I was out on Thursday with Cain ,(Holywell Birder). We went to Prestwick Carr first in case the eagle had gone back to where it was seen the night before.
After a couple of minutes walking down the bumpy road we refound the eagle flying over the plantation being mobbed by Buzzards.
It flew right over our heads giving some amazing views, it then flew over the goat fields and off towards Dinnington. We lost sight of it soon after as it was mobbed by Corvids.
We tried to refind it but failed.
After this we headed off to Eshott for the Common Crane. After finding the field it was in opposite the entrance to Shaw Farm (no thanks to my shocking map reading skills), it didn't take us long to find the Crane which was in the far corner of the ploughed field. It stayed for a few minutes before being mobbed by Lapwings and flying off into the next field. As it was in the air we could hear it calling.
After a quick stop at Amble where I saw the Mallard x Eider hybrid in the harbour, we went in search of a Black Redstart.
After not finding one at Druridge we tried Whitley Bay cemetry but didn't go in as there was a funeral going on.
Instead we had a good look around Arcot. The three GC Grebes were still on the pond as was a Little Grebe - Patch Tick.
This morning I was out with SH and MH in search of yesterdays Great White Egret- Lifer. We headed to East Chevington South Pool first where it had been reported and just in time managed to see it fly off over the reed bed and land at Druridge Pools.
We checked from the Budge screen and soon relocated the Egret wading through the water at the far right side of the pool.
We watched it for a while as it fished and flew around, I could even see the silvery white plumes on its back.
74 - Little Grebe
Showing posts with label Prestwick Carr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prestwick Carr. Show all posts
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Much Much better than I expected
Just when you think things can't get any better. I got a quick call from SH and in what seemed like seconds we were at Prestwick Carr.
The bird hadn't been seen in a while but soon after it reappeared flying high over the woodland being mobbed buy Buzzards.
It was then mobbed by a heron and I last saw it go down past some dead trees and fly left over a field.
Although my views were breif they were excellent as I watched the Juv bird being highlighted by the sun.
White Tailed Eagle - Lifer
The bird hadn't been seen in a while but soon after it reappeared flying high over the woodland being mobbed buy Buzzards.
It was then mobbed by a heron and I last saw it go down past some dead trees and fly left over a field.
Although my views were breif they were excellent as I watched the Juv bird being highlighted by the sun.
White Tailed Eagle - Lifer
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Prestwick SEO
Yesterday afternoon I went to Prestwick Carr with SH to look for the Short Eared Owls which have been there for the last month or so.
I always enjoy watching SEOs but I have only seen them at West Hartford and usually I don’t get good views. There was a group of birders scanning a marshy field next to the bumpy track, so we went over. It was getting dark as we waited, 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels were flying around the field and 70 Fieldfare went overhead. The occasional Snipe could also be heard going over.
Birds were coming into roost all the time including a good number of Woodpigeon which settled in the tree tops. A flock of 11 Long Tailed Tit passed through the hedges behind followed by a flock of Great Tit then Blue.
Soon after, the first Short Eared appeared at the far side of the field. It was soon joined by another and there pair began hunting over the marsh. As both birds dived down another appeared and it wasn’t long until and aerial battle broke out.
We could hear the owls screeching at each other occasionally before flying towards each other and tussling with their feet.
One of the owls landed in the top of a tree in the field and the other two came gradually closer and began hunting over the area behind the Goat field.
Another of the owl landed on something on the edge of a flood pool in front of us. It had its back to us but through bins we got very close views. It was ripping something to pieces and eating it although we never found out what. It occasionally turned around and stared at us, its yellow eyes looking directly at me at one point. It stayed on the ground foraround 5 minutes before joinging the others hunting over the field. By this time another SEO had joined the three.
As we were leaving one of the birds flew behind where it began hunting on the other side of the bumpy track.
I always enjoy watching SEOs but I have only seen them at West Hartford and usually I don’t get good views. There was a group of birders scanning a marshy field next to the bumpy track, so we went over. It was getting dark as we waited, 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels were flying around the field and 70 Fieldfare went overhead. The occasional Snipe could also be heard going over.
Birds were coming into roost all the time including a good number of Woodpigeon which settled in the tree tops. A flock of 11 Long Tailed Tit passed through the hedges behind followed by a flock of Great Tit then Blue.
Soon after, the first Short Eared appeared at the far side of the field. It was soon joined by another and there pair began hunting over the marsh. As both birds dived down another appeared and it wasn’t long until and aerial battle broke out.
We could hear the owls screeching at each other occasionally before flying towards each other and tussling with their feet.
One of the owls landed in the top of a tree in the field and the other two came gradually closer and began hunting over the area behind the Goat field.
Another of the owl landed on something on the edge of a flood pool in front of us. It had its back to us but through bins we got very close views. It was ripping something to pieces and eating it although we never found out what. It occasionally turned around and stared at us, its yellow eyes looking directly at me at one point. It stayed on the ground foraround 5 minutes before joinging the others hunting over the field. By this time another SEO had joined the three.
As we were leaving one of the birds flew behind where it began hunting on the other side of the bumpy track.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
4 Hours, 3 County Ticks, 2 New Sites and 1 Lifer.
Out again with Steve holliday this afternoon in the south of the county for a change.
First stop, Dinnington in search of Little Owl. We searched the Owl's usual tree but no sign, so we checked the trees to the right and there a few feet off the ground was a Little owl half asleep against the tree trunk, to far away for a photo of one of my favourite birds- New County tick.
We then went to Havannah Nature Reserve, somewhere I have never been. I didn't know what to expect and was suprised to see a slightly different reserve perfect for Snipe and wintering duck.
A Green Woodpecker flew across from the field behind the first small pond we came to- County tick.
We checked the big pond and flushed two Mallard and a Fox which ran around the pond in and out of the reeds. Only one common Snipe flew overhead as did 500+ Woodpigeon. Blue tit, Long Tailed tit, Reed Bunting and a Goldcrest were also in the trees.
We then noticed 9 Birds on the tree tops a couple of hundred yards away which were 3 bright red male and 6 duller green female Crossbill - Lifer, which stayed for about five minutes before flying east.
A good half an hour at a site which I will definetly visit again.
Next we went to Prestwick Carr (another new site for me) where after walking around most of the site in an hour, saw 2 buzzard and flush a jack Snipe, they were the highlights.
We stayed until sun set but no sign of any Hen Harriers.
We might be heading up the cost in the afternoon tommorrow, weather permitted.
First stop, Dinnington in search of Little Owl. We searched the Owl's usual tree but no sign, so we checked the trees to the right and there a few feet off the ground was a Little owl half asleep against the tree trunk, to far away for a photo of one of my favourite birds- New County tick.
We then went to Havannah Nature Reserve, somewhere I have never been. I didn't know what to expect and was suprised to see a slightly different reserve perfect for Snipe and wintering duck.
A Green Woodpecker flew across from the field behind the first small pond we came to- County tick.
We checked the big pond and flushed two Mallard and a Fox which ran around the pond in and out of the reeds. Only one common Snipe flew overhead as did 500+ Woodpigeon. Blue tit, Long Tailed tit, Reed Bunting and a Goldcrest were also in the trees.
We then noticed 9 Birds on the tree tops a couple of hundred yards away which were 3 bright red male and 6 duller green female Crossbill - Lifer, which stayed for about five minutes before flying east.
A good half an hour at a site which I will definetly visit again.
Next we went to Prestwick Carr (another new site for me) where after walking around most of the site in an hour, saw 2 buzzard and flush a jack Snipe, they were the highlights.
We stayed until sun set but no sign of any Hen Harriers.
We might be heading up the cost in the afternoon tommorrow, weather permitted.
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