Big Waters

A visit to Big Waters to see if I could catch up with the Water Rails which had been showing well in front of the hide I did see a Juvenile but it was way off  to the side as the water levels had risen . Southern Hawker at the small dipping pool ,and several Wall Browns on the wing also a Small Copper the first for the year two Buzzards over the A1 section and several Speckled Woods on the wing .

 Southern Hawker

 Small Copper on Tansy

 Wall Brown a very active Butterfly always on the move

 Numerous Common Darters but away from the pools

 Two Buzzards soaring over the A1

Numerous Speckled Woods  at least they like sitting in sunny spots ,now I just give them a passing glance how fickle we are !!!

Kirknewton

A walk in the hills just North of Wooler starting at Kirknewton village hall , where you can not only use the toilet facilities but also pick up a route map card showing a walk around the two hills West Hill and St Gregory's both sites of Iron Age hill forts. There is usually some wildlife to see on this walk so I took the camera , recently fledged Blackbird on the green and a couple of Small Copper on the path out of the village . its along here I usually see the feral Goats but no sign today , also usually a green woodpecker calling  but again not today there was a somewhat eerie  silence other than a couple of Blackcaps. Around on the hills only a couple of Meadow Pipits and Linnets with a lesser Redpoll over very quiet  from previous visits , first up West Hill then down and up onto St Gregory's with the unmistakeable silhouette  of a Raven crossed the sky giving that delightful "kronk kronk" a couple of Small Tortoiseshell  and Hares where the only other wildlife , still a very pleasant walk given some great views of the hills and over Milfield Plain .

 Small Copper

 The track out of the village

 looking back

 looking over to the College Valley

 Looking North

 Views from West Hill

 Looking down onto Kirknewton Village

Looking over to Milfield Plain once the site of a huge lake

Raven over

Cresswell and Druridge

Tuesday the 22-5-12, started the day off  just yards from my home looking for Speckled Wood Butterflies  I have counted over 50 at this site but not a one today  not sure if the first hatch of the year have died off before the good weather returned ,next  West Hartford in the hope of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler but no sign today, did have a Garden Warbler which I got some recording of .

travelled up to Cresswell via Lynemouth Flash which only had some bathing Black Headed Gulls, Cresswell only the one Avocet I could see there where three Barnacle Geese a nice bright Yellow Wagtail and a Wheatear just north of the ponds.

Druridge no sign of the Garganey a group of 13(edit) Curlew included a partial Leucistic bird  but taking  photos against the light never gives good results, Small Copper and Wall Brown out and my first Orchid of the year , with a pair of Stonechats feeding young back along at cresswell.

Three Barnacles in with Greylags

 Wall Brown

 First Orchid of the year at Druridge

 Leucistic , or I should say partial , shooting against the light probably does not show it at it's best

 And Stonechats although someway off it was reluctant to visit the nest  so I got this digi shot then moved on

Hawker,Darter, Vole & Lizard

A run up the coast to Cresswell and a walk along the road/ track to East Chevington, brief stop at the flash near Lynemouth revealed 5 Ruff , then the stop at Cresswell was also brief the water level very high and onto the road 2 Ruff and  three Black-tailed Godwits circled the point but then headed South.

Nothing of note at Druridge ,plenty of Common Darter and a single Migrant Hawker just a little to high for me , a walk along the tarmacked road was just a stroll  but was pleased to find a Common Lizard in the brief period of sunshine , and I nearly stood on this Short -tailed Field Vole ,which seemed totally unconcerned by me  even when I put the camera near 

Migrant hawker

Common Darter, absorbing heat from the ground

Still a few Butterflies around  also, Small Copper, Peacock,Red Admiral, Wall & Meadow Brown

I nearly stood on this but instead of it disappearing it allowed me to get a few shots

 Common Lizard  was getting some sun , which allowed me to just stand very still and get some shots

Migrant Hawker

The other day I encountered my first settled Migrant Hawker usually find them fairly easily but not this year so I took what I could with the camera I had with me ,other things encountered , Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Common Darter , Emerald damselfly, Small Copper several species of Fungi but most of the photos dark due to the dull day , 

 Puffballs looking really fresh ,spores dispersed via wind and rain .

Small Copper oddly it landed three times on Knapweed that had gone to seed ?

Common Darter on the seat beside me it lifted several times before I could get this close ,complete with designer satubble !!!!!

 Migrant Hawker found this one already settled so it was quite obliging , it would be helpful but impossible to have the camera on a tripod for these type of photos as I am leaning over for what seems like forever and trying to keep the camera still.

 Pleased with this shot although the head is not sharp but I was more trying to catch the colour on the wing , not hard to see why they are becoming more and more popular with Birders

More Spoonbills 2-6-11

Hound's -tongue

Started Off at East Chevington or actually the back of Druridge Bay Country park  , great views of Male Marsh Harrier, Lesser Butterfly Orchids out as where lots of Damselflies but no Dragonflies, Butterflies : Common Blue,Small Skipper, Small copper, Small Heath. Got to Druridge just going into the Budge and where told nothing around  but we had a look any way no sooner had we got there when Four Spoonbills drifted over and dropped in , as they flew in the first thing I looked for was colour rings but could not see any, but oddly as they started to feed one was indeed wearing colour rings different  combination to the previous birds ,this group was clearly connected in some way , I made a right mess of the digiscoping somehow as they are all out of focus they always look OK on the monitor, eventually they headed North but circled back and landed  near the small hide. So I think these are Four new birds

Cresswell 4 Avocets and 6 little Gulls was a good end to the day.....Thanks to Pat for the lift down good to meet you !!!

look  So intent on looking for rings as they flew in I neglected to check for any black in the wing tips, but I think these are perhaps 3 full adults and one 2nd year bird , this bird clearly shows an ochre patch which in the illustration of Collins is non breeding but in the text  its Adult breeding

 Rings reflecting in the water so that is not the colour combination

 Colour ringed bird with a different combination than the one I saw on Sunday