The birds & wildlife of Gateshead (1 Viewer)

[Ron Hindhaugh]

A few more butterflies and some grasshoppers.

 

[Mouldy]

Nice to meet up with you and mouldy today. What a great place the brickworks are it’s teaming with all sorts of things. I got some canny shots here are a few of the dragonfly and damselflies.

Hi Ron, nice to see you too. Looks like you got an Emerald damsel after all. If I'm not mistaken pic. 5 shows an immature female, showing they don't always perch with their wings open.

And believe it or not I got a half decent (identifiable at least) shot of the Emperor with my point and press camera. Surprised meself with that one.

Cheers

Alan M

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Hi Ron, nice to see you too. Looks like you got an Emerald damsel after all. If I'm not mistaken pic. 5 shows an immature female, showing they don't always perch with their wings open.

And believe it or not I got a half decent (identifiable at least) shot of the Emperor with my point and press camera. Surprised meself with that one.

Cheers

Alan M

Hi Alan thats better than the one I got of the Emperor. I'm pleased I got an Emerald, first time iv'e seen one. Great blog just tried to sign in but for some reason it would not let me.

Ron

 

[Michael A]

A Cuckoo at Kibblesworth today alongside caravan park. Good views but no photo.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Female emperor!

Female emperor egg laying at kbw pools today, also bt skimmer and not that many four spots and damselflies about? thought there would of been a few more about? i did have a brown trout leap from the main pond, maybe not a good sign for the dragonfly larvae? theres no inlet and outlet at kbwp, so maybe the trout was put there? also at kbwp 2 red admirals and 4 siskin.
cheers
steve

 

[Michael A]

Hi Steve
no sign of Emperors today, 1 pos. 2 Black Tailed Skimmer.
1st Grayling of the year at Kibblesworth, topside main pool.
Distant shot of Sandpiper flitting back and forth.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Pictures from last weekend

Here are a few shots from last weekend at Kibblesworth brickworks. Any one got an idea what the damselfly is I think it could be an Emerald but not sure.

 

[Mouldy]

Here are a few shots from last weekend at Kibblesworth brickworks. Any one got an idea what the damselfly is I think it could be an Emerald but not sure.

Aye Ron, picture 3 shows a classic Emerald pose, they are the only damsels to spread their wings like that when perched, but as pic 4 shows, they don't always.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Aye Ron, picture 3 shows a classic Emerald pose, they are the only damsels to spread their wings like that when perched, but as pic 4 shows, they don't always.

Cheers Alan thought it was but was told it could not be as emeralds always perch with their wings closed.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hi Steve
no sign of Emperors today, 1 pos. 2 Black Tailed Skimmer.
1st Grayling of the year at Kibblesworth, topside main pool.
Distant shot of Sandpiper flitting back and forth.

hi michael
mike told me you got grayling, i'll try and get down tomorrow afternoon for them? George had a common sand on the tyne the day before yours and there was a green sand at lamesley, which i managed to miss! Next time. Wl hairstreaks should be out soon at derwent cp, im looking for them most afternoons, keep you posted.
Cheers
steve

ps: 2 southern hawkers at shibdon, down main track left of entrance to reserve.

 

[Shaggy2070]

ps: 2 southern hawkers at shibdon, down main track left of entrance to reserve.

Hi, is the boardwalk at Shibdon still closed??? I called in a couple of weeks ago and it was closed by the council I think:-C.

 

[Michael A]

Hi Steve
called at Derwent Walk country park had a quick look for W.L.Hairstreak found none yet. Had a walk along river at Winlaton a coup[le of young Dippers on river but also Mink.
At Stargate 1(M) and 1 (F) B.B.Chaser, and a single Painted Lady.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Cheers Alan thought it was but was told it could not be as emeralds always perch with their wings closed.

Did I really write closed I meant open.

 

[Mouldy]

Did I really write closed I meant open.

Yip you really wrote closed, but it is a popular misconception, the rule is that if you see a damsel perched with wings open it will certainly be an Emerald (or perhaps Scarce Emerald in other parts of the country) but don't rule out an Emerald-looking damsel with wings closed, because the more I see of them, the more I realise it's not unusual to see them perched with closed wings like any other damsel. The pictures you took illustrate the case perfectly.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hi, is the boardwalk at Shibdon still closed??? I called in a couple of weeks ago and it was closed by the council I think:-C.

hi shaggy
yes the boardwalk is still closed, health & safety forced the closure until new chicken wire was laid. unfortunately theres no money to replace it yet? :-C
cheers
steve :t:

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Hi Steve
called at Derwent Walk country park had a quick look for W.L.Hairstreak found none yet. Had a walk along river at Winlaton a coup[le of young Dippers on river but also Mink.
At Stargate 1(M) and 1 (F) B.B.Chaser, and a single Painted Lady.
View attachment 333648 View attachment 333649 View attachment 333650

hi Michael
nice find with the mink and painted lady, never seen a mink on the derwent but knew they were there. never got to kbwp today, but going in morning? so fingers crossed for them graylings and a green sandpiper, then i'll give wl hairstreaks a try.
cheers
steve :t:

 

[One Man and His Dog]

dipped!

no sign of any graylings at kbwp today, also no sign of any wl hairstreaks at derwent cp, next time. a few more common darters about though, ive attached a few photos.
cheers
steve :t:

 

[Mouldy]

Went on a Grass Snake information walk at Gibside this morning. Very interesting hearing about the habitat management, network of ponds, basking stations, hibernacula and incubating areas all put in place but if the resident herpetologist has only seen two in five years (and those both on the same day) what chance the rest of us?
The walk finished at the Octagonal Pond where an Emperor and Southern Hawker were both patrolling, too quick for pictures though.

cheers

A.

 

[One Man and His Dog]

Black tailed godwit!

Black tailed godwit at shibdon this am! still there at 12pm.
cheers
steve :t:

 

[drexyl]

pied wagtail & chick

spent a bit of time on derwent river yesterday & caught up with these two....
first time i've seen a pied wagtail chick....... ;-)