Mainly Fieldfare

01.12.23 Once again a visit to Burdon Moor, on a snowy afternoon, in the hope of getting some images of Fieldfare and Redwing and this time I wasn’t disappointed. I even managed flight shots with some being more successful than others. 

This bird in particular was quite happy to pose and eat berries while I took its picture.

It picked a berry 

Then dropped it.

When you look closely the pattern and colours on the wing are beautiful.

Fieldfare in flight. This is my favourite shot of the day.

You can see why it’s called a Redwing.

I haven’ got many Blackbird in flight shots.

Only one Stonechat seen but it was nice to get it with some snow.

Up on the Durham Moors

 Two days I had a drive up on to the Durham Moors in the hope of seeing Red Squirrels in the snow. I was a little disappointed when I got up there because not only was there less snow than we had at home, I only saw one Red Squirrel which was slightly concerning as you normally see at least two running around. The squirrel that I did see never left a feeding box while I was there so I took a couple of shots just to say I had seen one then left the site to have a drive around. Here is what I saw not a lot but it is always great to be out and about.

Red Squirrel, I would not normally take shots like this but it did not move away from here.

Robin. At least six were around my feet and squabbling with each other.

Buzzard.

The resident Little Owl came out as soon as I pulled up in the car.

These Tufted Ducks were on the stream leading to the reservoir.

As were these Goldeneye. I saw around six of them.

What a difference…

 …a day makes. I went up onto the moors at the weekend and while it was cold on Saturday, it was positively wintry on Sunday with a covering of snow. Despite the weather, it was a canny weekend.

One of the birds I went up to the moors to see was Wheatear and there were a few around. This one is a female.

Males were also showing well.

This male did not like other males encroaching on its patch.

A Thrush singing its heart out from the top of a tree on Saturday.

Same Thrush singing away in the same tree on Sunday.

Male Wheatear sitting on a rock in the snow.

Female Wheatear

Meadow Pipit.

The snow did not stop this Wren from singing.

This small piece of ice caught my eye. It was hanging by a thread from a bridge handrail and was spinning in the breeze. I just love the way the different facets catch the light as it spins.