2012

2012, its been some year, my time in education came to an end, and a new story is now in its beginnings. Here's some of my highlights from the year.

January had just kicked in when myself and Brian visited Gosforth Park, we were reward with some exceptional views of a Bittern, and one of my favourite images from the year.

Hard frost in January, and an early start at Holywell saw me photographing fence posts. Macro puts a whole new perspective on the often missed beauties.

The stars, and time-lapse photography began to take a foothold.

Heading South, with Ashley Howe and Ryan Deal, I made my first visit to Norfolk.

A large part of my Winter was spent filming my final media project, between Holywell and St Mary's.

A first look at the film.

  

2012 seemed to be filled with those wildlife moments, when your heart beat quickens, when you become immersed in your surroundings, when all your senses share the experience, when you feel that spark all over again. One which stays solid in my memory can be found HERE

The Great Crested Grebes at Killingworth Lake performed brilliantly.

I entered a small film competition with my film 'A Quiet Corner', and came third place!

April saw a good movement of Avocets in the county, with 5 present between the Beehive Flash and Holywell Pond.

June was spent at RSPB Troup Head, in the presence of the Gannet.

 

A boom of Bee Orchids.

I also had a return to the Isle of Mull, and a visit to Lunga.

The stars had me out a lot, capturing time lapses, a brief moment allowed me to capture this picture at Dunstanburgh Castle.

The Short-Eared Owls arriving at Holywell allowed me to Reconnect and experience what it was to be a Short-Tailed Vole.

October my website went live, www.cainscrimgeour.co.uk

And December saw myself and Gary Storey watching the Aurora in the county.

Thank you for following my blog, I wish you all a Happy New Year !

Last thing...

Back at the Beehive in the last rays of sunlight this evening to have another look at the Avocet, which has been around for the past 2 days now.

Avocet at Beehive Flash

Still present at 16:45 today.


Best viewed in HD.

Holywell Tonight

Exams are over and I am beginning to have free time again. After kayaking today at the QE11, I went down to Holywell about 19:30 there was not much about tonight but I noted, 4 Male Wigeon, 1 Oystercatcher, 18+ Mallrd + 4 small young, 3 Mute Swan + 5 cygnets, 8 Grey Heron with one juvenille bird hunting on West reeds, after a while to appered flying off with a Little Grebe egg, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen+ 1 juv, 15 Coot + 2 young, 14 Tufted, 1 Cormorant, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, Lapwing, Sand Martain, Swallow, House Martain,Swift, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Phesant, House Sparrow, Starling, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, 3 Pair of Greylag with 5 goslings, 1 Male Pochard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Black Headed Gull, 1 Female Kestrel, 2 Pair Canada plus at least 1 young.

Also 2 Stock Dove at the Beehive Flash.

Another Short-Eared Owl, The Sluice and The Pond

Got the car today so thought I would go to the pond, via the Beehive flash. Pulled up at the corner, due to mud and me driving my Grandmas Nissan Micra, I walked round the edge of the farmers field until I could see the flash there was, 15 Teal, 7 Wigeon, Pair Gadwall, Pair Mallard, and 2 Roe Deer, a buck and a doe, just by the wood. As I turned round there was a Carrion Crow chasing a SEO, they were quite high with the Crow above the owl, stooping as they do too most BOP, the SEO was coming from underneath and giving the Crow as good as it got, it gave up after a minute or so and flew along the hedge line running west and landed in the rough grass in front of the Gorse bushes. I had a quick check of the small pond in that direction and it produced a pair of Mallard and 3 Grey heron. Next was off to the sluice in search of Jay and Kingfishers...

The two Rookeries down there were busy with birds bringing bedding material, soft grasses, mosses etc, should be laying soon. Female Sparrowhawk over the burn put most of the Woodies up and made most birds express there grief. Lots of Goldfinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Jackdaws and Magpies about, with a couple of Carrion Crow on the sea-marsh bit. Feral Pigeon flock and a Song Thrush on my way back to the car. Quite a lot of Daffodils as well.

Next off to the Pond, got there about 17:30 and was greeted by a Song Thrush at the gates. On the pond there was 31 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Greylag, 1 Canada, 3 Mute Swan, 19 Tufted, 8 Mallard, Pair Shelduck, 4 Male and 1 Female Pochard, 4 Coot, 1 Common Gull, 3 Great Black Backed Gulls and a Moorhen. Also about Female Sparrowhawk, Reed Bunting, and 30+ Jackdaws moving West at 17:36.

Brings my patch list to 69.