One man and his Pond: June 10th 2011

First opportunity I have had for a few days (thanks to Ma Robin) to blog and check on the pond with 2 Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, 2 families of Reed Bunting, 2 Buzzard, Garden Warbler and young Goldcrest this morning.
So who’s Ma Robin?
Last Monday news broke of Britain’s first twitchable White-throated Robin in Hartlepool, Cleveland giving me the chance to visit the area twice in the last three days so I could see this mega and a few other sites for butterflies and Orchids.
Birds seen were the White-throated Robin a first summer female showing well on Olive Street Inner Bowling Green while Hartlepool headland produced Little Tern, Common Scoter and Eider off shore. A raptor watch point overlooking Troutsdale produced Honey Buzzard, Hobby, Turtle Dove, Tree Pipit, Siskin and Crossbill.

A few orchid sites were visited with Northern Marsh Orchid, Bee Orchid, Common Twayblade, Pyramidal Orchid and Common Spotted Orchid in flower and Dark Red Helleborine in bud. Elsewhere a roadside Fragrant Orchid was just flowering and the only White Frog Orchid plant we found had been eaten.

Pyramidal Orchid

Northern Marsh Orchid

Butterflies included Northern Brown Argus, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wall Brown from 12 species but nothing of interest amongst the few day flying moths seen.

Northern Brown Argus

Met up with Dave or as he prefers to be called The Attractor now that he is 23 moth species in front of me and only 6 away from achieving 500 for his garden. On our way to the Just So cafe a Turtle Dove flew over the car at calcutt but it was not stopping. Napton on the Hill had 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Buzzard and at least one Raven while Napton Reservoir had Red-eyed, Blue-tailed, Azure and Common Blue Damselfly along with Black-tailed Skimmer plus young Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Sedge and Reed Warbler.

Mothing is quiet again but the following were trapped this week