Gateshead Birders

Peacock - One at Lamesley Water Meadows on 3rd. Noted at Shibdon on 8th and Stargate on 24th.
Comma - 1 at Shibdon on 8th.
Red Admiral - One at Shibdon on 21st and Stargate on 24th. A few at Shibdon again on 29th.

Red Admiral at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Painted Lady - One at Harford House in Cowen Road, Blaydon in the evening of the 4th and another the same day at Shibdon. Influx at Shibdon on 8th with many feeding on brambles. More at East Bradley Fell on 10th. Another at Shibdon on 21st and at the Guards on the 26th..

One ftrom an influx at Shibdon on 8th [George Simpson]

Green-veined White - On 1st-3rd noted at Stargate, Lamesley Water Meadows and Blaydon Quarry
Large White - On 1st-8th noted at many sites
Small White - On 1st-8th noted at many, widespread sites.
Orange-tip - Noted at Stargate on 2nd and Lamesley Water Meadows the next day.

Small Heath - One at Stargate on 2nd and again on 3rd. Several at Kibblesworth brickworks pools on 3rd and 17 at Stargate on 24th.
Speckled Wood - Reported at Lamesley Water Meadows and Kibblesworth Briclworks pools on 3rd. If confirmed these will be the first records in the borough for very many years.
Meadow Brown - First of the year were at Stargate on 18th. Others seen at Shibdon and Kibblesworth on 22nd/23rd. 6 at Stargate on 24th when 1-2 at Shibdon. Several at the Guards on 26th and Shibdon on 28t when it was not raining!.
Ringlet - The first were 2 at the Guards on 26th and 1 at Shibdon on 29th.

Ringlet at Shibdon [M.A.Eccles]

Small Copper - 2 on 2nd at Stargate with 1 there next day. 3 at Lamesley Water Meadows on 3rd. Noted at Shibdon on 8th and 21st.

Small Copper at Stargate on 3rd [Paul Davidson]

Holly Blue - 2 worn adults at Westfield Pasture on 2nd
Common Blue - Noted at Stargate on 1st and 6+ both there and at Timber beach and Kibblesworth Brickworks Pools on 3rd. Noted at Shibdon (several) on 8th and 20 at Stargate on 9th. One at Shibdon on 21st and 28th and 39 at Stargate on 24th. A few at Shibdon on 29th.

Common Blue at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Dingy Skipper - Several were at Stargate on 1st - 3rd and noted at Shibdon on 8th and finally at Stargate on 10th
Small Skipper - First was one at Shibdon on 29th

Small Skipper at Shibdon [M.A.Eccles]

Large Skipper - One at Shibdon on 1st was the first of the year. One next day at Stargate and one at Timber beach on 3rd. 2 at Kibblesworth brickworks pools on 3rd and others at Shibdon on 4th and 8th. One at Shibdon on 21st and 4 at Stargate on 24th.

Large Skipper at Shibdon on 4th.

Wall - On 1st-3rd noted at Stargate, Kibblesworth, Lamesley Water Meadows and Blaydon Quarry

Moth trap on 2nd - 12 species including first Yellow-barred Brindle in Gateshead since 1990 and 9th - 23 species

Chimney-sweeper - Noted on 2nd near Blaydon Quarry and others at the Guards on the 26th.
Yellow Shell - One flushed in tall grass at Stargate on 3rd.
Narrow-bordered Five-spotted Burnet Moth - First of the year were at Stargate on 18th and three there on 24th.
Brimstone Moth - 1 caught inside a house near Gateshead Stadium on 22nd.

Brimstone Moth near Gateshead Stadium [Ray Wilby]

Silver Y - 1 at Stargate on 24th
Mother Shipton - 1 at Stargate on 24th
Shaded Broad-bar- 3 at Stargate on 24th
Middle-barred Minor - 1 caught in daylight and another nectaring at the Guards on 26th.

Banded Demoiselle - One at Westfield Pasture on the new pond on 1st. and 1 at Lockhaugh Meadows on 17th.
Azure Damselfly - Noted at Shibdon on 1st and Stargate on 2nd -3rd and Clara Vale LNR on 2nd. Kibblesworth brickworks pools had a single on 3rd. Numerous at Clara Vale on 11th and at Far Pasture on 17th.
Blue-tailed Damselfly - Noted at Stargate on 2nd-3rd and Clara Vale LNR on 2nd and Kibblesworth brickworks pools on 3rd. Also at Shibdon on 23rd.

Blue-tailed Damselfly at Clara Vale on 2nd [Ray Wilby]

Common Blue Damselfly - Several at Clara Vale LNR on 2nd and 6+ at Stargate on 3rd

Azure Damselfly at Clara Vale on 2nd [Ray Wilby]

Large Red Damselfly - 1 at Clara Vale LNR on 2nd. Several at Kibblesworth brickworks pools on 3rd.

Large Red Damselfly at Clara Vale on 2nd [Ray Wilby]

Emerald Damselfly - 1-2 at Shibdon on 21st

Emperor - Singles at both Stargate and Kibblesworth on 21st/22nd
Common Darter - The first were at Kibblesworth brickworks pool on 22nd. Emerging tenerals noted at Shibdon on 29th/30th.

Common Darter at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Four-spotted Chaser - 2+ at Kibblesworth brickworks pools on 3rd were the first of the year. In flooded corner of field on access road at Far Pasture another 2 were seen on 17th.
Southern Hawker - First of the year was one in a garden at Rowlands Gill that also produced this years first Large Red Damselfly.

White-tailed Bumblebee - One seen at Shibdon had a strange pattern on its back. Investigations concluded - ' The bee in your photograph is a white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum). It is probably an old worker bee. Foraging for the nest is a strenuous business and you can see a lot of wear and tear on old workers. This one has managed to rub all the hairs from a section of it's back so the belt-like area you see is actually just a piece of the shiny exoskeleton of the bee which has been exposed.;.

Buff-tailed, Red-tailed and Common Carder Bumble-bees all noted at several sites during the month.

Wasp's nest in a dog kennel

Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis) - A female photographed at Clara Vale on 17th

Scorpion Fly at Clara Vale [Gordon Pollinger]

Cercopis Vulnerata - Noted at Shibdon on 4th.

Cercopis Vulnerata - This member of the froghopper family can be found in woody areas It is similar to a ladybird, but has an elongated body and has red and black patches (not spots)

Seven-spotted Ladybird - Noted at a number of sites at the beginning of the month

Larvae (or instar) of Ladybird, probably seven-spotted (Coccinella septempunctata )

This photo was taken at Barnaby Lane of an, as yet unidentified, web/tent building caterpillar

Peacock - Noted at Stargate, Shibdon and Clara Vale on 5th and Timber beach on 7th. 1 at Stargate on 20th.
Comma - Noted at Hagg Hill Wood and Shibdon on 5th
Red Admiral - Single at Shibdon on 10th.

Red Admiral at Shibdon on 10th [George Simpson]

Green-veined White - One at Stargate on 2nd and several there on 5th and at Shibdon, Clara Vale etc at the same time. Noted at Timber beach on 7th
Large White - The first was at Stargate on 2nd. Others others seen here and many other places from the 5th.
Small White -Noted at Timber beach on 7th
Orange-tip - Noted at Stargate on 2nd. Noted at Hagg Hill Wood on 5th. 8 at Shibdon on 6th and noted at Timber beach on 7th

Small Copper - 7 at Ryton Willows on 1st. [Again, the first last year was on the 10th] 6 the next day at Stargate. 4 at the latter on 20th.
Holly Blue - 4 at Westfield Pasture on 1st, when one at Paddock Hill. Another at Stargate the following day.
Common Blue - The first of the year was at Stargate on 19th and 1 there next day..
Dingy Skipper - 6 were at Stargate on 2nd and several three days later. Noted at Timber beach on 7th and a brownfield site by Costco on 8th. Counts up to 20 on several dates mid month at Stargate. Several at Shibdon on 20th when 15 counted at Stargate. 1-3 contunued to be seen at Stargate until the month's end.

Dingy Skipper at Stargate on 20th [Brian Pollinger]

Wall - Several at Ryton Willows on 1st and 6 the next day at Stargate and several still there on 5th and at Shibdon. One on a brownfield site near the Metrocentre on 7th when also noted at Timber beach and at a brownfield site by Costco on 8th. Counts up to 13 on several dates mid month at Stargate.

Moth trap on 19th caught 12 species, and 13 species on 26th

Nematopogon swammerdamella - One of the 'Longhorn moths' - several were noted at Stargate on 2nd

Mother Shipton - One of these day flying moths was seen at Stargate on 2nd and 3 there on 20th
Silver-ground Carpet - 1 at Shibdon on 13th and another at Rowlands Gill on 31st.
Lesser Treble-bar - 1 on SITA site opposite Birtley sewage works on 13th.
Silver Y - One nectaring at Dunston on 7th and 1 at Stargate on 20th
Treble-lines - 1 at Stargate on 20th

Banded Demoiselle - A male was seen in the Derwent Walk CP on 17th.
Common Blue Damselfly - 1 at Far Pasture on 19th was the first. Noted at Stargate the next day.
Blue-tailed Damselfly - 1 at Stargate on 20th was the first.

Blue-tailed Damselfly at Stargate on 20th [Brian Pollinger]

Azure Damselfly - 1 at Stargate on 20th was the first.

Azure Damselfly at Stargate on 20th [Brian Pollinger]

Common Wasp [Vespula vulgaris] - Regular from early in the month

Common Wasp [George Simpson]

Field Digger Wasp [ Mellinus arvensis] - Noted on a lawn in Rowlands Gill on 16th. "Before the rains came again I encountered a melee on the lawn involving 3 honey bees and a field digger wasp, no casualties on the bee side but the wasp was looking very sorry for itself, crawling away in a seemingly dazed state."

Cockchafer - 3 trapped in moth trap at Clara Vale during the month.
Rhagium mordax - This Longhorn Beetle was noted at Rowland Gill on 31st.

Rhagium mordax [Alan Mould]

Peacock - Noted at several localities on 1st with a maximum of 15 at Shibdon. 1-5 were at various sites from early in the month with a maximum of 7 at Thornley Woods on 7th.
Small Tortoiseshell - Noted at several localities all month with a maximum of 10 at Shibdon on the 1st and 9 in the Derwent Walk CP on 7th.
Red Admiral - Single at Blaydon on 5th and several at East Bradley Fell on 14th.t
Comma - 1 at Shibdon on 1st and another at Blaydon on 4th. 1 at Thornley Woods on 7th, when 3 were counted in the Derwent Walk CP and 2 more at Birtley STW. Two were at Birtley sewage works on 15th. 1-2 were at Shibdon on 28th,

Small White - 1 at Shibdon on 1st and 1 at Thornley Woods on 7th, when 1 in the Derwent Walk CP and singles at Shibdon Pond on the 8th and Timber beach on 10th. 1-3 regular from mid month.
Green-veined White - Several were on the wing at Clara Vale on 15th, and a mating pair were at Shibdon on 30th.

Mating pair of Green-veined White at Shibdon on 30th [Michael Eccles]

Orange-tip - The first were singles at the at Swalwell Visitor centre and Shibdon on 11th, with a pair at the latter the next day. Since these, 1-5 noted at Shibdon Pond, Swalwell, Blaydon and Birtley sewage works.

Orange-tip at Swalwell on 11th [Victoria Catley] and Shibdon on 29th [Paul Davidson]

Holly Blue - One at Clara Vale in a garden and 2 nearby at Crawcrook, all on 25th were the first of this fomerly rare butterfly. Others on 27th at Lamesley Water Meadows and Winlaton and 2 more at Clara Vale on 29th/30th.
Dingy Skipper - The first were at Stargate on 30th [last year the first were also here buu on 10th May]
Wall - The first were 2 at Timber Beach on 29th, followed next day by others at Stargate [Last year he first was a singleton at Lockhaugh Farm on 10th May].

The first Wall of the year, 1 of 2 at Timber beach on 29th [Paul Davidson]

Plume Moth Emmelina monodactyla - One at Blaydon on 3rd

Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata - One at Shibdon Pond on 16th

Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda trapped on 25th at Clara Vale - A new species for Gateshead

Moth trapping on 3rd, 25th and 26th.

Red-tailed Bumble-bee - One at Blaydon on 4th and 2 at Stargate on 10th. Quite regular subsequently
Buff-tailed Bumble-bee - 1 at Stargate on 10th was the first and several noted from mid month.
White-tailed Bumble-bee - Noted at Shibdon on 22nd
Common Carder Bee - The first was one at Blaydon on 14th.
Vestral Cuckoo Bumble-bee (Bombus vestralis) - One identified at Shibdon Pond on 18th.

The Vestral Cuckoo Bumble-bee (Bombus vestralis) -at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Rufous Mining-Bee - 1 at Stargate on 10th.

Large Red Damselfly - As usual, this was first Dragonfly of the year. It was noted in a garden in Rowlands Gill (last year the first appeared at this site on 20th May. The first in the bought in 2006 was the 16th May and the 6th May in 2005). Another was at Birtley sewage works on 27th.

Green Lacewing - One at Shibdon on 22nd was the first.

A Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) - One at Shibdon on 25th

A Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) at Shibdon [George Simpson]

Nicrophorus humator - a burying beetle - One caught in the moth trap aon 25th at Clara Vale.

Nicrophorus humator in the Moth trap at Clara Vale on 25th.

Peacock - Two at Rowlands Gill on 11th and 1 at Birtley on 14th. 7 in Ryton area on 26th when 1 at Birtley. Others at Shibdon Pond and Cowen Road Blaydon the same day.

Peacock at Shibdon on 26th [George Simpson]

Small Tortoiseshell - 3 in Ryton area on 26th when 1 at Shibdon Pond. 2 at Blaydon on 28th

Small Tortoiseshell at Shibdon on 26th [George Simpson]

Red Admiral - Single at Ryton on 26th.
Comma - 5 in Ryton area on 26th were the first of the year. One was at Shibdon on 27th

Comma at Shibdon on 27th [George Simpson]

Small White - The first of the year was one at Cowen Road, Blaydon on 28th.

The 1st Small White of the year [Peter Harvey]

Orange Underwing Moth - Single at Ryton Willows on 26th was the first of the year.

White-tailed Bumble-bee - Noted at Strother Hills on 12th
Red-tailed Bumble-bee - Noted at Strother Hills on 12th
Buff-tailed Bumble-bee - Noted at Blaydon on 26th

Pine Ladybird or 4-spotted ladybird (Exochomus 4-pustulatus) - 1 at Blaydon - Cowen Road on 26th

7-spotted Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata) - 1 at Far Pasture on 30th

7-spotted Ladybird (Coccinella 7-punctata) at Far Pasture [Ray Wilby]

The Bumble-bee- looking Hoverfly Volucella bombylans - noted at Cowen road, Blaydon on 2nd

Small Tortoiseshell - The first was one at Clara Vale on 5th.
Red Admiral - One in a Winlaton Mill garden on 18th.
Peacock - Single at Ryton on 22nd, one at Clara Vale on 23rd and another at Blaydon town centre on 26th.

White-tailed Bumble-bee - A buff or white-tailed Bumblebee in a Winlaton Mill garden on 14th and a definate White-tailed at Beda on the 18th.

Orange Ladybird - on 13th at Clara Vale

Found in the reserve at Clara Vale [Gordon Pollinger]
From the UK ladybird survey: - Orange Ladybird Halyzia 16-guttata
Overwintering: leaf litter or in sheltered positions on trees
Food: mildews
Other notes: Considered an indicator of ancient woodland until 1987. Has become widespread since it became common on sycamore trees. Recently has also moved onto ash trees and appears to be increasing in abundance. It is attracted to light and is often found in moth-traps. Rarely breeds before mid-June.

Peacock - The first butterfly of the year was a Peacock near Blaydon on 19th.