Well not really.
In my last post I complained about the fact that I would not be able to get any birding done until early June, I forgot that I was going on holiday. Oops.
2/4/08
The day before I went on holiday I managed a short trip to Linton Lane, Cresswell Pond and Duridge Pools.
At Linton I managed to see 6 Glaucous Gulls on the small pond as well as my first sighting of the Linton Lane Fox next to the bigger pond. No sign of the Icleand Gull though.
Nothing much at Cresswell apart from 15 Yellowhammers in the bushes next to the hide.
I was hoping to see the Firecrests reported at Duridge Pools the day before but no joy there either.
On holiday I managed to get my bird total from 143 to 158 when I saw House Bunting, Bee Eater, Crested Lark, White Stork, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Little Swift, Crag Martin, Great Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Northern Wheatear, Lesser Kestrel, Cattle Egret, Nightingale, Montagu's Harrier and a Short Toed Eagle. Guess where I went yet?
I was frustrated to see that a Hooded Crow was at Cresswell Pond in my absence but on Monday I did manage to see the Pallas Warbler at the rising sun country park. No sign of the Red Crested Pochard.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Why now!
Glaucous, Ross's, Iceland gulls, White Stork and Fire Crests have all been seen across the Northumberland in the last few days but I will not have a chance to see any of them.
I know for a fact that the next time I will be able to go bird watching will be the end of June at the earliest due to a busy few month of tests and other bird denying events.
The Glacous Gulls are always at Linton so I'm not to concerned about them or the Iceland.
The Ross's Gull seems to have just been passing and with no more sightings of I don't think that it will be returning.
The second most frustrating thing is that the Firecrest's have now decided to turn up at St.Mary's wetland just after I went there six times in three weeks, typical.
The most frustrating thing about all of these sightings is the White Stork at Fawdon. It must be the only bird ever seen at Fawdon after it was reported near Morpeth and then Gosforth.
There has been a White Stork seen at two different locations in the borders this last night, hopefully not the same one that was at Fawdon. Why can't the stupid thing settle down at Big Waters or Arcot Pond or something?
Nothing much to report in Crammy for a while now but there was the mysterious long toed bird seen on wednesday morning at half eight.
My dad was at the bus stop at Brockwell at half eight when he said he saw a strange long legged and toed, grey and white bird just bigger than a Chicken land on the patch of grass next to somerfields.
After showing him multiple picture we came to the conclusion that it was a very young and confused Grey Heron.
Hopefully next wednesday it will be a White Stork.
Also I would again like to thank the helpful people on ST.Mary's birding.
I know for a fact that the next time I will be able to go bird watching will be the end of June at the earliest due to a busy few month of tests and other bird denying events.
The Glacous Gulls are always at Linton so I'm not to concerned about them or the Iceland.
The Ross's Gull seems to have just been passing and with no more sightings of I don't think that it will be returning.
The second most frustrating thing is that the Firecrest's have now decided to turn up at St.Mary's wetland just after I went there six times in three weeks, typical.
The most frustrating thing about all of these sightings is the White Stork at Fawdon. It must be the only bird ever seen at Fawdon after it was reported near Morpeth and then Gosforth.
There has been a White Stork seen at two different locations in the borders this last night, hopefully not the same one that was at Fawdon. Why can't the stupid thing settle down at Big Waters or Arcot Pond or something?
Nothing much to report in Crammy for a while now but there was the mysterious long toed bird seen on wednesday morning at half eight.
My dad was at the bus stop at Brockwell at half eight when he said he saw a strange long legged and toed, grey and white bird just bigger than a Chicken land on the patch of grass next to somerfields.
After showing him multiple picture we came to the conclusion that it was a very young and confused Grey Heron.
Hopefully next wednesday it will be a White Stork.
Also I would again like to thank the helpful people on ST.Mary's birding.
Friday, 21 March 2008
Very Good Friday
Last night I recieved news about the two Common Cranes that had been seen in a field left of the Alcan Power Station near Woodhorn, (no where near Ashington).
So today I decided to brave the easter snow and see what would be my firsdt ever Cranes.
When I got to the field two cars where already parked there but the Cranes where no where to be seen.
After a short trip around Woodhorn I returned to find the pair in the far right of the field, unfortunately my camera's zoom is not good enough so no pictures.
I would like to thank the helpful visitors on the ST Mary's birding site for providing me with directions.
So today I decided to brave the easter snow and see what would be my firsdt ever Cranes.
When I got to the field two cars where already parked there but the Cranes where no where to be seen.
After a short trip around Woodhorn I returned to find the pair in the far right of the field, unfortunately my camera's zoom is not good enough so no pictures.
I would like to thank the helpful visitors on the ST Mary's birding site for providing me with directions.
Monday, 17 March 2008
!!!140!!! Part 2!
Sorry I could smell burning down stairs and I must have clicked publish by accident.
I forgot to mention that I saw 5 Pheasant and 8 Red Grouse on the moors.
I saw the Goshawk fly from the moors over a small stream this is when I noticed its bulkier body which made me able to identify that it was a Goshawk and not just a Sparrowhawk.
I forgot to mention that I saw 5 Pheasant and 8 Red Grouse on the moors.
I saw the Goshawk fly from the moors over a small stream this is when I noticed its bulkier body which made me able to identify that it was a Goshawk and not just a Sparrowhawk.
!!!140!!!
Finally the spring!
Sorry about the lack of posts recently this was due to the bad weather. Yeah that was a terrible excuse.
Anyway I had two trips this weekend both to locations that I check once in a blue moon, Prestwick on Saturday and the lower cheviots on the sunday.
I decided to check Prestwick not just because I was in the area but because it provides some of the best views of Hen Harriers in Northumberland.
With only a half an hour window to check the visit came to nothing and all I saw were 60+ rabbits.
With a lot more time availablein the Chiviots on sunday I saw a lot more.
In total I saw 7 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, 30+ Skylark, 1 Dipper, 5 Carrion Crow, 40+ Chaffinch, 1 Blue tit, 1 Great tit, 1 Buzzard and my 140th recorded British bird, 1 Goshawk.
Sorry about the lack of posts recently this was due to the bad weather. Yeah that was a terrible excuse.
Anyway I had two trips this weekend both to locations that I check once in a blue moon, Prestwick on Saturday and the lower cheviots on the sunday.
I decided to check Prestwick not just because I was in the area but because it provides some of the best views of Hen Harriers in Northumberland.
With only a half an hour window to check the visit came to nothing and all I saw were 60+ rabbits.
With a lot more time availablein the Chiviots on sunday I saw a lot more.
In total I saw 7 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, 30+ Skylark, 1 Dipper, 5 Carrion Crow, 40+ Chaffinch, 1 Blue tit, 1 Great tit, 1 Buzzard and my 140th recorded British bird, 1 Goshawk.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
You must see...
Other sources of birding knowledge : http://boulmerbirder.blogspot.com/, http://www.freewebs.com/holywellbirding/index.htm, http://www.freewebs.com/birdingstmarys/ and of course http://www.birdguides.com/sites/area.asp?a=27.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)