Killingworth Lake

 A drive to Killingworth to hopefully see the Great Crested Grebes doing a courtship “weed” dance. There were quite a few pairs on the lake but unfortunately, we didn’t see the “weed” dance however, we did see them displaying and nest building. Other birds of note were Goldeneye and Pochard.

Great Crested Grebe.

As I said there were a few different pairs, these two were displaying.

I thought I was going to be in luck and see the “weed” dance but the weeds were dropped before the display.

And these are a different pair.

Nest building.

Goldeneye.

Pochard.

Coots having a battle. Two on to one hardly seems fair.

Goosander.

Mute Swans taking off.

We were going…

 …my wife and I, to visit three hides, Clara Vale, Thornley Woods and Far Pastures but due to roadworks we only visited two Clara and Shibdon Ponds. After visiting Clara, we had a canny bacon sandwich at Bradley Gardens so we also had a look at the pond while we were there.

Long-tailed Tit at Clara Vale.

Reed Bunting.

Coot on the pond at Bradley Gardens.

Mute Swan again at Bradley.

Herring Gull at Shibdon Ponds.

Black-headed Gull.

A distant Sparrowhawk.

They always fly off in the wrong direction.

A very distant Pochard.

Nightjar

You’re probably sick by now of all of the images on social media of the Nightjar at Saltholme but this bird is a first for me so here are a few more images. It did spend most of the time I was there asleep however it did wake up occasionally move, stretch then yawn and then go back to sleep. 

Nightjar.

Little Egret.

A couple of Mute Swans flew over while I was walking around Saltholme.

This Sparrowhawk landed too far away while I was in one of the hides.