Buttermere

I have several reasons to use the term Annus Horribilis regarding 2019 and whilst as the Queen has intimated that it has been a bumpy ride this past year, I can only say I’ve met with deep ditches at times.  I’ll refrain from expressing self-pity and going into detail here, as the year has not been without its brighter moments, most of which I owe to good friends and family (they know who they are).

Buttermere in changing light.

Buttermere in Lakeland is one of those special places in my life, I’m sure we all have such feelings about places in our lives, so after a space of some years it was a joy to visit again.  That joy was tinged with some sadness as the reason for the visit was so that we could lay our parent’s ashes in a much-loved area.  It was November and cold, and let me tell you that such a time of year is not a bad time for a visit as it avoids the crowds of tourists that Wordsworth so frowned upon.  I can’t help feeling some sympathy with his views on that one, and heaven only knows what he would think of Lakeland in summer now!  I have also found that I have shared something else in common with Wordsworth that that is, as a child, his awe, verging at times on fear, and wonder at the crags and fells that hovered above him.  I was either nine or ten years old when I first visited Buttermere, electricity was not to arrive in the area until two or three years later.  I well remember my imagination going into overdrive as I looked up to the fells that surrounded me.  It was some years later that I walked atop of many of them.

Cottage (with many tales to tell)

Haystacks

Today the area was seen at its best and as we approached via the Carlisle to Cockermouth Road the grey northern fells were in places lit by shafts of sunlight which showed that even in this dark month there was still plenty of colour and even more, atmosphere.  We were soon at Buttermere and the cottage at the foot of Honister Pass where I celebrated my twenty-first birthday.  Here we met an old friend that I had not seen for over thirty years and as we walked into Wanscale Bottom below Fleetwith Pike and the Haystack range many shared memories were spoken of as to when we used to walk here with my parents on their favourite walk.  It was as if only hours had passed since our last meeting.  My parents ashes now lie in this area and I know that they would have been pleased about that.  Above, on the top of Haystacks were laid the ashes of Alfred Wainwright the well-known compiler of books on Lakeland.  I’m sure many other families have laid ashes of loved ones in this area and in fact there were signs today that that this had occurred recently.  Nature is a great consoler and healer, so I’m pleased to say that we were accompanied by at least three Common Buzzards as they flew overhead throughout our walk.  Their calls sounding haunting in such a vast area.  This area was once frequented by Peregrine Falcons, perhaps still is, and I often regret not taking such an interest in nature when as a young backpacker I trekked these areas.  I didn’t know then that Fleetwith Pike held a colony of Mountain Ringlet Butterflies.  It was in Wanscale Bottom many years ago that I first took an interest in watching Grey Herons.  My brother had told me of them and I seem to remember borrowing binoculars from the farm and spending hours in fascination.  I am still fascinated by Grey Herons, and why not?

Wanscale and the path we took.

Peter, my brother, places tribute.

There was a very light covering of snow on the tops of some fells and as we walked back to the cottage the light began to fade a little but shafts of sunlight still lit the fells at the far end of Buttermere Lake.  We noticed that the Buttermere Pines are looking far from healthy, they stand at the edge of the top of the lake and are often seen in images of the area.  Otherwise, apart from minor changes to gates, fences and paths, the area is much as I remember it from childhood.  A Kestrel hovered at the foot of Fleetwith underneath the white cross to which I first climbed as a nine-year-old boy.  The cross is a reminder that the fells can be deadly as well as beautiful.    There are other reminders of dangers such as piles of stones and carved name of a German girl who lost her life near here in the 1960s, an event I well remember.  My brother went to hospital in the ambulance with her friend who had also been hurt.  We remembered the two Mountain Rescue volunteers who we all knew who were also killed when part of a crag broke lose, again in the 1960s.

Peter used to work on the dry stone walls below the crags.

Then it was back for a late lunch and more memories at the cottage before we said our farewells and made for home in darkness.  I must return soon.

I have eventually purchased a copy of John Buxton's classic monograph on the Redstart and it is to be my end of year read.  Hoping to have it completed by 2020.

Wishing you all peace and good health in the new year and beyond.

Too Darn Hot!

Aug. ‘My’ resident Wood Pigeons having successfully raised a family in the trees at the bottom of the garden have stayed on to enjoy the available seed and bird bath.  On warm days they have sat contentedly in the bath for up to twenty minutes and they were feeling the heat yesterday.

The water looks clean

How many people give Wood Pigeons a second look?  Not many I’m guessing.  Yes, I fear they are taking over the world and are as common as muck, but they aren’t an unattractive bird.

Just checking for those killer cats

Ahh, that's nice and cool

More Butterflies

Aug.  I am responding to the calls of 'more, more' from my perhaps limited, but appreciative audience.  So here are a few more images of Butterflies attracted to my garden during what now seem distant days of sun and heat.  The Painted Ladies were not alone in appreciating the Buddleia Plant.  Perhaps it should be made compulsory for everyone with a garden to plant a Buddleia.  'Plant a Buddleia for 2020' would make a good slogan I reckon.  When you do, be choosy as to the colour, as I understand certain colours are more attractive to the butterflies and I think I chose correctly.  Since the rains came I have had fewer butterflies but there is still one Painted Lady visiting the garden.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral was once known simply as the Admiral and still is in Germany.  In France it is known as Le Vulcain, named after Vulcan the blacksmith of the Gods.  The alternative name for Admiral once used was Admirable and this name was favoured by some, including the novelist Vladimir Nabokov 

Comma

Small Tortoiseshell with Painted Lady.  The former being a rarity in the garden this year, with this being the only one seen.

Large White

List of Butterfly Species seen in the garden so far this year, in order of the number of sightings.

Painted Lady

Holly Blue  (remain in flight in the garden today)

Speckled Wood

Large White

Small White

Red Admiral

Peacock (fewer than usual)

Comma (1 only)

Small Tortoiseshell  (1 only and despite the problems this species has had in recent years having found only one is very unusual)

Painted Lady Bonanza

Jul/Aug 19.  We begin with a quiz.  Can you name the newspaper responsible for the following headline on the internet?

Rare Painted Lady Butterflies are spotted across the UK for the first time since 2009 as they begin their once in a decade migration.

Yes, yes, you all have it correct.  It is of course the Daily Mail!  Three errors in one sentence implies a teeny-weeny bit of lazy reporting, and I use the term reporting deliberately rather than journalism.  To be fair, the article did include photos of butterflies and surprisingly they were Painted Lady Butterflies.  However, it is little wonder a great many of the population of the UK remain ignorant on the facts of the natural world when we have headlines such as this.  For the record, for anyone not au fait with butterflies, the Painted Lady is not a rare butterfly, it appears in the UK each year (this year just happens to be a bumper one) and it migrates each year.  If you want to know more stay clear of Daily Mail reports!  There is plenty of more reliable information on the internet.

I’m sure many of you have been and still are enjoying the spectacle of the mass influx of Painted Lady Butterflies, the largest influx since 2009.  I believe the previous good year for this species prior to 2009 was 1996.

The Painted Lady Butterflies have been on my Buddleia for over a week now and whilst I don’t claim to have had 125 which reportedly appeared on a bush at St Abbs, nor the swarm that flew over the Farne Islands, I did have 15 of them at one time on a bush along with Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Comma.  This of course gave an excellent opportunity for photography and I thought I would share some of my images with you.  I certainly do not recall seeing so many Painted Lady Butterflies in 2009, but I didn’t have the Buddleia then.

When visiting in North Shields I found several more (double figures again) of the species on another Buddleia.  This all gave me the chance to enlighten at least three people regarding the migration of Painted Lady Butterflies from northern Africa.  They didn’t seem as impressed with the feat as I thought they ought to have been.  In the course of another conversation whilst lurking at the Buddleia, I learnt that my neighbour had found a Hawkmoth in her child’s bedroom during the hot weather and I was a bit jealous of that and not having been able to photograph it.  From the way my friend’s hands were held apart I began to wonder if in fact, it had been a juvenile Pterosaur.  The lady’s partner also informed me that his brother is into nature photography, so that was pleasing to hear.  Two days before when temperatures were high and I stood burning near the garden, a swarm of bees flew directly above my head, thankfully not landing on it.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you must be in the countryside to enjoy wildlife and nature as it’s simply not true.

I used my macro lens for the first two images shown here otherwise they were taken with my 100-400mm lens whist attempting some variation to the resulting image.  The underwing of the butterfly is often as interesting to me as the upper-side and if taken with back lighting can often give the impression of stained glass (to my eye anyway) and if you have read my blog over the years you may remember that I have some interest in stained glass windows in particular.

I have a collector’s copy of David Measures Butterfly Season 1984 and initially I didn’t rate the paintings too highly.  However, over the years I have come to appreciate that colour and movement expressed in paintings is as important, if not more so, than the expression of a detailed and  exact depiction of the butterfly.  Perhaps I can use that to explain some of my less than sharp images!

I know there will be many an image of Painted Lady Butterflies about at present, but hope that you enjoy the ones I have added anyway.

Butterfly Season...Lurking Beside the Bushes.

Jul 19.  The last few months have been a period when my explorative exploits in the field have been curtailed to a great extent, hence an absence of blog posts.  I’ve found myself at times contemplating the likes of the myriad hues of green in my garden, weeds included, until I sprung to life and became a gardener of sorts.  I’ve also read a good number of books, one of them being a Little Toller edition entitled Emperors, Admirals and Chimney Sweepers which addresses the naming of butterflies and moths.  A fascinating insight in to the ‘name game’ (occasionally it does appear to have been a game) and a good book to dip in and out of.  However, as William Wordsworth noted in an early work as a young man, there is nothing better than watching and experiencing actual nature.

Enough of science and of art;

Close up these barren leaves;

Come forth and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.

Early William Wordsworth lines.

So, having put down the books and moved to the hard labour in the garden I did end up watching and receiving, perhaps my efforts were being rewarded, in this case by butterflies.

Holly Blue Butterfly

The first notable sighting was the return of at least two Holly Blue Butterflies, which added a touch of colour to the garden, I now had blue to consider as well as the greens!.  I’ve always found this species difficult to photograph, but my lurking by the bushes paid dividends on this occasion.  I first noticed Holly Blue in the garden around twelve years ago and they were certainly uncommon in the area then, and since then they have been seen here each year.  I’m rather proud of them and wonder how many folks in Killingworth know we have Holly Blue Butterflies in the area, or for that matter how many even cares?  I know these butterflies can have two broods and the first appeared in May and as those making a further appearance seem in pristine condition I’m thinking this is a second brood, and all in my garden!  I did wonder initially if these were the first brood returning to lay eggs.

Holly Blue Butterfly

The Holly Blue is our only resident butterfly with a tree in its name.  The scientific name of Celastrina argiolus means holly tree little argus eyes.  I’ve recently learnt that the second brood of the Holly Blue prefer to lay their eggs on ivy.  Holly Blue is a relatively recent name for this species once referred to as Azure Blue.  I’ve watched this species further north in Scandinavia, where of course the food plant is something entirely different.

Now the 4^th August, I still have the Holly Blue flying in my garden.  I saw for the first time that it was attracted to the Buddleia tree.  The Buddleia has this year attracted many different species, not least Painted Lady Butterflies in double figures.  This gave me the chance to take some images of this attractive species which I am saving for a further blog later this week.

Greeting Goliath and a Scent of Spring

26^th Mar.  Today saw Sam and I down at North Shields Fish Quay for a close encounter with Goliath alias the Glaucous Gull.  OK, I can hear you all saying, ‘I’ve been there and done that’, but readers will know we always take a laid- back approach to bird watching and wait until everyone has moved along.  As it happens we weren’t the only birders to have seen this bird for the first time today as we were joined by another interested birdman from Gateshead.

Glaucous Gull

We had had other business before going to North Shields so I didn’t have my camera gear, but Sam had some of his and was able to get some good images, a few that I have included here, So, all images are courtesy of Samuel Hood.

Glaucous Gull

We found the Glaucous Gull not at all phased by the approach of people, cars and machinery, but apparently nervous of approaches from other gulls, so keeping itself very much to itself in that respect.  It certainly wasn’t interested in handouts of fish and chip scraps thrown out by passers-by, but simply stood back and watched whilst other gulls got into a frenzy of feeding.  The Glaucous Gull seemed to watch them with some distain, perhaps feeling it ought to rise above such unseemly street behaviour.  Perhaps I’m allowing anthropomorphism to creep in just a little.

Glaucous Gull

Sam and I spent some time with Goliath and agreed it was probably the best sighting of a Glaucous Gull we have ever had.  Whilst we were there it flew from the roof of the Fish Quay sheds to the wall of the quay carparking area, flew a short way along the river and back and across to South Shields, but it did seem to prefer the company on the north side of the river.  I’m sure it could tell us a few interesting stories of what it has seen already in its relatively short life, and even I can be fascinated by the thoughts of where this bird has been and grant you that some gulls can be very interesting.  Kittiwakes are of course another example and I heard my first Kittiwake calls of the year today and watched as numbers of them flew along the Tyne.  There was also a sizeable flock of Eider Duck on the river.

I’ve always liked North Shields and its community, a place of character and characters and in the main a friendly atmosphere.  Massive changes over recent years of course, but the character remains.

27^th Mar.  We decided to visit Druridge today and our first stop was Widdrington Pool which seems to me to be attracting more and more birds.  Throughout our few hours in the area the scent of new growth was in the air, giving a real feeling that spring had arrived despite the grey cloud and cold.  The most distinctive fragrance was that from the Gorse, much of it in flower now and along with Hawthorn blossom there was a touch of bright colour to be found.  I do think Gorse is a far better term than furze, which always suggests to me an old fellow’s stubble.  I’ve noted that there is some rather expensive Gorse fragrance in a bottle for men and women available.  It might be just what some of you birders out there want!  I’ve no wish to smell like a coconut with a touch of citrus, so I’m keeping clear of it.  I’ll save money and simply have a shower!

We had some decent sightings at Widdrington, our best of the day in fact, including 2,000+ Pink Footed Geese in the fields, 12+ Whooper Swans, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Scaup, Kestrel and Common Buzzards flying low along the ridge of the hill opposite.  With many of the waterfowl ready to return to breeding areas it gave the feel of change which was added to by the calling Chiffchaff.

Chatting away we missed the turn off for Druridge Country Park and so ended up at Hauxley by accident.  We didn’t stay long, but it was good to see the numbers of Tree Sparrows.  For some reason or other the birds remaining in mind are Lesser Black backed Gull and Long tailed Tit.  The car-park was almost full so something is being done correctly on the reserve, perhaps it’s the tea and cakes.

From Druridge Country Park we looked over East Chevington North Pool.  Along with a lone dark bellied Brent Goose, a lone Sandwich Tern spotted only by Sam and more Great Crested Grebes we found a few other species of wildfowl and heard Water Rail and Little Grebe.  A quick look out over the sea brought us sightings of a couple of Red Throated Divers.

Having taken a break for a bite to eat at the Drift café, yes we were able to get in on this occasion, we passed a Grey Partridge on the wall near Cresswell Pond as we made for Druridge Pools which once again we found very quiet, with no waders to be seen except an odd Curlew.  There was plenty of pairs of Shoveler too, engaged in circular feeding.  Sadly, we may have missed the Bewick Swan in a field of Mute Swans, the former being reported the following day.

Cresswell Pond was quiet again too, but we managed to count 8 Avocets.  A stop at Newbiggin brought us nothing of real interest and it was then homeward bound from what we judged to be a quiet day.  A later count showed that we had still managed to list 65 species today.

Spring Equinox in Wild Northumbria

20^th Mar.  It was the spring equinox today and our plan was as much to explore some wilder areas in Northumberland.  We soon found that a watch over Harwood Forest from Winter’s Gibbet was probably not going to offer much in the way of reward as the wind blew and we veiwed low cloud in poor light.  It wasn’t meant to be like this.  Skylarks sang and a few Meadow Pipits were seen, as I imagined how bleak it must have been when Mr Winter’s body hung here in 1792.  We moved along quite quickly with the intention of making a return later.  Several Common Buzzards had been seen on our outward journey and continued to be seen during the day.

Wild Northumbria

The sky had cleared a little and there was even a sign of the sun by the time we took a walk at Fontburn Reservoir.  Redpolls were heard as we left the carpark for a walk and numbers of woodland birds were seen, including Long Tailed Tits.  Skylarks continued to sing.  Perhaps the most interesting sighting was of the Wren displaying which brought back memories of the pair of Wrens I once watched fight almost to the death.  Cormorants, Oystercatchers and Lapwings were seen and I caught sight of a bird high on the ridge which I wondered if it could have been a Little Owl, but there was no certainty there.  This is certainly a site for a return visit.  Peacock Butterflies were seen, but not for long enough to photograph. A return visit to Harwood brought no extra sightings other than a Kestrel.  Sam had had a very good sighting of Goshawk here a few days earlier.

Winter's Gibbet

Our best sighting of the day was of at least 90 Whooper Swans on Sweethope Lough.    A stunning sight even though we had to watch from the road and through the trees.  Little Grebe was heard here.  I’ve recently learned that Sweethope was once owned by the industrialist Charles Parsons who is buried in Kirkwhelpington Churchyard, only a few miles away.  C A Parsons was founded 130 years ago and in 1968 employed 16,000 staff at the Heaton Works.  Makes me wonder where everyone works these days!  My father was employed at Parsons all his working life and as a child I used to enjoy looking at the Turbinia, built by Parsons, when it was in the museum in the Exhibition Park.  It can still be seen in Newcastle.

      But now they drift on the still water,

      Mysterious, beautiful;

      Among what rushes will they build,

      By what lake's edge or pool

      Delight men's eyes when I awake some day

      To find they have flown away?

      Wild Swans at Coole/W B Yeats

Next stop was the River Wansbeck at Wallington, although on this occasion we didn’t visit the gardens and hall.  A walk from Paine’s Bridge along the river brought sightings of Dipper, my first of the year, and a pair of Grey Wagtail.  The woodland here was holding high numbers of Nuthatch, many were heard and some seen.  A pair of Treecreeper was also seen and at 13.10 hours precisely a Tawny Owl give out a call.  High on my reading list for 2019 is a book by Laura Trevelyn, The Trevelyn’s and Their World.  It was after the death of local politician Charles Trevelyan, that the Wallington Hall estate was passed to the National Trust.

Paine's Bridge

As we drove away from Wallington I noticed that the weather was taking a turn for the worse and mist and rain soon set in so we passed Colt Crag Reservoir, but didn’t stop, although thought it an area well worth exploring in the future.

Capheaton was our last stop of the day as I wanted Sam to see the lake here, which is part of Capheaton Hall estate where Algernon Swinburne the poet used to visit his grandfather and who was also a regular visitor to Wallington Hall.  My brother lived at Capheaton some years ago so I know the area quite well.  Birds we found on the lake included 2 Whooper Swans, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye.  Our first Chiffchaff of the year was heard calling here too.

We left for home in what can only be described as inclement weather, and drove along Silver Hill.  The name Silver Hill may refer to the hoard of Roman silver, though to be possibly from a temple, found here in the eighteenth century.  Much of the treasure was melted down soon afterwards, but some of it remains in the British Museum.  I remember when Silver Hill held a line of massive trees which in leaf was quite a stunning sight along the road edge and it was always a good area to find fungi.  The trees had to be cut down because of disease and what remains now seems to be in the main Silver Birch Trees.

Whilst a shame that the weather changed for the worse it had been a good interesting day and we will return.

   The swallows of dreams through its dim fields dart,
   And sleep's are the tunes in its tree-tops heard;
   No hound's note wakens the wildwood hart,
  Only the song of a secret bird.

   Algernon Swinburne

Tranquillity, Light, Borders, Raptors and Ring-necked Duck

24^th Feb.  Sam and I decided to leave behind the fog and a probable busy coastline, we guessed Lindisfarne would be especially busy over half term so decided against a visit and instead headed west to the less inhabited and more rugged inlands of Northumberland, and as it turned out Cumbria too.  Our journey began in fog and it wasn’t until we were well along the A69 and the Tyne Valley that the sunlight began to break through.  We found a Peregrine Falcon flying into trees close to the road, a Kestrel, a flock of Whooper Swans flying north and the first of many Lapwings to be seen today.  We found ourselves in and out of fog as we proceeded along the Tyne Valley until we eventually found more permanent sunlight.  Once on the moors the light was bright, the air quite still and in sheltered areas warm.

We’d certainly left the crowds behind us and were able to enjoy the calls and songs of birds in peaceful surroundings.  Perhaps the most noticeable song was that from the numerous Skylarks, but other notable calling came from Red Grouse, Lapwings and Curlews.  The open moors and brilliant light gave a feeling of real freedom.  I was surprised at the large number of Lapwings mainly in two sizable flocks and the numbers of Red Grouse showing well at times.

We spent two periods on the high moors, the periods been split by some time spent on lower ground in search of the reported Ring-necked Duck.  We were unable to find it on the pond, but amongst numerous wildfowl we did find at least six Whooper Swans here.  A Kestrel was watched hunting nearby and Sam caught sight of a flock of distant Golden Plover.  Fieldfare were also seen.

On return to the moors it wasn’t long before we had a decent but quite brief sighting of a Hen Harrier (ringtail) hunting in very typical harrier habitat.  Merlin was also seen at some distance and I watched it swoop towards a crow and disappear behind the mounds, not to be seen again by me at any rate.  Our raptor count was doing well but we had been unable to sight the recently reported Rough Legged Buzzard or at least we can’t be sure.  A buzzard was seen briefly at great distance but it was possibly Common Buzzard.  We’ll never be certain.  We continued to enjoy the other bird life, especially the Lapwings, which when lifting with a flock of Starlings had put us onto the Merlin.  The sound of Skylark and Red Grouse continued to fill the clear air.  Well at least clear until the smoke from heather burning began to fill the air.  If we hadn’t seen the initial burning sites and been able to smell the smoke in the air we could have mistakenly believed there was haze in the air.  It didn’t spoil the atmosphere, but one must question what on earth this does to the environment!  One of the sightings of the day for me was a Raven seen well.  It flew off eastwards, but later Raven calls were heard.

Retracing our tracks we returned to lower ground and eventually crossed the border into Cumbria.  At the Hamlet of Tindale, we found Siskin in the trees.  Deciding not to walk from here to Tindale Tarn and having seen the sign ‘Bull in Field’ I can only express relief at that!  Instead we made off to Geltsdale RSPB Reserve.  On arrival we found the car-park full.  This surprised me as on previous visits there has never been anyone else about.  We ate our lunch and then set off for a walk towards the centre and Tindale Tarn.  At this point the light was still good so when Sam found the Ring-necked Duck on the tarn accompanied by four Pochard, even at great distance we had a fine sighting.  We were later told by a local birder, the only ‘real’ birder we came across on the reserve, that although present on the tarn off and on since January, the Ring-necked Duck is a first for Geltsdale reserve.  On the way along the path we managed much closer sightings and found a Peacock Butterfly, our first butterfly of 2019.  When we were at the reserve a few years ago we had also had our first sighting of a butterfly for the year, on that occasion a Small Tortoiseshell.  Other birds on the tarn included Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan.  On our return walk we walked with a couple who had been in the hills all day.  Having seen few people on the reserve I assumed most of the parked cars had held walkers rather than birders.  There were in fact few birds about but we intend to return later in the year and in any case we had our Ring-necked Duck on the list!  During our visit to the reserve I had enjoyed some moments of complete silence, a rare opportunity these days even in the countryside wilderness.

By now the light had changed again as clouds had almost filled the sky.  It was time to make our return home, but not before we had stopped at Grindon Lough back in Northumberland.  Even in the duller light we enjoyed our time in Hadrian’s Wall country and during our time at the lough the cloud cleared to give us wonderful, if a little weaker, lighting conditions.  The air was again filled with bird calls, this time in the main they were calls from Canada Geese, Wigeon and Curlews but just before leaving we heard the mewing call of Common Buzzard.  Again, there were numbers of Lapwing in the area and a Sparrowhawk had been seen on the way to the lough, giving us quite a list of raptors today (six species).  We also added Pink Footed Geese to our list a few seen both on the ground and in the air amongst the Greylag and Canada Geese.  It was still very mild when we left Grindon Lough having spoken to two birders whilst checking we had missed nothing of rarity.

Hard to believe it is still February, but I’m not complaining.  We had without doubt made a good decision to head inland and keep away from the busy coastline.  It had been a very special day in my two favourite counties of England.  Bird of the Day?  Well that title must go to the Ring-necked Duck, a very attractive bird indeed, but it did have some stiff competition!

Not Quite Spring at Druridge

17^th Feb.  Despite the sunshine and song from Skylarks, stepping into the air at Widdrington Pool today gave the first unsubtle hint that bird watching in tee-shirts wasn’t on the menu.  I was still cold despite putting on outer layers and my hat.  The highlights here were the juvenile Peregrine Falcon and probably the largest flock of geese I’ve seen in Northumberland this year.  In the fields north of the pool, they were mainly Pink Footed Geese, but may have included other species, too far away to identify.  The bleak area held enough birds to keep our interest including a sizable flock of Wigeon, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Mergansers and calling Goldcrest.  A Great Crested Grebe was changing into breeding plumage.  I’m now reading my copy of The Peregrine Falcon purchased when I was in the SOC centre at Aberlady, signed by Derek Ratcliffe in 1980, so I felt that it was apt that we saw the peregrine today.

In comparison to the bleakness we left behind, it seemed almost balmy at East Chevington.  The Pintail on North Pool took little finding as there was little else on the water.  The walk to the burn warmed us a little more and we found Meadow Pipit, a sizable flock of Sanderling and a flock of thirty-five Ringed Plovers.  We chatted about the possible uses of a grant to improve the area.  I’ve always liked this area anyway, but my priority would be to improve control of water levels (very high in North Pool at present), not to bring in rarities, but for birds in general.  The rarities would in any case follow.  Of course, the hides could do with replacing too, but I don’t envy the folk who must put their mind to indestructible hides in this area, probably an unrealistic prospect!  Thankfully I am guessing the grants will not be enough for such things as centres to be built, and that is a blessing in my opinion.  A centre would spell café or restraunt and that the area can certainly do without.

Our next stop was the Drift Café, yeah OK, so I’m a hypocrite!  Serves me right that the place was so packed we couldn’t get in and had to later make do with our sandwiches and crisps up by Druridge Pools.  From the open hide we faced the winds to search without luck for the Green Winged Teal.  I decided that this hide is the worst one I can remember for birding from when it’s windy.  When we moved to the hide at the north end we still had to face winds, but at least here we eventually had a good sighting of the Green Winged Teal that we had been after.  There were certainly plenty of Teal about, Curlews, Shoveler and Black Tailed Godwit et al.  Water Rail was heard.  Druridge Pools were looking more like they ought to, having been very quiet on some recent visits, although the pool at the north end was unproductive.

By the time we arrived at Cresswell Pond the winds were getting stronger and the water was almost up to the hide.  Not looking too welcoming for returning Avocets!  Apart from a Reed Bunting visiting a feeder the hedges leading down to the hide were absent of birds as was the pond, apart from a Little Grebe (there was another on the smaller pool) near the hide and the odd Goldeneye, Mallard and Tufted Duck.  All the other birds present had sought sanctuary on the west side of the pond, and these included Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew, Wigeon and Teal et al.

We’d seen Common Buzzard and Kestrels to add to the raptor list today, and we'd seen a number of flocks and skeins of geese (mainly Pink Footed Geese), but overall it seemed very quiet and the birding was somewhat affected by wind to the extent our day proved rather short.  I’m looking forward to enjoying the warm weather I’m told we are having!

Holywell After Rain

7^th Jan.  I was up and eager to leave for Holywell before sunrise, but once I had heard the forecast for drier weather around 10.00am it seemed more appropriate to delay my walk until a little later.  I arrived at Holywell just before 10.00am and just as the rain was ceasing.  I have recently had cause to discuss walking repeatedly in familiar surroundings, and it is something that I believe can be enjoyed to the full rather than becoming boring.  I find myself watching for changes from day to day and season to season and giving thought to the historical aspects of the areas I walk in, especially in respect to those who have trodden the area over the years, often no doubt because of need rather than simply pleasure.  Anyway, today began with the good intentions of walking down to St Mary’s Island, a walk I have completed on many occasions and always enjoyed.  Good intentions are not always achieved and today was one of those times.

On arrival and finding Curlews feeding in the field alongside Canada Geese, a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly into the trees next to me, and much in the way of bird calling and song, I was optimistic that there could to be much to be found today.  My optimism dropped somewhat once in the members hide and finding an almost deserted pond outside.  From my place on the bench I could see a pair of Mute Swans, a single Teal, Mallards and a few Tufted Duck and I find, as I have said before, that the area directly out side of the hide is not what it used to be, although there was a Pheasant here today along with Moorhen and a few tits and a Wren.  I had seen a Common Buzzard on a fence as I walked towards the hide and on looking to see what had disturbed the gulls and Lapwings near to the public hide, I saw what was likely the same Common Buzzard stretching its wings whilst perched on the fence.  It would have made a good photo had I been much closer.  The white boards behind me had written on them something along the lines of ‘mark sightings here’, under which there was nothing at all written.  I waited a while in the hope that something else might appear on or over the water, but saw nothing else of note.  I’ve has some excellent sightings from this hide over the years, but not today. 

Walking down to the public hide I found that the Common Buzzard had left and apart from a few more gulls, Teal and a single Grey Heron on the island, I found nothing else to add to what had been seen previously.  I didn’t see the Buzzard again but throughout my time in the area I did hear Buzzards calling from time to time.

A skein of Pink-footed Geese flew eastwards as I continued the walk and a skein of Canada Geese flew towards the pond.  By now I realised I wasn’t feeling on top of the world which maybe explained my ‘cup half empty’ attitude, and so I decided to call off my walk to St Mary’s Island and instead concentrate my efforts in the fields north of the dene and in the eastern end of the dene in search of my target bird, the Dipper as I had reasoned that given  a little time I would more than likely find it here.  On the Avenue I had a rather nice encounter with a pair of Bullfinches feeding on the brambles.  The female being much the most confiding of the pair.  Without any scientific study to back me up, I would make a guess that the Bullfinch as a species has done quite well locally in recent years.  I base that idea simply on the numbers I now see.     I felt rather happier having watched the Bullfinches and photographed the female.

Bullfinch (female)

I walked a good way northward into the fields and with the wind in my face.  I found little to nothing until a small flock of calling Fieldfare flew overhead.  The bright yellow of the gorse added some cheer to barren surroundings.  Then later as I walked southward towards the dene I found the flock of Reed Bunting flying from feeding in the field to the hedge where I had seen them on my last visit.  On this occasion they were accompanied by a Yellowhammer.  As I walked along the path they lifted on several occasions to stay a reasonable distance ahead of me until they eventually doubled back to the feeding spot.  Then I met the mud, which was to stay with me of and on throughout my time in the dene.

Area almost devoid of birds.

Gorse at least gave some colour.

Whilst the dene still has that winter look about it there also seemed to be a feel of coming spring.  Nuthatch calls were the first sounds to greet me as I made my way to the culvert.  I stopped in this area for a bite to eat and watched for signs of Dipper.  Of course, I know they may well be nesting at this time of year.  I heard no Dipper song and had no sightings.  I decided after a while to walk up stream thinking this would give me my best chances of a sighting and at least the water turned out to be clearer here.  I watched for a while at the other side of the culvert where I had good sightings of Grey Wagtail.  A pair of Mallard were settled in the area too.  Still no Dipper so I carried on walking eastward checking out all the likely rocky areas.  I did find the likely looking white markings left by Dippers, but no birds.  I was walking carefully on the muddy banked paths as I feared slipping and ending up in the burn.

Grey Wagtail

I eventually called it a day having developed an aching back and a very sore toe, but despite my aches and failure I felt more cheerful after my walk.  I made off home with Dipper still not on my year list, but at least now the sun was shining and it was quite warm.  I must complete the full walk down to St Mary’s Island soon.

Just before leaving the dene I spoke with a local who seemed quite taken aback that he had seen a Common Buzzard over the village area.  This is certainly not the first-time locals have expressed surprise on seeing this species.  Common Buzzards have been around this area for all the years I have walked here so the surprise shown is strange.