Narcissus returns

The Ponteland Parakeet on tour at Prestwick this afternoon and just lovin his own reflection. What a pretty polly.

Hey you've got a redder nose than mine.........I'm green with envy.

Now don't look back in anger........just feed the window like this.......parrot fashion.

Mistle play for me

Saturday mornings sunshine was more than welcome and my usual wander was pleasant if a little too warm as I still had the lining in my coat. The flood had been topped up by the recent rain but Whimbrel were the only birds of note. I can't remember multiple birds staying for this length of time before and wonder if they would breed like the Curlew whose flock has now largely broken up with pairs dispersed over the farmland to the north. This Mistle Thrush is one of a pair holding territory at Mayfair Cottage and has been on his own of late so I suspect she's on the nest.

He spend most of his time either in the trees keeping watch or feeding in the paddock to the west and if Crows or Magpies come close the usual battle ensues.

It always pays to keep an eye out for the neighbours when they fly over. 

There's still three Wheatear in the horse paddocks and I saw quite a few up the coast yesterday afternoon in pursuit of some Birdguide reports. In preparation for seeing some 'hot' birds I took the lining out of my coat and of course.......froze my butt off. British summertime eh!

Great crest

Overshot a meeting a site visit at Heddon yesterday and went up to Whittle Dene where the Grebes were looking good.

If you go round in circles really fast you can create a whirlpool you know. The main target of my visit, Yellow Wagtail was heard but only seen in flight disappearing into the rape. Pretty good cover for a yellow bird!

The Common Terns are back and vocal with some courting chases going on. Unfortunately the greyness flattened any good flight shots. For some reason the Agency has the northern reservoir drained down four feet or so for maintenance. Hope it doesn't disturb their nesting although last time I looked their raft was nearly at the shore line.

Back on patch somebody in a horse box had found out the meaning of soft verges. Today god is trying to fill up that reservoir again and topping up the flood on the Carr to boot. Hopefully I'll get a Yellow Wag here or better still one of the birds I've been told I've missed over the last week. Green Sand, Wood Sand, Garganey, Greenshank, Whinchat and another big bird. I know I had an exceptional week last week but I'm greedy and if I'd seen everything that has been present I'd be on 105! Actual count 97 and hoping.

Sedgy & Scratchy

After weeks of waiting and only one of each species present on Friday this morning saw wall to wall Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers. At least six territorries of each up the range bridleway and a similar number along the bumpy road plus three or four Groppers and numerous Willow Warblers.

Notwithstanding all the singing the Whitethroats were obviously straight down to nest building with this bird repeatedly returning to this branch then down onto the ground nearby.

Sedge Warblers perching nicely on occasion although the shrubery in this instance got in the way of the composition.

 Upon which subject...........

the pair of Redstarts just choose to tease me. I'll get them yet!

A lambs tail

In the garden this morning a couple of Pied Wagtails having a face off whilst under the Jackdaws nest in the front pine trees a strange find,

The Jackdaws are notorious for bringing all manor of rubbish to line their nest and one of them has found a lambs tail lying in a field.

Other Dinnington corvids are also in full breeding swing with the Rookery near the Village Hall having at least ten, probably more, active nests.

I snapped this Crow in the distance yesterday being one of many showing leucistic character especially in the wing. This one appears to have only greater coverts that are black.

Hit the bar

I managed to arrange a job visit up the county this afternoon so after work headed to Hauxley to see what was about. The north wind was howling round the Ponteland hide and I could have been in the high arctic given the temperature. The usual Greylags were about, one pair with four young, Shelduck, Tufties, Teal and a Heron to amuse me till a pair of geese dropped in.

One of the long staying Bar headed Geese at Hauxley appears to have taken up with a Greylag and he/she was giving it some stick at one stage despite a slight disadvantage in stature.

Eventually they both started to call as the usual prelude to heading off in flight possibly to create a Barlag Goose.

 Dodgy shot but my first Common Sandpiper of the year fed around the pond

and hot legs turned up for a brief visit.

My boots are well and truly full

There I was watching a big bird being mobbed by Crows when there was a commotion of Gull and Heron calls to my right and a unmistakable profile hoved into view.

I watched as it flew high in front of me ignoring all the hangers on when it suddenly turned toward me and looked like it was going to land back on the flooded fields.

It did a circuit but as two Herons approached it turned again and flew sedately away off North.

As you can see from the colours of the images I was battling with exposure looking up into a sky that for once had some patches of blue and upon return home was dissappointed with the photographic results but cock a hoop with the experience.