Druridge pools

Checking the pools along the coast I ended up at Druridge Pools and sat in the hide overlooking the wetland and two small pools this is the one that had no roof  on for awhile which I think was much better all that was needed was a part roof to shelter under , when it was open it was much easier to see around and above  ,now you have very small windows and as is the case in most hides as soon as you sit down your vision is restricted to straight out , the grass has grown so high even this is becoming a problem , so I ended up standing or actually bent double trying to get some shots of the Garganey  which was nearby on the pool  trying to photograph between the grass. A Grey Partridge fed on the open grass area  and a Wiilow Warbler sang from outside the hide, only Wall Brown on the wing as it was rather cool it's looking like another poor Summer ahead for us and the struggling wildlife. 

 Grey Partridge, I was hoping to see some chicks so I watched it for some time

 Garganey always nice to see the poor light emphasised by the water.

 This lapwing came to near the hide half hidden by the grass

 Found this slug climbing up a seeding Dandelion  why ?

 Grapped a quick shot of this Willow Warbler probably the same one I took a similar shot of last year in the same spot

Not sure if I posted this before or not came across on a walk looks like it just died as it lay curled up  sad sight ,I have only ever found  or I should say came across one other  but you must resist the the temptation to pick up or even touch them , just move on !

St Mary's Island 8-12-10

Now that's cold !!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday was such a bright sunny day , I headed to St Mary's Island , some grey Partridge in the stubble field, a Woodcock flew over and dropped near them trying to feed ,2 Snipe lifted from the stream  and dropped straight back in, another  Woodcock  as I went up the track   a total of four over by the time I got to the top , another two when I went down the dead end, I realised they seemed rather lost as where to go , so I kept away from the stream not wanting to flush them for the sake of it , standing in the open they just seemed to be all over with birds dropping in then just lifting again. Standing on the cliff edge birds dropped into the open grass area, I counted a total of 28. Skylarks about 60 coming to seed near the carpark with a  Snow Bunting , Reed & Lapland Bunting and the ever resourceful Turnstone present also, some open water on the wetland attracted Mallard ,Teal and a Water Rail seen through one of the wooden screens  the Grey Partridge even nearer the road but flushed as I walked past.

Woodcock by the cemetery as I got the car and again about 12 Grey partridge in a school field along Blyth links and about 100 Pinkfeet  just over the wall from the road they must be really desperate  to get that close to the road , one field seems to be attracting  a lot of waders and gulls .

 Woodcock just seemed to pop up and dash overhead

 Caught one or two but they where just too fast.

 A Bird drops in along the cliffs in front of me

 Plenty of Skylarks on the seed

 Lapland Bunting

Water Rail through one of the lower openings in the screen 

Greys fly further into the field

Blyth Harbour - Meggies Burn Area 3-12-10

Friday I just headed back down to the harbour passing the apple tree with the camera at the ready not a thing on it today. The call of the odd Skylark over  increased as I got on the coast with a large number passing over South in the time I was there, 5 Snow Buntings still around at one point with 4 Reed Buntings, also 3 Linnets and a Pied wag ,1 Kittiwake but very few Gulls . I headed off for the   fields before it got too late , a couple of Skylarks dropped down by the road briefly,  a field held three groups of Grey Partridge total of 29, very few small birds in the trees only Great ,Blue Tit a few Chaffinch ,9 Greylag over a Woodcock lifted long before I got anywhere near. It Was not till I got into South Beach estate that birds where in any number  2 Snipe and a nice bright Grey Wagtail along the stream as where plenty of Blackbirds, greenfinch etc: a few Fieldfare over , very few berries around the Hawthorns having only a few on the lower branches.

 This bird left the others to feed on the dune grasses as where the Reed Buntings

Tracks of a Snow Bunting ............in the Snow !!

A Couple of Skylarks drop in along the roadside briefly

 One of three groups totalling 29 birds