Tonight..

Quick wander at Holywell, noted, 10 Teal at Public Hide, 6 singing Male Yellowhammer, 4 Linnet, 2 Skylark and a buck Roe Deer.

Geltsdale, Bishop Middleham, then Holywell

On Thursday I had an invite from Ewan, to his patch and home, Geltsdale. Arriving at about 10:30 we had a couple of hours to burn before Gary was due to turn up. Before heading out into the fells Ewan took me for a wander round his neighbours garden, looking for Spotted Flycatchers, unfortunately it wasn't to be. Out on the fells with the dogs we soon picked up two Short Eared Owls quartering the ground. Also about were a number of Kestrels, Meadow Pipit, Curlew, a male Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Roe Deer, Rabbit, and Brown Hare.

When Gary arrived at about 13:30 we headed straight to Longtown in search of Yellow Wagtail, at the location we picked up two birds amongst a number of Pied Wagtail, 8 Goosesanders were also in the area. The rest of the day was spent back on the fell, where more Short Eared Owl, and a Barn Owl were seen. A great day in a beautiful place.

Today I've been to Bishop Middleham with Brian, check his blog for the update, I'll just leave you with some pictures, another good day with a lifer of a Corn Bunting.

Carline Thistle Carlina Vulgaris

Ringlet Aphantopus huperantus

Five-spot burnet Zygaeana trifolii

Fragrant Orchid

Red Helleborines Epipactis atrorubens

To finish the day off I took my sister and a friend down to Holywell, we stopped firstly at the Public Hide, two Green Sandpiper were feeding on the scrape, then we moved on to find the Barn Owl, and it showed giving us some brilliant views.

The Buzz...

Record shot of the Little Egret (into the sun)

I haven't blogged that much lately, mainly because I haven't been birdwatching lately due to a lack of time. For the past few weeks I've been living in the real world, working solidly as a labourer for my dad. Over the past few weeks my extent of birding has been restricted to a visit south of the Tyne to North Yorkshire, looking for Honey Buzzards with Geltsdale Wildlife Warrior and Rowlands Gill Birder, and a visit to the Durham Dotterel which we dipped on, but the Little Tern Colony is impressive.

This morning I was in the lovely Lakes, Buttermere to be exact. Walking was on the cards for the day, starting with cloudy tops, but clearing to be a glorious afternoon. The morning started great with a close encounter with a Red Squirrel. Raven, Meadow Pipit,Wheatear, and Common Buzzard were seen on the hill. Walking along Buttermere we picked up a flock of mixed Tits, accompanied by 3-4vTreecreeper, a few Chaffinch, and a lone Spotted Flycatcher. Peregrine Falcons could also be heard, but not seen, above.

We arrived home at roughly 18:00, had my tea, walked the dog and arrived at Holywell for 20:30. Heading straight down to the Public Hide for the chance of waders, it was a glorious summers night. 2 Common Sandpipers could be seen on the island, along with 27 Coot, 23 Lapwing were on the shoreline, accompanied by 28 Black Headed Gull and a single Lesser Black Backed Gull, 2 Grey Heron were hunting the shallows, a Cormorant was roosting on the island and a Sedge Warbler sand its song. The Little Egret made an appearance, although the sun was in the wrong direction for any decent photographs.

Making my way to the members hide it was apparent that there was a large number of hirundines in the area. As I walked down the track to the hide, alarm calls filled the air, I ran to get a view and there it was, a Hobby flying West towards Seaton Delaval, at 20:55, a lifer :D

Opening the shutters, it became apparent why the Hobby was here, 100+ hirundines hawking over the pond. Scanning the pond 14 Pochards could be seen, a Grasshopper Warbler could be heard reeling to the left of the hide, and a Reed Warbler in the NW corner. At 21:05 the Barn Owl made it way from the East fields over the pond into the Northern reeds, quartering West, it disappearedout of sight. At 21:06 I noticed a front coming in off the sea, thick sea fret followed, at 21:08 it just reached the water of the pond and a northerly gust proceeded it, the Barn Owl took it chance to cross the pond, flying straight through the feeding station. By 21:09 the sea fret had engulfed the hole pond and hide. I've only witnessed this type of weather change up in the hills, and summits of mountains, never in the lowland regions. The sea fret give the whole area a eery feeling, adding to the endless wonders of the natural world which can spiritually influence.

By 21:30 I was walking back up to the main gates, pipistrelle and noctules bats were hunting above, their clicking could clearly be heard, I stood and admired the view which the sea fret provided me, evidence in itself of the links nature provides us.

Its times like these which really give you a buzz, a buzz which the next generation are missing out on. I've recently been reading 'The Last Child of the Woods' by Richard Louv, an interesting but sad read, well worth reading. I hope I can make a difference and reverse the process for at least some children withing my lifetime, as I won't be the last child of the woods.

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.