Warning...

Just a quick heads up. If anyone had a quiet, relaxing walk on the cards for tomorrow its advised to avoid Holywell, especially the hides. As mentioned in my last post, I have planned a program to allow my Scout troop to gain their Naturalist Activity Badge. The program started last night, with an introduction to the natural world. Fourteen scouts are participating in the program, and will be experiencing the wonders of Holywell pond and Dene tomorrow, with the main subject being collection of field notes, but also to show them what can be found on their doorstep, and for the majority, what their missing out on.

The weather forecast is promising, and the scouts have the interest, it should turn out to be a great day.

Hello again...

Its been a long, and busy couple of weeks. Just after I left you at my last post I met up with Gary, Rowlands Gill Birder, SH and Phil had found a Marsh Warbler the previous night, a possible life tick for both of us so an early start was in order, 06:45am to be exact. Walking down to the Oddie hide, Sedge Warbler, and Reed Warbler were keeping us sharp, but no Marsh, after scanning the main pool we picked up something different, further investigation and a life tick was found, Marsh Warbler. The song of this bird was fascinating. After appreciation its call we headed off, up to East Chevington, highlights included 4 Little Gull, a female Marsh Harrier and two hunting Barn Owl. Cresswell was visited on the way back, although there wasn't a great amount about. To finish the morning off I took Gary on a tour of the patch, which I think he was impressed by.

Next a camping trip in Cumbria, roughing it for the weekend, although not a birding trip, it produced some good birds and great records.Most impressively a immature female Goshawk.

My sister and I visited Holywell Pond on the 19/06. Species noted included 9 Little Grebe + 2 young, 3 Grey Heron, pair of Gadwall, 7 Coot, Mute Swan, 4 Tufted, 3 Mallard, and a large number of hirundines.

Sunday night I joined Tom Tams, and Tim Sexton Moth Trapping at Holywell, have a look at Tim's blog for the full species list.

Monday and Tuesday I was down at Holywell, both the pond, and roaming the Deleval Estate. A Barn Owl hunting over East fields from the members hide was a treat, I love seeing these birds on patch and successfully breeding. A male Bullfinch was also seen on Sunday morning near to the feeding station at the first bridge. Its was nice to see the Kestrels were also successful in raising a brood.

Later on the same day I headed towards the Village Pond, and Silverlink Park for a wander. Lots of dragonflies about, I'll need to get my finger out and brush up on my identification skills. Some time was spent watching the local House Sparrows agilely hunting flies over the water occasionally missing and taking the plunge. There was a number of Common Blue Butterflies about. I bumped into Davy T at one of the small ponds, he shed some light on the Dragonfly species in the area.

I've eventually managed to begin the training process of bird ringing, something I've wanting to get involved with for a while now, so far I've been out twice and learnt a lot, but the surface has just been scratched, I look forward to learning more.

If you follow Brian, Killy Birders blog, you may have seen his mention on a project I'm running in the near future. The project he's referring to is a scouting program which I have planned with the aim of the Scouts gaining their Scout Naturalist Badge. This will be taking place at Holywell on Saturday 3rd July, the hides will be busy, so if a relaxing day is planned, I would advise avoiding Holywell. Scouts which gain this badge will be some of the first in the district. Oh, there is a twist on the day, an invented bird, the Long-legged Chameleon Finch, a large pigeon sized, flightless bird. Only five in the area, so if you happen to be wandering Holywell on the 3rd, and see a yellow bird shaped object please do not approach, as they are very wary and disturbance may cause a failed breeding attempt. Although they could provide a easy life tick.

Some of you may have noticed a new blog in my list, The Journal of a Wildlife Photographer, by Steven Williams, a colleague and friend from University, its already shaping up to be a great blog, worth a look.

Blackcap today at ringing introduction

Blue Tit in Public Hide

Crammy Birder trying to get shots of Wood Warbler

Bass lake

Posting will come :)

Warblers, and em Warblers

I thought I would try and get involved with some survey work, so after contacting the necessary people a few tetrads were picked up. One of which is the Universities campus and farmland. So this morning, joined by a friend who's just getting into birding we headed out for a 2 hour timed tetrad.

We started at my block, Blencathra, we headed towards the small Rookery, and House Sparrow hot spots first. Over the day we counted 31 House Sparrows, the Rookery held 6 nests with young. Highlights of the day were a total of 12 Stock Dove, discovery of a Yellowhammer nest with 4 eggs, a Chaffinch nest with 2, a Long-Tailed Tit nest, a Female Blackbird incubating, and a Common Buzzard nest. Through the day there was also a lot of Warbler song and activity, with 11 Willow Warbler singing, 8 Blackcap, a smaller number of Chiff Chaff than expected with only 3 singing birds, same again with Whitethroat with only 1 singing male, but by the far the highlight of the day was 2 singing Garden Warblers.

Scribblies

The rest of the day was spent revising until 18:00 when I needed a breather, so Cliburn Moss seemed like the perfect place to have a wander. As I got out the car I was hit by what sounded like the M6 of Warbler song, walking the circular route I picked up 14 Willow Warbler, 4 male Blackcap, and another 2 Garden Warbler, not a single whisper from a Chiff Chaff. Also about, 2 ducklings in the small pool, although no adults in sight, a Moorhen nest with 4 eggs was also on the pool, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Jay, Pair of Tufted on larger pond, 2 Curlew, Wren, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush, 3 Treecreeper, House Sparrow, Swallow, 2 Red Legged Partridge, and 3 Willow Tit which I was very pleased to find as they are a declining species in the county.

I love this wood.

A media assignment is lurking just around the corner so I got my finger out and headed down to Old Hartley on Sunday (and Monday) to photograph Fulmars. The light was brilliant and the birds performed, I think the images needed had be gained, although a visit to St Bee's Head is on the cards for tomorrow.

Red House Farm produce another unexpected visitor in the form of two Canada Geese, 2 Chiff Chaff were also present. Walking Ruby to the car boot produced massive numbers of butterflies, 18 Small Tortoiseshell, 15+ Peacock, and a single Comma.

Tonight a drive down to Oddendale Quarry felt like something I needed to do, its the site of a massive Black Headed Gull colony. It didn't disappoint.

Just a few more assignments, a couple of exams, and patch birding can again continue.

The record shot of the White-Tailed Eagle at Preswick Carr, taken on 01/04/2010.

Yesterday I was down at Holywell at 16:30, the air and water was calm after a rainy day. Firstly I walked around to the North Pool, due to the possibilty of some Barnacle Geese, 160+ Greylag Geese were present, along with 3 Barnacle Geese, 8 Shelduck, 3 Redshank, 8 Curlew and a number of Lapwing.

Back on the pond, the lone female Goosesander was still present, along with 2 male Shoveler, 11 Wigeon, 2 male and 1 female Gadwall, 23 Tufted, 1 male Pochard, 2 Mute Swan, 15 Mallard, 1 Common Gull, 3 Little Grebe, 4 Coot, 2 Moorhen and the feeding station regulars.

This afternoon I had a drive up to Druridge to catch up with Great White Egret in the budge fields, bumped into SL as I was walking along, he told me that he'd just been watching a female Peregrine took into a Teal. It was a nice sunny evening a lovely way to spend it watching the elegant white bird feeding in the pools.

I'm off on Duke of Edinburgh Gold for the next five days, should be fun, will update on return.

The past few weeks ...

Just a few of my highlights over the past month or so to get blog up to speed and running regularly again.

08/03

16 Whooper Swans overhead at Great Mell Fell

10/03

Visit Little Salkeld area, really enjoyed it, I will be back. Highlights, 30+ Golden Plover, 35+ Tree Sparrow, and a Red Squirrel.

15/03

Tawny Owl calling at 07:15 just outside of campus window.

2 Bullfinch at Gilwilly Pond

200+ Siskin Greystoke Forest

16/03

Walked the campus fields, 4 singing Yellowhammers, 2 Pair Grey Partridge, and 2 Brown Hare.

17/03

Had a trip to Haweswater with Ewan the Geltsdale Wildlife Warrior, weather was like pea soup. Birds of note, 2 Great Crested Grebe, Dipper, 1 Female Goosesander, 1 Drake Goldeneye.

18/03

Female Sparrowhawk flew past campus kitchen window with Blackbird sized prey.

19/03

6 singing Yellowhammer at Backworth

20/03

9 Lesser Black Backed Gull at Cramlington

22/03

Went to Holywell highlight of a Female Goosesander

23/03

Walk down Holywell Dene, highlight a pair of Grey Wagtail

24/03

Chiff Chaff seen in hedgerow on carboot

25/03

6 Yellowhammer singing again at Backworth

26/03

8 singing Yellowhammer and 2 Grey partridge at Backworth

28/03

1 Singing Chiff Chaff Brierdene

29/03

3 Chiff Chaff singing at Stocksfield

31/03

Spent a day with Brian the Killy Birder, check his blog for a write up with pictures :). Was a good day.

Also report of WT Eagle got me down to Preswick car but too late missed it.

01/04

Met Phil the Crammy Birder at 10:30, first stop Preswick Carr, after 5-10 minutes we picked up WT Eagle over Plantation by Mayfair House being mobbed by Buzzards. It flew overhead at about 30 metres and looked down upon us, it was amazing, such a huge bird. We watched it for 10-15 minutes before it moved off over towards Dobbies. (will get the record shot up tomorrow)

We continued on to pick the Common Crane up at Eshott, opposite Shaw Farm.

02/04

This morning I was up at Harwood with my dad and a mate. No sign Great Grey Shrike, but plenty Crossbills.

The blog will be back to normal from now.