Dull

The deluge has ended however it's just so dull and Grey Heron on a grey background doesn't help but almost a good silhouette.

Down at Newburn for the umpteenth time I managed to flush the Kingfisher before I could manage to get a shot. Mallards were far more obliging.


Can't even be bothered to wake up but a wary eye was kept.

This young Dunnock doesn't look like he's enjoying the weather and his waterproofs look distinctly unfinished.

At Prestwick Carr the water levels are still rising and the Ruff have departed for sunny climes but one Greenshank is still about although I've yet to find it on the ground.

Ruff up

The flock of Ruff grew from 10 to 13 and then to 18 last night with all present and correct this morning if a little flighty.

Go on count them

Nice birds in flight but crap weather was pushing my modest equipment to its limit

I ended up in the car behind a hedge as the birds walked up the field edge but there's still not one of these shots sharp. Notice the bird on the right is noticably larger which is not unusual in a flock of Ruff and it likely means its a male.

If you'd stop pecking away it would be easier

Or they stand and still and keep the beak moving......drat

This Buzzard was keeping a beady eye on them too.

Ruff count

O.k. ignore the last post. When I checked the flooded hay fields at 5.30 there were four heads bobbing up and down so dashed back to the car for the scope and lo I was barking. Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff. I tried to get a better view further up the road but hedges, bushes and flooded ditches prevented a photographic opportunity so I returned to the gate at Mayfair Cottage and was joined by Bill.

A Greenshank called from above but couldn't be seen then the distinctive sound of Snipe being flushed and a flock of 16 flew off north.

Returned to the Ruff area and counted 1,2,3,4,5 & 6. Well evcn better and as we chatted we remembered the last good flood when Pec Sand, Wood Sand, Greenshank, Little Stint, Ruff and Grey Plover all put in an appearance. As we dreamed four Ruff took off and after some wheeling landed in the far corner of the field. I checked for the other two but there were still six so the final scores on the doors........ten. Early start tomorrow in the hope of more me thinks.

Come on down..

..all you passing waders. Prestwick Carr is flooding and just raring to do its stint so keep your wits about you I thought and get out on shank's pony to find them. I did and what was my reward for two days wading? Hundreds of Gulls, Pigeons and 11 Mallard although the 100 plus Goldfinch feeding on Thistles around this bush was nice to see

I think I offended the Lesser black backed Gull on the header as it followed me, circling overhead calling for a good twenty minutes as I walked from the golf course up to the sentry box on the range. I was waiting for an attack on my balding pate but fortunately it never came.

So with the ditches full, the trusts 8m bridge within 8 inches of getting wet and the horse paddocks pooled nicely I await some additions to my currently stagnant list. Not that I may see them as the grass is long and there is little bare earth so if I could have the longer legged variety it would help thanks.

Memories of sun

Here I sit looking at the rain drops running down the window and thinking of all the household chores I should be getting on with when only yesterday it was glorious sunshine and you couldn't have kept me indoors if you tried.

A trip to Newburn produced little in the bird line other than a couple of calling Little Owl young and further along the Tyne at Clara Vale there was possibly another one calling but more obvious were the Dragonflies and Butterflies. This nice female Southern Hawker was particularly obliging.

My first Comma of the year was nice although the wing shape was further indented by some damage.

Three Speckled Woods fluttered around the woodland edge but were not so keen on posing. A similar problem occured with a number of Wall Browns both here and at Prestwick Carr where there were plenty of Butterflies but nothing quite so exotic as in the deep south.

Pied flycatching

Jesus, these stones are hard to shift!



No, just some young Pied Wagtails taking advantage of a fly bonanza

Black and whites the colour.

Bartons a tosser

Away day part 2

I took the high road home and headed over the Simonside Hills parking at Lordenshaws for a look at the view. There were a good few walkers about so I headed slightly off track to a cup and ring marked stone overlooking Rothbury. Above looking over the stone to Dove Crag and Simonside summit.

Haymaking in full progress in the Coquet valley below makes a patchwork in the warm sunshine which unfortunately reduces the excellent view due to haze. You have to be up here first thing for the view to benefit from the clear air.

Looking north to the Cheviot which appears still to be in cloud. I often wonder what the prehistoric people who carved the patterns on these and many other stones in Northumberland were thinking. Was it sacred worship, commemoration, fertilty rights or some sort of mapping.

This is a survey of the markings on the rock photographed above from Stan Beckensalls excellent book ' Northumberlands Prehistoric Rock Carvings ' which is an explanation and gazetteer of the numerous sites in Northumberland.

Given that the majority of sites have views and surround the major hilltop features of the county I wonder if they were trying to capture the only thing they couldn't touch. Prehistoric man had no concept of nothing (not needed till number arrived) so would he have been puzzled that the sky touched and sometimes enveloped the mountain but after climbing to the top he still couldn't touch it or is it just a circle (womb) and rod (phallus) thing?