Diurnea fagella

With help from members of the North East Moths group my first moth of 2013 found whilst decorating in January has been identified as Diurnea fagella. A member of the Oecophorid family and an early spring moth usually seen from March to May.

Despite its drab appearance it is a new moth for 2013, a lifer and a welcomed addition to the garden list.

This afternoon I managed to find a few hours to get out around the North Tees Marshes with the hope of catching up with two birds I missed last weekend.

First stopped was the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve Car Park to look for a Bean Goose within a mixed flock of Canada and Greylag Geese. After an initial unsuccessful scan, the Bean Goose slowly walked into view and relatively close by too. Good views of a smart bird.

After leaving the Bean Goose, next stop was Saltholme East Pool for a Greater Scaup that give me the slip last weekend. The weather was getting worse with driving snow and rain, but perseverance paid off and the Scaup was diving in the centre of the pool.

Before heading home, I stopped by Greenabella Marsh and watched five Roe Deers slowly walking through the vegetation.

2013 Bird List = 82 (Bean Goose & Scaup)

2013 Mammal list = 6 (Roe Deer)

2013 Butterfly List = 0

2013 Moth List = 2 (White-shouldered House Moth)

Garden Birdwatch - Week Starting 10/2/13

Collared Dove 2
Blackbird 2
Blue Tit 2
House Sparrow 4
Dunnock 2
Goldfinch 9
Greenfinch 2
Chaffinch 1
Robin 1
Starling 3
Jackdaw 12
Feral Pigeon 4
Woodpigeon 1
Coal Tit 1
Sparrowhawk 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Seed, Peanuts, Fat Balls & Kitchen Scraps
Water

Mammals: Wood Mouse

Garden Birdwatch - Week Starting 3/2/13

Collared Dove 2

Starling 6

Robin 1

House Sparrow 3

Blackbird 2

Goldfinch 6

Chaffinch 1

Dunnock 2

Blue Tit 2

Jackdaw 4

Feral Pigeon 3

Woodpigeon 1

Food: Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, Seed, Fat Balls & Kitchen Scraps

Water

Year List Update

2013 Bird Year List = 81 (Pochard, Shoveler, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Brent Goose, Shag, Sparrowhawk, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Slavonian Grebe, Common Snipe, Green-winged Teal, Smew, Pintail, Long-tailed Tit, Gadwall & Little Egret)

2013 Mammal Year List = 5 (Wood Mouse)

2013 Butterfly Year List = 0

2013 Moth Year List = 1 (micro, yet to be identified)

Teesmouth Bird Club Trip to North Northumberland

On 3rd February 2012, twenty-three members visited Lindisfarne and the surrounding area. As we approached the Holy Island causeway we met Graham and Rosemary Bell who guided us for the day.

We parked in the coach park and as members got off the coach a Barn Owl flew past hunting around the edge of the village. First stop for the group was the Rocket Field which had plenty of ducks and waders feeding within the flooded vegetation. Prior to our visit a Cattle Egret had been seen regularly in a field along the Crooked Lonnen, however despite a good search the bird was not seen. Whilst searching for the Cattle Egret members were rewarded with sightings of Barn and Short-eared Owl. As we walked around the island heading for the Heugh a few flocks of Brent Geese were seen and heard. In the harbour, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding on the exposed mud. Offshore members saw Red-throated Diver, Shag, Eider, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Guillemot, Kittiwake and Long-tailed Duck. At a very windy Heugh members, watched Red-breasted Mergansers and also the resident Grey Seals could be seen resting on the mudflats.

We left Lindisfarne at lunchtime and got a very close view of a Long-tailed Duck feeding close by the crossing. Next stop for the coach was Harper’s Heugh for partial views of approximately 200 Barnacle Geese through a row of trees. During our stop at Budle Bay, the horizon was filled with hundreds of geese, both Pink-footed and Greylag. The mudflats were covered with Wigeon and Shelduck and Knot, but as the wind increased we could not find the wintering Greenshank.

We moved on to Stag Rocks, near Bamburgh and we were rewarded with close views of Harbour Porpoise and drake Long-tailed Ducks. On the rocks Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone were seen feeding.

The last stop of the trip a roadside pool near Seahouses where the group saw Common Snipe, Goldeneye and Linnet one of the few passerines seen during the windy conditions.

My total species count for the day was 50.