Northumberland

A night out for my birthday last week saw us staying up in Northumberland. First port of call on Friday was Stag Rocks. Long-tailed Duck were too far out for pictures as were Red-breasted Merganser and Shelduck but Fulmar, Eider and Black-headed Gull were close inshore. There was also one brave individual surfing the waves. Herons have started nest building along the River Coquet and quiet a few Curlews were feeding in the fields on either side of it. A Roe Deer also came down to have a drink in the river.

Fulmar

Black-headed Gull

Female Eider Duck

Turnstone

Oystercatcher

Common Gull

Purple Sandpiper

Surfer

Nest building Heron

Curlew

Roe Deer

 

Spring has nearly sprung

Three GSW were heard drumming in the woods at work yesterday, a Thrush was singing from the top of a tree as was a Robin and frogs have spawned. A Wren was foraging for insects then it was showing its self off. It was a canny early morning at work. Spring is nearly here.

Wren foraging for insects

Posing

Displaying

It flew to a small twig displayed for a short time then flew off

Frog

Another Frog with some spawn

Frogspawn

Singing Robin

 

Kingfisher

I haven’t been to see a Kingfisher for what seems like an age so yesterday I thought I would remedy that. There was a canny supporting cast as well.

Kingfisher

It would occasionally fly into a tree, which made trying to get a decent shot difficult

With a fish

Yet another fish

Yellowhammer

Coal Tit

Goldfinch which came down for a drink

Willow Tit

Robin

Chaffinch a bonny bird that would have looked even better had there not been twigs in front of it.

Bullfinch

Nuthatch

Magpie

Heron

Stock Dove

 

Dipper

Nice to see a pair of Dippers locally, haven’t been to see them for a while. Not a lot at Burdon Moor yesterday but a good-sized flock of Golden Plover were seen flying around.



Dipper

Having a stretch

A pair

Nearly got a sharp shot of one flying

Thought I would be a little arty with this shot of a Golden Plover flying in front of the moon

 

Buzzards In A Blue Sky

There was a beautiful blue sky on Saturday so off I went to Far Pastures to see if any Red Kites were around. A few were in the air but none came close enough for pictures. However, at least three Buzzards did come fairly close which was a bonus. In the hedgerow near the car park, a flock of Long-tailed Tits were feeding.

Buzzard

Long-tailed Tit