Couple of Pictures From The Weekend

Sunday morning at Howdon Wetlands

27 of them in the Heronry with 3 on the roof of the hide

but by the time I got the picture machine out there was

only 2

Nuthatch and Treecreeper on Saturday at Gosforth Park

Mandarin At Big Waters

Went up to Cresswell yesterday for a few hours but soon returned back to Big Waters after a text from Graeme B saying that there was a Mandarin on the Scrape there, a patch lifer for me.  Quick drive back and sure enough it was still there, didn't do a great lot but got a few photos.

and a small video of course

Also at Big Waters the inevitable Kingfisher, nobody there to take any pictures so I thought I would snap a couple off, pity it was on the North Scrape but still nice to see.

Also here is a video I took at Shibdon Pond when the Pectoral Sandpiper and other waders 
were there

Need To Get Out More

Due to Weddings, Birthdays, Hospital Visits, Work, Family Vists and many other boring  exciting events Birding has been put on the back burner for a couple of weeks.  Have only managed an odd hour out a couple of times in the last 2 weeks although my Mothing has picked up a pace as you don't have to travel far to switch the Trap on in the Back Garden.  You can see the results at my other blog although I have just managed to get up to date with that last night.  I have basically had 2 trips out of about 90mins each to Shibdon and to Big Waters.  At Shibdon I dropped in to see the Pectoral Sandpiper and scored also for 8 Spotted Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, a Dunlin and several Snipe.  I have put a couple of pics on below but for much better ones can I suggest you look at Rob's Blog.  I also bumped into a few birders there, too numerous to mention apart from the "The Terrible Trio" (Jo, Andy and Franko) nice to see you again guys.  The trip to Big Waters was for about 90 minutes and was quite pleasant but nothing staggering although the return of the Wigeon was welcome, at least 4 Water Rails spotted, couple of Chiff Chaff feeding in the area, a rather large dragonfly which I think might have been an Emperor (but is it not to late for them), a few Hawkers and 4 Buzzards from the Car Park along with Morgan who was there photographing Common Darters, nice to see him again also.  I spent a pleasant hour in the hide with Mike R, who is just a nice guy to talk to, 4 other visitors came in and I bumped into another 2 on the way out whose first words literally were "has the ********** been around" I will let you all fill in the blanks (the hint is, Gosforth Hide is closed).  Anyway a few pictures from my 2 Trips out

Firstly Shibdon Pond (Wall of Waders)

Also a few pictures from Big Waters

The Wigeon are returning

Don't often see a Water Rail flying so I wasn't quite ready 

1 of the 2 Chiff Chaffs that were in and out of the Feeding Station