A lifer but no decent pictures

I started yesterday with a trip to Bothal Pond for the Black-winged Pratincole, which I picked up straight away with the help of a couple of gentlemen who had their scopes focused on it. Unfortunately, it was at the other end of the water to where we were, and it stayed there for the three hours I was there. I was hoping for some flight shots but only got the ones you can see below and none of them are of the Pratincole. I did take a few record shots; suffice to say that at least I know what it is. I left slightly disappointed to do some jobs around the garden. After a bite of bait, it was off to Muggleswick to try for Spotted Flycatcher, dipped, but I did manage to get some close views of a cracking male Pied Flycatcher (the car is a wonderful hide).

Mute Swan

Swift

Swift

Greylag Geese

Wood Pigeon

Meadow Pipit (Muggelswick)

Grey Partridge

Rabbit

Pied Flycatcher

 

A couple of firsts for the year

My first Damselflies of the year and something that has been laughing (or should I say yaffling) at me for ages but at last I have managed to get some pictures.

Green Woodpecker (female)

Pair of Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker (male)

 

Out & About in Gateshead

I had a drive around some of the most frequented spots in Gateshead the other day in the hope that something different might have dropped in, alas no. I started at Far Pastures where there was more around the carpark and up the lane than there was on the pond. Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat were all heard but unfortunately only briefly seen. Next stop was Shibdon Ponds where the most exciting thing was a crow landing on one of the islands. It was then on to Lamesley where again nothing out of the ordinary was seen. Again, Burdon Moor was quite quiet, although I did manage to get a couple of shots of a Crow carrying a frog or toad.

Mallard Chicks (Far Pastures)

Attentive mother

Coot, Shelduck & Terrapin (Shibdon Ponds)

Landing Crow

Juv Long-tailed Tit (Lamesley)

Swift (Burdon Moor)

Crow with frog or toad

Green-veined White

Bank Vole in a gorse bush

This Peacock Butterfly has seen better days how it was able to fly I don’t know.

Peacock

 

The 15th

Just a few more shots from Northumberland on the 15^th .

This Shelduck took exception to a couple of Mallard on its pond and saw them both off.

Second one shown the red bill.

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Whitethroat.

Whitethroat.

Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Wren

Record shot of a female Marsh Harrier.

Ditto of a Male.

First time I have caught this and I nearly got them sharp.