Cor, luv a duck!

The stormy weather is continuing but we are missing the worst of it down in Newcastle. A quick visit to one of my old haunts, Cresswell Pond, was just superb. It's all regular fare for the local birders but a lot of stuff is seen by us just once a year on the Christmas visit. There were plenty of Tree Sparrow on the track down to the hide (a blind for you guys in the States)...

...Moorhen is a bird that we don't see very often on Mull...

...and it was nice to find a few Common Snipe hiding in the reeds.

If you want a smart looking bird you can't beat a duck - Eurasian Teal showing off the wing pattern...

...and a smart looking head too.

Eurasian Wigeon are good lookers too.

A Curlew was probing around on the sand bar getting it's feathers ruffled by the wind.

The Redshank were coping a bit better but they are out of the wind.

The Common Snipe had a bit of a shuffle around - a walk of Snipe!

A few Reed Bunting were blending into the background.

A look across the pond was productive with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Peregrine seen in the air, on the water were RB Merg, Little Grebe and an Otter with an Eel.

More ducks - three Wigeon on the right, a female Mallard in the water with a drake Gadwall just behind.

All of that in less an hour - superb!! A visit to Hauxley was hampered by flooded tracks but the Mute Swans came to see us...

...while the Goldeneye made off in the other direction.

There was just enough time to get some snaps of a Magpie before rain stopped play.

First and last.

This may be first post in2013 but it's a bunch of photos from the end of 2012. A quick visit to Killingworth Lake to get some shots of the water birds...plenty of Coots milling around.

There were a few Goosander floating around but they kept their distance - male bird...

...and a fancy hairdo for the lady.

Plenty of Tufted Duck but not too many with a decent tuft.

Pochard don't seem to be as numerous any more but you can always get good views of them on the lake.

The females are not that dowdy when you take a good look.

There were not too many Goldeneye and the good looking ones kept their distance while I was there.

A different story with the Moorhens as they come racing over to see if they can get a free handout!

Newcastle.

A change of scenery and some different birds on a trip to Newcastle. The weather has not been the brightest but a run up the coast was nice, visiting some of my old haunts. St Marys Island had the usual array of waders - Sanderling...

...Lapwing, Curlew, Golden Plover, Snipe, Redshank and Bar-tailed Godwit.

 Despite the dull conditions the lighthouse always looks good.

Lots of Dunlin on the rocks.

It was nice to see plenty of Carrion Crow up close.

A few Cormorants were fishing in the surf.

A run up to Newbiggin gave us good views of Black-headed Gull...

...but the Mediterranean Gull wasn't so obliging...

...and the Turnstones stayed away from the dog walkers.

Cresswell next to see plenty of Moorhen...

...Long-tailed Duck and Wigeon...

...a cracking drake Pintail with the Mallard...

...and some shy Grey Partridge.

A brief visit to East Chev before the skies darkened and the rain came produced more Grey Partridge, Goldeneye...

...and plenty of Magpie.

Interference

Another cold day with an icy wind to top it off. I'm almost tempted to wear a coat but I'll tough it out for now!! There is a fair bit of heat in the sun if you can find the shelter. As you can see the water on the shore has frozen but the bird bath and the Herons drowning pool remain clear so it's not cold enough for a coat yet. Logical or what??!!!

A quick glance around this morning produced very little so I was heading for the North side of the Loch today to get out of the wind more than anything else. It wouldn't be great for photos as you always have the sun glaring unless you get real lucky. A nice drake Goldeneye, a female Goosander and a Greenshank had me stopped and trying to work the magic. I'm that good I never saw the Goldeneye again, the Goosander went for the water speed record and that was before I'd stopped! The Greenshank was too intent on feeding though so here's one for 'Dusty Bins'. It's not a great shot but the camera was completely freaking with the light conditions and a pale bird.

I had a scan for the Goldeneye again and couldn't see it. A tell tale splash further up the Loch was an Otter and then another one surfaced a couple of yards away from the first. You know where I'm heading next....but a look behind before I head off. A Little Grebe scattering across the water....why? Another Otter out on a rock but just sprainting before it's back into the water. Sensible Grebe keeping a close eye on it.

I can see one Otter on the shore eating a fish so off I go. The last tasty morsels are just disappearing as I'm getting the camera on the scope - I won't have long. I got a few shots before she left and headed further up the Loch so there might be another chance.
It must be nearly time for a snooze as she was out again about 100 yards up. She was fairly well tucked in so I had to do without the shelter of the motor. Gusty wind, glaring sun, it wasn't great and then someone turned up to ask what I was photographing - nothing now! I thought that was my lot but she came back out for a wash and brush up - cool. I was keeping half an eye out for the other Otter in between trying to get the camera to behave but I couldn't see it. Just as I was lining up for another shot the other Otter wandered through the view!! A dog Otter this time. There was a fair bit of shuffling about going on. He wasn't sure if he was welcome or not so he was in and out of the water and wandering round the female without looking at her....just in case. That's the dog creeping through the back of the shot - you can see the extra weight they carry!
She settled down to sleep and he stretched himself out a couple of yards to left of her and dropped off to sleep himself. Time to leave them in peace I think.

No other photographic opportunities presented themselves but I was happy with watching a Robin toughing it out with 3 Song Thrushes - they'll have a go at anything. A Grey Heron tried to make itself into a frost blanket for the windscreen. Not sure who got the biggest fright but I was safer!

Just so you can see it's not an easy life digiscoping - a bit arty but FUBAR!!! A good gust of wind caused that I think.