Last of the year.

We managed to get a few record shots from the roadside of the Pink Footed Geese at Hutton Rudby today.  They have been there for a few weeks now along with a large flock of Greylag and Canada Geese.

 

 

A day out at last.

The weather was at last a bit better today.  Sunshine and not much wind so it was good to get out and about.  First stop was the railway bridge at Bradbury where we watched the Great Grey Shrike feeding in the field alongside the railway line.  It was good to stand and view it in the winter sunshine.  Next, just before the sun went down, a run past the Bewick and Whooper swans in the field at Sadberge.  They were a bit nearer the road this time so good to get a better view.

 

 

 



10 Black Grouse in a Hawthorn Bush and a Raven on the road.

Had a drive over the moors on Saturday, no sign of Crossbill or much else at the Stang. The Black Grouse were missing from Shaw Farm............very unusual.

We spotted a Raven sitting on the moor road but again little else, although Kestrel's were common place.

We eventually located 10 Black Grouse in a distant Hawthorn bush with odd individuals dotted about, always seems strange to see a Grouse in a bush instead of on the moor.

Sylvia also photographed a Brambling with the Grouse but I have lost the picture...so I'm not in her good books.

 

10 Black Grouse in a bush

 Black Grouse (fem)

 Raven in the road

Sheep on the roof at Mucker!!

Lapland Bunting with Snow Buntings

A visit today to Seaton Carew beach, 20-30 Snow Buntings there and a single Lapland Bunting. They were very flighty and not as obliging as the ones from last week at the Headland.

 

 Lapland Bunting

 

 Snow Bunting

 

 

Grey Phalarope

Sylvia's turn to pick up a 'good' bird when she paid a visit to South Shields today with this lovely individual on the sea by the pier.

 

 

Snow Buntings on the beach.

32 Snow Bunting were feeding around the beach at Hartlepool headland today on their way to their wintering grounds. Very confiding birds which often came closer to me as I sat watching them.

 

 

Twite and Linnet.

Went looking for the Richards Pipit without success at Hartlepool today. Did manage to find a single Twite amongst a flock of 11 Linnet also several Meadow Pipit and a single Reed Bunting.

 

 Twite

 

 Linnet

 

 

Red Squirrel

Each day we watched a Red Squirrel run along the fence of our cottage in Nethey Bridge but it always went next door to feed.  We managed to get some shots on our last day whilst looking for the Crested Tits in the forest and also found two feeding on some feeders at a cottage nearby.

Can't go to Scotland without posting some photos of them.

The Coal Tits were feeding off our hands again, they come to you as soon as you enter the forest, it is remarkable.  They also love to feed on peanut butter!

 

 

 

 

There were vast numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing around Aviemore and Boat of Garten.

 

 



Winters on its way.

Not a very good day weather wise, raining most of the day so we decided to head for the hills and were glad we did as winter had arrived there.

 

 

Counted about 25 Ptarmigan when we first looked out from the Ptarmigan Restaurant at the top of Cairngorm.  The blizzard then hit and we couldn't see a thing,  then when it cleared we managed to locate a few a bit closer than they had been although still distant.  Nice to see all the same. 

A flock of Snow Bunting flew past but didn't stop.

 

 

Cresties, Whoopers and some very friendly Coal Tits

Yesterday we went looking for Crested Tit around Loch Garten, didn't take long to find them when we where feeding the very friendly Coal tits. Came across  a family group of Whoopers near Neathy Bridge...............it really is a lovely place.

 

 Creasted Tit

 

 Coal Tit - very friendly

 

 Red-legged Partridge (an unexpected find)

 Whooper family