It terned out just 'fine'...

We had a plan this morning to go up to Newton and the Long Nanny to search for Dark Green Fritillaries, but the weather put paid to that. It was overcast with irritating heavy little showers, overcast with a cool northerly wind blowing, hardly ideal for butterfly watching.

Still, we were out, so make the most of it.

At Newton Pool, a single Little Gull was the highlight plus an array of post breeding warblers including Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Along Beadnell Bay, the wind cost me £25 when it blew my car park ticket into the grass, unbeknown to me, so we came back to a nice yellow plastic packet stuck on the windscreen. its ironic, I actually paid this time and got a ticket. Must be some divine justice there somewhere...

The Arctic Tern colony gave a good show, as well as shelter from the rain, in the lee of the wardens hut, but there was little else of note. It seems to be a good season for them with over 2000 nests. The grass in front of the hut was full of chicks running to be fed. Pity the sun didn't shine to bring the butterflies out...

Sea Swallow...

and Land Swallow....

Pyramidal Orchid