Winter Shade Moths

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1025 Winter Shade Tortricodes alternella

Finally caught some moths in the trap this morning, the first since 23rd Nov last year.

Just 3 moths; Common Quaker, Common Plume and a Winter Shade. Winter Shade is proving to be widespread and numerous this year with numbers this year already exceeding the total recorded since it was first recorded in Nothumberland in 1889!

Rippit!

Common Frog

Frogs thrashing around in the pond since yesterday, a couple of days earlier than last year when we had a very mild February. Will they spawn before the 23rd March, my earliest garden record?

Oh, and a Blackbird is nesting in the Ivy :)

The Gambia 2012 Gallery

'Aby Rolla'

Not started a trip report yet, but finally got all the photos sorted from our 7 day visit to Footsteps Eco Lodge in The Gambia, during the first week in February 2012.

Online here: http://www.wildupnorth.org.uk/catalogue.php?place=The%20Gambia%202012

Winter Sun Moth

On the beach in Gambia.

I've got nowhere in trying to id this beauty, other than it's a Clearwing of some sort. Anyone got any ideas?

A Thicket of...........

Senegal Thick-knees

Dog's Dinner

Meet Annie, top dog at Footsteps Eco Lodge, Ganjur, Gambia

Annie's going hungry today..............but it could be worse.....

Hooded Vultures taking care of one of Annie's unfortunate cousins.

Bring on the Clowns

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers

Of all the birds in Gambia, Oxpeckers are the most comical looking, with their red noses and big feet.

Apparently it's been snowing

Bay Watch 28/01 - Tree Spuggies Galore!

Waggonway Today

A lovely sunny day with hints of Spring; Skylark singing, Willow catkins bursting forth, and Great Tits calling from all angles. Underfoot, plenty of ice, and according to the met office there's the possibility that the mild winter may have a sting in it's tail - hopefully while I'm filling my bins with new species in The Gambia :)

Willow Catkins

Blackbird

In the fields between Holywell Dene and the Obelisk were unusually large numbers of Tree Sparrows 100+, along with Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. I've never seen such numbers.

Hedge full of finches and Tree Spuggies

A frosty Holywell Dene

Black-headed Gull - taking a drink from the Brierdene as it flows
down the beach at Whitley Bay

Iceland & Glaucous Gulls - North Shields Fish Quay

The number of White-winged Gulls has been increasing further North in places like Shetland, so it was only a matter of time till a few spilled further south - well North actually - North Shields Fish Quay.

A look this morning revealed nothing. The tide was out, so poorly timed. Wind on a few hours to 3pm and, with a high tide and trawlers returning, there were plenty of Gulls including 3 Iceland and 1 Glaucous.

Iceland Gull

Glaucous Gull