Frosty Robin

   

 

All the best

STAY SAFE

Joe

This Morning

 Raging seas, white horses, pouring rain what else would you need for a quick visit on the prom to see the Snow Buntings that have been feeding on the grassy banking just before the café well that's what greeted me so this is the best of what I got.

Its becoming a bit of a habit along this prom of late what next I wonder ??.

Thanks for looking 

STAY SAFE

Joe.

Walled Garden

 A second brief visit to see the Pied Wheatear was to try and improve on the images I took the first time ,however when I did connect with the bird it was happily perched on the edged of the walled garden and seamed quite content to stay there allowing for some close up shots .

being fed a mealworm.

The next images are from my first visit.

A really nice bird and a privilege to see.

Hope it survives the fireworks on Sunday night ?.

Thanks for looking 

STAY SAFE

Joe.

Tynemouth

On arrival we were greeted with a lovely sunrise and shortly after with a pod of Dolphins topping in the bay,the Black Redstart was our target bird followed by the elusive Subalpine Warbler if our luck was in .We connected with the Redsart shortly after arriving but it was at distance and seemed reluctant to move eventually it did come closer giving us the chance of a few pics.

This was short lived as the local Kestrel put in an appearance and looked like it would take anything for breakfast !

It chased what I think was a Rock-Pipit into the crevice in the wall but was unsuccessful. We watched the demise of a newly fledged feral pigeon at the hands of the local gulls and crows,as our parking time was nearly up we had a brief luck for the warbler ( but failed) everybody else had also gone so decided to call it a day.

Thanks for looking

STAY SAFE

Joe.

Leighton Moss

 Its been four years since my last visit here and things haven't changed much (coffee and cakes  still nice) its always nice to visit when the Bearded tits are changing there diet and showing well around the grit tray areas and pathways and this visit was no exception .What was instantly noticeable was no coloured rings on any of the birds I saw perhaps monitoring has stopped now,anyway I braved the madding crowds to get a few pictures .

this years youngster above with male and female taking grit.

.

And a great white to boot.

Thanks for looking 

STAY SAFE

Joe.

St Mary's

 Wednesday morning looked good for my second trip to see the Lapland Bunting it didn't take very long as it was very close to where it was on Monday,I rattled off a few frames before walking down to the willows to look for the Yellow-Browed Warbler and Blackcap (no joy there) a cuppa coffee later and I decided to call it a day heading back to the car park at Old Hartley I came across the Bunting again on the cliff top path it was very obliging only 5-6ft away at times here's a few pics. 

A real nice morning and a good number of people would go home very happy.

Thanks for looking and STAY SAFE.

Joe.

Gosforth Park N/R

 Its been a while since my last visit and with my mate being a bit busy and then finding himself ending up in hospital I thought I would stay local and give it a go.You can't go to Gosforth without the chance of a Kingfisher and sure enough this fella came in with his landing gear down.

But this place is not all about Kingfishers like this bad ass looking Water rail just looking for bother

But then the long awaited rain came and this Snipe decided to head for higher ground

The shower didn't last long and we were back to normal service,

the young Terns have found their wings and are flying between the floating island and the platform its not going to be long before they are away

It was really nice to see this family of Common Sandpipers arrive for a small rest  

They looked really fresh (no doubt on there way to Africa )

And the crappy picture of the month goes to this Common Tern feeding a Grey Heron !!

And on the way out I was rewarded with Roe Buck not too far away giving me the chance of a  nice picture and a head shot.

I might give it a couple of weeks before my next visit.

Thanks for looking 

STAY SAFE

Joe.

Druridge

 A few hours up at Druridge saw us stop off at Cresswell on the way to catch a look at the Barn Owl still out hunting, also the Avocets ,still one pair sitting after the predation (fingers crossed).On to Druridge where the three Spoonbills were at distance in their usual pose ie sleeping but the highlight of the morning came in the shape of a very nice Brown Hair which kept us entertained for a while.

This bird stopped for a pose appearing to be in good condition .

On the way out we came across this Chaser.

We believe it to be an (Immature Male Broad bodied chaser ?? )

very nice to see and a first for me and my mate.

Thanks for looking

STAY SAFE

Joe

River Wharfe walk

 A few days away in the Yorkshire dales visiting Skipton ,Ilkley and Otley was supposed to be a chill-out holiday not a birding holiday,but you know how it is you always put a bit of gear in just in case!! and indeed on a slow walk along the river Wharfe into Ilkley for lunch I spotted this Duck on the far side of the river which turned out to be a very nice male Mandarin always nice to see and very colourful.The following day the weather was going to be kind so we decided to visit a park on the outskirts of Otley called Golden Acre Park and what a surprise this place was a haven for Mandarin Ducks here's a few pics.

All in all a very colourful day with many males and females with young, now I know where the one on the river came from ?.

Thanks for looking

STAY SAFE

Joe.

 

What a Bird

 A few days away on the east coast was the only excuse I needed to visit RSPB Bempton in the hope of connecting with the long staying Black Browed Albatross and I wasn't disappointed one bit, I was quite fortunate  on the day we arrived as there was a bit of wind blowing which gave the bird more lift and brought it up the cliff face and allowed for a couple of eye level shots

Most of the time I was looking down on the bird as can be seen in the next shots.

look at the size difference compared with the Gannet

you cant leave out the Gannets when you come to a place like this.

and finally (only saw three)

Thanks for looking

STAY SAFE

Joe.