Two visits to Big Waters in the last 2 days in possibly the best weather of the year so far. Both times I bumped into Alan and on Friday Ian D as well so a lot of the time was spent helping them with their identification of birds we saw but it still allowed me to see some species that hadn't been around much. The first ones we encountered were a flock of at least 20 Meadow Pipits which were quite mobile only alighting a couple of times. I managed to snatch a picture of one of them on a post in Cresswell earlier in the day on a post before they headed North towards the pond.
Meadow Pipit on post
I did have a quick visit to Cresswell and Druridge on Friday before heading to Big Waters where, thanks to Andy Mc, I got a few views of the Bittern as it moved along the reeds. I also saw quite a few Linnets, Skylarks and one of the Long-tailed ducks was stretching its wings.
Skylarks
Long-tailed Duck
Back at Big Waters we also managed Linnet on the walk round, 4 Skylarks, 4 Grey Partridge, a couple of Oystercatchers on the Island, another Chiff Chaff and 2 Curlew. As the sun shone the frogs appeared in both the dipping ponds and a bit of Frogspawn also. Just before we left about 500 assorted Gulls arrived and proceeded to bathe/drink/rest or whatever. Saturday there was 3 Female and 1 Male deer, 13 Mute Swans, several Siskin, 26 Tufted, 7 Goldeneye, 36 Teal, 8 Gadwall, a few Mallard, 7 Cormorant and 11 Canada Geese. There is still plenty to be seen although the numbers are now beginning to drop with the temperature rising although according to the BBC it goes back downhill from Monday !!. Todays highlight was a Jay in the Feeding Station which I told Alan about then as we were heading there we could hear a couple of Jays calling in the Feeding Station direction although we didn't hear or see any when we headed there. Well so here is a few more pics from the last couple of days.
Siskin looking handsom in the great light
Wren skulking at the side of the Dipping Pond
I'm Watching You Watching Me
and
If you click that thing once again I'm Off
Gull Invasion at Big Waters
Frogs getting ready to Spawn (Hopefully)
Gorgeous Greenfinch
Cant see anyone with a little plastic bag following to pick up the mess - terrible
Can anyone tell me why the tail looks like that ?
Beautiful Brambling (unfortunately not at Big Waters)
Our Back Garden yesterday afternoon
Siskin looking handsom in the great light
Wren skulking at the side of the Dipping Pond
I'm Watching You Watching Me
and
If you click that thing once again I'm Off
Gull Invasion at Big Waters
Frogs getting ready to Spawn (Hopefully)
Gorgeous Greenfinch
Cant see anyone with a little plastic bag following to pick up the mess - terrible
Beautiful Brambling (unfortunately not at Big Waters)
Our Back Garden yesterday afternoon
Well, its time to go back to Big Waters
to see what delights await us
to see what delights await us
3 comments:
Great tales and not-so-great tail - the fox looks like it has mange. Now you being clever and posh will recall the French verb 'manger' meaning 'to eat'; like you and your 'scownes' that are really scons. But it's pronounced maynge!
Unfortunately, I too think the Fox is suffering from Sarcoptic Mange. Bad news for the Fox population.
Keep up the good work John, always enjoy reding your tales!
Thanks for the information. I had thought of that but was not sure as it looked to be limited to a certain spot and thought Mange was an all over problem and to be honest didn't bother to Google it but presumed there would be better brains than mine out there with an answer and there certainly is. Thanks again Gordon and Maria. Now back to my Scons with Clotted Cream and a cuppa.
John
ps. glad someone reads what I write and not just looks at the pretty (LOL) pictures
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