Late Arrival

 

Yes, Late!..me.
Following some excellent weather and a week full of good migrant birds it was my turn to get out and see what could be found.
I met up with Stewart and headed first for Craster and then for Newton. We had enjoyed the first clear night for a few weeks and it was likely many of the birds seen through the week would have moved on. I hoped for a few stragglers, it would be nice to see a Red Breasted Flycatcher when so many have been on the coast.

First stop, a bit of sea watching off Craster. Hundreds of Gannet and Kittiwake were moving north. Soon we began picking up Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua.
Brent Geese, Red Throated Diver, Wigeon, Golden Plover, Common Scoter, Great Skua and Red Breasted Merganser were also seen.

Track of the Day, a civilised one too, Low Newton Church 

Next we parked up on the roadside near the small tin church at Low Newton, we would explore the scrub adjacent to the road that runs to Newton Point, there had been 3 Red Breasted Flycatchers in this area as well as other migrant birds during the week.
We drank tea and crunched on biscuits for a few minutes, listening and watching. Many calls were heard but birds seen were only a resident Tit flock and the odd Chiff Chaff.

Now I know for some a butterfly is once seen hardly noticed but I love these insects and they are always worth a snap shot. They will be gone for another year soon and its my blog so here goes.

 

This Red Admiral looks fabulous with the bright yellow lichen

Speckled Wood, that dew looks almost frosty

 

 

Parasol Mushrooms, (I think) in varios stages of fruition, if thats the correct term