Thursday in Durham (Mostly)

Thursday and a late start (09.00) with Johnny A, straight to Lamesley to try and catch sight of the Stork, dosen't count as a tick, just that I hadn't seen one and still haven't but did get my first Swallow of the year.  Also bumped into the legend that is K9FRY and his master who told us that it hadn't been seen today which was confirmed by a chap who said he had been there since 07.30 (it was now 11.30).  We then had a swift visit to Shibdon where there was a lot of water but nothing out of the ordinary so back into the car and up to Clara Vale where we only intended stopping for 30 mins or so but ended up there for a couple of hours.  We bumped into Stu from Prudhoe and had a good crack spoilt only by some loon who was obviously well in control of her dog which wandered right into the Feeding Station which took a lot of shouting, by her, to get it out.

Anyway the birds we did get glimpses of but no pics were a Sparrowhawk which charged through twice clearing the station for 5-10mins each time.  A brief flash of a Jay and a Male Blackcap which was hidden deep in the bushes and a wren which was quite noisy but we only caught glimpses of.  Some of the wildlife we saw and photographed are as follows:

The inevitable Grey Squirrel came in and literally wrapped itself round

one of the Nut Feeders for nearly an hour

This Kingfisher was in view for over 30mins and caught 3 fish, battering them on 

a branch but all this action took place over the main pond which is good 25m away

There were about 8 or 9 Yellowhammers around but the light was just

too bright for them to be photographed properly so waited till they

got in a bit of shade

Moorhen (minus Head), just liked the pic

At least 2 Female and 3 Male Bullfinches

We then left there and dropped in somewhere to see a couple of 

Short Eared Owls on the way home

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

My Blogs seem to be getting further and further apart, could write loads of excuses but its basically not enough time in the day now they are getting longer, little jobs to do when I get home such as bush pruning tidying the garden, then watching football (3 times I've watch the highlights from yesterdays match which all the papers and television keep putting it down as a Liverpool Defeat, it wasn't it was a NEWCASTLE WIN).  I have even sneaked a peek at Sunderlands unlucky draw, they should have won.  Well back to nature and as it was such a glorious morning on Friday I shot off early and walked onto the Tyne Bridge and snapped the odd 100 or 200 pics of the Kittiwakes starting their nesting and having some tussles with one another which I was so pleased with that I put into my Card Reader at Work for a quick look at them and to bin the unwanted 1 or 2, unfortunately when I went to bin the 1st pic I accidentally deleted the entire directory and no matter what I tried, including the ever reliable Recuva I couldnt get the pics back.  I only ended up with 1 pic which I had snapped with my Fuji but then decided to do the rest with the Nikon.

Will revisit sometime when the light is better, the wind is down, there is no snow or rain.so that will probably be sometime in late May or early June.

On Saturday picked up Sedgedunum Warbler and headed for Weardale.   The first stop for Black Grouse Lekking turned out to be a bit of a washout but we did see 2 Males at a bit of a distance so off we went to Teesdale where we missed the main action but there was still quite a few round.  We then trawled around the Dales where the Red Grouse were all over the place, personally I think the females are more fascinating. their camouflage is amazing but makes it harder to photograph.  Im heading back there in a couple of weeks time with just the one aim of photographing Grouse   

We did see several Greylags but these couple looked as though they had been adopted 

by a small flock of Swaledale Sheep.

The big Aaaah factor of the day was for these Jacob lambs

Wherever we went there were Lapwings displaying and guarding terroritory

A great day was again had, unfortunately spoilt right at the end as we drove along the dual carriageway near Corbridge when I spotted something at the side of the road.  A quick turn around and sure enough when I pulled into a layby and walked up, it was a Barn Owl, obviously clipped by a car but in perfect condition.  It was right where Carole and I had spotted one as we passed within a couple of hundred yards last December.

Sunday and off for the walk round Big Waters but first a little wander to the first hide by myself where all the Mute Swans are gathering and it seems to be a camping out spot for them during the dark hours then a couple of hours after daylight they split up a bit and wander about the pond.

At the East end of the pond a Big Waters Tick, not quite sure of the 

correct British Bird Listing name but parvo flavo anatis is definitely the latin one

Up on the North Fields a Magpie obviously put off by the wind was hitching a ride

On the far side of the pond about 20 Lapwing, a handful of Mallard and a couple of Coot

were using the cut down reed from the new scrape which is now a floating island, as a place

to rest their weary wings

At least 2 Treecreepers were singing on the reserve although not this one which was

very giving very close views to Alan J, Ian D and Graeme B whilst I was farting about

looking at "floaty" things but did get there in time to take a couple of snaps

I wonder what the Mute Swans are saying, how about

"Thats Charles up there, they have been doing that selective

breeding like they do with racehorses, god, can he go!"

Up at Gosforth in the afternoon I got fed up with taking pics in the Feeding Station and 25mins

hunting/moving/sidling around for this pic gave me great satisfaction when I managed to get it

sort of in focus for a shot

Bit more of an energetic time this weekend. slept in today, didn't get up

till 04.50.

A Relaxing Weekend

Wasn't very mobile at the weekend but did get around to a couple of places, mainly Big Waters though but did pop in to Prestwick Carrs and Gosforth.  Early Saturday morning I went to Prestwick Carrs to see if my old friend the Tawny Owl was viewable.  He certainly was but all I could see was a grey blob as the mist/fog was bloody awful.  On to Big Waters where it still was short viewing distance only as well.  Some nice Primroses showing well

and some glorious Blackthorn flowers

Then when the some came out 3 or 4 Small Tortoiseshell, still too quick for the camera but did get a Peacock landing for a couple of seconds so a quick couple of shots

Just outside the main hide a couple of Chiffchaff calling and showing well.  I did have 4 sightings 

A mid afternoon visit to Gosforth Park to sit in the Feeding Station Hide and 

finish of my Maccydees Latte watching the Nuthatches, Treecreepers, dozens of Tits

and this great looking Woodpecker

Next morning a drop into Big Waters again and a bit of Hanky Panky going on here.

I dont know what the legal age is for Mute Swans but this one on the left looks a

bit too young for what the one on the right is thinking about surely.

Still 4 Whoopers drifting about, although I think this is the first time

I have seen them awake all at the same time

Off up the road and at last decent light to see the Tawny

Short Eared Owl getting some grief from several Crows and some very personal

attention from this particular one.

Great weekend, decent weather, but it does make you kind of lazy, couldn't be bothered
to go anywhere, just meander round, a bit of chat and a sit in the car listening to the football
watching the SEOs.  If Carlsberg made lazy weekends this could have been one of them

What A Wage Slave Does In Their Spare Time

Once again have had a busy week at work so here is a few pics I managed to get during the week in the odd hours I wasn't being a wage slave

Not quite sure what this is but it certainly attracted my attention on an early morning wander at Arcot

An absolutely awful bloody picture but it was a very quick shot of

a Small Tortoiseshell, my first Butterfly of the Year, at Big Waters

last Sunday morning

Sunset over Big Waters last Monday Evening WOW

Tuesday Morning down at the Quayside Newcastle.  The Kittiwakes have started arriving

back but if you look closely a wire mesh contraption has been placed over the front

of a few buildings where they used to nest

You can see the mesh better in this picture and they have renewed all the

spikes on the roofs also

Now........ where can I build my little love nest for the next few months

On Wednesday morning my favourite Muscovy and its partner arrived back at its spot on the Tyne

where it was for a couple of weeks then disappeared for a week.  I think there are at least four

people dropping titbits for them and thats just in the morning.  

There are a huge amount of Redshanks still showing on the Tyne

One from the wife, her favourite bird in the garden.

The North Scrape at Big Waters finally carved out, although it will still need attention for

a few months yet.  Big thanks to Alans J and F and Craig B for the final effort on Monday

Friday night at Big Waters, my first of the year, heard a couple during the week,

but don't count them until I see them

Big Waters Then SEO Watching

Saturday and a quiet day at Big Waters in the morning and a trip to Prestwick Carrs in the afternoon.  At Big Waters the numbers were down slightly with the exception of the Whooper Swans that were now up to 5.  9 Pochard were also around and apart from that there was only the normal suspects.  I decided to have a look at the Dipping Pond which had been attracting a few visitors who I suspect had seen Alan Js pic on the Northumberland Wildlife Trusts Facebook Page.  No frogs were there but plenty of Toads popped up now and then and were visible a bit further down.  I did see 2 Newts but knowing absolutely nothing about them took some advice from someone else but when we returned there we only caught a small glimpse of one so will have a look next time I am there.

Toad and plenty of Frog Spawn

Hi, My Name is Toady, Whats Yours

The One on the Left looks as though it is Smiling to me

Two of only Six Mallards reguarly on the Pond

This Whooper stands in this position a lot of the time, dosent feed much, dosent
mix with the others, either its not too well or its just a Billy No Mates

Up to Prestwick Carrs where the Great Grey Shrike was viewed well through
the scope to the woods east of the sentry box.  Then down to the bumpy road to
play that great game, Take 300 Pics of the SEOs and see which ONE you want to
keep to go with the other 5,000 you already have

He Had A Dream

2 Years ago Alan Johnston "had a dream" (possible copyright infringement here) and submitted a couple of pictures to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust for the siting of a scrape at Big Waters.  The first was the before shot

Then there was his impression

About 6 weeks ago the first steps went ahead with Jeff from the Wildlife Trust and a few volunteers strimming the grass and weeds and felling a couple of trees in order to clear a space behind the reeds.  Then on Thursday another Work Party comprising of Alan, Jeff, Craig Ballantyne, John Day, Alan Foster and myself made a second concentrated attack on the reeds and cutting back the regrowing  "foliage" once again.  To say it was hard was a bit of an understatement although maybe advancing years in one or two cases contributed to the toughness of the task and ones own personal fitness did not help at all.

I was substituted in the water just after lunch with the arrival of Alan Foster and put on "easier duties", even though I thought I had the easiest job anyway as "Occasional Reed Puller Outerer and Pusher of Weeds into a heap person".  Alan and Craig (who isn't a bird watcher but his Dad his) were magnificent in their efforts and then when Alan F arrived it was obvious Alex Ferguson Alan Johnston had saved the Super Sub for an opportune moment.  Meanwhile Jeff and John managed to strip the foliage away with an amazing effort.

Here is a few pics of the day of all those gallant workers and me!

THE GAFFER (note the dirt on the face, compliments of Craig)

Alan and Craig pondering where to start

The weed chucking begins

After moving a lot of stuff to back up the scrape which took too much effort the 

floating island theory was formed and the plan changed to Alan and Craig pulling 

and me moving and pushing

Go on.... it'll come out

Just to prove I was in the water but for those who have figured out that I was

designated "pic-taker" of the day will realise that some of the pics were taken

from in the water

Super Sub Alan Foster arrives and with a quick change of waders the work rate doubles

John Day and Jeff cutting away and no doubt they will be back in

a month or so to do it again

Me trying to look important (and busy)

(Pic courtesy of Craigs Dad)

Alan going to see a man about a dog 

I then did a short video in the style of Murray Walker (called someone

by the wrong name, called Jeff, from NWT, Craig Whoops)

(Remember to play the UTube Version)

The finished version 

We then headed home with Jeff amazingly pushing his wheel barrow through the mud faster than I could walk, both of the Alans had quite bad cramps and unbelievably Craig just picked up the 3 sets of waders,

put them in a huge bag and carried them over his shoulder like their was nothing there.

Then an email today from Alan J showing the first bird to be seen on the scrape

A WHOOPER SWAN