Headed North.

Had a run north yesterday to see what was about.  Although it was fairly quiet we had a pleasant day in reasonable weather and it did not rain until we were on our way home.  We started off at Druridge Country Park and East Chevington.  The Spoonbill was present, although distant along with a couple of Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk.  There was a flock of small birds which included at least five Willow Warblers.  We then paid a visit to Hauxley nature reserve where there were lots of butterflies including Small Copper, Wall, Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper and Small Heath along with lots of whites.  There were 2 Common Sandpiper a Redshank and a Greenshank on one of the pools and Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the beach.  On the way home we stopped off a Cresswell pools where we had close views of a Spoonbill, whether or not it was the same one from East Chevington we do not know.  We also had a Long Tailed Duck and a Barn Owl here.

Waders at Blacktoft Sands.

We had a run down to Blacktoft Sands to see what was around there and were surprised at how many Spotted Redshank were there, at one count we had 24 from one of the hides along with 3 Green Sandpipers and quite a few Ruff and Greenshank with three Marsh Harriers in the air together, although too distant for photos.

It was a beautiful calm day and we had the hides to ourselves.

Greenshank

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank and Ruff

Green Sandpiper and Snipe

Green Sandpiper

Spotted Redshank

Lapwing stand off with a Spotted Redshank

Ruff

Snipe

Never seen soo many Peacock butterflies

Emperor Dragonfly

A beautiful end to a super day!

Hobby Blue!!!

Went on a butterfly hunt today but to no avail, even though the conditions seemed perfect.  We did manage to find quite a few Holly Blue including one which visits our garden at approx the same time each day, just after lunch.  It came today as normal, stayed around for a few minutes then disappeared again. 

We visited Woodlands Fishery at Carlton Miniott, Thirsk where we managed to get some photos of a Holly Blue and also a very damaged Speckled Wood.  Apart from a white they were the only butterflies we could locate and it is normally where we would find Gatekeeper and Brimstone to name but a few.  On entering the driveway to the fishery we did see a Hobby circling above and managed to get some record shots but it didn't hang around for too long, no sign of the Corn Bunting today though.  We went on to Nosterfield and saw the Black Tern again along with a Yellow Legged Gull at Lingham.

A Cracking Day.

We decided to go and sit it out at Lockwood Beck in the hope of seeing the Osprey, which on past occassions we always seem to have missed.  We didn't have to wait long though as it was sitting in the trees when we arrived.  We positioned ourselves out of the wind on the opposite side of the lake and waited.  It wasn't too long before the bird was circling overhead very close to us and during the two hours we sat there we were rewarded by some magnificent views of this stunning bird.  We then went on to Scaling Dam and again were rewarded after a long wait with views right outside the hide of the Wood Sandpiper.  All in all a good day out.

At one point he was heading straight towards us as we sat on the picnic bench, he was definately staring us out here.

Wood and Common Sandpipers at Scalling dam

Wood Sandpiper giving some closer views from the hide.

Sightings for 12.8.12

Did the local run today, Saltholme, Hartlepool Headland, Parton Rocks and Newburn.

From the Phil Stead hide we saw 1 Ruff, 5 Greenshank and numerous Snipe.
At Dormans Pool we had Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Grayling, Wall, Small Copper, Small Heath and Green Veined White Butterflies and what we think was a Cuckoo disappearing into a bush.
At the Headland we had lots of Gannet and Little Gull along with a Great Skua harrassing a tern.
Parton Rocks produced several Knot including one red, Redshank, Turnstone, Ringed Plover with a single Dunlin and Sanderling.  On the water there were approx 35 Common Scoter along with several eider and a single porpoise that was seen.
The Med Gull was on the beach at Newburn together with a few sanderling and Ringed Plover.

Holiday Mull.

Spent two good weeks on the Isle of Mull, taking it easy but still managing to see things as we travelled around.  There seemed to be Sea Eagles everywhere and we had our best ever views of Golden Eagle both flying and sitting on the high crags.

White Tailed Sea Eagles

Golden Eagle

Hooded Crow

Common Sandpiper

Arctic Tern

Grey Heron

OH.....how cute.

Fallow Deer

We nearly stood on this little fellow - Ringed Plover chick.

Gannet from Duart Castle

Black Guillemot in a rain storm on one of the couple of wet days we had in a fortnight.

Tom the Tobermory Cat.

Herring Gull in Tobermory, before the cat woke up!

Sightings - 8th August

Just returned from a fortnight in Mull of which we will post more later.  Went down to Greatham Creek today and saw :-
Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank where the seals haul out onto the mud and a Redshank.
Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpiper on the Tidal Pools along with about 20 Dunlin.
Between about 4.30 and 5.30pm.

Red Throated Diver - Loch Buie Mull

Arctic Tern - Garmony, Mull.