Spetchells, Prudhoe

A walk along the river bank this morning produced some nice sightings of Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Dipper and two Grey Wagtail.
Four Small Tortoiseshell were on the wing on the Spetchells

Weetslade

A walk onto Weetslade provided a cracking view of Yellowhammer

and looking fit to burst, heading toward a pond

Colours

Just a few splashes of colour today on a dull day.

Harwood Crossbills

Have had many failed attempts to make contact with Crossbill at Harwood, but another visit this morning was planned. The gibbet roadside parking area was full of Goshawk watchers who earlier had Crossbill, but I stuck to my plan to go into the forest and search.
At last a nice red male Crossbill then a few more sightings which included this female.

This Buzzard hovered over

and a dozen Fieldfare stopped for a while

Newbiggin Fulmar

Newbiggin this morning provided some nice views of Fulmar patrolling along the cliff face making the most of the uplift.

They know best

The garden Blackbirds were waiting for their daily supply of apple to be served this morning so I duly obliged, and took up a perch myself to watch them for a while.
One of the birds stopped feeding and kept quite still with its head over to one side.
Remembering an old tip that the bird is probably watching something above, I followed its gaze and sure enough, quite high up, a soaring Sparrowhawk, which continued on its way.

Prestwick Carr SEO

Thanks to the tip off from PCF, that the Prestwick Carr Short-eared Owls were becoming active late afternoon, that was today's destination.
I was not disappointed.
Up to four birds were active  in the late afternoon sun.
Just Magic.