Gosforth Park NR to Prestwick Carr

Could the photography bug be catching? Taken at the Gosforth Park NR feeding Station.

Sam has to be given the credit for finding the Green Woodpecker!

More practice required with the owls I think!

11^th Feb. Set off this morning for Gosforth Park N R in the bitter cold along with Sam, AKA Bittern Man! Thanks to Sam’s dad for a much appreciated lift. A few cars parked at the reserve suggested that it might be busy, but in fact it was very quiet today and the way I like it. Two stops at the feeding station brought us Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Nuthatch, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Siskin. Treecreeper was found later as we walked around the reserve. A black Rabbit was amongst other Rabbits feeding near the station. Roe Deer were seen in the woodland and the only squirrels seen were Grey Squirrels.

The paths in places were still frozen and in other spots thawed and muddy, so at times not easy to negotiate. The pool off the reserve held Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot and gulls. The pond was frozen solid and held only Wigeon and one or two Coot. A very healthy looking Fox made an appearance as it trod on the ice around the far edge of the pond. I seem to remember Foxes breed very early in the year and this one looked in fine condition. With not to many birds to take the eye I did take more not of the actual reed-beds which are quite impressive.

I hoped for a sighting of the Bittern, but didn’t think I’d be lucky again. As we entered the main hide we were told by a guy who was leaving that there had been no show from the Bittern/s. Within minutes of him leaving, and I suspect he had been there for sometime, Sam saw a Bittern lift from the reeds to our left and it give a very good sighting as it flew across the reed-bed and then disappeared into the reeds again. Sam has made two attempts to watch Bitterns and has been rewarded with some great sightings each time. You can see why I call him Bittern Man. We were joined in the hide by a young couple (nice to see young people taking an interest in the reserve and NNHS). Keen to get a photo of the Bittern I think, they were rewarded fairly quickly when the Bittern lifted again and flew across the reed-bed. There were no poses from the Bittern on the ice and next to the hide on this occasion, but that would just be spoiling us. By now the morning felt as though it was getting colder rather then warming up! It never did seem to warm up today.

We were undecided where to make for next, but eventually plumped for Prestwick Carr where I thought initially there were few people about, but they soon began to emerge along the hedge line. A Sparrowhawk was found hunting the hedge in almost the exact spot as we had seen one on the previous visit. This time a male bird was ensuring that the other species in the hedge (Blackbirds and Starlings in the main), were not going to rest easily.

It was early afternoon and there wasn’t much activity for the Short Eared Owls, so we walked along the ‘bumpy road’ and up to the sentry box. Bird life was limited today. We did see at least four Kestrels, a Common Buzzard and we heard Willow Tit. Unfortunately we missed the two Whooper Swans seen by Peter. I’m not sure how I missed them and can only assume that I had been concentrating on Sam’s Green Woodpecker! :-) We did have a chat to Peter along the way and talked about how the Short Eared Owls were hunting over a much wider area now. Peter’s suggestion that they had paired up seemed later to be confirmed by the way they seemed to be hunting in pairs. I also noticed that there was lots of calling between the pairs today too, more so than I had noticed on previous visits.

Once we got back along to where the photographers seem to congregate there was again little activity. Everyone seemed to think it was time to leave. I have to say once they had gone the Short Eared Owls made an appearance in numbers. I think it was around 3:30pm by now. Even I managed to get some photographs, but I think I’ll leave Sam to show his, as I more than suspect they will be far better quality.

It had been a cold, but very enjoyable day.

Bittern By Love!

My thanks to Cain Scrimgeour (Holywell Birding) for allowing me to use his images.

12^th Jan. I visited Gosforth Park today with Cain (Holywell Birding). It had been a long time since we had the chance to take in a days birding together (and quite some time since I had been to the reserve), but today was well worth waiting for. The previous nights wind had departed and the heavy shower of this morning had soon passed over to leave sunshine and clear skies.

The new feeding station was quiet on our arrival, but soon picked up and several Nuthatches were seen. Other birds visiting included Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Blackbird Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Magpie, and Stock Dove. I reckon the cost of seed must be quite substantial! It’s an excellent station though with a nice view through the woodland. God forbid that Newcastle City Council allows planning permission for houses on the land next to this reserve. It would be an absolute disgrace if such a plan is allowed to go through and ruin this reserve!

We next headed to the pond and hide with thoughts of Bittern on our minds. I remember when you walked through this reserve and never saw a soul. It seems that the long needed modernisation of the Natural History Society has brought with it many new members who now visit the reserve. We arrived at the hide having negotiated the very muddy pathway. A Common Buzzard was quickly found in the bordering tree line and I thin k I caught a fleeting sighting of a Sparrowhawk before it dropped into the reeds. A Common Snipe was picked up along one of the channels, although not showing well. Wigeon had overtaken the pond although a few Teal were there, along with five Shoveller.

Patience eventually paid off and the Bittern made a momentary appearance at it flew out and then straight back into the reedbed. It was only a few yards from the hide. I wanted more, but settled my mind to the fact that at least I had taken in the briefest of sightings and had myself a year tick of one species I rarely see. After some time the Bittern reappeared and gave a far better sighting as it stood at the edge of the reedbed in typical Bittern posture with neck stretched. It eventually came further out of the reeds although it was very much on guard and nervous. We had several minutes watching before the bird took off and flew to the other side of the pond. This is without any doubt what so ever my best ever sighting of a Bittern both on the ground and in flight. A guy who had joined us in the hide told us he had been a casual birder for forty years and had never seen a Bittern. He had not realised that Bitterns were in the reserve, so the sighting had come as a complete surprise. He was over the moon and delighted that we had initially pointed the bird out to him. I was over the moon too and very pleased for him. You could almost feel the delight within the hide. Already this year I have another top birding experience for 2012. Great to share it with Cain and others.

We completed the circuit of the reserve, ‘plodging’ through the mud, during which we found Jays and a number of relaxed Roe Deer which watched us through the trees as we watched them. Unfortunately the only squirrel we found was of the grey variety.

Next stop was Prestwick Carr. The sun was bright by now and the area had again attracted numerous birders. We’d hoped for the Great Grey Shrike and did do a careful search for it up and down the bumpy road. We chatted to PCW and a number of other birders. The shrike was being seen, but it was one of those days when we arrived just a few minutes too late. The sun didn’t help when scanning the area and like a number of other people we just had no luck in finding this bird at all. We did find at least six Common Buzzards, too many Kestrels to remember, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit and Mistle Thrush.

The Short Eared Owls were what had attracted most people of course and they did put on a wonderful showing on both sides of the road, both perched and in flight. We reckoned that we had seen ten birds by the time it was going home time. Another Roe Deer appeared in the tall grass. It had been a really grand day. Great stuff! I’m now in love with a Bittern