Great Crested will feature here over the next few weeks.

I followed a pair of Great Crested Grebes at Killingworth Lake around five years ago all through the spring and summer and fell in love with the species. That year they nested close to the main road in front of, what was, a very nice floating reed bed not 3 metres away. It looks like the pair on the larger lake might do the same again but sadly the reed bed looks more like a huge floating shopping trolley but the encounters with this fabulous species only metres away more than compensates. Get along there at 6 a.m. in nice light and i can tell you now it makes hauling yourself out of bed in what in essence is the middle of the night  (4 a.m. for me) very rewarding.

GO ON, GET OUT OF YOUR PIT.

This fence aint big enough for the both of us.

OH OH, here comes trouble. I'm outta here.

First time i've got an image of a birds arse and been happy with it. And my word, i've taken a few !

Disappointed of Wallsend.

I have to admit to be disappointed with my batch of images of the Wryneck at Whitley Bay cemetary. Admittedly the light wasn't the best when i arrived and the bird was in whatever shade was being cast by the tree it sat under but i had lots of time with it. My first Wryneck, a bird that had eluded me until now and what a little cracker. It wasn't as active as it had been, by all accounts earlier, but it was fascinating watching it feed in a joint between the kerb edgings.
If you haven't already seen it, go HERE to watch a video captured by John (Howdon Blogger) Hall of the bird showing lots of its behaviour and some images that put my poor effort to shame.

Best of a bad bunch.......image, not bird that is.

EDIT...... just looking at some other Wryneck images again, it looks like the Wryneck is one of those species like, say, the Waxwing which is transformed when seen in a bit of decent light. Waxwings, although beautiful birds can colour wise look dowdy when viewed on a grey day. That's my excuse.

Butter..

..fly.
Male Orange-tipped at Big waters.

Just another Gebe image.............

..............from Killingworth Lakes.

High ISOs and cropping.

Is this THE Famous Grouse ???

Residing just outside Edmundbyers.