Bolton Abbey trip

Had a day out with the local RSPB to Bolton Abbey - lovely place to do a spot of birding. good variety of species which included, Common Sandpiper, Manderin Duck, Gooseander, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Dipper, Nuthatch and Wood Warbler. Unfortunately we also encountered a mink which was an unwanted find.

Wood Warbler

Manderin Duck

Pied Flycatcher

Nuthatch

Dipper

Mink

Hobby's and Owl

After another late start to our day, we decided to head over to Nosterfield. The highlight of our visit was a fly through by 2 Hobby's which busied themselves trying to catch Hirundines on their way through.

On the way home we drove over towards Codbeck and here we spotted a nice Tawny Owl sat in a roadside tree...................click click!!

Tawny Owl

Hobby  (Very poor record shot)

Nightingale

Tried again for the Nightingale at Cowpen Bewley and was rewarded with brief views and an outstanding vocal rendition. Managed some record shots as it stayed deep in the Hawthorn bushes.

Nightingale

Yellow Wagtail on Seaton Common

Swift at Dormans Pool

Four Seasons (before lunch)

I bet when Vivaldi wrote 'Four Seasons' he didn't expect to get them before lunch in May.

Anyway managed to get out a couple of times looking for an expected fall of rarities which never transpired in the North-east, following the Bluethroat's marvellous showing in the rain!

But anyway if everything in life was predictable then wouldn't it be boring?

Nothing exciting about except our Cowpen Bewley Nightingale (which doesn't want me to get even a record shot of it) and the Spoonbill at Saltholme which remains too distant to photograph.

So I've put some of our more common bird's on the Blog.

Golden Plover

Wheatear

Kittiewake

Dunlin

Sanderling

Sedge Warbler

Little Tern

Swift

More of the same.

Not to miss out on the Bluethroat went to Hartlepool Headland straight from work on Friday morning. The weather was awful and I got soaked, but to see this wonderful bird was worth it. Also in the area was a Whinchat and a few other bits. At Saltholme the Garganey were showing at distance.

Red-spotted Bluethroat

Whinchat

Garganey

My Favourite Bird.

Red Spotted Bluethroat
Well, tonight I had every intention of coming in from school and not moving out of the chair and just relaxing.  That idea didn't last long when at 6pm whilst eating my tea I got a phone call to say there was a Bluethroat at Hartlepool.  As this is one of my favourite birds and one I had only seen once before I decided to try and see it.  By the time I arrived at the headland it was pouring down so armed with camera and umbrella went to look.  I managed to get some fleeting glimpses and was about to give up when it jumped up onto the wall and then flew into some gardens opposite where  I managed some half decent shots.

Red Spotted Bluethroat

A few from our local area

Stayed local this weekend to see what we could find.  A selection of photos showing some of the birds we managed to find along the coast and across the moors towards Danby.

Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler - Hurworth Burn Reservoir

Short Eared Owl - Greenabella Marsh

Eider Duck - Hartlepool Headland

Oystercatcher - Newburn

The best I could manage of the fast flying Swifts!

Wheatear - North Gare

Golden Plover - Danby Beacon

Whinchat - Danby area

Lapwing chicks - Castleton area

Turnstone - South Gare

Purple Sandpiper - South Gare beach

Little Ringed Plover - Scaling Dam

Red-rumped Swallow pt2

Visited Bowesfield again this morning hoping that the Red-rumped Swallow was still there. I wasn't disappointed as within the hour the bird was relocated and took a break from feeding very close to us on the grass.