A gorgeous day for a walk so all 5 of us were there, Graeme, Alan, Ian, Keith and myself set of on the long walk although after a few hundred metres and the weather really heated up showing that we had all overdressed as coats were off and garments unbuttoned. Quite a good time was had as reasons of absence over the past few weeks were proffered and Alan offered up the tale of his teeth again for those that had not heard it and I talked about my away trip down South and West. Keith talked about wind changes and planes he had seen and Ian just was as convivial as always. When we reached the hide tales were again recanted as Mick was there. I didn't take many pictures again although I do have enough to show a few things we observed on the way round.
Looks like the Dipping Pond hasn't been dipped for a while
Small flock of Lapwings playing Follow the Leader
Several years ago there was none of these yet on Sunday I think we saw more
of these than any other Butterfly
Never get sick of taking pictures of Mallards dropping in
1 of the pair of Great Crested Grebes still on the pond feeding quite merrily
Grey Heron waiting in hiding
Only 3 Cormorants today
3 of the 6 Pintail that dropped onto the pond about 10:15
At last a Sunday walk around Big Waters after being absent for a few weeks due to bad weather, illness, a holiday and a wedding. Arrived there at 9am but stayed in the car as it was raining and by the time Alan and Ian arrived it was still coming down although only sporadically. We did the long walk and it proved to be very productive with Jay, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, a flock into double figures of Long-tailed Tits, several Tree Creeper sightings, lots of Swallows but only 1 House Martin, Several sightings of Bullfinches, Meadow Pipits, Redstart (Male), Spotted Flycatcher. On the pond there were also quite a few notables including a Green Sandpiper (on North Scrape), overflying Curlew, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, c10 Little Grebe, couple of Lesser BBGs, Greylag, along with the usual Tufties, Gadwalls and Mallards although we never saw any Teal. There was also a family of 3 Roe Deer seen in a couple of places. The Feeding Station was lifting with birds including Chiff Chaffs, Tree Creepers and all the normal other species including GSWoodpecker. No doubt there are others I have missed out so I must remember to take a picture of Alans little Black Book so I don't miss things or even add stuff in that we didn't see.
A great catch up of all the latest gossip and pictures of where I had been were passed around and when we got to the hide more photos were seen as Mick M had been away also so ever more crack was had. I didn't get to take many pictures as we were too busy gassing and looking at birds. Here are a couple of ones I took though (sorry about that).
Couldn't resist this as the first shot of the day
Alan told me to take some different pictures that I normally do then pointed out this
very rare Long-necked Wood Pigeon
A Third of a Woody Woodpecker
My normal shot but taken from the other direction
The Crow was doing all the shouting but the Kestrel
always seemed to be in control of the situation
There were quite a lot on the fence until we got a bit too close
Memories of walking round the Derwent area as they were on every other post there
Roe Deer on the North Scrape
Bloody Canadas upsetting the Tranquility as usual
2 Pictures of this delightful bird as compensation for missing a shot of the male Redstart
Taken at 300x zoom from the 1st hide to the North Scrape then severely cropped
(But you can still tell what it is as the bobbing gives it away but I forgot to take the
2nd shot when it was bobbing down )
Woody on his normal jumping off point before hitting the Peanuts
...and finally a couple of little cuties
Finally an extremely short video of just a couple of things at Big Waters on Sunday and a one of the peace and tranquility at Howdon Wetlands taken in the middle of August.
Just another short video of some peace and tranquility with no background chatter which can
be had at Howdon Wetlands
