Aggressive Little Chap!

This Greenfinch was very angry when the Redpoll came to the feeders at Saltholme last weekend.

Yesterday we had our first Wheatears at Kildale along with lots of Meadow Pipit.  It was nice to see the Red Grouse so close to the road and not at all bothered.

Whoever puts the feeders at the Clay Bank feeding station do an excellent job keeping them stocked and as usual there were Redpoll, lots of Siskin, GS Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Chaffinch Hedge Sparrow, Pheasant and Tawny Owl and Chiffchaff heard too.

The Little Owl was sitting out as we passed on our way home which made an excellent end to a lovely day.

'Seal' of approval.

This evening we had a trip to South Gare, very little in the way of bird-life, but we did come across this Seal pup on the breakwater.

Teesport at night is not everyone's 'cup of tea' - but it does have a certain something!!!!

Tawny Owl tonight.

A drive round tonight looking to find Little owls proved to be productive with a single bird in a previous known location in the Yarm area. Prior to this Sylvia spotted a Tawny Owl close to the road, we stopped and managed to get a few pictures............brilliant to see.

Earlier in the day I managed to see my first Meadow Pipit of the year.

Yesterday I also managed to hear my first Chiffchaff.
Sylvia had a small Tortoiseshell in the courtyard at her school today too.

 Tawny Owl

A couple in love.

We went for another look for our regular little owls which we have not seen for a while.  What a lovely evening it was just as the sun set.  Always the best time to look for owls as you spot the silhouette easily.  We spotted two perched in a tree along the edge of one of the fields.  We sat and watched them for a while when suddenly they appeared to start to mate.  Not very good photos as it was getting dark but record shots non the less.

Spring must definitely be in the air!

Spring has Sprung.

What a pleasant weekend, nice to see the sun and feel its warmth.  Managed to see some birds on my travels including this pair of Barnacle Geese at Ellerton Park, Scorton today and the Greywagtail yesterday, singing at Hutton Rudby.

Green -winged Teal

Caught up with a few more birds in the area today. A Yellow-legged Gull showed briefly at Haverton Hill, but no sign of the Long-eared Owls in the Haverton scrub. The long staying Green-winged Teal showed at distance on West Saltholme and a Glossy Ibis put in an appearance on the grassland around Back-Saltholme.

 Green-winged Teal

Snipe

The Colour of Nature

A visit to Tilery Wood today, lots of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll about amongst some of the commoner woodland birds. A 'Hooting' Tawny Owl in the distance made for a pleasant morning stroll.

Round the block.

Had a gentle drive around to catch up with some of the birds in the area. First was a check on the Long -eared owls at Saltholme, only one bird seen today and this was deep in cover. From here we went to Greenabella to look at the 16 Avocet that have arrived over the past few days.

 Crossbills have been hard to find recently but a small flock was spotted distantly at Clay bank and Siskin, Redpoll and Willow Tit on the feeders. Then as with most days the rain came and the fun was over.

Long-eared Owl

 Lesser Redpoll

 Siskin

Willow Tit

Avocet

 Spotted Redshank

 Fox

 Grey Partridge