I had heard…

 …the Barn Owl at Cresswell was showing well and as I had not been up in that area for a while, I thought I would have a look up the other day and see it for myself. I saw it briefly just before sunrise and just before it went back into its barn, oh well I suppose I might have better luck next time. I did hang around for the rest of the morning so here are some of the other things I saw both at Cresswell and at Druridge Pools.

A distant Born Owl sitting on a gate post.

Pintail.

Curlew.

Redshank.

Balancing act by a Coot.

Little Egret.

Greylag Goose.

A distant Buzzard in the early morning light.

Shelduck taking off.

Shoveler.

Lapwings.

Pink-footed Goose.

A flyby of Pink Feet.

A couple of Crows eating what looks like a goose. With what is happening now with bird flue I find this slightly worrying.

Northumberland

A foray over the border on the 14^th into Northumberland. And what a canny day it was.

Barn Owl. I just love watching these birds hunt.

Avocet

Displaying Goldeneye

Curlew

Godwit

Pintail (always distant)

Distant Water Pipit. Just as I was about to leave the bird flew in. I managed a few shots before it disappeared.

There were seventeen Whooper Swans on the pool.

Oystercatcher

Record shot of Great Northern Diver

Sanderling on the beach at East Chevington disturbed by dog walker.

Sanderling

 

Northumberland 03.02.16

I went to try to see the long staying Arctic Redpoll at Birling the other day. I thought I was off to a good start because whilst walking to the spot where it had been seen I met a bloke who showed me some cracking shots he had just taken of it sitting on a fence post. I thought “get in” all I have to do is walk to the spot and it’s in the bag. It didn’t come near (at least not near enough to get any shots). I did at least see it through a scope so that’s something. Off to Druridge Pools where I got a lifer in the form of Water Pipit which showed briefly at the Budge screen.

Redpoll

Yellowhammer

Curlew

Curlew looking up

Oystercatcher

Water Pipit

Pintail

Pink Feet (if you look closely you may be able to spot a couple of Barnacle Geese in amongst this lot)

Pink Feet

Little Grebe

Canada Geese

Stonechat