It was still quite dark as I arrived at the top car park at Warkworth this morning to meet up with John.

After yesterday's heavy rain and SE winds hopes were high of something interesting in the car park scrub, but, like with Craster yesterday, it was very quiet. Still as the sun came up birds started to get active. An immature Marsh Harrier came from its reed bed roost, circled for a while then headed off north towards Alnmouth.

It soon became apparent that there were some birds on the move over head - VizMig...
Whilst we didn't do an accurate timed count quite a few birds were involved. From 7am - 10am we had -

Meadow Pipit - The main species involved - over 125 birds S.
Redpoll - 16
Grey Wagtail 3
Yellow Wagtail 1
Skylark 5+
Siskin 1
Swallow - began a bit later -  a slow passage south in small groups.

Skylark on the move south....

 Near the golf club  we got a surprise when a Roe doe and two yearlings ran past us. The adult cleared the fence without a problem but the youngsters weren't as athletic and  ran in the opposite direction. The doe was soon searching for them, so we left her in peace. I hope they were reunited...

The Roe Doe, the family ran in the opposite direction...

Little Egret

Down on the estuary, fewer waders than lately were on the flats. 1 Grey Plover, 7 Knot, 14 Ruff and a Black tailed Godwit, all juveniles, were the highlights here. A Sparrowhawk flushed everything including this Little Egret into a close fly past.

Up river, 6 Wigeon were of note.

More bees...

Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum 

Out down at Warkworth this morning. It was clear and sunny but a white frost coated the grass first thing, and a cold  northerly breeze put the dampers on things.

Before I discuss the birding, we were checking out the bumblebees on a patch of Yellow Archangel and White Dead Nettle. At first glance the two above look pretty much the same, but the Garden Bumbler has three yellow bands while the White tailed has two. That is very simplistic, and to be honest bumblebee id is not that straightforward. I am sure the top id is correct but the bottom one? Mmm...If you know any different please leave a comment...

So what was on offer bird-wise? Straight out of the car added Common Whitethroat to Johns year list with two singing males. Nearby a Grasshopper Warbler reeled for a moment but thoughts of a photo were dashed when it didnt sing again and we couldnt find it. Next, in similar fashion, a Reed Warbler croaked off a few notes but remained concealed. Blackcaps were everywhere and there had been a certain increase in Willow Warblers over the week.

Down on the estuary, 89 Dunlin were coming into breeding plumage, 19 Knot, 11 Ringed Plover and 2 Little Egrets were of note.

The only thing back home were 2 Whimbrel south as I left the house, first thing.

113. Whimbrel 

Skylark

A right motley crew here...

All quiet on the bird front this weekend. I went up to the Long Nanny on the off chance the yellowshank was still there but no joy. Other than that, I've just been pottering around the garden. The variety of life just around the house is amazing, if you  just take time to look...

Whitethroat, Newton Pool

Skylark, Long Nanny.

A few insects associated with the moth trap this weekend too -

Peach Blossom

Flame Shoulder

Lunar Thorn

Woodlouse Spider

Both of these Ladybirds are variations of 10-spot Ladybird

Tree Wasp, eating our garden seat....for nest pulp.