Happy Birding 2012 - Favourite Photos from 2011

I thought I'd follow the trend of the 'final post' on the year with a summary of my favourite moments and photos from 2011:

To start, a photograph taken at sunset of 4 whooper swans coming into land at Marton Mere reserve at Blackpool.

Another of my favourites is this one, from mine and my dads annual Scotland visits, this time to the Uists, this short-eared owl was taken by the road on North Uist.

A photograph of a parent and juvenile tree sparrows at Big Waters. After spending so long without a decent photo of a tree sparrow, this opportunity came along.

A recent one, taken at the start of the month at the redeveloped Gosforth Park, fantastically cut back and allows views of birds like this secretive bittern, I was lucky enough to photograph this bird at about 10 metres.

Now for my favourite bird of all time, the kestrel. This female showed very little fear of me as I followed it around the car park at Big Waters watching it catch worms and mice in the wooded area next to the car park.

This bird has always been the one I couldn't not get, no matter how long I tried for, so I visited my local patch, St. Mary's, which provided me with an opportunity I couldn't refuse, a low-flying swift.

My only mammal pf the collection is this wood mouse photographed at Low Newton, again showing no fear whatsoever as this photo is taken with a 18-105mm lens, at 105mm this photo is uncropped, I had never seen a wood mouse so close which made the experience so special.

Another of my favourites from the year, taken at Northumberland Park was this beautiful drake mandarin, another bird that showed little fear of people.

For a lot of May, June and July, I was attempting to photograph this species in many different locations, including St. Mary's, Druridge Pools and finally where this photo was taken, Arcot Pond.

I thought it would be rude not to include this beauty in my collection, this desert wheatear at Newbiggin I have photographed on many occasions and never ceases to amaze me how approachable this bird is, such a stunning bird as well.

And finally my favourite image of 2011. We have had many rarities in Northumberland this year including, Greater Yellowlegs - Hauxley, Desert Wheatear - Newbiggin, Lesser Scaup - Marden Quarry, Eastern Black Redstart - Holy Island and many more but my favourite photograph of 2011 was taken 5 minutes from my house at St. Mary's Island. I felt that the colours, light and the pose of this stunning bar-tailed godwit couldn't be beaten...

Happy New Year and Good Birding to all in 2012!

Desert Wheatear 10/12/11

Went up to Newbiggin again today to revisit the desert wheatear that has been hanging around, I saw it on Tuesday on the beach south of Beacon Point but today it was north of the point in the bay out of the wind. Met up with Kieran Lawrence on the way there, good to see you again mate. We set up on the bank overlooking the bay and within a couple of minutes of setting up, it flew onto a ledge about 15 feet away, this bird really seems to have little fear of people. After 10 minutes of watching it, it flew round the corner of the bay out of sight. I went round looking for it on the beach and didn't relocate it but saw 5 purple sandpipers and 4 grey plover which was a nice end to the day.

Desert Wheatear

Triple Vision 27/11/11

Finally managed to get out after being engaged for so long, and I decided I ought to pay a visit to Big Waters to check out the two Bewick's Swans that have taken up residence there. Most importantly though, I was desperate to get all three British swans in the same photo. I knew there were whoopers there as well so we made straight for the right hand hide on arrival. We were greeted by the whooper swans right outside the hide, there was also a couple of mutes to the left but at first, no Bewick's. After 10 minutes of searching, I got my eye on one of the Bewick's Swans behind the island feeding, surprisingly small compared with the mutes. I soon got my eye on the other to the right of the hide and it wasn't long before the two met in the middle allowing me to get the all important shot!

Got it! Bewick's, Mute then Whooper (Top to Bottom)

The size comparison between mute and Bewick's.

Finally the comparison between Bewick's (Top) and Whooper (Bottom)

We watched them for half an hour before the light disappeared and were just shutting up the hide when the otter swam right past. On a second look, I noticed there were actually three otters together right outside the hide. Unfortunately the light had gone but I did get one shot with all 3 heads all up together, fantastic end to the day!

Yank with an icelandic sidekick 13/11/11

After dipping on the Greater Yellowlegs at Chevy on Saturday, I got a report on my phone when I got home saying it was showing at Hauxley, damn. So after ringing on sunday morning, I went up to Hauxley to look for it. On arrival, we decided to try the wader hide on our way up to the Eric's hide, and completely unexpected, it was sitting just to the right of the hide. After waiting about an hour with the rest of the twitchers, the greater yellowlegs walked around right past the front of the hide, fantastic views, what a stunning wader as well. It then stopped and preened in front of the hide and in flew a smaller grey wader. Grey Phalarope. One of the best experiences I have ever had, two lifers in the same camera shot about 8 feet away. A also went back tonight to get another view of it, again wonderful views of the yellowlegs and a flypast from the phalarope. Hopefully they'll hang around a while until we get some better light for photos! Greater Yellowlegs Grey Phalarope The pair together.

Pomarine Skua 30/10/11

Went to Sunderland today to see the pomarine skua on the north pier. When I first arrived there was no sign of it and I had missed it by 10 minutes, I was hoping for it to come back soon as the sun was dropping fast. 20 minutes later I spotted in flying in again in amongst the fishermen, about 30 or so, it dropped in the middle of them and fed off the scraps that were thrown to it. A great bird to watch and to see. It went up to the other end of the pier shortly after that and started hovering above 5 fishermen. Then I saw a guy about 20 on a bike with a red hoody on pick up a stone and he threw it at the skua. I spoke to one of the fishermen who was next to me about and he went over to sort him out, he left soon after. Why anyone would do that is completely beyond me, such a graceful bird in the air and so wonderful to watch.

Lovely Colours on this juvenile pom, a very approachable bird too.

St. Mary's Yellow-Browed 28/10/11

I've been in Blackpool since Monday and got back yesterday so I haven't had a chance to get down to the patch to catch up with any of the beauties that have been there. I was gutted that I had missed 2 firecrest which would have been lifers for me, but today I caught up with a beautiful yellow-browed warbler. There was about 15 people there this morning, all great company. That is number 107 for my patch list and hope to increase it again this month if possible.

It only showed itself twice in 2 hours but the first time, I had a great view of this bird.

Wonderful Wheatears 3/10/11

I went down to St. Mary's this evening to see if I could find any yellow-browed warblers but I was stopped halfway on the golf course by 3 wheatears. I lay in the grass for 30 minutes gradually edging closer to one of them but it flew before I got close so I thought I had missed my opportunity. However, I lay a little longer and about 10 minutes later, this beauty popped up in front of me, providing wonderful views. As I watched it I wondered whether it was a greenland race or not? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Wheatear