Prestwick Carr

Late afternoon and I headed to Prestwick Carr in the hope of Owls I did not go too early just enough time to have some daylight for a walk around down to the sentry post and back again to the platform just as well despite the sunshine it was freezing, Bullfinch ,Chaffinch, and lots of Goldfinch along the track hedge of the bumpy road , Willow Tit tantalised me with good views which I tried to capture  but they move around so fast all I photographed where twigs . I stopped now again to scan with the scope hoping for a roosting LEO hidden deep in the bushes but no luck .  Three Kestrels and two Buzzards encountered , heading back to the platform in the now fading light a  Tawny called from the plantation I got set up on the platform and just scanned and scanned the fading light gradually reducing how far I could see six Roe Deer hopped over a fence one by one and disappeared into the long grass . I tried the scope it seemed to gather more light but obviously a much narrower field of view , then suddenly a Short Eared Owl popped into view as it hunted in the distance, at one point it hovered in the air for what seemed like a few minutes but was probably only 10 or so seconds  I eventually lost it so looked through the bins but could not see very far at all , Surprised just how much more light the scope pulled in would not have seen the bird without it , Picked it up again with the scope and followed its progress till it was lost behind a hedge . I now turned my attention to the Moon and accompanying planets which where showing well but I dont have the gear to get any good shots , but in the setting of the Carr they did look impressive .

   

Willow Tit it took many shots to get anything decent , these birds move so fast
 

 Willow Tit with background Great Tit

 Field Vole

The Moon , Venus and Mars (just visible) much more impressive at the time , while I was looking through the scope at them something flew over my head I only heard the swoosh of wing beats , gave me quiet a fright in the near darkness no idea what it was .

Prestwick Carr

Monday was such a bright sunny day but rather cold I decided to go to Prestwick Carr just for the walk around and the off chance of a shortie or two ,parked at the east end of the lane  and checked the fields to the north before walking along the lane which is looking pretty rough in parts no way would I take my car back down there. The air was clear and still but not much activity at all eventually I came across the new platform which is very substantial in its construction  and does give good views to the south ,although in my experience of watching owls here this is an area they do not frequent much, platforms at wildlife sites abroad are fairly common and some like in Estonia are a bit scary as they are so high they sway in the wind and you have to go through a trap door in the floor can't ever see those in this country but you have to applaud the effort of the council for erecting this one. It would be good to see something like this at East Chevington perhaps they could adapt the tin huts with steps up and a mezzanine floor (all flame proof of course).
I went as far as the Northern boundary past the sentry box and spent 1/2 an hour just looking over the area with the scope ,3 Fieldfare  landed in a tree joined by 2 Reed Bunting a Kestrel hovered and a Buzzard passed over , heading back along the track 30-40 Redwings flitted from tree to tree another Buzzard landed beside the old brick building . Back at the platform I waited till dark in the company of  PC ( I had thought the blog PC Wanderings was about the travels of a police consatble as he wandered around Northumberland , it did take me awhile to twig)
various subjects where discussed  as I scanned the area hoping for a SEO hopping up onto a fence post , but other than another Kestrel ,Buzzard more Fieldfare and Redwing it was rather quiet till up to 20 Snipe started flying off to feed in ones and twos with their raspy call, eventually headed back down the lane stumbling in the dark.
This is one of the  towers at Kloostri Estonia with this at East Chevington  you could probably see Prestwick Carr as well !!!

Photo taken from Easybirder

Prestwick Carr

Last week it was such a miserable day I decided not to turn out but mid afternoon the sun came out and it was terrific so I headed up to Prestwick Carr as I have not been for a week or two and still not caught up with the shrike , just as I got up the hill towards Cramlington the sky darkened and it absolutely poured down but it just looked as though it be a shower so I pressed on . Parked at the top of the lane and headed down SEO could be seen through the hedge quartering the field  when I reached the gate there where three birds but well apart and some way off ,one landed on the fence so I got some hasty digi shots  and a shot of a Buck Roe Deer with its head just showing in the tall grass . Reports received that the GG Shrike had been seen down by the lane of the Bridle path now this is a long walk so I thought I would give it a go before it got to dull  but I scanned with the bins just a short way along and thought I could see the shrike along the hedge but a long way off so scope up a sure enough there it was but I could see from its location it would be impossible to see from the bridle path so that would have to do for today. The Owls by this time where coming somewhat nearer but the light was also fading and despite taking numerous photos have deleted them all after posting one flight shot, still it was fantastic to see  them giving stunning views through the scope, I headed home happy looking forward to a glass/1/2 bottle/ or bottle of wine ? (only 1/2 bottle in the end)

Yesterday coming through Cramlington on the bus picked out some Waxwings along Horton Drive which seems to attract them every year not sure how many there was  I saw 3-4 ,but past so quickly.

Thursday 17-11-11 headed off to Big Waters to have a look at the two Bewick's Swans that have been around for a couple of days, dont think I saw any last year and the year before just two birds late in the afternoon .

One of these birds seems to have a gape in the bill more so than the other bird , Whoopers would have the odd nip at them or at least one , I counted 19 Whoopers but did not count everything  as I wanted to head next to Prestwick Carr and try and catch up with the Great Grey Shrike , it had been seen in the morning but I knew others had tried and failed and that was my fate no sign of the bird .

I did however have 4-5 Short- eared Owls , 4 Common Buzzards 3-4 Kestrels , numerous Fieldfare a single Willow Tit along the track as where numerous birders & Photographers. I also failed to get any flight shots of the owls but did get a couple as they sat around and a very short video more a silhouette , but it gives a feel of the night.

 Two Bewick's not as regular  as years past

They kept loosely together

 

Whooper Swans near the island Big Waters

This bird had a pronounced gap in the bill not sure if it is just the way it's holding it after feeding or slightly deformed ?

I  cant see any difference in the bill patterns of these two birds . 

Now that's a pose pity it was so far away

And finally a very short video ,just before it got too dark  !!

Turtle Dove/Lesser Scaup

Sunday an afternoon visit to Prestwick Carr  I came across this Bullfinch oddly feeding on Stinging Nettle Seeds , I would not have thought there was much actual food value in these but I wonder if there is some other trace element as Nettles are used for medicinal products ? No sign of any Owls although we did not stay till dark several Buzzards up and also a good number of Kestrels with Willow Tit also along the hedge.

Monday I went along for the  Turtle Dove it circled the car park as I got there but took another thirty minutes or more to come down to the field , it also spent time in a couple of the nearby trees but all those photos where of no use, it did eventually come and sit on the fence for twenty or so minutes till someone   got just to close.

The report of  Lesser Scaup  at Tynemouth saw me pull up later that afternoon ,a few birders already assembled with the bird on show , but it spent most of the time tucked in although I believe it had flown briefly and there is a nice flight shot on Birdguides. An adult Med Gull dropped in with the Black-headed Gulls,I tried to video both birds just for a change as they where just to far for my 400 lens.

I should have went for this bird on Sunday but at the time was not sure of its location 

tried some video as it just sat on the fence

Lesser Scaup its a bit jerky as it swam out of shot ,should have set the tripod etc: to video. a Very nice bird actually with some saying it was rather drab , but seen in good light the feather patterning made this a very attractive bird

Mixed Bag of sightings

A few photos from some recent days out , a run through to Thornley for perhaps the last of the Dragons ,produced a female briefly and a male looking for the said female , with still a few Speckled Woods, a Buzzard and Red Kite over , on the way to Shibdon had a look over the old bridge on to the river with , Kingfisher, Dipper & Grey Wagtail noted , Shibdon Pond  had a couple of Migrant Hawkers  taking advantage of the sunny spell , a couple of cycle rides along the River Blyth of late to check out the waders nearing high tide has been interesting, heightened one day we I came across one of the smallest Curlew I have ever seen , I tried to stop behind a small bush to have a look at it but it was off  and immediately out of sight,  I did try and find it but it will remain a mystery ,was it as small as I thought or just because I caught a glance of it as I passed , interesting bird nevertheless and it was in my thoughts  for the rest of the day. While checking out the waders a Kingfisher past silently and headed further up river behind me a loose flock of Long Tailed ,Blue and Great Tits with  2 Chiffchaffs  tagging along , across the river 2 Wheatears dropped onto insects from fences and posts the Curlews gathered on the field edge up-to a 150  but no sign of my runt

 Migrant Hawker from the track at Prestwick Carr

 Migrant Hawker taken at Shibdon Pond

 Buzzard over Thornley Woodland

 Red Kite also over Thornley Woods just over a small clearing

 Red Kite again as it circled the small clearing briefly

 This Fungi forcing its way through the bark of a Birch Tree at Thornley Woodland

 Two Moorhens give the classic pose as they fight over ? , just that bit to far for a decent shot, Shibdon Pond

 Little Egret one of up to Four along the River Blyth

Still find it hard to believe that we now have Little Egret , becoming a fairly common sight in Northumberland and especially these four birds along the River amongst old tyres ,shopping trolleys ,traffic cones , and many other mystery objects.

Great Crested Grebe  taken along the River Blyth.

Prestwick Carr

Another couple of photos from Prestwick Carr and another short video of a bird sitting on the fence I am getting into video more as it can show some behaviour difficult to capture in a still shot, so its practice ,practice just need the subjects ...Sandhill Crane would have been nice   !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This is at least a nice pose as it looks intently at us looking intently at it !!!!!

 A visit to Holywell Pond before going to Prestwick this Med Gull in with the Black -Headed

 This Heron came just along the shore so I tried to just capture the head

Could not resist this rabbit as it and others came out late afternoon in front of the East hide at Holywell

More of the LEO and SEO's

Pleased this week to have another one of my photos this one  the Bonaparte's Gull at Seaham , published in Birdwatch magazine.

Here are  somemore  of my photos of the LEO and SEO's

 Those eyes are just stunning and really bring the bird to life

 some of the Short Eared Owls in the late afternoon sun they always kept there distance although in reality giving stunning views you do need a fairly large lens to capture detail.

 Three birds briefly drifted over the track not giving me time to change my settings so they are a little dark

 I like the pose of this one just looking down at me looking a little puzzled

 and just a series of the same bird as it drifted across the track and down behind the hedge

 Spotted Redshank that plied between St Mary's , Beehive Flash and Holywell Pond also another Adult Med Gull here they seem to be  regular now I wonder if they may be spreading out from Newbiggin

 It seemed to eat a large amount of fish and always looked as though it was masticating or crushing it before actually swallowing . Still not sure if it actually caught the fish or they are dead or dying near the edge as I have also seen Black-headed Gulls and a Ruff eating fish here.

 The Leo has turned away again but has some nice light on its side !

One of a run from the top picture just looking down again as it relaxes

White-tailed Eagle.........Prestwick Carr 31-3-10

Spent the past few days with a touch of flu again, so late Wednesday I was still moping around the house feeling sorry for myself , till I got the message of White Tailed Eagle at Prestwick Carr, so I was sorted and out the house within minutes ,located the bird way off sitting in a tree it then flew over the plantation being mobbed by Buzzards till it eventually drifted over Berwick Hill and out off sight, on the short notes I took I thought perhaps it was a 2-3rd calendar year bird .

A tremendous amount of water lying here , I once had an 18th century engraving showing a very large lake , complete with a man fishing with a net from a sailing boat.

Alan Tilmouth got some great shots as it went over the hill, right place right time, they clearly show a radio tag check it out, http://dustybins.blogspot.com/

just a couple of distant shots as it flew over the plantation, and a six second jerky video