Wax at Ash

Managed to arrange a meeting at Ashington for Wednesday lunchtime which was over quite quickly allowing me to squander the rest of the working day watching and attempting to photograph the 30+ Waxwings near the cemetery.

Variable light conditions and not the best choice of tree for those wanting to avoid neck ache but some wonderful views if not quite achieving the quality of image I would like. Tried to tempt the birds onto the ground with some apple but despite showing some signs of interest a tree in the estate to the west (aptly all the streets are named after birds) was their favoured snack bar and the flock moved between the two locations throughout the afternoon.

Was joined by JM and Frank who put the size of my lens to shame and chatted with some of the locals who said at least two of the birds had been in the locality for some time. Various other birders who I recognise but whose names I don't know, passed by along with DM and his good lady who I meet quite regularly at these minor twitches.

Anyway, a great time was has by all and who cares about work when you can enjoy these colourful visitors to the full.

weekend

Had a play with my camera on Friday and consequently spent the whole weekend shooting on the wrong settings with variable results. The above Fulmar at Tynemouth was just saved but pics of the four Whitefronts at Woodhorn were not retrievable.

Look at the wax on those Waxwings at Forest Hall but why the soft focus!!

Lapwings flushed by Buzzard at Prestwick Carr

Shite Hawk flown by nugget at West Hartford meant I saw little else. Bird drifted off south over Cramlington with handler in tow so don't know if he managed to retrieve it. Keep your eyes peeled Crammy birders.

Quiet morning

After a horrendous day dashing about yesterday only made tolerable by seeing the four Redheads at Druridge, took a breather this morning and after getting some essential work out of the way headed down to Prestwick Carr to see if the flock of 64 Pinkfoot Geese present on Monday and Tuesday were still about but they had moved on.

Met ADMc and Paddy who was searching for Willow Tit. I had just seen one heading in his direction but the little blighter didn't show further and as we chatted a Buzzard passed overhead for the benefit of a couple from Jarrow not familiar with that species on their patch. Can't get moved for them here! ADMc advised he had found one of the Carr Barn Owls dead and that worse still 12 had been found on the Otterburn ranges. Lets hope for a good breeding season.

Near the ranges here, the fields were full of Lapwing and Golden Plover, their numbers building daily and nearly joined by a passing Cormorant. As I continued on my way the silence in the hedgerows was noticeable only pierced occasionally by singing Tits, calling Yellowhammers and the first notes from Chaffiches heralding better to come.

Not entirely a wash out

Woke up Saturday to find the gloom had descended so the morning was spent doing Bird Club paperwork which, by the time completed, the skies had cleared and then returned to murk. Went out to see what was about on the Carr but things were fairly quiet and with little hope of owls the time was spent in a mexican standoff with the deer. No way of getting close to them in the open but I've now identified two with antlers.

Bill regaled me of a Shelduck present on the flood Friday as a flock of 24 Teal swooped around startled by a passing Sparrowhawk. Now Shelduck last year evaded my list which was strange given the extent of flooding and I was delighted to find said specimen asleep on Pringles Pond with the pair of Mute Swans that seem to have made it home. Meanwhile the white chested Buzzard taunted me from a distance.

I must smell. Why won't anything come close?

Out today with good intentions of a birding morning via Bywell, Corbridge and Whittle Dene. On the way called in at the far end of the Carr and was delighted to see a flock of 93 Pinkfooted Geese with a couple of Greylag but predictably, on the other side of a foggy field. Oh well off on my trip the least said about which the better. On unpacking the gear at Bywell a strange hissing was heard from the rear nearside tyre and the rest of the morning was spent getting home and repairing same. Anyway, numbers 64 and 65 on the Prestwick Carr list for 2010 is some consolation.

Freezing the Barnacles off!

Barnacle Goose using the only patch of unfrozen water on Tynemouth Boating Lake yesterday afternoon accompanied by two Mute Swans, eight Turnstone and numerous Gulls unfortunately non related to Napoleon.

Don't like the look of this ice much but haven't learnt to stand on one leg!

Distant view

Sorry for the crap header pic but finally got a shot of the big raptor people have been describing to me. On enlargement the big white chest and possible grey head is a bit off putting but the tatty plumage and method of hunting off a fence can only suggest Buzzard although I stand to be corrected. The size though is very big with body length at least two feet which is right at the top end of Buzzard range. I've left some of the fence straining posts in the shot to get some idea of scale but they must project at least three feet above the grass.

Also last night a nice covey of twelve Grey Partridge napping in front of Ed's caravan.

and the buck deer again escorting three females. If the light improves as it is doing hopefully I'll get some better shots.

Looking up

Spent the weekend birding between meetings with some good results. The Carr on Saturday morning was heaving with Great Tits and a good tribe of eleven Long Tails. Then off the Kirkley where a Barn Owl stared back from its roost mid morning. Lunch at Lintzford with seven Red Kites circling overhead presumably not looking for scraps.

Then to Hexham for the final bit of work. Ah could take in the White fronts at Grindon I thought and there they were with some Bean Goose to boot. Splendid. Arrows mark the spot White fronts to the right Bean to the left but no end of dodgyscoping could get a reasonable result.

Sunday off to Ashington for work early morning and overshot to Cresswell and East Chevington where I dipped out on Bittern and Hen Harrier. So to Blyth to console myself with an easy Iceland Gull although views of the roof topper were poor as I was looking west into the setting sun. Must go in the morning next time if the youngster stays.

Finished off at Prestwick Carr where I watched a Fox for half an hour scenting the largest mole hills it could find later to be joined by what I presume was his mate. Looking up the vapour trails of jets were bright in the setting sun and watched with a little concern as one jet overtook another on exactly the same heading. I've heard of sharing flight spots but that's ridiculous. The planes obviously had a few thousand feet vertical separation but appear similar size!

Finally on the walk back to the car a familiar form lifted over the bumpy road and upon getting to the nearest gate a Short eared Owl drifted past in pretty direct flight not looking like it was hunting or staying. My first for two weeks and typical as I'd announced to at least three visiting birders this weekend that the birds must have flown.