Black Scoter

Had a lazy lie-in this morning, not really sure where to head. Just as I was about to leave the house news of a Black Scoter at Redcar meant south it was. The bird was in a flock of Common Scoter just beyond the surf in a surprisingly choppy sea. It took a couple of frantic minutes to get on to the bird with the whole flock disappearing in troughs or diving en masse. The bulging, yellow beak meant it stood out from the flock.

Spot the Black Scoter

* marks the spot

A quick look at the Saltholme area on the way back north didn't produce anything of note.

Kibblesworth Brickworks produced two new butterflies for the year with Meadow Brown and Ringlet. There were good numbers of Common Blue, Large Skipper and Small Heath with 30+ Four-spotted Chaser and a few Common Darter.

Ringlet

Large Skipper

Four-spotted Chaser

Common Blue

Poppies at Burdon Moor

More Dragons

Warm and sunny so headed down to Kibblesworth Brickworks. The area was alive with Azure Damselflies and 30+ Four-spotted Chaser. There were smaller numbers of Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red Damsels and the first couple of Common Darter were heading for the trees to dry. A Great Diving Beetle was hunting near the surface of the main pond. Surprisingly there were not loads of butterflies, but there were Large, Small and Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Wall, Peacock, Spotted Wood and Small White.

Four-spotted Chaser

Common Darter

Great Diving Beetle

Large Skipper

At Burdon Moor 2 male Broad-bodied Chaser were dogfighting and not stopping for photos, but 3 females were perched up, well away from the battling males.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser

I returned later when it had cooled a bit and the chasers were all perched up, the following two were out in the open.

Female and Male Broad-bodied Chaser

Male Broad-bodied Chaser

Small Pearls

The first port of call this morning was Cresswell, which was disappointing with just 2 Little Gull and 6 Avocet.

At Druridge a Barn Owl put on a superb show patrolling the dunes while 4 Spoonbill were seen from the Budge screen.

Barn Owl

Spoonbill

A male Marsh Harrier was hunting over East Chevington north pool, but otherwise very quiet here.

A Common Lizard was in the dunes at Hauxley, but I was unable to convincingly year tick Roseate Tern through the heat haze to Coquet Island.

Common Lizard

I popped into the Hauxley reserve for a look at the Red-breasted Goose. If only it had turned up in the winter!



Red-breasted Goose- Wild? Absolutely livid.

Next was south via home to go butterfly hunting. A good start leaving Whickham with the first Painted Lady of the year powering along in the sun. The destination was the Bee Hive area to the southwest of the A68. A few minutes of looking got me a tick in the form of a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary feeding on a thistle. Initially very distant views, eventually about 30 were seen giving close views. A cracking male Broad-bodied Chaser was patrolling the area and the year's first Large Skipper was seen with a couple of Red Admiral and a Small Copper. A male Redstart was seen briefly.


Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Broad-bodied Chaser

Red Admiral

Monster Warbler

Hit lucky today. I was just leaving the shop in Ellington when I got the news of a Great Reed Warbler at Cresswell, just a few minutes away. The bird was picked up after a few minutes singing in reeds at the north east corner of the pond. It flew south to the reeds bordering the road and gave tantalising views as it bounced around the reeds. A male Bearded Tit was also pinging around. Word came that the monster warbler was showing well from the hide so we moved round, happy to get out of the rain. For the next hour the bird gave cracking scope views, perched out in the open at the reed edge. It got better as the bird flew over to thrash around in the reeds in front of the hide. Also here were 20+ Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, 5 Little Gull and 2 Bearded Tit.

Great Reed Warbler being massive.

Great Reed Warbler

Bearded Tit

Little Egret

A quick look at Druridge Pool gave 2 Spoonbill and a Little Egret.

Spoonbill

Back to work

Having managed to dodge work for most of May I had to return today, so only managed a quick look around Gateshead tonight. A Long-eared Owl hunting over the road on Ravensworth Fell, a Little Owl at a usual site and a Kingfisher on the Team at Lamesley. Not a bad night.

Buff

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper flew off from Cowpen Marsh just 10 mins before I got there. A quick search of Greatham Creek drew a blank so I headed to where it was originally found. By the time I had walked out across the marsh the bird had returned and was feeding with Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Cracking scope views. Also here a drake Garganey dropped in and a Whimbrel flew over calling.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Feeding with Ringed Plover and Dunlin

Garganey

No luck Quail hunting again this evening, but a Dipper on the Team at Lamesley.

Swallow at Burdon Moor

Hebridean Sheep at Burdon Moor

Leo

Quail hunting this morning again drew a blank, but I did see a Long-eared Owl on Ravensworth Fell and a pair of Grey Partridge at Burdon Moor.

Long-eared Owl

Grey Partridge

As it warmed up a few butterflies came out with Red Admiral, Small Copper, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined and Small White, plus good numbers of Wall. The 2 female Broad-bodied Chasers were showing a bit better than yesterday.

Small Copper

Broad-bodied Chaser



Broad-bodied Chaser

Large Red Damselfly

The highlight at Shibdon was a pair of Shoveler.

Shoveler

A Pale Tussock moth was on my garden path this afternoon.

Pale Tussock