What a night!

 I have to admit the thought of being eaten alive by midges(soft shite that I am) has always put me off going looking for Nightjars, hence I had'nt seen a one, before last night. But the offer of attending a ringing session in Northumberland was just too good to pass up. (especially as 3 had been ringed a few days earlier at the same site.)
I 'ordered' the better half to try and find the best new midgy gear possible before this evening and she came up trumps! (which seems to have worked this time!), a few of the lads turned up with head nets, body vests and full type bed protection...here come the bride- Mr CW or was it prince of Arabia.?

 After a meet-up on the A69 with Adrian it was a case of follow that car...! various twists and turns on country roads later we ended up on the edge of a conifer forest.( I might as well been blind folded didn't have a clue where I was, just as well I wasn't driving).What the few of us who attended know is it was in Slaley forest somewhere and the main man has permission from the Forestry commission to be carrying out this survey work here.
With a couple of nets positioned in a area Adrian had had success in previously, a few of us had a wander up the track leading to the south-east.When we reached a 'Y' junction in the track, the first Nightjar of the evening was heard calling and very close!.. this was 9.25pm. (I checked the time). This bird put on a canny show around this area, floating over our heads at times and landing in the same area it had came from (one of them moments you cannot forget..Incredible for me!). Another net was set up in this area after these sightings, and despite constant contact with the the Jars it didn't produce.

 BUT....the first net/s did produce, only once on various checks, and 2 birds.!..(guess who has the bird in the hand.?  ;-)  looking forward to the blog post.).

The bird in the above shots is a male showing the white flash on the outer wing(when extended) .
What a bird to see so close up and also to encounter in natural habitat so to speak.
Don't think the smile has left my face yet and neither will it when I mention this night again.

Short walk this evening (guess where?)

 If anyone hasn't got a interest regards the Terns rested up in the South Tyneside area (especially Sandhaven)  at this time of year I suggest this blog is not for you at the moment.As this one might go into overload over the next few weeks, hopefully!. ( Turned on by Terns our lass says...!).. Just making hay when the sun shines in my eyes as much as you can. And loving it!

 A squadron of around 30 Sandwich terns were present on this short visit at first, a group like this I've learnt you cannot think about getting near. They take all of the resting terns with them when "spooked/disturbed) Similar to the Redshank and waders.
It was about high tide on this short visit and after the main Sandwich tern group had departed the other Terns settled more.

2 adult Roseates and 2 young-uns. single Arctic tern and a nice supporting cast. Not bad for about 10-15 minutes here.

Manhaven bay yesterday, another cracking hour or so on beach clean up duties, its a addictive.

Terned out nice again

 After a quick visit to Whitburn steel area this early afternoon and seeing a adult Roseate and juv. here at a bit of a distance, I had a wander along the Pier at 7 tonight....Now this is more like it! I thought, as I viewed the beach from the pier.Hardly anyone on the beach, plus terns were rested up near the pier end of the beach here. Adult Roseate picked up almost straight away with the 15 or Common terns here, a scan of the mainly Juvs here on this visit revealed a juv. Roseate also. But the frenzy of terns feeding further along the pier grabbed my attention more so ventured forth. Around 70 terns (mainly Common's, very few Sandwich) were dip feeding on the south side in the rougher water here with Black-headed gulls and the adult Roasete from the beach joined them. This birds call stood out of the crowd, always a welcome sound to me!

 The above two shots were taken when I ventured onto the beach after walking along the Pier. It was one of those close encounters type moments, when the birds are not really bothered by your presence, this does occur here now and again. The Common tern juvs and adults just edged away slowly from me as I walked slowly passed them. (wind conditions here I learnt play a part in how you approach these birds) until I reached were the Juv. Roseate was rested up and I settled myself. A minute or two later I left the birds in peace...that was until 3 kids came along a couple of minutes later.!

The adult Roseate, shot taken from the pier.

Not such a Gray day.

I had a look at the brickwork's pool in Gateshead today in the hope of a few Dragonflies etc. being on the wing here. But sadly I hardly seen any on this visit, except for loads of Common Darters, fewer Damselflies than normal and 2/3 Black-tailed Skimmers (on the small island area at the north end).
 Butterfly wise- all the usual suspects you expect to encounter around here but in not such good numbers.The wind I felt played a part in this today and also the crap wet weather we've had must have taken its toll on these insects this summer.( them few days of sunshine..remember them?).
But on the return leg of today's visit here a butterfly lifted off the ground right in front of us...(nice one Max!) The flight of this one caught my eye and looked completely different to the Meadow browns and Ringlets encountered here. The insect was in the size range of these butterflies and showed flashes of brown in flight but when it landed on the dried up mud area it was obvious this is a little different. A master of disguise if ever I saw one!, picking this critter up even when you see the area its landed in is not easy.
Over joyed to have seen my first Grayling butterfly today.

Looking Rosey again!

 This years wait to see a juvenile Roseate tern on our golden sands was finally ended this late afternoon today for me. After numerous visits on the favourite dog walk here over the last few weeks, I was over joyed to at last witness this today. One of Coquets finest with a parent in tow. This adult being also only the 2nd one Ive seen here this year, after seeing my first here before the breeding season kicked in properly.

 Added bonus also here on this visit of seeing 2 adult Arctic terns.

 10 Sandwich terns and about 30 Common terns also rested up, roughly a 3rd of this number were juvs.

A couple of shots from last weekends airshow, whilst manning the Whitburn coastal park entrance on car parking duties.

Bairns on the beach again.

 Its a few days since I last had a wander down to the big beach and pier area because of the weather. So today just after dinner time we took our chance to brave the inclement weather conditions and have a short stroll around this area. Marine park was as it has been for a few weeks now pretty un-event full.
One of the pair of breeding Meadow pipits behind the fair greeted us in the usual manner here: flying/hovering over our heads, calling and then plonking down on the nearest resting post to watch us closely. And the Swallow parents buzzed us numerous times who have young mouths to feed very close to the pier.
Well the sun wasn't out, so hardly anyone was on the beach, but a few welcome visitors took advantage of this. A small group of Terns had rested up mid- way along the beach (this only happens normally when its void of human visitors like today) normally they have favoured the pier end of Sandhaven.
"Have a rest here pet and see to Max,I'm just going to have a quick wander onto the beach"...my words as I headed off to get a closer look after leaving them on the pier steps.
Joy of joys! seeing my first bairns (tern wise) this year on Sandhaven.

 One Juv. Common tern and about 10 adults settled here.

The (as normal) far more less approachable Sandwich terns- 6 young-uns and 11 adults.

Bliss! awaiting better numbers now and a rarer one or two.

Trow, and then not a pleasant sight.

 Got the dog out on a different walk today, as its been a while since I visited Trow area. One of the first sights that caught my eye was these House Martins collecting mud from Trow point. Maybe just repairing nests??. Numbers of Linnets, Goldfinch's and Meadow pipits have increased (as expected) and hopefully will further towards the end of the summer(what summer ha!).

 One of the Trowls was on show, on its favoured coastal view cliff site. Whilst the other long favoured site had no Trowl on show, it did have fresh splash around this area. So hopefully theres still possibly 2 pairs around the Trow area.

 Meadow pipits are good posers this time of year normally, especially with young to feed.
Not one of the best visits Ive had to this area but nice all the same. Maybe a bit more of the yellow stuff would have made a difference.
Single Grey Partridge was flushed from the path on the mound as we crossed over it. A pair have been seen around this area for years (on and off) and off-spring sighted also. Bit luck maybe this year also.

Then I had a quick look at Lizard point.

 Spotted this Herring gull landing on the low tide area with something in its gob...Young Kittiwake that it must have just grabbed from a ledge (unless its fell). It was only seconds later this happened-

 The Herring gull was quickly forced to give up its meal, when the Great black backed gull dived in.

 And after a few stabs from the gull at the chick, it was down the hatch.

Still a few Razorbill chicks(jumplings) on the viewable ledges here, and more it seems on the ledges not  visible going off the Razorbills still flying in. Looks like a few Cormorant young have taken to the water and a couple of this years Shags juvs. hanging around also.

Sadly as expected theres no sign now of the last yellow duckling in Marine park.(or the parents).