Mandarin and Common Sand on the River Browney; also, Cetti's Warbler which is my first record here. #birdingNE #durhamBirding

Another moth that turned up on my front door instead of the moth trap!

I think these might be Oak Tree Pug and Mompha subbistigella, both would be NFG. #teamMoth #VC66

Seems like we have a colony of Gooden's Nomad Bees on school grounds. They are very beautiful but the kids think they are wasps. I've tried to make sure they know they are not wasps and won't sting if they leave them alone. @pratorum2112.bsky.social @dunnock67.bsky.social

Durham City Golf Course is an excellent place for crossbills. I had a flock of c20 fly over yesterday, as well as Redpoll, Siskin and Goosander. Probably explains why I occasionally get crossbill over my house in Browney. #durhamBirding

I just assumed this was a Nettle Tap but the apps tell me it's a fly! Any insight appreciated, thanks. #teammoth

Slime mould update pictures even though no one asked for them, not even @dunnock67.bsky.social

A flock of c140 hirundines over Low Burnhall Woods contains at least 2 House Martins. My first of the year. Also singing Willow Tit. #birdingNE

An interesting warbler was singing in Hardwick Park (County Durham) today. Not 'typical' Iberian Chiffchaff song apparently. However birds recorded in Spain and Portugal, seem to show quite some variation. Pics and a sonogram (some song and the only call I heard in 2hours @6s). #birdingNE #birdID

A minimum of 300 Sand Martins and 2 Swallows on Hurworth Burn Reservoir. Also 3 Willow Warblers singing. #birdingNE

My first Grasshopper Warbler and Willow Warbler this lunchtime at Horden. #birdingNE

A new moth for me on the bathroom window - Shoulder Stripe. I had one moth in the trap last night and now I get just as many the next night without a trap! #teamMoth

I saw this at Blackhall yesterday and I've no idea what it is? Fungus or insect? Any ideas @dunnock67.bsky.social ? It was about golf ball size.

A flock of 75 Sand Martins at Low Burnall Woods over the Browney, a singing Willow Tit, but no Willow Warblers so far! #birdingNE

I just watched this David Attenborough documentary on Madagascar. He is a monumental hero of mine. Quite a lot of personality comes through in this programme - more so than many. Worth a watch. Attenborough and the Giant Egg share.google/ujdibDN6VpxL...

My first ever plume moth (Common Plume), found on a window in a block of apartments! #teammoth

35 Sand Martins at Hardwick Lake this morning are my first of the year. #birdingNE

Some good Buzzard action at Hamsterley yesterday in glorious weather. Not sure if these two are fighting or flirting ... #NEbirding

Coot calling overhead in the dark while putting out the recycling is a good garden tick today! House list up to 78. (I was doing the bins, not the coot.) #NEbirding

Had my first 'singing' Chiffchaff of the year behind the OBS at Whitburn this morning. Also a small movement of swans and geese. 29 Whoopers North 112 Pink-footed Geese North and 1 Greylag South! #NEbirding

A brief watch at the Low Burnall Wood viewpoint was nice with: Stonechat (1) Buzzard (5) Kestrel (2) Siskin (15) Redpoll (1) Stock Dove (30) and [my first of this year] Lesser Black-backed Gull (3) #NEbirding

White-fronted Geese South over Blackhall Rocks #NEbirding

Slavonian Grebe in the rain at Hurworth Burn Reservoir #NEbirding

Found this Winter Moth on the school window last week (VC66). A first for me. #teamMoth

After a canny seawatch at Whitburn (check out the sunrise pic) it was nice to do some birding back on patch at Horden/Blackhall. There's an atmospheric (=rubbish) pic of Whooper Swans flying past rain clouds and a Little Grebe on the beach pool at the mouth of Blue House Gill. #NEbirding

#NEbirding #seawatching Two white-winged gulls past Whitburn OBS this morning: juv Glaucous Gull and adult Med Gull

This day-flying moth landed in the scrub, walked up and down with it's wings closed until it found a suitable spot, then flattened down to hug the branch and almost disappear. So cool. Epirrita sp. I think. #teamMoth

A fun day on the Durham coast - Crossbills and Marsh Tits at Blue house Dene; YB Warbler (found by @dunnock67.bsky.social) and Hen Harrier at Horden; Short-Eared Owl and Great-northern Diver at Whitburn. #NEbirding

Plenty of PF Geese and this chap going south along the coast at Blackhall this a.m. Also 3 GWE at Castle.Lake but I couldn't see the Am Wigeon.

Was very excited to find this, what looks like it's an eclipse male American Wigeon at Castle Lake today. I've never found one before and I'd be interested if anyone thinks it isn't one!

After 30 km of walking round bushes this weekend, I finally found a migrant or two! A lovely wheatear and Whinchat together in the same spot - not quite what I was hoping for. It *was* a beautiful day on the coast. #NEbirding

After 7 hours checking the bushes to no avail I was grateful to see 8 Pintail on the sea at Castle Eden Denemouth with a flock of Wigeon. #NEbirding

200+ Pink-footed Geese south over Horden in between the showers this morning. #NEbirding @dunnock67.bsky.social

Plenty of Red-throated Divers past Whitburn this morning. Also a pic of Bottle-nosed Dolphins with a youngster. #NEbirding #seawatching

Marsh Harrier south over the sea was the highlight of a quiet seawatch at Whitburn this morning. The bushes at Castle Eden Denemouth / Black hall allotments held 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, Willow Tit and numerous Chiffs. #NEbirding

#Seabirds #NEbirding Some seawatch birds from the last week or so at Whitburn. Clockwise from top left: Gannet, Oystercatcher, Kittiwake, Scaup, Cormorant, Gannet, mixed Tern flock (including Roseate), Purple Sandpiper, Bonxie, Pomarine Skua, Teal.

Some 'atmospheric' photos from recent seawatching. #seabirds #NEbirding Ducks

@mothiduk.bsky.social I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right? #teamMoth

@mothiduk.bsky.social Could this cracking little thing be a Plain Pug? #teamMoth

This Vapourer was on my window when I got home from work yesterday. A new moth for me and my garden! #teamMoth

#teamMoth #VC66 Forgot my hashtags in previous post so here's some other moths from last night: Barred yellow Notocelia udmanniana Evergestis forficalis and Acleris forsskaleana - what a beauty!

Three lifers for me in the garden overnight. Nothing rare, although there aren't many records of the two micros (<50) in VC66. Batrachedra praeangusta is so small you can barely see it! Mompha ochraceella Miller

Dark Green Fritillaries yesterday. Fast, elusive and a little inquisitive. A County Durham and UK tick for me: #NEbutterflies

I could only find 2 Bee Orchids at Dalton Park today - perhaps I'm a bit late? - there were plenty of Pyramidal orchids. Best of all was. Hummingbird Hawk Moth quartering the wild-flowers. #teamMoth #orchids #NEbirding

New moths for me.and my garden yesterday: #teamMoth Iron Prominent Swallow Prominent Tawny-barred Angle Celypha striana

From the previous night's catch, these are all scorparia or eudonia but I find it hard to tell them apart. Any help is appreciated. These two might be Scorparia pyralella ? #teamMoth @mothiduk.bsky.social

Stumped by this dark bumblebee. Could it be a male Bombus campestris or Bombus rupestris perhaps? @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social

Herring Gull scenes on the beach at Castle Eden Dene-mouth. There were approximately 800, including one colour-ringed bird. Also a flock of 140 Gannets fishing very close to the shore. #NEbirding

Great bumblebee action to be had at Salthome RSPB today in the wildlife garden on cotoneaster and on the (not the official name, but you'll see what I mean on the video) orange pom-pom buddleia flowers. What do you reckon @pratorum2112.bsky.social

Spotted and (northern?) Marsh Orchids (pic) starting to flower on the Durham coast yesterday: #orchidsofbritain