Coquet Island visit

As  I wrote in the last post  a trip over to Coquet Island with the Natural History Society and North Northumberland Bird Club at the end of last month  weather was a bit dull and cool to cold with some fresh seas on the way out ,but we stayed in the lee of the Island which was reasonably sheltered . The was not a photography trip as all you can shoot is from the swaying boat but they did go in fairly close what does not come across in photos is the noise and smell of a large colony it is very impressive , a Seal popped up to investigate and several more nearby . Birds shot overhead in every direction and I braced against the rail to stop swaying tried to follow some with little success , Roseates could be picked out on the rocks etc: but I did not pick any out in flight , and all to soon it was time to head back by now the seas had calmed some  or we where going with it , everyone remarked how good it had been and for a mere £7 (return) what a bargain .

 We Near the Island ,last year we went around and then towards the jetty ,this year  it was straight to hang around then drift south slightly

 The other boat of the party it looks quite flat but not onboard

 I would love to visit the Island sometime even if there where no birds

 It does have a small beach

This is from the south the other boat now holding station off the jetty

 Crowds of Puffins and many flying off in all directions

 Not sure if this is a prime spot or not.

 Plenty of Juveniles on the beach I will leave you to ID them all

 The terraced nesting boxes

 Numerous Seals around the Island

 Roseate Juvenile on the jetty

 The Puffins just too quick for me and the lens

 Light improved for a few minutes

 Not sure if the hide is to be out of sight or out of falling debris lets say !

Roseate with Juvenile 77 pairs was the last count I heard ?

Back to the calm waters of Amble where I had a red  colour ringed Med Gull probably the Serbian bird but the photo did not reveal any detail and it would not play ball for me.

Gosforth Park NHSN Reserve

A recent visit to Gosforth Park reserve of  The Natural History Society of Northumbria you have to be a member of the Society to gain access to the reserve, as I have said before membership is well worth the expense with meetings/lectures at The Hancock Museum on various Natural History subjects also an excellent Library  to view, and access to the Reserve with a key entry feeding station and 2 key entry hides . Check out the website membership could be a very good Christmas present for someone !!!!!!!!!!

We started off at the feeding station  with the usual Blue Tits etc as you would expect good sightings of GSW and regular visits of Nuthatch and Treecreeper , it was decided to walk around the reserve as the rain was keeping off  so we set off  on a circular walk but calling into one of the hides that looks onto the lake oddly no wildfowl at all , and save for 2 Mute and a few Moorhen and Coot , that was it , sightings of Bittern are seemingly regular but you need something to look at in the meantime .

Walking further around a Jay overhead , and 2 Roe deer skipped off with another 2 further around till wee came upon one that we saw it before it saw us and I managed a couple of shots before it was off into the thick cover , very few birds on the walk most seem to hang around the feeders as there was plenty still there when we called in again but the light had gone and despite the birds dropping in fairly close photography was no good 

 Nuthatch frequent if brief visitor to the feeding station

 Roe Deer till it either got wind of or heard us

 Treecreeper another regular visitor to the feeding station

 GSW like to feed on the fat balls that are pushed into the holes as the one above

 The ever present Rats inevitable with all the falling seed etc:

Treecreeper again seem to like this Oak, brilliant little birds I have had them very close but never it seems when I have a camera ?