Lamesley

 Last month (I can’t believe I’m writing that) I went to Lamesley for a certain bird which failed to show for me again. However, I did get some images of other birds and here they are.

Green Sandpiper.

Only two here but I saw at least four on this occasion.

Greenfinch.

I was using my new 800mm f6.3 lens and this is an uncropped shot of a Kestrel hunting near the road way over the opposite side of the ponds from the hide.

I did a not quite 100% crop on the computer and I’m impressed that it picked out the Kestrel against the background and in the rain as well as it has.

The Kestrel caught a Vole 

Took it to a post and was immediately mobbed by Jackdaws.

Chiffchaff.

Greylag Goose.

Herring Gull

Up around the Durham Moors

 My wife and I had a drive around the Durham Moors looking for Cuckoo. We did hear at least two but unfortunately, we didn’t see any. Here is what we did see.

Red-legged Partridge. This is my favourite image so far this year.

We saw a few Curlew up on the Moors.

Some with chicks.

Lapwing.

This one did not like the Pheasant hanging around its nest site.

Lapwing chick.

Pheasant chick.

Male Red Grouse.

Female Red Grouse.

Meadow pipit on gorse.

Another on a stone wall.

And yet another on heather.

Weevil.

We only saw one Green Hairstreak Butterfly.

Probably the Caterpillar of a moth but not sure which one.

Micro Moth.

The Greylags have done well this year, there were even more goslings than there are here.

A couple of gulls that I can’t identify. I’ve been through my books and I’m still none the wiser.

Three Hides

 Clara Vale, Thornley Woods and Far Pastures were the three hides I visited about ten days ago now. No Kingfisher at Clara but a couple of Roe Deer came so close I could only get head shots. I might only have got shots of a Nuthatch at Thornley but the bacon sandwich and coffee at the visitor centre were very reasonably priced (the bacon sandwich was delicious). And there is nearly always something to photograph at Far Pastures.

A couple of Redwing showed well at Clara Vale.

As did a couple of Roe Bucks. I have seen this male before I recognise it because it has something wrong with its eye.

A second Roe Buck. There was another buck and a female however they were at the far end of the pond in the reeds and I did not get any decent shots of them.

Male Yellowhammer.

A pair of Yellowhammer.

Stock Dove.

Nuthatch at Thornley Woods.

A Greylag Goose looking inquisitive at Far Pastures.

A pair of Canada Geese were also on the pond at Far Pastures.

Female Tufted Duck.

Male Tufted Duck.

Red Kite carrying a leaf which is hopefully nesting material.

Red Kite with wing tag H.

This Red Kite looks as though it has a radio transmitter on its back.

Long-tailed Tit.

Willow Tit.

Reed Bunting.

My first Butterfly of the year a Peacock.

Mistle Thrush.