Burdon Moor part three

 The third and final part of this Blog is of the rest of the wildlife I saw at Burdon Moor. As I think I said it was a cracking day out.

I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye but didn’t see what it was. I saw the movement again and this time it stayed still long enough for me to see it was a Stoat with a Vole.

It dropped the Vole and just looked at me.

It disappeared only to return without the Vole. It then disappeared again.

I could not believe it when my battery ran out just as it reappeared. Luckly, I had a spare and was able to carried on shooting.

This Kestrel was hovering quite close to me.

It then gave me a fairly close fly by.

Red Kite.

It was being harassed by Crows.

At least three Buzzards were scanning the ground.

This Blue Tit was looking for insects in the fittings of a telegraph pole.

Yellowhammer. It is thanks to this little bird that I managed to get the images of the Stoat.

A couple of Roe Deer.

Stoat v Rabbit

A short video taken on my iPhone at work the other day not for the squeamish. 

Right place right time

 I was trying to get some pictures of the Long-tailed Tits at Far Pastures (shown in the previous Blog) when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned only to see the black tip of a tail scurrying into the undergrowth. I moved slowly to the spot where I had seen it and stood watching. I hadn’t been standing long when I saw movement up on the bank side and my initial thought was proved right, a Stoat out hunting, get in!! It moved quickly along the bank and I slowly, so I didn’t spook it, followed it taking pictures when I could and hoping I would get something that was reasonably sharp (they are so quick). I did manage to get some that I am reasonably happy with and here they are.

A first and a last…

 …a first as in it is the first time ever I have seen a Brimstone Butterfly in the North East. I have seen them in other parts of the country but never here, this morning that changed. The last comes in the form of, unfortunately, the demise of a Bullfinch that I came across the other day.

Brimstone Butterfly. It might be a bit strange on this Blog but it’s my first in the North East.

Male Bullfinch

A pair of Bullfinch. The male is carrying what looks like nesting material.

Female Bullfinch

The male again with nesting material.

Two males, one looking aggressive.

I don’t know if it had anything to do with the aggressive bird in the above pictures but not long after I came across this dead Bullfinch. I thought to myself that would make a canny meal for something.

I was proved right because not long after I saw this Stoat carrying the Bullfinch off.