Equinox.

 Out and about recently, its been cold but dry and, dont say it, breezy. Later this week we are due a warmer spell so I'm looking forward to that. Its Equinox today too, so there's more day than dark now. 

Yesterday we ventured to our inland area again hoping for a Gos, but drew another blank. I wonder if the damage caused by storm Arwen has anything to do with it? Massive areas of the upland pinewoods are now lying flat. We managed a few Crossbill families, Stonechat and a lot of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits back on territories but not much else. A short stop on route home brightened things up with our first Adder of the year. Just the one though.

 

A small stream corner was quite pleasant with lots of Chiffchaffs, a few tumbling male Lapwings, one showing the hen a scrape, singing Curlews, a mass of Frogs and Toads in the same pond and a scatter of Buff tailed Bumblebees on catkins.

The top wire of that old fence was electric and on. I got hold of it twice!

Lots of Frogs in that far damp margin with a few Toads out in more open water.

The full moon and frosts have kept the moth trap quiet but two Oak Beauties were suitably attired in furry clothing to brighten one morning. Lovely moths, scarce in my garden so always a pleasure to see.

Jarring.

 If you read this blog regularly you will see that John and me spend a bit of time birding and looking for inverts on what we call our 'inland patch'. This is a loose definition of the upland moor areas west and north west of Alnwick. 

We tend to prefer nice summer days in these places for dragonflies, butterflies, plants etc, but over the years we have enjoyed some interesting finds away from sites that are more popular. Things like Green Hairstreak, Emperor Moth, Adders, Broad bodied Chaser, Goshawk, Orange Underwing, Birds Nest Orchid, Ring Ouzels, Large Heath, Gold ringed Dragonfly etc have all brightened a 'quiet' Sunday morning.

But what of the times of day when we don't usually visit? Late evening and dusk in particular. We have often mooted checking places out for Nightjars and have never really gotten around to it. Keen for a change, this was to be 'the year'. 

Over the dry spell recently we have made a couple of crepuscular trips out to see what we could find and have not been disappointed. On this occasion I won't be giving out locations as there are already known sites where all of these upland species can easily be added to the year list, so forgive me for keeping 'our' birds to ourselves. 

Its quite a walk to get to the main spot but we arrived in time to hear the first birds begin 'churring' at 10pm. At first distant, but after a few minutes some sounded closer and there were a few 'goowick' calls too. These birds are so mysterious in looks and lifestyle, they are a highlight in any birding calendar so to have birds flying around our heads all to ourselves was truly life affirming!

A white splashed male came down this ride and circled me at about 20 feet radius. Wing claps and 'g'wick' calls looked either inquisitive or warning me. Then we had three together chasing around like outsized swifts, not at all bothered by our presence. One male landed giving great views on a fallen branch while a female landed nearby and began catching moths in the manner of a giant Spotted Flycatcher. She would drop off her perch low to the deck, swish around and then back to the same vantage point. All no more than 20 yards away for around 10 minutes.

In this game you are totally against the clock. Birds began showing at 10.10pm but by 10.35pm its getting too dark to pick them out except as silhouettes, but that 25 minutes is fantastic!

The next time we are out looking for insects in warm sunshine we will be thinking that out there, hunkered down in the bark are these animated leaf birds sitting maybe watching us through a squinted eye...

I was lucky enough to catch this female just right when she landed right beside us on the fence. Photoshop is responsible for removing the eye glare but thats all. 

I rarely make a presence on here but this shows the lengths gone to to avoid midgies. A palmful of repellent around the head worked quite well too..

Its not all Nightjars either, this scarce Ash-black Slug Limax cinereoniger, the largest of the UK slugs attracted attention while waiting for the birds to show, plus Cuckoo, Snipe, Redpolls galore almost in the dark, 2 Sand Martins low through the trees, again in near darkness were very odd. A barking Roe buck added to the ambience.   

Inland...

Back in the day, when we used to frequent Druridge on a weekly basis, at this time of year the spring would encourage us to go 'inland'. This is not just anywhere away from the coast, it generally means one of about three or four spots - Kielder, Harthope Valley or even Harwood Forest. This week  'inland' meant a drive up to the Harthope, my favourite of the Cheviot valleys stretching from the steep hill called Skirl Naked, up to and beyond Langleeford.

So, no further ado, we took plenty of photos so here is a selection from Sunday morning...

The end of the road. No cars beyond here.

Oystercatcher

Pied Wagtail

Red legged Partridges were all over.

The burn.

Common Sandpiper

Dipper feeding young at nest under tree root overhang.

Grey Wagtail

The Hawsen Burn

Red Grouse

One of three Ring Ouzels

   

Wren on a post.