New kids on the block

A mid morning trip around the pond this morning surprised me with another breed of sheep in the adjacent field,these look like a more ancient breed I managed a few pics when they came closer.They looked like they were mixing in well with the other flock.

A morning at Kielder

The chance of a lift to Kielder for a few hours whilst my son did a small job there was gratefully received. On arrival it was quite misty and very cold with a strong wind blowing straight into the shutters on the  front of the hide, not what I had hoped for.With the light levels just above zero photo's were going to be a no no.
If you like Chaffinches this is the place to be as there seemed to be hundreds of them and very little else,birds seen were Great,Coal and Blue Tit,Chaffinch and Greenfinch,Gs woodpecker and Nuthatch and two Carrion Crows, no Siskins and no Red Squirrels!! I managed a couple of pics just before I was picked up you can see how strong the wind was by the crest on the Chaffinches head .

Big Waters and Frosty

A trip to Big Waters was on the cards for this morning, the weather was very cold but fine and bright, a few pics was the order of the day,seed had been put out by another gent in the hide so the usual birds in the feeding station were tucking in when through came the Sparrow Hawk .While I was waiting for birds to return another gent entered the hide and we got talking (as ya do)Canon 500mm f4 came up in the conversation only for him to produce one from his bag and offer me a trial (prayers answered) After15 mins play a lot of my questions had been answered and I think I may have saved myself a lot of money ! (if I had it ),I didn't get the gents name and thank him for the try.Anyway here's a few pics with the 400.

I just love the pose on the Cygnet.

Northumberland Park

A quick visit to the park with the camera came up trumps with this little fella who was very obliging.