Out and About

 With the shooters out by the pond and in the surrounding fields it was the right time to travel  a little further afield  a couple of hrs at Killy lake was well spent watching the feeding taking place and the  Goldeneye displaying to his mate .

 

I tried for a morning at Gosforth Park with only one hide habitable due to the cold and wind direction which saw me returning via the feeding station.

Usual suspects really but this male Bullfinch was rather nice.

Then on Thursday we spent the morning at Far Pastures

With nothing going on from the bird hide and pond we turned our attention to the car park area which was far more productive,the above female Bullfinch looked really in the pink.

Thanks for looking

Stay safe

Joe

  

2022 on the pond

 New year on the pond got off to a decent start for Holywell with sightings of Pintail ,a male Merganser and greater Scaup however today (sun) I only managed to connect with the Scaup three in total which I have listed as Female/juv Scaup as I am unable to tell if lesser or greater I would be pleased to receive any comments regarding above.

 

all three together and all have been cropped.

Thanks for looking

Happy New year to you all

Joe

Dippers in the Dene.

 Having been tied up for a couple of months helping my two sons with various projects of theirs it was time for a bit of me-time,so what better than a walk down the dene and along the burn on a Dipper hunt.I tried the usual perching stones to no avail but I still carried on in hope joined by this little Robin which joined me on the way.

Having reached the bridge and a small bird feeding station with its usual occupants my eye was drawn to something larger scampering along the tree trunk as it stopped that was my chance of a shot. 

Its only the second time I have seen a grey in the Dene I decided to go back retracing my steps only a little closer to burn side,two male bullfinches caught my eye next feeding close to the waters edge,

Then a little further on I came across the bird I had set out to see not one but two feeding a short distance apart here's a few pics in bad light (its never my fault !!)

Great to see the both of them and hope they have a successful brood next year I might get to see the youngsters who knows?.

                                                                                   Thanks for looking

                                                                                         stay safe

                                                                       Have a Merry Christmas

                                                                                    All the best for 2022 

                                                                                               Joe 

Hawkers and Whoopers.

 Having just swallowed lunch and the rain appearing to have eased off I decided on a walk down the pond,opening the shutters in the members hide all appeared to be quiet other than good numbers of Southern Hawkers about seven at the same time,hear's just one of them.

Moving on to the public hide there was 2 Dunlin 1 Redshank in the bay and 8 Whoopers splashing about over by the island.

The Whoopers were later joined by a further 3  which came in from the west,

shortly followed by 5 Golden eye which stayed over on the north bank which made for a nice couple of hours.

Thanks for looking

Stay safe (the numbers are rising)

Joe.

St Mary's again.

 Its becoming a regular trip down to the lighthouse recently although looking out of the window as I write this I think I will not be going anywhere today as its chucking it down,here's a few pics from my last visit.

Good numbers of these Ring Plovers around today.

I was just getting into the swing of things when two fighting dogs scuppered any further attempts so I retired onto the island where this guy kept posing for me so I just had to include it

 Missed out on the Wheatears that had dropped in that day and I am still awaiting to catch the tide just right in the hope of getting near to those Golden Plovers.

That all folks

thanks for looking and stay safe.

.

St Mary's

 My mate and I spent a nice couple of hours on Wednesday morning at St Mary's ,choosing to have a walk around the wetland first only produced Robin,Wren and a Chiffchaff flitting around in the bushes . we moved  on to the start of the causeway there was a good number of waders on the tide line   here's a few pics.

This Ringed Plover didn't hang around for long I only managed a single frame shot.

On the island there was the odd Seal or two on the rocks along with this Seal pup which had a yellow tag on its tail fin which is only just visible on the left.

Just as we were leaving we spotted this Wheatear, it was some distance away and didn't stay long before flying off to continue its migration. 

nice weather nice day what more could you want.

Thanks for looking 

Stay Safe

Joe.

A bit late !!

 I came across this shoveler duck the other day on the pond and it still had a duckling with it perhaps a lone survivor? (never seen a shoveler duckling before).

                                                                     Mother shoveler.

sure wouldn't win any beauty contest

A rather moulty grey wagtail spending a bit of time in my back garden but it had better watch out as this guys about.

Always on watch.

Thanks for looking

stay safe

Joe.