Glossy Ibis

Sylvia's list grows slowly with this weekends sightings. A visit to Foxglove Covert produced Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch in numbers, Greenfinch ,Chaffinch,  and G.S.Wodpecker in appauling weather.

On Sunday we called at Belasis Avenue Billingham to see the Glossy Ibis that had taken up residence in a horses field. A Siskin was spotted en-route to Helmsley at a feeding station at Clay bank.......no sign of any Crossbill though.

Glossy Ibis

 Chaffinch

 Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Siskin and Great Tit

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

 

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

 

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



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



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.