Rutters Rewind

One of my favourite places, Buston Links. When I first started birding proper I used to wander this area, remember first good views of Redshank and a great place to watch Stonechats. I've always returned and always will. This winter though there have been four Shorelarks on the saltmarsh area here, I'd not been so decided to take a look, it was a cold wet day but they were an absolute joy, nice little birthday gift to myself.

White Letter Day

We had nothing in mind really today, we started with a half hearted wander along the old Alnwick - Alnmouth railway line and explored the woodland that fringed the steep slopes of the Cawledge Burn.
We were checking Elms in particular, thinking about White Letter Hairstreak butterflies as this species had been discovered north of the Northumberland border, we thought why wouldn't we find some just south of the Northumberland border, I wasn't to hopeful really and we didn't see much at all at first.

Ringlet

Thinking we'd have a better chance of finding suitable Elm trees around Alnwick we parked up near the Canongate Bridge, its hardly a layby but enough room to pour tea and scan while we sup. 

The Layby, Canongate Bridge

There were Elms around us, as short wander revealed nothing but as we were having our tea Stewart got his eye on a small insect patrolling the edge of one of the larger Elms, I lifted my binoculars.. White Letter Hairstreak !!.. what a find

Unbeleivable, I love Hairstreaks. We were fired up now, we continued searching and discovered more individuals at this spot before heading off further down the River Aln, this time parking at the Denwick Bridge and walking downstream. Another Elm and another WLH.. a taster, more of this butterfly in the seasons to come I hope, what a morning.

Banded Demoiselle put in an appearance as well as, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet

Pauper Pop In

Called in very briefly to the River Coquet at Pauperhaugh Bridge. There were six or so Banded Demoiselle along the south bank leading down stream of the bridge, hard work photographing them but managed to get a few snaps

Border Butterfly Bonanza

Our annual trip to Lamberton and Burnmouth didn't disappoint this year -

Small Heath
Common Blue
Small Blue 13
Wall Brown
Blackneck, a new species for me, nine or so of these subtly spectacular moths
Large Skipper
Meadow Brown
Latticed Heath
Silver Ground Carpet
Silver Y
Northern Brown Argus 13
Small Copper

Blackneck

Greens and The Emperor

Alnwick Moor this morning, not the usual area but parking on the Abberwick road near the junction with the Brizlee and exploring the area to the north west, Stewart had himself a pheromone lure for Emperor Moths. 

This was incredible, no sooner was it out of his pocket we had a moth - we continued and were able to photograph and enjoy several individuals of this spectacular moth.

Looking back to Brizlee

Emperor Moth male

Green Hairstreak

Green Hairstreak butterflies were also in the area, my absolute favorite. We'd not seen them in this spot so it felt like a new discovery

Spring Moths

Some good moths this year despite the weather, here's a few I have enjoyed so far.

Twin-spotted Quaker

Oak Beauty

Satellite

Surely this time..

There have been a few false alarms this year but this morning it really was spring like, stepping out of the car with thoughts of summer visitors it was much much milder and not raining, the air was ringing with Skylarks singing. We explored Stobswood moor area, walking the tracks and checking the ponds.

track of the day

So many birds singing and displaying, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Lapwing and Curlew.

There were passage birds to observe too, two groups of Golden Plover, 3 and 10, with obvious jet black bellies, were seen flying over the highest parts of the moor, and away. My first Wheatear of the year is always a highlight, a male was frequenting a boulder pile, photographs were attempted without success and the bird eventually dropped out of sight from a fence post and we never saw it again, moved on?.

hide and seek Wheatear frustration

distant Wheatear frustration

We headed towards the coast, stopping for tea at Widdrington Moor, Great Crested Grebes were paired up and displaying out on the lake and there were hundreds of gulls on the lake and in the adjacent fields, often spooking and taking to the air. 
A shout went out just as I bit into a cheese and pickle roll, Swallow!, Stewart picked up a bird flying from the lake towards us, another summer migrant for the morning. Really good to get the first Swallow of the year, not often on the same day as Wheatear mind.

On into Druridge Bay, checking out the hides on the reserve we could reach without having to wade through water. 30+ Black Tailed Godwit and a few Ruff on the Budge fields. 

Sand martins were added to the Summer Migrant tally, usually the very first seen but its been a difficult spring.

Cresswell Pond is a place that has a whole story of its own for me but it'll never be told, probably. Checking it out briefly this morning though it was a world away from that tale. Lifting the binoculars on the main pond from the car park by the Bridle Path end,ten Avocets swimming around the pond, calling, they were all swimming together at one point, absolutely wonderful. 

On our way home as we passed Widdrington Moor a female Marsh Harrier was patrolling the area between the road and the pond, we turned the car and drove back in the hope of a closer view, the bird moved off so we drank tea and headed off ourselves.

Same Old Feel Good

I was thinking this week how, each year, the excitement associated with certain things is the same as it always was, and I know it always will be. Its how you view things..

It was inland Lapwings displaying over rough fields that sparked the thought, it so good to see them, back, away from the coast and in breeding areas again.

Even though we have had a period of very rough weather recently that had virtually one hundred percent of land covered in snow, it has quickly melted away and springtime that had paused seems to have rushed forward.

A visit to an upland area is always an odd one as you risk stepping back a week or two, back into deep winter, its always a bit colder than the coast, lifeless and quiet. 

This weekend though temperatures were approaching mild. Skylarks were in song, Meadow Pipits were moving through, Reed Buntings paired up and waders, Snipe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Golden Plover were all seen or heard.

track of the day

Two mobile phone snaps above, 

Top, a moorland bridle path, I love tracks like this, snow capped Cheviots in the distance

Bottom, a snow covered fence line. A Stoat in its half ermine winter coat was working an area, really difficult to follow at a distance in this landscape.

So.. a couple of minutes from a good sized local village and main road and you have areas like this to spend time in. Its the quiet isolation you only get in upland areas in early spring that I like but when the bird life is returning and your listening to song and observing display, you know its all starting again, that just makes it so special.  

Tufty Club

Its great inland in early spring, returning Oystercatchers, small groups of Lapwing, flocks of really smart Common Gulls in fields.

I stood and watched Tufted Ducks today, all calling out, males displaying and chasing females and each other, little rafts of half a dozen males and single females and some already paired. 

Can't beat a bit of sunshine..