Out of harms way, for now

If you dare to nest on a roof top at the North East coast then you may be staring down the barrel of an air rifle or see your nest pushed off a roof top, chicks and all. Sadly, most people won't live with wildlife if it wakes them up in the early morning, craps on their car or dive bombs their dog. This may go part way to explain why Herring Gulls are on the Red list for species in decline in the UK.

My suggestion is to get some ear plugs, wash your car and try not to be a sissy when out with the dog. This means nothing gets killed or evicted. Live and let live.

Either my neighbours share my sentiments or they just can't reach the two pairs of nesting gulls either side of my house. Both nests now have chicks - you can hear them but seeing them is another matter.

Safe for now

Once the young fledge 'people' will doubtless aim their cars at them, run away screaming, complain to the council, write to the local rag or call the RSPCA to 'rescue' them. All of the above happened in a single day last year. Hopefully by sharing some knowledge with my neighbours they will have a warmer welcome this year and a rosier future.

Marsh Warbler

A visit to Druridge Pools mid afternoon and the reported Marsh warbler was still there. It wasn't very vocal but I managed a short recording.

Barn Owl

Off Hunting

Mission Accomplished

Wood Mouse in HD

This fella was in my longworth trap yesterday. The video was shot using a 

canon 7D with a canon 100mm macro.

Vintage Mothing

Last night it seemed like a good idea to stay up late 'til 2am and chase moths around the garden with a net in one hand and a glass of vintage wine in the other. While I'm a bit jaded today the mothing was good. The last couple of nights have seen some new species for my garden including a couple of migrants in the form of two Silver Y moths. Here's some pics:

Silver Y

Brimstone

Small Square Spot

Common Marbled Carpet

Miller

Small Magpie

Heart and Dart

Poplar Grey

Rustic Shoulder-knot

Freyer's Pug

Bay Watch 04/06 - starring Black Redstart

Today I walked to Holywell Dene via the waggonway and then across to the coast and back along the beach, picking up 44 species. The highlight was a fabulous male Black Redstart by the Delaval Arms pub.

Throughout the dene the birds were busy feeding young, many of which have now fledged.

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Flocks of young Starlings were feeding at St Mary's

Brown Trout in the dene

Foal at Brierdene Farm

Copter over St Mary's (a birder perhaps?)

Waggonway Today

A beautiful day but little to report bird wise.

Common Swift - not the bird

A new moth to my garden - 17 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus)

Paper making - Wasp

This video shows a wasp collecting pulp from what looks like a cow parsley stem. It makes quite a racket.

Who threw that?

When one of these bad boys hits you on the head it hurts! Cockchafer Beetles have the weight and density of a small conker, only they fly faster. When I lit up rural Northumberland with my moth trap on Monday night they came hurtling from all directions.

The longworth trap caught a Wood Mouse and one of these:

Bank Vole

Noctule bats joined me on the moth hunt

Here's some of the moths caught:

May Highflyer

323 Phyllonorycter oxycanthae
A tiny moth about 4mm long

Scorched Wing

Clouded Silver

Spectacle

Small Phoenix

Silver Ground Carpet

Water Carpet

Flame Carpet

Common Lutestring

Engrailed

0141 Nematopogan schwarziellus

Dwarf Pug

Brindled Pug (I think)