Northern Cyprus and Turkey

A welcome break to Turkey was more about relaxing than birding so I grabbed the opportunity while I could. Enjoy.

Blue Rock Thrush.

Crested Lark

Finsch's Wheatear

Graceful Prinia

Hen Harrier

Laughing Dove

Rock Nuthatch

Sandwich Tern

Serin

White-winged Tern (not 100% on that one) with a Sandwich Tern

Plenty of common stuff around too - Magpie, Jay, Hooded Crow, White Wagtail, House Sparrow etc.

Trip to Newcastle.

A trip to Newcastle gave me a chance to catch up with a few species that I haven't seen for a while.

Kestrel.

Little Owl - not seen one of these since Oct 2008.

Smew - not seen one of these since early 2008. I've never had a view this good though.

Splendid looking bird.

Good to see the bird stretch it's wings.

I hadn't seen Roe Deer since 2007.

It was good to get into a feeding station and see the likes of Great Spotted Woodpecker...

...Magpie...

...Nuthatch...

...and Stock Dove.

A quick trip to the coast produced Short-eared Owl...

...and Tree Sparrow.

A trip to Turkey followed this so that'll be the next post.

January 2016

A nice selection of images from January.

Common Buzzard on the shore.

 Collared Dove looking forward to spring.

 Cormorant drying it's wings.

 Grey Heron posing.

 Great Northern Diver with a crab.

 Goldcrest - stunning.

 Goosander in a flap.

 Iceland Gull at the hatchery.

 Jackdaw eyeing things up.

 This Knot was a good find in January.

 Little Auks were storm driven but soon moved back out to sea.

 Merlin is usually seen flying off so this sitter was a bit special.

 Plenty of Otter sightings...

 ...and a few cubs around too.

 A few flocks of Redwing are fairly easy to find this winter.

 The sun lights up the landscape as it sets - that's when you see the sun!

 A White-tailed Eagle on a dull day.

 This White-tailed Eagle landed next to the car - fantastic!