Tuesday, 29 November 2011
500px
I've recently been adding a few images to a 500px portfolio, you can have a look HERE, or click on the 500px link on the right :)
Monday, 28 November 2011
Wild Goose Chase
A belated post from yesterday.
Taking part in the Lindisfarne count in the morning, struggling to stand, I joined MH and JD at Budle Bay with highlights of a single Greenshank, 2 Little Egret and an immature Peregrine.
On returning back home I headed out in search of geese, firstly down the Beehive road to check the Hartley fields where the Pink-Footed Geese have been feeding in regularly, no sign. Passing Deleval Hall I picked up a Common Buzzard hanging over the wood. Hoping that the geese were in the West field I headed down to the members hide. My hopes were rewarded with what seemed to be a large number of geese, a high chance of a White-Front or Bean I thought.
Instead of a Bean or White-Front catching my attention, 2 white geese did, Ross's Geese. In close company of 5 Barnacle Geese they were part of a larger 150+ Pink-Footed and 30+ Greylag. Unfortunately the geese lifted soon after and although the majority circled and landed again, the Ross's nor the Barnacle could be seen. A check of the surrounding fields prove fruitless, although an adult White-Fronted Goose was on the public shore, it seemed to have a bit of a limp.
Back to the hide to catch a few Starlings heading into the reeds to roost with BD, then a drive back to the Westside.
Today I've been up at Caerlaverock. An impressive number of Pintail on the sea being the highlight.
Taking part in the Lindisfarne count in the morning, struggling to stand, I joined MH and JD at Budle Bay with highlights of a single Greenshank, 2 Little Egret and an immature Peregrine.
On returning back home I headed out in search of geese, firstly down the Beehive road to check the Hartley fields where the Pink-Footed Geese have been feeding in regularly, no sign. Passing Deleval Hall I picked up a Common Buzzard hanging over the wood. Hoping that the geese were in the West field I headed down to the members hide. My hopes were rewarded with what seemed to be a large number of geese, a high chance of a White-Front or Bean I thought.
Instead of a Bean or White-Front catching my attention, 2 white geese did, Ross's Geese. In close company of 5 Barnacle Geese they were part of a larger 150+ Pink-Footed and 30+ Greylag. Unfortunately the geese lifted soon after and although the majority circled and landed again, the Ross's nor the Barnacle could be seen. A check of the surrounding fields prove fruitless, although an adult White-Fronted Goose was on the public shore, it seemed to have a bit of a limp.
Back to the hide to catch a few Starlings heading into the reeds to roost with BD, then a drive back to the Westside.
Today I've been up at Caerlaverock. An impressive number of Pintail on the sea being the highlight.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
a taste of the exotic
A pair of Ring-Necked Parakeets at Churchill park have took it upon themselves to carry out demolition work on this Willow.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
East to West
The day began on patch with the highlights of Tree Sparrow, 2 Woodcock, a few Pink-Footed Geese in the West field and a small party of Goldcrest.
The Tree Sparrows were proving to be difficult to photograph off of the feeders, with a branch or two always being in the way. Here's the best I managed, hopefully they'll hang around so I can try again.
The Tree Sparrows were proving to be difficult to photograph off of the feeders, with a branch or two always being in the way. Here's the best I managed, hopefully they'll hang around so I can try again.
A late afternoon visit to Seghill Pond held Mallard, Mute Swan and Moorhen. A nice little site worth visiting.
Tonight I'm back over in Penrith, the town was shrouded in fog on arrival, but I headed up to the Pennines with Ciara. As we approached Hartside Pass we broke out of the fog, and it revealed clear skies. Only the distant roar of the M6 could be heard.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Back to patch
I awoke this morning to the sound of Pink-Footed Geese, the first skein was of about 100 birds, followed by a further two skeins with about 70 birds in each. This had been the most Pinkies I'd heard moving through so far this year.
There was a few jobs which needed to be done in the morning, so I didn't get down to Holywell till mid-afternoon. Heading down the track a lot of movement could be seen in the top feeding station, I lifted my bins to find a male Tree Sparrow on the feeder, this was a first for me in the area of the pond. They winter in the fields surrounding the dene, but rarely come into the feeding station. Checking the board in the hide, up to four have been seen.
The sun shining on the North wood was making the most of the Autumnal colours, covering the reeds in a golden glow.
70 Pink-Footed Geese flew overhead and landed in the east fields, hopefully this is the start of more to come. The pond seems to be devoid of wildfowl with only the Mute Swan family, 10 Teal, 8 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Moorhen and 1 male Tufted Duck. 2 Grey Heron stalked the shallow waters to the west, and a large number of Gulls bathed on the pond. the female Sparrowhawk put in an appearance flushing 100+ Lapwing from the Public Hide, as sending the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, and Great Tit into cover.
As I left a Common Buzzard flew into a Hawthorn to the West and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on the nut feeder.
Good to be back on patch.
There was a few jobs which needed to be done in the morning, so I didn't get down to Holywell till mid-afternoon. Heading down the track a lot of movement could be seen in the top feeding station, I lifted my bins to find a male Tree Sparrow on the feeder, this was a first for me in the area of the pond. They winter in the fields surrounding the dene, but rarely come into the feeding station. Checking the board in the hide, up to four have been seen.
The sun shining on the North wood was making the most of the Autumnal colours, covering the reeds in a golden glow.
70 Pink-Footed Geese flew overhead and landed in the east fields, hopefully this is the start of more to come. The pond seems to be devoid of wildfowl with only the Mute Swan family, 10 Teal, 8 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Moorhen and 1 male Tufted Duck. 2 Grey Heron stalked the shallow waters to the west, and a large number of Gulls bathed on the pond. the female Sparrowhawk put in an appearance flushing 100+ Lapwing from the Public Hide, as sending the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, and Great Tit into cover.
As I left a Common Buzzard flew into a Hawthorn to the West and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on the nut feeder.
Good to be back on patch.
Friday, 4 November 2011
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Take 2
Went for my second attempt at star photography tonight, this time on patch. The light pollution coming from Blyth looked like it could make things interesting. This time star trails were on my mind. I managed 2 photos, which weren't exactly what I had envisioned but its a start.
Test shot.
The two shots above were slightly overexposed on the originals, so I've dropped the exposure down a notch.
All the final shot, trying to get correct exposure and the camera steams over.
A work in progress.
Gosforth Park under threat...
600 houses threaten the Green Belt land surrounding the Natural History Society of Northumbria's reserve. I imagine most people have visited this reserve, a hidden gem in a urban jungle, full to the brim with wildlife, with that magical atmosphere, and the sense your the only one there, finding moments of 'the spark' with every step.
The development will severely effect the reserves present wildlife, follow the links to voice your opinion about this destructive act.
Natural History Society of Northumbria
Save Gosforth Park
and the follow Facebook Group
or Twitter
The development will severely effect the reserves present wildlife, follow the links to voice your opinion about this destructive act.
Natural History Society of Northumbria
Save Gosforth Park
and the follow Facebook Group
or Twitter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)