Root vegetables

Tried with the net again last night, the result was only 3 moths, single Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot and a Shaded Broadbar. Never mind, practice makes perfect (who am I kidding?).

A Common Tern was again on the Wear this afternoon, by the roadbridge.

A short walk in the sunshine this afternoon produced quite a few butterflies, with Small Skipper, 

Small Skipper, the commonest butterfly today

Ringlet and Meadow Brown being the commonest, but also single this year brood Small Tortoiseshell and Comma as well as good numbers of Shaded Broad-bars. Dozens of Large Red-tailed Bumblebees were around too.

One of many Large Red-tailed Bumblebee on the wing today.

Single Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff  and 2 Blackcaps were heard and my first Willow Tit for a while

I added another 5 (well 4 actually, I had forgotten to count the Sandwort) to the flora list. These were Autumn Hawkbit, Three-nerved Sandwort, Wild Parsnip, Lesser Stitchwort and Hairy Tare. I had also found some more Common Corn-salad, in the carpark opposite Wilkinsons in the town centre earlier.

Lesser Stitchwort - new for the year

Wild Carrot - spreading in the Chester-le-Street area

Wild Parsnip - another root vegetable

The flowering plant list for the year here moves on to 280