Looking good.

The sun was shining on Thursday!! Not quite the blue sky extravaganza but it was nice enough to venture out with the hope of a few photographs too. First thing of note was the lack of small birds around on the shore and the land - not many birds coming to the feeders and no sign of the Turnstones and Ringed Plover. As I was driving along the lochside I could see there were quite a few gulls circling and stooping towards the water indicating something interesting was there. I got to a suitable parking place and jumped out to be faced by this...

A bit too close to get it all in but the Red Deer was looking good in the morning light. Turning my attention back to the loch I found the reason for the gulls behaviour. There must have been quite a few fish close to the surface that had pulled in a few other birds too as I scanned past numerous divers and a few auks - a closer inspection was worthwhile. Four Guillemots that wouldn't stay on the surface very long, 3 Red-throated Diver (only two in the photo)...

...a single Black-throated Diver...

...and about 10 Great Northern Diver.

There were numerous Shag, a couple of Cormorant and a few Red-breasted Merganser to fill the gaps - not a bad haul! I wasn't particularly looking for Otters but I had to stop when one popped up close to the shore. A quick run down the shore got me close enough for a shot but with no cover I was never going to get too close.

Half a mile down the road was another Otter so I gave it another shot. A bit of a wait for this one to come ashore but well worth the effort.

Lots of Buzzard, Hooded Crow and Ravens around all looking for food and a nice female Hen Harrier on my way back for lunch. A couple of Golden Eagle and three Hen Harrier (including 1 male) in the afternoon were nice to watch. Two Mistle Thrush (on the left) and a single Fieldfare (on the right) were seen in the last of the sunshine - nice!

Get it while you can!

There has been a lack of posting this year already but without an internet connection it's a bit difficult! The year has got off to a really windy, rainy start which doesn't help any either. I had a quick run out on New Years Day and not ventured much further than the garden since then. The first birds I clapped eyes on were my regular 3 Hooded Crows but with the feeders empty there were no other birds of note. A quick trip to the shop upped the list a bit with three species of gull, Greenshank, Common Buzzard, Kestrel and GN Diver seen amongst the 23 species noted. A couple of Otters were seen too. Only two birds photographed in the poor conditions and I shouldn't have bothered. First off a hunting Buzzard...

...that already had a full crop.

Obviously a case of get it while you can. Next up was a tired looking Cormorant hauled out on the shore.

Monday I managed to get Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle from the garden and a bunch of the regular garden birds. Tuesday was an indoor day as the gale force winds and rain didn't look too good!

The end of 2011.

After the Christmas food excess I was back out in the field on Thursday checking out a few birds in the feeding station at Gosforth Park. Not a great deal of activity but the weather is still quite mild. A Goldfinch sat quietly nibbling away on the niger seed.

Two female Great Spotted Woodpeckers landed on the same trunk and eyed each other up. The first bird was quite high up...

...and kept an eye on the bird underneath.

Three Nuthatches were buzzing in and out, grabbing food and heading off.

A quick trip to one of the hides was worth it for the Wigeon and Shoveler but there was no sign of any Bitterns. A wander round the woods was a bit quiet but we did manage to find 12 Crossbills and a flock of Long-tailed Tits before our time ran out.

All the best to everyone for 2012!