Back from a bit of a roadtrip – instead of the usual circuit round Druridge Bay this time it was Bedlington -> France -> Germany -> Switzerland -> Germany -> Belgium -> France -> Bedlington.
A few lifers and year ticks… rough legged buzzard and black kite in France… white stork in Germany, red-crested pochard in Switzerland.
As much as anything I was impressed with the black redstarts in Germany – as common as sparrows and starlings in the black forest where we stayed with my brother for a few days.
Good on the butterfly front as well with pale clouded yellow, sooty copper and mazarine blue being lifetime firsts
Bedlington Wanderer 