Willow Warbler - Snapped!

Outside our holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire was a large Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). This North American shrub was literally buzzing with bees, and flies, the latter proving rather palatable for a Willow Warbler.

Blue skies, sunshine, a light breeze, and the sound of a Willow Warbler snapping at flies - now that's spring!

The Small and Mitey

Red-tailed Bumblebee & cargo

Finally, a bumblebee in the garden, rewarding my wildflower bulb planting. A Red-tailed Bumblebee taking nectar from a Grape Hyacinth. Unfortunately it has a few unwelcome stowaways, mites; the little pink things on it's 'neck'.

Goldcrest

A couple of other small visitors today included a Goldcrest, most likely just passing through on its way back to Scandinavia, and my first Willow Warbler of the year.

Willow Warbler

Windhover Haven

Prior's Haven of Tynemouth has been good for migrants of late, with good numbers of Willow Wren, Mavis and Blackies.

Mavis

Willow Wren

If you pay a visit, checkout the Sea Buckthorn and Elders, berryfull, around the Haven car park, south of Prior's Park (or Knotweed Park - badly infested with Japanese Knotweed).

Windhover

The cliffs around Tynemouth Priory are pretty much a dead cert for a 'Windhover' or two. If you want a gripping 'hover' shot then this is the place. I'm yet to succeed :(

Hot Spot

Spotted Flycatcher

I found a hot spot for birds today, on the footpath heading North from Earsdon cemetery. Past the cemetery, at the end of the first field, is a small stream along which the trees and hawthorn hedge provided cover for a variety of tits, warblers and a rather pleasant surprise in the form of a Spotted Flycatcher.

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit enjoying a wasp!

Blue Tit

Willow Warbler

And feeding on thistles was this Gold Spot moth..........

Gold Spot Plusia festucae

Willowob cuties and a Scorpion

Walking near Humshaugh this evening I came across six beautiful Willow Warbler fledglings in a roadside hedge. This puts my garden Blackbirds to shame, the best they manage is two eggs and one fledger!

Nearby I found this female Scorion Fly Panorpa germanica

Waggonway Creche

The waggonway was alive with fledglings today; Robins, Blackbirds, Blackcaps, Willow warblers, Jackdaws, Magpies, Whitethroats..................

Blackcap fledgling begging for food

Willow Warbler with a beak full of insects

Blackbird with a fledgling nearby

Bay Watch 25/05

Waggonway

I set out along the waggonway at 6.30 this evening and the most noticeable thing was that the Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were silent. Even the Whitethroats have become a little less conspicuous choosing to skulk within the brambles and bushes quietly singing. Other songsters were still giving it what for.....

Willow Warbler

Yellowhammer

Sedge Warbler

Bay Watch 23/04 - Spring Episode

15th April along the waggonway

What a difference a week makes. On the 15th of April I took a local walk round the patch and other than Chiffchaff and a single Sand Martin there were no summer visitors.

Today was a different story. Passing Monkseaton metro station I had Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat. Along the waggonway there were more warblers, mainly Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs.

At St Mary's I had my first Sedge Warbler. Swallows and Sand Martins are now around in numbers and Sandwich Terns are crying out.



All in all I feel it is now time to say it - Spring has sprung. Roll on the summer.

Today along the waggonway (warbler boulevard)

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler (too quick for me)

Sandwich Tern

Peacock Butterfly (not a Painted Lady as shown on some North Tyneside Council signs)

Starlings on the beach

Purple Sandpiper

Reed Bunting

Sand Martins checking out the cliffs on Whitley Beach

Dessicated Frog

Dessicated Lumpsucker

Don't ask. This type of thing happens when the sun comes out in Whitley.

Prestwick Carr 20/04

68 Golden Plover in full breeding plumage, 6 Wheatears, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Willow Warbler for a year tick.

And, rather surprisingly one of these...........

A week tick!

Golden Plover in breeding plumage (still grabbed from video)