PATCH BIRDING ON "THE PATCH"

Still haven't managed to get to Big Waters to see the Green-winged Teal  due to the curse of the birding class (work that is for those who didn't read my previous blogs) but hopefully it will stay another day so I can get up to see it tomorrow afternoon.  Had a nice wander round on Saturday and Sunday but nothing new for the year although we did see a few things and with a bit of sunshine for a change managed a couple of decent"ish" pictures (Dont Laugh).  

More and more Lapwings trying to get on the island in between the BHGs 

The Wigeon are now getting a bit amorous

The Cormorants are getting quite active now

Anyone see a Green-winged Teal here ? 

Compo ?  how dare you call me that, its all designer gear ALTHOUGH THE STUBBLE ISN'T 

Slightly blurred (as usual) but I only managed to get 3 shots off before it vanished 

We are supposed to be looking at you, not you looking at us 

Only 1 shade of Grey

Another impressive looking Cormorant 

This is where the picture of the

Green-winged Teal 

will go tomorrow

HOPEFULLY

Well I said I would put them here but as you can see it is a fair distance away and not being the owner of an SX50 my little 40x Zoom Panasonic video came into play and a few stills from it were the best I could manage.  I would have put the video up but the language was a bit choice most of the time from the occupants of the hide

ps: private viewings of the videos or a copy of the soundtrack can be bought for a few pence

Big Water Visit (but not much else)

Having spent only just over 2hrs birding all weekend due to a combination of things, weather, John a bit bad, a couple of meals out, shopping and a general feeling of YUK the only thing I have to report is seeing the Glossy Ibis on Saturday as we went for a drive before going into Blyth for a meal and on Sunday I had a couple of hours in the hides at rain sodden Big Waters being joined by Keith for the last hour before we both headed back home to do some non birding chores.

I did take a couple of pictures but was so unimpressed and downhearted about the weekend I only just bothered to look at them last night.

Lets hope the water is a bit lower this weekend coming.

The Otters still causing continual movement around the pond 

Two of the 11 Juvenile Swans still resident on the pond only taking the odd practice 
flight as far as I can see 

I started this small blog 3 days ago and have just got up the enthusiasm to to finish it, lets hope that the small flock of about 10 Goldfinches that seem to have taken up temporary residence in the tree outside my office will waken me up out of my doldrums.  I might even get to see some of the birds in the garden this weekend as leaving at about 6.30 and not getting home till after 6 means I HAVEN'T seen any of my beloved House Sparrows.   Roll on Feb 2016, retirement month, its not that I don't like my job, I actually love it (the boss might read this, bless her cotton socks)  but work is definitely the curse of the birding class.  

Wet Saturday But A Great Patch Tick

A trip up to Big Waters with John A on Saturday morning, first of all stopping at Killingworth, first for a Latte then to enjoy it watching the pond which was absolutely full of life all at the car park end then when a lady turned up with a bag of feed we realised why.  It was great watching them get fed, a few Goldeneye, loads of Tufted, Swans galore, innumerable Coots, a mental Goose and a couple of dozen Canadas, unfortunately no Goosanders.  After an interesting chat with the lady who was dispensing the food on some of the Swans we headed up to Big Waters and straight into the First Hide as it was now drizzling quite heavily.  We were joined after a while by Keith, then Alan J, then finally Ian arrived.  Alan left and headed to the main hide as it was a bit crowded.  15mins after he left Keith shouted BITTERN and I managed to see it over the last part of the lake as it settled down into the reeds.  A great tick as I hadn't seen one on the patch since since my first sighting since 2012.  We then all left to join Alan J, who unfortunately, hadn't seen it (hope he has by now).  John and I stayed for a while then headed up to Prestwick Carr, after a comfort break at Hazelrigg Chippy, for a short wander then the rain got a bit heavier so we headed home.  Here are a couple of pictures from the day although my camera didn't come out of the bag much and I think John's didn 't come out at all

Not a very good impersonation of a BHG

 Another Redpoll in the Feeding Station

 Then trying the other way up

2 of the 5 Deer we saw during our visit

Then up to Prestwick Carr where apart from a Snipe, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Wren and the following nothing much was seen at all

20 Minutes To Spare

Picking up John A in 20 mins to go for a wander round Big Waters and Prestwick Carr but just time to post a couple of the inevitable bad pictures from Big Waters and Howdon Wetlands last Sunday

Big Waters

2 Otters scaring the Bejasus out of the birds then feeding on fish 

 Who's Watching Who

 Note the BHGull with the coloured ring

 Wonder if their bums hurt after a landing on Ice ?

 Howdon Wetlands

Flock of Curlews coming into roost at Dusk

Nice flock of Long-tailed Tits knocking around 

 With a mouthful of seed these pretty looking birds always look intimidating

All done in 20mins - now to pick up the Sedgydunemin Warbler

First Trip of the Year With John

At last a Saturday when John A and my social calendars didn't clash and we were able to get away birding.  We opted to head for the "Dark Side" as there had been Glossy Ibis and Waxwing reported so off we went.  Here are a few pictures from the day:

We then headed off to find a couple of Waxwings to photograph but they wouldn't play ball and fly to where the sun was but still managed to get a couple of shots plus the various birds that were feeding with them

I shouted at the these birds for ages telling them to arrange themselves into an arc but they didn't do what they were told, typical

We then headed for a quick lunch at the Fish Quay in North Shelds, no white wingers around but just sitting devouring Fishcakes and Chips was a pleasure in itself.  We then went to St Marys but failed to find the Siberian Chiffchaff (wasn't really bothered as I had seen it last week LOL).  Had a walk round in the hour that I could afford for the parking charges, took a while to get the ticket though as only one was working and the other was spitting out most of the money you put in - Cmon council you make enough from the parking and from people who get a ticket to keep the machines operational.  The tide had just turned so the birds were quite close and I took the following pictures:

We then headed home but first stopping at an address in Tynemouth to check out the Lesser Whitethroat and here is my bad picture of it

Not a bad day out as usual when I'm with John

Last Weekend

Back to work on Monday after more than 3 weeks off, thank god I had sorted out my emails during the holidays and didn't have to wade through nearly 600 like some of my other colleagues although how can you get nearly 600 over the Christmas period beats me.  Was out for a couple of short visits to St Marys and Big Waters last weekend so here are a couple of picture from then.  Couple of nice shots taken just after Sunrise on Sunday.

Big Waters with a fair bit of ice

A few of the Juveniles trying out their skating/flying skills

Buzzard going for a wander on the North Scrape

Too Lazy to Write

Too lazy to write so just a couple of comments:

Amazing what a little bit of feed can do

Please Alan, can I have some more ?

Thanks, now I can hide some for later

Thought you said there would be some ducks up
this end of the pond we could chase?

You can nearly always guarantee a Goldcrest here

Just as AJ got halfway through the Teal count the Shooters
opened up and nearly a thousand wildfowl took to the sky

And if the shooters don't frighten them off the 
Carrion certainly do

Bullfinches are just great to watch

Two of the 200+ Greylags that are in and out most days