Waxwing

 There are hundreds of Waxwing in the country at the moment and I was lucky enough to catch up with some at Waldridge a couple of days ago. While I was there in the morning there was only one bird and it was quite approachable. A couple of dog walkers walked underneath the tree it was in and there was even a family playing with a ball and the Waxwing wasn’t bothered it just sat there eating berries. It eventually flew off so I left. However, I went back in the afternoon and after a short wait three Waxwing turned up. These three were very flighty so flighty that a Goldfinch spooked them and they were off and did not return.

Waxwing.

There was also a couple of Redwing making the most of all the berries.

I spotted a flock of Thrushes flying over and I thought they had landed in the top of a tree so I went to have a look. I didn’t fine the Thrushes but I spooked this Buzzard which I hadn’t seen sitting in a tree.

This Sparrowhawk was getting mobbed by some Crows.

Twizell Woods

 22.06.22 Yet another morning walk in Twizell Woods (it’s a great place) looking mainly for Dragons & Damsels but anything photogenic really and there is quite a lot of it. After Twizell I went to Chester-le-Street looking for White-letter Hairstreak butterflies none were to be seen but I did get a Shieldbug and Burnet moths.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser.

A newly emerged Darter which possibly looks to have something wrong with its eye.

A pair of Azure Damselflies.

Azure Damselfly.

Common Blue Damselfly.

A pair of Black-and-Yellow Longhorn Beetles.

Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle.

Orange-tip butterfly.

Speckled Wood butterfly.

Ringlet butterfly.

Believe it or not there is a moth here. I only knew it was there because it flew past me and I saw it land. My guess is it is a Carpet of some description.

Brown China-mark moth.

Froghopper.

This Buzzard was eyeing me up.

Forest Shieldbug

Five-spot Burnet moth in flight.

Five-spot Burnet moths.

Another visit to Chester-le-Street…

 …and this time I did get what I went for, White-letter-Hairstreak butterfly.

White-letter-Hairstreak butterfly

I have seen loads of Meadow Brown butterflies this year but this is the first time I have managed a picture of one.

Another Meadow Brown butterfly along with a Six-spot Burnet Moth.

Ringlet butterfly

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly

Small Skipper butterfly

One of the brightest Shaded Broad-bar moths I have seen.

In contrast to this one.

Silver Y moth

The same Silver Y

Eristalis intricaria a bumblebee mimic Hoverfly