A good day in the sun

Little Owl

Orchid

Dipper

Large Skipper

Painted Lady

Brown Argus

Not a cloud in the sky all day, can't remember when we had such glorious weather. Took a walk around Swainby first thing and saw the Dipper again. Later in the afternoon went to Dormans Pool again and saw 3 Brown Argus and a Large Skipper, both our first for this year.
To end the day off we went to see if our local Little Owl was in his tree and sure enough he was. A perfect end to a brilliant day.

Chicks galore on the North Yorks Moors

Lapwing chick

Pheasant Chick

Pheasant Chick

Curlew Chick Grouse Chick

Grouse and chick


Went for a visit to Sleddale and Danby Beacon and saw lots of Grouse, Pheasant and Lapwing chicks along with a couple of families of Curlew.

Lots of Small Copper around and plenty of Painted Lady butterflies flying through but not stopping for any photos.

Birds in the garden

Avocet Family

Avocet Chick

Four Spotted Chaser

Well the Blackbird has made her nest behind our wheelie bin on some shelving, so I have to be pretty quiet when getting rid of my rubbish, although she seems to be getting used to me by now. The collared dove was sitting on her eggs all day, only flying off if I went into the garage, I watched her on and off all day whilst busy doing the garden. At teatime though I looked out into the garden to see a magpie tucking into an egg on the lawn! Poor Collared Dove.

Had a run down to Dormans Pool this evening and saw our first Dragonfly of the year, a Four Spotted Chaser. Also spotted a Painted Lady butterfly, Common Blue and Wall Brown.

The Avocet pictures were taken near Greatham Creek on 24th May, if you have not seen them yet it is worth a visit.

Summer Sun

Small Copper

Small Copper

Small Heath

Common Blue

Common Blue

A loveley summers day yesterday but it was difficult to locate many butterflies. However later in the afternoon I did manage to see Common Blue, Small Heath, Small Copper, Dingy Skipper, Peacock and an unusual Small Copper all at Dormans Pool.

The Avocet chicks were out and about with their parents in the Summer Sun, two lots of three chicks were at Greatham Creek, however I think it won't be long before the Common Tern take over their island!

Quiet days!

Grouse Chick

Yellowhammer

Mistle Thrush

Saw our first Whinchat yesterday but unable to get a good enough photo to post on the blog. Will have to try again another day. Also saw two cuckoos and a common sandpiper but otherwise very quiet between the showers.

Went across the moors from Osmotherly to Helmsley today but it was rather overcast and again there was very little to see. Did manage to see quite a few Grouse chicks and had good views of a Yellowhammer and several buzzards over head. The buzzards seem to becoming more common of late.

Dotterel show at last

Dotterel
Dotterel at Danby Beacon

Report last night that a Dotterel had shown again at Danby Beacon, North Yorkshire. So this is where I headed off to this morning. On arrival at Danby the heavens had opened and it was blowing a hoolie!! I drove up the road towards the Beacon and the Dotterel were there - on cue - in the heather. After 15mins or so the rain eased which gave me the oppotunity for some record shots. I was then joined by a couple more local Birders, the rain had now stopped but the wind was getting worse. The Dotterel then decided to put on a show and came very close, posed for several shots then moved away, with several 'OK' shots taken I then headed off home.

Rain stops play again!!

Stonechat
Sedge Warbler

Little Ringed Plover

Gadwall

Yellow Wagtail

Up early this morning to see what we could locate in the area.................turned out to be a pretty quiet day! Sedge Warbler and Stonechat down the Zinc Works road, Common Tern at Holme Fleet and Yellow Wagtail and Little Ringed Plover along with Gadwall at Saltholme RSPB. The weather deteriorated quickly this afternoon soon we made a quick retreat back home.

Dodging the heavy showers!

Reed Warbler

Swallow

Small Whites

Dingy Skipper

Had a quick trip up to Sheepwash after horse riding and saw our first Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits. There was a Buzzard soaring overhead, they seem to be all over this area at the moment. Also there was a large flock of Linnet bathing in the stream. Later in the day we went to Dormans pool and in the sun we saw lots of butterflies and our first damselfly. At Saltholme reserve the only birds of note were three Yellow Wagtails and a wader which we could not identify! The rest of the day was spent dodging torrential downpours although we did manage to see a Reed Warbler.

Need to get out!

Marsh Harrier

Common Tern

Garden Warbler

Tufted Duck (Scaup lookalike)

Ruddy Duck



We've been a bit busy this week with work etc. so haven't seen much. The Spoonbill has gone from the area and the Great White Egret looks like it's also moved on, to replace these 4 Black Terns have paid a visit to our area but even these don't look as if they'll hang around for long as only 1 has been seen today. Common Terns are prolific in the Teesmouth area and are back on several nesting sites. The Wood Sandpipers are still in the area and Tilery Wood has several Garden Warblers present. A Ruddy duck has also turned up hope it doesn't get shot! as these birds have been virtually wiped out in the recent cull. We have also had a Tufted Duck that was imitating a Scaup this week 'Caught me out !!' I must look more closely in future. Managed to see a Mash Harrier tonight at Dormans pool, it was around for about 1/2 hour but didn't give us any good photo oppotunities...............maybe next time!!

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper Great White Egret
Wren

A good day today with Great White Egret at Dormans Pool and Wood Sandpiper at Seaton Common. Both birds were a first for us.

Difficult windy days

Swift
Yesterday's birding time was spent trying to find a sheltered spot due to the strong wind, very difficult trying to locate the birds never mind trying to get some pictures. However I did manage to locate a large flock of swift around Dormans pool..............and managed a couple of pictures, not an easy task!!

Young Hedgies beware.

Common Whitethroat
Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock)


Young Hedge Sparrow

Black-tailed Godwits

Young Hedge Sparrows in the garden this morning. Sitting in the middle of the lawn. Hope they are not food for the Sparrrowhawk! Three godwits on Seaton Common this afternoon and Whitethroat on the Zinc Works Road. Apart from that very quiet birdwatching today.

Saltholme pays off.

Garganey

Gadwall
Avocet Chick

Record shot of Ruff

Mick was at work today so I was let out alone! Went to Saltholme on the afternoon and managed to get some reasonable shots of the Garganey and also Gadwall and Yellow Wagtail. Continued on to see the nesting Avocets and then a quick run down the North Gare Road. It was a lovely afternoon although a little breezy. Spotted what I think is a ruff and managed to get some record shots. Saw an Avocet chick later on in the evening when Mick came in from work.