Busy at the minute so no proper birding.

Tonight I just walked Bunty down the Low Steads road where we were mobbed by the Little Owl again. It must have young nearby. It doesn't like the look of Bunty.( Can you blame it!)

Also down here a few juvvy Tree Sparrows, 2 Whitethroats and 3 Yellowhammers still in song. Along the road at the Quarry on my way back from the Chippy at Alnwick a Buzzard looked very raggy as it was chased from the wood by a crow.

Monsoon season now in full swing with small floods all over. Except at Boulmer. Its like the Gobi Desert.

Fancy a laugh, try this - Liecester Llamas - a funny light weight birding blog. It used to be a site donkeys years back when I first got the internet at work. Great to see it back...

I think thats that sorted. All a panic about nothing...

I've changed the Link thing to the left so that it shows the blogs in the order they are updated with the most recently updated starting at the top. This way the list will be constantly reshuffled. If you want to be top of the pile, get posting!


Thanks to everyone who commented at my whinging below...

It's worse than that, its dead, Jim....

It looks like I've done it this time. I think 'Boulmer Birder' is, er, donald ducked...

Remember when I said that it looks funny because the text and spacing has all changed and it looks rubbish? Well, I think that when I tried to rectify that, I've corrupted the original template and knacked a widget!

I have just tried to change a Layout item and its all frozen. Nothing works. I can't move anything or add anything, all I can do is remove ( apologies to Old Crow, she's gone by the wayside...).

Woe is me. What can I do?

If it bugs me much more I'll delete the whole kit and caboodle and re emerge, Dr Who fashion or maybe like Prince.

I'll be 'The Blogger formerly known as...'

A sketch of the Banded Demoiselles on Minsmere River at Eastbridge.


Down at Boulmer tonight wader passage seems to have started. Redshanks are up to 60+ and 50+ Curlew were in a cut hayfield. I'm sure closer scrutiny would have added more species.

Common Restharrow was in profusion along at the north end and my lonely Pyramidal Orchid seems to have perked up a bit ( well, not that much but its still alive)...

Last evening a Little Owl was shouting it out near Low Steads, seemingly mobbing a woodpigeon for some reason before we saw it flying from tree to tree. First one here this year in the same spot as the one I photographed last year...

Suffolk Sandlings...

This week we have been away to the Suffolk coast. The weather was exceptional, with bright sunny, warm days throughout. We took wellies and coats expecting the worst, but we didn't need to wear a coat all week.

We stayed in the village of Westleton a few years back but I had forgotten how pleasant and scenic it is. The whole place is a naturalists dream especially if you hail from the grim north. There were new or nearly new species on just about every corner we visited. I was particularly interested in the Dragonflies and Butterflies, but the plants were good too, but I simply didn't have time to take it all in. Something to look out for next time maybe.

Click on the images below for a bigger view...



Above - Our holiday home for the week. A great base with heathland only 200 yards behind the house, Minsmere 2 miles away and 2 country pubs and a restaurant within 100 yards. We ate in all three and the suffolk cider took a hammering...



Above - Westleton Common, right on our doorstep. Home to Silver studded Blues and Purple Hairstreaks, Green Woodpeckers and Muntjacs, visited every day several times on Bunty's walks...



Above - This is Dunwich Heath complete with birch wave sculptures, just down the road.


Above - I was pleased to find 4 singing male Dartford Warblers around the small car park at Dunwich. One was even nest building at this late date. On one evening we had good views of Nightjars at Westleton Heath ( not to be confused with Westleton Common, a mile or so away).




Above - Silver studded Blue Butterflies were showing very well on Westleton Common. A stroll around with Bunts and I counted 70+ in a very small area. They rely on the black ants nests and the ants to tend their caterpillars. They were even easy to find at dusk as they roosted on the top of low heather clumps...



Above - These were a great suprise. We found 5 or 6 Purple Hairstreaks around some smallish oaks at the common car park. To put this rubbish pic in context, when we first noticed them flying around, one landed so I took this photo on full zoom. I reckoned digiscoping would get me some great shots, but despite several more attempts I didn't see another one settle. They just chased around like maniacs at the tops of the trees.




Above - This family of Spotted Flycatchers entertained us in the pub garden while we had Sunday Lunch....



Above - Pennywort or Navelwort depending on which book you look at. Supposed to be commoner on westerly coasts. Any further east and these would be in Holland...



Above - Ever felt you are being watched?

We spent some time looking for the many Dragonflies and Damselflies that abound here. Best sites were Minsmere river at Eastbridge and the River Waveney at Geldeston ( Iain's book came up trumps here )...




Above - Fantastic watery habitats full of wildlife. Marsh Harriers and Barn Owls flying around while flocks of Banded Demoiselles chased between Yellow Water Lillies. I even got a 10 second view of a Cetti's Warbler, one of 4 belting out their song, before it dropped into thick veg...



Above - Oh, and yes, a pub garden comes in handy too. This is the Lock Inn ( geddit?) at Geldeston the garden backing onto the dykes of the River Waveney...



Above - Banded Demoiselles were common at many sites, with 50+ at some rivers. Groups of males would chase a female around the water surface...



Above - Black tailed Skimmers were seen in a few sites. They are quite agressive chaps harassing the daylights out of any other dragons who dare to enter their territory.( Except this one is a Scarce Chaser and much much rarer!)



Above - This female Broad bodied Chaser was the only one seen during our stay.



Above - 6+ Norfolk Hawkers were in the dykes behind the Lock Inn. Great creatures, patrolling a yard above the water surface then hovering right in front of you. Very rare in Great Britain only to be found here and the Norfolk Broads...



Above - Another rarity, this female Scarce Chaser was our only one. I had given up hope when Jane found this one loafing on some fallen branches. The black marks up the body centre and the black wing tips and bases are good id features.



Above - Four spotted Chasers were seen at a few sites but were great value as they tirelessly chased Emperor Dragons and other Four Spots out of their 'patch'.



Above - A pair of Large Red eyed Damselflies again on the rivers beside the pub above. We didn't see the rarer Small Red eyed though they had been around the Minsmere River a few days earlier.



Above - Emerald Damselfly. Look at the colour of those eyes...We also saw Emperors, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Azure, Common Blue and Large Red Damsels.



Above - Sometimes you get a suprise. Jane asked what this was swimming over the river and before I looked I had visualised a water vole. I was over the moon when I saw it was no vole, but this 3 ft long Grass Snake sunning on the lilly pads at Minsmere River. I tried digiscoping it but couldn't get on it well enough. The scope views were fantastic though...



Above - Water Figwort.





Above - Some scenes of Southwold...with Jane and Bunts in there too...



Above - The dunes had some Sea Holly...



Above - and Sea Bindweed...



Above - Peacock Butterfly caterpillars...



And finally a sunset at Walberswick. The end of a great week.

Work tomorrow. Now, where did I put those maps of Cornwall...

We're off !

Thats us packed, see you in a week or so...

Tonight the wind is getting up again. Our walk took me and Bunty around the North end at Boulmer. Of note were 4 Goosanders N and a good 'passage' of Swifts all going south on a broad front, with 50% out to sea. I had about 140 S in 10 minutes. While watching them I saw one that looked different, more patterned. I could see white on it! Then Bunty bumped me and I lost it for a second ( never take a dog birding, they're not very good at it). I dropped her lead to steady my bins. There was my bird coming straight south towards me in off the sea looking slightly larger than the Common Swifts...my mind was racing. What was it? A swift but what kind? A small wader perhaps?

No. It was a Little Tern. Its a bugger that!

I went home for tea, pleased with the Tern...

Down at Seaton Point tonight the tide was well up. The sea was choppy again thanks to the easterly breeze. A few waders here included 9 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover but suprisingly 2 Grey Plovers were still here. I say 'still here' because usually all have gone by now and returning birds don't appear until August so I can't see these being on their way back so early.

Quite a few gulls and odd Sandwich Terns were loafing around including 30+ Great black backs.

Stonechats, Linnets and Reed Buntings are all feeding fledged young in the caravan site...

Thanks to Ipin for a loan of his new 'Watching Dragonflies' book for my hols. You never know I might even buy my own copy ...( Steady...not until his is all dog eared!) :)

Above - 2 Brown Hares in the meadow.



Above - Gulls gathering on Longhoughton Steel.



Above - Golden Plovers flying off.



Above - Gulls coming in.

A much better day today, mostly dry and mild with the odd light shower.

Bunty's walk was to the Boulmer north end this evening. I took the camera to photograph some plants that have had me pondering for a few days. In the end I didn't take the picture I wanted, because I'm still confused about their identity. The plants are either Lesser Meadow Rue or Sand Meadow Rue. I suspect that Lesser will win the day...

I found last years sole Pyramidal Orchid looking worse for wear. I think it has been trod on...

Watching the tide come in over the steel, some waders were gathered. 97 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew and 22 Redshanks were typical mid summer fare, though 10 Golden Plover were a bit early ( or late?).

I believe that the 23rd June is the witches sabbath? Tomorrow is officially midsummer day ( not to be confused with the solstice that was Saturday)...its all down hill from here, I better start Christmas shopping....

Not much to report from today. Nothing in fact.

The weather has been windy with some rain later on, so I decided not to bother with much. I walked Bunty around the quarry where an Oystercatcher had 2 large young. This afternoon I painted the Lesser Grey Shrike (above) based on my photo's.

I'm looking forward to next weekend when we are going down to Suffolk for the week. I hope the weather has improved because I have a good list of Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies to look out for...

Going 'commando'.

Today I went out into the field naked.

I took Bunty for her walk along a disused railway line at Alnwick and I dared to leave my bins, camera, notebook and even my phone ( with camera for emergencies) in the car. Oh yes, when you are a naturalist, leaving these items behind is akin to naturism. Do so at your peril.

So, we wandered through some excellent untouched scrub and vegetation hearing and glimpsing Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcaps, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Marsh Orchids and Yellow Rattle grew amongst a profusion of Dog and Field Roses.

But I really reached down for my camera ( and my emergency phone when I realised I didn't take the camera) when, as we strode through some long meadow grass, a Grey Partridge leapt up and did the broken wing distraction thing up ahead. I pulled Bunts close too and froze to the spot. I knew that young Partridges can fly off at a very early age even before their wings are fully developed, so I reasoned that either its chicks were very small or a nest was nearby.

I scanned around at my feet without moving and there she was, only a metre away from me. The female Partridge, huddled nice and comfy in a grassy hollow. As our eyes met she too up and clattered around, leaving below her a dozen or so tiny, day old, fluffy chicks scarcely bigger than conkers. They soon ran off to hide and we left them in peace incase a crow was watching...

What a photo I could have had for you.

Could have...

Mmmm 'Champion' thinks Roppa....

China updates on t'other blog ( see top left)...

Just wandered around some of the local quarries and Boulmer this morning.
It was nice and sunny but the NE breeze had a cold edge to it.



Above -Azure Damselfly found at Littlehoughton Quarry this morning. Typical. My first mid week now they are on my doorstep.



Above - At the same quarry, a pair of Buzzards soared overhead calling and 12+ Crossbills flew low overhead.



Above - This Kestrel was hovering near the seawatch seat at Boulmer. It has a broken left leg but still managed to catch prey right in front of me. A young rat I think?







Above - Eider and Shelducklings sharing the same pool on the beach. All together now...

The Mole...

Oh I forgot earlier, on our way home from Alnwick, just outside Alnwick Garden, a strange looking Siamese Cat was chasing something across the road. Fearing for its safety I stuck the hazards on and stopped.

The cats victim was a young Mole and it was making a good way along the road. I chased the cat off and picked up the unfortunate Mole in a paper bag I had in the car. Despite squeaks of protest I wasn't going to handle the little velvet gentleman because I'd read somewhere that they can pack a bite.

I gave the bag to Jane to hold while I got the camera for a snap. Before I could say 'apperture level' the Mole had dug its way out of the bag with its powerful little hands, dropped to the ground and buried itself out of sight.

Nicely in some of the Duchess's newly planted trees. He should be safe enough in there...

Upper Coquetdale...

Above - Jane and Bunty taking it easy in the sunshine...



Above - Bygate, Upper Coquetdale.



Above - Quickening Cote, Upper Coquetdale.



Above - Hay Meadow, Quickening Cote.



Above - Yellow Rattle et al in the Hay Meadow picture above.



Above - Ichneumon Wasp Lissonota setosa. I think.

After our stop at Callaly for the Orchids we carried on up the Coquet valley beyond Alwinton. It was nice and quiet up here with few visitors. The hay meadows are looking well with large amounts of flowing plants including Yellow Rattle, Pignut, Red and White Clover, Meadow Buttercup, Germander Speedwell plus many more. They were absolutely buzzing with many insects, unlike our coastal monoculture.

On the streams were a few pairs of agitated Common Sandpipers that must have small young hidden nearby plus a few Grey Wagtails, Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits.

The insect above is one of the parasitic Ichneumon Wasps that lives around dead timber. Its impossibly long 'tail' is an ovipositor for laying eggs in timber boring larvae living in the dead wood.