Mandarin Duck

I had never heard of Primrose Nature Reserve Jarrow until a few days ago but that is where I was last Friday. A Mandarin Duck has been there for a while and as a photographer or “togger “ as I believe the derogatory name is for us, (in northern dialect it is someone who plays football) I could not resist the temptation to get some pictures of what is after all a stunning looking bird. However, imagine how daft I felt when I turned up with a togger’s favourite weapon a “long lens” to be told, “You’ll not need that man, it comes up to the fence”. So off I went long lens between my legs (over my shoulder actually) back to the car to get a togger’s second favourite weapon a “shorter lens”. And they were right it did eventually “come up to the fence”.

Mandarin

Kingfisher. Oh for a togger’s favourite weapon when this turned up.

 

Crossbills

Pow Hill for Crossbill on Wednesday. I got them but it was in the tops of the trees but this was not exactly where I wanted them; however, it was still great to get them.

Crossbill, a female coming in to land.

Crossbill, male

 

The usual suspects…

…at Far Pastures on the 27^th of January (cannot believe it’s February already). More birds in the car park than on the pond. It was dull, grey and miserable but it was still nice to be out.

 

Willow Tit with unusual markings on its head

The same bird

Nuthatch

Having a good old scratch

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Robin

Kestrel

Female Mallard yawning

Female Teal

Roe Deer in the usual field

 

Waxwings

Not only is there an inundation of Waxwings in the country now there is also an inundation of them on line, here are a few more. Around twenty were at Swalwell yesterday (thanks Rob) feeding on the berries. They could not settle for long as a Mistle Thrush was constantly chasing them off.

A curious Waxwing

A Waxwing doing what comes naturally

A Waxwing doing what comes naturally

The Mistle Thrush would come quite close.

Between bouts of chasing the Waxwings, it would occasionally take a berry.

On the back of a pick up

It came down to drink from a small puddle under a car.

 

23.01.17 Northumberland Part 3

I probably should have posted Part 1 last, as it would have made more sense but hey ho. Also on the beach at East Chevington were a few Sanderling, which again, if you sat still, would come very close. Like the Twite, they were feeding in the seaweed. Back at Ladyburn Lake, a pair of Mute Swan took exception to another pair on the lake and chased them off. A few Greylag Geese did a flyover but did not land and on the way back to the car, a male Stonechat posed for me.

Sanderling

Mute Swan

Greylag

Stonechat