Red Backed Shrike

I could not access the photos of the Red Backed Shrike that was along Blyth links the end of last month , I got the header done but not the photos for the post ,so here they are rather late but I took them so may as well use them.
Another run on the bike along what is becoming a monotonous route, through the churchyard along to the park and then along the links road checking the small pool ,although it's had nothing on for weeks now ,passing the Astley Pub I glanced  sideways while cycling along  a bird sitting near the top of a small bush  House Sparrow I thought as there is always lots in these bushes but that's a long tail, so I stopped and looked through the bins , Red Backed Shrike not far from the busy and noisy roadside . I had tried for this bird a few times as did others but with no luck , thinking it had gone off  along the hedgeline of the fields opposite , so I got a few photos till it flew North  I put the word out and headed to St Mary's , but on the way back much later it was back in the same spot catching Bees so I got a few more shots captured Bee included . Nice bird and glad to catch up with it.


Not seen many Commas this year this one in Blyth park

 And the now, dare I say Common Speckled Wood what a rapid expansion of this species in recent years

 Common Darter .here I'm trying to be arty but it looks as if the wings are folded back

 Luckily the light was good

I tried the zoom on this one but its a bit soft 

Snow Bunting

last week as cycle along the coast ending at Holywell Pond ,still plenty of Speckled Woods on the wing also noted Red Admiral and a Comma , at the outflow to Meggie's Burn several Goldfinch ,Reed Buntings, and Meadow Pipits had come down to drink an bathe and a single Snow Bunting noted as it sat in the middle of the pool on a rock then flew to feed on the dune slopes . Two coveys of Grey Partridge along the links also a good number of Golden plover in with the Lapwings and hundreds of Black headed following the plough , near Seaton Delaval hall a covey of 8 Red Legged Partridge right in the centre of a field and 7 Mistle Thrush over west . Holywell Pond was quiet  I was there in the hope of some Dragonflies and sure enough up to three Hawkers plied the pool edge in front of the hide  but none would settle nor give me very good views Migrant and Common Hawker was my thought . A reverse of the cycle ride to take me home but somewhat faster ,I did check the small mud pool along the links but only 2 Redshank .

 Speckled Woods easily in into double figures but only one Red Admiral and Comma

 This Reed Bunting sat here for so long that I just have to get the camera out and try a shot it was rather too far but it looks OK

 Snow Bunting working the dune slopes interesting to note it was especially looking into footprints presumably where wind blown seeds would gather.

 I just found a spot to sit and waited till it came to me ,has to be one of my favourite winter visitors

 Seemed to have no problem  finding seeds

The pensive look

Bean Goose -etc:

26th Jan checked out the flock of Pinkfeet along the Links road at Blyth the Bean goose still present and the Geese are  still around the area ,with another flock od similar size near Holywell Pond , I also called back  up the Estuary this time on a falling tide some Grey Plover where close in on some early exposed mud but before I could set up the camera they had all gone so I got a couple of shots of the Bar-tailed Godwits and Knot, there seems more BTG than usual this year with 35-40 present eventually they flew over to the other side giving there distinctive call , checked out the Teal again in the hope of GW, still a good flock of a few hundred Teal around no doubt they will be drifting off to the ponds again soon , Red Throated Diver a 3 Mergansers in the area they used to turn boats in , Fieldfares feeding again on the Buckthorn.

 Bar -tailed Godwits

 For some reason Goldeneye are not the easiest birds to photograph the contrast is so great between the black and white it's very hard to get it right ,these males looked stunning as they drifted just offshore before starting to feed again

 Bean Goose centre

A few Knot where along the estuary