Lakes and The Sea 15/2/09

In the morning, we decided that we would go to Colt Crag to view the male smew that was there. On the way there, we were scanning the fields for fieldfare as I was dying to see some. I hadn't seen any before so I was pleased when we got to a field very close to Colt Crag and we saw a group of them. After that, we headed to Clot Crag but didn't see it as the ducks were miles away. So we went to Bolam Lake and on our way there, we saw a little roe deer watching us just at the side of the road which was nice to see. When we got to Bolam, we saw a feeding station just in front of us with a nuthatch hanging off a feeder right in front of our eyes. We went to the lakeside but no sign of the smew so we starting making our way around the lake. When we got to the far side, we saw it in the middle of the pond through the scope. It was a female but we thought it was near to the other bank so we ran around just to see that it was in the middle and it was the same distance away! After seeing it, we left and when we got to the car, 2 long-tailed tits were at the feeding station which was good before we left. After that we went to St. Mary's for the Water Pipit and we saw it as soon as we walked onto the bay but we saw something else next to it on the bank which was identified later as a female stonechat, I got a photo of both which just topped of the day! Stonechat

Water Pipit

Long-Tailed Tit Nuthatch

Roe Deer

A Canny Weekend! 7/2/09

After seeing the bird north east blog with an Iceland gull at QE2, we decided to try there on our way to Linton Ponds to look for the one gull I have been dying to see. The Glaucous Gull. When we arrived there must have been 200 gulls there and half of them were black-headed gulls. As we pulled up into the car park we saw a wigeon grazing right in front of the car but because of the bad weather conditions, I didn't get any great shots but they weren't bad. We scanned the gulls on the frozen pond but no sign of it so we left for Linton. When we got there, we opened the window and we saw 1000+ gulls on the pond. I have never seen so many in my life. We had no chance of seeing the glauc here but we did see some ducks. A female pochard was just in front of the hide diving and 5 shoveler crossed the pond in front of the hide also which was a nice sight. After that we decided that Cresswell was our next plan so we moved to there. As soon as we got in, a little grebe greeted us in front of the hide and the barn owl 5 minutes later. If we had arrived 5 minutes later, we would have seen it sitting on the wall next to the cars but still a nice view. Later on a flock of 50+ teal flew in and I scanned them for anything rare and there was 4 pintail in the middle of them which was a new one for me. Also, speaking of ducks there was 2 scaup in the middle of the pond and 3 shelduck on the far bank. Later on, a bittern was spotted in the reeds on the bend halfway over the pond. Nothing else though, so we went to the Briar Dene car park on our way home to see the med gull and we saw it but it didn't come close enough for a photo. There was some starlings having a bath and a redshank on the golf course so not bad, eh?!

Starlings Barn Owl

Little Grebe Shoveler Wigeon

31/1/09 White Winged Gulls at last!

Today, we finally said we are going to find the Mediterranean and Iceland gulls. So off to Briar Dene Car park which is 400 yards from where we live. As soon as we arrived we saw a gull sitting by itself and we knew it was the med gull. It was too far away for a photo but we threw some bread out and it soon came over. I love the flight shot I got! Anyway, next onto Blyth to see if we could find the Iceland gull. When we got there we had a look over the side and couldn't see it. So we asked someone who said there were 2 around and took us back to the place we were standing and we looked over further and there it was! However, no sign of the other one but I was delighted to see both types of gull. We still had a lot of time so we went to Holywell Ponds. When we got into the hide, everyone was looking out with binoculars and there was a female brambling. But then everything flew away and a sparrowhawk flew across the water. To finish we went to St. Mary's for the water pipit but no sign of it today.

Iceland Gull, Blyth Harbour

Common Gull, Briar Dene

Med Gull, Briar Dene Sparrowhawk, Holywell

25/1/09 Holywell, Linton and Cresswell Ponds

Woke up this morning and looked outside and was welcomed by 4 long-tailed tits in my garden. We decided to go to Holywell Ponds first and see what was there then move on so that's where we went. When we got out of the car, a kestrel flew over our heads and onto the grass right in front of us. Then it took off again but came back flying right towards us and I got some photos. When we went into Holywell, we found out that it was a special day and we got given a booklet of what birds we might see. In the feeding station, there was greenfinches, chaffinches, robins, a great-spotted woodpecker and a water rail. After a while we left for Linton. When we got there we went right to the first hide which had nothing of interest. The other hide was much better. When we went in, I scanned the gulls for the glaucous but no sign. However the ducks were better. The rare ones contained a shoveler, pochard and a female scaup. There were loads of teal and Canadian geese but no wigeon which was surprising. Next onto Cresswell. On the way in we looked for the barn owl but it wasn't there. In the hide the red-breasted mergansers were in front of the hide and I got some photos. Nothing else of interest until we got outside the hide when we saw 2 stock doves which was a nice sighting.

Red-Breasted Mergansers

Shoveler

Kestrel

Tits and Finches at Big Waters 18/1/09

I have noticed that long-tailed tits are becoming more common. I saw 4 in my garden, 5 at Big Waters and 1 in my garden yesterday. Also, I went to Big Waters (again) and saw a goldfinch at the feeding station. On numerous occasions, I have seen siskin at Big Waters and today I saw a goosander from the hide but it dived to quick for a photo. Also there was 7 snipe, 34 greylags, loads of teal, wigeon, mallard and tree sparrows. Unfortunately, no sign of the sparrowhawk or woodpecker but, although we missed it, a man said that there had been a kingfisher right in front of the hide.

Siskin

Goldfinch

Long-Tailed Tit

Thornley Wood 4-1-09

We were going to go to Cragside but it was shut so we went to Thornley Wood instead. When we got there, I noticed there was a mini feeding station with mostly great tits and 1 nuthatch. When we had finished lunch, we went and had a look at the map of the reserve. We saw there was a hide with a big feeding station so we went there. When we got in, we saw loads of little birds flying around such as robins, great tits and blue tits. After just a few minutes, a red kite flew over being chased by a crow. Not long after that, my dad noticed a bird in a tree which was a bullfinch. It was too far away for a photo but then 2 flew down and sat right in front of the hide when I got a photo. I noticed there was no coal tits and I wondered why but then I thought I'd seen one and got a photo. When I looked closer at the photo, I saw it was a willow tit! Shortly after, I saw a brown bird climbing a tree, quite far away and I realised it was a treecreeper. It was quite far away but it came and sat on a tree right next to us when I got the photo.

Willow Tit

Treecreeper

Bullfinches

29-12-08 Big Waters

We decided to go to Big Waters because I wanted to see the little birds at the feeding station with my new Northumberland Wildlife Trust key that I got for Christmas. First, we went into the smaller hide and had a look on the lake. There were plenty of ducks and geese (Mostly greylag geese, wigeon and teal) but that was all. Then we went to the main hide that overlooks the feeding station. When I got there, there was blue tits, great tits, robins, chaffinches and tree sparrow and about 5 siskin. Later a great spotted woodpecker dropped in as well. I got plenty of photos and I liked the siskin because I haven't seen many of them so that was an advantage.

Male Siskin

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Robin

Also I saw a blackcap in my garden on 31/12/08. Here is the photo: