Branton 9th November

Our feeding flock of Tree and House Sparrows has been joined recently by a very greedy Pheasant,today however he had a bit of a fright when a Stoat leapt out of the hedge and made a grab for him as he took to the air,luckily for him his reactions were the quicker.

The Wild West

Out for four hours in the part of Kielder west of Bellingham on 7th Nov.  It was cold, windy and increasingly wet.

We were looking for unusual ferns and found a good patch of Tunbridge Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum tunbridgense) plus (possibly) a patch of Kilarney Fern (Trichomanes speciosum).  This latter is very odd.  All ferns have two generations in their life cycle - a minute sexual generation called a gametophyte and a much larger frond stage called a sporophyte which produces the asexual spores.  Kilarney Fern in Northumberland has only ever been found as the gametophyte which looks like a green patch of "brillo pad" fibres close pressed to wet rock.  Some in the group were convinced that what the leader was pointing to was what we were looking for.  One or two of us were more doubtful!  The photo is NOT what we saw, it's an official image of Kilarney Fern gametophyte from the official fern society website.

The only higher plants we found in flower were Climbing Corydalis and Heath Groundsel.

Very few birds - a single Buzzard and a Raven.  But back in our daughter's garden at Lanehead, about 4 miles west of Bellingham, there was a group of at least 40 Waxwing.

and more...........

A lunch time walk down the Wooler Water (close to the sewage works) produced a very confiding flock of 32+ waxwings.  They were mainly feeding on hawthorn berries but also fly-catching.  On occassions they dropped down to the river for a drink and bathe in the shallow pools.  A worthy hour was spent watching their behaviour.

Two male goosander flew past the office window.

7th November

At least two waxwings were calling over the Tankerville pub in Eglingham as I replaced someone flat tyre.  I didn't get great views but from all reports, it won't be long before I see more.

There was also a dead tawny owl on the side of the A697 near Roseden.

Waxwings

More Waxwing sightings at Howick today. This afternoon 14 were in the Village showing very well, then a neighbour told me of 53 in the Howick Hall gardens near the Bog Garden feeding on Yew berries. Interestingly the ones in the Village today were actually eating cotoneaster berries, something I have read everywhere but have never seen before. I have always seen Waxwings, in order of preference, on Rowan, Hawthorn, Rosehip, Whitebeam and Apple. Flycatching comes between Hawthorn and Rosehip!

Early Christmas Present 6th nov

We decided that today was the ideal time to go Chrismas shopping,little did we know that it would turn into a birding treat.Whilst waiting for the metro at Kingston Park we were treated to a swirling,noisy group of 18 Waxwings, their clear trilling calls not drowned out by the city traffic.

5th November

A visit to the River Wansbeck in the Bothal area produced a kingfisher, 3 grey herons, good numbers of grey partridge (15), tree sparrows and yellowhammers. A large patch of Japanese knotweed was also found - some control will be required next year.

A barn owl flew over the A697 at Roseden.  It is good to see this bird returning to some of its favoured haunts of the past.