Tuesday 27 November 2012

Who's a pretty boy then ?

There are loads of "pretty" bird species about but i do have a soft spot for Rooks. There mugs are full of character to my (tiny) mind and all very different. When i call by Killy Lakes i always walk up to the roundabout before the shopping centre to see if there are any knocking about.  This fella was captured at Gretna while JOHN and i waited for a murmuration.
Say "CHEEEESE"


Saturday 24 November 2012

Lapwings in flight

You wouldn't have believed that Howdon Blogger and i were heading north with lattes in hand driving through driving rain earlier in the day judging by the images.


 Images captured next to the River Coquet last Saturday


Thursday 22 November 2012

Thursday 15 November 2012

By popular demand

I've been inundated by requests from my legions of fans for more Waxwing images. You can't have too much of a good thing so here is a solitary bird.
Eyecatcher.......not a Flycatcher

Monday 12 November 2012

Blaydon Burn Bombycillidae beauties berrying.

Two of the flock of over two hundred that Howdon Blogger and i had where the burn joins the Tyne next to the railway lines on Saturday. We could actually claim Waxwings in Durham and Northumberland at the same time as, on a couple of occasions some of the birds drifted over the river to perch high in trees at Newburn before returning after a few minutes. At one time in particular some of the birds dropped into the bushes beside us and were too close to focus on ! While in Seaburn later on a single Waxwing flew past while we were at the Bee-eater site but that bird had gone missing for ten minutes and as i recall the Waxer passed through at that time so we are unable to claim having both birds in view together.
Yesterday a 14km. walk from Druridge to Hauxley was very pleasant if not overly exciting on the bird front. Merlin and Kestrel were notable birds of prey while heading north along with a Short-eared Owl on the return leg. There was very little wind which gave rise to possibly hearing, if not seeing any Bearded Tits at East Chevington but drew a blank as i passed through as did the other nine birders i encountered in that vicinity. I also drew a blank hoping for a possible November dragonfly  at the educational dipping pond and nearby southern corner of Druridge Country Park despite some nice warmth in the sun and there being reasonable numbers of insects on the wing. (There were sightings in the south yesterday on BDS)

Saturday 10 November 2012

Beef-eater

Yes BEEFEATER !!
WHAT...........you want a Bee-eater ???

O.K.
There y go, a Bee-eater.


Tuesday 6 November 2012

Supporting cast.

It was busy, busy, busy at the polis station the other day. The pair of Rowan trees were not just the target of the Waxwings many Blackbirds, Robins and Tits came and went and looked just as stunning in the early morning autumn sun.
The berries were going fast.
Classic Robin pose.
Obvious star of the show, however...........
...this female Blackbird came a very close second.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Multi coloured cop shop.

Allo, allo, allo, what have we here then ??

One of the sixteen Waxwings enjoying Rowan berries at Ashington Police Station.