Alert

I like the way the feeding geese flocks always have at least one member on the look out for danger.

Songthrush

As well as a Mistle Thrush seen regularly around the garden I have had several views of a Song Thrush .
Always nice to see.

Spuggies

This winter I have been surprised at the number of House Sparrows coming to the feed. Over recent years the numbers have always been less than ten, but currently there seems to be 14-16. Nice to see a flock coming and going.

Mistle Thrush

Have been favoured recently by regular views of this cracker from the window.

One down

This afternoon's news that  Philip Dilley the Environment Agency Chair has left his position was positive.
Remember all the bad reports regarding Hen Harrrier losses in Forest of Bowland last year ?
Check this out
https://anewnatureblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/the-flood-the-environment-agency-chair-and-the-grouse-moor/

No doubt there will be another similar in place quite soon.

Back Garden

After a few years of steadily declining House Sparrow numbers there seems to be an upturn in the numbers visiting the back garden. Currently there are about 12-14 regularly feeding on seed on the ground. A rare visitor for me was a male Chaffinch amongst the sparrows.

Druridge Walk

This morning seemed just right for a stroll from Druridge Pools to Dru CP and back.
Dru Pools is nicely flooded again with lots of the usual birds about.
Along the track there were many new water flashes in the fields with large numbers of Curlew and Lapwing making the best of them. Stonechats appear on the bush tops every hundred yards or so, and it was nice to see  a few Twite. The Druridge dunes Goldcrest flock also contained a few Chaffinch.
At E Chev burn outlet there was a strong flow of water turning it into a stream all the way to the sea.
About fifteen Ringed Plover with a few Sanderling were resting beside the burn.
In the NE corner of the East Chev North Pool an otter went about its hunting.
Numerous geese flocks went back and forth and a diver, unable to ident, flew north above sand dune tops
Walking back along the beach small groups of Sanderling scurried in the waters edge.
Back at Dru Pools a Short Eared Owl hunted.
Very nice.