Red Kite over Druridge bay CP
Yellow Brain...Hadston dunes
Fox Moth larva? ...Hadston dunes
Started the morning off at Widdrington tip. A better morning but still cold but lots of common birds singing such as Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. There was a mixed flock of Finches feeding on the ground beneath the Alders. Most were Chaffinches but there was a single Mealy Redpoll as well as seven Lesser Redpolls, a few Siskins and Goldfinches. I then went along to Druridge Bay CP and went along the dunes looking for Morels. A bird of prey came over the pines to the North end of the park, a Red Kite, it circled over the dunes then headed off South West. This was my first sighting in the county, I haven't ventured to the locality where they breed. It was untagged but by the time I got the camera onto it it was flying away from me. Clicking on the image may help bring it a bit closer. The yellow brain is orange as this is the colour it turns when they age and begin to shrivel up. I can never remember the furry caterpillars we see in the dunes as Eggars, Fox or drinkers.
7 comments:
Congratulations on the county tick!
Coincidentally I saw my first Red Kite of the year today, flying over the M20. Probably not the same bird, tho'.
The cats are Fox moths Nige. We get loads of drinkers too, but they have a grey blue in them....Nice Kite though, I would have loved that over our place!
Nice find Nigel ,Red kite not seen one in the County for a year or two.I thought you where looking for morals till I re-read .
Brian
That brain stuff is kinda gross.
nellie
Thanks for the comments
K. Kites are a rare sighting up here away from the release areas
Stew. Thanks for sorting the larva out, the kite might still be around and drift northwards? pity it wasn't black!
Brian. Definately Morels but I didn't find any
N. They are a strange looking fungi
Nice coastal kite record Nigel, still need it for Druridge!
I only see them at Howick (sorry Stewart)
It flew off SW but could have flown past Druridge. I was hoping it would hang around for a bit but I haven't heard of any more sightings.
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