Littlemill Famland Survey.

In less than perfect conditions we finally managed to get the bird survey done this morning. Although the sun shone, the wind was a strong W6 making birds mostly keep to cover.

In an hour and 40 mins we managed some good sightings -

Brambling 48
Yellowhammer 38
Tree Sparrow 7
Bullfinch 3
Treecreeper 2
Goldcrest 2
Jay 1
Woodpigeon 2000+

Brown Hare 9
Ermine 1

Unfortunately the Ermine had vanished by the time I got the camera ready!

Bird seed crop near Littlemill.

Bramblings and Tree Sparrows, Click on image for a larger view.

A Murmuration....

Sitting at my desk I noticed pink clouds behind the trees.  Could there really be a pink sunset after all the rain?  Moving to the front of the house which faces west I saw indeed banks of pink clouds and under them a small flock of starlings swirling around.  Another few joined them and as I stood in our bay window I watched with delight more small flocks appearing over the roof tops until the 12 became 20, then 50 and finally approximately 200 birds swirling and swooping, dividing and joining and apparently enjoying themselves as much as I was watching them.  O.K. it was not as spectacular as the huge flocks seen around the country but it was happening right above a short cul-de-sac in Alnwick, outside my window and against a sky that seemed to promise a bit of sunshine tomorrow.  Brilliant!  I wonder where they're roosting?'

Mora J Rolley.

White Wings

The 29th saw us out of area at North Shields Fish Quay looking for 2 reported white winged gulls.There was no sign of the Iceland Gull but we did get close views of the 1st winter Glaucous Gull as it flew past us with a mouthful of food and several other large gulls chasing it. Also of interest was the sight of Carrion Crows dropping shellfish from a height onto concrete to get at the tasty bits.
Back on home turf there are 2 Scaup on Branton Ponds and can be seen with the Tufted Duck flock. 

One Snowflake

Disappointed with the lack of seasonal weather, I ventured to Warkworth late afternoon, where last Christmas, I remembered, there was a lively flock of Snow Buntings in the North Pier area.

Today, I could only find one -  a photogenic, confiding, adult male in its winter garb.

It thankfully let me get within a few yards, as it fed ferociously at the shore edge,with high tide approaching.

Result - an instant raising of spirits!

Christmas Day...

Tuesday 25th December...

While improving our appetite for Christmas Dinner, walking out in the far reaches of Bewick Moors, we came across a Buzzard perched on a fence post. Not a Common Buzzard, generally much paler in colour with white tail and a black tail tip. In flight, more direct than Common Buzzard with longer wings held more horizontally with a slower beat. A good sighting of a Rough Legged Buzzard.

                                                                                                                                    Jim Clark.

Ross Back Sands 26th December

A walk along Ross Back Sands to get rid of the Chrismas pud was the order of the day.When we got there only one set of footprints could be seen in the sand, just offshore we noted 4 Slavonian Grebes and a single Red Necked Grebe,flying north was a Red Throated Diver .On reaching the Wideopens several flocks of waders flew over and we managed to pick out 50 Bar Tailed Godwits and about 20 Golden Plover .As we headed back along the beach the footprints on the sand increased and the stillness was broken.The only negative for the day was the sight of a dead Tawny Owl on the side of the road between Bellshill and Chatton.

Weldon Bridge 24th December

Christmas Eve and some fresh air was called for after two days of relative inactivity,so we decided to go to Weldon Bridge to look for Marsh Tits.The start was promising as we encountered numerous Long Tailed Tits along with several Tree Creepers and Nuthatches,a patch of mud beside the swollen River Coquet yielded up some fresh Otter tracks,however yet again no Marsh Tits,a species which seems to be in severe decline in our area.Lets hope 2013 is a better year for all our wildlife.
Merry Christmas
Ian and Keith