Up on the moors

 I had a drive up onto the Durham Moors last Friday looking for Barn Owls. I did see one but it was far too far away to get any pictures. I still had a canny morning out though as there was loads to see. One image at the end of this Blog is not for the squeamish.

You can never have to many images of a Red Squirrel.

It was great to see a flock of Fieldfare feeding in a field and as I stood and watched they got closer.

A Red Kite checking me out.

While I was watching the Barn Owl this Buzzard landed nearby.

I came across this grotesque site while I was on the moors. Who would be sick enough to do something like this?

Bank Vole

 I just could not resist taking loads of pictures of the Bank Vole at Far Pastures so I thought I would give it a Blog of its own.

Clara Vale & Far Pastures

 A visit to a couple of hides yesterday produced some canny birds. The light was rubbish at Clara Vale but as the morning wore on it got better, by the time I reached Far Pastures the light was great.

Female Kingfisher

Male Yellowhammer

Female Yellowhammer

Stock Dove

Collard Dove. I haven’t seen many of these at Clara Vale.

Wren looking for insects in the damp grass.

Pheasant giving me the eye.

I wouldn’t normally take pictures of Grey Squirrels (American Tree Rats) but when they pose like this I thought why not.

One of my favourite birds the Nuthatch at Far Pastures.

Again, at Far Pastures a Long-tailed Tit.

Out with the…

 …camera a couple of days ago, here are some images.

My second Gorse Shieldbug of the year.

A cracking male Bullfinch was feeding on Hawthorn buds.

As was this cracking female.

A small flock of Long-tailed Tits flew through feeding as they went.

Harder to get pictures of was this Goldcrest.

This Wren was flitting in and out of a fallen pine tree.

A rubbish shot of a Sparrowhawk that flew over.