A Better Day at Last.

Little Owls

Siskin

Crossbill - male

Crossbill - female

Wigeon - Seaton Common 26.2.11

Kestrel - North Gare 24.2.11

Female Smew at Hurworth Burn Reservoir on 24.2.11

Have not done as much as I would have liked this week what with the weather and visiting hospital but have managed to get out and about today. Decided to have a run over to The Stang Forest and Tan Hill today and visit as many sites on route as possible. Checked out some smaller ponds on the way including Smallways Lake on the A66 which had good numbers of ducks and geese including a single Bean Goose.

Stopped for lunch in the Stang where we managed to see a flock of Siskin and 5 Crossbill including a very colourful male. We also saw a large raptor which we are sure was a Goshawk. Further up the road at Shaw Farm we had 12 Black Grouse, a large flock of winter thrushes and Golden Plover. As we approached Tan Hill Pub we saw a raptor soaring over the moor which turned out to be a female Hen Harrier and further along the road two Raven and two Skylark.

On the way home we also managed to see two Little Owl sitting together near Hurworth in Darlington.