A Catch Up

Been out and about a few times over the last few weeks. 
I had a nice weekend with my family in the Lake District, where the destruction left by Storm Desmond was still evident.  Over the weekend we saw quite a few Pied Flycatchers and one or two Redstart.

A couple of trips to Harthope Valley surprisingly produced a few Slow Worms.  A species that seems to be doing well in that area.  

 

Around the Druridge Bay area recently I've managed a few shots of a Barn Owl, a superb Lesser Whitethroat and a very showy Grasshopper Warbler.

This morning I headed to Catton with Gwen, where we had a nice walk up onto the Moss to see the Short-toed Lark.  Then this afternoon I headed for Lynemouth Flash to see the very trusting Citrine Wagtail.

What a Grey Bay

I had a nice walk with Gwen, my wife, at a very dull and murky Druridge Bay this morning.  We started at Druridge Pools where the Great White Egret was showing well, walked up to Chibburn mouth and back down the beach.  There was a nice flock of Twite on the haule road, but no sign of the Shore Larks on the beach.    

The Dark Side

Well, today I turned to the Dark Side and went twitching.  My British list was standing at 327 and I feel that to improve on that I will have to make more of an effort, even though I am not a big fan of birding by numbers.  Today I headed to York in search of the Pine Bunting that has been there for the last month.
When I arrived there was only one other birder there and when I was talking to him, he told me that he had been three times and not seen the bird, so it wasn't looking good.  After about 30 minutes the whole flock was flushed by something and headed off further up Intake Lane.  So I followed with one other birder.  When we arrived at the other field the bird had been seen in, there was already one birder standing in the middle of the field scanning all the Buntings and Finches. 
After about five minutes he shouts "There it is" and low and behold there,  sat in a little bush, on the opposite side of the field was the Pine Bunting, who hoo number 328 in the bag!  We moved further across the field to get unobscured views, as it sat there for 3 or 4 minutes before doing a disappearing act again.  It turned out that the birder that was already standing in the field was the actual finder of the bird.  So I picked a good day to go down for it, having his local knowledge of the bird on hand!  
  

Oh for a bit of light

I started at Whittle Dene this morning to see if the Bewick's Swan was still there, but only a single Whooper was in with a family of Mute Swans. 

 I then headed to Northumberlandia where I added Mr M of Cramlington to my birders year list.  It was nice to see over 100 Brambling here as well as a female Scaup on one of the ponds.  I could have got some descent photos if only there had been a little bit light.  I'm not greedy I didn't want full sunshine, but a little bit of light would have been nice.

Brambling @ Northumberlandia

Redwing @ Northumberlandia

Scaup @ Northumberlandia

What a Loon!

A few shots from todays Pacific Diver twitch at Druridge.

                                              Pacific Diver @ Druridge Bay Country Park

                                                              Stonechat @ East Chevington

    Twite @ East Chevington

A Dull Start

This morning I had a bit of a run around to kick start my year list, adding Iceland and Glaucous Gull, Black Redstart, White-fronted Goose and Waxwing.

Florida Again

In October we headed across the pond to Florida.  As well as birding around the hotel grounds, we did venture out and about birding a few times.  Sites visited were Bok Tower Gardens,  Lake Parker, Merritt Island, Hal Scott Reserve and Lake Kissimmee.

The view from our room at Disney's Art of Animation.

Tiger Swallow @ The Animal Kingdom.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird @ Bok Tower Gardens.

             Ruby-throated Hummingbird @ Bok Tower Gardens.

Blue Jay @ Bok Tower Gardens.

Purple Gallinule @ Lake Parker.

Belted Kingfisher @ Merritt Island.

Black & White Warbler @ Merritt Island.

Florida Scrub Jay @ Merritt Island

Florida Scrub Jay @ Merritt Island.

Gopher Tortoise @ Merritt Island.

Reddish Egret @ Merritt Island.

American Kestrel @ Shingle Creek.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker @ Hal Scott Reserve.

Eastern Bluebird @ Hal Scott Reserve.

Lubber Grasshopper @ Hal Scott Reserve.

Bachmann's Sparrow @ Hal Scott Reserve.

Crested Caracara @ Lake Kissimmee.

Brown-headed Cowbird @ Lake Kissimmee.

American Bittern @ Lake Kissimmee.

Alligator @  Lake Kissimmee.

Alligator @  Lake Kissimmee.

Baby Alligator @  Lake Kissimmee.

Least Sandpiper @ Lake Kissimmee.

Red-winged Blackbird @ Lake Kissimmee.