“Local Patch”

Once again spent yesterday on my “local patch” of Far Pastures, Shibdon Ponds and Clara Vale. Not a lot about at any of the sites. In fact the only picture I took at Far Pastures, before the Grey Wagtail dropped in, was this rainbow and that was on my mobile phone. The Jack Snipe did not show while I was there but a couple of Water Rail put on a good display (no pictures though).

Shibdon Ponds held loads of Black-headed Gulls, Lapwings and Redshank. The Ruff was still there and Snipe showed well. And again a rainbow taken with my mobile phone.

At Clara Vale the Kingfisher was on the pond at the right of the hide when I arrived but was hidden by reeds and grass so only poor shots were had. It then flew to the main pond where it stayed but it was nearly always in what has become know as its killing tree as it fly’s to an Oak tree to kill and eat its catch. A Sparrowhawk flew through putting up most of the small birds that the strong wind was not keeping down.

Still not a bad day out.

Rainbow Far Pastures

Grey Wagtail

 

Rainbow Shibdon Ponds

Snipe

The chase

Ruff & Snipe

Hidden Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Nuthatch

Robin

Willow Tit

 

One Day Last Week

Some images from a day out last week.

Jay



Snipe

Ruff

Cormorant

 

Monday 22nd

Visited Far Pastures on Monday for the first time in a while and the water levels have gone down
considerably. The Kingfisher put in a brief appearance but where it landed, it was almost hidden by the foliage. Just outside the hide was what I think is a Migrant Hawker, it was just far enough away to get a shot with the 500mm lens. A Water Rail also put in a brief appearance but was chased by a Moorhen not to be seen again, at least while I was there.
Shibdon Ponds seemed to be a Mecca for Lapwing and Redshank, there was loads of them. Also at Shibdon were a couple of Greenshank and a couple of Ruff.



Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Migrant Hawker?

Water Rail (and Snipe)

Heron

Ruff

Greenshank

 

Casper beaten by a nose

I went up to Amble yesterday to get some shots of the Caspian Gull that has been around for some time now. The gull showed really well but the absolute stars of the show were, for me, the pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that were catching fish in the harbour. There must have been around a dozen, and I managed loads of shots of fins and water. I did manage some shots however but not great shots.
Before I got to Amble, I called in at Creswell and Druridge Pools. The water levels at Cresswell seem canny for waders and indeed, there were a few around. Of note, there were Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, Avocet and Little Egret. At Druridge, a Wood Sandpiper showed well if a little distance. The Stonechats at both sites were, as always, nice to see.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

Bottlenose Dolphin

A comparison between Caspian and Herring Gulls

Caspian Gull

 

Caspian Gull

Caspian Gull protecting its lunch from juv Herring Gull

Lunch time

 


Eating lunch

Little Egret

Little Egret

Great Black-backed Gull

Stonechat (juv M)

Stonechat (juv M)

Stonechat (juv F)

Snipe

Turnstone

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Juv Eider with Starfish

A Ruff trying to ruff up a Dunlin (sorry could not resist)