Hareshaw Linn

Another visit to Hareshaw Linn a month on hoping for more migrants ,weather wise it was much warmer a month ago the opposite of what you would expect at this time of year, some Toothwort still out but well past it's best, Goldilocks Buttercups just starting to flower . A Dipper feeding a single fledged young but too far down for me to get a photo a pair of Grey Wagtails fed around the waterfall and a nice male Redstart on the wood edge replaced by two Roe deer on the way back, only the one Wood Warbler briefly burst into song I think the dull cold day had subdued it.

 Toothwort

 Goldilocks Buttercup not sure how common they are can't say I have noted them elsewhere

 Herb Paris

Short video of a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers at their nest site .

Back to Harwood

Another run over to Harwood Forest started at the Gibbet ,Kestrel, Crossbills , Goldfinch, Chafffinch,Buzzards displaying, a bitter cold wind reduced the time of our stay here, going into the forest it was warm in the sun so I looked for perhaps a basking Adder , checking out an open recently felled area , the edge was alive with birds also taking advantage of the warmth of the sun but where the sun did not touch the ground was frozen solid , a walk along the tracks and you soon realise just how large this area is , Crossbills over but not settling ,but again when I got back to the near the car Crossbills  feeding along the road edge and coming down to water, so I just set up the scope and spent the rest of the afternoon watching their behaviour.

 Harwood from the air the trees tightly packed

Great Spotted drops in beside us

 Harwood from the air---actually a clump of Moss!!!!

 Crossbills feeding along the tree edge

 This one coming down to drink

 Juvenile feeding on bark ? or insects below

 looking North towards Cheviot

 looking East ruined cottage which would have been very remote in it's day

 This male also seems to be feeding /stripping bark, mineral content perhaps?

 Talking to one of the locals who said Crossbills regularly come down to  their garden , I could only think of the photographic opportunities if a suitable pool was available all year.

 The wind ruffling up the feathers

 Coming down to water with the dark forest behind

 Not the best of shots but I liked the way it showed the bill and tongue, this one was getting something out of the end of this branch

Also coming to drink , a good water source being essential in their daily life.

Gosforth Park - Bittern

Gosforth Park is a  Private site run by The Natural History Society of Northumbria and is only open to members of the society membership details here.http://www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk/

A few hours in Gosforth park  Just to get out of the wind again ,usual suspects at the feeders and some Long Tailed Tits  and a Stock Dove dropped in . I had a walk to the lake area not expecting much ,more just to stretch my legs before heading home  after counting everything in sight  the chap next to me said "Bittern " on your right, camera came out and I rattled a few shots off  as it was only seen very briefly ,I should have reset my camera as I had forgot to put the IS back on and should have upped the iso as it was rather dull so I have put the shots into a slideshow on there own they are not much but together they show the bird in some sort of display? . It first stood on the reed edge then flew a few yards and started to flap rather like a young bird flexing it's wings  this it did briefly before again disappearing into the reeds . The images below are some of the better ones from the run.   

Bittern with it's wings spread neck feathers erect,threat display ? or actually just stretching it's wings ?

Gosforth Park

A recent visit to Gosforth Park reserve of the Natural History Society , although it was quiet I enjoy the walk around in the blustery day ever conscious  of the falling  small twigs and Acorns . Three Jays glimpsed a party of about 15 Long tailed Tits along the board-walk c60 Wigeon and 6 Little Grebes from the hide . At the feeding station Treecreeper  Nuthatch and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers along with Blue,Cole , and Great Tit oddly only one Chaffinch around I 'm sure that will have changed by my next visit.

Membership of the Society is required to visit the reserve, contact the office in the Hancock Museum Newcastle.

Cambois Car Wash !!!!!

A Garden first of late in the form of a Great Spotted Woodpecker , I could hear the call  and looked around to see it fly off, I have a dead Flowering Cherry tree in the garden so it will be out with the drill and get some suet etc.into it .

Washing your car Cambois style ,this young lad was testing his cars ability to keep him dry ,lucky for him there was no small Boulders coming over as well. !!!!!

A few Manx past and a couple of  Whimbrel, in the wader roost along the old staithes , cice 150 Oystercathcers, C200 Redshank, 60 Knot , 15 Dunlin, a single Kittiwake  and another Colour ringed Black-headed Gull got only one shot of the ring but the code unclear something like VVY ?

 Another look at Holywell Pond and another new to me Med Gull with a colour ring ,still awaiting details .

 A couple of Ruff along the edge.

Big Waters

Spent a pleasant afternoon at Big Waters ,just a pleasant walk around getting some shots of whatever took my fancy , but the highlight of the day was a couple of Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers chasing each other around the feeding area joined briefly by a female , but one of the Juveniles came down to the small dish that provides water and had a lengthy drink, nothing unusual in that you might think but its the first time I have ever seen a Woodpecker of any sort have a drink, let alone get a couple of photos , I know you lot that has them coming down to feed and drink in your garden sees this all the time but it was a first for me .

 Just the one Southern Hawker this one deep in the Nettles & Brambles as I found out when I tried to get nearer.

 Two Juveniles at the feeding area

 Its comes a litle nearer

 and finally lands near the small pool

 took a lengthy drink

 pauses can it see it's reflection (just visible bottom right)

this is one thirsty bird !!!!

 I like to take photos of Fungi they all remain un- identified but I just like to see them.

North Tyne Sunday 5th June

Spent Sunday up the North Tyne valley, before and during the rain , birds encountered included Blackcap, garden warbler,Spotted Flycatcher,Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo,Buzzard, Common Sandpiper to name a few ,but no Wood Warbler which was the bird hoped for. Rather dull and dismal for most of the day so no bird Photos ,hence the flowers some of which i still have to check out,Bugle
Woodruff




Ramsons
Violet
Sanicle
Herb Paris



The left over level crossing gates from a disused railway
Several of these boxes presume some sort of Squirrel monitoring device.