Colours of PC

A walk along the bumpy road during last hour of daylight last night, still provided plenty of colour

The Curlew roosting flock numbers seem to be still increasing along with Lapwings

I'm taking this as a Willow Tit based upon the grey back, and all white cheeks, but no doubt I'll be corrected if wrong.

This Great Tit contributed to the colour palette as well

A very dark coloured gull flew over heading east. 

Edmondbyers & Blanchland

Had a bit of business at Consett this morning so it seemed right to visit the higher ground south of Edmondbyers and Blanchland.
Picked up some refreshment in Edmondbyers and headed south west. Within a mile the fields alongside Burnhope Burn held good numbers of Lapwing, and Greylag

A few hundred yards further on a Red Kite soared over Muggleswick Common. This is the third consecutive sighting of Red Kite in this specific area during my last three visits.

It did not take long to see Red Grouse and their numbers seem as large as I have seen in the past

Four Golden Plover broke cover and wheeled away as i drove past and near to Waskerley Reservoir, a pair of Oystercatcher were waiting for something to happen.

I thought I might see a Pipit but it may be just a little early with Snow still present on the north facing slopes

Onward down to Blanchland where on getting out of the car was greeted by a calling Tawny Owl, which was nice to hear. After tea and cake it would not be right to leave Blanchland without seeing the Dipper and sure enough it did not take long to find.

A nice way to complete an enjoyable jaunt.

Northern Light show

Following a tip off From The Notebook headed down to St Mary's at 9.30pm and had my first ever sighting of the Northern Lights. I Had grabbed the bridge camera without thought or tripod.
So when I made a few attempts at hand held and not a clue about settings, this kindly soul next to me took pity, and the camera from me. He hurtled through the settings and gave it back to me and said put that on the wall and try it.
To say I am chuffed is an understatement

The one below is me trying to put some context into my new found skills with the camera resting on the fence post

Probably the most dramatic sight was when a rich ruby red vision appeared directly above for around ten minutes.
MAGIC.

Sometimes I just feel lucky

Had a pair of these cracking Mistle Thrush at the garden feeder this morning

Even perched on my carefully placed posing stick.

Bumblebee - Bombus Hypnorum ?

My first Bumblebee of the year in the back garden.
I thought it is a Bombus Hypnorum but my guide book suggests they frequent southern counties, so any identification opinion would be appreciated.

Shibdon Pond

If  this is as it appears, its hard to see how this will turn out anything but badly. It is on one of the recently made islands in mid pond.

Gosforth Park NR

Tuesday's visit was muddy but worthwhile with Treecreeper, Nuthatch and GS Woodpecker at the feeding station and a four second view of an in flight Bittern form the hide.