…and in the absence of suitable habitat, Snow Bunting have been known to use the next best thing…
…I did, however, fail miserably at finding Hawfinch at Morpeth. Apparently they are still there, I’ll just have to go back!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
January 19 2011
I fared a little better today with the Red-necked Grebe…
…and in the absence of suitable habitat, Snow Bunting have been known to use the next best thing…
…I did, however, fail miserably at finding Hawfinch at Morpeth. Apparently they are still there, I’ll just have to go back!
…and in the absence of suitable habitat, Snow Bunting have been known to use the next best thing…
…I did, however, fail miserably at finding Hawfinch at Morpeth. Apparently they are still there, I’ll just have to go back!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
January 18 2011
I’ll get straight to the point and start with the bad news; Grey Squirrel are at Beacon Hill! It’s a bloody disaster!!!
A bit of a mammal day today, a Fox trying to get itself killed under my car on the A1, another catching voles at Harwood, a Brown Hare, a Roe Deer and two Grey Squirrel at Beacon Hill, I appreciated them all apart from the grey’s.
Stopping early this morning to get robbed at the pumps, a Song Thrush was in full song at Annitsford, spring is on it’s way.
Beacon Hill was on the agenda and it did not disappoint, with lots of birds having a bit of a tune up in readiness for the spring that is just around the corner…
I managed to get close to a Great Tit and it performed well
From here to Harwood where a Coal Tit was very obliging and while here a couple of Crossbill flew over. I saw many more and managed to record one singing but by this time the wind had increased and I am unable to remove the wind noise, so I’ll just have to go back and try again.
Heading back towards the coast, a text from Ian confirmed that the Red-necked Grebe was showing well, so I headed to the South Harbour at Blyth for a go myself, alas it was not to be. A call from Ian gave the gen, that the bird was doing a circuit and only occasionally coming close. It did come close when I was there, but I was looking directly into the light and by the time I had repositioned it was swimming back out into the middle of the harbour…
and, no prizes, it’s not a mystery, what do you think? (hover over the image for a clue)
A bit of a mammal day today, a Fox trying to get itself killed under my car on the A1, another catching voles at Harwood, a Brown Hare, a Roe Deer and two Grey Squirrel at Beacon Hill, I appreciated them all apart from the grey’s.
Stopping early this morning to get robbed at the pumps, a Song Thrush was in full song at Annitsford, spring is on it’s way.
Beacon Hill was on the agenda and it did not disappoint, with lots of birds having a bit of a tune up in readiness for the spring that is just around the corner…
I managed to get close to a Great Tit and it performed well
From here to Harwood where a Coal Tit was very obliging and while here a couple of Crossbill flew over. I saw many more and managed to record one singing but by this time the wind had increased and I am unable to remove the wind noise, so I’ll just have to go back and try again.
Heading back towards the coast, a text from Ian confirmed that the Red-necked Grebe was showing well, so I headed to the South Harbour at Blyth for a go myself, alas it was not to be. A call from Ian gave the gen, that the bird was doing a circuit and only occasionally coming close. It did come close when I was there, but I was looking directly into the light and by the time I had repositioned it was swimming back out into the middle of the harbour…
and, no prizes, it’s not a mystery, what do you think? (hover over the image for a clue)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Waxwings
27 Waxwings at Willington Quay, next to the Tyne Tunnel entrance this afternoon, seen from the hot seat of the bus (again!)
Sent from my HTC
Sent from my HTC
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
January 5 2011
Today I went twitching!
There, I said it, it’s off my chest, but it still makes me feel dirty!
And to cap it all I didn’t see the bird…
I went to Widdrington Old Tip, for a look at the Redpoll flock, that has a bit of all sorts in it, only today it didn’t appear to have the Arctic Redpoll. Plenty of Common “Mealy” Redpoll, Mike estimated 40 birds, a good number of Lesser Redpoll as well and hundreds of Siskin. I did take some pictures today that looked sort of ok in the camera, but when I looked at them on the computer, I just dumped the lot, they were poor.
Leaving Widdrington I went to Cresswell with Alan and Roger and we spent a pleasant afternoon in the hide, the highlight here being a Merlin that tried hard more than once to catch a Dunlin.
There, I said it, it’s off my chest, but it still makes me feel dirty!
And to cap it all I didn’t see the bird…
I went to Widdrington Old Tip, for a look at the Redpoll flock, that has a bit of all sorts in it, only today it didn’t appear to have the Arctic Redpoll. Plenty of Common “Mealy” Redpoll, Mike estimated 40 birds, a good number of Lesser Redpoll as well and hundreds of Siskin. I did take some pictures today that looked sort of ok in the camera, but when I looked at them on the computer, I just dumped the lot, they were poor.
Leaving Widdrington I went to Cresswell with Alan and Roger and we spent a pleasant afternoon in the hide, the highlight here being a Merlin that tried hard more than once to catch a Dunlin.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
January 2 2011
“Feliz Ano mon amigo”
I received this by text yesterday from Steve, which my (very) limited Spanish translates as “Happy New Year, my friend”, however SpanishDict gives it as “mon friend happy new year”, with a machine translation of “happy anus mon friend”!!!
Well, actually yes, its happy (I think)
Saturday, January 01, 2011
January 1 2011
The morning after the night before…
Not too bad, up before first light and out for a walk along the beach, going north to Stag Rocks (one of the benefits of staying overnight in Bamburgh). Today the sea was rough, so none of the good stuff seen by Stewart yesterday was spied today.
The honours for first bird of the year go to Great Black-back Gull.
Leaving Bamburgh I head to Budle Bay where the tide was very high and I was back into a spot where I could get a signal for my phone, which then started getting texts at an alarming rate, all of them from late last night, saying something along the lines of “happy new year”, so after responding in kind, I gave the bay a scan, seeing yesterdays Greenshank as one of the closest birds. Most of the birds were way, way off in the distance.
Leaving here I head back South, doing the normal coast trip on the way. At Embleton, I stopped briefly for five Waxwing, before they were flushed by two old guys out for a walk (they flew south, the Waxwings, not the guys!) From here it was just a steady drive back home, not stopping anywhere for long, and not getting out of the car, I had the wrong sort of clothes on for birding in a cold northerly wind!
Good birding in 2011, Happy New Year to all
Not too bad, up before first light and out for a walk along the beach, going north to Stag Rocks (one of the benefits of staying overnight in Bamburgh). Today the sea was rough, so none of the good stuff seen by Stewart yesterday was spied today.
The honours for first bird of the year go to Great Black-back Gull.
Leaving Bamburgh I head to Budle Bay where the tide was very high and I was back into a spot where I could get a signal for my phone, which then started getting texts at an alarming rate, all of them from late last night, saying something along the lines of “happy new year”, so after responding in kind, I gave the bay a scan, seeing yesterdays Greenshank as one of the closest birds. Most of the birds were way, way off in the distance.
Leaving here I head back South, doing the normal coast trip on the way. At Embleton, I stopped briefly for five Waxwing, before they were flushed by two old guys out for a walk (they flew south, the Waxwings, not the guys!) From here it was just a steady drive back home, not stopping anywhere for long, and not getting out of the car, I had the wrong sort of clothes on for birding in a cold northerly wind!
Good birding in 2011, Happy New Year to all
Friday, December 24, 2010
December 23 2010
It was still, dark and cold and I was on a mission!
I had left the house with one thing in mind, and after waiting for ages, thinking that I maybe should have stayed in the warmth of the house, they started. Two males and a female, all calling at the same time and looking up I even managed to see one of the males as he flew over and started calling not too far away; Tawny Owl.
It doesn't have to be light to go birding!
I had left the house with one thing in mind, and after waiting for ages, thinking that I maybe should have stayed in the warmth of the house, they started. Two males and a female, all calling at the same time and looking up I even managed to see one of the males as he flew over and started calling not too far away; Tawny Owl.
It doesn't have to be light to go birding!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
December 19 2010
After a(nother) tip off from Nigel, (this one via Stewart), today I went looking for northern Bullfinch. I saw all of the other stuff there; Goldfinch, Siskin, Lesser and Common “Mealy” Redpoll, but sadly not the object of my search. No pictures either as the light was poor, no sound recordings as the site is next to an opencast and the machinery was just starting as I was there, all way too loud!
A Brown Hare ran past five feet away, followed by another and then by two out of control dogs, which flushed five Woodcock as they ran through the trees and while all of this was going on, the owner was blissfully unaware, too busy smoking his fags and listening to his ipod.
Leaving here I went to Cresswell, where yesterdays Bittern in front of the hide did not repeat itself. In fact the only highlight while there was watching the antics of an idiot dog owner trying to get his out of control dog back to him, although how driving down the road continually blasting the horn works as a dog caller goes way over my head.
Mid way through a ten day stretch to a long weekend, my birding will be limited for a week or two to come
A Brown Hare ran past five feet away, followed by another and then by two out of control dogs, which flushed five Woodcock as they ran through the trees and while all of this was going on, the owner was blissfully unaware, too busy smoking his fags and listening to his ipod.
Leaving here I went to Cresswell, where yesterdays Bittern in front of the hide did not repeat itself. In fact the only highlight while there was watching the antics of an idiot dog owner trying to get his out of control dog back to him, although how driving down the road continually blasting the horn works as a dog caller goes way over my head.
Mid way through a ten day stretch to a long weekend, my birding will be limited for a week or two to come
Monday, December 13, 2010
December 13 2010
An email from Roger, telling me of a problem with the recordings, had the desired affect, I've fixed it (with a lot of help from the folks at xeno-canto)
So now you can hear them. I'll go back through the other stuff and fix them as well
So now you can hear them. I'll go back through the other stuff and fix them as well
Sunday, December 12, 2010
December 12 2010
After a tip off from Andy, I went looking for some approachable drake Goosanders today. I found one, but the light was so poor that most of the shots I took got dumped…
…the only keeper; and it’s not that good.
So with the light being poor, I went to try my luck elsewhere, again on a tip off, this one from Nigel. I didn’t see (or hear) Marsh Tit at his spot, but not too far away, my luck was in.
If you listen to the end of the second recording, you can hear the footsteps of a woman crunching through the snow, as she walked her out of control dog!
A little further up the road, in a less populated place, a Wren gave a nice rendition of call and song.
On the way home I called in at Newbiggin and saw the Water Pipit. No pictures as it was raining fairly hard, and the pipit was having none of it, it wasn’t approachable for me.
I then went to Holywell for dusk, no sign of the Hen Harrier, which had been seen coming into roost through the week. The only bird of note was a Common Buzzard, which flew west over the village
…the only keeper; and it’s not that good.
So with the light being poor, I went to try my luck elsewhere, again on a tip off, this one from Nigel. I didn’t see (or hear) Marsh Tit at his spot, but not too far away, my luck was in.
If you listen to the end of the second recording, you can hear the footsteps of a woman crunching through the snow, as she walked her out of control dog!
A little further up the road, in a less populated place, a Wren gave a nice rendition of call and song.
On the way home I called in at Newbiggin and saw the Water Pipit. No pictures as it was raining fairly hard, and the pipit was having none of it, it wasn’t approachable for me.
I then went to Holywell for dusk, no sign of the Hen Harrier, which had been seen coming into roost through the week. The only bird of note was a Common Buzzard, which flew west over the village
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
December 8 2010
After a relatively late start today, I drove along the coast road between Lynemouth and Cresswell in the very bright sunshine, very bright but also very cold. The birds that I saw appear to have lost their fear as the search for food becomes more desperate. Large numbers of Pink-footed Goose are next to the road in fields that they do not normally use and Woodcock are abundant; on the stretch of road between Lynemouth and Cresswell there were at least fifty and some of them are feeding on the grass verges, giving fantastic views, a photo tick for me…
…while here photographing these, a big disturbance in the birds is created by a ringtail Hen Harrier, which flew by down the side of the road. Hen Harrier is a bird that I always jump out of the car for and today was no exception, unfortunately I flushed the Woodcock doing this, but I saw the harrier flush a Merlin which had been on the ground and some Snow Bunting which I heard but didn’t see. As I get back into the car a Woodcock flies up the road and lands less than five feet from me in the middle of the road.
Moving on to Cresswell Pond itself, which is nearly completely frozen many more Woodcock are seen when a Peregrine passes through causing panic as it goes.
Heading on to Bells Dunes the Twite are right next to the road along with Skylark…
…there is also a Brambling in with the flock, but too far for pictures. On the other side of the road, more Pink-footed Geese and with them, seven Whooper Swan.
Back at Cresswell, the Barn Owl is out and hunting, so while waiting and hoping for some action, a Reed Bunting performs…
… I gain a little height to see if I can see where the owl has gone and I see Roger off in the distance walking my way, so I head in his direction for a bit of a chat. Walking along the road, a bird in flight has a shape that can’t be ignored; Bittern, up from under Roger’s feet as he walks through the dunes, we watch it drop into a small reed bed, but in true Bittern Style it’s not seen again. Roger gets some canny flight shots, I have to be content with seeing it!
…while here photographing these, a big disturbance in the birds is created by a ringtail Hen Harrier, which flew by down the side of the road. Hen Harrier is a bird that I always jump out of the car for and today was no exception, unfortunately I flushed the Woodcock doing this, but I saw the harrier flush a Merlin which had been on the ground and some Snow Bunting which I heard but didn’t see. As I get back into the car a Woodcock flies up the road and lands less than five feet from me in the middle of the road.
Moving on to Cresswell Pond itself, which is nearly completely frozen many more Woodcock are seen when a Peregrine passes through causing panic as it goes.
Heading on to Bells Dunes the Twite are right next to the road along with Skylark…
…there is also a Brambling in with the flock, but too far for pictures. On the other side of the road, more Pink-footed Geese and with them, seven Whooper Swan.
Back at Cresswell, the Barn Owl is out and hunting, so while waiting and hoping for some action, a Reed Bunting performs…
… I gain a little height to see if I can see where the owl has gone and I see Roger off in the distance walking my way, so I head in his direction for a bit of a chat. Walking along the road, a bird in flight has a shape that can’t be ignored; Bittern, up from under Roger’s feet as he walks through the dunes, we watch it drop into a small reed bed, but in true Bittern Style it’s not seen again. Roger gets some canny flight shots, I have to be content with seeing it!
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
December 7 2010
I’ve just been for a weekend away down south (that’s “darn sarf” if your from that way or “doon sooth” if your not) and it was a pleasure to get away from the snow. Where I was staying they had, NO SNOW! Yes, that’s correct, NONE! So it was very easy to get to the pub, and that’s what we did and with an occasional drink in the house…
…one glass at a time!
As you might guess, not much (not any) birding was done, but I did see, two Little Egret roosting in a field, thirty Waxwing’s (although there could have been less, as this was on the walk back from the pub), and a couple of Green Woodpeckers.
On the way back home I diverted to the Ouse Washes, just for a look as I had never been before. No huge numbers of swans but I did see in a morning more Bewick’s Swans than I had ever previously seen in total!
Welney was disappointing; I paid to get in and all that was on view were Whooper Swans and I can see them for free back home, the best spot was at Welches Dam TL471860 or N52 26'42" E0 9'14" with Google maps.
Most of the reserve was frozen over and the only open patch was in front of a hide with regular fly bys from groups of both Bewick’s and Whooper Swan. A Cetti’s Warbler was seen but it didn’t sing. Sadly no pictures, as all of the birds were into the light and it was too strong for worth while pictures.
…one glass at a time!
As you might guess, not much (not any) birding was done, but I did see, two Little Egret roosting in a field, thirty Waxwing’s (although there could have been less, as this was on the walk back from the pub), and a couple of Green Woodpeckers.
On the way back home I diverted to the Ouse Washes, just for a look as I had never been before. No huge numbers of swans but I did see in a morning more Bewick’s Swans than I had ever previously seen in total!
Welney was disappointing; I paid to get in and all that was on view were Whooper Swans and I can see them for free back home, the best spot was at Welches Dam TL471860 or N52 26'42" E0 9'14" with Google maps.
Most of the reserve was frozen over and the only open patch was in front of a hide with regular fly bys from groups of both Bewick’s and Whooper Swan. A Cetti’s Warbler was seen but it didn’t sing. Sadly no pictures, as all of the birds were into the light and it was too strong for worth while pictures.
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