Show me your Tips

Low Newton this morning, parked at the car park, and paid, then headed north towards Beadnell. We checked flooded fields just behind the sand dunes, very quiet. Afetr a very brief scan of the area we headed back south, the noise coming from the Tern Colony at Long Nanny tempted us to wander over to the wardens hut and take a look.

Warden and birders scanning the Tern Colony

The whole Colony has been roped off and access is controlled around the clock by five wardens on site. We got some great views of Arctic Terns pairing up and preparing nesting sites. Up to 4 Little Terns were seen and an Arctic Skua flew into Beadnell Bay chasing Sandwich Terns.

Arctic Terns

We left the Terns to their noisy business and headed back to Low Newton.

Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were singing from the woodland where we parked the car near the little tin church. We had tea and some fine cake before heading for Newton Pool.
Quiet here also on the scrapes and reserve. A Yellow Wagtail flew past and two Reed Warblers were singing from the reed beds and scrub fringing the main pool.

On our way back from the hide we took our time walking along the path that leads away from the reserve, the cloud was breaking up nicely and there were sheltered areas in between the trees and behind the high sand dunes that were warming up nicely. One small area held a fabulous Orange Tip butterfly,several Small Whites and a single and very small Green Veined White.
The Orange Tip sat up and, typically when I'm wanting a photograph, closed its wings. They are really nice even with their wings closed showing underwing patterning, I wanted to see the upperwing though and those lovely orange tips. Upperwing photograph is dissapointingly out of focus a little but it was well in focus in the field.

Orange Tip