Saturday 22nd

Hare, Deer and Fox made for a canny walk around Burdon Moor early Saturday morning. Good numbers of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warble & Chiffchaff were also around. If was off to Shibdon Ponds later where a Common Sandpiper showed well but the Godwit was a little distant. Coot were feeding their young on one of the small ponds, I counted at least six. All in all a canny day out.

They were always distant but I nearly got these Hares boxing

He really didn‘t try hard enough.

This Hare was a little closer

I watched this Roe Deer wander across the field towards and stop to have a pee

I stood stock-still but it saw me

And was off

This is the first Fox I have seen for ages. Again, it was distant.

A Pheasant flew out of the wood the Fox had gone into. The fox shot out after it. This the first time I have seen a Fox running at full tilt.

It totally ignored the Hares in the field and chased the Pheasant

It must have failed to catch it as it came back a short time later looking dejected

Singing Skylark

Meadow Pipit

Preening Willow Warbler

Godwit

The resident Terrapin

Common Sandpiper

Mallard

Coot feeding young

Young Coot I wouldn’t call it a bonny bird

 

Out & About in Gateshead

I had a drive around some of the most frequented spots in Gateshead the other day in the hope that something different might have dropped in, alas no. I started at Far Pastures where there was more around the carpark and up the lane than there was on the pond. Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat were all heard but unfortunately only briefly seen. Next stop was Shibdon Ponds where the most exciting thing was a crow landing on one of the islands. It was then on to Lamesley where again nothing out of the ordinary was seen. Again, Burdon Moor was quite quiet, although I did manage to get a couple of shots of a Crow carrying a frog or toad.

Mallard Chicks (Far Pastures)

Attentive mother

Coot, Shelduck & Terrapin (Shibdon Ponds)

Landing Crow

Juv Long-tailed Tit (Lamesley)

Swift (Burdon Moor)

Crow with frog or toad

Green-veined White

Bank Vole in a gorse bush

This Peacock Butterfly has seen better days how it was able to fly I don’t know.

Peacock