A good start

New Years day being a bit of a wash out the 2014 count started in earnest yesterday. I soon ticked off the usual suspects although thrush numbers have declined dramatically over the last few days. I wonder if they've headed inland now the berries are largely finished or back home? Close to best was a Jack Snipe flushed from behind the top sentry box on the range Bridleway and not far behind that a Peregrine again flushed off a Woodpigeon kill near the wood.

The count for the day ended at 45 as a Sparrowhawk briefly visited the garden but most remembered was fifteen minutes watching three Red Squirrels chasing each other up and down a tree.

Flying into the New Year

Well that's that all over. I'm afraid I hate New Year and disappear into my pit till it's safe to emerge when folk begin acting normally again. This years snooze into 2014 was rudely interrupted by neighbours setting off fireworks which seems to be gaining prevalence over the traditional Bonfire night celebrations. The recent english habit of adopting other nations traditions over their own really gets on my tits. 

The Prestwick Carr list ended on 108 with Peregrine being the final addition although I missed out on Merlin and Goshawk that passed through on Monday. A final walk yesterday turned up a nice but evasive Goldcrest.

a Ladybird that I assume is hibernating in the top of this fence post

and the usual culprits of Kestrel and Willow Tit still pleasantly prevalent on the patch. Now to get on with 2014.

See duck

Upon reading a report of Black throated Diver at Druridge Pools I headed up there in my only time remaining between appointments on Saturday afternoon. Fat chance of it likely to be sitting in front of the Oddie hide but I opened the shutters carefully so as not to disturb the ...... zero birds nearby. Oh well, I settled down and ID'd  a far distant Long tailed duck and pair of Red breasted Merganser. Then from my right appeared the long staying Common Scoter.

A nice paddle past ensued allowing good views of this bird normally seen in a raft among it's relatives out at sea.

She headed purposefully off to see her other sea bird mates and they had a brief conflab, presumably discussing the better weather conditions before the two ducks stayed and the Mergansers flew back out to sea.

And so the sun starts to set on 2013

Seasons

Looks like I've acquired a bleak midwinter rather than a Merry Christmas. All the best to all of you.

Hover boys

The recent winds have made hunting for the three to four Kestrels around the Carr that much easier of late. Nice horizontal balanced position and the odd flap to keep balance and station in comparison to still days where the position is more vertical and lots of flapping is required.

On my many trips to Cramlington recently there's also been a geo stationary Buzzard on the Horton Grange Road using the updraught from the wind hitting the berm that surrounds the open cast site. I've tried to get the pic but I've either had another car up my tail end or the bird has moved off the moment I pulled up.

Looking down their beak

Maybe I'm getting an inferiority complex but even the thrushes are looking down on me. 

Difficult not too if you're in the top of a tree but it's the attitude.