To The Hills 17-4-11

A run inland today up to the Cheviot area , a walk around the two hill forts of West Hill and St Gregory parked at the Village Hall of Kirknewton headed East, Blackcap the first bird heard singing Swallows overhead, more Blackcaps and Willow Warblers  on the edge of the gardens , some of the feral Goats on the hillside they seem to always be here, a Hare just sitting on the path ahead of us, the Yaffle of Green Woodpecker but no sign , 2 Buzzards over ,Meadow Pipits on the open grassland seemed more than I have ever seen in this area well over 100 birds . Two red Legged Partridge sitting on the wall watching us I  gave directions to where they were sitting  but  one step off the track and they where gone., two nice Male Wheatears  on the walk up West Hill ,Female on the top, another two on St Gregorys , but 7 birds on the track back down to the road  5 male 2 female (much more sheltered here) ,another 2 Hares & the gruesome sight of a dead Lamb with it's eyes pecked out .
called at Brunton Gravel pits on the way back , a hide has been erected and a car park made , but not sure of access, the usual Greylag & Canada a few Black headed Gulls and 20 Tufted Duck.

 Kids butting heads together

 Some of the feral Goats

 Wheatears in good numbers no Ring Ouzel though .

 Hare the wind was in our favour

 Tick on the track below, the river runs in the valley below Green Woodpecker here.

 View across the Millfield plain in the historic past this was a huge lake.

 The camera can't get it all in

A small stream separates the two hills

Kirknewton just below beyond the Gorse no sign of Stonechats they seem to have had a hammering from the harsh winter..

That was the week that was...........ending with a nice wag !!

This week I have had problems with the blog being denied access for some infringement or other ? but it seems sorted now.

Anyway just around up of the week, had my first Willow Warbler near Morpeth on Sunday and also my first Butterflies Tortoiseshell , Peacock, Large White, Monday started off at Blyth estuary 150+ Redshank ,40 Shellduck, and 2 Bar tailed Godwits, on to Cresswell and then cycled to Hauxley Willow Warblers at Druridge and Hauxley, 3 Swallows over, 44 Curlew and 4 Bar Tailed also 3 Mergansers , just a pleasant day out out on the coast , the rest of the week I cycled three times through too Holywell the St Marys , as much to save petrol as anything , as that is all I seem to spend money on just lately oddly later in the week heard less Willow Warblers, Black caps singing at several locations , Grasshopper Warbler at Holywell numbers of Tortoiseshell increased in sunny spots . A pair of Great Crested Grebe displaying at Holywell .

Sunday with the weather looking changeable to say the least I delayed my plans to go to Hartehope Valley , but the message of a Black Headed Wagtail at Cresswell saw me pull up to see about a dozen birders already there, but boy was it cold lucky I have an old army jacket in the car then the rain eventually it was pouring down ,but the bird showed well and what a little stunner it was , Yellow wagtails are always great to see in the Spring but this was bonus in with the six Yellow Wags , I have looked them up again but what a nightmare to sort out , I will leave it up to much more experienced birders , also White Wag in with the pieds and a Common Sandpiper new for the year .

I also had another new tick for Northumberland while watching the bird a movement in the corner of my eye turned out to be the blogger of " From the Notebook" (aka Boulmer Birder, aaka Stewart) actually running back to his car for a camera ,as everyone was intent on looking at the wag , I was too slow and Stewart to fast, for me to photograph the action, all I could do was take a few notes , but without a photo its doubtful I will get the record accepted ,not sure if this is a County first , or just an action of being off his patch !! and slightly disorientated , but it was good to see.

Three heron feeding in front of the hide at Hauxley.

Several Blackcaps in the Dene and elsewhere.
Found this Rooks nest one of the largest Iv'e seen its got to be about 4-5' deep
However you estimate it this is one very large nest
This strange light effect at the back of the house the sun is out of shot to the left , but also a bit of other cloud that shows no effect ?
It stayed visible for some time

My efforts of The Black Headed wagtail, does not do the bird justice , cracking little bird,

Yellow Wags coming a little closer , but the rain and cold persisted ,yes its definitely Spring !!

Mega Seawatch session ............not

This morning I intended to go seawatching, but looking out the wind strength was not as forecast, ended up at Woodhorn Church checked the hedge to the south ,only a Blackcap & a couple of Great Tits, with a few Blackbirds, on the pond a line of Black Headeds on the posts, in with these at least one adult Med ,but there was also a 2nd year bird that flew off, and three 1st year birds, one with a colour ring which I have sent off, replies for the last ones where returned swiftly, one I had sent in twice before, and has been a regular at Newbiggin for some time , one from Belgium to Spain , Spain, Belgium & Newbiggin, with the 1st year coming from Pais de Calais.
The Mound for lunch well a coffee & snack in the car , tramped over the area but nothing other than a lot more Blackbirds & a few Redwings, so I ended up back on the beach , but dog walkers despite the ban, chased everything off , a short seawatch late afternoon turned up nothing so it was an early end to the day.
This used to be an excellent pond for waders, but the edge is getting overgrown

3, 1st year birds interestingly all in a slightly different state of mould ( or moult if you want to be picky !!!! :) )