Gosforth Park NR

For the last two hours of light this evening, I wandered around Gosforth Park NR.
The feeder area held good numbers of Great, Long Tailed and Blue Tit. There were also Wren, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, and this smart Great Spotted Woodpecker -




Also saw a pair of Woodpecker on the west side of the pond near to the racecourse

In a different location, after spotting a load of woodchips on top of the footpath mud, I realised this tree trunk above, must be a woodpecker haunt



I could not quite establish whether this Canada Goose had found a convenient roosting spot for the night, or if it had taken residence for more permanent family purposes.



There were a dozen Swallow darting above the treetops



Was not quite quick enough but you can still see the white rump of the Roe Deer on the right being quickly followed by a Fox on the left


Must have seen about ten Roe Deer during the walk

I am unsure of the name of the pond immediately south of the NR but was interested to see it held Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Canada and Greylag Geese.

Evening colours

During another foray to try for a decent Barn Owl photo, three of them gave me the runaround and just could not get near enough.
But, at least it has given me a challenge, which I realise I may not win.
However I did get these two colourful individuals catching the last of the evening sun-

Simonside Skylark

A brief stop at Simonside yesterday for refuelling brought the opportunity to capture some Skylark pics.
It was surprising to be able to walk to within four or five paces without them being spooked and whilst it was quite cool, the sun seemed to fill the Skylark full of energy




A short wander from the car showed a magnificent view of more northerly hills still holding a significant covering of snow

while at Simonside this golden moss brightened vast areas of the ground

You hope for one thing and receive......

Prestwick Carr is one of those places where I always feel that just anything could turn up.
However I did not expect this mornings news of White-Tailed Eagle was not an April Fool joke.
I visited at early afternoon and evening - no WTE.
Having experienced close sightings of WTE on the Isle of Mull over the last two Spring holidays I would have loved to see one locally just to see its size measured against well known backgrounds because I know they are huge!
However time was available and as it turned out, as they say, I was 'last man standing' on the bumpy road last night and was supremely rewarded.
Last year, at this time, I could not find an owl anywhere, including the Carr.
But recently have been over indulged and tonight I had three Barn Owl in the bins at one time.
I was over the moon. Still am!
My bet, based upon tonight's sightings, is that there are four Barn Owl in this area at the moment.
Not only that but as I raised the bins just above the three, there were two Buzzard flying low over.
Magic, just magic!
Photos are rubbish but I don't care.

I was surprised at the difference between one pair of Barn Owl.
You will have to look closely at the pic below but while one of them was significantly 'white' the other on the right of the pic was decidedly rufous-brown. Any opinions on this?

During the visit, countless, (well just because I didn't count them) Yellow Hammer and Pied Wagtail as well as three Roe Deer in the field west of the wood and a couple of Shelduck in a patch of ditch overflow in the same field. Earlier three or four Buzzards soared over the wooded area.
Field Fare, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Lapwing, Redshank, Greylag, Pied Wagtail and many Gulls were also present in the flooded fields.
Just noticed the big bird in the tree beyond the Deer, - but its not a WTE

I like Gulls

I've grown to like gulls, particulary in flight.Only problem is I'm never certain what I'm looking at so I'm going to stick my neck out and I'm sure you'll keep me right.

Adult Herring Gull

We had the briefest of visits to the Fish Quay just before midday today and were lucky enough to catch the blue skies.

Herring Gull

Apart from two or three bait diggers on the beach it was quite quiet there this morning.

2nd winter Herring Gull

There were not many flying since the fish and chip consumption hadn't quite got underway

This huge ship, which I presume is an oil or gas support vessel entered the river while we were there

Barn Owl

Got out for the last hour of daylight to Prestwick Carr.
It was not long before I caught sight of a Barn Owl hunting along the most southerly edge of the Carr. It twice pounced and was some time before it reappeared. After the third time I set the bins on the area to the north of the bumpy road only to be startled by a Barn Owl coming from behind and within ten feet of my right shoulder, then low over the overflowing ditch. I thought it had crossed back across the road but it reappeared from under the Hawthorn hedge, up over the top, and flew off North.
I am not totally sure but I think that I also caught a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl making its way to over Prestwick.
It was almost dark when I thought I would wander up the bridle path. I stood next to some Hawthorn to get some shelter from the chill wind when I saw two Heron flying my way. They obviously did not see me since they landed in a flooded grassed area, only about twenty feet away. However it was not long before one of them took flight, leaving the other calling and not sure whether to follow. Its just as well it did because within a few seconds a Fox approached the clearing. It was not long before it saw me and after a few furtive glances it scarpered also.
A flock of Curlew called most of the time I was there and a couple of Canada Geese returned from whence they came when they saw how little water was left in the once well flooded field.

I know I can't claim it..

Last Thursday afternoon we were visiting at Rowlands Gill and watching the many Red Kite over the village. We then spotted what I at first thought and said was a Heron flying North but away from us. However immediately we both said 'thats not a heron' -with its much flatter wings and soaring quite high but it was too far gone to get any more details.
Then the Common Crane sightings appeared. I'll never know.
But talking about it today with my mate he said that today he saw a pair, remarkably similar again over Rowlands Gill, heading north-west.