Sunday 26 January 2014

Nothing new

A quick trip around some of our area in between the rain today. Nothing new on our travels other than a field with numerous Redwing and Goldfinch feeding, a Buzzard and Robin at Weary valley and a Hare near Thirsk. Pretty quiet but a nice run out.









Sunday 19 January 2014

What a Beak.

We went for a walk along Smardale Gill today.  It was raining when we got there but we could tell it was going to clear and it did.  We walked along the walkway and over the viaduct then over the river and back along the other side.  The Red Squirrels were there as usual and the Nuthatch performed well.  Taking a bag of monkey nuts and seeds paid off along the way. A pair of Dipper and Goosander were on the river near the viaduct and the two Ravens were very vocal.

The Red Squirrel shot is not so good as this was when it was raining.


Thursday 9 January 2014

Not Going Out.

Decided not to go out today and was rewarded by seeing Long-tailed Tit visiting our garden feeders, about 10 birds in total - good to see.



Sunday 5 January 2014

Mission Failed!!

Wish we had tried harder now, only managed to get 96 species of birds before going back to school tomorrow.  It was fun trying though and we didn't travel very far in the process.  Mostly around Hartlepool area with one run over the moors.
Today we missed out on the Black Redstart but did manage to get the Spotted Redshank and Greenshank and three Long Tailed Ducks at Parton Rocks, flying past quite close in.  Did not manage to find Long Tailed Tits, Treecreeper or Nuthatch, Great Crested Grebe or Snipe.  The Stonechats also evaded us on Greenabella.  We did manage Goosander at Ward Jackson along with G.S. Woodpecker.
 
 

Saturday 4 January 2014

What weather!!

Only managed to get out for an hour or so today, late afternoon and in the rain!!! Did manage to get a further 3 birds for Sylvia's list - Ring-necked Parakeet, Red-breasted Merganser and Barnacle goose. Last day tomorrow before returning to work.
 
 Ring-necked Parakeet
 

Thursday 2 January 2014

On a mission.

Sylvia's on a mission to see 100 birds before going back to school.

Day two of the new year and only a further six to add to the list.  We went for a trip over the moors to Helmsley where Dipper and Grey Wagtail were easy to pick up. On the way we passed the fields where the geese were and sure enough the Pink Feet were still there but we counted three today.  A Buzzard was up over Thirsk and on the way back there were lots of Red Legged Partridge and the obvious Grouse. 
 
Dipper
Kestrel
Red Grouse
Pink-footed Goose


Wednesday 1 January 2014

A New Year and a new start.

Here we go again!.............................the start of a new birding year.
Up at daylight to get a head start on our 2014 birding list. This an opportunity to catch up with all the birds we tend to overlook for the rest of the year and also to discover how our more common birds are disappearing and are so much harder to locate.
At the end of daylight hours our list had grown to 76 species...........not a bad start but not exactly special.
Highlights of the day were Great Grey Shrike, Whooper and Bewick Swan and long-tailed duck.
Have posted some of the pictures from the today in alphabetical order.
 
 Blue Tit getting ready for a house move in 2014
 Chaffinch - getting harder to find
 Coot - getting more common
 Cormorant
 Dunlin
 Gadwall
 Grey Partridge - getting very hard to find.
 Greylag goose
 Herring Gull
 Knot
 Little Egret
 Marsh Tit
 Med. Gull
 Mute Swan
 Purple Sandpiper
 Redshank
 Ringed Plover
 Robin
 Robin
 Tufted Duck
 Turnstone
Whooper and Bewick Swans