Broad Bodied Chaser......Not

Went over to Stargate a few days ago to look for the reported Broad Bodied Chasers a Dragonfly I have not seen yet ,they don't seem to get over to Northumberland , at least Iv'e not heard of any, well I looked all over the weather was warm enough I even quizzed the fisherman if they had seen any Dragonflies But not a thing barely any Damsels even . Its a nice area though seems popular with the fisherman a few small jetties to view from , walked over the area the hill had many Common Spotted Orchids coming through its a fairly recent reclaimed site. Nearby was a huge Sand Martin colony its good to see nature so near towns

Edit :- If you see Broad Bodied Chaser please let me know   !!!

 White Melilot

 Common Centaury

 St John's Wort

 Lucerne

 Common Spotted Orchid

 Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Ringlet , Small Heath

Sunny Days .......but 2-7-10

During the early summer things can be a little quite birding wise and I started to get an interest in Dragonflies, so it was this sunny day that I set of in search of more Dragons alas it was sunny but with a fairly strong breeze, Emperor and Four Spot Chasers still in evidence but the latter alighting very briefly and no chance of any photographs , sometimes they would fly off some distance into the trees and disappear, Damselfies seemed confined to the tall grass, but this makes it hard to get a close up shot of any activity , did find my first Emerald of the year . I see over the weekend that waders are on the move so it's worth checking ponds and flashes those that have not dried out that is , that nice pool at Lynemouth has now gone.Lad'ys mantle , early morning it nearly always has dewdrops on , alchemists apparently used this in potions etc:, thinking it had special powers.
Common Centaury
Plant Geometry

First Emerald of the year for me , a poor photo as it lay deep in the grass, I'm sure there will be many in the coming weeks.

23-6-09 Northumberland Coast

What a fabulous day weather wise spent the day up the coast started at Snab point a couple of Harbour Porpoise, Cresswell, then to Druridge and walked through to Ladyburn lake more Butterflies about ,Common Blue, a few Painted Lady, Meadow Brown, 14 Little Gulls at East Chevington and 6 1st Summer Arctic terns, its looking good here I like to just sit and scan through them. they lift and settle, so its scan again, there must be a marsh tern here soon,checked the sea from the dunes a few Manx north, and three groups of Scoter the nearest one had 60 and another looked to be over 100, Auks everywhere, back at Druridge and checked the bay looking for Porpoise in the calm sea, 2 Red throated Divers, a great Northern Diver, Puffins close in , a group of 11 Manx very close in, looking fantastic in the early evening light a few more all moving North and numerous Gannets feeding ,nothing unusual in the day just a good day out ,no coat no fleece, just a decent hat.



Stonechat Cresswell

Cinnabar Moth

I think this is Hemlock Water Dropwort

Common Centaury

I have seen these moths many times , forgot the name for now will have to look it up later.

Druridge Pecker's in the form of Starlings

For non locals the view north to Amble at high tide

Ladyburn Lake to the rear

and the view South


While on the dunes at Druridge this Spider caught my eye. when I touched the grass stem it lay along its length the colour blending perfectly legs held forward to completely hide its profile, which I could not get a photo of