WHITE THROATED ROBIN. Hartlepool June 2011.

White-throated Robin backlit amongst the poppy spread early morning.

Still trying to catch up on sleep since returning from Hartlepool, but it was worth it. My Dad joined me at my house on wednesday night at 10pm, I had gotten home from work at 7pm and got my kit together ready, and so at 10:20pm we headed off for Hartlepool. We arrived at 02:45am after a lengthy detour off the A19, I set about getting some rest before sunrise but unfortunately my Dads fidgetting and moaning put a stop to any zzzz'. Next time he can walk around outside the car!

I wanted to try and connect with the bird early on as I had to get back to go into work that night. And as a car load of blokes turned up whilst getting kitted out we got in place to await the 'Robin'. Well, as my luck usually goes, I missed the bird when it first showed! Thankfully one of the blokes from Ipswich came and informed my dad and I, at least it was still here... all eyes wide open now. But as I repositioned myself on the other side of the bowling green, sure enough a few people got good views and photographs .... you guessed it exactly where I had been standing a short while ago, but at least I had now seen the bird and could relax a tad.

Over the next couple of hours the bird was to give close views around the inner bowling green, I just had to wait till it ventured into a shadow to give some detail rather than just a silhoulette with the harsh sun backlighting it so much. It was actively feeding and would sometimes venture through the fence onto the road adjoining. When it moved off it disappeared for some time before showing well to the back of the other bowling green along the front. What a great bird to get and on viewing some images the plumage appeared to have quite a lot of blue tones to it. It then flew behind the bowling green building and I decided the time was right to leave, it was going to be a long drive home and the thought of a 12hr shift looming was not a welcoming thought but I didnt care I was WELL HAPPY.

*MEGA* White-throated Robin.

 Full account and images to follow soon.



Hare today gone tommorow.

Myself and Nigel are still working the dump but the birds are definitely quieting down, the first juveniles have been showing with 2 Pied wagtails in tow of their mother, a couple of juv' Goldfinches following the parents and loads of Leverets, although they have eluded me with a picture, I even had 2 in front of the car staring at me as if they knew I couldn't photograph them, they showed so well one evening when myself and Sarah took a drive down. One laid up 20ft away whilst another fed just as close, the next challenge it seems, unfortunately no camera just binoculars... the next day and ....well no picture says it all.

Garden Mothing. June 2011.

Marbled Minors.

Well I finally made the effort to put the moth light out for a couple of hours. Sarah joined me in the garden and was quite taken by the amount coming to light in just that short amount of time. I recorded 14 species and a total of 26 moths with some keeping out of reach. I must say that I have missed staying out mothing and if the wind will drop,finally, then I will out there again lighting up a bit fat cigar watching em' fall from the sky.

Figure of Eighty

Common Wainscot

Large Nutmeg

Vapourer Caterpillar

This Vapourer caterpillar was on a rose bush in the garden, bit of a nightmare trying to photograph it with the wind. Ive found a total of 5 over the last 2 days but cannot locate the female which looks more like a furry bug than a moth, being flightless it stays with the young until they grow and move off. Below is a list of the moths trapped:

Common Wainscot x2

Riband Wave x1

Heart and Dart x3

Pale Prominent x1

Dark Arches x3

Willow Beauty x3

Fan Foot x1

Large Nutmeg x2

Flame Shoulder x2

Rustic Shoulder Knot x1

Figure of Eighty x1

Flame  x3

Marbled Minor x3

Angle Shades x1

Manure Matters. May 2011.

The Yellow Wagtails continue to delight, they are still quite active and maybe two female birds look like they have not got nests as they continue to be followed everywhere. The Yellow headed' bird was happy to perch up just three feet from me, content with my company.

There are good numbers of Swallows around and at least three House Martins mixed in. The Swallows have been resting up sleeping on the mud peaks, the wind is definitely hampering their usual willingness to land. What a contrast from my village where there are only a few Swifts so far this year and no sign of House Martins at all !, even Swallows are lower in number.



A Jewel of a Moth...

With the high winds we had been getting lately I decided not to put the moth light out, the wind whips around in the corner where I normally place it so I thought it would be less than productive. but whilst on a nightshift the wind dropped and I witnessed a few moths on the wing. Two of these were warming themselves on a wall and made for easy trapping.  The Light Emerald (above) is a lovely pale moth very delicate indeed, and the accompanying moth is a Marbled Minor and by far the most helpful whilst photographing. Hopefully the wind will keep at ease over the next few nights whilst off work and enable me to put the trap out, its well overdue.

"Flycatchers in Gods Acre". May 2011.

 I ventured further afield to look for Spotted Flycatchers. The setting was a churchyard with plenty of grave stones, launch pads for them to chase flies from. The ivy and lichen clad stone lends a lovely touch. By the end of the venture they were moving higher to the trees as the heat moved the flies skyward. I look forward to returning for more images, hopefully closer.