21-1-09 Cresswell to Hauxley

Wednesday

A run along the coast via Cresswell to Hauxley was todays routine, passing Cresswell the car park had a few cars in so I drove past and picked out the Barn Owl on the fence at the edge of the reeds, so I pulled up and waited for it to lift , it came over the dunes area down towards the other car park then back over to the farm, checked out the pond and the north end, then headed past Bells farm (Hemscott farm ) pulled in to look for the Twite it took about 10 mins for them to appear but once they did, they where all over the place took a couple of flight shots as they past by but did not check them out on the ground, to mobile.

Pulled into Hauxley carpark and thought what have I come here for looking out from the centre the sun was blinding, but I trekked round to the wader hide I think it's called the one with the carpet , opened the shutter onto nothing, so I had my coffee , a couple of Mergansers came along then Goldeneye, and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a cat over the other side looked through the bins to find an Ermine Stoat as it hurried around looking for Rabbits, it made my day and I was glad I had stayed for awhile instead of heading out.

Not a great deal else to see added Tree Sparrow for the year no Yellowhammers at the feeders, a flock of 53 Whoopers on the way home and about 15 Mute checked them out in the hope of Bewicks................ no chance !!!




Probably one of the most viewed barn Owls in Northumberland

I am going to check all my Cresswell Barn Owl photos and see how many there are , this one has a very pale necklace

Pinkfeet spread out over the fields just north of the pond

Twite over the fields near Bells Farm

About 80 + in the flock at this time

Thuis Pheasant walked towards me I wonder if someone is feeding it

At first clance I thought it was a cat, but no better than any cat an Ermine Stoat, looking a bit conspicuous in the bright sunshine
This made my day can count on one hand how many I have seen , in this guise

Every nook and cranny explored, all with no luck and as quick as it came it was gone

A nice pose for the camera , pity it was so far away, but nice nevertheless

Red Breasted Merganser past the hide, the male would not come close enough

Barn Owl, Scaup, Red Breasted Mergansers, Teal ,Wigeon, Tufted, Mallard, Goldeneye, Pinkfeet Geese, Greylag Geese, Stonechat, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Heron, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Redshank, Mute Swan, Shellduck, Black- Headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull ,Curlew, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Coot, Purple Sandpiper, Water Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Brent Geese, Redshank, Rock Pipit, Waxwing, Kittiwake, Tree Sparrow

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