22.02.24 After lunch in the Derwent Arms (for my birthday, my wife even paid) my wife and I had drive to Pow Hill to see if there were any Crossbill around. The ones that we saw didn’t unfortunately come down to drink they were always high in the trees making photography challenging.
Female Crossbill.
Male Crossbill.
18.02.24 I haven’t been out with the camera for ages so I thought I would do my first official insect hunt of the year at Burdon Moor. Unfortunately, I saw more dead Shieldbugs than live ones and only saw four 7-spot Ladybirds. However, the star of the show was undoubtedly the first Lizard I have seen at Burdon Moor in years and I nearly walked past it as I thought it was a small dog turd. It was worth all the aches and pains I have now (legs still not good) to see it.
Lizard sunning itself on the grass. I carried on
walking down the line after I took this shot.
But it was still in the same spot, despite a few dog
walkers passing by, when I returned.
Gorse Shieldbug.
Infected Gorse Shieldbug. I saw quite a few of these.
7-spot Ladybird.
Drone Fly? Sitting on the information board.
12.02.24 yet another failed trip to Far Pastures for the Firecrest but as I said in my last Blog there is nearly always something to see.
A couple of Buzzard were over the fields.
As were a couple of Red Kite including H5 again,
The Kestrel was keeping an eye on things.
Siskin around the feeders.
Long-tailed Tit were also around the feeders.
Nuthatch along the lane.
A couple of Roe Deer were strolling through the wood.
07.02.24 a morning at Far Pastures for a Firecrest which unfortunately did not show until I had left however there was other things to photograph. After a bite of bate at home my wife and I had a (the way my knee is at the moment it was a very slow) walk around the Causey. I don’t think it matters what time of year you go the light levels on the burn are always low and it makes photography challenging. The last time I was there I saw one Dipper this time I saw two so hopefully they might pair up.
GSW gathering seed heads.
Why is it there are nearly always twigs in the way.
Willow Tit.
Looking at the markings this one seems to have been at
Far Pastures for a while.
Siskin.
Nuthatch.
Reed Buntings.
Dipper number one.
Dipper number two.
Grey Wagtail.
Wren.
