After the seawatch I headed south to Greatham Creek where Brian S's directions lead me straight to my first Essex Skipper. There were at least 5 skippers and all of them Essex. Some large, nasty, biting flies made photography difficult.
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| Essex Skipper |
I called in at Saltholme, where a female Garganey brought her 7 duckling out of the reeds. Also here were 2 Greenshank and 5 Black-tailed Godwit. A distant Buzzard had a mid-air grapple with a Marsh Harrier.
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| Garganey |
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| Little Egret |
Lambton Pond on the way home had 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper and 14 Black-tailed Godwit.
A call in at Shibdon had a Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Egret.
Didn't Foss have Essex Skipper at Whitburn last year, Rob? Are they not there this year. I remember looking, but can't remember whether I actually saw any or not?
ReplyDeleteGraham G
Not sure, but seem to be spreading north pretty quickly, so a good chance. I was surprised how easy they were to id.
DeleteDidn't Foss have Essex Skipper at Whitburn last year, Rob? Are they not there this year. I remember looking, but can't remember whether I actually saw any or not?
ReplyDeleteGraham G