Far from the Madding Crowd

One of the great things about Northumberland are those hidden gems that you can enjoy without seeing another soul, even during the current holidays and fine weather.

Let's start with Hawsen Burn, Harthope...............

Minotaur beetle Typhaeus typhoeus - a dung beetle of heaths, moorlands and mountains, especially in the north and west of the British Isles. Here seen enjoying Sheep dung.

Red Grouse

Meadow Pipit

Brown Silver-line

Wheatears were singing. Buzzard, Kestrel & Sparrowhawk overhead.

Today I went to Beacon Hill. The approach road gave me my first Whitethroat and Cuckoo for the year. In the wood......

Pheasant

Redstart (female)

Redstart (male)

No Pied Flycatcher or Wood Warbler yet and no sight or sound of Mr Whippy.

Bathtime at St Mary's

The song of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits filled the air at St Mary's today. A Chiffchaff was singing in Holywell Dene while at the Beehive Flash there was a pair of Shelduck and 150 Greylag Geese.

A flock of a hundred or more Starlings take a 

communal bath on the wetland at St Mary's

Meadow Pipit preparing for another aerial display

Common Toad Bufo Bufo at St Mary's Wetland

Wags the Movie(s)

First stop today was the Cheviots where I got my first House Martin, Red Grouse and Stonechat for the year. Also good to see Wheatear in breeding territory.

Nuthatch gets a Northerly up it's jacksy

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Next it was home via Pipit central, Cresswell, where some eight birders (one from Potters Bar) had great views of Yellow, White, Pied, Black-headed and Blue-headed/Yellow Wagtail hybrid aka Channel Wagtail. Managed to dip Garganey at Druridge Pools yet again.

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava feldegg)

Channel Wagtail (M.f.flava x flavissima)

Now grab your popcorn and turn down the lights..................................

Ref: FLAVA FRUSTRATION

Ducking Christmas

I managed to 'duck' the stress of Christmas and impending kitchen disasters with an early(ish) walk along Whitley beach. There was a lone Gadwall flying in from the south and landing in the surf at the north end of the beach. It swam along the shore, calling all the while, and then every 5 minutes or so it would take to the air for a lap of the beach only to return.



On the wetland was a beautiful pair of Wigeon along with a large number of teal.

The Water Pipit is still present at the north end of the beach.

Along the links were a sprinkling of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Redshank, Oystercatchers, Golden Plover, Pied Wagtail and a single Grey Wagtail. Also, a single Purple Sandpiper on the exposed rocks off the beach.

Seasons Greetings