Target bird…

 …Kingfisher. This male turned up at 08.51 I managed to get just over a dozen shots then it was off. I was there for over two hours and it didn’t show again. While I was waiting, I took some shots of the other birds that were there.

Male Kingfisher.

Nuthatch.

Long-tailed Tit.

Singing Robin.

Female Mallard.

Male Mallard.

There were three male and three female Mallards on the pond and I thought they had all paired up until this happened. The three males all decide to go for one of the females.

She was having none of it and fought back.

It all got a bit much for the males, This one is trying to get away while another female looks on.

Woodpigeon having a drink.

I saw this Mistle Thrush in a field not far from home. 

My first…

 …Brown Hare of the year from another short local walk. It might have been short and local but I think I have walked too much because my knees are feeling it now so if I do go out with the camera in the next few days it will be from a hide.

I moved very slowly to my left to see if I could get a picture of this Brown Hare without the twig in front of it however as soon as I did it was off.

I liked the way the late afternoon sun was lighting up this Common Gull.

Another Common Gull. I don’t think I have seen many around my local area.

Herring Gull taking off.

I liked how small this Wren looked sitting on the fence post.

A rubbish shot of a Fieldfare lit by the setting sun.

The Moon at 4.06pm.

In and around the village

 I stayed relatively local once again yesterday (27^th) to see what was about and found my first Shieldbugs of the year. Here’s what else I saw.

Redwing.

Wren.

One of three Shieldbugs I found trouble is I only had my 500mm lens with me.

A second Shieldbug. I didn’t get any of the third one it was too well hidden in the gorse.

Pink Feet (I think) flying in V formation.

This Kestrel was against the light and flying too quickly to get a decent shot.

G-KNEK was flying from Scunthorpe to Newcastle when it flew above me.

This was taken on the 26^th at Burdon Moor. I was alerted to its presence by the noise some Crows were making. At first when I saw the colour I thought “get in it’s a fox” but sadly not. Now I’m a cat lover but I hope this is the first and last time I see a cat at Burdon Moor otherwise the ground nesting birds are likely to be hit.

Not what I expected to see yesterday

 As the title says not what I expected to see on a short walk along Beamish Burn a Little Egret stirring the mud looking for bait. 

It has been back

 I had this cracking Sparrowhawk back in the garden this afternoon. No idea how long it had been there as I was in the garage but it had nearly polished off its prey by the time I got the camera so it had been there awhile. Of course it was in probably the darkest part of the garden and I was in the conservatory shooting through double glazing so not brilliant images.

Far Pastures

 Nothing much different from the last time I was at Far Pastures although there was a Coot on the pond which is quite unusual (I haven’t seen one here for a long time). It was once again the carpark and the lane that proved most productive.

One of two Bank Voles taking seeds from underneath the feeders in the carpark.

Nuthatch.

This Nuthatch looks to be saying “come on take the seed if you think you’re hard enough.”

Loads of Coal Tit were along the lane and in the carpark.

This Robin was sitting right next to me. It looks as though butter wouldn’t melt.

Same Robin but this time with attitude. 

Male Bullfinch.

Blackbird again with attitude.

Siskin.

Teal walking on thin ice.

Roe Deer.