Gosforth - Shoveler

A couple of hours down the park this morning with dark overcast skies and freezing temperatures saw me watching the antics of this female Shoveler, it wasn't going to be a good day for photographs but as the bird came closer and closer I decided to shoot a couple of frames.When I was processing the images I noticed the filter brush on the underside of the ducks massive bill and have included a close crop image to show.

Afternoon with the SEO's

 Chopwell woods was our first call on Friday morning looking for reported Crossbills which we never found,then onto Far-pastures for the Firecrest again no joy (plenty of Goldcrest tho),Clara-Vale was the next stop both for lunch and  to see if the Kingfisher would play ball he also kept his distance which could have been due to the Sparrow Hawk passing through on one occasion taking a Goldfinch from a feeder.It looked like it was going to be a bit of a wasted day darker clouds were forming over in the west but we decided to take a chance at Prestwick for the SEO's, a few of the owls were out when we arrived and it wasn't too long before the cameras were clicking away (oh for more light was the cry) that was not to be but one of the Owls came a little closer allowing for some better pics.

 

 

 

Clara-Vale

Friday morning and I had the chance of a visit to Clara-Vale with my mate Bob and his wife Liz,hoping to see the Kingfisher and a chance for Bob to try out his new lens.The weather was dull and overcast as we made our way to an empty hide. Bullfinches were the first to get noticed with there striking plumage closely followed by a flock of eight/ten Yellowhammers that looked like little light bulbs when sitting in the small bush before going down on the ground to feed,only one Siskin no water-rail and no Redpolls as yet, brief glimpses of a Green Woodpecker and two Jays and yes the Blue-Streak did put in its usual appearance,here's the pic of the mornings shots.          

Help save this reserve

Gosforth Park Reserve; Yes that's the one where all the Bittern pics are coming from at the moment(and how nice they are too) but for how long!!.This reserve is under threat from both adjoining Councils Newcastle and North Tyneside regarding housing development,the most immediate threat is from the proposed Bellway development of 350+ houses at Whitehouse Farm Westmoor.
  This reserve needs the land at Whitehouse Farm for its future survival,it provides a wildlife corridor between the park,Westmoor and Killingworth and is the last small area of land remaining only 100 metres from the park woodland (the other side of the road to the garden centre)your protests are urgently needed to try and stop this urban sprawl and help the wildlife on this reserve  and there is little time to do it 31 January is the deadline. Please send your protests to Mr Ken Wilson, Head of Planning, Planning Department,
Quadrant East,Cobalt Business Park,North-Tyneside.NE27 0BY.                                                                                                                                                          Thanks for your help                                                                                                                                                   Joe.

Once Bittern !!

I just simply had to pay a return visit and see if I could improve on the hurried shot of the Bittern I posted a short while ago,this time it seemed more leisurely as I had the hide to myself for quite some time and the Bittern didn't disappoint either although further away than I would have preferred (beggars can't be choosers ) it gave me a good few minutes viewing,what more could I ask .