Wednesday 21 February 2024

Rutland Water


Sparrowhawk


An unexpected Journey. Ended up at Rutland Water and enjoyed a good 4 hours birding. Probably could have spent twice as long but the access to some of the 35 hides was restricted due to the water levels and seasonal closures. It is also exceptional value at £7 (or £6 if you are as old as me).


Scarlet Elf Cup


Great White Egret


Green Woodpecker

Birding highlights included this woodpecker. It is quite some time since I saw one in the North East. Red Kites are now very common in the area. Smew (including a distant drake).

My favourite of the day was when a Cetti's Warbler exploded into song within a couple of feet. Although now widespread and common in the North East, every time I hear them it reminds me of seeing and hearing some of the first colonisers at East Chevington.


Aaaah!


Red Kite

Most of the views were much closer but tended to be when I was driving down the lanes with traffic preventing a sudden stop.

Lovely Reserve and I will make a couple more visits this year and combine my trip with stops at other reserves over a few days in the area.



 

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Saltholme


This gorgeous Blackcap greeted me in the Car Park. Still enough berries to feast on even if they are a little shrivelled/



Ducks are in full breeding plumage like this drake Gadwall


Great White Egret

Well quite a day. 2 GWE, 6 Little Egrets, 7 Grey Herons, 1 Spoonbill and a Cattle Egret.


Moorhens

'Spring' is in the air.



Spoonbill


Cattle Egret




 

Sunday 11 February 2024

February ... and yet more rain





Northumberland seems to be the place to be at the moment. Lots to see and Enjoy!


This Barn Owl decided to check out the Sparrowhawk. It started 15 posts away and in a couple of flights it decided to land on the adjacent post. After a bit of preening it decided to go off hunting. The Sparrowhawk remained on the same post for over an hour.








Bittern

Despite my poor photography this Bittern was very close to the hide when it flew by. Great views a real treat. Marsh Harriers and Cetti's Warbler were good to see along with a brief flight view of a Water Rail.

The morning started with a Woodcock at Newbiggin and as the mist cleared it turned into a glorious day. Sadly its back to rain again to day so not much birding will be done today.




Shorelarks, Hooded Crow, Smew, Twite and Long-tailed Ducks all still present in the area but I didn't go searching for them yesterday. Good numbers of Wigeon, Goldeneye and Little Grebes at Chevington. Plenty Of Pink-footed Geese and the chance of a White-fronted Goose must be a possibility.



Plenty of Stonechats already setting up the territories. This fine (if damp) male attracted the attention of two squabbling females.


Also some early flowering plants to look out for ...



 

Monday 22 January 2024

January 2024


New Year

I have been wondering about changing my approach to the blog this year. 23 days in and I haven't come up with any ideas so for the moment I will just post a few photos each month. Hopefully I'll get around to a change in approach soon. Of course you can always use the previous posts to find out about birding in the last few years. So far my birding has been limited to the local coast and the odd trip to Northumberland and Teesside. The birding has been wonderful though not spectacular as one expects from January in the North East but there could always be a surprise?








 

Friday 1 December 2023

Another Month Over


Buzzard
(Hunting for Worms)

Lots of chores got in the way of birding last month so I'm pleased December is here.



A Fungal Foray






Kestrel

Usually show well at this time of year.


Blackbird

This apple tree should keep them busy for a few more weeks.








1st December

A good covering of snow.

A visit to Harton Cemetery was enjoyable but I'm afraid they have tidied up the vegetation too well this year and there weren't many birds about.



 

Monday 13 November 2023

Waiting for Debi


Fieldfare

Debi is the latest storm. I guess it might be the last chance for a surprise visitor to the East Coast. Pallas' Warbler, Pine Grosbeak or a Wheatear?


A very tame bird still on the local boating lake.


Purple Sandpipers on the Pier. I guess they will be enjoying the lack of people disturbing them. The gates will be closed for some time until the lighthouse is repaired.



Twite in less than flattering light.


Waxwings

Looks like it is going to be a 'Waxwing Winter'. I managed to twitch these in Sunderland on a very slow 'birding' day. Even these birds didn't make it easy because after 5 minutes they flew to the top of some tall trees and started fly-catching. They weren't interested in the berries after that.


The Bird News services are reporting Waxwings and Short-eared Owls almost constantly making it hard to get a true picture of the birding scene. Well I will be ending my subscription soon and am contemplating leaving twitter. I also notice many people have stopped blogging. I think I'm falling behind with the new media stuff.


Yellow Brain Fungus

I think?