Holywell Birding

Norfolk

2012-02-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Had a whistle stop tour of North Norfolk this weekend with Ashley, Ryan and Steve. Highlights were Golden Pheasant, Lesser White Fronted Goose, Taiga Bean, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit, Shore Lark, Snow Bunting, Ring-Necked Duck, Rough-Legged Buzzard, Barn Owl, Common Crane, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Velvet Scoter, Long-Tailed Duck and a Chinese Water Deer.

We were mainly birding, but here's a few images from the weekend.

GoPro Robin

2012-02-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

Lots of bold Robins at RSPB Titchwell, especially this character...

More from Norfolk tomorrow.

Up with the Owls...

2012-02-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Headed up into the North Pennines early this morning to take some star time-lapses. Passing through a small plantation, just before the terrain began to steepen, a Badger dawdled across the road. Beautifully clear skies, and below zero temperatures awaited me.

To finish the morning off I managed to get an image of this roadside Tawny Owl.

Leighton Moss

2012-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

Decided to head down to Leighton Moss today with Ciara and Rachael, its only about an hour from Penrith, so not too far. Although it was dull, with a few rainy spells we still had a great day. There were good numbers of Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Coot, Wigeon and Mallard, with a few Pochard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Cormorant and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Heading to the cafe at lunch we bumped into this confiding Robin.

Even bold enough to feed from Rachael's hand. Please double click image.

The feeding station by was busy with Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Pheasant, Moorhen, and Mallard. A skein of Greylag landed on the main pool, a quick scan produced the 3 Snow Geese that have been hanging around. After lunch we added a Red Deer stag and multiple Little Egrets to our list. The Morcambe Hides provide more wildfowl, and a large number of Lapwing on the salt marsh.

We ended our day in the Public Hide, viewing 5 Otters, with a couple of the well grown cubs play fighting, and porpoising, catching an Eel now and again. Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, and Teal came in close to the hide as the light was fading, Little Egrets headed to roost over head, and the Starlings began their murmurations.

The sun shared its rays for a few seconds before we left.

West Cumbria

2012-01-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

Today I ventured into Craig's territory, with Ewan and Andrew. We didn't leave Penrith till 12:30, arriving at Siddick Ponds no later than 13:30, Ewan had a brilliant few hours here a couple of days ago when the cold temperatures had frozen the pond. Today its been relatively warm, all the open water was free from ice. A scan of the nearest pond produced Mallard, Black Headed Gull and a single Greylag Goose.

Setting up at the railings overlooking the large pool I noticed the Gulls showing an interest in something in front of the near reed-bed, out of view, I'd seen this behaviour before at Holywell and Big Waters, I was almost certain there was an Otter. A Grey Heron soon joined the Black Headed Gulls, something I've never seen before, slowly moving into view I caught the tail of a large Otter. The dog Otter then showed well for a few minutes before disappearing into the near side reeds once again.

Walking further along the track, to view the main body of water we met Paul, who had been spending the morning filming. 30 Goosesander, 4 Whooper Swans, 1 Drake Pintail, Mallard, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Teal, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, and Goldeneye were all present on the water, a Water Rail gave a great fly by view as it travelled between the gap in the reeds, and a couple of Snipe showed themselves briefly, camouflaged against the reed-bed.

Next was on to 'The Dump' a large area of ex-MOD land left to re-wild, a brilliant area with some great habitat. As Cumbria provided one of its famous sunsets we clocked up 2 Barn Owl, 1-2 Short-Eared Owls, Tawny Owl, Kestrel, Buzzard, 4 Woodcock, 246 Goosesander overhead, 3 Roe Deer, and a few thousand Corvids coming to roost. A great day out.

On the way to lecture...

2012-01-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Made a detour on the way to lecture this morning, via Campfield Marsh. The Great White Egret had recently returned and was feeding just North of the flash, quite distant but good views were had.

Some more frosty images …

2012-01-16T05:46:00.000-08:00

The images below are of the frost on top of a gate post leading into the East fields.

The Frost

2012-01-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

This morning I headed down to Holywell before the sun rose, hoping to photograph some frost. I slowly made my way down to the hide, photographing the crystallised leaves of Bramble as I went, Joe had beaten me there. The pond was 80% frozen, but provided one of my best wildfowl counts this winter, 300+ Pink-footed and Greylag Geese rose from the West field, 7 Teal, 22 Mallard, and 6 Moorhen huddled in one patch of open water, and 6 Pochard, 3 Tufted, 3 Wigeon, and 2 Coot huddled in another, the Common Gull and Black Headed Gull made use of the ice.

Heading East a frozen Gorse was stumbled upon, this is where I spent the remainder of my morning.

Last night I had success with the Little Owl at Holywell Grange, so I headed down again this evening, to my surprise instead of a Little Owl, a Short-Eared Owl sat in its place, on a fence post amongst the horses. The horses soon moved it off and it landed on a fence post just to my right, erecting its tufts as 3 Carrion Crow flew overhead.

Please Double Click Image.

Holywell to Owls

2012-01-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

This morning my Grandad and I arrived at Holywell at about 11:00, it was a glorious but cool morning. Tree Sparrows could be heard as soon as we got out of the car, and continued to make themselves known as we walked down the track to the hide. Meeting SG in the hide, an enjoyable an hour and half was spent, sightings included, 2 Common Buzzard in their usual North Wood and West hedge haunts, a pair of Pochard, 1 Mute Swan, a pair of Gadwall, 1 Greylag Goose, 100 Lapwing, 1 Coot, 6 Moorhen, 9 Black Headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, a lone Great Black Backed Gull, 2 Stock Dove and a Grey Heron, as well as the usual feeding station suspects. A skein of 70+ Pink-Footed Geese arrived from the West as we were leaving.

Dropped Grandad off, had some lunch, and made sure UPS had delivered my new toy, then I was off with the plan to photograph some Short-Eared Owls.

On arrival no Owls were to be seen, but it wasn't long before an individual began hunting.

As this bird passed by I could here another screeching from the grass, soon two Owls were out hunting, providing some great views, now and again catching me out as they appeared from behind, over my head. Attracting the attention of a Carrion Crow or two.

There's something about being close to these beautiful birds as they hunt.

Bittern

2012-01-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

A few images from today's birding with Killy Birder.

For Sale

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I've got a Manfrotto 700RC2 Composite Video Head for sale. Used but in good condition, comes in original packaging, with instructions and fix plate. £40.

Contact me at holywellbirding@hotmail.co.uk if your interested :)

From the patch...

2012-01-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

This morning myself and Stephen headed down to Holywell. Sunday's seem to be the busiest days, with a few local birders about. The hope of Geese was thought to be lost when the West Field produced 10 Curlew, 40+ Lapwing and a few Gulls, but no Geese.

The pond itself was the most productive I've seen it for a while, but still it isn't holding the same amount of winter wildfowl as it use to, somethings changed. 7 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 1 female Goldeneye, 3 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 1 Canada Goose accompanied by the Greylag X Canada, a drake Tufted, 3 Mallard and a pair of Gadwall. Gull numbers were also low, most likely due to the closure of the tip, although Common and Black Headed Gull gathered at the public end, and a few Herring and Great Black Backed sat on the water.

Great to see that there's still Tree Sparrows about, hopefully they'll hang round through the summer as well.

A skein of Geese was picked up dropping into the East fields, so we headed down for a look, before we even reached the gate they got up, and were flying West, Greylag and Pink-Footed could be heard. We carried on hoping for some stragglers, only one goose remained, and it was a European White-fronted, Stephen's first.

In the afternoon I took my sister up to Preswick Carr, plenty of SEO's and some distant views of the Great Grey Shrike.

It seems Big Waters has stole all of Holywell's wildfowl ;)

Favourites of the year...

2011-12-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd round up this year with some of my favourite photos.

Back in April myself, Ciara Laverty , Rachael Laisney and Steven Williams embarked on a trip to Ardnamurchan, Britain's most Westerly point. Our two week expedition can be re-visited here. Here's a couple of my favourites.

This Pied Wagtail kept me company one afternoon whilst I waited in the hide, for the tide to retreat.

In May I went on a family holiday to Loch Maree, we stayed in a cottage near Poolewe, on the River Ewe, the Lochs seaward outlet. This was the first time we've stayed here, with only one previous visit to Gairloch when I was a lot younger. It didn't disappoint.

This was our view from the cottage.

Renowned for its Black Throated Divers, I was keen to see them, but never expected one to swim past the cottage.

The nearby Ash, Birch, and Oak woodland held Wood Warbler, Redpoll and this Spotted Flycatcher, who visit the garden almost everyday.

June saw me following the local Sparrowhawks. Although I follow this family every year, this was the first time I photographically followed them raising their young.

Unfortunately this was the last image I took before heading off to the Isle of Mull. I'm hoping to follow the chicks to fledging this coming year.

But before I did head off, I bumped into this Dipper, the first confirmation of breeding in the Dene for a good few years now.

And this character in the large meadow at Holywell Pond, in full bloom thanks to the sheep.

On to Mull, with this pair of images, taken on my first day !

Two weeks were spent on the Isle, volunteering with Sea Life Surveys and Ewan. A brilliant two weeks on an amazing Isle.

Oh and I made a mate at the chip van.

The couple of weeks following found me at the RSPB's Loch of Strathbeg as a residential volunteer.

August I was back on patch. The subsidence and rainfall allowed for a perfect wader scrape to form, so I spent my time lying down.

Come October I found myself back at the Loch of Strathbeg, volunteering again but this time to produce a promotional film for the RSPB's Goosewatch events. More to come about this in the near future.

The year rounded off with me when I visited the Desert Wheatear at Newbiggin.

Wish you all a Happy New Year :)

Merry Christmas !

2011-12-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Hanging around...

2011-12-16T07:25:00.000-08:00

Headed home from Cumbria for Christmas on Tuesday evening, it seems that I have more deadlines through the holidays than I did when I was at Uni. Nothing to stop me getting out though.

Yesterday morning I headed up to Newbiggin in search of the Desert Wheatear which has thankfully stayed in the vicinity of Beacon Point for a while now, I'd been hoping I would get the chance to see this beauty before it moved off.

Parking up at Church Point I headed North along the beach, calm flat sea and boiling sunshine made me question why I had wrapped up. Dunlin, Sanderling, Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew and Ringed Plover fed along the exposed sand and rock pools. I passed two birders heading the opposite direction, one informed me the bird was still present, and the other gave a polite grunt. On arrival a the point the bird was not to be seen, plenty Pied Wagtail and Rock Pipit, but no Wheatear.

Covering the whole point from both below and above the bank I still hadn't had a glimpse. It wasn't until I headed back South when I seen the bird feeding near to the tractor collecting coal dust. Finding a place to scramble down, I headed up to where I had last seen the bird. Scanning the bank I couldn't pick it up, but I knew it was there, so I sat in the sand. Almost immediately the bird appeared and began running towards me.

I also took some clips of this dapper little bloke, I've edited them into this longer clip, best viewed in HD.

Wales

2011-12-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

Just a few images from a weekend in Wales with the UOC Wildlife Photographer's Society, a bit wet and dull so played with black and whites.

500px

2011-11-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

I've recently been adding a few images to a 500px portfolio, you can have a look HERE, or click on the 500px link on the right :)

Wild Goose Chase

2011-11-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

A belated post from yesterday.

Taking part in the Lindisfarne count in the morning, struggling to stand, I joined MH and JD at Budle Bay with highlights of a single Greenshank, 2 Little Egret and an immature Peregrine.

On returning back home I headed out in search of geese, firstly down the Beehive road to check the Hartley fields where the Pink-Footed Geese have been feeding in regularly, no sign. Passing Deleval Hall I picked up a Common Buzzard hanging over the wood. Hoping that the geese were in the West field I headed down to the members hide. My hopes were rewarded with what seemed to be a large number of geese, a high chance of a White-Front or Bean I thought.

Instead of a Bean or White-Front catching my attention, 2 white geese did, Ross's Geese. In close company of 5 Barnacle Geese they were part of a larger 150+ Pink-Footed and 30+ Greylag. Unfortunately the geese lifted soon after and although the majority circled and landed again, the Ross's nor the Barnacle could be seen. A check of the surrounding fields prove fruitless, although an adult White-Fronted Goose was on the public shore, it seemed to have a bit of a limp.

Back to the hide to catch a few Starlings heading into the reeds to roost with BD, then a drive back to the Westside.

Today I've been up at Caerlaverock. An impressive number of Pintail on the sea being the highlight.

first steps...

2011-11-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

… into the world of macro.

one from today...

2011-11-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

a taste of the exotic

2011-11-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

A pair of Ring-Necked Parakeets at Churchill park have took it upon themselves to carry out demolition work on this Willow.

East to West

2011-11-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

The day began on patch with the highlights of Tree Sparrow, 2 Woodcock, a few Pink-Footed Geese in the West field and a small party of Goldcrest.

The Tree Sparrows were proving to be difficult to photograph off of the feeders, with a branch or two always being in the way. Here's the best I managed, hopefully they'll hang around so I can try again.

A late afternoon visit to Seghill Pond held Mallard, Mute Swan and Moorhen. A nice little site worth visiting.

Tonight I'm back over in Penrith, the town was shrouded in fog on arrival, but I headed up to the Pennines with Ciara. As we approached Hartside Pass we broke out of the fog, and it revealed clear skies. Only the distant roar of the M6 could be heard.

Back to patch

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning to the sound of Pink-Footed Geese, the first skein was of about 100 birds, followed by a further two skeins with about 70 birds in each. This had been the most Pinkies I'd heard moving through so far this year.

There was a few jobs which needed to be done in the morning, so I didn't get down to Holywell till mid-afternoon. Heading down the track a lot of movement could be seen in the top feeding station, I lifted my bins to find a male Tree Sparrow on the feeder, this was a first for me in the area of the pond. They winter in the fields surrounding the dene, but rarely come into the feeding station. Checking the board in the hide, up to four have been seen.

The sun shining on the North wood was making the most of the Autumnal colours, covering the reeds in a golden glow.

70 Pink-Footed Geese flew overhead and landed in the east fields, hopefully this is the start of more to come. The pond seems to be devoid of wildfowl with only the Mute Swan family, 10 Teal, 8 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 7 Moorhen and 1 male Tufted Duck. 2 Grey Heron stalked the shallow waters to the west, and a large number of Gulls bathed on the pond. the female Sparrowhawk put in an appearance flushing 100+ Lapwing from the Public Hide, as sending the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, and Great Tit into cover.

As I left a Common Buzzard flew into a Hawthorn to the West and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on the nut feeder.

Good to be back on patch.

The return...

2011-11-04T10:26:00.001-07:00

Short-Eared Owl, a photo by Cain Scrimgeour on Flickr.

Take 2

2011-11-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Went for my second attempt at star photography tonight, this time on patch. The light pollution coming from Blyth looked like it could make things interesting. This time star trails were on my mind. I managed 2 photos, which weren't exactly what I had envisioned but its a start.

Test shot.

The two shots above were slightly overexposed on the originals, so I've dropped the exposure down a notch.

All the final shot, trying to get correct exposure and the camera steams over.

A work in progress.