Mega Moth - Adela Cuprella!

A search with Tom Tams for Emperor Moth today ended with the fantastic discovery of Adela cuprella, a rare 'Longhorn' moth last recorded in Northumberland by Bolam in 1889!

Five moths were observed flying and landing on the highest catkins of Grey Willow Salix cinerea.

0149 Adela cuprella

This moth is probably under recorded as it appears in April flying high above flowering Grey Willow. If you are any where near rivers, lakes or wetland and you see Grey Willow, check above them with binoculars and look for small black triangular moths 'dancing' around flowering catkins. If you see any, please let me know.

This duck's no chicken

Sharpness Point in Tynemouth was the unlikely spot for a romantic rendezvous for a pair of mallards this afternoon. The male proved himself a worthy suitor by playing chicken with the breaking waves.

Ha!

I was in my front garden yesterday when a passer-by commented, "It would be peaceful round here if it wasn't for the f'ing seagulls". I looked up.............

Warbler Blank at St Mary's

Reports of Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Warbler(!) and Grasshopper Warbler at St Mary's yesterday spurred me into a visit this morning. I found no warblers, not even a Chiffchaff. Plenty of hirundines, Linnets that would fly off if you got within 50 yards and a wetland without ducks. And no White-tailed Sea Eagle flyover :(

Pied Wagtail

Last night the moth trap pulled in an interesting Pine Beauty variation (normally a rich orange brown colour) and an early Least Black Arches:

2179 Pine Beauty Panolis flammea

2078 Least Black Arches Nola confusalis

Admired from a distance - Black Scoter

Black Scoter Melanitta americana

A very distant shot taken from Stag Rocks, Bamburgh, Northumberland (it's the one on the left with the bright yellow bill. The other ducks are Common Scoter).

Bamburgh Castle

Allendale Golden Plover

Tynemouth Springs to Life

Northumberland Park was blooming gorgeous today, filled with bird song, blossoming trees and butterflies. Check it out....

Treecreeper

Nuthatch

Peacock

Worra corker of a day!

Work took me to Rothbury this morning and on the way back I headed for the coast to see the reported Shorelark at Druridge Pools and the Avocets at Cresswell.

A quick look/see at Hauxley gave me two singing Willow Warblers and my first Swallow for the year, nice!

At Druridge the Shore Lark was briefly seen but disappeared as I grabbed my camera. Never mind, the Wheatears, Twite, Sand Martin and House Martin kept my face straight :)

Twite

Wheatear

At Cresswell there were now six Avocets, two by the causeway - too far for a decent pic and with the sun behind them - so here's a 'record shot':

Avocet

A nice surprise was a Yellow Wagtail that appeared briefly before being lifted by an aggressive Meadow Pipit.

On returning home I had a call from Tom Tams to come and see the first V-Pug for Northumberland for 32 years, caught in his garden last night. As I arrived an Osprey flew over!!!!!!!!

If I score a hat-trick at footy tonight it'll have been a perfect day.

(All I got was a dead leg)

First Wheatear

The horse fields at Seaton Sluice are always worth a check. They came up with the goods today with my first Wheatear of the year.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Corncrake in the Toon!

Corncrake Glug glug
Luckies opposite Newcastle Civic Centre has been refurbished by Weatherspoons and Corncrake is £2 a pint. Nice!