Another local walk

 24.03.24 An afternoon slow short stroll up to the whinny bushes to see if I could get my first images this year of Chiffchaff and I did indeed. They seemed to be in every tree and bush I passed calling and singing their heads off.  There were also dozens of Gorse Shieldbugs which was a bonus however they were the only Shieldbugs I found which was a bit of a disappointment.

Chiffchaff with an insect in its beak.

Which it dropped so it can’t have been that tasty.

Chiffchaff and Shieldbug.

Willow Tit.

Long-tailed Tit.

I know it’s not sharp (it was a long distant grab shot) but I like the way it’s trying to catch flies.

Wren.

Gorse Shieldbug.

7-spot Ladybird.

Last night’s full moon.

Lizard

18.02.24 I haven’t been out with the camera for ages so I thought I would do my first official insect hunt of the year at Burdon Moor. Unfortunately, I saw more dead Shieldbugs than live ones and only saw four 7-spot Ladybirds. However, the star of the show was undoubtedly the first Lizard I have seen at Burdon Moor in years and I nearly walked past it as I thought it was a small dog turd. It was worth all the aches and pains I have now (legs still not good) to see it. 

Lizard sunning itself on the grass. I carried on walking down the line after I took this shot.

But it was still in the same spot, despite a few dog walkers passing by, when I returned.

Gorse Shieldbug.

Infected Gorse Shieldbug. I saw quite a few of these.

7-spot Ladybird.

Drone Fly? Sitting on the information board.

Reports of a…

 …Firecrest at Druridge Pools had me driving up there last Sunday (I also called at Cresswell on the way up) unfortunately however I didn’t get to see it but it was still a canny day out. I once again took far too many pictures (I have only just finished going through them) so I have split them into two Blogs.

A passing Marsh Harrier put the birds up including these Snipe

Teal 

And Mallard.

Common Scoter.

Long-tailed Duck.

Red-breasted Merganser.

I thought at first this was a female Scaup but I now think it’s a female Tufted Duck.

Marsh Harrier.

Buzzard.

I don’t know what spooked it but you don’t often get a Pheasant flying over Druridge Pool.

The sun brought the insects out including these Gorse Shieldbugs

Ruby Tiger Moth Caterpillar along with a small spider

And a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly.

Red-throated Diver at Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.

Cormorant.

Tree Sparrows.