Kingfisher

 Having said I only saw three birds at Far Pastures I only saw two at Clara Vale oh and a couple of Roe Deer.

Male Kingfisher.

He caught a leaf

Realised his mistake and dropped it.

He did catch a small fish

Showed it to me 

Threw it up to get it into the right position

Then swallowed it.

He did catch something else 

but I’m not sure what it is, could it be a Caddisfly larva.

Another catch this time another fish.

The only other bird I saw was a Goosander which didn’t stay long it flew off in the direction of the river.

A couple of Roe Deer wandered quite close to the hide.

Far Pastures

 A few days ago, I visited a couple of Gateshead hides the second being Far Pastures. The water was very high on the pond and I only saw three birds two Little Grebe and one Teal. The lane was, as always, more productive with Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard seen.

One of two Little Grebe on the pond.

The only other bird was a Teal.

Female Kestrel.

Male Kestrel.

Sparrowhawk.

At least four different Buzzards were flying around the fields.

Jays were flying from tree to tree collecting nuts.

More Ladybirds

 16.10.23 This time armed with a macro lens and tripod I went back to the graveyard to get some more images of the Ladybirds however; this time I had a walk around the churchyard too and I’m pleased I did as there were dozens of photo opportunities (as you will see).

Cream-spot Ladybird.

2-spot Ladybird. 

Just some of the Ladybirds in the churchyard.

Harlequin Ladybird.

This one has something wrong with its wing case.

It was still getting around ok.

These three were having a dispute about something.

I found out it was probably an Aphid.

Ladybird and larva.

These two were also eating something but I could not make out what it was.

This too was eating something. I think the Spider was hoping to get a look in.

The Spider eventually gave up and left the Ladybird to it.

Another Ladybird with a damaged wing cover but like the other one it did not stop it getting around.

Larva.

Pupa.

Ladybird with Spider in attendance.