Holywell this evening

Myself and Phil have been helping at Cramlington's Learning Village with a Wildlife Week for the year 9 students. 26 students are participating and they seem to be both enjoying it and also gaining knowledge rapidly! 


After helping out this morning I headed to the hide to film the Sparrowhawks. The chicks (at least two) are now visible and I got some footage of the female feeding the chicks and preening, hopefully I'll upload it in the next few days. A real privilege to see.


19:30 saw me down at Holywell the heavy showers were on and off, the rain hitting the water and the silence afterwards made the pond very atmospheric. A male Sparrowhawk flew up from the deck as we approached, at the pond 3 Reed Warblers were in full song, a Grasshopper Warbler could be heard reeling West of the hide, 9 Mallard were present with 4 broods of ducklings, 8 Redshank were resting on the island, a single male Teal, the Mute Swan family still strong with 7 cygnets, 7 Grey Heron hunted in the West corner and 4 more in the Public hide bay, 7 Pochard, 6 Tufted, 4 Little Grebe, and a Oystercatcher flew overhead. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff and a single garden Warbler could be heard in the North wood. At the public hide the Canada Geese seem to have lost 2 goslings, and a male Shoveler stood on the shore, with no sign of the Garganey.