Steve
@locustella.bsky.social
Birder, runner, occasional moth-er and otherwildlife-er.
https://beautifulhordenandblackhall.blogspot.com
https://beautifulhordenandblackhall.blogspot.com
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
November 16, 2025 at 8:09 PM
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
#NEbirding
#seawatching
Two white-winged gulls past Whitburn OBS this morning: juv Glaucous Gull and adult Med Gull
#seawatching
Two white-winged gulls past Whitburn OBS this morning: juv Glaucous Gull and adult Med Gull
November 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
#NEbirding
#seawatching
Two white-winged gulls past Whitburn OBS this morning: juv Glaucous Gull and adult Med Gull
#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
#teamMoth
October 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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
#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
#NEbirding
October 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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
#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.
Also 3 GWE at Castle.Lake but I couldn't see the Am Wigeon.
October 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
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.
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!
October 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
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
It *was* a beautiful day on the coast.
#NEbirding
September 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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
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
#NEbirding
September 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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
#NEbirding
200+ Pink-footed Geese south over Horden in between the showers this morning.
#NEbirding
@dunnock67.bsky.social
#NEbirding
@dunnock67.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
200+ Pink-footed Geese south over Horden in between the showers this morning.
#NEbirding
@dunnock67.bsky.social
#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
#NEbirding
#seawatching
September 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Plenty of Red-throated Divers past Whitburn this morning. Also a pic of Bottle-nosed Dolphins with a youngster.
#NEbirding
#seawatching
#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
#NEbirding
September 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
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
#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.
#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.
August 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
#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.
#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.
August 19, 2025 at 4:07 PM
@mothiduk.bsky.social
I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right?
#teamMoth
I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right?
#teamMoth
July 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
@mothiduk.bsky.social
I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right?
#teamMoth
I think this is a Cameraria ohridella. Almost too small to photograph. Have I got it right?
#teamMoth
July 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
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
Batrachedra praeangusta is so small you can barely see it!
Mompha ochraceella
Miller
June 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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
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
#NEbutterflies
June 22, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Dark Green Fritillaries yesterday. Fast, elusive and a little inquisitive. A County Durham and UK tick for me:
#NEbutterflies
#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
#teamMoth
#orchids
#NEbirding
June 21, 2025 at 10:24 AM
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
#teamMoth
#orchids
#NEbirding
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
#teamMoth
@mothiduk.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM
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
#teamMoth
@mothiduk.bsky.social
Stumped by this dark bumblebee. Could it be a male Bombus campestris or Bombus rupestris perhaps?
@bumblebeetrust.bsky.social
@bumblebeetrust.bsky.social
June 7, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Stumped by this dark bumblebee. Could it be a male Bombus campestris or Bombus rupestris perhaps?
@bumblebeetrust.bsky.social
@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
#NEbirding
May 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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
#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
What do you reckon @pratorum2112.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 4:56 PM
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
What do you reckon @pratorum2112.bsky.social