nest very close to the Cuckoo's perch. The Cuckoo kept begging for food, showing its large orange gape and even mimicking begging calls of the young pipits. The calls were very quiet and almost convinced the Pipit to feed it, but in the end it fed its own nestlings. Fabulous to watch.

Grass

Large Skipper

How many photos can I take in two days which have bits of grass getting in the way.

Common Agrimony

Agrimonia eupatoria

At first I thought this was a Wood Tiger but on closer inspection it wasn't. Failing to find a match I looked in my Micro moth guide and found it. It wasn't small or was it?

Small Magpie Moth

Anania hortulata

One of many photos that would be better in focus.

Bloody Grass 

Avocet nests almost washed out this week. Will they survive (taken before water level rise)?

Little Grebe

Brimstone Moth

Opisthograptis luteolata

Yes another ... just lov em!

Oddie Hide

Aaaaaah!

Wish this was in focus!

:-(

Tuftie with three of its six ducklings.

Any day now!

Adult male and juvenile.

(This morning I saw three juveniles out of the nest together. Are there more??)

A very early juvenile  Wheatear back on the coast. At times it looked more like a Spotted Flycatcher ... but the tail was a bit of a give away!

Stavros S Niarchos

British brig-rigged tall ship.

This ship is owned by the Tall Ships Youth Trust a training vessel which  I think will be part of the Tall Ships Race at Blyth this year.

This Snipe was right in front of the hide at Druridge.

Eyes in the back of its head?

Then this Common Sandpiper joined the Snipe. Waders are trickling through; Spotted Sandpiper reported at Cresswell and Greenshank  (seen and photographed by JA) at Druridge. Whimbrel yesterday at Snab and many reports of Black-tailed Godwits.

Distant

Sunday morning and there was a lot of Harrier Activity. Two glimpses of a juvenile to mark another successful year. Food passes and hunting (including a duckling taken off the water).

Today (Monday 4th July) the morning couldn't have been better. GWE on the Budge Fields, Cuckoo in the dunes, Grasshopper warblers reeling, Roseate Terns on the beach, Little Owls on posts and windowsills and even better Harrier action.

Young Marsh Harriers are stunning. Dark chocolate brown plumage, golden orange crown and bright yellow legs. The adult male flew over the nest, with prey dangling, trying to encourage the youngsters to follow him.After a while two youngsters appeared, still very unstable when attempting to land on branches but fairly confident on the wing. It will be great to watch their progress over the next few days.

This Cuckoo remained in the dunes most of the morning feasting on huge hairy caterpillars and being mobbed by pipits and even terns. The bay was alive with terns today and having seen 5 Roseate terns yesterday it was good to see several more again today.