Rain Rain everywhere!!

What a day! Thrashing about SE Northumberland on a range of work errands this morning, I was wishing I had a boat rather than a car! Cresswell, Ashington, Arcot - all areas with much more than their fair share of water! Both the Blyth and Wansbeck look extremely swollen and we also had to stop work on a bridge at Prestwick Carr as the water level came dangerously high. 

No Waxwings in sight during my journey through Ashington but I understand they are still around Asda. a number of Mistle Thrushes seen amongst small parties of redwings around Acklington, Amble and Hauxley - perhaps suggesting a mini influx? A quick stop off for some scran at Cresswell Pond, where mud is still showing, produced a couple of Goldeneye, a dozen golden plover, good numbers of curlew, lapwing and dunlin with a few redshanks. 5 whooper swans flew over the hide as I left, heading inland. Someone in the hide reported a med gull amongst a group of Black Headed but my bins just didn't allow me to confirm them! Two sparrowhawks, both male, one at Hauxley reserve and one in Ellington reminded me of the excellent talk last week from Ian Newton.

All in all, not a bad return for so many short journeys and brief stop offs but that rain is going to have an impact and it will be interesting to see how much over the next few days.

 

Halcyon Hauxley

Saturday dawns as a fantastic autumnal morning, crisp and clear, with an inviting forecast. Perfect for a bit of birding.

Leaving the choice of site to others can sometimes be a dangerous thing but this time Toms choice of Hauxley feels right - not too far and we always feel guaranteed to see something worthwhile. We haven't been up there as a family since the fire so I am also curious to see the reactions to the new facilities as well.

Checking out the sightings board in the new and temporary visitor centre, now open, there is a decent list but nothing outstanding. This board has been enhanced by some great sketches by John Steele, worth a look if you're up there. We decided to head down to Erics Hide because of the position of the sun and the wind (its pretty cold today but also very sunny).

Despite the lateness of the year, there are still plenty of wildflowers in bloom, including devil's bit scabious looking majestic. The haws and hips are weighing down the branches, yet to be discovered by winter thrushes, whilst sloes, black just a few days ago are now turning dusky purple following the first of the frosts. Sunning itself on a hawthorn bush, a drowsy speckled wood butterfly languidly took to the air once brushed by the shadow of my camera, joined by another further on along the pathway. Recently common in the area, this was still a surprise view given the relative lateness in the year.

Equally late, the reserve was alive with swallows, urgently stocking up for their impending overseas sojourn, their in-flight menu presumably mainly tipulids, which appear to be commonplace today. Swooping and darting across the sky, these birds appeared to consist mainly of juvenile birds, their urgent feasting suggesting imminent departure. Although young, their mastery of the air was wonderful to watch. Alongside the few perched precariously on the fence-line, a solitary wheatear sits tucked in the sun, its buffs and browns in sharp contrast to the dark scrub. Obvious to me, it took an age to alert my companions to its location.

Amongst the wind blown spume and stranded seaweed, redshank and dunlin feast while mallards and teal sit out the wind, unsure to stick or twist. The nearby fields are full of curlew, hidden from view until disturbed but settling again, just out of sight apart from one individual which continues to probe the mist soil. Alongside is a single godwit, probably bar-tailed, probing the depths, showing clearly the differences in size, shape and colour as well as bill shape.

A dark blob dips and weaves across the water, low to the surface, a sudden shift catches the full light, a turquoise streak as the kingfisher reveals its true colours before passing from view. Poor Tom, dipping on the wheatear as he positioned the scope, double dips, his disappointment palpable.

Perhaps this explains his unusual haste as we move hides, the cathedral space of the new hide fittingly reverential as we sit in hushed tones, searching the sky for a renewed view of the jewelled vision. Three little grebe bob and weave close by, their feeble airborne sojourns creating laughter and some amusement as I try and recall words from the Mikado: “three little grebes are we.....”

More curlew, dunlin and a group of lapwing are sheltering from the growing breeze, curlew numbers rising during our stay until a good size flock approaching 200 is formed. Three snipe hide at one end of the spit, nervously watching wigeon as they graze the waterline. The gang of geese, constantly fidgety, provide a constant background noise but stick to one side of the site, leaving space for a group of 15 cormorants, one of which is diving so frequently he appears otter-like for a brief moment.

Deciding to head down the coast for a while, we wander down the tree lined path, small flocks of tits and finches occasionally breaking cover to dart into safety once again just ahead.

“Kingfisher” - two voices simultaneously trill as an unmistakeable cobalt and copper flash breaks the skyline ahead. Smiles all around prove the value of the day and everyone is happy heading back to the car. Sunshine shines on flower rich banks amongst which goldfinch hang from umbel-heads, a group of over 50 as big as any I have seen for some time. A single tree sparrow joins them from time to time as they wend their way from plant to plant, perpetual motion, a charm in every sense. Tom couldn't wait to add his score to the tally board.

East Chevington and the sky is darkening almost menacing.

A walk through the dunes to the burn mouth for a change, drawn by the glimpse of whitecaps on the sea. Unexpected colours adorn the sand, late blooms from bloody cranesbill, alongside waxcaps and rose galls drawing the eye to a mass of cowslips, proof positive of a hefty crop earlier this year. As we progress, a skein of geese appear from the sea, ragged V's form a breakdance across the sky, these Canada Geese oddly attractive in the air, my least favourite on the ground.

Amongst the beach debris, wrack, kelp and trunks of trees, pied wagtails trill and dip, with a grey wagtail providing some colour amongst the monotone debris. A rock pipit catches the eye, hidden amongst the trash, suddenly popping into the air before dropping out of view. Along the top of the beach, a small bird rises, followed by others, until 9 birds are moving away along the dune edge – surely too early for snow bunting!!

The waves are crashing against the base of the dunes, surging upwards and scattering a large group of dunlin and sanderling into the sky. Forming and breaking, constant movement, their antics comical yet purposeful, I find myself thrilled by the scene. Trish is equally hushed. A single ringed plover lurks amongst the group, his mask suggesting nefarious purposes that belie his true intent. Gulls of all sizes , creeds and colour crowd into the small space at the edge of the waves, searching weed, salad tossed by the waves to reveals scraps of food, requiring robust jousting for a rewarding morsel . Spume topped waves remind me of instant whip, peaks and troughs of creamy foam creating a backdrop to the scene, which completes a memorable day.

Cold hands and face remind us of the approaching winter, but this is my favourite time of year. And to hear my youngest proclaim a love for birdwatching crowns it all.

Breakfast Epiphany

Blearly eyed, unshaven and groggy, I wandered into the kitchen and threw back the curtains (rolled back the blind really), revealing a murky morning, mirroring my demeanour.


But all was quickly shaken off by the image that confronted me.

Not a naughty neighbour, caught in flagrante delicto, or an alien mothership waiting to take over North Tyneside ......... but a breath catching moment nevertheless!

Because right in the middle of the glass was a perfect image of a bird, caught in perfect freeze frame and looking just like a fossil.

The image was immaculate, every little detail of the feathers crystal sharp, the graceful arc of the wing - ironically the opposite of the clumsiness of a moment of collision caught like a photograph on the glass.


But I was immediately struck by that prehistoric similarity, a fleeting and chance record of millennia of evolution, resulting in the collared doves that occupy my garden. Sadly, one less now and not long before the rain or a window cleaners shammy removes this final memory.

Great White Eejit

Well worth traipsing to Druridge Bay through the hail and rain to get some cracking views of the Great White Eejit (as Tom continues to call this magnificent bird). Seen close up to grey heron the bird was fishing well in the flooded grasslands. Obviously the excess of rain has added to the amount of standing water but the new sluices also appear to have helped by raising the water table. The downside of this is the poor state of the paths, especially around the entrances but those of us keen to see the bird were well prepared.

To make the visit even better, we were rewarded when a peregrine took a teal and sat in full view consuming the meal - thanks to all the birders present for lending their scopes for even closer views. Plenty of shoveller, teal and wigeon around and a growing black-headed gull flock adding some much needed noise - we'd noticed that the bay was pretty quiet but had been blaming the weather.

Prior to this a trip to Cresswell had given us two magnificent drake goldeneye, together with a range of wildfowl - noticeably more gadwall than in previous visits. Water levels were high but obviously dropping as there was a lot of flotsam surrounding the hide left behind as the water dropped (outfall was clear).

A good day all round despite the dreadful weather and another bird added to the new lexicon of species descriptions!

Mud wrestling

The emergence of a glorious sun this morning had the spuggies cheeping fit to bust - Buggers.

Despite the aching limbs arising from a day of toil (after yesterdays wet but rewarding session spent forcing trees into less than hospitable soils at Shasun - planting a canny blackthorn hedgerow mind), the prospects of a bit more fresh air proved enough to ensure we would escape the shackles of a warm duvet for a bit of a "trip oot". The tea and toast helped as well, and I am sure Trish appreciated me making it for her (again).

Whilst waiting for the "slap" to dry, I noticed that they were going to have a 19 gun salute at the Collingwood Memorial to mark the 200th anniversary of the real hero of Trafalgar (born in Morpeth and lived in Chirdon). As it sounded fun to see South Shields blasted to pieces (hopefully not the chippies or the great Indian restuarants), we decided to curtail the birding and visit somewhere local.

Gosforth Park Reserve then - somewhere Trish hasn't seen and just a few minutes away - brilliant! And sure enough it did not let us down as we were rewarded with a good range of birds within seconds of arrival, including great, blue, coal and long-tailed tits, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, robin and blackbird. Loads of badger sign and some very active latrines, suggesting these animals have been on the Dulcolax recently!

The new "flash" has grown enormously since my last visit and held wigeon, a couple of teal, assorted gulls and a few coot, accompanied by two mute swans. As we peered through the unmanaged hedge to this well hidden gem, 13 goosander flew it with a quite spectacular splash and started lording it!

Squidging through the muddy paths onto the boardwalk, we slipped our way to first one hide (obviously recently used by the army to practice urban assault) then onto the  second one. Here we were rewarded with a single female goldeneye, and a good number of wigeon, mallard and 13 coot (that's where they are then!).

Heading back for a quick dash to the feeding station hide, we heard first one then and an answering water rail. Sidling up for a better look, they took fright of my bright red jacket and simply shut up (a lesson for me there I reckon). However, we were happy enough with that record and moving on were pleased to note four roe deer nearby (also flushed by the jacket - thank god there's no bulls around), quickly followed by a pair of treecreeper and then another pair, a jay and two more great spotted woodpecker.

Arriving at the hide (about four hours later because of the need to act out scenes from the Somme in transiting the pathways), we flushed another deer and then a nuthatch and mistle thrush. Swimming over to the hide proved to be less than rewarding as it only added reed bunting to the list.

Needless to say, by the time we had trekked back through the mud (we had forgotten the 4x4, sherpas and canoes - stupid idiots!), the 19 gun salute was only a few minutes away, but more minutes than we had to spare. We did make it back home, just in time for a lovely fried egg butty and chose to sit in the garden with those spuggies, straining our ears for the sound of systematic "birthday" explosions and reflecting on (i) the mud (ii) the poor state of the reserve and (iii) the usual "warm" welcome from other visitors demanding proof of NHS membership and legitimate access to THEIR private reserve. We never did hear those bangs, unless we mistook them for the remarkably regular slamming of car doors in Monkseaton at precisely 3pm?

Dove is in the air

Wake to "cooing" close by.

Nope Trish is still asleep - its a bloody collared dove sitting in the tree outside the window!

Can't really complain, can I? After all, it is St. Valentines Day and no doubt they are feeling amorous as well? The sap may be rising (in the trees) and things begin to pop up unexpectedly, so it will soon be time for these stupid birds to continually lay eggs on the roundest branch of the (council owned) Whitebeam outside my house and watch them roll onto the pates of unsuspecting passers by. Why don't these birds build a proper nest? Just imagine if we all built houses like that!They'd be marketed by Barretts!

Do you birders know that single girls who want to find out who they will fall in love with should go birdwatching on Valentine's Day, according to an ancient art called ornithomancy? The practise of  reading signs from birds dictates that the first bird an unmarried woman sees is an omen of her future husbands character. Are you worried?

My Shamen tells me that anyone lucky enough to see a dove can be sure their future marriage is happy.

Good job the curtains were closed then! Or was it..........?

After this rude awakening, what better way to mark this VERY special day than huddling up in the Holywell hide, twiddling with my new scope and taking in the wonders of nature? Well, I am sure I can think of something better! Especially with the reserve being so quiet!

The weather was very still, with barely a wisp of wind and the sun at a low angle making the pond obsidian and gloomy. Meagre fare as well, with two drake goldeneye being the pick of the bunch. A few pochard, couple of tufted duck and a shy grey heron lurked around the far end of the pond, while a handful of greylags spend some time being bossed by a canada goose before settling down by the public hide. There were not many gulls either, a few black headed, herring and greater black-backed. 

Lots of robins singing and the feeding station was busy, with a good gathering of greenfinch, goldfinch and the ubiquitous tits darting from feeders to treetops and filling the air with excited calls. The male Great Spotted Woodpecker made a transitory appearance before disappearing east, almost as if he had heard that most birders would be busy ensuring their other halves would be in receipt of love and affection, scant reward for months of absence in pursuit of ticks.

Luckily for me, my lovely lady is also a fantastic companion on trips out and even encouraged the purchase of the Nikon scope after we found my Spacemaster had more mould than a Stilton (following a drenching and inadequate storage)! Tom has therefore inherited the old scope, which appears to be encouraging him to take a greater interest.

As we left, we were treated to an influx of fieldfare into the far edge of the village, feeding amongst stubble. A total of 96 was counted but there must have been more out of sight.

Not the best of days perhaps, but my favourite bird was, as always, the one on my arm.

Planes, Sprains and Automobiles

I take my hat off to Heather Mills. 

It must have been hard enough to have to put up with that whinny over-rated soppy scouse fop when she married him, apparently for her "share of his fortune" (which condemned her to more public vilification than Saddam Hussein), but she then took a massive risk by becoming the Long John Silver of  Dancing on Ice, only to fall in mid Choctaw Turn. 

Following a smattering of the white stuff and a brief appearance from a solar flare, the glass like pavements of Whitley Bay brought me down to earth with more than just a bump as I cartwheeled into the air and landed heavily on my back. In futre years, I will remember with some fondness all those good samaritans who walked past me as I lay gasping for air outside the Salvation Army Charity Shop. Perhaps the absence of empty bottles of "dog" could have provided a clue that I wasn't waiting for a place in the hostel but was actually injured?

Anyhow, the resulting neck, back, rib and shoulder strains played some part in restricting this weekends outings. The need to jump in the Volvo and chug up to Town to open up the work space, so lots of Batty folk could meet and discuss all things myotis, meant that we had to be in Newcastle, so a trip to Big Waters looked the best bet.

Arriving at the reserve, prospects for birding looked poor as the cloud layer had descended so far that it was like walking under a suspended duvet! Piercing this gloom at frequent intervals, the shriek of aero engines sounded as if EasyJet had determined to reduce costs by landing in Dinnington and asking passengers to walk the last few metres to the airfield.

Pressing on regardless, there was little of note along the paths to the main hide (except meeting an old friend I hadn't seen for years!). It was bitting cold and quite depressing but this soon changed once we reached the hide (increasingly reminiscent of a gentlemans club) and changed from wellies to carpet slippers. First views into the feeding station showed it to be chocka with birds, almost wall to wall with blackbirds and great tits vying with moorhens (25) for the prize of "how many can we squeeze into a mini". But not for long as a superb male Sparrowhawk made the first of many forays to ground zero that afternoon, scattering the small birds from their gastronomic distractions like seed sown across a field. This was obviously an american accipiter though, as it never hit its target that day! 

Despite the threat, the feeding station was busy, with all the usual suspects present, together with a few yellowhammer, reed bunting, 25 tree sparrow, a single long-tailed tit and a superb male great-spotted woodpecker.

The main lake was still (!!!!) frozen, and this provided a platform for over 70 lapwing, hustling a decent number of mallard, teal and wigeon for space. A couple of coot, three cormorant and two female tufted duck made up the number with a single drake goldeneye being the pick of the crop. Now this guy must have something about him as he was slowly joined by a hareem until 11 females were drifting to and fro with him darting between them and throwing his head backwards in a wonderful display of optimism. Perhaps this was well placed, as I later learned that other goldeneye recorded elsewhere that day were all males!

Throughout this display and the periodic honking of overflying grey geese (greylag I think), the blanket of cloud remained firmly fixed above us. Every ten minutes or so, the roar of aircraft broke the perfect silence. At no point did any bird stir in response to this, not a single one wanted to take to the sky and intercept the metal monster as it ploughed overhead. It's really disappointing that such avian selfishness was displayed - surely everybody knows that birds are destined to commit self-sacrifice in the face of man's ingenuity and temerity in taking to the sky, forcing birds to consider themselves unworthy of sharing their natural element?

Perhaps I am totally missing the point here? Perhaps hundreds of goldeneye had actually minced through the turboprops, producing that miasma of fog, above which the great god, Aviation, could rule? I think not! But then again, I am partially responsible - my eldest works in aerospace design.

Border Reiving

Busy day making a foray over the border to St. Boswells to finalise a longterm aerial photography study which will prove to be immensely useful. Using these images, a consultancy company has produced a vegetation map (on a GIS), which although not perfect, is very close to providing detailed vegetation information for the entire Tweed catchment. Doing that by foot would have required an army of trained surveyors and a budget similar to that required for the purchase of one whole trident missile!!!

I love the trip up over Carter Bar, the views over the hills and the journey into the hinterland between our two nations. Plus its a chance to get some Red Kola and a bridie.

No piper at Carter Bar today which encouraged me to have a quick stop to capture the magnificent views over the Cheviots and to have a little peep at Whitelee as well. There is still snow about up here and more forecast for the next few days. Birdlife on the journey had mainly been crows and pigeons, but a flock of fieldfare (50+) crossed the border in the opposite direction to me just as I got out of the car. Further on I surprised a buzzard feeding on roadkill, something I have not seen myself before.

Post meeting, another buzzard along the road to Kelso and a couple of cormorants robbing the riparian owners of a few fish were the highlights of an otherwise relatively sparse birding drive. But it was a lovely day for a trip along the Tweed and around the Cheviots.

Murder at the Moor

Last night I witnessed a murder.

In fact, I am hoping to see it again tonight on my way home.

As I passed Gosforth Park and approached West Moor, the sky filled with dark shapes moving slowly towards the roundabout and surrounding fields. At first I thought they were starlings but as I got closer I saw they were crows, hundreds of them funnelling onto the roundabout and filling the fields, trees and hedges, totally oblivious to the passing rush hour traffic.


They have been massing for a couple of days now, and I'm wondering if there's going to be a crows' court.


A 'murder' of crows is based on the persistent but fallacious folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behaviour of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock.


The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains). Perhaps with such a large gathering they simply fall out with each other and a squabble turns into something more serious (bit like the Bigg Market then!).


Whatever the reason, this is a wildlife spectacular and one I feel privileged to observe, especially so close to the urban centre of Newcastle.

Boulmer Bound

After looking forward to the weekend since 8am on Monday, the rain on Saturday was a bit disheartening, threatening to limit any potential excursions. Washing the car usually leads to the gods rewarding me with a deluge but after weeks of travelling through blizzards and clarts, the trusty old volvo really needed a clean, not least to remind me of its original colour!

On this occasion, this proved to be good fortune, as the sun emerged from its hiding place before the suds had bubbled, inviting a trip out. Scooping up the bairn and wor'lass, we headed up the coast in such a hurry we forgot to eat. Coming to the rescue, the Amble chippy! On the way for the comestibles, just past Hauxley, a field full of 8o+ Curlew hove into view with a handful of Oystercatchers furrowing into the abundant mole hills around the dunes. The chippy also gave a chance for a quick scan of the harbour where we noted 32 cormorants "sunning" themselves on the sandbank, with a couple of grey seals in the harbour. The usual eiders were lurking awaiting a few chips, which gave the chance for my first new factoid of the day - apparently these birds are also known as Cuddly Ducks, because they make pillows and duvets from their feathers. Now I always thought they were known as Cuddy's Ducks, something to do with St. Cuthbert (Cuddy) but this news makes much more sense to me so has been added to the birding glossary for all of time.

A short stop at the top of the bank between Alnmouth and Longhoughton gave great views across the recently re-engineered river Aln. Having been allowed to do what it should do and flood into low lying land once the flood banks were removed as part of the 4Shores Project, the river has shaken off its shackles and is once more free and independent. Its great to see it changing  back into something more natural. Today was no exception, it looked fine, although the lack of a scope was a distinct drawback! However, the ether was filled with whistling Wigeon, over 400 clustered around the pools to the east, alongside a couple of Shelduck. After a quick viewing we headed for our main destination, Boulmer, drawn by the prospects of snow bunting or something equally sexy!

Gawd! It was cold though, with a slow but very cold breeze coming off the land. Low tide and immediately in front of the car park we were greeted by a good size group of mixed waders, feeding furiously despite the presence of four bait diggers. Dunlin, redshank and curlew were on the sand with 7 Ringed Plover feeding in the strandline. 10 Bar-tailed Godwit were vigorously piercing the sand after morsels, a nice surprise for me and first of the year. We all remarked on the effort they were putting in, presumably after the same prey that the anglers were seeking, but with much more economy and less impact upon the beach!

Walking up the beach we picked up robin, blackbird and starling, all on the kelp wrecked on the shore before the first of a number of Rock Pipit teased us with very fleeting views as it hid in and out of the scrub. I love these little birds, typical LBJ! Every movement was scrutinised in case of a shorelark or something else but sadly we dipped out totally. To be honest, this made no odds to me as the beauty of wildlife watching is being out in the countryside, especially in company. Watching the numerous oystercatcher, curlew and dunlin, together with the shelduck was delightful. A single fieldfare hopped in and out of view on the sandy cliffs before flying off in the direction of Howick. Before turning back, we had a number of eider offshore and a single scoter dragged itself onto a reef. In amongst the piled up kelp, four turnstones, turning rotted vegetation not stones, seemed happy enough to lurk (almost unseen) within a foot or two of us.

The clouds, gathering thickly, led to heavy rain as we returned to the car, with a large group of 300+ lapwing heading west across the village. The walk had been great, especially as it had been unexpected. Finally, we noted 60 odd swans in a field close to Druridge Country Park, probably Mute but as it was getting murky we pressed on without stopping.

Of course, reading others blogs will always tell you that the choice of site was wrong on any particular day but no destination is ever wrong in Northumberland as far as I am concerned. There is always something wonderful and inspiring to see.

Critical Meltdown?

Has the thaw arrived in time for some of our feathered friends and other wildlife (such as mice upon which so many depend)?

Its hard to believe how quickly the deep snow in my garden has disappeared. I'd forgotten that christmas tree was out there to be honest! Of course, its not all over and there is a fair bit of snow in some places. I noticed that alder seed was scattered widely across the car park at work, which must come as a boost for many seed eaters. And to see the beach at Cullercoats coated with snow after just two hours indoors (it was naked beforehand) is a stark reminder that the icy grip has probably just been loosened and not removed. 

Surprisingly though, there has been very little activity in the garden during this hard spell. I guess it must totally depend on where birds go and what they find. I have spent a fortune on many exotic feeders and types of food but find that the left over cheese and bits of turkey skin remain the favourite. Birds don't appear to like cranberry sauce, they appear to hate roulade, rice crackers and doritos. It was worth the experiment although this may also be why I have nowt coming in?

Highlight of the day for me was the magpie that flew backwards and forwards throughout the first staff meeting of the year, providing an alternative view and restocking my reserves of fortitude. This bird must have had a plan, but was acting totally ramdomly, flying between patches of snow.



Interesting afternoon spent in the company of a range of sea users, from anglers and fishermen, to conservationists and researchers. This was the first of a series of meetings to discuss and agree Marine Conservation Zones as part of the recently approved Marine Bill. I am sure this will be a challenge, especially with so many disperate viewpoints to satisfy but its essential that we all find a way to protect the finite marine resource upon which so much hinges - not just food stocks for us and biodiversity, but coastal defence, energy production and of course, carbon capture.


More details available at http://www.netgainmcz.org/

SWANN Vista's

Never a dull moment in my job!  Well not quite true as the morning consisted of emails and project planning, budgets and other mundane stuff, although I had a sneaky walk around the park and clocked a few goldfinch, assorted tits and a robin sheltering amongst the frosty branches of the silver birches outside the front door. Rescuing a few old apple cores from the compost bin, I hope I helped a little bit!

Coming to my rescue was an afternoon trip to see Sandra Butler at Shasun in Dudley. Sandra is one of those people you cannot fail to admire, she loves her wildlife so much and has a knack of making sure other people care as much as she does! Over the last few months we have been working to bring in finances to develop a nature reserve wholly contained within the boundaries of this pharmacutical factory, a hidden oasis for wildlife. With three good sized ponds, it already attracts a decent range of birds.

Today it looked just like everywhere else - white! About a foot of snow covered the lagoons but one small area of open water held about 40 mallard, a female pochard and four mute swans, in a really small area. Sandra does a bit of supplementary feeding with donated wheat, which must help in weather such as this.

As the first of the seed was scattered, the swans dragged their bulk slowly from the icy clutches of the frozen waters, looking ungainly and unsurprisingly lethargic. They showed no interest for a bit so we moved away in case they were shy in our company. Just as we did so three of the birds suddenly took to the air in a flurry of snow. Looking spectacular against the clear blue skies, the first two slowly gained height  but the third appeared to be struggling. With a short but loud honk she crashed into deep snow a few feet away and it was clear she had been chasing the other two off!

All we could see was an orange and black beak, a smudge in the otherwise pristine snow.  I thought she was OK but realised she was stuck and unable to stand. Approaching with caution, in case of a mighty peck, I was steeling myself to pick her up and move her to safety. Thankfully, the avian adrenaline kicked in and she struggled more determindly, getting her wings over the show and suddenly gained the strength to move herself quickly over the snow, not quite taking flight but with enough momentum to reach the icy pond and relative safety. Once again it demonstrated just how wildlife is affected by these conditions, making even large birds vulnerable to predators, such as the fox whose footprints were everywhere in the snow.

As we walked back for a coffee, 10 goldfinch drifted into the tree tops and a blackbird took advantage of the easy meal from the seed bucket. Three robins took refuge in the scrub and blackberry thicket which also housed a few rabbits.

Work to alter pond depths and profiles will start soon and after this pathwork and a boardwalk will be constructed. Additional resources are required to provide a hide, which SWANN are keen to have available for wider use, including school visits. I am sure that the bird list for this site will continue to grow as more attention is focussed upon it and as a sheltered site, the birds and other wildlife will not have the same human interference that other sites may present.

Can't do nowt about the weather though!

Brass Monkeys

In a journey surely unparallelled since Frodo took THE ring to Mordor, I made the 10 mile journey to Big Waters (in only 2 hours 15 minutes) for a BBC news film piece on birds and the wintery weather. There is a bit of snow on the roads but not really enough to cause the traffic chaos. Obviously though, most drivers are snow-blinded and unable to see things such as red traffic lights, so I suppose I will have to excuse them.

Big Waters looked lovely in the snow but on arrival there was a distinct lack of birds. No open water at all and just a few common gulls sitting on the ice, with the odd crow and rook for company. Stock doves on the wires to the north caught the eye. Tracks across the snow suggested an otter but I wasn't going to risk looking much closer!

A different matter when you get to the feeding station, which was really busy especially with blackbirds, chaffinch and robins. Great stuff and many of those birds will star in the news piece, which is all about giving the "bords" a bit of a hand by feeding them your left over cheese, rotten apples and anything else you couldn't stuff down your face during the festive season (which seems ages ago even though I have only been back at work two days).

We eventually got the filming finished and all the guys in the hide, including Alan J (who I hadn't seen for a bit) may also make a cameo! The atmosphere in there was great and I enjoyed the lively banter, reminding me again why its so good to get out and about. Wish more of my colleagues would do the same!

Highlight was to see up to 16 tree sparrow here, taking advantage of the food. I also spotted reed bunting, yellowhammer, dunnock and wren and this is obviously a boon to moorhen too as there were six as a maximum count. I missed the brambling though! Just as the crew were "shooting" the pond to illustrate the impact of the ice, a small group of 16 greylag arrived plus a pair of mallard, the only wildfowl apart from a single lapwing flyover and four tufted duck that came in, landed and took off straight away!

I couldnt believe it when I had to dig my car out of the light snow in the car park, but it was going nowhere fast. Hope everyone else got away alright!

On the way back I was surprised by an oystercatcher flying low over the car near Weetslade, an absoloutely stunning image against the background whiteness.

Apparently, according to my excited Mum, the film was aired at lunchtime (but is on the Beeb again tonight). I managed to get something in about the need for a wildfowling ban as well! Hope they dont edit that bit out!

Hello 2010

Woke to deep snow and a garden full of spuggies and starlings, with Herring Gulls scrapping for the leftover loaf deposited last night as an afterthought. A sparrowhawk went over pursuing a small flock of fieldfare, the first I have seen in Monkseaton.

Eventually, despite my better judgement, Trish and I got moving to check out the office and make our way out for a New Year Gawk. The roads were pretty clear so we decided to drop in at Prestwick Carr in the hope of seeing Short Eared Owls (well it was really late when we got up). The turn into PC was snowy but looked ok so down we went. Mistake!

At least 5 inches of snow along the wibbly wobbly road guaranteed some fun, but the drifts were deceptive and we immediately got stuck, unable to move forward or back. Luckily a carload of folks in a 4x4 came to the rescue and allowed us to get to the birding.

Two kestrels were the first sightings, with a good number of fieldfare still around, scrounging berries from the hedgerows. Large numbers of blue and great tit drifted through the hawthorns and robins seemed to be everywhere. We also noted that wrens were very active all along the lane. Two stonechat caught my eye feeding in a area cleared of snow, a nice find so early on.

The vista was stunning. The Carr looked resplendant in its winter clothing and reminded me of how fantastic this area can be. As the light dimmed towards the end of the day, I spotted an owl in a bush close to the small caravan. I was overjoyed, as Short Eared Owl was the object of the visit, but I was more pleased when this proved to be a Long Eared Owl instead! It sat for nearly an hour in full view, so we were able to return to the car for a scope just to confirm the sighting. Both of us were totally made up to see such a wonderful bird and even better it took to the wing as soon as a crow alighted in the bush. After a few turns around the rushy ground, it moved out of view and we failed to pick it up again.


Although no other owls were seen(we had verbal reports of Barn Owl from a local), this made the trip well worth while. Deciding to leave, the final bonus was a beautiful roe deer trudging nonchalantly through the drifting snow. Despite the growing snow, we both had a lovely glow inside, amply rewarded for the effort.

Cheers to 2009

Well its almost time for the Hootenany and welcome to the next decade (whatever it is called). It is traditional at times such as this to look back and fondly recall good and bad times. With a brain like mine, recalling yesterdays stuff is hard enough  but there are one or two great nature conservation memories despite the grey matter decay.

Fondly leading the pack is the Pine Marten survey at Harwood. Armed with spatulas, plastic bags and a lack of insect repellent, our team braved swarms of flies in search of elusive marten scats. The discerning eyes rejected many possibles to recover only 3 or 4, one of which we were later informed looked "very hopeful". Feeeling like Eurovision hopefuls, the team went about their daily tasks for a few weeks as the DNA boffins did their stuff. Finally the great day arrived and Kevin O'Hara, the Willy Wonka of mammal work, passed over the golden sheet with a grin from ear to ear.   With festive fervour, my eyes scanned the text, the definitive proof of pine marten prescence clutched in my hand.......fox, dog, fox and.........human! Not a bit of bogroll in sight when we collected that sample! How the mighty are fallen!

Next are my trips to Coquet Island with/for RSPB. NWT has a good relationship here, and I was pleased to chair the management committee for a couple of years. This time around, we were trying to look into the possibilities of grazing to deal with the increasingly problematic vegetation growth which serves to cause so many problems for the chicks. It never ceases to amaze me that Paul and Zoe (and the gang) get stuck on this small rock, so close to the coast but it may as well be another planet at times. I admire the dedication and appplication they give for this cause. 2009 was good as many species had done well, Roseates in particular. To think that there is a possibility that getting volunteers to cut the grass had actually had some benefit to this very special bird makes me glow inside and shows the value of co-operation. However, the two highlights for me here are really the boat trip over at the end of the season and the coincidence with a reasonable fall of birds. Seeing so many pied wagtails and chiffchaffs in one place at once was great, but the appearance of a bright blue budgie topped it all!

Not wishing to sideline the fantastic news of breeding Osprey and Marsh Harriers, my final glow comes from filthy lucre. Yes, money! Root of all evil - but essential to allow us to achieve things. In a tough financial climate, getting not one, but THREE grants from the Aggregates Levy has been fantastic and one I am also very proud of. This cash has allowed NWT (my employers), to undertake work on our unique grasslands on the Great Whin Sill. We are even doing geology man! Fantastic stuff, even if grasslands are not an instant excitement like birds.

I have also loved media work this year. Radio is the best, and I have really enjoyed joining Carl at Lionheart for our wildlife programme, which we cunningly disguised as a Blues fiesta. Watch this space for news on this in 2010. I also met a few celebs, none more enjoyable than Matt Baker during a film piece for Countryfile (my third appearance!) - what a top bloke.

Hauxley and Druridge have a special place in my life now as well (thanks Trish) and I finally have a companion on my trips oot. Its even forced my youngest to slip off the sofa, don his boots and take the air. Nothing can express the joy to hear him say "Thanks for taking me to Hauxley Dad, it was lush, I had a great day".

There will be more, I am sure. Its certainly better than the football (apart from Wembley with Whitley - Parakeet - tick!)

Gannin' Fer A Gawk at Holywell

A day for staying inside really but I dragged myself out to Holywell this afternoon with dark skies looming and a wind that carried threats of arctic conditions later.

A quick trip to the public hide showed a couple of meadow pipits feeding in the short grass but nothing else of note. If I was hoping for some respite from the growing gale, the members hide was not the place to go next! Directly in the teeth of the wind, I was glad of the extra jacket as the chill factor soared but it was obvious that the ground temperature was warmer than recently as the pond is starting to defrost and there was a larger area of open water, with waves forming.

That said, the bird life was thinner than Twiggy on a diet! A handful of mallard and 6 wigeon, two mute swans chugging into the wind, a few gulls, two coot, 8 moorhens and a cormorant. The short appearance of a little grebe brightened the view briefly, but it moved off quickly. Six lapwings sat in the field to the east amongst a huge flock of gulls, but by then it was too cold to worry in case there was anything unusual!

Not a huge haul but...Man did that tea taste good!