A Quiet Few Days

Tuesday morning quick trip to Killingworth Lake before work, saw both pairs of Great Crested Grebes, one pair definitely nesting but not sure about the ones on the main lake as they were in the middle for the hour I was there although they did venture over once enabling me to get a shot:

If you want to see better pics of them see Segedunum Warblers Blog.

Later on a lunchtime time walk down the business park and snapped away and rather liked this piccy of a common bird in an environment you normally get songbird pics from:

After hearing the hype on the tv last night about the probable spectacular sunrises resulting from the volcanic activity in Iceland I shot off to Newcastle this morning to get some pics along the Tyne hoping for some nice shots with the Sage, Millenium Bridge etc in but was extremely dissappointed when the sunrise was a complete flop.  Still snapped away quite happily though and got the following:

 The above was a piece of contemporary art that I have never seen before which I happened on by chance tucked away in an alley and I suspect it can only be seen properly in the late afternoon whey the sun is in the West.

 Nice shot of the Tyne Bridge with the Sage in the background although this would have been better with the reflection of the Sun on the Sage and lastly the shot that every happy snapper has taken of the high level bridge:

Back to the birdies now and a couple of Lesser Black Backed Gulls observing the traffic flow on Scotswood

I swapped a couple of feeders over at work today and immediately the finches were there chomping away

At lunchtime I shot up to Far Pastures for 30mins, not much on the pond but a solitary chiffchaff was plinking away outside the hide although it was lying at a weird angle on the branch but seemed to be OK is it worked its way around the Car Park.

On the stone in the Car Park where everyone seems to drop a bite to eat for the birds a crowd was forming

Also had some great views of a couple of Red Kites which flew around for 7-8minutes.  They always seem to come out more when the sun is shining.  Went down to the Derwent and immediately spotted a couple of Dippers just resting on the far bank, had a wander round taking a few snaps of a comma and a Peacock Butterflies then returned and found one of the Dippers still standing the same position .

On my way back to the car I came across a Pied Wagtail sitting on top of a small building in the car park.  This is the first time I have come across one down here.

Finally back to work, for those of you that think that I get massive lunch breaks all the time, its end of Term and we have no students so I tend to take a lengthy lunch break each Friday as I can get a parking place when I return.  One last pic of my favourite Mistle Thrush which I have managed to tempt down into the feeding station area with apples.

Day Out with a Valve Expert and a Tiling Expert

Sunday morning up early, passports and travel insurance checked and off to Teeside with John (SW ) and Jeff  NB (No Blog but acknowled expert in Valve Identification which proved very useful in Teeside)).  First stop was Greatham Creek and plenty of Avocets around.  There was 16 at one point:

The sun low on the horizon gave the opportunity for some great reflection shooting.

This pic shows an avocet alighting on a very rare No 4 Roof Ridge Tile (well spotted SW) which showed well through the day.

We then moved onto Saltholme and after a swift coffee and a good view of the Sand Martin from the Cafeteria we then walked round and stopping of at the 1st Hide (cant remember its name) we saw quite a few birds including my first ever view of a Hooded Merganser which came and posed quite well in front of the main windows.  Unfortunately we had just missed the 4 Yellow Wagtail and the Greensandpiper.

We then wandered over to the next hide and on the way had some glorious view of Kestrel in full attack mode which I believe resulted in success as when it dived it did not come back up and we could see a bit of movement in the long grass

In the hide we were treated to a great display of 2 Great Crested Grebes for about 20mins doing their mirroring routine and a bit of passy the reed, unfortunately a bit far off for pics but in the next hide we had some good glimpses of 2 Little Egrets resulting in a "record shot".

Also a quick glimpse of my first hare of the year

Finally all this takes place within a hop, skip and jump of the biggest chemical concentration in Europe and  I find it amazing that there are any birds here at all, although Jeff thinks he has died and gone to Valve and Pump Heaven.

Nice Weather on Saturday with a Couple of Nice Birds

Saturday morning, bit of a late start and headed to Big Waters.  Beautiful Great Crested Grebe serenely sailed around the pond for a couple of hours and no matter what else I looked at and there was a fair bit on or passing through my eyes were always drawn to the Grebe.  No good shots unfortunately but got this great shot of a couple of Goldfinches on my way out:

I also saw my first 2 butterflies of the year, a Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell.  I then popped home to do my dutiful husband bit as she was a little under the weather.  After sorting a few things out, getting the papers she then insisted that I go out and enjoy myself, didnt take a lot of persuading so shot of to St Marys for a couple of hours.   I immediately found (lucked into is a better description) a pair of Gargeney (thanks Alan) but as usual I managed to get a bloody awful record shot: 

Not long afterwards a couple of Sandwich Terns flew into view and settled down on the rocks just below the promenade affording us some great views.

The fox was then spotted inside the Nature Reserve just ambling about without a care in the world.  Then all of a sudden another one appeared and what at first appeared to be a bit of playfighting started but then it seemed to turn nasty and then a big chase ensued with the larger of the two eventually strolling back and the other one was not seen again.

By God The Weather is Getting Better

Thursday Morning 06.30 and a quick walk along part of the Tyne near the Business Park as a nice chill-out before a day in the office.   Not a breath of wind and the Tyne looked at a standstill.  The first thing noticeable was a few Mallards scattered widely about:

Then a few Redshanks wandering around at the edges although not as many as usual, although thinking about it there have only been a handful for the last couple of weeks.

As I walked along quite a few Gulls headed West up the river including a few Lesser Black Backed.  Then a bit of a suprise, I came across 7 Ringed Plover, haven't seen them here for a while:

There were also several Black Headed Gulls around looking very nice now.  Moving on I could see a couple of Shelduck across the other side and a few more Redshanks, a single swan meandered its way east.

Also saw several pair of Teals, dotted along the banks

Nothing spectacular but  just to have a 40min walk in lovely sunshine, no wind, and amazing scenery is spectacular in itself.  Spent a couple of hours relaxing in the Garden in the afternoon taking pics and this little bugger kept running along the top of the fence and jumping onto one of the bird tables, helping himself to some biscuit and shooting off again.

These 2 Collared Doves could be the ones that City Birder had in his garden a couple of days ago:

Quick Trip Out (with good results)

Had a quick trip down to Far Pastures on Wednesday.  There was quite a few birds around the Car Park including, a lovely pair of Bullfinches, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Coal and Willow Tit, Great Tits (wherever you looked) and a couple of Goldfinch.  From the Hide I observed a Heron who had dropped in for a quick frog or two, a Little Grebe, couple of Canada Geese and several Mallard and for the first time for quite a while I was unable to spot any Snipe.

The hightlight of the quick visit was this beautiful Chaffinch who was singing merrily for quite a while:

and also my first viewing of a Blackcap, although the pic is not too brilliant:

The Saga of the Sparrowhawk and the Otter

Tuesday morning and the last day of my extended Easter Break so headed for a nice quiet day at Big Waters or so I thought.  Not a great lot on the pond, the resident Mute Swans successfully getting rid of 2 Mute Swans who were attempting to "invade" Big Waters and they also gave warning to several Canadas who quite wisely kept out of the way or on the Island as the Swans dont seem to mind as long as the "invaders" seem to be out of the water.  A Little Grebe meandered around, the odd Teal took off then did a quick circle then settled back from whence they had departed, the 5 Cormorants perched in a menacing fashion on the tree and the Mallards came from different corners of the pond to congregate in the centre.  A couple of other regulars arrived and the normal chatter ensued until Mike pointed out that something was making the Gulls agitated at the top of the pond and sure enough within a few seconds Mike had spotted the Otter.  All 3 of us followed it, the Gulls who were now mobbing it keeping us abreast of its position and the various birds taking off from the pond also aiding us but even then losing it occassionally but eventually picking it up as it circumnavigated the lake and eventually started heading towards us.  Cameras were being checked as it got within about 30metres of the hide when all of a sudden I saw movement off to my left and glanced over to see a Sparrowhawk heading like an Exocet towards the feeding station, I swivelled around and saw a Blue Tit sitting with its back towards the lake and could still hear Mike giving a quiet running commentary on the Otter.   I started to say "Sparrowhawk" and was trying to get the camera pointed in the general direction of its normal flightpath when it seemed to land on a branch then leapfrog onto another branch then POW it hit the Blue Tit just as it tried to take off.  The Sparrowhawks legs then tried to push against the large branch that the Blue Tit had been sitting on but it missed as the Tit seemed to be impaled on its right legs talons and it cartwheeled into the layer of branches and twigs that had been cut down and fell through:

The Sparrowhawk hits what I think is the second branch before it hits the Blue Tit, this was about the 5th pic the others being just blurs of brown.

The big thick branch on which the tail feathers are lying is where the Blue Tit was perched and the one the Sparrowhawk seemed to hit and fall through the thinner branches.  According to the times on the pictures it stayed there for 8 Seconds (and 12  pics) and I had the camera out the window pointing down as this was all happening about 3-4ft under the hide window.  The next pic is the last one before it seemed to burst out of the branches and go under or around the front of the hide with what appeared to be the blue tit still impaled on its talon, unfortunately I didn't get any shots as being the consumate photographer that I am (pissing myself laughing) I was trying to adjust the settings and watch what was happening at the same time. 

I looked over to the other 2 in the hide and they were looking out of the front of the hide and Mike was taking quite a few pics so I thought great he is getting pics of thne departing Sparrowhawk then when I looked out of the window I could see he was taking pics of the Otter just 10metres away chewing away on a fish and before I could start taking pics he dived.  They hadn't seen the Sparrowhawk but had heard the commotion and I hadn't seen the Otter.  I started looking at the pics I had taken when I heard Mikes camera going again so I got a few shots off also with this being the first one:

With this severely cropped one being the last.

The Otter then swam away from the hide and round the lake again (it had now been in view, off and on for 50mins) and most of the birds on the lake had dissappeared apart from the Gulls who were now making half hearted attempts at mobbing the Otter.  Then from the South came a Swallow careering around the sky which seemed to take one look and then headed back the way it came.  The door of the hide opened and Alan J stood there saying what the hells going on the Feeding Station is quiet as the grave and all I can see on the Pond is 1 Cormorant and it stayed like that for quite a while.

Great Birding (not normal), Crap Photography (normal)

Monday I decided to go and have a gander at the Great White Egret if it was still around.  Got to Druridge at 08.05 and saw (pointed out to me by a couple whose names I dont know but bump into quite often) it immediately from the Budge Hide.  It was a fair way off so Crap Pic No 1:

It then took off and headed to Bells Pond and did this several times back and forth during the day resulting in Crap Pic No 2:

Hung around the Budge Screen whilst the Egret was on its travels and Davy T arrived, he was on a mission to see the Egret and Crane and as the Egret wasnt there and the Crane was according to a chap who had just arrived so off Davy went with me tagging along behind because I had never been to Eshott.  We got to the farm and spotted the Common Crane and managed just 2 shots before it took off and flopped over the hedge and out of site ensuing in Crap Pic No 3:

But never mind as here is a better Crap Pic I prepared earlier in October 2009 in Lamsley for those Birders who never got to see it (if there was any):

We then returned to Druridge as the Egret had returned and spent a pleasant if not very windy hour chatting to a few of the people who arrived to see it.  I then left in order to fuel up with Fish and Chips at Amble but was delayed for half an hour as I spotted two of my bogey birds (Goldcrest) calling away in the bushes only 10metres from the hide.  After refuelling myself I dropped into Hauxley and the Reception Hide was deserted, walked over to the left side to check out the feeders and then start scanning around to see what was there and immediately I spotted something very unfamiliar, a Ring Ouzel wandering up the hill about 100metres away, it was showing particularly well until some kind lady in a bright red puffer jacket managed to clamber on top of the mounds on the walkway and scare it and many other birds away as she waved her arms all over trying to keep her balance.  It shot of across towards the dunes.  Unfortunately I only got Crap Pic No 4:

I mentioned it to the on-duty guy who said that it had been seen earlier and was on the board on the wall, must learn to read one of these days.  Next spot was this pheasant who was in a slight state of disarray but the colours were just amazing:

Then onto the new-ish feeding station where I caught site of 2 Bramblings which resulted in Crap Pic No 5:

Then decided to head back home but couldn't resist a quick nip back to Druridge for another quick look at the Egret then just as I was leaving there this little beauty was sitting on the hedges along at Cresswell, quick shot through the window resulted in yet another crap pic but I just love these birds:

Then you take another and its still crap so out comes NX2 (Poor Mans Photoshop) and turn up the brightness and a couple of other things and "Walla" a completely different coloured bird:

Well thats the end of todays little adventure so tune in again if I can get the time off work/birding to write a blog and as Gary "Stringer" would say "Time in the Field = Birds.......Apparently"  I only wish all my days were half as good as todays or half as good as NS's Bad Days.

Thursday to Sunday

After failing to find the elusive Sea Eagle on Thursday pm (although I did see a Little Ringed Plover and a pair of Wheatear) and Friday am I headed off to the Kirkley Area and came across one of highlights of the weekend a pair of Long Tailed Tits building their self contained bungalow for themselves and the bairns.  For about 30mins I stood and watched them working tirelessly never stopping for cuppa.

I then came across a Stoat which was weaving about through a number of holes/tunnels in the bank on the side of a road.  It (cant assign gender as dont know difference) was quite obliging stopping every couple of feet and shoving his head through the roots and branches ensuring I had enough light.

John (Segedunum Warbler) in the meantime found what was possibly its mate about 20metres up the road but unfortunately it was not of this world (or possibly because I have not looked anything up yet it was a case of last one standing keeps the territory).
Saturday morning up early to St Marys and got found Chiff Chaff, Wheatear, Reed Bunting and a Goldcrest amongst the usual suspects.  I also came across this weird looking Frog at 07.45 which just appeared out of nowhere in full plumage and walked out in the North Bay (always thought this species were supposed to knock around in pairs).

At 08.45 I then went to the cemetery to have a look for the Black Redstart, unfortunately someone didnt leave till 09:04 arriving at the cemetery at 09.07 with a parking ticket so for all you guys and gals out there dont rely on that 5 minutes grace as there is no such thing, remember the Wardens are faster off the starting blocks than Lindford Christie.  Anyway in the cemetery, after not too hard a search 2 of the aforementioned stunning little birds, I was going to show the obligatory picture of it sitting on the gravestone but methinks there is enough of them floating around.
I then popped up to Big Waters which was a bit overflowing with water and if I had been there yesterday I would have had to have brought my mate Moses along to part the waters as it was knee deep on the boardwalk in some places.   Did see a few things though including a couple of Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and quite a few Teal moving around so no hope of a decent count.  After Big Waters decided to pop up to Kirkley again to check how the LTT's Bungalow was getting on and as you can see contracts had been exchanged and the alterations finished.

Popped down to Prestwick Carrs to try and catch the Barn Owls but the only thing I caught was a one of worst "downpours" I have came across this Winter. 
Sunday morning off to Geltsdale with Segedunum Warbler, god it was bloody freezing but us Geordies are hard.  The Hilltops were still covered with clouds and/or mist.

Despite this we managed to catch some Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, lots of Curlews calling but only the odd one seen.  Got to the Tarn and saw, Golden Eye, Teal, Mallard, Mute Swans and the Black Swan.  Could also hear Snipe calling but no sign of them.  Got to the Information Point, not a soul there but all open, the feeders were all empty also so left a few treats for them and within seconds the passerines were there gobbling them up.  As we left we spotted a couple of Hen Harriers and a couple of Buzzards and they kept appearing every few minutes for the next 90mins.  We bumped into a nice chap called Lee who was starting work at Geltsdale for the RSPB as a surveyor on Tuesday and was out for his first wander around and was amazed to spot the Hen Harriers before he commenced work (Good Luck in your job Lee and it was a pleasure to chat to you).  We also saw lot of Canadas, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Kestrel, Stonechat, Wheatear and a strange looking Pipit type bird with very long legs, yellowish colour on head and two yellowish/brown eye bars and a Dipper.  The normal great, blue and coal tits, chaffinches, house sparrows were also present.  Not a lot of pics from there as most stuff is quite far away but it is an awesome place and a great walk.  We then went to Talkin Tarn and the only thing I can say is dont, too many people, too many dogs, millions of midgies (god knows what it will be like when it wars up) and only Mallards on the lake although judging from the following pic some of them have been playing away from home.

On the way back we stopped off at Whittle Dene, unfortunately there seemed to be a major fishing match on but despite this we saw a couple of Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Teal, Mallard, Mistle Thrush and lots of Corvids.   Then on to Prestwick Carrs to see if we could see any Owls and sure enough we saw 3 Barn Owls and also bumped into Dick City Birder.