Big Waters - 26 March 2017

Today Big Waters had its first ever Great White Egret.  It wasn't exactly close and didn't stay for long but most of the regulars got some good views of it.  Here are a few pictures which are unfortunately well cropped.

.....and now a few more pictures from the rest of the morning including a small video of the Egret and other things seen

Also the video

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Big Waters - 5 March 2017

Good trip to Big Waters on Sunday for the long walk round with Alan J, Ian D, Graeme B and Keith B.  Plenty seen including Little Egret, 7 Buzzards (all at the same time), pair of Great Crested Grebe, several Skylarks, 4 Oystercatchers and plenty more.  Also encountered our first Bee of the year, a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee and the first moth of the year, for Big Waters, in the hide, was a Agonopterix heracliana
 

The following pictures are from the walk:

One of the many Buzzards seen 

A lot of water in the pond

All that space and the two of them want the same spot

Some of the birds in the Feeding Station

(missed the GSW, Siskin, Willow Tit and Long tailed Tit

These two prats and their dog walked across the fields and behind the North Scrape.  They would have had to climb over 3 Gates/hedges to get where they were and would have to go over another 2 to get out onto the track up by Masons Farm.  Even when they were out of sight you knew where they were as the birds, geese and sheep scattered in front of them.  Good job Farmer Nick hadn't left the cows in the fields.

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Howdon Wetlands

Last week one of the most peaceful nature habitats, Howdon Wetlands, was once again desecrated by mindless morons intent on just destroying things for the cheap thrill it gives them.  Northumbria Water, at no small expense, had looked after this idyllic small area of beauty surrounded by houses, industrial estates, shopping precinct and a very busy car port with lots of river traffic and had allowed members of the NTBC to visit.  Despite the big fences, the several gates to get through the mindless morons at the 4th attempt (that I know of) eventually entered it again and burnt down the the 2 storey hide that had been built.  I doubt that these Tossers will ever be caught but would like to think retribution will be brought on them in one form or another as this deed and others that they no doubt commit will be brought to book.  It is difficult to believe that the effort they took to effect entry into the reserve could not be used in pursuit of enhancing their own life.

A few pictures showing before  and after

BEFORE

AFTER

They even set fire to the small one man hide at the feeding station

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