Abbey Meadows

Common Sunstar

2012-01-29T15:12:00.001Z

A family walk this morning between Druridge and East Chevington was intended to see if there were a few birds about but heavy rain meant little birdwatching this morning. These days I'm always looking down to the ground and I had noticed a rough sea and the tideline strewn with seaweed and razorshells. My wife and daughter had noticed a dead starfish which turned out to be a Common Sunstar (Crossaster papposus), the first time I have seen a one. A quick google when I got back and the species is common around our shores particularly in the North west. It is a Northern species, circumpolar and is found from the Arctic to the English channel. Smaller ones are sometimes found in rock pools and are commonly seen by divers. They are omnivorous and feed on their own kind and swallow them whole and are also scavengers. This was about 34cm across which is the maximum size they grow to, they usually have 8-10 legs, rarely 10-13 but the one above clearly has 14 legs. It looks a bit like a ships wheel but reminds me of the cover of Lal and Mike Waterson's album 'Bright Phoebus.'

Spurge Laurel

2012-01-27T17:57:00.000Z

In the Flora of Northumberland, Swan describes Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) as scarce in the county. There are some naturalised plants but he believes the ones found in the Wansbeck valley are native. I wonder if this refers to the above plants growing on the steep North banks of the River Wansbeck at Scotch Ghyll woods. They are easy to look for at this time of year as they are evergreen and are in flower now until April.

Borough Woods

2012-01-20T09:58:00.000Z

A walk through the Borough woods is quite productive with regular woodland species. There are large flocks of birds mainly Long tailed, Coal, Blue and Great Tits but among them are Goldcrests, Nuthatches, Treecreepers and Marsh Tit. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming and Jays are very vocal. The days of seeing Red Squirrels here are gone, before 2009 you would still see a few but on Tuesday I saw 7 Greys in different places in the woods. There are species of fungi still to be found but some are difficult to identify. The top one is possibly a mature specimen of Collybia erythropus but I cannot identify the second one. The third pic is Beech Woodwart and then some unusual growth on a dead Oak stump. The winter is still relatively mild even though we have had some cold spells and several species are in flower like the Pineapple Mayweed.

Fresh Morpeth morning

2012-01-17T14:33:00.000Z

Frozen River Wansbeck

Pity that fence post was in the way

That white rump stood out a long distance away

A fresh walk around Morpeth this morning turned out to be a bit of a mammal watch. Walking down towards the Abbey there was a Roe Deer in the field but it was too quick for the camera. The river was still frozen in parts this morning but milder weather is on the way but I was heading for Cottingwood common where I saw a Barn owl the other night. Thinking there might be a Short eared or something I thought it was worth a look. No Owls but 2 kestrels and lots of the usual woodland edge birds such as Bullfinch and Siskin. I saw no fewer than 6 Roe Deer here and a Fox carrying some small prey but all except the above were too fast to get a shot with the camera, even that one was a good couple of hundred yards away.

Winter Polypore

2012-01-12T09:43:00.000Z

Sometimes you can look too hard for certain species. I found this Winter Polypore (Polyporus brunalis) growing on an old fallen mossy oak branch just a couple of hundred yards from my house, a species I have searched the local woodland for.

Above are Spindleshank and Velvet shank commonly found in deciduous woodland at this time of year. At the turn of the year some bird species are consistent as the Tawny Owls have gone quiet and Song Thrushes have been singing in the garden since the 4th. Yesterday a Great spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the Borough woods. Lots of birds in the Borough woods with large numbers of Great tits, among them 5 Nuthatches and 3 Treecreepers. The only Squirrel sighting has been of a Grey.

Norfolk or Caucasian?

2012-01-11T21:53:00.001Z

Came across some Comfrey plants growing close to the riverbank at Low Stanners, Morpeth. With the flowers Azure blue and the sepals divided less than half way I knew it wasn't Russian Comfrey which is familiar along our waysides these days. I thought perhaps it was Caucasian Comfrey a naturalised plant that is found in some parts of the country and sent a pic to the county recorder. He has sent it to Clare O'Reilly, an ecologist from Haltwhistle who thinks it maybe Caucasian or Norfolk Comfrey but will need an uprooted whole plant in May/June to analyse. So I''ll have to wait a few months to find it's true identity. Whatever it turns out to be or where it originated from it is a good local find.

East Stobswood

2012-01-09T15:33:00.000Z

Yesterday afternoon I called in at East Stobswood to see if the Geese were there but there was only a large flock of Common Gulls. I had a walk around the tip and as it was late afternoon I thought there might be some Short eared Owl activity but there wasn't. As it was mild there were very few birds here other than Jay and a single Snipe. There must be plenty of small rodents here as there were 7 Kestrels and a Buzzard hunting the open grassy areas. As the light was failing 2 large flocks of Geese flew towards East Stobswood to roost, one from the North and the other from the East. I drove around and there was just enough light left to put the scope on them. The birds from the North were all Canadas with nearly 400 of them, the other flock were nearly all Pink footed Geese, over 700 with 2 White fronted and 2 Barnacles.

Resolutions

2012-01-03T20:19:00.000Z

I was reading other bloggers resolutions for the new year and I have decided to eat more chocolate and drink more wine. I do need to post more often though. I was at Hauxley on new years day seeing a good variety of waders and a nice flock of Tree sparrows. Its been blustery in Morpeth, there are 2 drake Goosanders on the river at Oldgate and I have noticed many plants in flower. On the woodland floor the wild Garlic is coming through and there was Lesser celandine in flower at Deuchar park. I hope this is the first of many posts.

Late Fungi

2011-12-29T14:00:00.000Z

Lack of any significant frosts have meant some Autumn fungi are still flourishing well into Winter though many species can be found throughout the year. I believe the above species is Russula turei growing in conifer woodland at Stobswood. Another numerous species growing here this Autumn has been Rufous Milkcap.

Another mystery species growing at Stobswood but possibly Yellow Fieldcap growing at the brickworks.

Exidia glandulosa, Borough woods

Poplar Fieldcap one of many growing beneath Poplars and Willows at Abbey meadows, Morpeth. Working over Christmas so I haven't been out much but there was a nice drake Goosander on the Wansbeck at Oldgate today. There was a flock of 11 Greenfinches along Abbey meadows this morning, it may vary from different localities but they have become scarce around here in recent years.

Bullfinches at the tip

2011-12-16T18:03:00.000Z

I started yesterday at Widdrington tip and after a few minutes noticed a Short eared Owl quartering the foot and mouth plantation next to the new road. In the tip itself I came across 4 Bullfinches which were quite approachable and making barely audible piping noises. They looked large but there was nothing to compare them with and all 4 birds, 3 males and 1 female looked the same size. Despite being fairly close they were difficult to photo as they were adept at hiding behind twigs. Other birds here were Thrushes, hundreds of them with Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird and Song Thrush. There were 3 Herons and 3 kestrels here looking for voles.
I then went to East Stobswood to look at the Geese but the sun was too strong to have a good look. I then went to Maidens hall lake to count the Geese. I counted 341 White fronted Geese twice but could only see 2 Bean Geese. I went around to the other side to see If I could view them better but returned shortly after and Alan Tilmouth was there. After a chat we managed to see about 12 Bean Geese but there could have been more as many birds were roosting on the waters edge. Also a flock of Pink footed Geese and 12 Barnacles and 3 Bar Headed.
When I got home and looked at the photos I wondered if the Bullfinches were 'Northern' they all showed some features, despite the bright sunshine the extent of the red colouring stops at the belly showing a large patch of white on the flanks and undertail joining the rump above. They all look longer tailed and have a broad white wing bar with the 'saw tooth' secodary coverts along the edge of the wing bar. They all look 'humped back and overfed' and the bottom two pictures show the large extent of the grey upperparts going well beyond the nape and despite shadows from the strong sunlight the extent of white from the underparts wrapping around the rump. All were sporting large conical bills which the bases were lost in the 'fat feathery' face. They were feeding continuously on Birch. Could all 4 be Northerns? I'll wait to see what others think.

A new bird for Stobswood

2011-12-14T19:03:00.000Z

I was looking for Fungi in Grangewood when a large flock of Geese flew over

They settled on the former opencast land opposite Norwood farm

I cannot keep away from the old haunts and checking out the newly created ponds on former opencast land in the Stobswood area. On Friday I viewed the Geese from East Stobswood and began counting. There were 770 Pink footed Geese, 7 White fronted Geese and 2 Bean Geese (possibly 4). This is not the first time I have seen White fronted Geese over here, I once had a flock of 6 birds West over Felton Lane in the mid nineties but I was delighted to see the Bean Geese as I have never seen these in this area. Onwards to Woodside lake near Maidens hall and the 300+ flock were still here. IF was here and after a shivering 20 minutes I manged to see 6 Bean Geese among them and one of the White fronts was a Greenland. There was a fine Peregrine which never moved from a grassy clump behind Maidens Hall farm. 2 Whooper Swans were on the lake. Good selection of other species of Geese here.

Back at Abbey Meadows and the early frosts always bring out Velvet Shanks, This shot was taken after a heavy shower.

Morpeth fungi

2011-12-08T09:36:00.000Z

Coral Spot fungus and Dead Moll's fingers...2 common species on Sycamore

Sheathed Woodtuft...sometimes difficult to see among the dead leaves

Cortinarius sp...hundreds growing beneath Willows and Birches at Abbey Meadows

With winter firmly embedded in up here the bulk of the fungi have gone but there are still some good species in the woods around Morpeth to be found. I'm a week late with this post. I have been checking the ponds at Stobswood and had some good sightings at the new Woodside lake on the former Maidens Hall opencast site at West Chevington. The highlight were the White fronted Geese with about 320 counted, possibly more. I was joined by ADMc here and this is the first time I have encountered more than 8 birds, not even getting into double figures in the county in the past and this is one of several flocks in the county at the moment. Around Morpeth the Tawny Owls are vocal with birds calling from every woodland surrounding the town. One was sitting in a Pine tree early one morning at Cottingwood. I have also seen a couple of Woodcock here at dawn.

Cottingwood

2011-11-21T21:23:00.000Z

Butter cap (Collybia butyracea)

Grey Knight (Tricholoma cingulatum)

Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus)

Common Cavalier (Melanoleuca polioleuca)

Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus)

Work getting in the way of getting much further than Morpeth at the moment. At Cottingwood I have seen 200 Fieldfares, similar numbers of Blackbirds, 40+ Redwings, smaller numbers of Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows. These are in the fields behind St Georges hospital towards Howburn woods. I have also seen a couple of Woodcocks here and there are over 70 Pied wagtails roosting at the hospital. around the woods here there is still a lot of late fungi around.

Cleaning up

2011-11-14T21:39:00.000Z

Spent the morning in Druridge bay with brother Chris starting off at Hauxley to see the Greater yellowlegs and the Grey Phalarope. I was pleased they were still there today as I wasn't able to get out anywhere yesterday. The Yellowlegs was a new bird and it was feeding close by the wader hide whilst the Phalarope preferred the SW corner of the Southernmost pool. The next stop was Druridge bay country park where a fine Slavonian Grebe was feeding close to the shore at Ladyburn lake then on to East Chevington to see Green winged Teal. We finished off at East Stobswood where the Geese were a bit distant but hundreds of Canada's, Grey lags and Pink footed Geese. The wandering 4 Bar headed geese were among them. Thanks to Stew and ADMc.

North East Majorca 15th - 22nd October

2011-11-07T21:41:00.000Z

The computer packed in a couple of weeks ago but hopefully everything is back to normal now. Just a few pics from the Alcudia area. All the best wildlife sites were within walking distance. Visited the Albufera reserve; an excellent place with thousands of birds, probably the best were Audouin's Gull and Yellow legged Gull, Purple Gallinule (Swamphen), Stone Curlew, Night Heron, Crested Coot, Marsh Harrier, Cetti and Fan tailed Warbler and dozens of Sardinian Warblers. Sardinian Warblers became a feature of the holiday with birds calling from just about every bush no matter where you went. The coastal pines were full of Chiffchaffs and a few Firecrests. Many Kingfishers and Ospreys around. Little Egrets were probably in their hundreds. To the North of the town behind the Aldi supermarket is an excellent area of scrub and wetland, it is viewable from the main road near the roundabout South of the old town. Many species which you can see at Albufera can be found here but there were more Black winged Stilts here and one day there was a White Stork. There was also Greenshank in good numbers and Purple Gallinule and Audouin's Gull and in the scrub there was Serin, Cirl Bunting moustached Warbler and Hoopoes as well as Sardinian Warblers. One of the commonest species on the island appeared to be Stonechat. I saw many new plants and there was still a lot of butterflies around. The commonest was Long tailed Blue, many Swallowtails, Clouded Yellows and Red Admirals plus a few unidentified Fritilaries which wouldn't rest. The one pictured above had me beat but I think it is the Iberian race of Speckled Wood. All of the species seen was without any real effort. I was just walking about and happy to see what I could without running around from one place to the next. I'd like to go back to this area in the Spring.

Serra de Tramuntana

2011-10-25T09:50:00.000+01:00

Cuber

Holm Oak

Soller

Puig Major, the highest peak at over 4700 feet

Lluc monastery

A day in the mountains on a visit to North East Majorca. The above pics are a bit scenic shots of the area but the mountain range takes up a third of the whole of the island and for me a 'must see' area. Lluc monastery is an ideal base in the heart of the mountains with wonderful walks in all directions. Very rich in flora around here but many plants are photographed and stored for future identification but the birds around here were quality. My main aim was Black Vulture and above the monastery there were 7 Vultures soaring, 4 were Black, 2 Griffon and a lovely adult Egyptian which later left the group and headed South east. Around Lluc the terraced farmland held small flocks of Spotless Starling, Serin and Cirl Bunting. Firecrests were calling from the pines and Stonechats were very common. Further on at Cuber reservoir there were another two Black Vultures and two Booted Eagles in the air and at Soller another 2 Black Vultures and a single Booted Eagle. We stayed at Alcudia for the week and I will post some more stuff in a couple of days.

Autumnal

2011-10-12T09:40:00.001+01:00

Birds eye view of the former Widdrington tip looking East towards Druridge Bay, now pretty much Alder carr...an excellent habitat

Pink Footed Geese

A garden escape, flower and seed at the old brickworks

Another garden escape

Mouse ear Hawkweed

Seed head of Blue Fleabane

Some kind of Slug among the pine needles

Yesterday I had a good romp around the old tip at Widdrington. A lovely sunny morning but very Autumnal with lines of Pink Footed Geese flying over, 2 Snipe, 40-50 Redpoll and Siskin and 8 Crossbills. Also 7 Jays at the tip. Had a good look around the old brickworks to look for some late plants. Most of the plants in flower were daisy like plants such as Ragwort, Rough and Autumn Hawkbit and some late flowering Fool's Parsley and Yarrow. I found a couple of obvious garden escapes but I'm not too good at identifying some garden plants so I don't know what they are. I found more Blue Fleabane growing in other areas of the brickworks but most have now gone to seed. There were a couple of Red Admirals and Speckled woods flying around in the sunshine. On the way home I had a look at the new ponds at East Stobswood, there were 5 Barnacle Geese among the Canadas and Grey lags, Redshank, Lapwing, Tufted duck and Gadwall. Click on pics for better detail.

Snowy Waxcap

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000+01:00

Snowy Waxcap

Oak Bracket

Hygrocybe family are probably the most attractive and colourful of our fungi. They are found in old pastures and grassland but are sensitive to chemicals and in the 1960's some species became quite scarce. Modern housing estates often have grassy corners and recreational areas which are regularly mown and these are ideal places to look for this tiny group of fungi. There are many species which are common around the area where I live and despite them being very colourful the plain looking Snowy Waxcap (Hygrocybe virginea) is my favourite. The above pic was taken on my lawn.
A new fungi species for me was Inonatus dryadeus, Oak Bracket growing at the base of an ancient Oak in Athey's dene in the Borough woods.

Short eared at the tip

2011-10-02T21:07:00.000+01:00

Seed head of Zig Zag Clover

Musk Mallow brightening up a dull day

Seed of Black Medick

Poor shots of the Owl flying away from me

I was at work during the heatwave so today on my first day off it dawned to a warm, wet morning. The weather didn't improve as the day went on so I had a wander around the old tip at Widdrington. The plants are almost finishing flowering now and it was quiet generally until Bennyboy flushed a Short eared Owl off the ground. It flew to the North West part of the former tip and landed in the grass. It was raining and the pics are poor of the bird flying away (good enough excuse). There were three Kestrels hovering over the area so there must be good feeding here. There was also a flock of 16 Redpolls. Plenty of photo opportunities with berries and dozens of plants with interesting seed cases. Last night there were 5 Tawny Owls calling from different parts of the Abbey woods.

Morpeth Common

2011-09-28T11:39:00.000+01:00

Ochre Brittlegill

Stubble Rosegill

Orange Peel Fungus

Silky Rosegill

I was Brambling along the old Wannie line beside Morpeth Common but I easily get distracted. A good spot is an old sand quarry which the golf club use to fill their bunkers. The disturbed ground produces a few plants and I noticed lots of Orange Peel Fungus scattered all over the sandy floor. Silky Rosegill (Volvariella bombycina) was growing in the cleft of an Ash. Looking at my reference it is a bit like coming across a Rosefinch or a Red backed shrike in birding terms but I think with few people looking for these things they are probably more common and widespread. Ochre Brittlegill (Russula ocholeuca) and Stubble Rosegill (Volvariella gloioccephala) are common species.

Blue Fleabane

2011-09-27T20:34:00.002+01:00

Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer)

Shaggy Inkcap ( Coprinus comatus)

Old Brickworks looking North with Grangewood in the background, the phone mast was erected to boost the signal for passing rail users.

Looking West with the Cheviot hills in the distance, doesn't look much but it is a botanic paradise.

Blue Fleabane is at its Northern limit in the UK in Northumberland with only a few records from some coastal areas. Looking in the Eastern corner of the old brickworks where the area is stony I was delighted to come across about 40 plants. This is the first time I have ever seen them and a boost to the numbers of plants found at this excellent brown field site. I may have overlooked them for some years as this is the area where the old colliery railway siding were many years ago and piles of old bricks stood here and I largely ignored this part of the site. There were a couple of other new plants but obvious garden escapes. Lots of Shaggy inkcaps around and some late flowering plants like Common Storksbill, scarlet pimpernel and Common Mallow. I've put in a couple of pics of part of the old brickworks but I will take some more and continue to look for more plants as this site is earmarked for housing in the future.

Local patching

2011-09-19T13:41:00.000+01:00

Devilsbit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Ulgham

Water mint (mentha aquatica), Ulgham

Possibly sharp-leaved mint (Mentha x villosonervata), Stobswood

Sea Buckthorn (Elaeagnus rhamnoides), Stobswood

Beech Milkcap (Lactarius blennius), Cottingwood, Morpeth

Dogtooth lichen (Peltigera canina), Druridge dunes

Bitter Bracket (Postia stiptica), Morpeth Common

My local patch seems to be getting bigger with more ponds to keep an eye on. Still some flowers around, looking around the patch recently as well as the dunes at Druridge and East Chevington, the meadows at Ulgham Grange are still looking colourful with some late flowering species and the dunes at Druridge still have some nice species in flower; Autumn Gentian being my favourite. At East Chevington yesterday there were four Snow Geese with the regular flock of Geese and plenty of other wildfowl. Today in the Borough woods at Morpeth there were two Marsh Tits in the mixed flock in the tree tops.

Nice afternoon

2011-09-17T20:43:00.000+01:00

Alsike Clover

By far the most numerous butterfly on the wing

Trying to hide in the grass

New ponds at East Stobswood

Lovely mild and sunny afternoon at Widrington tip. Nice light for some pics. The new ponds at East Stobswood are beginning to attract some birds. There were several Curlews and Oystercatchers, large flocks of lapwings, Canada Geese and Gulls. Also Mallard and Gadwall as well as lots of Swallows and a Wheatear.

Taking a chance

2011-09-12T10:22:00.000+01:00

This moth decided to spend the day on my bird table. Quite risky considering the number of birds that are in the garden but somehow they never saw it or were put off by the markings. I think it is a silver Y but it looks a bit dark. I'm not used to seeing these resting. It was very Autumnal at the tip on Friday with very few flowering plants left. 16 Redpolls were flying around and a lone Tree Pipit flew South high overhead. The Green Woodpecker is still around favouring the footpaths of Vanburgh Gardens and West Park. Last night on my way home from work a Badger was walking around the car park of the Wansbeck pub before walking across the road and into the gardens of the houses opposite along Abbey Meadows.

Fungi of Borough woods

2011-09-02T10:55:00.000+01:00

Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)

Wood Woollyfoot (Collybia peronata)

Clustered Toughshank (Collybia confluens)

Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)

Glistening Inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus)

Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme)

Blueing Bracket (Postia subcaesia)

Sorry Kingsdowner but Autumn is well under way up here. September has started very cool and cloudy but a walk through the Borough woods between Morpeth and Mitford along the banks of the river Wansbeck is very productive for fungi at the moment. Above is a small selection of fungi typical of Beech and Oak woodland.

Hop Sedge

2011-08-31T21:00:00.000+01:00

I discovered this Hop or Cyperus Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus) growing on the edge of a small pond in Woodburn, Stobswood. A quick respose from an e-mail to the county recorder indicated that this is only the second county record, the first from Gosforth park in 2009. A recent spreading plant or more likely introduced however, the increase in ponds in the local area due to restoration of former opencast sites mean these new areas of wetland are worth keeping an eye on to see what plants establish themselves here in the future.

Giant Polypore

2011-08-29T20:22:00.000+01:00

Giant Polypore...Longhirst Hall

Golden Waxcap...Abbey Meadows

Brick Tuft...Abbey Meadows

Orange Mosscap...Abbey Meadows

Cromson Waxcap...Druridge dunes

I've noticed some fine specimens of Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing at the foot of some Limes at the entrace to Longhirst Hall as I drive past so I stopped yesterday to take a few pics. Lots of fungi around at the moment as the weather is perfect. Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chloraphana) are out in good numbers near the house and in the dunes at Druridge. Also pictured in the dunes was Crimson Waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea). Nearer home there are a few clumps of Brick Tuft (Hypholoma lateritium) and the Orange Mosscap (Rickenella fibula) was growing on my lawn.

Confused.com

2011-08-18T21:35:00.000+01:00

Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Stobswood

? Widdrington tip

Shaggy Parasol, Abbey Meadows, Morpeth

At the brickworks at Stobswood the other day and added Confused Michaelmas daisy to the local plant list. At the tip anyone with a more serious interest in dragonflies should drop in. I managed to identify five species including Black Darter as the recent rains have flooded the marshy area in the centre of the old tip. Photographed this tiny caterpillar on the base of a Hawkweed at the tip also.

Fungi and stuff

2011-08-10T10:27:00.000+01:00

Blackening Waxcap

Drab Bonnet

Weeping Widow

Grey Coral

I haven't been far on my days off but the weather hasn't been good for looking for butterflies and plants. It has been good for fungi though with the above pics taken around the housing estate. On dry days the moth has spent the day on my kitchen window. This morning the Green Woodpecker was on the roadside at Westgate beside the High house woods.

At last!

2011-08-07T18:52:00.000+01:00

Since the last post I have gone out with the camera everytime. I have heard no calls but I have had a few glimpses of Green Woodpeckers feeding on ants on the pavements around the estate.

This afternoon after a heavy shower I noticed this juvenile male near High house wood howking an ants nest on the roadside. It didn't fly away but I kept my distance just in case and managed a few distant shots.

Survivors

2011-07-26T09:06:00.000+01:00

Last year I came across 15 Crow garlic plants (Allium vineale) growing on the roadside at the bottom of High house lane. Quite a common plant in the North of the county but very few records from VC67, in fact they were the only record from the vice county last year. In May they were growing in the same place again until early June when the council decided to cut this narrow and steep section of verge for the first time in years and mowed eveything flat. In July however, they survived the mowing and came into flower mid month. There are 22 plants this year.

More Green Woodpecker sightings this week with calling bird(s) every morning from High house wood and on Sunday a calling bird flew from High house towards Abbey gate and yesterday morning a bird was feeding on the grassed area at Abbey gate and flew off towards High house wood,,,too quick for the camera. A bird was calling from the Abbey this morning. Between St. Georges hospital and the Howburn woods I saw a flock of 54 Mistle Thrushes, the largest count I have ever seen.

Green Woodpeckers but no camera

2011-07-21T12:04:00.000+01:00

At 9pm last night I took bennyboy around the edge of the estate over Monks Ridge and along the leafy gardens of the pastures near the common. Just in front of me something dropped out of one of the Cherry trees and a bird which had dropped it flew down on to the ground...a Juvenile Green Woodpecker. It sat motionless on the ground for over a minute about 8 feet away... a missed opportunity of a good photo but the camera was at home. Worse was to come, the bird flew vertically up onto the bough of the Cherry tree about 9 feet up where it joined an adult male. Both birds sat on the branch peering down at me and the dog. After about five minutes they flew along the gardens...I'll probably not see a sight like this again up here but I will always take the camera with me even for the shortest of walks.
P.S this post may be wasted on anyone south of the Tyne but sightings of Green Woodpeckers locally are a rare treat!

Musk Thistle

2011-07-14T10:11:00.000+01:00

Musk Thistle...Old Brickworks

Wild Carrot...Widdrington tip

Wild Parsnip...Old Brickworks

Small Nettle

Another day off yesterday and another day at the old brickworks at Stobswood and Widdrington tip looking for plants and butterflies. The most numerous butterfly on the wing was Small Skipper with over a hundred seen especially at the tip. The best thing seen was Musk or Nodding Thistle (carduus nutans) an attractive and photogenic plant. Stewart (from the notebook) found some plants growing over the line on the edge of a new building site at Widdrington in 2002. I have not seen them since until now, there were 24 plants growing through the cracked concrete. Another plant that shares a similar habitat is Small Nettle (Urtica urens) but I rarely see it but I thought if I look hard enough the old brickworks would be the place to find it. The only birds of note were Sedge Warbler, Redpoll and Buzzard. This morning while walking the dog I heard a Green Woodpecker calling at High House wood, Morpeth. This is the first one in this area this year.

Two lifers at Stobswood

2011-07-07T22:12:00.000+01:00

Two new plants...Water Soldier and...

...Greater Spearwort

Broad leaved everlasting Pea

Black Horehound

White Stonecrop

Some plant life at the old brickworks

Grey Heron...Ulgham

A good day for plants at Stobswood despite the rain. In a recently created pond in Woodburn I came across Greater Spearwort and water Soldier. Swan describes Water Solduer as long extinct in the county, last record 1895 at Netherwitton but probably an introduced plant but it is native in East Anglia. The Spearwort was also new and a good addition to the local flora. Other new plants were Black Horehound, near the railway bridge and White Stonecrop at the old brickworks. It was good to see old plants still surviving like Broad leaved everlasting Pea at Stobswood House and Oak fern which has spread from neighbouring Grangewood (a good lowland record). Lots of Butterflies between the heavy showers with Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper in good numbers and Speckled Woods were out in force including a one that landed on my nose. Did my botanical 1 km square at Cresswell and also my stint at Ulgham before conceding to the heavy rain.

Ragged Robin

2011-07-01T10:35:00.000+01:00

White flowering heads

3 stages of Jack go to bed at noon

and a moth in the garden

In recent years I only know of one site locally where this plant can be seen in good numbers. As a child I can remember this plant growing on the damp woodland edge of Ulgham Park but the site has long gone. They used to grow at Felton lane but I haven't seen them here since 1987 and Beaconhill in the early nineties. The above pictures were taken at Mitford castle yesterday.

Big numbers

2011-06-22T18:58:00.000+01:00

Ringlet and Common Blue...Widdrington tip

Speckled wood and Vipers Bugloss...Old brickworks, Stobswood

Wood Vetch...Stobswood

Welted Thistle

Two out of focus moths...Old brickworks, Stobswood

Yesterday after the rain I went to Stobswood and Widdrington tip and as I entered the tip the first butterfly was a Small Heath, the first in sixteen years in this area, Sixteen years ago Speckled woods and Ringlets were not found around here but there were 6 Speckled woods and over 200 Ringlets. There was also 12 Common blues, 2 Large Skippers, 22 Meadow browns and a Painted Lady. Quite a few Moths kicked out of the grass but the two above I don't know what they are. Keeping up the big numbers I counted over 3100 Common Spotted Orchids within the confines of the old tip and this didn't include the many hybrids. At the brickworks I counted a record number of Viper's Bugloss with 940 plants. lots of birds around with 6 Sedge Warblers singing, 4 Buzzards (family group) and Redpolls with young were the best of the bunch. I could bore you further with the myriad species of grasses in flower at the moment.

Aultgowrie

2011-06-13T11:13:00.000+01:00

Been offline for a couple of weeks, last week we were getting some building work done so the computer was taken upstairs out of the way of the dust and the week before this we had a pleasant stay in Aultgowrie, Easter Ross just off the Inverness to Ullapool road on the banks of the river Orrin.

Falls of Orrin...Aultgowrie

Ben Wyvis from Clash Wood

Hoof Fungus...Aultgowrie

Dwarf Cornel...An Cabar

Slow Worm in Clash Wood

Breezy and cold on top of Ben Wyvis

The weather was breezy but dry to begin with then but by the back end of the week it became uncomfortably warm and humid with temps reaching a high of 27. I tend to watch the ground more often than looking up to the sky these days so I was able to add a significant number of plants to my list as well as some fungi usually only found North of the border.
I saw plenty of the usual wildlife expected from this area but the highlight for me was coming across some clumps of Dwarf Cornel (Cornus suecica) on the steep slopes of An cabar on the way up Ben Wyvis. A plant that only occasionally flowers, the flowers are clustered in the centre and surrounded by four creamy bracts (not petals).

Plants and stuff

2011-05-27T11:03:00.000+01:00

Red Campion...Highford Bridge

Sulphur polypore...Abbey woods

Brooklime...Highford

Sanicle...Abbey woods

Fox and Cubs...Stobswood

I forget the name of this on a nettle and the above was on Willow

Zig-zag Clover...Widdrington tip

Snooth Hawksbeard...Stobswood

Just a quick post of a few outings over the past week. Just above the Highford bridge tons of stone and gravel were deposited following the flood in 2008 creating large islands. These are beginning to be colonised with some interesting plants. I'm still going to Stobswood and Widdrington every week as there is always something to find. I got an e-mail from the county recorder to say that the Dusky Cranesbill at Stobswood is the first county record since 1976. The micro moth was taken at Felton lane where there were Garden Warblers singing all over the place plus a reeling Grasshopper warbler here. Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were taking prey to ther nests here but some of the scrub area is very overgrown. There is still a Grasshopper warbler reeling near Howburn wood at Morpeth.

Dusky Cranesbill

2011-05-19T21:38:00.000+01:00

Flogging the the patch pays dividends now and again. I was counting the Northern marsh Orchids at Widdrington tip, 1218 spikes when I did a circuit around Stobswood and at the Northern end of the old brickworks just below the railway embankment were Dusky Cranesbill (Geranium phaeum) and Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caerulum) in all their elegant glory. I know they are naturalised plants but two beautiful additions to the plant list.

Dusky Cranesbill

Jacob's Ladder

Lots of other stuff with Small Copper, Wall Brown and Speckled Wood numbering 10+ each, Red legged and Grey Partridge and a variety of Warblers including a few Garden and Sedge.

Stobswood

2011-05-16T11:24:00.000+01:00

Northern marsh Orchid

Guelder Rose

New shoots of broad-leaved Helleborine

The tip area near Stobswood is transfomed form a bleak dreary landscape in Winter to a lush and more colourful aspect in Spring. I counted more than 300 spikes of Northern marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) on the Southerly sheltered area alone. Guelder Rose (Viburnun opulus) in older times was known as the Swamp Elder because of the damp habitats it is found in . It thrives along the permanently wet ditches along the sides of the old Stobswood pit heap. The name comes from Guelderland in Holland where a wild and unusual form of the tree is known as the Snowball tree due to the white tight clusters of sterile flowers. There are two types of flowers produced on the same head. The outer flowers which are sterile, attract insects into the inner fertile flowers in the centre of the flowering head. Along the footpath through the conifer plantations there were many new shoots of Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactus helleborine).

A good day for butterflies with Small Copper, Orange tip and usual Whites, Red Admirals and Speckled wood (at least 8) and a fine Red Squirrel in the tall Alders at the Western end of the tip.

Plant Twitch

2011-05-13T22:12:00.000+01:00

Spring Squill (Scilla verna)

Thrift (Armeria maritima)

Purple Milk vetch (Astragalus danicus)

With directions from Stewart I was at Cullernose point on Wednesday looking for Spring Squill. It has a Western distribution but this is its most Southerly station on the East coast. Also here were Purple Milk Vetch which has quite a healthy population along the Northumbrian dunes.

Ulgham

2011-05-07T21:33:00.000+01:00

Large Bittercress

Sweet Cicely

Sanicle

Common Dog Violet

Orange Tip on Large Bittercress

Hard Shield Fern (underside, fresh)

Wasp sp chewing wood

Boggy area covered in Marsh Marigold

Today was my turn as a volunteer at Ulgham meadows and wood LNR. It was warm and sunny and lots of common plants in flower. One of my favourite waterside plants is Large Bittercress and it is at its best right now. An Orange tip was on one flower and sat long enough to allow me to take a few shots. Also pictured above are a few of the many plants to be found in the woods and meadows at the moment. On the bird front the best were Whitethroat, Kingfisher and a female Redstart.

A Couple of firsts

2011-05-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Meadow Foxtail

Cuckoo Pint (Lords and ladies)

Cinnamon Porecrust

Dryad's Saddle (underside)

Hairstail Cotton-grass

Common Storksbill

Over the last couple of days I have had a couple of new sightings. First of all on Sunday a Garden warbler was singing from the corner garden of Crawhall crescent which overlooks the common. As I recall I believe this is the first time I have ever seen/heard a one actually in a garden. The other sighting was yesteday when I added Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) to the Stobswood/Widdrington list of plants growing in the old brickworks. A Grasshopper warbler has been singing from rough grassland near the Howburn woods at Morpeth and at Stobswood yesterday there was Lesser and Common Whitethroat singing along the railway. The boggy areas around Widdrington tip have just about dried out but it was nice to see Harestail Cotton-grass (Eriophorum vaginatum) flourishing here again this year. Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum) is common in the valleys of the Tyne and Wansbeck but is not found along the River coquet. Common Storksbill (Erodium cicutarium) grows in the old brickworks at Stobswood, it is rare away from the coastal dunes in VC67. The fungi shots were taken in Borough wood. The mystery one looks like a Coprinus sp, it was tiny and growing out of a hollow in a Hazel. Cinnamon Porecrust (Phellinus ferreus) is quite common growing on the bark of old Hazels.

Cheviot

2011-05-03T15:16:00.000+01:00

Harthope burn

Cheviot ewe and lamb

Dead Adder at Langleeford

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)

Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata)

dodgy chap in a hoodie

Yesterday we climbed up Cheviot and once on the summit walked over the now dry bog towards the Hen hole and back over Cairn hill and Scotsman knowe and dropped down to pick up the Harthope burn where it begins as a small spring and followed the burn along where it tumbles and falls towards Langleeford. It is roughly nine miles, a beautiful day but very cold.

Cottingwood

2011-04-20T19:09:00.000+01:00

Herb Paris

St George's Mushroom

Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis)

On my way home from work I noticed some St George's mushrooms (Calocybe gambosa) growing between St Georges hospital and the high school at Cottingwood. When I got home I took Bennyboy along to take some pics and while I was there I went into the wood to see the Herb Paris (paris quadrifolia).

Stag Rocks

2011-04-19T20:55:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was my first day off for a while and my first opportunity to look for the Black Scoter. I went up to Bamburgh with a car full of kids and a dog. Niall took bennyboy for a walk along the beach while the girls went straight into the sea. This gave me a good half hour to set the scope up and look out to sea. I picked up the Black Scoter almost straight away. I took notes and drew a picture, fortunately for my eyes only but I had pretty good views. It is difficult to tell whether the bird is actually bigger that its common cousins but it apeared to be more 'bouyant' as it sat on the water making it easy to pick out as well as the large amount of yellow on the bill and base. I never saw the bird dive it just sat on the sea preening now and again. It also held its tail up like a Ruddy duck. Spent a few hours on the beach before heading down to Craster for a well earned Auchtermuchty sandwich.

Bleach Cup

2011-04-16T09:39:00.000+01:00

Bleach Cup

Artist's Bracket

I came across some Bleach cup (Disciotis venosa) growing in the damp mossy bank side in the Borough woods. It has an odour of chlorine bleach but despite this there are always chunks eaten out of it by some creature so it is often difficult to find good specimens to photograph. Also pictured above is Artist's Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum).
Two House Martins were flying over the garden this morning and I saw a Tawny Owl the other evening at dusk flying around St Georges hospital.

High House woods

2011-04-13T10:27:00.000+01:00

Pleated Inkcap

Dryad's Saddle

Wood Oysterling

Some fungi pics taken this morning on the edge of high house woods west of Morpeth. I believe the bottom picture is of Wood oysterling (Melanotus horizontalis) but I had to point the camera into a hollow Hazel as only a tiny part of the cap was showing. The tiny and delicate Pleated Inkcap (Parasola plicatalis) was taken in the meadows beside the High ford bridge and a tiny egg shaped younger form not much bigger than a pin head (hence the blur) was next to the mature form. Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is common in the woodlands at this time of year.

Hornbeam

2011-04-12T10:39:00.000+01:00

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Between Morpeth and Mitford

When the Hawfinch was along the Mitford road earlier in the year it was feeding on its preferred seeds of Hornbeam but other birders and myself included presumed the avenue of trees were an overgrown Beech hedge. Stewart thought there may be a few Hornbeams among the Beeches or more likely they were all Hornbeams. I would wait until the flowers and first leaves appear and see how many there are. Stewart was right they are all Hornbeams...414 at least. Because they are close together they must have been planted as a hedge and are now reaching maturity. There are several individal ones nearby. They are majestic trees and I will never overlook an overgrown hedgerow again.

Widdrington and Cresswell

2011-04-11T20:54:00.000+01:00

No pics from cresswell but Cowslips from Widdrington tip and Slime mould (Reticulata lycoperdon) at Stobswood.

A visit to the tip and the transformation from a bleak and stark landscape is taking place as the Willows and Hawthorns are awash with fresh green making the tip looking like a dense woodland in places. Willow warbler numbers here were almost uncountable with bird song sounding like it was coming from almost every tree, a lot must have come in over the weekend. I was looking for plants but nothing out of the ordinary here other than a nice display of Cowslips at the Western edge. I was doing a 1km square for the BSBI at Cresswell South of the pond. Afterwards I had a look on the pond and was chatting to some birders who were looking for a Great grey Shrike which had been seen earlier. It wasn't showing and the disappointment and despondency was evident on their faces yet there were 2 beautiful and graceful Avocets, probably rarer in the county than shrikes, 3 lovely Yellow Wagtails, 2 White Wagatails and a Wheatear as well as dozens of Hirundines. I went home happy.

Springtime and a new plant

2011-04-10T20:35:00.000+01:00

Split porecrust

Toothwort

Slime flux

Yesterday I was at Alnmouth with Stewart (from the notebook) on a recording workshop and as we were an hour early we had a walk around the golf course and dunes. A lovely morning and spring birds were singing including a Willow warbler and Spring beauty was in flower here. It proliferates (if there is such a word) along the edge of the golf course and this was a new plant for me.

On Friday evening 2 Swallows were flying over the town centre and after watching Gardener's world a lady was having trouble with her Cordylines and the problem was Slime flux. This has puzzled me for a while as I came across a Sycamore at Ulgham that was suffering from the same problem and an organism that gets into a damaged part of the tree turns part of the tree black and wet then causes the sap to come ouzing out. Apparently healthy wild trees will recover from this.

Today a walk in the warm sunshine around the woods in Morpeth produced plenty of common plants and singing woodland birds. A willow warbler and at least 8 Blackcaps were singing in the Abbey and scots Ghyll woods this afternoon. Also lots of butterflies with Large and green veined white, Peacock, Comma, Small tortoiseshell (15) and Orange tip (3). Toothwort is prolific (that word again) around Morpeth with lots of them around the castle and beside Oldgate bridge where many of them are out in the open on the riverbank. In Scots Ghyll the Yellow star of Bethlehem took some finding as Sweet sicily and Ransomes have covered them up. The ones I found have just about finished flowering. I think the top pics are Split porecrust a very variable species growing on Oak in the Borough woods.

First Swallow

2011-04-02T21:09:00.000+01:00

This is the third year in a row when I have seen Swallow before Sand Martin. I was driving South along the A1 this morning when a Swallow flew over the road at Blagdon. At this time of year some wild flowers appear on the lawn such as Lesser Celandine, Wavy Bittercress and Field Woodrush (pictured above).

Star of Scotch Gill woods

2011-03-26T09:21:00.000Z

This time of year Yellow star of Bethlehem can be found in the Scotch Gill woods west of Morpeth. It can be difficult to find as it grows where you least expect to see it, not in the boggy areas or wet flushes but on the drier areas where the Wood Anemone's and Dog's Mercury grow. Another problem is that although it grows in large clumps not all of them will come into flower and the leaves can easily be overlooked in the emerging undergrowth. I found at least 35-45 plants and 17 of them were in flower.

Yellow Star of Bethlehem (Gagea lutea)

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustrus)

Marsh marigold was also in flower here but most other woodland plants are still in bud. Lots of birdsong in the wood and I saw Marsh Tit and Dipper along the river.

More Spring flowers

2011-03-24T20:50:00.000Z

Opposite-leaved golden Saxifrage

Barren Strawberry

Butterburs are just emerging

This time at Ulgham along the banks of the Lyne. No surprises and some plants not quite out in flower but we are heading in the right direction. Plenty of birds singing and Chiffchaffs seem to be everywhere. No Kingfishers but there was a nice pair of Grey Wagtail just under the road bridge. The bottom pic is a poor shot of a spider, there were hundreds of them running around the sandy soil on the riverbank where the Butterbur grow. Stewart and Dean might know what it is.

Springtime woodland flowers

2011-03-22T20:58:00.000Z

Mauve Primrose...Widdrington tip

Narrow leaved Lungwort...Woodburn, Stobswood

Wood Anemone...Woodburn, Stobswood

Highland beasties at East Chevington

Had a couple of days off. Yesterday I walked from Hauxley to East Chevington. Quiet but a nice walk on a sunny day. Today I was at Widdrington tip and Stobswood where I heard two Chiffchaffs. Lots of woodland birds singing but a few flowers to look at as well as a few Small tortoiseshell butterflies. I first came across Narrow leaved Lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia) in 1982 in Stobswood, a garden escape but a nice colourful plant. It still survives on the edge of Woodburn. The mauve Primroses were growing at the Western edge of Widdrington tip and the Anemone in Woodburn at Stobswood.

Red Kite

2011-03-17T13:34:00.000Z

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.

Spring Fungi

2011-03-16T21:02:00.000Z

Bitter Oysterling

Turkeytail stump with Velvet shank on the top

White Dead Nettle

A trapped Dotted Border (I think)

Nothing Spring about the Borough woods this morning. It was cold, grey and foggy. No Chiffchaffs singing here. Spring has arrived on the more Southerly blogs with Dean having pics of Blackthorn and Lesser celandine in flower. Both these species are nowhere near flowering and the only flower in abundance is Dog's Mercury. I did find White dead nettle in flower which is a little underated but very common. Lots of fungi along the riverbank with the best being Bitter Oysterling (Panellus stipticus). I took a picture of a colourful stump completely covered in Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) with the remains of Velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes) on the top. Only bird of note was a Marsh Tit. The moth is I believe a worn Dotted Border which was in a spiders web at the foot of an Alder.

Some Waxwings

2011-03-13T10:03:00.000Z

Yesterday afternoon I had to go across to Ashington for some provisions and along Rotary way in bushes opposite the business park there was a flock of 18 Waxwings, my first this year. Nearby there are still 20 Whooper swans in fields opposite Longhirst flash. No camera with me at the time. I'm working at the moment so my next days off are not until mid week.

Favourite Haunts

2011-03-09T14:59:00.000Z

Stobswood yesterday, Gorse, Coltsfoot and Frogs spawn

Two views of Tutehill moss looking towards Tod's knowe in Harwood forest

Birch Polypore in Ned's whin at Felton Lane

Remains of Barn Owl...Ned's whin

I have been visiting my favourite local places over the last week. Last Sunday 28th Feb I was on duty at Ulgham LNR doing a few jobs but nothing doing in the way of wildlife. I took my scope with me and from Ulgham park I was able to count the Geese on the old Stobswood opencast. There were 832 Pink footed and 46 Cananda Geese. The Yellowhammers and Linnets have dispersed from the stubble fields. On Tuesday 1st March I walked about 9 miles through Harwood forest from the village and onto Darden Rigg. Once again no Shrike for me but I didn't stop for long at Tutehill moss. There were at least 40 Crosbills in loose family groups along the tracks...my first juvvy birds this year. I saw 2 Goshawks displaying and 6 Buzzards with the males also displaying. One Buzzard male was undulating so close to a sitting female that he collided with her knocking her off the treetop but she soon recovered and chased him away. On the way back 6 Buzzards were soaring high above the village when they were joined by a male Goshawk. Nice stuff but I'm not a huge fan of raptors.
Yesterday I was back at Widdrington tip and in the woods around Stobswood. A nice sunny day and a bit of colour for a change with Coltsfoot and Gorse in flower. Only one Lesser Redpoll at the tip but Grangewood was full of the expected woodland birds including Nuthatch. Today I had a walk in the woods of Colliersdean and Ned's whin plantations at Felton Lane. I flushed 14 Woodcock here13 of them in a narrow 100 metre strip at Colliersdean. Plenty of woodland birds here including 3 Jays and a displaying Buzzard to the North of Ned's whin. In a clearing here I found the remains of a Barn Owl. At Morpeth there is still an abundance of Velvet shank fungi on the Ash stumps around Abbey meadows.

East Chevington

2011-02-23T19:47:00.000Z

Decided to walk along the dunes from Druridge to East Chev. Highlights were 2 Barn Owls hunting seperately, one on the dunes and the other West of the South pool. I couldn't get decent shots as they were constantly on the move. I gather they were hunting during the day due to last night's rain and there must be plenty of Voles judging by their frequent successful dives into the undergrowth. Other highlight was the number of Geese, almost uncountable in the fields South of the South pool, chiefly Pink feets.

Before this I called into Widdrington tip. Quiet here with only 26 Goldfinches, 2 Buzzards and 12 Skylarks

with 4 of them singing.

Jelly Ear

2011-02-19T15:05:00.000Z

I see even common fungi names have to be politically correct these days. When I was about 13 Jew's ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) was one of the first fungi (non field mushroom) that I was able to identify from a book (Observers book of fungi). In the more recent references I have including great works by Sterry and Phillips it is known as Jelly ear with the exception of the wonderful and readable Norfolk mycologist Peter Jordan who still uses the original name. Jelly is probably more appropriate referring to the tough gelatinous texture and the floppy ear shape of the fungus. It is very common all the year round but more noticable and photographic in the winter months. The pic above was taken on an Elder in the Wansbeck pub car park this afternoon.

Stereum hirsutum

2011-02-10T21:14:00.000Z

Hirsutum meaning hairy but you have to look close up for the fine hairs on the upper surface. This common fungi is known as Hairy curtain crust and is quite abundant in the Borough woods at Morpeth. It is quite attractive giving a splash of gold to the woodland on nice sunny mornings. The pics were taken on a living Beech but most of the fungi I saw was on old fallen branches of Oaks.

Patch extension

2011-02-03T21:37:00.000Z

I regularly go to Ulgham Grange but I'm starting to frequent further upstream along the River Lyne at Jackson.s Ford. One reason is this is where I started birdwatching. Much of the habitat then has been swallowed up by the Stobswood opencast but now that it is nearly restored the two new pools here are beginning to pull in birds and that is another reason for keeping an eye on the developments of the full restoration.
A flock of Geese have been hanging around the new pool near the B1337 but viewing them from here is difficult but by following a public footpath from the lane leading up to Ulgham park farm you can view them well from here but you need a scope. I didn't have mine today but there are about 600+ birds here chiefly Canadas, Grey lags and Pink footed however, typically without the scope there was a white one among them. From that distant it could have been a pale phase something, an albino or perhaps even that Ross's Goose that was flying around Druridge bay a few weeks ago.

There was some real birds here and the numbers took me back a few years. There are three stubble fields on the Ulgham side of the former opencast and the footpath goes straight through them back to Jackson's Ford. A flock of 32 Linnets...what are they??? 65 Yellowhammers and smaller numbers of Reed Buntings, Chaffinches and Grey Partridge. I wonder if any Lapland Bunting passed through here in the Autumn! Perhaps they might come back through here when the Skylarks return. I wouldn't have seen Buzzard here all those years ago.

Theres a white one in there

Delightful Yellowhammers

Before this I had a look around the tip but there was only a flock of 20 Goldfinches and 5 Grey Partridges.

Widdrington/Druridge & Harwood

2011-01-28T21:55:00.002Z

Whoopers at Druridge

Crossbill...the only highlight at Harwood but the light was too poor for taking pics

Today I spent a cold day in Harwood forest. I didn't arrive until lunchtime and a couple of birders I bumped into had seen the Great Grey Shrike but a bit distant including RF. I walked as far as Tod Knowe and settled down for some bait where you can scan the whole area back to Tutehill moss. There was no sign of the bird for me today and I headed back. Harwood can be a bleak place at this time of year and by now I was freezing. There were about 30 Crossbills in various parts of the forest, a Buzzard and 5 Great spotted Woodpeckers flying together over Tutehill moss on my way back. Two more Buzzards were at Longwitton.
Yesterday I went to look around Widdrington tip and the Finch flock has dwindled to just 20 or so birds. There were 11 mealy Redpolls, 7 Lesser and 2 Siskins. 5 Snipe were flushed from the marshy area and also seen were 2 Hares and a Roe Deer. While in the area I had a look at Druridge pools. Lots of birds here especially wildfowl but of note were 2 Whooper Swans and 2 Pintail.

Velvet Shank

2011-01-23T18:50:00.000Z

Not the first time I have posted one of my favourite winter fungi but on walks through the Morpeth woods recently I have noticed a lot of Velvet shank probably due to the recent hard weather. On recent post by Dean where he posted a nice pic of flat crep or Flat oysterling as I know it but it set me off looking harder for winter fungi but it is the Velvet shank that brightens up the dull looking woodland. On an early morning walk this morning we got off to a good start with the Hawfinch feeding in the Beech trees at Highford, 3 Goosanders on the river, Jay and a nice Marsh tit at Newminster cottage. The pics were taken at Carlisle park in a Beech stump.

Wansbeck Otters

2011-01-21T09:59:00.000Z

There have been a few sightings on the river between Morpeth and Mitford recently but not seen by me. The pictures above were taken by Keith Harbottle who photographed them from his garden last Saturday just upstream from the stepping stones. I will be walking more frequently by the river and hope to see them. Many thanks to Keith for letting me use his photos for this post.

Druridge Bay CP

2011-01-20T10:06:00.000Z

Some pics above of the Mergansers, Goldeneye and Pink feet

I don't do a WEBS count but I regularly count the wildfowl at DBCP. I like a walk around here now and then and on Sunday it was fairly quiet but plenty of the usual wildfowl. Two birds notable by their decline are evident in Druridge bay. One is Coot where just a few years ago well over a hundred would winter at this site today there was 12 and Pochard 50+ could be counted here at one time but only 6 today. Tufted duck don't appear to have declined with 54. Mallard, Mute swan and Canada Geese seem to be increasing. A pleasing sight in numbers is Moorhen 37.Other notables was Red breasted Merganser (10) and Pink footed Goose (89). I was looking for Redpolls among the Alders but could only find a handful of Lesser Redpolls at the entrance.

Hawfinch

2011-01-18T18:10:00.001Z

I couldn't look for the Hawfinch yesterday due to work but a day off today saw me and fellow birders along the footpath towards High Ford. Many birders came and went to see a now county rarity. Twenty years ago not many people would be interested in coming here as we had a resident flock in Alnwick and the Tyne valley. The Hawfinch was magnificent popping up on the tree tops now and then before disappearing to feed on the Beech mast. A little too far for my camera but if you click on the images you should be able to see what it looks like! An excellent bird for the OFFH list.
Hawfinch is probably my first self found scarcity as a young birdwatcher. At Cottingwood in the grounds of King Edward V1 school in October 1974 I saw one feeding on the ground in the Lower school area. I have not seen one in Morpeth since until today.

Pale Birds

2011-01-07T19:45:00.000Z

Terrible shot of some of the flock

First of all I will have to apologise for the quality of the pics as the birds were too mobile and distant. Excuses out of the way a lot of birds in the tip area again. I was there at first light and from the foot and mouth plantation there was a covey of 6 Grey partridge, a Buzzard and 2 snipe. 2 Peregrines few west together male at the front. The female swooped onto a Woodpigeon but it was too quick for her and she continued flying west. The male flew back over the tip lifting the flock of over 200 finches. Once settled I tried to look through them but they were flighty. I walked through Stobswood to check out the other woods but only saw regular birds like Goldcrests and Coal Tits, 2 Woodcock and Jay were nice to see. I returned to the tip and saw ADMc looking through the Finch flock which were in the smaller Alders to the west of the site. Despite this they were still difficult to look through but in flight we could see a very pale bird but couldn't pick it up when it landed. We did see a bird with a good white rump but didn;t see the rest of the bird properly...frustrating. Trying to count the flock was difficult with possibly a hundred birds being Goldfinches, 50+ Siskin and 20+ Mealy and a similar number of Lesser Redpolls. There were 17 Mealy's in one small Alder. A Buzzard alighted on a pylon carrying a Rabbit and a total of 4 Hares were seen. The female Kestrel appears to have been replaced by a male and a couple of Snipe were flying around. The Weasel was active again as was a Bank Vole. In the field where the Horses are there were 18 Fieldfare.

Twitch at the tip

2011-01-04T21:10:00.000Z

I arrived at the tip this morning about 0930ish and Alan G and ipin were already watching the Arctic redpoll (see pics on dusty bins, Alan Tilmouth blog). It had moved out of sight but a few minutes later I had a brief view through the Alders on the opposite side with a few Goldfinches. A flock of 30 redpolls flew in...all of them Mealies. There was also some fine looking Lesser Redpolls as well. In the NW corner there was a flock of over 100 Goldfinches. The flocks were more fragmented today but the bright bird remained elusive for the rest of the morning. I've seen a white bird here on a couple of visits (see hints on previous posts) but have not been able to pin it down. Well done to Alan. Other sightings were a Heron feeding on voles, a Buzzard hovering into the wind and a Weasel. On my way in I walked Bennyboy through the Beech wood at the entrance and flushed 3 Woodcock, one of them got stuck in the wire fence but managed to squeeze through. there was also a dead one which had been well plucked.

Quick walk

2011-01-02T16:43:00.000Z

Today was my last shift for a week. There wasn't much light left when I got back form work so we went for a walk around High house wood and back home via the stanners. The light was fading so no chance of any photos. The river levels are quite high and fast flowing but just upstream from the stepping stones it is flowing slowly and this is where most of the river wildfowl are. There were 7 Mute swans, Mallard, Moorhen and 2 fine drake Goosanders. In the trees were 12 Long tailed tits. Tawny owls have beome vocal in the Abbey woods early mornings and evenings.

Back at the tip

2010-12-31T19:34:00.000Z

NE corner lagoons..still frozen at the moment

Mobile Finch flock...perhaps there's an Arctic in there!

The only shots I managed

Poorly looking Kestrel

This morning was my first opportunity to visit Widdrington tip since the snowfall. I was down at first light but no 'hoped for' Owl activity but by the time it was light there were plenty of birds about. The best of them were Fieldfare (18), Grey Partridge (6), Woodcock (1) and a flock of over a hundred Finches comprising Siskin, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and at least 8 Mealy Redpoll. A female Kestrel looked unwell sitting in a tree and allowed me to walk straight past it. Three Hares also present.
No ambitious plans for the new year but I'm going to bash the local patch where I grew up for all kinds of wildlife during the year as well as keeping an eye on all things local. I'm sure regular visits could turn up Water Rail and Green Sandpiper at the tip...ambitious eh! Happy new year.

No end in sight

2010-12-27T17:48:00.000Z

I know we are not the only region to experience snow and sub zero temperatures but after a few weeks it becomes a bit wearing. It may look lovely but the practicalities of work, school and travel becomes a bit of a chore. The most frustrating thing is not getting to my favourtite places but there is a lot more water (or ice) to go under the bridge yet.

Pictured are a few snowy pics of Morpeth.

Arctic Tundra... but some good birds

2010-12-17T21:22:00.000Z

Widdrington tip was like the Russian tundra with temperatures to match. Usually I see few birds when the 'carr' is frozen but there were plenty today. When I first went into the main Alder plantation I could hear a faint 'toot' of possibly a Northern Bullfinch. I recognise the call as I have seen and heard them before and I thought that it may be closer than it sounds unlike the heavier melancholic peuww of our own species. After five minutes I gave up as it went quiet and another species caught my attention. Woodcocks began to fly in all directions. I only walked the length of the taller Alders and I counted 16. I took a few blurry shots but for real photos visit Richard Dunn's blog linked from Boulmer birder. There was a flock of 120 Siskin in here with about 15 Goldfinches but the star birds were Mealy Redpolls. 15 Redpolls flew over flying towards Stobswood but they looked like Mealy's in flight but I wasn't sure then I picked up five in the Alder trees and they were soon joined by another two. One of them was so white it looked almost like an albino!
A walk around the foot and mouth plantation produced small flocks of Fieldfare and Yellowhammers as well as 8 Grey Partridges. A Kestrel here was hunting unsuccessfully as time after time it went down it was straight up again with nothing. I can't imagine what any of these birds were feeding on as it was very cold and bleak. Other notables here were 80 Pink footed geese in the distance and 5 Snipe.

I decided to return to the Alder plantation to see if I could see the Redpolls again and try to get a pic but as soon as I walked in I heard the Bullfinch call again and this time I saw the birds responsible. Two male Bullfinches looked a bit disappointing, not by their beauty but they looked and sounded like our usual ones but I could still hear the faint tooting call and they were joined by a female which was a beast compared to the other two. Looking at it from behind the white rump completely merged into the undertail making it very bright and contrasting with dark primaries and a browner back. The views were brief as the birds kept moving and twigs and branches kept getting in the way. In the winter of 1995/6 me, Stewart and John caught a Northern Bully half a mile away in similar habitat, see Stewart's blog 'from the notebook' Nov 22 and Richard Dunn has calls of Northern Bully and our own resident species for comparison. I took notes and even drew them...thank God I don't have a scanner!

The time of the season...

2010-11-30T20:19:00.000Z

...for Velvet shank. But you have to clear the snow to find it. There is a great Fungi stump in Abbey meadows and Velvet shank is thriving underneath the snow here but most of the stump was covered in Trametes versicolor or 'Turkeytail.' There is still over a foot of snow in the garden and I don't think me summerhoose roof will take anymore weight as there is no sign of the weather improving in the near future. I've included a few pics around the meadows. I don't know what the Bullfinches are feeding on but it looked like they were scraping lichen off the branches. Only notable sighting was a Snipe probing the deep snow.

Some snowy scenes

2010-11-25T20:31:00.000Z

A few inches of snow had fallen overnight. I had a few things to do but had time to take a few pics around Abbey meadows and Carlisle park this morning.

Harwood

2010-11-15T21:25:00.000Z

Dunnock at Redpath

Redpath farm

The Cheviots with a dusting of snow

Conifer mazegill

Back in Harwood today and did an 8 mile trek around some of the forest trails. Lovely day but very cold. Best birds were Crossbills, 60+ scattered around the forest, Goshawk, Brambling, Siskin and Long tailed tit. There were many Jays, Chaffinches and single Buzzard. Notable was 9 Dunnock at Redpath cottage, probably the most I have seen in one place. Conifer mazegill was growing on old pines at Tod knowe, this is a good sighting as it is pretty much a Scottish species.
Yesterday I was at Widdrington tip and there was a large mixed flock of birds in Alders beside the entrance of 9 species including 30 Siskin, 12 Yellowhammer, 9 Lesser Redpoll and 7 Reed Buntings. Along the hedgerows which are still laden with berries were 60 Blackbirds and about 20 Redwings, probably new in. The Snipe were in the foot and mouth plantation (15).

Morpeth Squacco...some pics

2010-11-13T21:29:00.000Z

I've managed to squeeze in a couple of sightings this week before work but the weather was poor for photos. With the weekend off I was down by the river this morning and managed a few pics as it fed effortlessly out in the open. It was looking fine on this sunny November morning. It was also good to catch up with some birders I haven't seen for a while. I can't compete with the boys with the big lenses but I'm quite happy with the shots I got.

Not quite a garden tick!

2010-11-08T11:43:00.000Z

After the bairns left for school this morning I was down to the Low Stanners and was met by Boulmer birder, AT + children, ST and ADMc. A great tale of the riverbank was about to unfold. We drew a blank to begin with as the Heron had not been seen for 15 minutes. Birders began to walk in different directions following the Wansbeck up and down stream but still no sign.
I was on my own not sure where everyone was and I slowly made my way past East mill and up towards the bridge beside the kennels but aware that I had to get home to get ready for work I walked back through Temple's fields and back to the bridge. A birder shouted 'Its in the air' and the Squacco Heron came into view flying upstram but dropped onto the river bank just 50m downstream of the blue bridge then flew a few feet closer before disappearing into the grassy bank. I waited a while but I had to head back home.
A wonderful sighting for the town but unable to get any photos. There were 3 Dippers here and a Tree Sparrow at Temple's farm but on my way home there were 4 Waxwings at Carlisle park opposite the leisure centre. Back tomorrow morning.

Garden ticks

2010-11-05T20:57:00.000Z

When I went out to feed the Rabbit this morning a Waxwing flew up from the top of the garden and into next door's Cotoneaster. It then flew into the taller trees and flew off west calling. I'd like to think it roosted in my big hedge overnight. When it was properly light I walked the dog around the estate but couldn't see or hear any Waxwings. When I got back to the garden there was another familiar call and looking up 7 Crossbills were heading east towards the town centre. Two good garden ticks...not that I keep a list.

Widdrington & Ulgham

2010-11-01T20:04:00.000Z

With work getting in the way of things at the moment I have been out a couple of times over the last week. Last Sunday I was at Druridge bay CP and the dunes to Hauxley point. Despite the promising Northerlies the sea was disappointing and the only birds of note were 6 Whooper swans flying South.
On Thursday it was my turn at Ulgham meadows and woodland LNR to do some tidying up. The river Lyne was full and murky so a Kingfisher beside the road bridge next to the B1337 was a good sighting. At the highest point at Ulgham grange is an area called Tute hill. From here you get nice views towards Druridge bay and the stubble fields along this narrow road is always worth a stop. There was large flocks of Skylark here and smaller numbers of Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow but there was a nice flock of 40 Linnets...something of a rarity these days. With the close proximity of the coast and the slightly elevated position these fields could pull in something like a Lapland Bunting so I'll have to keep stopping by. I'm sure it was these fields where ADMc saw a Crane earlier this year.

A small part of the Goldfinch flock at Widdrington tip

The foot and mouth plantation

Pink feets heading South

At Ulgham hundreds of insects on Ivy...I'm sure Dean knows what they are!

Yesterday morning I was back at Widdrington tip. Only 2 Snipe but lots of Skylark, Goldfinches 80+ and Redpolls 30+ and Grey Partridges this time (10). The more recently planted woodland where they buried the foot and mouth cattle is looking good and this was full of small flocks of birds. This is the highest point and visual migration can be good from here. There were 143 Pink footed geese flying South.

Harwood Forest...

2010-10-20T21:14:00.000+01:00

A couple of pics of Winter's Gibbet, Steng Moss and a couple of views of Cheviot, Hedgehope and Windy Gyle from the Gibbet.

...Again...Another bike around the forest looking for the Shrike but it appears to have gone or it could have found a more sheltered spot. Very cold today with an overnight frost and only 1.5 degrees and all the puddles were iced up along the tracks. More Crossbills in the forest today and numerous Goldfinches and Redpolls. No pics of birds but good light for some scenic shots. Lots of Fieldfares over the forest in flocks of about 40 at a time, there was also a 100 or so in Elsdon. Just outside Elsdon were 2 Peregrines and another Peregrine was soaring with 2 Buzzards near Darden Lough. Back at home there were 5 Buzzards soaring above the garden...the most I've seen together at Morpeth.

Feeling Autumnal

2010-10-18T22:01:00.000+01:00

Sloe berries..Widdrington tip

Colourful Hawthorns...East Chevington

Bennyboy eating Sloes

Red Legged Partridges...Widdrington tip

Pink Footed Geese...East Chevington

Another dead Seal...East Chevington

According to my 1984 Discovering Hedgerows book the best time to pick Sloe berries is just after the first frost. With a frosty morning yesterday I was at Widdrington tip this morning where the tracks are lined with Blackthorns with Sloes looking at their best. I took some photos before I picked them. Lots of birds here but the Thrushes and most of the Pipits have moved through. There were about 20 Meadow Pipits and a dozen Skylarks. Snipe numbers were up to 25 but no sign of any Jacks yet. Other birds around here were a covey of 13 Red Legged Partridges, the most I have seen around here, 85 Pink Footed Geese (S), 60 goldfinches, 4 Redpolls, Buzzard and Jays. After this I called in at East Chevington. A good variety of Wildfowl here and a Water Rail but the main spectacle were 100s of Pink Footed Geese, some landing but most flying South. On the beach were Ringed Plover and Sanderling and 8 Red Throated Divers on the sea. A large dead Grey Seal was on the beach, my third one this Autumn.

Great grey in Harwood

2010-10-13T21:27:00.000+01:00

Lightening strikes for the third time in 18 months in almost exactly the same spot...though the photos get no better. I cycled from Harwood village past Redpath where there were two fine Stonechats, Fallowlees and Chartners and back to the village via Tutehill moss with Bennyboy panting on ahead of me. Plenty of birds in the forest with Great spotted woodpeckers, Siskin and Crossbills and a steady stream of Redwings flying west overhead. I stopped for a break at a small lay-by next to the track just up from Fallowlees bridge at Tutehill when a Goshawk flew over the track and into the tall pines behind Redpath. About ten minutes later some Siskins were alarming behind me and when I turned around they were mobbing a Great Grey Shrike on top of the low pines. Although a bit distant I managed to get the above shots. It got sick of the Siskins and flew towards the edge of the pines that flank the moss. I picked it up again a bit further away but sitting happy with no Siskins buzzing above its head.
On the way home there were at least 3 Bramblings with 30 Chaffinches at the Longwitton Beech avenue and 11 Red legged Partridges just inside the field.

Making the most of the fall

2010-10-10T19:52:00.003+01:00

I could have twitched some good county birds but I decided to see what was around locally. Yesterday I didn't have the car so I looked along the Wanney line next to the Common. There were dozens of Song Thrushes, Robins and a scattering of Redwings. 22 Brambling was a notable count. Today I was at Widdrington tip at dawn. It was lifting with birds but nothing unusual. I wasn't sure if the Redwings were coming in or just flying out of a roost but there were hundreds of them. Also 60+ Skylark and 70+ Meadow pipits all flying SW and a large unidentifiable flock of Geese. Also here were good numbers of Song Thrush and Blackbird as well as 35 Lesser Redpolls, 19 Snipe 37 Swallows and a handful of Brambling and Reed Buntings.
I then went through the dunes and the Northern edge of Druridge Bay Country Park. Lots of Chiffchaffs, Redwings, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. Also around here were Tree Sparrow, 2 Fieldfare and Buzzard. 22 Little Grebes could be new in but the highlight was a fine Kingfisher in the NE corner of the lake. I finished off in the bushes North of Druridge following a quick chat with ipin. Lots of birds here as well but the best were 25 Grey Partridges, Redstart, Blackcap, Siskin and Stonechat.
No pics today as the birds were too quick. I have changed the header pic to highlight the plight of our Red Squirrels. Stewart (BB) has mentioned the spread of Greys in his local area. In just three years I have seen the demise of Reds in most of the areas I frequent. I thought that the Bolam and Wallington areas were the last stronghold in the Wansbeck valley but last week I found a roadkill Grey beside the Dyke Neuk pub.

Harwood Forest

2010-10-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Crossbill singing

Common and Brown Puffball

Tubulifera arachnoidea (slime mould)

Laccaria sp?

Yesterday I cycled about 12 miles along the forest tracks on the Southern and Western part of the forest. At this time of year it is a bit of a struggle to get bird species into double figures. There were 15 Crossbills, some were singing and a similar number of Siskins. A Peregrine flew over a clearing and stooped into a meadow Pipit flock but they were too quick and it continued flying Southeast. The best thing in the forest were the fungi with thousands of Fly agaric and several other typical pinewood species.

House Spuggy among the Meadows

2010-10-03T20:48:00.000+01:00

A beautiful day yesterday saw me along the Borough woods in Morpeth at daybreak and a frustrating hour at Widdrington tip. On arrival at the tip about tennish about a hundred Meadow Pipits lifted up off the fenceposts and the edge of the field and flew towards the newer of the two plantations. What made me more interested in this flock was a strange House Sparrow like call coming from the flock. I scanned them as they darted but I could only see Meadows and a few Skylarks. I walked along the edge of the plantation and the Pipits began to fly up again all over the place and I heard the call again but once more I couldn't see anything different. It wasn't until this evening after looking through a few books that the call could possibly have been a Richards. Well I haven't seen or heard one of these before so I will just have to write this one off.

Daybreak at the Borough woods

Another large flock of birds here were Goldfinches with about 80 with 5 Redpolls among them. There were 14 Common Snipe but no Jacks. I came across a nice fungi amongst the wet area of the old tip. I cannot put a name to it but it is possibly Bicoloured Deceiver or some other Laccara species.

Laccaria sp?...Widdrington tip

Dune Waxcap...Hadston dunes

I finished the day at Hadston dunes but the only birds in the bushes here were Chiffchaffs, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow tit. The dunes are full of Dune waxcaps.

Morpeth Fungi

2010-09-29T10:26:00.000+01:00

Aniseed Mushroom

Tawny Funnel

Shaggy Parasol

Ananita sp

Ganoderma sp

A bit of a fungi posting today. I'm a bit frustrated with the weather as I'm not off work til Saturday and I don't have enough time to look along the coast. Last weekend was spent picking pounds of Blackberries and Crab Apples as it is the jelly making season. Around Morpeth I have seen Dipper on the stepping stones, a Buzzard flying low over Curley kews and a Redwing in the high Hawthorns today along the Abbey path. Two species above I cannot positively id are the Amanita sp as I'm wodering if it is Amanita porphyria (Grey Veiled Amanita) and the Ganoderma sp, it could be Southern Bracket. All the pics were taken in woodland on the edge of Morpeth.

Stobswood and the Borough woods

2010-09-18T20:40:00.000+01:00

Yellow Stags Horn...Borough woods

Golden Scaleycap...Borough woods

Mystery moth...Abbey Meadows

Musk Mallow 'alba'...Old Brickworks, Stobswood

Young Shaggy Inkcaps...Stobswood

Larch Bolete...Old pit heap, Stobswood

Brickcap...Abbey Meadows

Yesterday turned out to be quite good for birds around Stobswood and Widdrington tip. There were 7 Snipe, 12 Grey partridges and an abundane of Skylark and Meadow pipit as well as a few Reed buntings. The best bird was a Long Eared Owl in the pine plantation where the old pit heap used to be. Also Buzzard and 33 Long tailed tits. Plenty of fungi and plants around here. Some good fungi along the Borough woods at Mopeth today. It was nice and sunny but cold so insects were few but a few Speckled woods, Wall and Small tortoiseshell butterflies at Stobswood.

Change of plan

2010-09-10T19:38:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I was going to go up to Holy island and the North Northumberland coast following the flood of migrants on Wednesday. I was also going to the bird club meeting but I forgot I had something else on. The migrants had largely moved out by yesteday morning so I decided o go to my favourite local haunts. I popped into Widdrington tip and was surprised by the amount of insect activity. There were good numbers of common butterflies and loads of Bees and Hoverflies but my id skills are very poor on these species. There were 13 Snipe in the boggy clearings.

Common blue, Common and Black darter...Widdrington tip

Lesser Spearwort in the dune slacks

Some kind of spider on Branched bur-reed

Autumn Gentian...Hadston dunes

I then had a good look along Hadston dunes. Several Small coppers and Wall Browns and a few Silver Y's in the dunes. Very few birds but the highlights were 5 Snipe in the dune slacks, 23 Redpolls and 4 Buzzards overhead.

Moray Firth

2010-09-06T21:22:00.000+01:00

Dolphin twitch at Portrose

Chanterelle at Carrbridge

Vapourer at Carrbridge

Bennyboy on Nairn beach in the early hours

Spent last week at Nairn on the Moray Firth. We were very fortunate with the weather as we had a sunny and warm week. I didn't target any particular species or sites but just happy to see what I encountered as I walked about. I picked up a few new plants but the fungi was good especially around Carrbridge where I saw my first Chanterelles...troops of them and huge numbers of Boletus species. The birding highlights were Snow Buntings on top of Cairngorm, Red throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe both with young and Red Kites on the Black isle. We watched Dolphins from Portrose just yards from the beach.

Weeping widow

2010-08-24T20:44:00.000+01:00

Weeping widow

Blackening waxcap

Fresh looking Glistening inkcap

Took advantage of the early morning sunshine to photograph fungi that is flourishing with the heavy rain. One of the commonest growing in the grasslands around Abbey meadows is Weeping widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda). This is an attractive velvety fungi whose stem is stained with fallen black spores. Many other species around including Blackening waxcap ( Hygrocybe conica) and Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus).

Stobswood

2010-08-20T20:58:00.000+01:00

Silver Y on Knapweed

Bolete sp

Russula sp carpeting the woodland floor

Saffron milkcap

Yeaterday I spent the afternoon around the woods at Stobswood. A nice sunny day it was good for insects but I need to get clued up on Hoverflies and Bees. There were dozens of them on the Knapweeds. A good day for Butterflies and fungi. The best part was the old pit heap which is a pleasant pine wood with a network of paths and some sunny clearings that were awash with flowers. There were at least 30 Wall browns, several Commas and the now ubiquitous Speckled woods as well as dozens of the common species on the wing at this time of year. There were several thousand Russula fungi scattered all over the woodland floor and hundreds or perhaps thousands of Saffron milkcaps. Some of the Russula species remain unnamed but some were easy to identify like Pimrose brittlegill and the Sickener. I also saw Yellow brain and Pinewood or Blushing wood mushroom.

After the twitch

2010-08-19T17:27:00.000+01:00

I hope me Bloody cranesbills are ok

I'm back online again after trouble with the internet which stopped me from accessing any blogs. I was at Hadston dunes to see the hippo which many birders are happy to tick as a Syke's warbler. I watched it well on Sunday evening and I spent a few hours there on Monday but the views were brief but the light was better. I'm no expert and I would be very happy for a Booted warbler to turn up there but many observers have a lot of experience with this species and there was a steady stream of birders from other regions calling in to see it. It was good to catch up with some old faces and enjoy the chat as these days most of my wildlife watching is done alone. I only hope the flowers of the dunes haven't been totally trampled. No pics of the bird but there are plenty of good photos around.

Hadston beach

2010-08-12T20:55:00.000+01:00

Tufted brood on Ladyburn lake

Elegant seed cage of Wild Carrot, Druridge bay CP

Only the hardy souls were brave enough to take a dip in the cold North sea

Corprinus auricomis above and below, Abbey woods

Towards the Northern end of Druridge bay yesterday. A walk around Ladyburn lake at Druridge bay cp produced mainly young birds of common species but notable were three broods of Tufted ducks and one of Gadwall. On the sea was a fine Black throated diver which made its way south towards East chevington as the tide came in and was joined by four Red throated divers, there were fewer Terns here and only a handful of Gannets feeding inshore. Lots of Jellyfish but Amber insisted of swimming in the sea. Back home more fungi appearing as the heavy showers continue to fall. The pics were taken on the edge of Abbey woods. The local Swifts have all gone with only a single one flying around with the House martins yesterday.

Giving in to temptation

2010-08-10T20:33:00.000+01:00

I gave up twitching a few years ago except for good county birds. I never liked twitching alone but I did enjoy the social aspect of a car full of friends and enjoying the day out whether you connected with the rarity or not. Good rarities in the past are often captured by the 'crack' of both the group you are with or the people you meet or bump into time after time. I remember several hundred of us crammed inside a churchyard in Nottingham on a Sunday morning when the congregation were making their way into the church. An old lady said it was 'disgusting for all of these people walking all over the churchyard, this is hallowed ground'....it is now said Stewart, there's a Cedar waxwing here.

An industrial backdrop but the Little Egrets don't mind

A distant shot of the Whiskered Tern

The bairns wanted to see the tall ships at Hartlepool and I thought thats not far from Saltholme pools where the long staying juvenile Whiskered Tern is still hanging around. They didn't mind calling there first and see the ships later. I'm pleased I went as the Tern was easy to see and a joy to watch as it hawked low over the pools and resting occasionally. It may not be the most attractive place to watch birds but there was a huge variety to see and it was nice to catch up with a few Little Egrets. As for the ships..well the bairns liked them!

Hartlepool's historic quay

The first of the tall ships leaving Hartlepool

Hoary Plantain

2010-08-08T21:47:00.000+01:00

Hoary Plantain

Common Toadflax

Chicory...the above shots taken at Pegswood moor

False Chanterelle...Cragside

Amanita sp

Armstrong bridge and Cragside house

Yeaterday I had a look around Pegswood moor. The only bird of note was a single Common Sandpiper. The thin poor soil has a lot of plants clinging to it like Chicory, knapweed, Ladys bedstraw and Meadow vetchling. The most attractive plant was probably Hoary plantain. Today we had a picnic at Cragside. Plenty of plants up here such as Prickly heath, Common and Bell heather in flower and Amphibious bistort on the lakes. Not many birds seen and no Crossbills heard. Fungi was quite plentiful around here.