River Blyth

A visit along Blyth  River just before last weeks heavy rain actually last weeks very ,very heavy rain , it had been raining most of the morning but cleared enough to prompt me to get out  so the River being the nearest area I headed off  might as well have gone in the rain because as I crossed through the long grass  I was soaked through even into my so called waterproof Goretex boots . The settling pools where at full flow but not even a Gull on them two Linnets several Meadow Pipits and also two Reed Buntings inhabited the fence around the compounds I checked the rough ground within looking for any waders which I am sure must nest there as it suffers from no disturbance at all ,well human anyway, Some guys looking for bait on the mud flats of Monkeys Island ( I forget why they called it that ) so ,little around there 1 Male and 2 female Goldeneye on the river but from where , as they are surely early  winter visitors.

This year was the first time I had noticed Lesser Black Backs  nesting on the Power Station sheds and some of the  factories  I knew Herring Gulls where using factory roofs etc: as there are several pairs around the streets where I live nesting between the large chimneys, there where a few Herring Gull young around but I could see no young LBB as they all still seemed to be sitting, I wanted to try and get a series of photos of  young/juvenile LBB, I have not been back since but fear they are probably all gone washed off by the rain not much could stand that.

 Common Blue the only butterfly noted , not seen any Dragons/Damsels at this site of any kind yet it looks ideal at first glance but nor have I seen an any kind of life in the water of the settling pools

 Lesser Black Backs presume it's the Male bringing fresh nesting material for the Female

 Two young Herring Gulls centre

 First of the year Five Spot Burnet Moth but again will these be as common this year

LBB in the centre that could be a chick with it

Dragonflies 10-6-11

!0-6-11 I went off looking for Dragonflies around some of the local ponds they seem common just south over the water but I have yet to see any in Northumberland ,damselflies are out  but as yet none of the larger Dragonlies ,plenty of Butterflies today the Common Blue out in good numbers, also  day flying moths including the emergence of thousands of Five Spot Burnet's a very attractive Moth but as they are so common they hardly get a glance, came across some Bee Orchids a group of about 20 these are fantastic flowers , designed to attract a certain species of Bee ,if memory serves me right  does exist in Britain , so the pollen carriers just wither and the plant ends up fertilizing itself . Also lots of the commoner Orchids around , with some Betony just coming into Flower and one or two plants unknown to me ,but the problem is I forget the names of as many as I learn the names of  and constantly say to myself what's that  !!!

Anyway the day got colder and colder and I still have not seen a Dragonfly , so I headed off for Fish Quay to have a look for the Iceland Gull reported as having been there for a few days , listed as a third Summer it sounded interesting , arrived at the Quay and found the bird immediately but sitting up on the shed roof  , so I hung around and eventually it flew past several times  overhead at the time I thought  it looked OK for Iceland , it had darker outer Primary edges which would dispel Iceland but  I thought perhaps "Kumliens " , again I got it on the roof just above me took some head shots , looking at them it was more Herring Gull  but so what to me it was still interesting eventually just before I was going to leave it was down on the ground in the sheds ,sorted Leucistic Herring Gull , interesting bird to end the day, sometimes they are just not what you want them to be.

 These would be great to get some close up macro shots of but they are very hard to get near

 Common Blue damselfy

 Five Spot Burnet the top one is just emerging , I kept going back to get another shot but in the end I think it's dead

 A very Attractive Moth and very common ,I presume the colouration warns they are not edible , I have never seen a bird take them ?

 Bee Orchids are fantastic these probably introduced in with Wildflower seed mix although they are always in a loose group so perhaps not , could be the conditions are just right .

Leucistic Herring Gull North Shields Fish Quay