Spring has Sprung.

Raven

Red Squirrel

Raven's nest under the viaduct

Buzzard

Nuthatch

Robin

Path to viaduct

View from the viaduct - in black and white

Looking back towards the viaduct from the valley

Views on route

First primroses of the year

Last of the berries

Catkins

Ellie on the move

Ellie taking a breather

What a beautiful day today was, not a cloud in the clear blue sky made walking along Smardale Gill almost perfect. We saw Red Squirrel, Raven, Buzzards, Nuthatch, G.S.Woodpecker and thoroughly enjoyed the stunning scenery. We took Becca's dog Ellie who also enjoyed the walk. We saw our first sign of spring, primroses and could imagine the spring migrants like the chiffchaff singing at any time soon.

What a poser!

Sparrowhawk - Sleddale
Slavonian Grebe - Scaling Dam
Treecreeper - Sleddale

Little Owl

Black-Headed Gull

Decided to go over the moors again today but this time stayed on North Yorks side. Had two buzzards circling over Little Kildale and later in the day three near Scaling Dam. We stopped at the cattle grid near the chevrons at Sleddale and had this stunning Sparrowhawk land right in front of the car on the gate. Unfortunately we had to sit really still and could only manage to get photos through the windscreen, it sat for a couple of mins. before flying on over the moor. Also in the wood here were at least three Treecreeper and a small flock of blue and coal tits. I think this treecreeper sat rigid whilst the Sparrowhawk was around! We went on over the moors to Scaling Dam where we had good views of the Slavonian Grebe but the light was not too good for any decent shots. Can't wait to go on the holiday I won to Heatherlea, Nethy Bridge in Scotland and hopefully see some on their home turf so to speak. Only 5 weeks till I go, don't know what Mick will do while I am away, am sure he will manage!!

At least the Little Owl have survived the winter and are all still at their usual haunts, we caught up with this one on the way back near Sexhow, Hutton Rudby.

11.10pm - just been out feeding ham to our local estate fox who proceeded to bury some of it in the neighbours border! Good job they did not see me.

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.

A Day in the Lakes.

Goosander

Heron

Got up early today, made a picnic and headed over the Pennines to the Lake District. The weather was cold and visibility not too good but we had a really good day. Had a walk around the lake at Grasmere before heading off to Ambleside and then onto Windermere. The only birds of note were lots of Goosander on most lakes, Goldeneye, Nuthatch and a Yellow Legged Gull at Bowness.

Scraping the Barrel.

Buzzard - Crathorne

Seal - Greatham Creek

Mute Swan

Coot

Well it has been weeks since we have posted anything on our blog but hopefully this is about to change. What with the weather and having to rely on weekends to get out and about things have not been too good of late. Sylvia is now on a weeks holiday and weather permitting she may get out and about and get some half decent photos. In the meantime you will have to make do with what's here. We have not even been able to catch up with the Green Winged Teal at Bowesfield but it isn't that we haven't tried. We did however manage to see three buzzards today on our travels. One at Crathorne and two circling above woodland near Carlton In Cleveland, all three just outside our area in North Yorkshire. We also caught up with at least 100 waxwing in Thornaby but the weather was too dull and dreary for any photos.

Moors and Scaling Dam

Greater Spottedd Woodpecker
Willow Tit
Peregrine sized raptor unsure what it is?
Buzzard

Thought we had better report today even though our photographs are not good quality as the light was poor. We had a run over the moors and on to Scaling Dam and Lockwood Beck, it was pretty quiet on the moors with only Red Grouse and one Peregrine size Raptor, which we are unsure about. Scaling Dam was better with a large flock of Greylag on our arrival with one Bean Goose with them. They didn't stay put long before they were off. Lots of Teal with some Widgeon and displaying Goldeneye. At the feeders a G.S. Woodpecker put in an appearance with a Green Woodpecker flying across fields on the other side of the water. Other birds on the feeders included a Willow Tit, lots of Blue Tits along with L.T. Tits, Gt. Tit, Greenfinch, Dunnock , Blackbird and Robin. We also managed to see the Red Crested Pochard at Lockwood Beck on the way back. Our last sighting of the day was our local Buzzard perched in a tree just near Crathorne Village not far from Cleveland.

Waders on the rocks.

Golden Plover Knot

Oystercatcher

Turnstone

Purple Sandpiper

Redshank

Trying to get a few of the more common birds added onto our new year list and managed a few of the not so common birds today as well. Not been feeling too good of late so just went for a walk around Hartlepool Headland to blow the cobwebs off and it was a bit chilly. Came across a Golden Plover on Parton Rocks along with quite a few Knot, Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper. A couple of Red Throated Diver at sea along with a porpoise and several Great Crested Grebe. A common Scoter was in the shelter of the Heugh Pier with several Eider and there was a dead seal on the beach there. We eventually managed to view the Red Necked Grebe from the battery. Called into Dormans Pool on the way home and saw the Ring Necked Duck.

Do not want to go back to school tomorrow!!