Abbey Meadows

Abbey Meadows

Thursday 20 August 2015

Canary Grass




Canary Grass (Phalaris canariensis)

I came across Canary grass growing in the car park next to Lidl's at Morpeth. It is the first time I have seen this plant which is a native to the Mediterranean but occurs occasionally on waste ground in this country.

Sunday 2 August 2015

Caspian Gull






For whatever reason I didn't connect with the Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) last year at Amble but the ringed returning individual was present early afternoon on the sand spit opposite the harbour. It was frightened off by some canoists/kayakers who decided to get out of their crafts and sit on the sand themselves scattering all the Gulls and Cormorants. When the birds did settle again I couldn't pick it up again on the incoming tide. The reliable adult Mediterranean Gull was in its usual place on the grass above the Little shore. The pic of Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus intersinctus) was from the garden.