Teesdale

 A couple of days ago I had a drive up to Teesdale in the hope of getting some images of Short-eared Owl unfortunately it wasn’t to be I saw two but to dark and far too far away for any images. However, I did manage to get some images of the other birds I saw.

One of two Buzzards seen.

A shot of a distant Kestrel with what looks like a Vole it has just caught.

The other Buzzard I saw minding its own business flying over the fields looking for something to eat.

That is until the Kestrel saw it.

The Kestrel mobbed the Buzzard from all angles until eventually the Buzzard flew off.

A cracking little Stonechat moving along the fence right next to my car.

Waxwing

 There are hundreds of Waxwing in the country at the moment and I was lucky enough to catch up with some at Waldridge a couple of days ago. While I was there in the morning there was only one bird and it was quite approachable. A couple of dog walkers walked underneath the tree it was in and there was even a family playing with a ball and the Waxwing wasn’t bothered it just sat there eating berries. It eventually flew off so I left. However, I went back in the afternoon and after a short wait three Waxwing turned up. These three were very flighty so flighty that a Goldfinch spooked them and they were off and did not return.

Waxwing.

There was also a couple of Redwing making the most of all the berries.

I spotted a flock of Thrushes flying over and I thought they had landed in the top of a tree so I went to have a look. I didn’t fine the Thrushes but I spooked this Buzzard which I hadn’t seen sitting in a tree.

This Sparrowhawk was getting mobbed by some Crows.

A walk around…

 …Burdon Moor (the path from the carpark is flooded by the way) on the 5^th didn’t produce many birds but it’s always great to see the Stonechats are still there.

Stonechat.

Wren.

These Roe Deer came out of the wood and were quite happy feeding when they were spooked by something.

It was a Roe Buck that came wandering out of the same wood which made the others take flight.

First time out…

 …with the camera in what seems like ages and for some reason I was drawn to Far Pastures.

Goldfinch.

A couple of poor shots of the Jays that were foraging for acorns.

This Kestrel swooped down, caught something then started to mantle over whatever it was it had caught.

It then flew off with what looks like a Vole in its talons.

This is a second Kestrel flying off as it was mobbed by Crows.

Kestrel perched on a small branch.