From the undergrowth (St Aidens part 2)

While we were walking around we came across Coots that we thought were fighting, however after a while it appeared they were doing a mating dance or courtship ritual - most entertaining.

This fella did his display after mating, if you look close i'll swear he has a glint in his eye and a smirk on his beak

                                          CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A BETTER VIEW

From the undergrowth (St Aidens part 1)

Hi all David and myself took ourselves off to St Aidens today and had a  really good day out getting good views of  Black Necked Grebe , Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Medow Pipit.
A few pics of said birds and others.

Juv Little Grebe

Swan and cygnets

Black Necked Grebe with chick

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

Tortoiseshell

Skipper

Meadow Pipit

Ditto

Ditto

ditto

Reed Warbler

Ditto

BHG with a large reed

Black Headed Gulls

Pied Wagtail

Click on the image for a better view

Northumbria Part 2

Farne Island - Second trip!

Due to popular demand!

Well a couple of people asked for more:

Some from my second trip round & on Inner Farne.

The next 5 are from the boat trip round - Not easy staying upright - never mind getting them in focus:

 Guillimot

 Razorbill

 Kittiwake zipping past

 Some Seals

 One nosey one

After Landing:

Their not doing what you might think! But I got a few nice shots of them with heads in different poses.

 Arctic Terns

 Noisy Black Head

 Sandwich Tern

 Ditto

Why you should wear a hat!

 You have been warned! Arctic Terns Attack.

Trying to find his missus after an attack!

I visited My Special place a few times - a couple from another time:

Had to have another Cutie Pie!

 & a Yellowhammer

Druridge Pools on the way home. On my way there I was watching an Otter on an island with a pair of cubs, pups, or whatever they are called! Loads of Little gulls around these pools.

 Couple of an obliging Lapwing

 Similar an obliging Gadwall - managed to get both before they moved off.

Not my best, sharpest shot - but when I was looking through, it made me laugh!

Those eye rings are "classic" from head on!

A few from RSPB St Aidens

Great Crested Grebe

The old open cast digger Built in America in the 1940's

Black Necked Grebe

As Above

Geese still Around

For those who dont know about RSPB St Aidens its about 4 miles from Fairburn and is part of Swillington Ings and was offically opened 2 weeks ago  ( postcode  is LS26 8AL )  .

                                                        Click on image for better view

Northumbria Trip

Thought you might enjoy some snaps from my Northumbrian trip a week ago.

FARNE ISLAND BIRDS - You don't need any super special equipment for some of these birds:

Eiders in Seahouses Harbour - These cheeky Monkey's will climb on you to pinch your dinner!

Shag taken with a Wide angle lens - inches away.

 Using a Macro lens just as close.

 Kittiwake snoozing in the "heat"

 Razorbill doing the same.

 Island Killers - looking for Puffin Eggs & chicks.

 Puffin waiting for the Hatching!

 Guillemot.

 Flight Shots - this is where some fancy gear is useful.

Eider.

 Puffin.

 Arctic Tern - The head bashers.

SPINDLESTONE FARM - Special very hard to find out about place I know very close to Bamburgh.

There are the usual suspects Tits, Chaffinch etc, & Woodies, down at the bottom hide was a cracking Male Redstart catching flies over a pond, no pics too far away, but great to just watch.

At the top hide - 4 GSW's were feeding.

 Sorry Graham - There were loads of these crackers.

 Yellowhammers - What we should have at Cromwell, but they have suffered due to modern farming.

But released since last year & breeding already I had a wonderful shock of these:

Red Squirrels. They are on a nice Farmers property who shoots greys & his woods are somewhat isolated - So they should still be there in the future.

Posted by Barry Nield